Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Attending the Bedchamber

「Princess Chang Le Mansion.」

Just as Zhi Wan stepped through the gates, she came face to face with a man walking out.

She hurriedly stepped aside to avoid him.

But unexpectedly, the man stopped and turned his head to look at her.

Zhi Wan noticed and quickly lowered her head.

"Miss Zhi?"

The man called out, his voice uncertain.

Zhi Wan froze for a moment before raising her head.

When she saw his face clearly, her surprise faded.

There weren’t many men who could come and go from the Princess Chang Le Mansion as they pleased.

She hadn’t seen Shen Longjin since they last parted ways outside the Qingyin Pavilion. She had only heard that he had become one of Princess Chang Le’s male companions. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

She never expected to run into him the moment she arrived at the Princess Chang Le Mansion today.

"Mr. Shen." Zhi Wan curtsied to him.

Shen Longjin quickly said, "Miss Zhi, there’s no need for such formalities. By the way, are you here at the Princess Chang Le Mansion to see the Princess?"

"Yes, Her Highness invited me." Zhi Wan nodded.

"She’s in the garden. I’ll take you there," Shen Longjin offered.

"Thank you for the trouble," Zhi Wan said gratefully.

Shen Longjin shook his head and led the way.

Just as they stepped into the garden, Princess Chang Le’s cold voice rang out. "Weren’t you heading out? Why are you back?"

Shen Longjin cleared his throat and said, "Miss Zhi has arrived. I brought her in for you. You two can talk. I’ll be leaving now."

Hearing this, Princess Chang Le turned her head. She paused when she saw Zhi Wan standing behind him, then looked thoughtfully at Shen Longjin. "Does the Princess Mansion have no servants? Did you need to show her the way yourself?"

Shen Longjin’s brow furrowed. "Miss Zhi is, after all..."

"After all, what?" Princess Chang Le rested her head on one hand, tilting it as she looked at him. "If I hadn’t interfered, you would have already become the Zhi family’s prized son-in-law. Are you blaming me?"

Shen Longjin’s handsome face flushed red. "That’s not what I meant. Miss Zhi is an acquaintance, so it’s only right that I show her in. Your Highness needn’t read so much into it."

"Am I reading too much into it, or have you, Shen Longjin, simply never gotten over her?" Princess Chang Le pressed relentlessly.

Shen Longjin frowned. "Of course, Your Highness is reading too much into it."

"Shen Longjin!" Princess Chang Le’s voice deepened with displeasure.

Shen Longjin fell silent and said no more.

Listening to their exchange, Zhi Wan was mortified. Seeing the atmosphere grow tense, she quickly spoke up, "Zhi Wan pays her respects to Your Highness."

Princess Chang Le paused, her gaze falling upon her.

After a long moment, she said flatly, "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhi Wan straightened up.

Princess Chang Le’s gaze shifted to Shen Longjin, a smirk playing on her lips. "Do you still have lingering feelings for Zhi Wan?"

Shen Longjin’s handsome face darkened as he snapped, "Your Highness, watch your words!"

Zhi Wan was so embarrassed she wished the ground would swallow her whole. She quickly said, "Your Highness, could there be a misunderstanding?"

Princess Chang Le pouted dismissively and said to Shen Longjin, "You may go. But you must be back before dark!"

Shen Longjin glanced at her cold face, paused, and said flatly, "Understood." With that, he turned and left.

After watching him walk away, Princess Chang Le finally retracted her gaze and looked at Zhi Wan. "Sit."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhi Wan adjusted her skirt and sat down on a nearby chair.

"Do you know why I summoned you today?" Princess Chang Le asked.

Zhi Wan shook her head. "I beg Your Highness to enlighten me."

"I went to the Imperial Palace today and ran into Xuanyuan Jing. She was holding a portrait of you, preparing to present it to my Father Emperor," Princess Chang Le said slowly, her tone as casual as if she were discussing the weather.

But Zhi Wan was startled. Her heart dropped with a THUD. In disbelief, she asked, "Princess Gao Yang had my portrait and wanted to present it to the Emperor?"

"Mm," Princess Chang Le nodded.

Zhi Wan clutched her handkerchief tightly. ’Is it what I think it is?’

Seeing the color drain from her pretty face, Princess Chang Le paused before consoling her, "But you don’t have to worry. I intercepted the portrait and tore it up."

Hearing this, Zhi Wan immediately rose and knelt. "Thank you, Your Highness, for helping me out of this predicament."

"Get up." Princess Chang Le reached out and helped her to her feet.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhi Wan stood up and wiped the sweat from her forehead with her handkerchief.

"Scared you, did I?" Princess Chang Le watched her with amusement.

Zhi Wan nodded honestly. "Yes." She added gratefully, "Your Highness has helped me out of trouble so many times. I truly don’t know how I can ever repay you."

"You want to repay me?" Princess Chang Le raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, as long as it’s something I can do," Zhi Wan said sincerely.

"Then why not... give Mr. Lu to me?" Princess Chang Le’s lips curved into a sly smile.

Zhi Wan froze, staring at her in astonishment. "Your Highness, you really... about my cousin... But aren’t you..."

Seeing her stammer, Princess Chang Le frowned. "What are you trying to say? Don’t mumble."

"I thought Your Highness liked... women," Zhi Wan whispered after a moment.

Princess Chang Le was taken aback, then she reached out, lifted Zhi Wan’s chin, and narrowed her eyes, saying meaningfully, "That’s right. I do like women. Especially pretty women."

Zhi Wan stiffened and said awkwardly, "Your Highness must be joking. If you liked women, you... you wouldn’t have let Mr. Shen move into the Princess Mansion."

"Haven’t you heard that I enjoy the company of both men and women?" Princess Chang Le’s expression was inscrutable. "In any case, Shen Longjin seems quite fond of you. Why don’t I take you into my mansion as well, to keep him company?"

Zhi Wan wiped the sweat from her brow and forced a smile. "Your Highness misunderstands. There’s nothing between me and Mr. Shen. Besides, I can tell that the one Mr. Shen truly likes is Your Highness."

"He likes me?" Princess Chang Le blinked, looking at her skeptically. "How can you tell?"

"If he didn’t like Your Highness, with his personality, he would never willingly stay in the Princess Mansion. Doesn’t Your Highness let him leave without having anyone watch him now?" Zhi Wan countered.

"That’s because... he’s intimidated by my authority and doesn’t dare to escape," Princess Chang Le said.

Zhi Wan shook her head. "Your Highness forgets that Shen Longjin spent years tempering himself in the army. If he wanted to escape, it shouldn’t be difficult. Yet, he still chooses to stay by Your Highness’s side."

"That’s because I can give him a life of wealth and luxury," Princess Chang Le said with a frown.

"Time reveals a person’s heart. The answer will become clear eventually," Zhi Wan said.

Princess Chang Le scoffed. "How old are you, to be acting so wise and world-weary?"

Zhi Wan smiled. "I just mean to say that Your Highness is a wonderful person, worthy of a good man’s admiration."

Hearing this, Princess Chang Le looked a bit uncomfortable and deliberately said in a fierce tone, "If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll steal your cousin away from you."

"Your Highness won’t," Zhi Wan said, not worried in the least.

"Why are you so sure?" Princess Chang Le asked, displeased.

"If Your Highness had any such intentions, you would have acted long ago. Why wait until now? Your Highness doesn’t like my cousin. If you feel anything for him, it’s most likely the affection one has for a friend," Zhi Wan said with certainty.

Princess Chang Le snorted. "You little chit, don’t be so presumptuous!"

Zhi Wan just smiled, not taking it to heart.

The more time she spent with her, the more she understood that Princess Chang Le was someone with a cold exterior but a warm heart—all bark and no bite.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have repeatedly come to her rescue.

"Your Highness, if you have the time, how about I treat you to a meal?" Zhi Wan asked sincerely.

Princess Chang Le waved her hand. "I can’t be bothered to go out today. If you’re not in a hurry to go back, you can stay and have dinner with me before you leave."

"Alright." Zhi Wan happily agreed.

Sure enough, Shen Longjin returned to the Princess Mansion before dark.

Perhaps Princess Chang Le was drunk. She squinted at the two people sitting on either side of her and suddenly threw her arms around their shoulders.

"Like this, don’t you two look like my wife and concubine?"

Zhi Wan’s mouth twitched.

Shen Longjin’s expression darkened. He pushed her hand away and said flatly, "Your Highness is drunk."

"Shen Longjin, I am not drunk. I respected your wishes before and never touched you. But you’ve been in the mansion for some time now. You can start attending to me in bed tonight." Princess Chang Le released Zhi Wan, turned, and frivolously caressed Shen Longjin’s handsome face.

"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..." Zhi Wan choked on the soup she had just sipped. "Your Highness... COUGH, COUGH... it’s getting late... I-I should take my leave now."