Duke Jing's younger sister

Thinking of the conversation with her brother that night, she felt a little guilty when facing Yang, her eyes slightly dodged and she said, "Yes, mother."

Seeing her so well-behaved, Yang felt relieved. "Don't blame your mother. Although Gu Nanxiao seems to be a talentless man, he has a good personality, comes from a wealthy family, and is an only child. You will definitely not suffer any loss if you marry him."

"Mother, what you said is really interesting!"

Shen Zhiyan said coldly, "You found such a marriage for Third Sister, and Third Sister should be grateful to you? The Gu family is so good, why don't you marry Ren Jiaorui there?"

"Yan'er, you..."

Shen Zhiyan turned her head away again and simply closed her eyes to rest, not bothering to listen to another word.

Yang was speechless, her chest rising and falling slightly with anger.

Yang didn't believe that Shen Zhiyan couldn't see that she intended to take Ren Jiaorui into Shen Beiqi's backyard. Now she said this deliberately just to make things difficult for herself.

"Mother, don't be angry..."

Shen Li comforted her softly, and quietly pulled Shen Zhiyan's sleeve, "Don't be like this..." She was stuck in the middle and it was really difficult. It was not right to persuade her, and it was not right not to persuade her.

Fortunately, the Shen family was not far from the palace gate. Just when Shen Li felt unbearable, the carriage stopped.

Shen Zhiyan got off the car first. As soon as she stepped on the stool and landed on the ground, she heard a familiar voice behind her, "Sister Zhiyan——"

When Shen Li got out of the car, Han Yunning had already approached and bowed respectfully to Yang, "Hello, Aunt Shen."

Yang looked Han Yunning up and down. This future daughter-in-law was first-rate in appearance, family background and knowledge.

She was extremely satisfied, and the anger that had been aroused just now finally subsided a little. She hurriedly helped Han Yunning up and said, "Hurry up, no need to be so polite."

Han Yunning smiled, thanked him and stood up.

"Mrs. Shen, you are here so early too?" Mrs. Han was wearing a deep blue summer dress with silver patterns. The style didn't look unusual, but the material shimmered like water, and one could tell at a glance that it was very expensive.

Yang smiled and replied, "It's better to come earlier. The journey will not be so rushed, and there will be time to chat with the ladies."

Mrs. Han agreed, and the two families naturally walked together. Led by the eunuch leading the way, they passed through the palace road with high walls and came to the imperial garden.

Before I even got close to the flowers, the rich scent of peonies hit my nose.

Shen Li glanced to the side and saw a large area of ​​bright red peonies in full bloom in the garden. The flowers were in clusters, gorgeous and colorful, and the layers of petals swayed in the wind, stunningly beautiful in the sun.

In the open space surrounded by peonies, palace maids and eunuchs were setting up the dining table and cattail mats. It seemed that they would have a banquet here at night.

It was still early today, and there were only a few elegantly dressed ladies from wealthy families admiring the flowers in the courtyard.

Yang and Madam Han went together to pay their respects to the Queen first. The younger generations just had to wait until the Emperor and the Queen were present at the same time and then they could pay their respects together.

Han Yunning kept talking to Shen Zhiyan. Shen Li looked around and walked towards the pavilion not far away with Ziyuan.

She was in a low position and did not see anyone in the pavilion. When she was halfway up the steps, the bright yellow four-clawed dragon robe in the pavilion came into view.

Shen Li stopped and was about to leave quietly, but she found that Crown Prince Xiao Wenhao was staring at her with a smile.

Thinking of the scene in the painting boat that day, she felt an indescribable discomfort spread throughout her body, and she couldn't help but get goose bumps.

"Miss Shen San, would you like to come up and rest for a while?" Xiao Wenhao said politely without standing up.

Shen Li bowed and saluted, "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I didn't know the Crown Prince was here. Sorry to bother you."

She turned to leave, but the prince called out to her, "Wait a minute!"

Shen Li stopped reluctantly, only to hear footsteps approaching from behind. Xiao Wenhao stood on the same step as her, leaning slightly closer and saying, "Why, you want to leave when you see me? Are you, Miss Shen San... afraid of me?"

"Your Highness, you are too polite. I just want to leave because I am afraid of disturbing you. What's more, your Highness has always been kind to everyone and everyone. I respect you so much that how could I be afraid?" Shen Li said respectfully.

Xiao Wenhao sneered, his eyes fixed on her the whole time, as if trying to determine whether her words were true or false. "In that case, Miss Shen San, please come up and have a cup of tea."

After saying this, the prince turned around and sat back in the pavilion.

She looked back and just drank tea. Although there were not too many people in the imperial garden, there were still dozens of them including the palace maids and eunuchs. What was there to be afraid of?

Shen Li climbed up to the pavilion, and Xiao Wenhao picked up the teapot and poured her a cup of tea. "Miss Shen San, this tea was brewed by me personally. Would you like to try it?"

As he spoke, Xiao Wenhao picked up the jade teacup in his hand and handed it to her, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Shen Li took the tea but didn't drink it. She put it back on the stone table. The prince glanced at her and asked with a smile, "Why don't you drink it?"

Why not drink? How dare she drink?

That night in Qinghui Courtyard, Shen Beiqi gave numerous instructions and warnings, telling everyone to be careful with whatever they brought into the palace and not to be careless.

She had always been on guard against the prince, so she dared not drink the tea he handed her.

Just as she was thinking about how to explain, the fourth princess Xiao Wushuang came up with a group of maids and said, "Brother, what are you doing here..."

Before she could even say "what", she noticed Shen Li and asked in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

Then what are you doing here again? Shen Li complained in her heart. To be honest, she didn't dare to say it out loud. She even had to thank the Fourth Princess for helping her out like a timely rain.

"Replying to the Fourth Princess, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince invites me to have tea here."

"Have some tea?" Xiao Wushuang glanced at the prince, then at Shen Li, with deep meaning in her eyes, "You go down first, this princess has something to discuss with my brother."

Shen Li wanted nothing more than to do so. She bowed immediately and fled with Zi Yuan, fearing that the prince would regret his decision and call her back.

She returned to the Imperial Garden, and Shen Zhiyan came up to her, "Ali, where did you go just now?"

"In that gazebo over there, what's going on?"

"Nothing..." Shen Zhiyan was a little uncertain, "I just think Han Yunning seems a little strange."

"What's strange?" Shen Li asked.

"I don't know either, but she asked a lot of questions about us and my brother. I don't know what she wanted to ask."

Shen Li was silent for a moment, "Maybe I want to learn more about my brother by chatting with you, don't think too much."

A slightly sarcastic voice sounded from behind the two of them.

"Hey, who is this? Isn't this the pheasant that the Shen family picked up?"