Shen Qianyu was somewhat surprised by Song Wan’s perceptiveness.

He had wandered throughout the Eastern Palace under the identity of Ji Rong, never having his disguise seen through by anyone. Those in the palace were accustomed to stepping on the low and flattering the high—no one had ever carefully scrutinized a lowly eunuch who might not live to see tomorrow. Moreover, he had concealed himself while in the Eastern Palace, so being recognized by Song Wan under tonight’s moonlight truly caught him off guard.

Shen Qianyu rapidly considered in his mind the current situation of the Eastern Palace versus the Third and Fifth Princes, surmising that the Song family—or at least Song Wan presently—would harbor no ill intentions toward the Eastern Palace.

He lowered his eyes in contemplation for a moment, then nodded to acknowledge his identity as Ji Rong.

Seeing him admit it, Song Wan could hardly believe it either.

She had met very few men. Although Ji Rong was merely an inner court servant and couldn’t be considered a proper man, to her the impression had been profound enough.

It had only been a casual question, yet she had truly confirmed that the Eastern Palace’s Crown Prince was not some incompetent cripple after all.

Seeing Song Wan’s round eyes widen slightly with a relieved expression, Shen Qianyu couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in a faint smile.

She had indeed guessed correctly.

The Song family truly did have thoughts of making contact with him—he just didn’t know whether this was Song Fu’s intention or Song Lan’an’s intention.

Shen Qianyu sat on the ground, no longer in a hurry to leave.

Whether Song Fu or Song Lan’an, either would be a great asset to him in his solitary position.

“Help him up and escort him to the side chamber. Nanny Lang, I trouble you to fetch some medicinal powder to stop this eunuch’s bleeding.”

“Ah, this old servant understands.”

Hearing he was a eunuch, Ruan Pozi relaxed inwardly and turned to head to the small storage room to fetch medicine.

Heng Zhi and Heng Wu also stepped aside, no longer blocking Song Wan’s figure.

An inner court eunuch from the palace couldn’t ruin their young miss’s reputation, so there was no need to be so tense.

Looking at the short, ostentatious brocade robe Shen Qianyu wore, Heng Wu nodded to herself—it was indeed the flowery style and color that palace eunuchs favored.

She remembered they liked precisely this kind of garish yet wealthy but rather vulgar items.

Heng Wu’s gaze swept over Shen Qianyu’s head, feeling somewhat disappointed when she saw he wasn’t wearing any women’s golden hairpins.

Seeing through the thoughts of these several women clearly, Shen Qianyu sat on the ground pressing his wound and laughed.

“Aiya, this eunuch, how did you get injured so severely? This won’t do, this old servant must find you a physician…”

“No need for such trouble, just some medicinal powder will suffice.”

Taking the hemostatic powder from Ruan Pozi’s hands, Shen Qianyu poured all the powder from the white porcelain bottle onto his own wound. Song Wan watching from the side felt uncomfortable and slightly turned her face away to avoid the sight.

Seeing her standing at the side chamber doorway, Shen Qianyu said, “City…”

“Eunuch may simply call me Song Wan.”

Having played the role of eunuch for so long, Shen Qianyu felt nothing amiss and readily called her Miss Song.

Song Wan nodded. Ruan Pozi entered carrying a copper basin, set down the hot water and said, “Eunuch may use this to wash.” She then went to the kitchen to prepare food.

“Eunuch should rest first today. Song Wan will not disturb you.”

That word “today” let Shen Qianyu know this person had words to say to him, but out of propriety didn’t wish to trouble an injured person with conversation, which was why she was letting him rest first.

Shen Qianyu thought to himself that Song Wan truly had the bearing of a great family, conducting herself according to propriety and protocol, never overstepping boundaries.

No wonder Jiang Yan didn’t dare reveal even the slightest trace of his feelings—he probably feared that if this rigid female scholar learned of his admiration, she would die of shame and anger.

His gaze sweeping over Song Wan, Shen Qianyu nodded in agreement.

He also wanted to know what the Song family was planning.

The two harbored their own calculations, and neither slept particularly soundly that night.

Early the next morning when Shen Qianyu awoke, the wound on his body had already mostly healed. If not for benefiting from his naturally gifted constitution, he probably would have died countless times over these years.

Changing into the coarse cloth clothing Ruan Pozi had prepared for him yesterday, Shen Qianyu walked out of the side chamber.

This residence only had two courtyards, so as soon as he emerged he saw Song Wan wearing a lotus-blue brocade skirt with a silver-patterned gauze outer garment, holding a book and carefully reading in her room.

Her appearance was quite pleasing, and she possessed a reasonably intelligent mind, so watching her didn’t make one feel vexed or bored.

“Is Eunuch’s injury somewhat better?”

“Much better, thank you for your concern, Miss.”

Seeing Shen Qianyu appear, Song Wan set down her book and walked into the courtyard. After learning he had already eaten breakfast, she had Heng Zhi brew tea and invited him to converse leisurely in the courtyard.

“Yesterday Eunuch stayed behind, surely already having made plans. I wonder if Wan’er may conveniently ask a question or two?”

The appearance of an Eastern Palace eunuch in her own courtyard was extraordinary to begin with—how could Song Wan believe this was mere coincidence? She had pondered for a long time yesterday, guessing that the Crown Prince also had intentions of joining forces with the Song family. However, Song Wan didn’t understand the meaning behind that bag of sugar confection he had brought.

After brewing tea, Heng Zhi brought tea snacks on a square carved lacquer tray, atop which was the Liu Family sugar confection Shen Qianyu had delivered yesterday.

Shen Qianyu knew she was testing him, so he spoke: “I wonder whether Miss Song’s conversation with me today represents the Song family or Song Fu?”

“This humble woman is of lowly position and cannot represent the Song family.”

Shen Qianyu nodded inwardly—having Song Fu wasn’t bad either. He wasn’t picky.

Seeing he had no reaction, Song Wan’s gaze glanced at the sugar confection on the table, surmising that the Eastern Palace must have already made contact with her elder brother, otherwise Ji Rong wouldn’t have come here seeking her.

However…

Song Wan said, “This sugar confection is a rather famous snack in the capital. I wonder if Eunuch knows whether the Crown Prince, having spent many years in Nanqing, enjoys this kind of food?”

Shen Qianyu raised an eyebrow, a trace of amusement showing in his eyes.

This Song Wan was rather interesting. Seemingly asking about this children’s snack, she was actually probing whether he had thought of the capital during his years in Nanqing, and also asking what his view of the capital was.

Shen Qianyu furrowed his brows slightly, carefully considering this question.

Having been sent to Nanqing as a hostage since childhood, he was extremely unfamiliar with everything in the capital and had no idea what famous snacks the capital had. But there was one thing he could tell Song Wan—although he resented Emperor Wenhui and had little sense of belonging to the capital, compared to this place, he hated Nanqing even more.

Shen Qianyu smiled faintly: “If you speak of who in this world most hates Nanqing, it must undoubtedly be the Crown Prince.”

Song Wan slowly nodded, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief.

Seeing her expression, Shen Qianyu smiled lightly.

He hadn’t expected that Song Wan, a mere woman, would actually harbor concern for family and country, possessing considerable ambition to prosper and establish the nation. She was indeed far superior to wine sacks and rice bags like Qian Chao who occupied positions without performing their duties.

“Since the Crown Prince so despises Nanqing, he must have suffered considerable inhuman torment in Nanqing.”

Shen Qianyu subconsciously glanced at his own pair of hands exposed outside his sleeves, then carelessly looked away.

How could she know that the torment he received in his own country was no less than in Nanqing?

However, Shen Qianyu had never been one to enjoy wallowing in past events. He fought for that chair to survive—if he won the struggle, it meant his fate brought wealth and nobility; if he couldn’t win it, it meant his fate was full of misfortune and he deserved to be bullied and humiliated his entire life.

Raising his hand to fill the teacup before him, Shen Qianyu rather boldly tilted his head back and drained it in one gulp.

Seeing his unrestrained manner, Song Wan suddenly felt something was out of place—as if these actions were not something a eunuch who had been ground down and ordered about in the inner palace for years should be capable of performing.