With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

Chapter 96 Imperial Concubine? Crown Prince?

"Your Highness is too kind. The most honorable person in the world is naturally His Majesty. His Majesty and the Empress are deeply in love, and I would never dare to harbor such thoughts."

The prince choked for a moment.

This little girl looks delicate and frail, but she's got a sharp tongue and is much more interesting than those wooden beauties.

"Miss Shen truly lives up to her reputation." He licked his lips. "I've been in the capital for so many years, yet I never knew the Shen family had such a beauty hidden away."

Shen Nannan remained expressionless, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said in a calm voice, "Your Highness flatters me. Did Your Highness come today regarding my younger sister's marriage?"

The prince was taken aback for a moment before remembering that he had come to propose marriage. He cleared his throat and sat up straight.

"Indeed. The Shen family has a long history of loyalty and bravery. General Shen is fighting valiantly on the front lines, so it is only right that I come in person." He paused, then his gaze fell on Shen Nannan's face. "Miss Shen and your younger sister... look somewhat alike."

"Cousins naturally bear some resemblance," Shen Nannan smiled. "If Your Highness wishes to see my younger sister, I will send someone to fetch her."

"No rush, no rush." The Crown Prince waved his hand and leaned forward slightly. "I would like to have a few words with Miss Shen."

The prince stared at her, his gaze sweeping over her face once more, before licking his lips.

"Miss Shen, I'm a straightforward person, please don't take offense." He leaned forward again. "I feel that you and your sister are both daughters of the Shen family. If I marry your sister, we will be family. It's only natural that we visit each other often in the future."

He reached out to take Shen Nannan's hand as he spoke.

Just then, a loud singing voice came from outside the door.

"The Imperial Concubine has bestowed a reward..."

A senior eunuch dressed in a python robe walked in, followed by two junior eunuchs carrying a mahogany tray covered with yellow silk.

The prince's expression changed instantly when he saw the chief eunuch.

It wasn't a surprise, nor an accident; it was a... strange expression. It looked like displeasure, or perhaps nervousness, but he quickly suppressed it and replaced it with a polite smile.

"Eunuch Li? What brings you here?" The Crown Prince stood up, looking somewhat awkwardly at the eunuch.

Eunuch Li greeted her with a smile: "Your Highness, may you be well. This servant is here on the orders of the Imperial Concubine to deliver a reward to Miss Shen."

As he spoke, his gaze passed over the Crown Prince and landed on Shen Nannan.

"This must be Miss Shen, right? She is indeed a beauty." He smiled kindly. "Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine said that General Shen fought bravely on the front lines, and the entire Shen family was loyal and valiant. In gratitude for the Shen family's contributions, Her Majesty has bestowed upon them a bushel of pearls from the East Sea, ten bolts of Shu brocade, and a pair of gold-inlaid jade ruyi scepters."

Shen Nannan suppressed her surprise and curtsied, saying, "This humble woman thanks Your Highness for the reward."

Eunuch Li waved his hand with a smile and glanced at the Crown Prince again.

That glance was so brief, so fleeting, that it went unnoticed by most. But Shen Nannan noticed it.

She saw the Crown Prince nod slightly, a very small gesture, as if it were unintentional. Eunuch Li also nodded slightly, similarly a very small gesture.

Then the two of them acted like strangers and exchanged a few polite words.

Eunuch Li turned to Shen Nannan and said, "In a few days, there will be a flower-viewing banquet in the palace. All the guests are ladies from various families. This is also the first time that the Imperial Concubine has organized a banquet. The Imperial Concubine specifically instructed that Miss Shen must do her the honor of attending."

Shen Nannan remembered He Jinzhi's reminder, but today the Imperial Concubine had specially sent someone to help her out of a predicament...

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I will certainly come."

Eunuch Li bowed to the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness, please have a seat. This servant must return to report and must take his leave now."

"Please take care, Eunuch Li."

Eunuch Li left. The Crown Prince sat back down, his smile fading slightly, but quickly returning.

Shen Nannan held her teacup, but her mind was racing.

Consort Shu. Originally a dancer in the Imperial Music Bureau. She enjoyed the Emperor's favor for a long time. In her previous life, she only knew that the Consort died in a fire during the palace coup, and knew nothing else.

But the interaction between the Crown Prince and Eunuch Li just now—they were clearly very familiar with each other, yet pretended not to. Familiarity is not strange, nor is unfamiliarity, but pretending not to be familiar when they are clearly familiar is very strange.

She suddenly remembered something.

In his past life, Xiao Yunzhao was able to rise from a stable boy to regent in just a few years, not only through courtly maneuvering, but also by having connections within the palace.

Could it be this imperial concubine?

What's their relationship?

Before she could think further, the Crown Prince spoke again.

"Miss Shen." He stood up, walked to her, and looked down at her. "I will visit again another day. I hope Miss Shen will keep me company for a cup of tea then."

Shen Nannan stood up, took a step back, and created some distance.

"Your Highness, please take care."

The crown prince stared at her for two seconds, then smiled. There was something indescribable in that smile, as if he was determined to win.

He turned and walked away, but stopped abruptly at the door and glanced back at her.

"Miss Shen, the peach blossom hairpin you're wearing is very beautiful."

Shen Nannan touched the hairpin in her hair and smiled, "Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness."

The crown prince has left.

The main hall fell silent.

Shen Nannan stood there and let out a long breath.

"Miss," the butler's voice was still trembling, "His Highness the Crown Prince..."

"It's nothing." Shen Nannan waved her hand. "Go ahead and get busy."

The butler hesitated for a moment, then withdrew.

Shen Nannan stood in the empty main hall, looking at the seat where the Crown Prince had just sat. The corners of her mouth slowly curved up, but it wasn't a smile; it was coldness.

"Come out," she said.

A figure in black emerged from behind the pillar.

Achao.

He wasn't wearing a mask, and his face was clearly visible in the sunlight. He was alluring and cold, but something burned in his eyes—murderous intent.

"I told you, Miss, not to come alone." His voice was low and somewhat muffled.

"Didn't you come?" Shen Nannan laughed. "I barely left, and you followed right after?"

A-Chao didn't say anything, walked up to her, reached out, and took the peach blossom hairpin from her hair.

Shen Nannan was taken aback: "What are you doing?"

"It's dirty," he said, clutching the hairpin in his hand. "He touched it."

"He didn't touch it, he just glanced at it."

"Not even a glance is allowed."

Shen Nannan looked at him and suddenly laughed. He looked like a wolf guarding its food, all the fur on his body standing on end, his eyes filled with a possessive desire that said, "This is mine, and no one is allowed to look at it."

"Ah Chao," she called him.

"Um."

Are you jealous again?

"no."

"Every time you say 'no,' it means 'yes.'"

He didn't refute her, but simply put the hairpin into his sleeve, then took another one from his own pocket and inserted it into her hair.

It is made of silver, decorated with a few peach petals, with a small ruby embedded in the center of each flower.

Shen Nannan touched it and froze.

"this……"

"I made this myself, please don't mind it, miss..."

When did you call?

"While the young lady is asleep."

Shen Nannan looked into his eyes, those dark and deep eyes, filled with her image.

She suddenly reached out, cupped his face in her hands, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him on the lips.

"Ah Chao." She stepped back a little, her eyes bright.

"Um."

"Stop hiding from now on. If I tell you to follow, then follow. If I tell you to come out, then come out."

Ah Chao looked at her and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

"Then, Miss, please don't send this servant away again."

"We're not in a rush anymore."

"real?"

"Really." She poked his chest. "Anyway, even if I chase you away, you'll still follow, like a tail that I can't shake off."

He smiled, reached out and pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"Miss."

"Um."

"The Crown Prince will come again."

"I know."

"This servant does not want him to see Miss."

"What should I do? I can't just stay home all the time, can I?"

He didn't say anything, he just hugged her tighter.

Shen Nannan buried her face in his chest, listening to his pounding heartbeat.

"Ah Chao".

"Um."

Do you know that imperial concubine?

His fingers paused for a moment.

"I am just a servant, how could I possibly know any noble person?"

"Fine, don't tell me then."

She pinched his arm. "I've heard that the Imperial Concubine is a great beauty and an excellent dancer... It's best if you don't know her. If I find out you're lying to me..."

Ah Chao smiled merrily, "Miss, are you... jealous?"

Shen Nannan punched him lightly. "Hmph! No..."

"Oh, who said 'no' means 'yes'?"

"How dare you make fun of me?" Shen Nannan pretended to hit him again.

Ah Chao pulled her hand to his lips.

"In this servant's eyes, I can't see anyone else, I can only see my mistress..."

"Hmph, always so glib and smooth-talking..."

He lowered his head, his lips touching the top of her head.

"Miss."

"Um."

"You're so smart."

"Then what do you do? Bite me?"