Sui Sui seemed to be trapped in a dead end, racking her brains over why Situ Yao had gone to the Song mansion today. Fearing she might actually figure something out, I nervously changed the subject, "Sui Sui, let's put aside why the Crown Prince went to the Song mansion for now. But you've already made an enemy of her, why did you still make this trip?"
"My father forced me. He said Song Shuxian was once my companion, and if I didn't attend her coming-of-age ceremony, people would inevitably speculate. They'd say I was being harsh and difficult, or that she had done something wrong to offend me. In short, it wouldn't be good for either of us."
I looked at her suspiciously, "And you just compromised like that?"
"That's impossible, of course. My father promised me that next year, he'd go on an incognito tour, and I'd be included in the list of escorts."
"You don't let go until you see the rabbit, I knew you wouldn't be so easy to deal with."
Sui Sui chuckled.
Then she took a sip of tea and suddenly became philosophical, sighing faintly, "They say time reveals a person's heart, but it's impossible to guard against those who are good at pretending. Song Shuxian entered the palace when she was six, and it's been nine years now. Tsk, I haven't truly understood her in nine years, which shows that 'time reveals a person's heart' is just nonsense. It's only when you truly encounter trouble that you can see the quality of a person's character."
I smiled and said, "It's not that you can't see it at all. All these years, haven't you always been indifferent towards her?"
"That's true. I'm so shrewd, I saw through her hypocritical nature long ago. There are so many palace servants, from the nannies around me to the young eunuchs sweeping the corridors, no one doesn't praise her for her kind heart and thoughtfulness. A person's energy is limited, how can they be wholeheartedly good to everyone? That's too fake. Besides, a person's heart is always biased, so emotions should also be preferential. What meaning is there in being equally good to everyone?"
I was amazed and gave Sui Sui a thumbs-up, "Sui Sui, you are truly enlightened."
"Of course," Sui Sui's tail immediately wagged again, her little head held high with pride.
Sui Sui had planned to sleep at my house.
But Situ Yao personally came to pick her up, so Sui Sui happily followed him back to the palace.
I was fortunate that my mother returned at just the right time, managing to block him at the door. Otherwise, I really hadn't figured out how to face him.
The next morning, I told my mother about what happened at the Song mansion. My mother showed no reaction to me falling out with Song Shuxian.
She sat with her legs crossed, looking very composed, "So what if we fell out? We don't need anything from her anyway. Why should my precious daughter endure her ridicule? So what if our family background is a bit inferior? Go back twenty-odd years, her father used to kneel before me and call me master. If only I had taken her as a disciple back then, she would have to call me Grandmaster now."
I sincerely felt that my mother was amazing.
As soon as I gave her a thumbs-up, she spoke, "You all go out for now. Ruyi, you and Axiu, guard the doors and windows."
Uh, what was so secret that they had to clear the room?
Aunt Ruyi followed her instructions, and soon only my mother and I were left in the room. My mother's gaze lingered on my face for a long time, making me feel uneasy. "Mother, if you keep looking, I'll think a flower has bloomed on my face."
"Peach blossom?"
Me: ...
She sighed, "The Crown Prince came to see me last night. You've been keeping me in the dark, girl. Tell me, what step have you two reached?"
Good heavens, what was Situ Yao's speed? He only asked me yesterday afternoon to speak to my mother himself, and he couldn't wait even a day? My hands trembled as I reached for the teacup on the table.
But my mother was faster. She snatched the teacup and slammed it down in front of herself. "Wang Shichun, don't you know that when you're nervous, you always use drinking tea as a cover? Originally, I thought the Crown Prince was just fooling me, but now it seems you've really developed improper feelings for him?"
I wanted to say I hadn't, but the words wouldn't come out when they reached my lips.
My feelings for Situ Yao had long since ceased to be pure. It was just that due to the difference in our statuses, I had been reminding myself not to fall too deep.
Seeing me like this, my mother became anxious. She grabbed my arm, "Nannan, you, you stayed in Meicheng for so long together, a man and a woman, like dry firewood and a spark, you didn't, didn't..."
I never expected my mother's imagination to run so wild.
How many storybooks had she read to come to such a conclusion? Seeing that she was about to lose her composure, I quickly interrupted her, "Mother, can you stop imagining things? The Crown Prince and I are innocent. How can you think of your own daughter like this?"
My mother breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good. But Nannan, what exactly happened between you two? Why is the Crown Prince set on marrying no one but you?"