Prince Yan's Mansion, Liuli Pavilion.
Shen Wei struggled to open her eyes as noon approached, her head throbbing from the previous night's indulgence. Hazily gazing at the sheer muslin bed curtains, she strained to piece together her memories of the day before.
"Cai Lian! Cai Ping!" Shen Wei gasped.
Footsteps echoed outside as Cai Lian entered with a basin of washing water and Cai Ping followed with a sobering tonic.
Shen Wei pushed aside the bed curtains. "Where is His Highness?"
Cai Ping suppressed a smile. "His Highness left for the Eastern Palace this morning."
Clutching the bed curtains, Shen Wei asked cautiously, "I was drunk last night... did I say anything foolish?"
Drinking truly was a recipe for disaster. A wave of dread washed over her—had she let slip her true thoughts in her drunken state, Prince Yan might have seen through her long-maintained facade.
