Shen Chuan remembered… the last time he had offended Shen Wan, she had resorted to both threats and inducements, ordering the cooks in the small kitchen to double the salt in the food prepared for him. Even now, just recalling it, his tongue still seemed to fill with that bitter, unforgettable salty taste.
Not daring to look at Shen Wan's expression at the moment, Shen Chuan fled as if his hair were on fire, hurriedly tossing out a single sentence. "I still have matters to discuss with His Highness the Prince of Yong. Wanwan, just arrange things for Lady Hebai as you see fit."
After saying that, without waiting for a reply, he plunged straight into the rain with a composed face. Completely at odds with his expression, his footsteps were fierce and urgent.
Shen Wan glanced at his retreating figure, silently adding this to her mental ledger, then turned to call Zhi Chu and Hebai inside. Once the door was shut again, the clamor of the rain softened. Shen Wan sized Hebai up and, seeing her calm expression and the medicine chest on her back, couldn't help feeling a bit of goodwill toward her. "Your name is Hebai? Which characters?"
Hebai lowered herself in a curtsey, her voice crisp and clear. "Reporting to my mistress, the 'He' from lotus flower, and the 'Bai' meaning white."
Shen Wan vaguely felt the name sounded familiar, though she couldn't recall where she'd heard it. Filing the name away, she turned to Zhi Chu. "Is there still an empty room in the courtyard?"
"There's one next to mine that's still vacant," Zhi Chu replied.
Shen Wan looked toward Hebai with a questioning glance. Seeing that she had no objections, she motioned for Zhi Chu to lead her away. "I don't need you on duty for now. Hebai, go with Zhi Chu to see the room and get some rest."
Hebai didn't seem surprised and accepted respectfully.
After dismissing the two of them, Shen Wan pulled out the notes of the main plot that she had spent several days painstakingly recalling. She followed the plotline and went over it carefully once more, yet still couldn't remember whether Hebai had ever appeared in the original book.
After puzzling over it for a long while with no results, Shen Wan lifted the ginger tea that was still steaming and took a sip. Just then, the light in the room suddenly dimmed and brightened again. She looked up to see that Zhi Chu had returned.
"All settled?"
Zhi Chu nodded. "All settled. Hebai is organizing the box of medical books she brought with her."
Suppressing the sense of familiarity she felt upon hearing Hebai's name, Shen Wan changed the subject. "How much of what my brother and I said earlier did you hear outside?"
Zhi Chu cast her a cautious glance, as if weighing whether to tell the truth.
Shen Wan knew this was a leftover consequence of the original owner's mischievous temperament, but she still couldn't help laughing in exasperation. "Just tell me honestly. I just want to know where things stand."
"Miss," Zhi Chu seemed reassured and grew a bit bolder, "actually, not long after Young Master arrived, Hebai and I were already there. We heard most of what you said."
Seeing Zhi Chu's guilty look, Shen Wan knew things were going badly. Hearing this, she wasn't too surprised. "From where did you start listening?"
Zhi Chu lowered her voice. "From when you told Young Master to be extra careful on this trip and to bring more people… I thought Hebai was sent by His Highness, and since Master and Young Master serve under him, it would be a good thing for her to hear how much you both value His Highness's safety. I didn't expect Young Master to suddenly ask that question… and for you to answer like that."
Only then was Shen Wan somewhat surprised. "Was my answer that strange?"
Seeing that Shen Wan still hadn't grasped the key point, Zhi Chu was so anxious she was on the verge of tears. "The main thing is that all the other young ladies admire His Highness the Prince of Yong. Only you behave so differently. If His Highness hears about it, won't he think you have something against him?"
Shen Wan suddenly realized a problem.
She had transmigrated into an ancient romance novel. The male lead, Lu Zhan, was of noble status and exceptional ability—translated into modern terms, a top-tier domineering CEO. And the most baffling thing about such men was that they always fell for women who rejected them, resisted them, and didn't like them.
In the original plot of *Pampered*, it seemed the original Shen Wan had also played hard to get a few times before truly piquing Lu Zhan's interest…
Thinking of this, Shen Wan shuddered. Recalling the atmosphere of her earlier words, she hesitated and asked, "Then when you heard my answer just now, did it sound like a denial born of embarrassment?"
Zhi Chu was completely confused by her sudden shift in direction, but still answered instinctively. "Probably… yes."
Shen Wan blinked and finally felt at ease.
"You're right. What I said could indeed make His Highness displeased," Shen Wan said thoughtfully. "In that case… when you and Hebai interact, casually let it slip that I actually admire His Highness as well. Don't be too deliberate, and don't say it too often…"
Zhi Chu nodded emphatically, the twin buns atop her head bobbing with the motion. "Miss, I understand. This concerns your reputation—I'll handle it properly!"
All set!
With her worries eased, Shen Wan smiled contentedly as she folded up the rice paper filled with plot notes and pressed it back beneath her books.
Zhi Chu was pondering how best to carry out Shen Wan's instructions when her gaze caught a glimpse of red peeking out from beneath the inkstone. Suddenly remembering something, she said, "Miss, the Second Miss of the Qin Censor's household sent an invitation, inviting you to a banquet at Qingfeng Manor on the eighth of this month. You were ill before, so Madam said to set the invitation aside, and I never mentioned it to you."
"Qingfeng Manor?" After Hebai's name, yet another familiar name popped up. Shen Wan didn't react right away.
Zhi Chu pulled the invitation out from under the inkstone and lowered her voice as if sharing a secret. "Miss, you don't pay attention to these things, so you don't know. It's said that Qingfeng Manor is His Highness the Prince of Yong's property. That Second Miss Qin admires His Highness and has delayed marriage for years. Every few days she holds a banquet at Qingfeng Manor, all just to catch a glimpse of His Highness."
Shen Wan looked at Zhi Chu in surprise. She hadn't expected this soft, dough-like little girl to know so much gossip, and asked curiously, "How do you know all this?"
"Xiao Lan told me," Zhi Chu replied a little guiltily, adding, "Xiao Lan handles kitchen purchases, so she's better informed than others. She's also from my hometown. When you nap, she sometimes comes over to chat."
Shen Wan didn't mind this occasional slacking. After thinking it over, she asked, "What day is it today?"
"The fifth. There are two days until the banquet. If you're going, Miss, I'll have someone send a reply to Second Miss Qin," Zhi Chu answered.
To be cautious, Shen Wan recalled the original owner's social circle. She vaguely remembered that before becoming the Princess of Yong, the original Shen Wan had gotten along fairly well with the other noble ladies and hadn't made enemies.
"I've been wanting to go out for a stroll anyway. Go send a reply—say that I'll attend."
Zhi Chu nodded and went to carry out the order.
At the same time, in the Prince of Yong's residence.
Lu Zhan sat in the main seat of the study. On the chair to his left sat an elderly man with white hair and beard yet vigorous spirit, while Shen Chuan sat upright in the chair to his right. After a moment of silence, Lu Zhan broke it. "Shen Chuan, you said you had an important matter to report. What is it?"
With two pairs of eyes fixed on him, Shen Chuan inwardly groaned. Had he known that this old man Chen Songlin was in discussion with Lu Zhan, he wouldn't have come at this time no matter what.
Chen Songlin was a retainer of the Prince of Yong, truly capable, but perhaps due to age, extremely rigid in temperament. Shen Chuan had once discussed matters with him and had been scolded so thoroughly he was left traumatized.
Swallowing hard, Shen Chuan braced himself. "I'd like to further discuss the guard arrangements for this journey."
"The guards?" Chen Songlin found it odd and followed up. "Wasn't everything already decided? What's there to discuss?"
Shen Chuan was blunt and hot-tempered; hearing Chen Songlin speak gave him a headache, and he dearly wanted to stuff a cloth in the old man's mouth. But with Lu Zhan present, he suppressed the urge and answered solemnly. "They failed last time at Huguo Temple. I'm worried they'll strike this time. To be safe, we should put more thought into it."
Lu Zhan leaned back in his chair, hands folded atop his belt. Though his posture was lazy, it was even more elegant than most people sitting stiffly upright. He regarded Shen Chuan with interest and asked, giving him face, "Do you have any ideas?"
Shen Chuan's lips moved. He wanted to be honest, but remembering Chen Songlin's disapproval of women meddling in politics, he restrained himself and replied vaguely. "Your Highness could divide everyone into two groups. One group disguises itself as if you're among them and scouts ahead, while you yourself also disguise yourself and leave the capital a bit later."
Chen Songlin frowned in thought, stroked his long beard, and said calmly, "This plan is feasible."
Lu Zhan nodded as well. "Chen and I still have matters to discuss. Shen Chuan, go find Qing Su and have him arrange this."
Shen Chuan hadn't expected his persuasion to go so smoothly. Relieved, he immediately went to find someone. Chen Songlin glanced at his departing back, half gratified and half helpless, and shook his head. "He's grown up… even that hotheaded youngster who only knew how to fight has learned to use his head."
Lu Zhan smiled faintly, but Chen Songlin's words gave him further pause for thought.
The two continued their discussion for another half hour. Near dinnertime, Chen Songlin rose to take his leave. Qing Su stood guard outside the study, stepped aside to let him pass, and only knocked and entered after Chen Songlin had walked away with dignified steps. "Your Highness, news from Hebai."
Lu Zhan froze for a moment, then reacted, raising a brow as he took the note. "Arranged by Mother?"
Qing Su lowered his head, carefully avoiding any angle from which he might read the note. "Her Majesty said that Your Highness bears too many worries and occasionally needs some diversion."
Lu Zhan snorted softly without comment, though his hands didn't slow as he unfolded the note. The slip of paper, about two finger-widths wide and three inches long, was covered in dense, tiny characters. Lu Zhan's gaze lingered on words like "worried" and "admonition." His fingers rubbed lightly over the paper. After a long moment, he let out a soft laugh.
"No wonder Shen Chuan suddenly learned to think… so someone was teaching him."
Author's Note:
Wanwan: Hebai, you get out here! Look at what you reported! What do you mean I racked my brains out of worry to come up with a plan and painstakingly persuaded my brother to agree? Why didn't you also report that I said I don't like the Prince of Yong???
Hebai, aggrieved: But later you had Zhi Chu say that you actually admire His Highness… I had to figure out the truth before reporting, right?
Lu Zhan: Hebai did well. Keep it up!