The gentle breeze of the summer morning light was warm and mild. It came through the main hall of the palace, lifting the thin silk with cloud patterns and lightly brushing against his body. His handsome eyebrows and eyes were downcast, as if he had an indescribable loneliness, desolation and regret.
"Your Highness, you flatter me." Luo Cuiwei smiled inwardly, having roughly understood his intention, and decided not to engage in his nonsense any further.
This guy probably thought he would see a haggard, helpless, angry and resentful Luo Cuiwei today, and then he would comfort her in a gentle and soothing manner.
If you strike while the iron is hot and have a few more encounters, you can fool her into having a crush on you? Tch.
Such a clumsy method is an insult to her.
Afterwards, Yun Huan chatted with her for a few more minutes before getting up to take his leave.
Out of a sense of duty to the host, Luo Cuiwei, though unwilling, still escorted Yun Huan to the door, accompanied by Steward Chen.
There was no choice but to politely decline the offer of farewell.
As the farewell ceremony was drawing to a close, Yun Huan, avoiding Chief Steward Chen and the two guards outside the door, quickly slipped a small token into Luo Cuiwei's hand and whispered—
"If you need any help, you may enter the Prince An's residence with this order."
****
After seeing Yun Huan off, Steward Chen asked in a low voice, "What exactly is going on here?"
"I think this play could be called 'Yun's Eighth Son's Skilled Hoe Dance'?" Luo Cuiwei chuckled.
She flipped her palm over and laid the small token out in front of Steward Chen.
Steward Chen was shocked: "When...when did you give it to me..."
These tokens are given to princes after they establish their own residences. They are important tokens used to facilitate the entry and exit of trusted confidants into their residences during critical moments.
Yun Huan gave the token to Luo Cuiwei, meaning that she could enter the Prince An's residence at any time without presenting a formal invitation or needing to be informed.
"Just now, I gave it to you when I was saying goodbye." Luo Cui smiled and placed it in Steward Chen's hand.
Holding the token, Steward Chen felt both hot and uneasy.
"Does Madam mean to return it directly to Prince An's residence?" Steward Chen's face was full of wrinkles, all of which were knotted together.
Based on his limited understanding of Prince An, he knew that since Yun Huan had already given away the token, if he returned it, he would probably find fault with it and send it back again.
Luo Cuiwei first confirmed with Steward Chen: "Uncle Chen, that guy's personality is definitely the difficult type, right?"
Steward Chen didn't say a word, but every wrinkle on his face seemed to be loudly answering, "That's right!"
“If we send him directly back to Prince An’s residence, I bet he’ll definitely try to cause some trouble,” Luo Cuiwei sneered coldly. “He’ll probably want everyone in the capital to know that ‘Luo Cuiwei once accepted a token that allows her to freely enter and leave Prince An’s residence.’”
As the saying goes, "three men can make a tiger" and "rumors can kill." Once this news gets out, and someone adds fuel to the fire, even if the token only stayed with Luo Cuiwei for a short while, and even if she never appeared within five miles of the Prince An's residence, some unsavory rumors will definitely spread.
It was only when Steward Chen thought of this that he felt the token was too hot to handle.
If we send it back, Yun Huan will definitely have other plans. But if we don't send it back... are we going to keep it for the New Year?
Luo Cuiwei was quick-witted, and after a moment she came up with a plan: "Uncle Chen, you should immediately take some people to the Shaofu and say that when His Highness Prince An came here to deliver a message on behalf of the Shaofu this morning, he accidentally left this token at our residence. You know that this token is of great importance, so please send it to the Shaofu and ask them to pass it on to His Highness Prince An."
Although Yun Huan claimed to be there to deliver a message from the young master, he deliberately kept a low profile and concealed his identity, so few people outside probably knew why he had come.
It's obvious they're deliberately trying to give others a chance to speculate.
Moreover, the idea that "His Highness Prince An ran errands for the Minister of the Imperial Household and delivered a message to Prince Zhao's residence" sounds absurd. Whether the Minister of the Imperial Household even knew that Yun Huan had delivered this message is another matter entirely.
Luo Cui smiled somewhat sinisterly, "Uncle Chen, make a big commotion on the road. If you run into someone you know, that would be even better. Spread the word about this openly and make sure everyone in the capital knows that His Highness Prince An ran an errand for the Minister of the Imperial Household Department today and came to our residence to deliver a message."
This Prince An wants to frame her so she can't defend herself, so as his sister-in-law, she should return the favor.
Prince An will soon learn what it means to strike first and what it means to be a cunning businessman.
Manager Chen nodded knowingly, his smile both gratified and kind.
42. Chapter Forty-Two
Although Steward Chen is getting on in years, he is, after all, a man from the inner city, and if he really wanted to play these kinds of underhanded tricks, he would be quite adept at it.
He understood Luo Cuiwei's intention perfectly. Dressed formally, he led a team of twenty guards from the Prince Zhao's residence in a grand yet leisurely manner towards the Prince's mansion.
Yun Huan arrived at Prince Zhao's residence early in the morning. After he left, Steward Chen tidied up and arranged everything before leaving again, and it was already past 11:00 AM.
It just so happens that there are more idle people on the street at this time.
The Grand Steward of Prince Zhao's Mansion led a group of guards out, making a grand entrance through the city. Their display was so impressive that it was almost as if they were beating drums and gongs to attract attention. Before long, Gao Yu, the Commander of the Imperial City Guard, personally rode over to inquire about the matter.
"The Grand Steward of Prince Zhao's Mansion inexplicably led a whole troop of guards out of the mansion, and was then personally stopped and questioned by the Commander of the Imperial City Guard." This scene immediately caused passersby to stop in their tracks, all tense and curious, pricking up their ears from afar.
"This morning, His Highness Prince An personally went to our Prince Zhao's residence on behalf of the Minister of the Imperial Household Department to say that the Minister of the Imperial Household Department had begun preparations for the wedding ceremony of my Highness and his wife. I suppose His Highness Prince An is a busy man, so he only gave a few words of instructions and left; it was only after he left that I noticed this token was left at the door!"
Chief Steward Chen carefully held up the token for Gao Yu to examine, his weathered eyes filled with fear, worry, and innocence.
“This token is of great importance, and I dare not dispose of it recklessly. I also do not know whether His Highness Prince An returned to his own residence or went to attend to other matters after leaving… I am timid and dare not easily entrust such an important token to others. I fear that if it falls into the hands of villains, it may cause some hidden danger to His Highness Prince An, and I cannot bear the responsibility.”
Gao Yu tightened his grip on the reins, controlled his mount, nodded, but remained noncommittal.
"After much deliberation, I feel it would be best to send it to the Imperial Household Department as soon as possible, so that it can be presented to His Highness Prince An," Chief Steward Chen hurriedly put the token away respectfully, and continued, "In order to avoid any trouble on the way, I rashly brought a team of guards to accompany you. I did not expect to alarm General Gao. I am truly sorry, and I beg General Gao's forgiveness."
Gao Yu was both the commander of the Imperial City Guard, responsible for the security of the capital, and the second young master of the Duke of He's mansion, so he was naturally a shrewd person.
Hearing what Steward Chen said, he almost couldn't help but laugh.