He had come today in his capacity as Crown Prince, and had already anticipated that Song Wan might see through his identity. Yet now that he was about to meet her face-to-face in his true appearance, he inexplicably felt uneasy again.

He truly didn’t know how Song Wan would react.

That woman had always valued propriety. If she learned that he had interacted with her under the identity of Ji Rong, would she be angry at him for deceiving her?

If she was angry, how should he explain? And if he explained, would she believe him?

Would she think he had deliberately toyed with her? Would she think he harbored disrespectful intentions?

Since the Song residence servants had reported that Miss would come to pay respects to the Crown Prince, Shen Qianyu had already stood up and sat down three to five times.

Now he was looking down at the ordinary robes he wore, thinking privately that this sandalwood color really wasn’t bright enough, and wondering if it would make him look somewhat lifeless.

As he frowned and pondered with his head lowered, Wan Xiao observed his master alternately straightening his cuffs and brushing wrinkles from his hem, and couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.

Fortunately, Song Fu was still angry with Su Xie and his mind was elsewhere, so he didn’t notice Shen Qianyu’s unusual behavior.

The two silently occupied themselves with their own thoughts. When sounds came from the courtyard, Shen Qianyu set down his teacup with a somewhat restrained manner.

The woman’s footsteps outside the door were light and slow. A pink-green skirt hem gently flashed past the doorway. For some reason, Shen Qianyu suddenly felt his heart tighten.

Even back when he fought mastiffs for Qin Rao in Nanqing, he had never been this nervous.

Surprised, he looked down at his palm that had become slightly sweaty, his brow furrowing in confusion.

“This subject pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Song Yao walked into the room and gave the Crown Prince a gentle bow. Her sweet, honeyed voice calling out startled both Shen Qianyu and Song Fu, who then frowned in unison.

Upon seeing the Crown Prince, Song Yao felt her cheeks begin to burn. She was so shy that her eyes filled with moisture, wishing she could hide behind her maidservant.

Song Fu paused slightly before saying, “This is your subject’s legitimate younger sister, second in birth order.”

Shen Qianyu showed little interest, drooping his eyelids as he uttered “Miss Song” and then said nothing more.

His appearance favored his mother’s—features refined and sharp. When silent, he emanated an oppressive presence that was difficult to bear. Song Yao’s heart filled with trepidation, momentarily uncertain how to respond.

This was her first time meeting a man outside her family without her mother’s accompaniment.

“Since you’ve offered thanks to the Crown Prince, you may leave.”

Song Fu spoke coldly, displeased in his heart.

Shen Qianyu didn’t speak either. Knowing he wouldn’t see Song Wan today, all his interest vanished. His entire mood soured, and he only wanted to return to the Eastern Palace early to hear those old ministers say their useful and useless things.

“It’s… Elder Sister and Third Sister are indisposed, so they asked younger sister to come thank Your Highness the Crown Prince in their stead.”

“Oh? Song Wan is indisposed? Why is she indisposed?”

Shen Qianyu straightened his posture, wondering privately if Song Wan had been hurt by Su Xie and was now crying in grief.

His expression took on a gloomy cast as Shen Qianyu looked at Song Yao with urgent eyes.

Song Yao considered for a moment, then said in a low voice, “Elder Sister, because of the gossip outside…”

Bang! The teacup fell heavily onto the wooden table. Before Song Fu could speak, Shen Qianyu said, “I am busy with affairs. Lord Song need not see me out.”

Before Song Fu could even stand, Shen Qianyu strode away with a cold expression on his face.

Song Fu didn’t dare let the Crown Prince be treated so rudely, so he also stood and followed him out.

Only when they could no longer hear Song Yao’s delicate, weak sobbing did the two stop walking.

“To disturb Your Highness is truly this subject’s failure to discipline his sister properly. This subject…”

Shen Qianyu waved his hand. “Let’s not mention these things first. I only ask you why Song Wan is treated so harshly in the Song residence? Even a younger sister can lord over her? And she even dared to attempt to slander Song Wan’s reputation before me?”

Song Fu was somewhat stunned by his solemn tone and questioning manner.

For some reason, he felt the Crown Prince’s attitude was somewhat strange, though he couldn’t quite say what was wrong for the moment.

After thinking, Song Fu said, “Your Highness the Crown Prince is overthinking. Wan’er is not being mistreated in the residence…”

“Not being mistreated?”

“If she’s not being mistreated, why were two unsuitable marriage proposals arranged for her in succession?”

“Do you know that when Yang Xun heard from a fellow townsman that his teacher’s daughter had fallen into a lake, he rushed back to Jiangnan overnight without even verifying whether it was true or false? If in the future this woman uses such favors to manipulate, what would you have Song Wan do?”

Song Fu’s eyes showed guilt, and he instantly lost all confidence in what he might say.

He truly hadn’t known about this matter.

“She just returned to the residence and you were all so eager to arrange marriages for her. So hasty, as if sending someone away—yet you still say she’s not being mistreated in the residence?”

“This…”

Song Fu’s thin lips opened and closed, unable to utter a single word of rebuttal.

He was a man who never involved himself in inner courtyard matters—how would he understand matters of marriage proposals and betrothals?

These things should have been handled by Madam Song, but Madam Song was perhaps even more…

Thinking of this, Song Fu suddenly raised his head.

The Crown Prince’s righteous indignation—why did he seem even more agitated than him, her actual blood brother?

“Why is Your Highness so concerned about this subject’s younger sister?”

“I…”

Shen Qianyu’s tone faltered, his momentum suddenly deflating. “I have always regarded the Song family’s legitimate daughter as my teacher. Naturally I’m somewhat concerned about my teacher. What’s improper about that?”

“It seems… nothing improper?”

“Exactly.”

Restraining his expression, Shen Qianyu’s eyes grew serious. “Today I have an appointment with Minister Wang from the Ministry of Revenue. I shall take my leave first.”

“Please wait a moment, Your Highness.”

Song Fu knew the Crown Prince had once submitted a disciple’s card to Song Wan. Thinking about it now, his explanation didn’t seem wrong, so he cast aside the strange feeling in his heart.

Taking a small letter from his sleeve, Song Fu said, “I wonder which one is Eunuch Ji Rong from the Dong Chang?”

Ji Rong, standing behind Wan Xiao, raised his head, but Shen Qianyu stared wide-eyed at the small letter in Song Fu’s hand.

“So you are Eunuch Ji Rong. I must thank you for your care of my legitimate younger sister in the past.”

After thinking it over, Song Fu decided to give Song Wan’s letter to Ji Rong in front of the Crown Prince. If he transmitted it privately, it might look suspicious and invite the Crown Prince’s mistrust. Being open and aboveboard would instead avoid arousing suspicion.

Song Fu extended his hand. Ji Rong looked at Shen Qianyu, and seeing him signal with his eyes, reached out to take it.

The three had just left the Song residence when Shen Qianyu stretched out his hand.

“Your Highness.”

Shen Qianyu opened it and saw only a few sparse words, all just ordinary greetings.

After reading it several times, he carefully folded the letter and placed it in his sleeve.

His eyes overflowed with tender affection. Wan Xiao couldn’t help but say sourly, “The Crown Prince has ruined multiple marriage prospects. I’m afraid when Miss Song learns of this, she’ll resent Your Highness.”

Shen Qianyu scoffed. “What kind of person do you take Song Wan for? Would she value someone as opportunistic as Yang Xun, or an impetuous youngster like Su Xie?”

“Even if Miss Song doesn’t fancy those two, she’ll still need to remarry in the future. Your Highness can ruin one or two proposals, but can you really ruin every single one?”

“You can’t marry Miss Song back to the Eastern Palace anyway, so what’s the point of ruining one or two matches?”

“Marry her back to the Eastern Palace?”

Shen Qianyu’s heart stirred. Suddenly he felt Wan Xiao’s words had some merit.

Hadn’t he entertained such thoughts before?

Now that Wan Xiao was thinking along the same lines as him, this was clearly an excellent solution!