Seeing her frown, Shen Qianyu realized this item was quite improper.

Only now that he had already taken it out, these words couldn’t be swallowed back. After thinking, Shen Qianyu said, “The Crown Prince knows that I am acquainted with Miss, and asked me to help select things Miss would like.”

“Last time I saw Miss making lip rouge together with the household maid…”

Thinking of her improper appearance, Song Wan’s cheeks flushed red.

Shen Qianyu looked at her and smiled foolishly. “So I personally made this thing. I don’t know if Miss likes it.”

“Of course I like it. Many thanks, Eunuch.”

So it was made by Ji Rong’s own hands—such thoughtfulness was truly rare.

He was a palace eunuch. From ordinary interactions, one could see that this person, like the Crown Prince, didn’t understand much about elaborate etiquette. But Ji Rong was straightforward by nature—seeing her make lip rouge, he felt she lacked this thing. It could be considered full of good intentions.

Though somewhat strange, but… presumably he had made such things for other palace consorts before.

Song Wan smiled gently and received it from Shen Qianyu’s hands.

Seeing he had covered it over, he grinned.

The two conversed for a while. Song Wan also carefully helped him consider various important court officials—their temperaments and preferences unknown to ordinary people, family anecdotes, and such.

Regarding matters of the inner quarters, she spoke in especially great detail—whose wife had what temperament, which family had what hidden power behind them—she explained everything thoroughly.

Shen Qianyu knew this was teaching him to find alternative approaches, instructing him from where to better approach those seemingly difficult bones to crack.

Shen Qianyu listened quietly, occasionally exchanging smiles with Song Wan.

The two chatted for a long while, finally sketching out a general outline of these noble family stories in the capital. When the moon rose to the treetops, the two gradually fell silent.

“In the future, I’m afraid I can no longer come to Miss’s residence.”

Shen Qianyu looked at Song Wan, murmuring aloud, his tone carrying unconscious reluctance.

Song Wan’s eyes curved. “After entering the palace in the future, perhaps we can still meet.”

Shen Qianyu’s face was gloomy. Seeing this, Song Wan also felt a faint unwillingness to part. She thought for a moment and said, “Eunuch, please wait a moment. I also have something to give you.”

Entering the room, she brought out a small case. After handing it to Shen Qianyu, Song Wan said, “Originally I wanted to give it to Eunuch in winter, but now… Eunuch should keep it first.”

“Inside is hand cream. I added some medicinal ingredients—it’s good for frostbite and chilblains.”

“These chilblains seem like a small problem, but I’ve heard that when they flare up, they’re painful and itchy, and even in summer they’re quite uncomfortable. I saw this recipe in ancient texts. I don’t know if it’s effective.”

When they first met, Song Wan had a deep impression of the injury marks on Ji Rong’s hands and feet.

She had seen rough-working eunuchs and palace maids in the palace before, but this was the first time she had seen someone injured as severely as Ji Rong, even leaving such deep marks.

Previously, when returning from the palace to the Marquis Estate, she had sought out the women in charge of laundry in the estate to ask. Those people also had chilblains on their hands, but none as severe as his.

Later she had added fifty extra cash monthly for each of those women to buy hand cream. She didn’t know if it had been cut now.

Thinking of this, Song Wan added, “This injury should mainly be nurtured. If in winter you truly cannot avoid cold water, afterward apply more of this cream.”

After finishing, she worried Ji Rong’s monthly allowance wouldn’t be enough, so she added, “If you run out, Eunuch can send someone here to get more.”

Shen Qianyu clutched the case tightly, only feeling his heart burning hot.

He lowered his head to look at his own hands, then looked at the pale white palms that seemed to carry faint lustrous light in the moonlight. He subconsciously pulled his sleeves down, covering the chilblain scars on the backs of his hands.

Seeing his movement, Song Wan suddenly remembered Lin Jiayue’s words—we’re all human, what distinctions of high and low, noble and base are there?

An instant of discomfort arose in her heart. She furrowed her brow slightly, her eyes showing confusion.

Under the clear cold moonlight, Song Wan stood quietly on the steps in thought. Shen Qianyu only felt this scene was like a painting, freely describing nothing but gentle warmth.

Suddenly the words Jiang Yan had said floated in his mind—no one knows her goodness.

Until today, until this very moment, Shen Qianyu barely understood his meaning.

Song Wan was very good. Jiang Xingjian was not her good match.

“Miss Song…”

Song Wan raised her head, her eyes bright and gentle.

Her gentleness made people lower their guard, involuntarily wanting to pour out their hearts.

Shen Qianyu furrowed his brow, his eyes full of sincerity. “Jiang Xingjian isn’t worth it. The Marquis of Chengyang Estate also isn’t worth it.”

Song Wan was somewhat surprised, her eyes widening slightly.

Shen Qianyu said, “Miss is kindhearted, clever, and gentle. Even… even after leaving the Marquis of Chengyang Estate, you will surely have a good future.”

He wanted to say someone recognized her goodness, someone had protected her at the tip of their heart for many years, treasuring and valuing her, carefully not daring to easily touch her even slightly.

He wanted to say someone had once devoted their true feelings to her, so devout they felt even thinking of her was a form of blasphemy.

He wanted to say anyone would be far, far better than Jiang Xingjian. But when the words reached his lips, he could only force them down.

The secret Jiang Yan protected with his life—he couldn’t speak of it nor dared to.

After thinking for a long while, Shen Qianyu finally slowly spoke. “Miss, rest assured. When I return to the palace this time, I will certainly have His Highness the Crown Prince resolve your future worries.”

Song Wan was just shaking her head when he interrupted her.

“Miss should occasionally think for herself. If you don’t feel sorry for yourself, it will only make those who care for Miss more distressed.”

Song Wan’s thin lips parted slightly, her eyes carrying wonder.

After quietly thinking, she smiled and nodded, her heart slightly warmed.

Shen Qianyu held the medicine case and walked toward the door. When he had walked halfway, he couldn’t help but turn back.

Song Wan still stood in place with a faint smile. Seeing him turn back, the smile at the corners of her lips deepened.

Shen Qianyu said, “I wish Miss smooth sailing in the future and that you meet a good match.”

Song Wan also smiled. “I wish Eunuch a life of smooth fortune and good health, with a brilliant future ahead.”

“I accept your kind words.”

After speaking, Shen Qianyu strode away.

After seeing him off, Song Wan held that fist-sized porcelain jar and gently opened it.

A rich floral fragrance wafted from within, so fragrant it cleared her head for an instant.

She extended her hand and lightly touched the lip rouge, seeing her pearly white fingertip stained with a blood-red rouge color.

She was slightly stunned, then laughed.

After Heng Wu saw off the guest and returned after bolting the door, seeing the mark on her finger that was so red it was almost black, she frowned. “Where did Eunuch Ji Rong buy this from? Such a large jar and so deep red—applied to the lips, it looks as if one just ate someone’s child.”

Song Wan smiled at these words. “It’s someone’s kind intention—worth treasuring well.”

After speaking, she placed the rouge properly and securely in her cosmetics case.

On the other side, Shen Qianyu left Song Wan’s residence. Alone, holding the medicine case and looking at the main gate, he was slightly dazed.

After today, there would no longer be a “Ji Rong” in this world. Even if Song Wan entered the palace in the future, she wouldn’t see him.

Come to think of it, today was actually the last time the two could interact freely and comfortably without needing to avoid anything.

He didn’t know why, but Shen Qianyu felt inexplicably agitated, his heart unable to calm.

After standing before the gate for a long while, he finally calmed his emotions and disappeared into the night holding the medicine case.