Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

Shu Yan covered her mouth and laughed non-stop, "Shen Sangwan, you're getting more and more narcissistic, ahahaha."

Shen Sangwan was furious and grabbed the other person, tickling her vigorously, which made Shuyan laugh even louder.

Shuyi, standing outside the door, had a constant upturn at the corners of her mouth, her eyebrows and eyes crinkling with laughter.

"Shen Sangwan, don't go too far. It's clearly you who likes to fantasize, so why are you taking your anger out on me?"

Having finally escaped the clutches of her opponent, Shuyan quickly went behind the desk, her breathing still a little unsteady, her face flushed from the playful antics.

"You still said that!"

"Alright, alright, that's enough, let's stop fooling around."

Shuyan knew when to stop, lest she go too far and get genuinely angry. She didn't want to try to appease the clingy Shen Sangwan, only to end up getting herself into trouble before she could even win her over.

"Go on and tell me about your affair with the Empress. I'm quite curious how you two got involved. Isn't she your cheap brother's wife? Are you the second Cao?"

Shen Sangwan tilted her head in a rather irritating way, "Why don't you ask that scoundrel system for me too? I also want to know why it gave me this kind of task."

"At first I was actually reluctant, but now it seems quite appealing. Let me tell you, the Empress's supple waist, tsk tsk tsk, is even more supple than your waist in the real world, I... hiss—"

Shuyan couldn't stand Shen Sangwan's lewd expression any longer, so she quietly approached, pinched the soft flesh on his waist hard, and then fled as fast as she could.

"Shen Sangwan, you look like that female hooligan. There's a mirror over there, go take a look. You mustn't scare the Empress."

"How could Xiao Yan Yan say that about me? I'm so upset."

"Ho! Ho!"

Shuyan spat on the ground, "You all don't need to disgust me like this. Please turn right after you leave, then get in the carriage and go to the palace to find the Empress. Go and mess with her. I also need to burn some incense and pray to the Bodhisattva to thank someone for finally taking care of such a rotten piece of trash like you."

Shen Sangwan looked hurt and pitifully managed to squeeze out two tears.

"Since Xiao Yan Yan dislikes me so much, I'll just leave."

Shuyan was truly fed up with this damned voice, and she grabbed the paperweight from her desk to throw at him.

"Hey! No, no, no, a gentleman doesn't use his hands... oh no, a gentleman uses his words, not his fists. That thing hurts when it hits someone. Put it down, put it down, I won't hold it anymore, I'll never hold it again."

Shen Sangwan hurriedly raised her hands in a gesture of surrender.

The two temporarily ceased hostilities and sat down peacefully to discuss serious matters.

"I'm going to Prince Sheng's mansion for a flower viewing banquet in a couple of days. I don't know what my aunt, whom I've never met, is going to do. I have a feeling it's not going to be anything good, so—why don't you come with me?"

Shuyan pushed away the face that was leaning towards her, "Are you going to use me as a shield again? That's not a good idea!"

"How is this using you as a shield?"

"Hey! Shen Sangwan, I've noticed you're getting more and more calculating these days. Princess Consort Sheng is so old, why is she holding a flower-viewing banquet? Either it's to find suitable partners for her children, or she's trying to match you up. You're taking me there, isn't that just to ward off unwanted suitors?"

"You're telling me to leave the manor and renounce my status as a princess, but at the same time you're trying to drag me into battle. You're really not being fair."

"You were the one who didn't agree, yet you mocked me!"

Shuyan snorted coldly, "Heh—you've really gotten better at turning the tables these days!"

"I learned my skills from you. Since you're unwilling to establish your own household, I'll have to come up with another idea!"

"No matter what Princess Sheng's purpose is, she will inevitably be entangled in marriage. Please help me out!"

"Wouldn't it have been better if you had simply used my overbearing attitude as an excuse to refuse the other party?"

"Isn't that because you disagreed with starting your own business?"

Shu Yan was well aware that Shen Sangwan wanted to gradually expose herself to the public eye, step out of the Princess's residence, and make connections with people in the capital.

But this seems a bit too hasty!

"Having things too hastily will backfire. I will not attend the flower viewing banquet the day after tomorrow, and such an occasion is inappropriate for me regardless of my status."

Shuyan was still quite clear-headed; some things needed to be dealt with gradually.

"But I'm afraid the rumors will get even more outrageous, and if they get out of control, I won't be able to clear your name."

"Then I'll just stay here and not leave. How could a princess like you not be able to support a weak woman?"

Shuyan shrugged indifferently.

"If you go the day after tomorrow, I will announce your identity as a close friend. Even if others don't believe it, at least it will be the beginning. I will recreate your identity and take you to more activities of noble ladies in the capital. Over time, they will more or less understand."

The two people in the room remained silent for a long time, and the air seemed to have stopped.

"Then I'll do as you say."

Seeing that Shuyan had agreed, she breathed a sigh of relief.

This roundabout strategy is really good.

August 18th was a sunny day.

Early in the morning, after washing up, Shen Sangwan went to have breakfast with Shuyan.

The servants in the mansion were all busy with their own tasks, and they all seemed to be in good spirits.

Upon arriving at the East Garden, Shen Sangwan noticed a box of clothes on the table and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Why aren't you wearing the clothes I had prepared for you? Do they not look good? Or do they not fit?"

"Has it been so long since you wore women's clothing that even your taste in clothes has become strange?"

Shen Sangwan sat down naturally. "What do you mean?"

"Why should I, a nobody, dress up so extravagantly? Is this flower-viewing banquet for admiring the flowers or for admiring me?"

She simply had her attendant prepare a simple and elegant outfit for her and style her hair into a delicate, cloud-like bun.

After finishing their meal and having everything prepared, the two left the mansion.

The Prince Sheng's Mansion is located on the Imperial Street and occupies a very large area.

Prince Sheng and the late emperor were born of the same mother. They fought together to establish this empire, and Prince Sheng deserves half the credit for overthrowing the previous dynasty and establishing the Southern Jing.

Everyone thought he would be unwilling to accept the position of prince, and many people thought that he was just temporarily biding his time. Even after the late emperor had been on the throne for more than ten years, he had not shown any rebellious intentions.

Instead, he married the eldest daughter of the founding hero, Duke Song, and went off to travel and enjoy life.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of Prince Sheng's mansion. Shen Sangwan and Shuyan stepped off the carriage one after the other and were personally greeted by the steward as they headed into the mansion.

Along the way, people came and went, and Shuyan was not quite used to such a scene.

In the unfamiliar environment, apart from Shen Sangwan, there was no one she knew. Suddenly, she felt as if she had become a socially anxious person.

As they passed through several alleys, several young ladies from noble families bowed in greeting, but their eyes were all fixed on Shuyan.