Keep your voice down. Are you trying to look glamorous dressed as a forced lover?

Why would Shen Lue know? Because His Highness doesn't return to the East Palace every day, but whenever he does, there are always countless reasons why he'll be invited to Ninghui Palace, or why Consort Song will have a reason to stay overnight at Jingchen Palace.

The phrase "to spend the best years of one's life on Your Highness" must be carried out to the end.

Now, not only the people in the imperial court but also those in the inner palace know that their Consort Song hadn't truly made a move before. Otherwise, even if they were vying for the prince's favor, no one could surpass him.

The downfall of the historians was dramatic, while Song Qinian and Li Qingyan seemed to have entered a sweet and ambiguous period of romance.

As for Shen Lue, it would be difficult for him to see His Highness again.

All of his original expectations for rekindling his relationship with His Highness did not come to pass.

It wasn't that Song Qinian was intolerant of people and directly eliminated or suppressed him; sending him to Qinian was actually a promotion for him.

Shen Lue was soon able to enter the court as an official, fulfilling his childhood dream.

But he was soon sent away, and although the place he was sent to was also a prosperous place, it was still a faraway place.

As for when he will return, that remains to be seen.

However, Shen Lue could not refuse Song Qinian's proposal, nor could he refuse the Song family's offer of promotion.

No one expected that Shen Lue would be dealt with so quickly.

Tang Fei was initially wary of Shen Lue, his rival, but then Shen Lue disappeared without a trace, leaving him all alone.

Even more unexpectedly, Song Qinian actually favored the Crown Prince exclusively.

Ji Mingzheng felt very uncomfortable. Since returning, he had tried to find Li Qingyan, but Li Qingyan, remembering his scumbag behavior, treated him with contempt.

On the contrary, they were very interested in the gossip about the Hengwang Mansion that Tang Fei brought each time, and they would chat and laugh with Tang Fei every time.

Ji Mingzheng felt uneasy, and so did Wen Sheng.

He didn't know how Song Qinian had managed it, but so far, His Highness had been very polite to him.

The relationship between Ji Mingzheng and His Highness is also quite strange.

Logically, since His Highness and Ji Mingzheng are so close, they should have cleared up the misunderstanding. Why is their relationship still so strained?

He tried to subtly inquire twice, but each time Ji Mingzheng's expression was stiff, as if something had happened but he dared not say it. Wen Sheng pondered this over and over, recalling that perhaps Ji Mingzheng had not performed well and had ultimately been disliked by His Highness.

Wen Sheng didn't want to verify this guess, and her feelings became even more complicated, causing her to struggle with her thoughts.

On a whim, I thought that as a friend, I should help Ji Mingzheng.

Then he thought again, there was nothing he could do, he was too busy taking care of himself.

In the end, Ji Mingzheng noticed Wen Sheng's unusual behavior, especially the way he seemed to want to give him something, but then took it back.

"What treasure are you hiding that you won't show me?"

Ji Mingzheng also found it strange, so he made a surprise return and snatched what Wen Sheng was trying to hide.

"No, I didn't hide anything."

"Still not admitting it!"

Ji Mingzheng wasn't so easily appeased, and Wen Sheng was afraid of hurting him, so in the end, Ji Mingzheng still managed to snatch her away.

"It's a book again. Is it some kind of military treatise? Let me see..."

Ji Mingzheng slammed the book shut, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "Wen Sheng, you..."

He never imagined that his pure and innocent friend would be reading this kind of book!

Thinking about it another way: Well, his friend is also a man, and he likes His Highness, so maybe he's thinking the same thing?

Moreover, now that Song Qinian has stepped up his efforts, it's normal for Wen Sheng to be eager to learn more and compete for favor.

Ji Mingzheng quickly shoved the book back at Wen Sheng: "I made a mistake. You should read it carefully."

Wen Sheng had been dead for a while. He wanted to say that these were specially bought for Ji Mingzheng, and they were all very popular books on how to please women.

Because the descriptions are quite detailed, they are more suitable for careless people or novices who have little experience with women. As long as they are willing to learn, they will not be particularly favored, but they will certainly not be disliked by girls.

It suits Ji Mingzheng perfectly.

He tried every means to get it in, and even inspected it himself, but he hesitated and struggled with whether to give it to Ji Mingzheng.

Unexpectedly, Ji Mingzheng misunderstood.

"We agreed to share this, so you can take it and look at it; you don't need to return it to me."

Wen Sheng gritted her teeth and took the opportunity to stuff the shove back to Ji Mingzheng.

His expression was incredibly complex, a mixture of unease and bitterness.

That's all he can do to help Ji Mingzheng. He won't think about anything else; thinking too much will drive a person crazy.

In the end, he truly had a clear conscience regarding Ji Mingzheng.

"I don't need it, why would I look at this?"

Ji Mingzheng refused. He had dreamt about it before, and even though it was just a dream, he couldn't forget it. He remembered it so clearly, and he dreamt about it every night afterward. In his dreams, he couldn't help but do even more outrageous things, and he despised himself for it.

If he continues to read this book, things will get really bad. He'd better not get himself into trouble.

He gave a wry smile: "It's no use looking at it."

"How could it be useless? It can still be salvaged. His Highness is soft-hearted. Go back and have a good talk with her..."

It's not impossible to perform well.

"See? It'll only be useful if you see it."

Ji Mingzheng felt a pang of pain and sorrow, but he still spoke up: "I've noticed that His Highness's attitude towards you has improved a lot recently."

This implies that Wen Sheng should seize the opportunity.

Wen Sheng: "No, you have to watch it too. You watch it."

"Look."

"I've seen it, you see."

As the two declined each other's offer, the exquisite book flew out.

It landed in front of a pair of embroidered shoes adorned with pearls.

Under the extremely stiff gazes of Wen Sheng and Ji Mingzheng, a pair of clean hands picked it up.

"It seems you two have a really good relationship, so good that you can even read these kinds of books together."

Li Qingyan opened it and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow; there were even illustrations.

Moreover, the illustrations are surprisingly realistic, yet inexplicably possess a hazy, ethereal beauty.

This is a masterpiece, she's certain.

She knows that friends share good things, but she doesn't understand what the point of them sharing is.

"Your Highness."

Wen Sheng's face almost burned, and her usual composure crumbled: "It's my fault."

His Highness saw him and caught him. What will His Highness think of him?

No, there's no need to feel guilty; they're just learning what they need to learn.

Your Highness only needs to know that they are ready.

"No, it's my problem."

Ji Mingzheng spoke up righteously, but his voice trembled with guilt. If His Highness knew that he had such a dream and then saw such a book, she would surely despise and ridicule him.

Li Qingyan pouted, knowing you two are close, and continued reading without looking up: "Enough, do you think I'm going to execute you on the spot according to the book? What's there to argue about?"

She made a sarcastic remark, but she didn't realize that after she said that, the two people's gazes changed instantly, and even their hands tightened.

The scenes in the book instantly transported me to the present moment.

All attempts to take responsibility ceased automatically; only the emotions in his eyes betrayed his true thoughts.

They thought.

I want both.

Therefore, they dared not move, or even look at each other, for fear of revealing their uncontrollable desire and fighting spirit.