Chapter 81: The Secret Behind Shen Sisi’s Favor

Page 1 of 3

Shen Qingyun shook her head at the prince’s words. “Rest assured, Your Highness. I have my own plans for this matter. My elder sister, Shen Sisi, is betrothed to Jiang Lin. I intend to bind them together, lest she bring harm to others.”

Hearing Shen Sisi’s name, Si Moli paused in thought. “That sister of yours seems to be quite close with the Third Prince.”

Amazed by Si Moli’s intelligence network, Shen Qingyun quickly accepted it given his status. She frowned slightly. “Yes. For reasons unknown, the Third Prince seems captivated by my sister, but lately he’s grown distant.”

“There’s a reason behind his affection,” Si Moli replied.

Shen Qingyun was taken aback. “You know even this, Your Highness?”

Si Moli smiled faintly. “A few years ago, the Third Prince was enamored with a palace maid. She was of humble birth, and the Empress, fearing he’d become lost in love, ordered her death. The incident affected him greatly. Since then, he’s shown no interest in any noble ladies, devoting himself instead to his career in court.”

He paused before continuing, “Your sister Shen Sisi—her attire and features resemble that palace maid by seventy percent.”

Understanding dawned on Shen Qingyun.

No wonder the Third Prince favored Shen Sisi in both lives; she was merely a stand-in for his lost love. A thought flashed through her mind—perhaps now she knew why, in her previous life, Shen Sisi became the Third Prince’s consort yet continued secretly seeing Jiang Lin. Shen Sisi always believed herself to be the prince’s beloved, only to discover after marriage that she was but a substitute. Fearful and insecure, she clung to Jiang Lin as her fallback.

“But then why has the Third Prince recently grown cold toward Shen Sisi?” Shen Qingyun wondered aloud.

Her innocent confusion drew a wider smile from Si Moli. “Because the Third Prince met another woman, one who resembles that palace maid even more, nearly ninety percent, and she too is of low birth. He’s secretly kept her in his residence.”

That woman had been sent by King Li himself.

“No wonder,” Shen Qingyun murmured, her eyes widening. With a better replacement, Shen Sisi had lost her allure.

Besides the resemblance, Shen Sisi had little to recommend her. Though nominally the legitimate eldest daughter of the Duke’s household, the family had declined, surviving only with the support of the General’s household. Shen Sisi was not the daughter of Lady Han and was despised by her, so marrying her would bring no aid from the General’s family.

Page 2 of 3

The Third Prince, son of the Empress and a prime candidate for Crown Prince, could easily choose a consort of higher status, greater talent, and beauty.

“Did Shen Sisi commission such expensive jewelry to regain the Third Prince’s attention with her looks?” Shen Qingyun mused.

“Not quite,” Si Moli explained patiently. “According to my investigations, it seems Shen Sisi was deliberately directed by the Third Prince to approach the Sixth Prince, which is why she happened to run into him at the jewelry shop.”

“Why would he do that?”

“Recently, a large number of corrupt officials were arrested in the southern waterworks project. His Majesty now needs a prince to oversee the appointments for their replacements. All the princes are competing openly and secretly; the Third and Sixth Princes are both strong contenders. If rumors spread that the Sixth Prince harassed noblewomen—even if it seems trivial—His Majesty detests such conduct and would naturally favor the Third Prince.”

Shen Qingyun finally understood the situation.

The appointment of new officials was a lucrative opportunity, allowing a prince to place his own people, gain favors, and enhance his reputation.

With a superior substitute in hand, the Third Prince now used Shen Sisi to eliminate his rivals. Shen Sisi wasn’t foolish; she didn’t act alone but also manipulated Jiang Lin as her unwitting pawn.

She helped the Third Prince while harming Jiang Lin, too. It was said the Sixth Prince was violent by nature—if he became mortal enemies with Jiang Lin, Shen Sisi could use it as a pretext to break off her engagement, achieving two goals with one action.

But as the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, now that Shen Qingyun knew their scheme, she considered intervening to cement Jiang Lin’s engagement to Shen Sisi once and for all.

Si Moli, seeing the resolve in Shen Qingyun’s expression, offered, “If you encounter any difficulties, come to the Li Prince’s Mansion anytime.”

Warmth filled Shen Qingyun’s heart. Though Li Prince appeared aloof, he had helped her greatly without ever boasting about it.

After exchanging a few more words, Si Moli feigned surprise at learning she was heading to the Hanging Medic Pavilion, and claimed he wished to see it as well. Thus, the two set out together.

Behind them, Han Yu, hidden in the shadows, revealed a look of desolation. When Jiang Lin spoke rudely earlier, he longed to step forward and teach him a lesson for his lady, but he had no status.

He could only remain in hiding, denied even the right to act, watching as Li Prince and Shen Qingyun walked away together.

Page 3 of 3

The two arrived at the Hanging Medic Pavilion and quickly met Lian Rufeng.

Lian Rufeng, having taken extra care with his appearance, greeted Shen Qingyun with a flourish of his fan, his voice rich and magnetic, “Qingyun, you’re here.”

Si Moli stepped forward calmly, his eyes flashing with a hint of murderous intent as he repeated the name, “Qingyun?”

With a mocking smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he said to Lian Rufeng, “I didn’t expect you and Miss Shen to be so well acquainted.”

Lian Rufeng was momentarily stunned. He glanced at the little apprentice, silently questioning why he hadn’t been told Li Prince would come. The boy hung his head in guilt, not daring to speak.

“No, no, I and Qingyun—oh, I mean Miss Shen—are just friends. I wanted to inform her that the pill formula has finally been completed. Look, isn’t my skin smoother already?”

As he spoke, Lian Rufeng tried to ingratiate himself by pulling Si Moli’s hand toward his face.

Si Moli frowned in distaste, shaking him off, and turned to Shen Qingyun with a serious expression, his tone tinged with a hint of grievance, “I wonder if I count as Miss Shen’s friend?”

Shen Qingyun hadn’t expected the two men to know each other, and seemingly so well. Hearing Li Prince’s words, she immediately understood their implication, and her cheeks flushed. “Of course. From now on, Your Highness may call me Qingyun.”

“Then don’t call me Your Highness either. Privately, call me Moli, won’t you, Qingyun?”

It was a simple name, yet from Li Prince’s lips it sounded somehow tender and lingering.

Shen Qingyun’s ears reddened as she nodded lightly.

Moli—Never Apart. She repeated the words silently, feeling something stir within her.

Lian Rufeng clutched his wounded heart, rolling his eyes to break the tension. “Qingyun, this pill works wonders. Would you like to try it?”