Chapter 330: Chapter 328: Slaves Should Not Look Their Masters in the Eye
Shen Yunxi pursed her lips in displeasure, "Noble Consort!"
Ever since the palace banquet that day, when she discovered the other face hidden behind Zhang Noble Consort’s exterior, Zhang had not treated her with the same warmth as before.
Zhang Noble Consort teased with a laugh, "I almost forgot, our Crown Princess Consort is quite the jealous little pot. It’s my fault—I shouldn’t have brought up the matter of suggesting the Crown Prince take another concubine."
Having been in the palace for so many years, Shen Yunxi had grown adept at reading people and situations. She could easily discern that Zhang’s words, while sounding intimate, were actually a public jab at her for being narrow-minded and petty, lacking the deportment expected of a Crown Princess Consort.
She couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
Hmph, the old green tea!
Meanwhile, the Eleventh Prince and Thirteenth Prince had already selected their consorts.
Knowing that the main purpose of today’s selection was to choose a concubine for Lu Zhengliu, the two avoided stirring suspicion by not picking daughters from prominent families. They instead, coincidentally, chose ordinary daughters of officials.
As the selection was nearing its end, a hearty laugh suddenly rang out, "I can’t believe I’ve missed such a lively gathering!"
It was Yan Zheming, the Crown Prince of Yan Country.
The crowd paid their respects, and Yan Zheming, with a faintly mocking smile, looked toward Lu Ying, "Everyone’s picking young ladies, why haven’t you chosen one?"
Lu Ying replied calmly, "I already have a Crown Princess Consort."
"Ah, but who ever complains about having too many women?" Yan Zheming waved dismissively. "I feel a deep connection with you, Lu Brother. How about this: I’ll gift Tangwei to you. Tangwei is a treasure of my Great Yan Country—both brilliant in beauty and intelligence, with her mind as sharp as a needle. She grew up in my household and is practically my half-sister. If she serves you, there’s no need to grant her titles or status; she’ll just handle simple tasks like setting bedding and folding clothes. Surely this wouldn’t dishonor you!"
The crowd froze.
Shen Yinning looked toward Gan Tangwei in shock.
Gan Tangwei kept her gaze lowered, striking a shy posture. Yet her expression appeared forced and unnatural.
Shen Yinning knew Gan Tangwei was deeply infatuated with Yan Zheming. She hadn’t expected him to turn around and hand her to another man.
Claiming she’d "serve" Lu Ying was a mere pretense—Tangwei would clearly be an informant Yan Zheming planted by Lu Ying’s side.
Girls like them, nurtured and groomed by the powerful, lived such lives—seemingly dazzling on the surface, yet devoid of any autonomy or spirit. They were simply gifts exchanged by the elite to win favor and advance their agendas, daggers to entice or surveil targets.
Yet just days ago, Tangwei had come asking her for a calligraphy draft, wanting to practice her penmanship to please Yan Zheming...
How’s her calligraphy coming along?
Zhang Noble Consort’s eyes gleamed as she smiled, "I think Miss Gan, with her brilliance and beauty, would serve the Crown Prince wonderfully."
"No! I don’t agree!" Shen Yunxi objected indignantly. "Gan Tangwei is an outsider—how could she be fit to serve His Highness?!"
"An outsider?" Yan Zheming’s face darkened with menace. "What, does the Crown Princess Consort look down on us Yan natives?!"
His expression twisted into something ferocious, as the golden snake head necklace around his chest glinted with a chilling and venomous light, as though ready to sink its fangs into Shen Yunxi’s throat at any moment.
Shen Yunxi instinctively shrank back, her defiance fading. Although reluctant, she hesitated to speak further, and instead cast imploring looks toward Lu Ying, hoping he would reject Tangwei.
Lu Ying turned his face aside, his expression impassive.
His peripheral gaze swept discreetly toward Shen Yinning.
The woman was staring at Gan Tangwei, not with jealousy or envy, but with a flicker of sympathy.
Sympathy. For Tangwei?
Did Tangwei being his concubine feel like a grievance?
Was Lu Jingwei truly so unworthy?
Lu Ying’s dark eyes held an inscrutable depth, his voice low and steady: "Fine."
Shen Yunxi’s eyes widened abruptly, alarm flashing across her face. "Your Highness?!"
Lu Ying ignored her and simply walked away from the Imperial Garden.
The crowd exchanged glances, even Lu Zhengliu raising a curious brow.
Everyone knew the Crown Prince of their dynasty was as pure and aloof as the moon amidst clouds, as unsullied as mountain snow. Over the past year, the frequency of visits to his concubines in the Eastern Palace could be counted on one hand—indeed, he was an epitome of restraint, utterly indifferent to women.
No one had expected him to accept a Yan Country woman.
Yet this Yan woman was truly stunning; perhaps the Crown Prince’s heart had been moved.
After the gathering dispersed, Shen Yinning silently followed Yan Zheming and Gan Tangwei for a while.
She overheard Yan Zheming instructing, "Move into the Eastern Palace in three days. Gather intelligence if you can; if not, just remain low-key. If you manage to win his favor and lure him into neglecting his duties, all the better."
His tone was completely emotionless, as though he were assigning a task to any other spy.
In his eyes, Gan Tangwei wasn’t some extraordinary beauty; she bore no distinction from his other tools.
Gan Tangwei trailed a few steps behind him, maintaining the usual two-foot distance: "I will obey Crown Prince’s orders."
The white marble path of the Imperial Garden seemed both endless and fleeting.
Gan Tangwei silently followed Yan Zheming, as she had always done, sneaking glances at his tall, imposing figure.
From the age of eight, she had been looking at his back, following in his footsteps.
Slaves weren’t supposed to gaze directly at their masters, but only from behind could she summon the courage to look at him.
This might very well be the last time she’d dare to look at him.
The intensity of the gaze from behind was scorching.
Hotter than usual, desperate and unrestrained.
Yan Zheming couldn’t ignore it even if he tried.
He knew full well that Gan Tangwei was merely an expendable pawn brought to Zhou Country. A lowly slave by birth, the chasm between them was insurmountable—he was heaven, and she the earth. Such open defiance to propriety was reckless.
But...
Having indulged her glances for so many years, one more day didn’t seem to matter.
Yan Zheming thought this to himself, his steely heart momentarily swayed, as if a tender sprout were breaking through the soil, or a flower bud blossoming for the first time. The unexpected emotion felt unsettling.
He steadied himself, quickly dismissing such feelings, and refocused on plotting against Lu Ying.
Whether intentionally or not, his pace quickened until Gan Tangwei was completely left behind.
Gan Tangwei stood in place for a long time, only lowering her head once Yan Zheming was out of sight. Like a fragile blossom that had dared to bask in the sun’s brilliance too greedily, only to be scorched by its light, she could only bow her stem in retreat.
Shen Yinning watched her for a while before approaching: "Miss Gan."
Gan Tangwei snapped out of her daze, quickly wiping the moisture from the corners of her eyes and presenting a perfectly practiced smile: "Princess Zhaoning."
"You don’t want to be a concubine to Lu Ying, do you?"
Gan Tangwei pressed her lips together.
Shen Yinning smiled faintly, "I’ll help you."
"You’ll help me? Why?"
"Your master doesn’t understand Lu Ying at all," Shen Yinning said casually. "He would never be swayed by a woman’s allure. You won’t tempt him into ruin, and you won’t uncover any secrets. Staying in the Eastern Palace will only leave you vulnerable to Shen Yunxi’s wrath and turn you into a meaningless sacrifice. I know how pitiful it is for a woman to have no way out. That’s why I’m willing to lend you a hand."
Gan Tangwei looked at her in confusion.
Since arriving in the Capital, the socialites and noblewomen had often warned her against Princess Zhaoning, saying she was sharp and unkind.
But to her eyes, Princess Zhaoning seemed like a wonderful person.
Gan Tangwei’s eyes turned slightly red, and she instinctively embraced Shen Yinning.