Chapter 328: Chapter 326: Writing a Reconciliation Love Letter to Lu Ying
Shen Yinning gazed at the sleeping quarters.
In the past, before her father and brother ran into trouble, the Commandery Princess of Qinghe would often attend banquets at her house.
Although she carried a cool and detached demeanor, she treated her future sister-in-law quite kindly, occasionally sending over flower-shaped pastries or snacks. When they met at palace banquets or at gatherings in other people’s residences, she would still care for her as if she were her own sister.
The way she looked at her brother was intense and ardent. Once, during a banquet at their estate, her brother was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall for being too mischievous. Upon hearing that the Commandery Princess of Qinghe had arrived, he immediately climbed over the wall to see her. The Commandery Princess held his hand and led him to a low wall covered with climbing roses, then stood on tiptoe and kissed his chin.
She has never forgotten her brother; could it be that the Commandery Princess also has not forgotten him?
Returning to Shen Garden, Shen Yinning still couldn’t unravel the secret behind the bronze key, so she temporarily tucked it into her pouch.
Haitang approached and asked, "Madam, what should we do with the lotus flowers in this vase?"
Shen Yinning looked at the lotus flowers.
After blooming for two days, they were starting to wither.
She initially intended to tell Haitang to throw them out, but at the last minute, she changed her mind and said, "Dry them and make potpourri; just place it here."
Wei Yu smiled and said brightly, "If the Crown Prince sees how you treasure the lotus flowers he sent, he’ll surely cherish you even more, Madam."
Shen Yinning fell silent.
Lu Ying...
He probably wouldn’t come to Shen Garden anymore.
If her wrongdoing had been minor, a plea for forgiveness paired with some coquettishness might have sufficed.
But her collusion with Yan Zheming had already crossed his bottom line. He was so upright and principled when it came to matters of the state; he would likely despise someone as despicable as her. Not only would he avoid her, but over time, he might even begin to loathe her.
Shen Yinning sat down, her slender, porcelain fingers propping up her temple.
In all honesty, she and Lu Ying were never truly suited for each other.
She had to deal with Shen Zhi and Shen Yunxi, yet they happened to be Lu Ying’s father-in-law and Crown Princess Consort.
This time, her actions caused Shen Zhi to lose his military authority, indirectly weakening Lu Ying’s influence as well.
Who knows how much he resents her in his heart now.
Her fingertips brushed lightly against her brow as she lowered her lashes and said, "Forget it, just throw the lotus flowers away. As for the other things he left in this house, pack them all into the storage room."
They wouldn’t be needed in the future anyway.
The next day.
Shen Yinning was still deep in her dreams when someone burst through the doors in a whirlwind of activity.
Wen Liluo yanked open the bed canopy. "Boss, do you know what hour it is? How are you still sleeping?!"
Shen Yinning turned over, facing inward.
Wen Liluo grabbed her by the arm and forced her to sit up. "The early bird catches the worm, Boss! It’s already the Mao hour!"
Shen Yinning rubbed her drowsy eyes, tempted to land a solid punch on Wen Liluo.
It was still dark out during the Mao hour—what was the point of getting up?
Normally, on days with nothing on her schedule, she slept until noon before rising.
Wen Liluo, this little lass, was young, but she worked far too diligently.
What bad luck to have recruited such a hyperactive subordinate!
She clutched her brocade quilt, her sleep-heavy eyes half-lidded as she asked, "What’s the matter?"
"The daughter of the Wen Family from Luoyang has arrived in the Capital," Wen Liluo enunciated slowly. "Today is the day of the selection process."
Shen Yinning blinked in surprise. "Selection process?"
Wen Liluo glared at her, frustrated as if she were hopeless. "For someone from the Capital, how could your intel be so outdated? If you were running a business, your shop would go bankrupt within three months at this rate! Today’s selection isn’t to choose concubines for the Emperor; it’s to pick Prince Consorts for the Princes. The Wen Family’s daughter from Luoyang is the most critical candidate. She represents all the wealthy merchants and magnates of the northern territories. If she marries Lu Zhengliu and becomes his consort, Lu Zhengliu’s influence will reach terrifying heights. Boss, aren’t you siding with the Crown Prince? You’ve got to do something to stop the Wen Family’s daughter from marrying Lu Zhengliu!"
Shen Yinning took a deep breath.
Just when Wen Liluo thought she was going to come up with a brilliant plan, Shen Yinning suddenly flopped back down heavily.
Shen Yinning pulled the brocade quilt over her head and mumbled indistinctly, "I’ve switched sides, Wen Liluo. I’m no longer on Lu Ying’s side."
Wen Liluo: "...?"
She clutched her horsetail whisk tightly, nearly shouting, "What did you just say?!"
"I’ve fallen out with Lu Ying. I’m not on his side anymore."
Wen Liluo lost it. "Boss!"
Wasn’t she supposed to be the Crown Prince’s cherished little golden canary?!
Weren’t they a fiery, passionate couple?!
How did they suddenly fall out?!
Then how was she supposed to carry out her plan to strike down the Wen Family of Luoyang?
What awful luck to serve such an unreliable boss!
She tried to persuade Shen Yinning to return to Lu Ying’s side, but before she could string together her arguments, she heard Shen Yinning breathing evenly and deeply again—she’d fallen back asleep!
Wen Liluo, at her wit’s end, paced around Shen Yinning’s bedroom. Suddenly, her eyes lit up.
When it came to matters between men and women, wasn’t it always about *that*?
If her boss wouldn’t lower her pride, she could do it on Shen Yinning’s behalf. She could plead softly and coquettishly to the Crown Prince!
Wen Liluo immediately came up with a plan and dashed out of Shen Garden.
She returned to the study in the Seven Treasures Pavilion, clutching a brush and agonizing over the wording. She intended to write a reconciliation letter to Lu Ying on behalf of Shen Yinning.
But she had no experience writing love letters. After pondering for a long while, she had no choice but to send someone to summon Lu Jiazhe.
After all, Lu Jiazhe was most familiar with the love-hate entanglement between Shen Yinning and Lu Ying. With his help, the phrasing couldn’t possibly go wrong.
Lu Jiazhe had a fondness for beauties, and Wen Liluo happened to fit within his definition of beauty. Thus, he eagerly came over to help.
He suggested, "Since it’s a love letter, it ought to be excessively sweet. Why not throw in all kinds of romantic poetry and make my Crown Prince brother nauseous?"
Wen Liluo gave a rare rebuke: "The Princely Heir wants to use something cliché like ’Until mountains crumble and heaven and earth merge, I dare not part from you’? Too many cloistered maidens have written that already. I believe we should aim for something more unconventional."
As she spoke, she began writing an opening line: "Dearest Ying Ying, reading this letter feels like seeing you in person."
Dearest Ying Ying...
Lu Jiazhe imagined Lu Ying’s expression upon reading this and couldn’t hold back his laughter.
His gaze fell on a plate of red bean cakes, and inspiration struck. Shaking his head dramatically, he recited, "Dearest Ying Ying, red beans can be made into red bean paste, green beans into green bean paste, but do you know what you can be made into?"
Wen Liluo’s brush moved fluidly. "What paste?"
"My love for you."
Wen Liluo clicked her tongue, her eyes momentarily meeting Lu Jiazhe’s.
She froze up briefly, then quickly resumed focus, writing "My love for you" on the paper.
After finishing that line, as if receiving sudden inspiration, she added another: "Dearest Ying Ying, I’ve been learning to brew tea recently. I can brew floral tea, fruit tea, red tea, and white tea, but I simply can’t figure out how to brew *you*. I want to steep you, but I don’t know the right water temperature to use."
Lu Jiazhe, quick-witted as ever, added, "Dearest Ying Ying, do you know which shrimp I like most? I like tomato shrimp, braised shrimp, and spicy lobsters, but most importantly, could you occasionally think about me?"
Wen Liluo kept a straight face as she meticulously wrote down Lu Jiazhe’s contribution. Then, with a serious expression, she added, "Dearest Ying Ying, I’m a little rascal who just wants to cling to your heart forever."
The two of them went back and forth, rapidly piecing together a complete love letter.
Wen Liluo asked, "How should we sign the name at the end?"