Chapter 108: A Token of My Love for You

Yet in doing so, it had saved Shen Nanyuan. Otherwise, her betrothal to the Second Prince might well have been sealed then and there.

She could not help glancing over at him. Gu Shengyu’s expression remained placid, as though nothing at all had affected him.

Such a skilled actor. Who knew how furious he was beneath that calm face?

Now that she knew the wedding date would not be fixed for the time being, Shen Nanyuan’s mood eased considerably. The corners of her mouth even lifted faintly, and she ate with far greater relish.

In short, she was in a splendid mood.

The dark cloud in Xiao Yan’s eyes also dispersed. With unhurried composure, he lowered his gaze and picked up a few bites of food to eat.

If that was so, then he could also be at ease.

The banquet looked harmonious and convivial on the surface, but in truth every heart harbored its own hidden designs, especially among those of opposing factions.

The Emperor stayed only a short while before taking his leave. Once he departed, the banquet was, in essence, over.

Because of the matter of the war, Shen Yi had already left together with the Emperor.

Shen Nanyuan had eaten more or less enough. Shen Sinian glanced sideways at her.

"Shall we return to the manor?"

"Wait."

She paused slightly, then shifted her gaze toward Xiao Yan, who was surrounded by the ministers and completely obscured by layers of people. Pressing her lips together, she said, "Never mind. Let’s go back."

She probably would not have a chance to speak with Xiao Yan this time.

But with so many people around, even if Xiao Yan were standing right before her, it would not have been proper to speak with him.

Who knew how long she would have to wait until the next opportunity?

Still, for now, it was indeed difficult to get even a single word to him.

Just as she rose to leave, the Second Prince’s voice suddenly came from behind her.

"County Princess, please wait."

Ah, right.

He had asked her to wait for him after the banquet.

Shen Nanyuan exchanged a helpless look with Shen Sinian, then turned and curtsied. "Your Highness."

"Come with me," the Second Prince said. "I must trouble Captain Shen to wait here a moment. This prince will bring the County Princess back shortly."

"Yes, Your Highness," Shen Sinian said.

He let out a helpless sigh.

The wedding date might indeed not be fixed for now, but the two of them had still been granted marriage by imperial decree. Bound by that connection, the Duke’s estate was now tied to the Second Prince, especially Shen Nanyuan, who could not refuse him.

Yet from the look of things, if there were any possibility, this marriage might truly be called off.

He had only just sat down when, all at once, a cool, indifferent voice rang out, carrying a faint chill.

"This prince has matters to attend to. I shall take my leave first."

As the words fell, Xiao Yan emerged from the crowd. His gaze paused on the seated Shen Sinian; after inclining his head in greeting, he strode out in haste.

His tall back was shrouded in a thread of gloom, inexplicably making Shen Sinian shiver.

The way he looked, it was almost as if he were going to settle accounts with someone.

---

Shen Nanyuan walked side by side with Gu Shengyu through the palace.

Though the day was bright and fine, she could still feel waves of suffocating pressure weighing on her heart.

If she stayed with him any longer, she felt her nerves would truly begin to fray.

Ahead was the palace residence of the Second Prince. Shen Nanyuan stopped at the doorway and lowered her head. "This subject’s daughter is not fit to enter."

Gu Shengyu did not make things difficult for her on this point. He merely dipped his head slightly and said softly, "Please wait here, County Princess."

This time, he left one of his palace maids to keep her company. Around them, palace maids and eunuchs hurried back and forth, heads bowed, each step cautious and careful.

One careless mistake could mean losing one’s life.

That was the palace for you: not a shred of freedom. For Shen Nanyuan, who before being thrust into this world had done as she pleased and disliked being controlled, it was nothing short of torture.

She sighed softly. The maid beside her hastily said in a low voice, "Please wait a moment, County Princess. His Highness will be here very soon."

A single sigh was enough to make the maid panic so badly. Was this not just like being imprisoned, every movement watched?

Gu Shengyu came out of Huale Palace carrying something in his hands. His brows and eyes were gentle, and the way he looked at Shen Nanyuan was as though he were gazing upon the most precious jewel in the world.

"Since the day we were betrothed by imperial decree, I have never formally given you anything. This hairpin was specially made to order. I give it to you as my token of affection."

He lifted his hand. Between his fingers was a jade hairpin, smooth and translucent, finely wrought at a glance, clearly the product of meticulous craftsmanship.

But the words token of affection fell heavily upon Shen Nanyuan’s heart. Her chest lurched, and she reached out to take it, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"What is there to thank me for?" Gu Shengyu said with a smile. Then he added, "I imagine Captain Shen must be growing impatient as well. Let us return at once."

"Yes," Shen Nanyuan said.

The hairpin in her hand felt like a hot potato. She held it in her palm, lowered her eyes, and bit lightly at her lip.

Just then, an eunuch came hurrying over and bowed at the side. "Your Highness, Consort Zhuang requests your presence."

At the news, Gu Shengyu stopped in his tracks. Before he could speak, Shen Nanyuan hurriedly said, "Your Highness, if Her Ladyship is summoning you, it must be something urgent. Please go at once. This subject’s daughter knows the way back. Please rest assured."

She kept her head bowed. "Your affairs are the important thing."

Gu Shengyu considered it for a moment, then yielded with a nod. "I shall have a palace maid lead you."

"No need." Shen Nanyuan thought that even the maids were his people; to be watched like that would make her miserable. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. This subject’s daughter knows the way back."

Seeing her insistence, Gu Shengyu could say no more and only nodded. "In that case, this prince will take his leave."

Shen Nanyuan could not have wished for anything more than for him to leave at once.

When his figure vanished from view, she let out a long breath, all the tension in her body loosening at once, leaving her much lighter.

She turned and hurried toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Fortunately, she was not truly hopelessly directionless; as long as she walked a route once, she could remember it.

As she went, Shen Nanyuan took out the jade hairpin the Second Prince had given her to look at it. In her hand, it carried a soft, warm, almost oily smoothness, a sign of fine jade. It was excellent material, only she did not care for it very much.

The Second Prince had given her many things, but she had put them all into storage. This hairpin, too, would not escape that fate.

Pressing her fingers to her brow, she held the jade hairpin carefully and passed through a moon gate, then turned into a secluded little path. Bamboo lined both sides, making it a quiet, secluded lane.

Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, Shen Nanyuan opened her mouth slightly.

Only moments ago, she had been thinking how good her memory was, how she could remember a path after walking it just once, and now she had already taken a wrong turn.

Perhaps because she had been too cautious walking with the Second Prince, she had failed to remember some of the routes.

She was just about to turn back and see whether any palace maid was passing by who could point her the right way, when she suddenly heard a burst of footsteps approaching.