Chapter 186

Chapter 186

Today was the Eighth Prince’s birthday. He was two years older than the Ninth Prince and the son of Consort Jing.

Weiqing Song had told Shengsheng Zhou about some affairs in the imperial harem. Consort Jing and Imperial Mother had always been on quite good terms.

“Imperial Sister, are we going out?” The Ninth Prince tugged at Shengsheng’s skirt and looked up with his small face.

His beautiful eyes were round and wide, his little mouth slightly parted.

Weihe Song did not like going out. Every day, he traveled only between the Imperial Academy and Shuanglin Palace.

Whenever Weiqing visited, Weihe hid and refused to see him. Whenever Shengsheng asked about the Imperial Academy, he refused to discuss it. The birthday banquet was the perfect opportunity for Shengsheng to uncover the truth.

The Eighth Prince attended the same academy. Surely he would know.

“That’s right. Today is your Eighth Imperial Brother’s birthday. We’re going to celebrate with him.” Shengsheng stroked his head.

At the mention of his Eighth Imperial Brother, some of the interest faded from Weihe’s eyes. “I see. I’ll behave. I won’t cause trouble for Imperial Sister.”

Shengsheng lifted him into her arms and spun him in a circle. “It’s fine even if you do. Ask anyone up and down the palace who’s boss around here. Your Imperial Sister has your back.”

Weihe grinned. “Mm. Mwah-mwah.”

If nothing else, he had learned to use Shengsheng’s new phrases very quickly.

After preparing the gift, Shengsheng departed with the Ninth Prince.

“Princess, please wait.”

As their party walked along, a gentle and somewhat androgynous voice suddenly came from behind.

Shengsheng turned in delight. “Lord State Preceptor.”

The newcomer wore moon-white robes woven with silver thread beneath a matching cloak, with a jade pendant carved as a swimming fish hanging at the waist. It was an ethereal, striking appearance. Even the parrot perched on the right shoulder looked as though it had descended from the heavens.

Quite a few palace maids secretly blushed.

“Is the princess going to attend His Highness the Eighth Prince’s birthday banquet?”

Zhiyu Jiang fell into step beside her.

“I am. Since we’re going the same way, let’s walk together.” The two exchanged a smile.

The Ninth Prince, whose hand Shengsheng held, looked at Shengsheng and then at Zhiyu.

Remembering, Shengsheng patted the Ninth Prince on the shoulder. “This is the State Preceptor personally appointed by His Majesty. And this is the Ninth Prince, my imperial brother,” she introduced.

Zhiyu had heard Shengsheng speak of him when they met in private, but this was their first formal meeting. “Greetings, Ninth Prince.”

The Ninth Prince was a little timid. Then he remembered Shengsheng repeatedly emphasizing over the past few days that he was the Emperor’s son and not even the Heavenly King himself could do anything to him. He nodded with reserved dignity and said politely, “Hello, State Preceptor.”

He was so adorable that Shengsheng wanted to plop her butt straight down on him.

The attendants behind them could not help viewing every glance between the two women through the rosy filter of young romance. At Cui’er’s signal, they fell back to a safe distance, ensuring that they could not overhear the conversation.

Shengsheng noticed their little movements, edged closer to Zhiyu, and whispered, “Aren’t you cold wearing so little?”

Zhiyu kept her back ramrod straight and replied in an exceptionally steady voice, “Yes. But it makes me look impressive.”

Shengsheng: “…” Incredible.

How were disposable hand warmers made again? Shengsheng rummaged through her memories.

When they reached the gates of the Eighth Prince’s palace, Shengsheng could not enter alongside Zhiyu.

That was the downside of dressing as a man. Not only could two best friends no longer hold hands on their way to the toilet, they also had to observe the proprieties between men and women in everything they did.

“The State Preceptor has arrived!” a young eunuch shouted at the top of his lungs.

Shengsheng led her attendants through the gate. When she saw the young eunuch draw another breath and prepare to shout again, her hand shot out and covered his mouth.
The young eunuch whose mouth had been covered widened his eyes and stared at Shengsheng Zhou.

The attendants behind her: “…”

Cui’er stepped forward. “Princess, did this young eunuch offend Your Highness? This servant will…”

“No need.” Shengsheng released him, kindly pushed his still-dropped jaw closed, then wiped her hand on his clothes.

“I’ve wanted to try that for ages. That felt great.” Shengsheng looked utterly refreshed.

The young eunuch: “…” What had he done to deserve this?

Shengsheng finally understood why Weiqing Song refused to come.

This was a goddamn convention for performative socializing.

Because the Eighth Prince was still young, most of the guests were members of the younger generation. The elders had merely sent gifts through their representatives.

The princes who already had their own fiefs naturally could not attend. The remainder were all young princes still living in the palace and princesses who had not yet married.

Such as the Second Princess and Fifth Princess, who were now sitting beside Shengsheng.

By birth order, Shengsheng was number six.

Ha. Of all the rankings she could have received, she just had to be Old Six–the resident backstabber.

After dealing with the people who came to toast her, Shengsheng fed the Ninth Prince a small piece of pastry, then quietly studied the two princesses beside her.

The Fifth Princess had a gentle, quiet appearance. When Shengsheng greeted her, she nearly failed to hear the response because the woman’s voice was so soft. Since then, Shengsheng had not seen her speak again. She merely sat quietly in her place and ate.

Shengsheng had a much stronger impression of the Second Princess. At a previous banquet, the woman had called Siran Ming sexy. She seemed fairly normal today. Sensing Shengsheng’s gaze, she turned and smiled. “Why is Little Sister looking at me?”

Shengsheng followed her earlier line of sight to the dancers below. “Second Sister, do you enjoy watching dance?”

The Eighth Prince happened to approach for a toast. The Second Princess replied, “I do. The performances at Little Eighth’s birthday banquet are quite entertaining.”

Though still young, the Eighth Prince already possessed the bearing of imperial royalty. He politely said to the Second Princess, “I’m glad Second Sister likes them.”

When he reached Shengsheng, his manner grew much warmer. “This is the first time this younger brother has paid respects to Sixth Sister since you recovered from your illness. I wonder whether the food and wine suit Sixth Sister’s tastes.”

The Eighth Prince spoke with easy affection. He had also treated the Fifth Princess extremely well just now. He truly knew how to win people’s favor.

Shengsheng exchanged pleasantries with him. But when it was the Ninth Prince’s turn, the Eighth Prince skipped past him without so much as a glance.

Shengsheng paused and looked at Weihe Song. He had lowered his head and seemed deeply interested in the plate of pastries before him. Shengsheng could not tell whether he did not care about the Eighth Prince’s disregard or had simply grown accustomed to it.

She frowned slightly.

If this was how he was treated even at a birthday banquet, it was easy to imagine how thoroughly he was ignored at the Imperial Academy.

He returned every day looking perfectly cheerful, but this child had always been skilled at hiding his feelings. Who knew what he truly thought?

After completing a round of toasts, the Eighth Prince should have returned to his place. For some reason, however, he sat beside Shengsheng instead. “Sixth Sister, I felt close to you the instant I saw you. May I sit here?”

Zhiyu Jiang looked over from across the room. Shengsheng winked to tell her everything was fine.

“Of course. Imperial Sister happens to want a chat with you too.” Shengsheng smiled with positively nuclear warmth.