"I understand!"
Yun Chuhuan's expression turned grave, as if he had just accepted a mission of the utmost importance. He lowered his voice and asked, "Then what happened next?"
"Then…"
Mimicking his solemn tone, Yun Shu also leaned in and whispered, "There is no 'next.'"
"What do you mean, no next… huh?"
Yun Chuhuan's dramatic demeanor cracked in an instant. He turned toward her in disbelief. "That's it?"
"That's it," Yun Shu confirmed with a nod.
"No, wait a minute—"
Yun Chuhuan darted his eyes around, then dragged Yun Shu to a more secluded corner. His voice was thick with frustration.
"Fifth Sister, even if you lack experience, surely you know that kind of petty revenge is no better than child's play. It won't accomplish anything!"
"Oh?" Yun Shu's brow arched in amusement. "You sound like someone with plenty of experience."
She crossed her arms, clearly entertained. "Then tell me, what would you do instead?"
"I—"
Caught off guard, Yun Chuhuan stammered for a moment. "Well, I haven't figured out the exact method yet. But I do know that your way is only going to invite ridicule! If we can't tear down the Eastern Palace, we should at least strike where it hurts!"
He puffed up, ready to argue further.
"That's enough."
Yun Shu couldn't hold it in anymore. With a stifled laugh, she reached out and patted his shoulder.
"I only asked you to do that task to verify a suspicion," she explained, her tone softening. "If my guess proves correct, then naturally I have follow-up plans. But if I'm wrong, I'll have to try something else."
"What suspicion? What plan?"
Realizing she had been teasing him this whole time and already had a strategy in motion, Yun Chuhuan's gloom lifted at once. He grew eager.
"Do you need me for anything?"
"Just sit back and enjoy the show."
Waving her hand lazily, Yun Shu turned and strolled off at a relaxed pace. "Don't you always enjoy stirring up trouble?"
"Then at least tell me what the show is!"
Yun Chuhuan gave a quick "hey!" and rushed after her, clutching at her sleeve as he followed her all the way toward Fengyang Palace, pestering her with childish persistence.
At the same moment, in the Right Prime Minister's residence—
The very person Yun Shu had set her sights on, Shen Jingshu, was standing in the study, her hands trembling as she clutched a letter. Her eyes shimmered with tears.
She bore none of the joy one might expect from a bride-to-be.
The letter in her hands was already wrinkled from her tight grip. Shen Jingshu forced herself to remain composed, but her red-rimmed eyes were fixed on the man before her—a man who felt both familiar and utterly foreign.
When she finally spoke, her voice quivered.
"Grandfather, I cannot…"
"You must."
The Right Prime Minister cut her off without a trace of emotion.
He didn't so much as lift his gaze. Sitting firmly behind the desk, his face was an unreadable mask. Not a flicker of sentiment crossed his features. It was as if the girl standing before him was not his beloved legitimate granddaughter of over ten years, but a stranger entirely unrelated.
Her tears failed to stir even a ripple of sympathy.
"This is the Crown Prince's order."
"But if I do as the letter says, I'll never be able to redeem myself!"
The tears she had fought to contain finally spilled over. Shen Jingshu's voice cracked with despair.
"Grandfather, if that's the case, what is the point of marrying His Highness the Crown Prince?"
"You ceased to be of use the moment your plan failed at Tian Waitian Restaurant."
The Right Prime Minister slammed his palm on the desk. The thunderous sound echoed in the chamber. For the first time, his calm demeanor gave way to a flicker of anger.
"A side consort sounds pleasant enough, but in truth, it is no more than a concubine!"
"You are the legitimate granddaughter of the Right Prime Minister's household, and yet, upon marrying the Crown Prince, you must settle for the role of a mere concubine. Do you think the sharp minds of the Capital cannot guess what truly transpired that day?"
He stared coldly at her.
"Your only remaining value lies in helping the Crown Prince eliminate Princess Sheng An. If you succeed, perhaps His Highness will extend some favor to you out of respect for this household."
"But—"
"No 'but.'"
The Right Prime Minister's voice was ruthless.
"If you can't even fulfill this one purpose, you know very well what fate awaits you."
Indeed, she did.
The last glimmer of hope in Shen Jingshu's eyes shattered like glass.
How could she not understand?
The Right Prime Minister's household did not keep idle people. Once, she had basked in affection only because she had proven useful. Over time, that affection gave birth to a comforting illusion—an illusion that perhaps she was different, perhaps her elders truly cherished her.
But it was only ever an illusion.
Staring at the letter that would decide her future, Shen Jingshu felt as though all the emotion in her had been hollowed out.
After a long silence, she finally replied in a hoarse voice.
"Granddaughter understands."
Three days later, the Crown Prince's wedding ceremony.
As it was merely a side consort being taken into the palace, there were no elaborate rites, no ceremonial procession.
Even the Eastern Palace had hung only a few red banners in token celebration.
According to custom, Shen Jingshu would be carried from the Right Prime Minister's estate to the Eastern Palace in a bridal sedan at the hour of the snake—around ten in the morning.
Yun Shu and her family only needed to attend at midday, offer a few words of congratulation, and partake in a modest banquet.
But custom was one thing. Reality was another.
By eight or nine in the morning, Yun Shu had already left the palace with Yun Chuhuan in tow.
Yun Chuhuan cradled a small box in his arms and had been buzzing with excitement ever since they boarded the carriage.
"Fifth Sister, are we heading to the Right Prime Minister's estate now?"
"What's there worth seeing at the Right Prime Minister's estate?" Yun Shu replied lazily. "I'm simply taking advantage of today's rest day to hear what the common folk have to say about the new commercial tax."
She glanced sideways at the peculiar, rather ugly box in his arms and raised a brow. "And what on earth is that?"
"This is the wedding gift I prepared for Crown Prince Imperial Brother!"
Yun Chuhuan answered with unshakable pride.
"I've been low on silver lately and couldn't afford a proper gift, so I made one myself. It's a token of sincerity. I'm sure Crown Prince Imperial Brother and Side Consort Shen won't mind!"
"You're sharper than I gave you credit for."
Given that this was merely a side consort's marriage, Yun Chuhuan's attendance was no more than a formality. Bringing a handmade token of goodwill couldn't be faulted by anyone.
Even if the Crown Prince ended up nursing a grudge over it—so what?
Noble Consort Liu and the Empress had long been at odds, and Yun Shu's falling out with the Crown Prince was no secret. Yun Chuhuan, being Noble Consort Liu's son and walking so closely with Yun Shu, was unlikely to ever be on good terms with the Crown Prince anyway.
Yun Shu studied the unsightly box with newfound interest.
"What's inside?"
"Nothing!"