Lian'er felt somewhat melancholy, unsure whether the changes in her mistress were for the better or the worse.
She was afraid—afraid that her mistress's kindness was merely temporary, that the lighthearted and easy way they had been living these past few days would vanish in the blink of an eye. To be selfish, she liked her mistress the way she was now; she would stand up for her and protect her when others tried to make things difficult. She was no longer like the person she used to be, who would fly into a rage at the slightest provocation, tease her, or even strike her!
Lian'er suppressed the turbulent emotions in her eyes and steered the conversation back to the topic they had just been discussing.
"Mistress, you say you and the Prince have already signed the Divorce Decree, so why is it that there isn't a single whisper of news about it outside?"
It was too unusual. Under normal circumstances, wouldn't the Prince be impatient to elevate Side Consort Qing to the position of primary consort? Yet, there was not a single scrap of news from Prince Qin's Estate, as if her mistress were still the Prince Qin's Consort.
Shen Qingyan’s gaze flickered. In truth, she had been pondering this herself over the past few days. Their divorce was indeed rather abnormal. Xuanyuan Ming had never publicly announced their separation, and there hadn't even been the slightest stir.
Logically speaking, since Xuanyuan Ming loathed her so much, he ought to be setting off fireworks in celebration. It was far too strange.
However, this was for the best. As long as Xuanyuan Ming kept the divorce private, it would be all the easier for her to return to Prince Qin's Estate. Or rather, she could use the gossip to goad Xuanyuan Ming into personally bringing her back to the estate... and then tear the vicious mask right off Side Consort Qing's face.
But then again, given how much the man detested her, why did she have a nagging, unreliable feeling about breaking up that pair of lovers, Xuanyuan Ming and Side Consort Qing?
Seeing her mistress lost in thought, Lian'er called out to her several times without a response before simply waving her hand back and forth in front of her. Shen Qingyan glanced at her, rubbing her chin. "Lian'er, don't you think I still have a chance to return to Prince Qin's Estate? Look, we've been gone for days, and the divorce is as if it never happened. I feel this is a hint from the heavens, a hint that I can..." expose the hypocritical, "green tea" nature of the white moonlight in Xuanyuan Ming’s heart for all to see.
She had known it! Her mistress must have been acting on impulse last time when she demanded the Divorce Decree from the Prince.
"Mistress, I understand what you mean. I will help you."
Shen Qingyan and Lian'er exchanged a look, both wearing expressions of tacit understanding. Although the meanings they each intended were poles apart, they aligned in a strangely smooth way.
...
"Mistress, are you sure this method will work?"
"How will we know if we don't try? Lian'er, just do exactly as I said!"
Following her mistress's instructions, Lian'er bought off a pair of scholars who frequented Yipin Pavilion and had them recite the story Shen Qingyan had crafted until they had it memorized perfectly.
...
Xuanyuan Ming arrived at the second floor of Yipin Pavilion as promised. Just as his long legs stepped into the booth, he heard someone discussing recent news about Shen Qingyan.
"...Our Prince Qin's Consort had a falling out with Prince Qin, moved out of the estate with her little maid, and is living alone in a villa on the east side of the Capital..."
"How old is that news? I have something even more sensational, Brother Wu. Interested?"
Scholar A, hearing there was juicier news than his own, couldn't help but look expectant.
Scholar B spilled everything Lian'er had told him about the breakdown of the marriage between Xuanyuan Ming and Shen Qingyan, reciting it word for word in one breath.
Scholar A, who was efficient when there was money involved, immediately wore the expression of someone who had discovered a world-shattering secret.
"Brother Wu! You shouldn't be spreading such groundless talk! Miss Shen is so fond of Prince Qin; it is absolutely impossible for her to be entangling herself with Young Master Mo of Dragon Sword Manor. Besides, the two of them are old family friends!"
His words sounded like a rumor with no credibility. Everyone knew Prince Qin was brutal by nature; if Shen Qingyan were truly to entangle herself with his friend in public, the outcome for her would be self-evident—unless, of course, the two of them had already divorced!
Seeing the other man’s disbelief, the scholar explained with great conviction, "It is absolutely true. I saw it with my own eyes. Just a few days ago, Miss Shen was holding Young Master Mo’s arm, walking grandly through the front door of Yipin Pavilion. I’ll stake my life on it—the Prince must have secretly dissolved the marriage. Everyone knows he favors Side Consort Qing in his estate; he’d likely offer her the moon from the sky if he could."
Xuanyuan Ming stood motionless, like an iceberg. Heiying, standing behind him, had also heard the two scholars' conversation. He started forward, intending to warn them against spreading rumors, but Xuanyuan Ming raised a hand to stop him.
The man radiated a chilling, suffocating aura as he changed direction and walked to the booth where the two scholars sat. "According to what this prince knows, the Prince's Consort and I are in harmony. I was unaware that there was a divorce between us. Where did you two hear this?"
The two scholars, terrified by his sharp aura, stood up from the booth, their voices trembling.
"P-Prince!" Naturally, they recognized Prince Qin, as they were regulars at Yipin Pavilion.
He spoke again, his tone brook no argument, sounding like a warning: "The Prince's Consort has been recuperating in the estate for the past few days. She has not been entangling herself with anyone, nor has she moved out. If the two of you dare to spread rumors in public again, this prince will not be lenient! Do you understand?"
The two scholars, shivering and breaking out in a cold sweat, thought that taking money to spread rumors was certainly not a good line of work. Prince Qin was truly terrifying.
They nodded obsequiously, repeatedly saying yes.
After they left, they happened to bump into Ye Qingyu at the entrance. Seeing them scurrying away like they’d been scolded, Ye Qingyu felt a flicker of curiosity and glanced back at their hurried backs.
...
At the Shen Residence.
Shen Qingyan was lounging on a rocking chair, munching on a large apple.
Lian'er walked over, leaned down, and whispered, "Mistress, the Prince is here. Will you see him or not?"
See him? Of course she would. She had gone to such lengths precisely to wait for him to come looking for her.
"Have someone take him to the guest hall. I’ll go change into some clean clothes and will be there shortly!"
In the guest hall.
Shen Qingyan was dressed in a blue-and-white, cross-collared gown with wide sleeves. A delicate wooden hairpin held her hair atop her head, with a single lock draping over her chest, adding a touch of gentleness to her appearance. It was a stark contrast to the "neighborly girl" persona she had presented while pestering Mo Lincheng.
Her fine, arched brows made her features appear even more delicate. Her charming peach-blossom makeup, paired with a subtle, bitten-lip look, exuded a natural, unadorned brilliance.
Xuanyuan Ming had been sipping tea with an air of tranquil detachment, but the moment she appeared, he lifted his eyes and cast a casual glance her way. Yet that single look, for reasons he didn't understand, caused his heart to jolt violently.
Shen Qingyan bowed slightly in greeting. Before he could speak, she began in a somewhat caustic tone: "What wind blew you here, Your Highness? I am truly honored!"
He set his teacup down with his right hand, his cold gaze fixed firmly on her, as if probing, as if observing—as if he didn't want to miss a single one of her emotions. "Shen Qingyan! You went to such great lengths, wasn't it just to lure me here to see you? I truly underestimated you. Finding people to 'defame' and spread 'rumors'—you have truly made me 'look at you with new eyes'!"
So what if he knew she was behind it?
She wouldn't admit it, and he had no proof.