The harem is too complicated; the empress, a lazy bum, wins by doing nothing.

Chapter 418 Extra (Establishing a Lifetime 4)

A commotion came from outside the door. Shen Qingwan stood up from the dressing stool and looked through the crack in the door as Jiang Yuxian walked in.

"Greetings, Seventh Prince. May the Seventh Prince be blessed." Shen Wenqian and his wife both knelt down to pay their respects.

"Lord Shen, please rise." Jiang Yuxian reached out and helped him up, then looked behind Shen Wenqian, "Wanwan...?"

Before Shen Wenqian could even speak, Madam Shen stepped forward and said, "Wanwan is overjoyed to hear that she's going to see the lanterns with the Seventh Prince. She's getting ready right now. I'll call her out."

A blush crept silently onto Jiang Yuxian's cheeks. "Madam Shen, there's no rush. It's still early."

Although Shen Qingwan disliked what her mother said, she also felt that it was indeed inappropriate to make a prince wait for her, so she pushed open the door and came out.

At the same time, Liu Ruyan, who lived in the room next to her, also came out, dressed charmingly. She quickly ran to Madam Shen's side and naturally reached out to take Madam Shen's arm, "Aunt."

After saying this, she shyly raised her eyes and glanced at Jiang Yuxian, "Seventh Prince."

At this moment, Jiang Yuxian's attention was entirely focused on Shen Qingwan, who had just come out of her boudoir. He didn't even glance at Liu Ruyan before quickly taking two steps toward Shen Qingwan.

After only two steps, he seemed to realize something and quickly withdrew his foot.

The pale yellow dress Shen Qingwan was wearing reminded him of the first time he saw her in Rongcheng.

She was also wearing a yellow dress and standing under the osmanthus tree.

Back then, she was just an eight-year-old girl, but now she has grown into such a poised and elegant young woman.

Yesterday's brief meeting stirred up six years of longing in him. Last year, his father asked him what kind of girl he liked, as he was of marriageable age. He mentioned that all his brothers had already started families, but he didn't even have a maidservant.

It's not that he doesn't have someone he likes, it's just that the person he likes is still young.

If he waited two more years, and then she would reach marriageable age, he could ask his father, the Emperor, to bestow a marriage upon her.

Jiang Yuxian lowered his eyes, feeling embarrassed by Shen Qingwan's gaze.

He seemed to realize this as well, especially with so many people standing in the courtyard at that moment.

Just as Jiang Yuxian looked away, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of the hairpin on Shen Qingwan's head.

Isn't this hairpin the one he specially commissioned to be made for her back then, and even gave to her in his mother's name?
Jiang Yuxian's heart, which had just calmed down, was suddenly thrown into turmoil, and the blush on his cheeks was tinged even redder by the setting sun.

Shen Qingwan walked up to Jiang Yuxian, curtsied, and said, "Brother Xian, let's go."

Brother Xian!
Jiang Yuxian's heart skipped a beat when he heard those three words.

When he saw her yesterday, she called him "Seventh Prince," and he thought she had forgotten everything.

God knows how much effort he put in to make his voice sound normal when he spoke, "Hmm."

He dared not look at her again, put one hand behind his back, turned to the side, and made a gesture of invitation.

Seeing that the two were about to leave, Liu Ruyan hurriedly shook Madam Shen's arm.

“Um…” Madam Shen took a step toward Shen Qingwan, somewhat embarrassed. “Wanwan, your sister is new to the capital. Since you’re going out to play, why don’t you take her with you? It’ll be more lively with more people.”

"It'll be more lively with more people?" Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuxian's brow twitched imperceptibly.

If he weren't worried about making Shen Qingwan uncomfortable, he would have had the entire street sealed off tonight, not letting a single fly in.

However, if Shen Qingwan wanted to bring her sister along, even if he didn't want to, he would go along with her.

Jiang Yuxian's gaze fell on Shen Qingwan, and he saw a fleeting look of annoyance in her eyes. Even though it was so quick that she didn't even notice it herself, it still caught Jiang Yuxian's attention.

"Madam Shen, I'm so sorry, the carriage I prepared today can only seat two people. If this young lady also wants to go to the long street to admire the lanterns, please wait a moment while I have my servant find another carriage to take her around."

Attendants: ...

Liu Ruyan's face visibly paled, and Madam Shen's smile froze, the words that were on the tip of her tongue stuck in her throat.

Jiang Yuxian had already made her refusal so obvious, how could she possibly continue to suggest that Liu Ruyan come with the two of them?

Shen Wenqian's face was grim. Last night, he had repeatedly told her not to mention Liu Ruyan's trip with him in front of the Seventh Prince today, but she just wouldn't listen.

She truly didn't consider at all what would happen if she angered the Seventh Prince and he made things difficult for her.

Shen Wenqian strode to Shen Qingwan's side. "Seventh Prince, I'm entrusting Wanwan to you now. Tonight..."

"Don't worry, Lord Shen, I'll just take Wanwan for a stroll along the main street, and I'll bring her back at Chenshi (7-9 AM)," Jiang Yuxian said solemnly.

"Then I'll trouble Seventh Prince to take care of Wanwan."

Jiang Yuxian nodded and left the Shen residence with Shen Qingwan.

Looking at the exquisite and spacious carriage in front of her, Shen Qingwan was stunned for a moment.

So when he refused to bring Liu Ruyan along, saying that the carriage could only accommodate two people, he was obviously lying to them.

Shen Qingwan's lips curved into a faint smile.

The two sat facing each other in the carriage. The ground outside was frozen, but the carriage was still very warm. A charcoal fire burned inside the carriage, and a box of exquisite pastries was placed on the table, including Shen Qingwan's favorite osmanthus cake.

Jiang Yuxian sat opposite her, staring at Shen Qingwan helplessly for a while before remembering to stuff the hot water bottle he had prepared earlier into Shen Qingwan's arms.

"Cold?"

Shen Qingwan was taken aback by the question, "It's alright."

"Winter in the capital is very cold. You grew up in Jiangnan, so you probably don't know that every winter the lakes in the capital freeze over with a thick layer of ice. Many people and children skate on the ice and build snowmen and have snowball fights at their doorsteps when it snows."

Jiang Yuxian is not usually very talkative, but today he was speaking to Shen Qingwan. He had already recited these words to himself many times. Fortunately, he was not so nervous that his mind went blank and he couldn't say a word.

The carriage gradually drove away and disappeared at the end of the alley.

Liu Ruyan remained standing at the entrance of the Shen residence, stomping her foot angrily on the ground.

“Aunt, look at my cousin. She hasn’t said a word. She’s deliberately trying to prevent me from going to the lantern festival with them.”

At this moment, Shen Wenqian, who was seeing Shen Qingwan off to the carriage, happened to walk in from outside. He glanced at Liu Ruyan and his expression suddenly darkened.