Chapter 21: Confrontation
Shen Zhishu was a very face-conscious person, preferring to lose her life rather than her face. For instance, at this moment, it didn’t matter if her stomach burst, but the lie she had told earlier had to be covered.
So she smiled and cupped her hands at the Eldest Princess, “This subordinate thanks the Eldest Princess.”
The attendant took the order and left.
“It’s alright, the General is always too polite,” the Eldest Princess took out a handkerchief from her wide sleeve and slowly wiped her hands. “But I would like to ask… the General said earlier that Minister Shen punished you because of this morning’s events? Is it because you are too close to me?”
Shen Zhishu: …
Although she had intended to lead the Eldest Princess to ask this question, but… the Eldest Princess was asking too directly!
Shen Zhishu was about to say a few tactful words, but before she could open her mouth, she saw the Eldest Princess directly close the coffin and make a conclusion:
“Minister Shen is unwilling to associate with the Second Imperial Princess, so naturally she is also unwilling to have any connection with me. It is only human nature to be loyal to the Emperor. I just want to know what the General is really thinking.”
A thin layer of sweat appeared on Shen Zhishu’s back.
Only the two of them were in the room, and the scent of cedar from a certain person had suddenly become strong at some unknown time, lingering elusively, intertwined with her breath.
Shen Zhishu’s thoughts were drawn to the Northern Desert for a moment, then pulled back by a faint sense of pressure.
This was the second time they were alone in a room.
Actually… it’s better to get it over with quickly and just say it out loud. What happened that night was just an accident in the end, she and the Eldest Princess shouldn’t have had any connection. She thought.
So Shen Zhishu lowered her head and said in a low voice, “This subordinate is the same as my Mother Shen.”
“Unwilling to have any dealings with me?”
Shen Zhishu subconsciously denied, “…I’m not…”
“Just say it directly, General,” the Eldest Princess interrupted.
Shen Zhishu compromised, “…Yes.”
The Eldest Princess stared at her intently, pulled her white marble hand warmer tighter, and suddenly said in a faint voice:
“But the General’s actions this morning seem to be contrary to the General’s philosophy.”
“This subordinate… was just thinking of the common people, and also, I didn’t want to see the reputation of the imperial family damaged.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely true.”
“If the common people knew that the General was so considerate of them, they would be extremely grateful.” The Eldest Princess’s tone had no fluctuation. She leaned forward, picked up the teapot on the table, and personally poured a cup for Shen Zhishu, “I toast the General.”
The tea was already cold and was not steaming.
Shen Zhishu took it and drank it in one gulp.
The Eldest Princess gracefully raised her hand, “It’s a pity to waste a table of good food. Didn’t the General say you were starving? Eat quickly.”
Shen Zhishu narrowed her eyes.
The Eldest Princess’s attitude was too calm, so much so that she couldn’t tell whether she was doing it on purpose or really didn’t care about this matter at all.
If she was really indifferent, it would be exactly what she wanted. But… was the Eldest Princess really such a calm person?
The cold touch of the tea flowing down her esophagus still lingered. She lowered her eyes, picked up the wooden chopsticks, and was about to put a piece of broccoli into her mouth when she suddenly stopped.
She took a deep breath and looked directly into the Eldest Princess’s eyes, “Your Highness, I was very offensive that night. I hope Your Highness will not take it to heart and just pretend it never happened.”
The Eldest Princess raised an eyebrow, “If I remember correctly, we already made this clear in front of my manor that night. The General is bringing up old matters now, what is your intention…?”
To test her.
Unfortunately, the person in front of her was watertight.
Shen Zhishu smiled, “Your Highness is magnanimous. The words ‘unwilling to have any dealings with Your Highness’ just now were already very offensive, but Your Highness did not mind at all. This is truly the style of a gentleman.”
“You are too polite, General,” the Eldest Princess said. “The world is bustling, all for profit. The General is unwilling to get too close to me, naturally because this matter is detrimental to the General’s interests, and it really cannot be forced. And General Xie is on good terms with the General, so the General certainly does not want her to know about what happened that night. The General has helped me a lot before, all because the General is a kind person. I know that my fate with the General is thin, and it probably ends today. I will toast the General with tea instead of wine and wish the General a smooth official career and a promising future.”
This long string of words had less of a polite meaning and more of a sincere one.
…It seems the Eldest Princess really doesn’t care at all. She has a carefree personality. Shen Zhishu thought.
If there were no conflicts of interest, they might have become close friends.
What a pity.
The Eldest Princess continued to say in a faint voice, “I have one more thing to say.”
Shen Zhishu hurriedly said, “Your Highness, please speak directly.”
“Since the General has already made it clear that we will go our separate ways, perhaps you can also be more direct in other matters?”
Other matters? What other matters?
Shen Zhishu’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
She almost thought that the Eldest Princess had already discovered that she had come to Chang Le Street with Xie Jin, and even worse, that she knew that her friendship with Xie Jin was faked.
She calmed herself down and pretended to be calm, squeezing out a few words from her throat, “What does Your Highness mean?”
There was a noise at the door, and the attendant who had been sent away by the Eldest Princess earlier came in lightly with the roasted chicken.
The Eldest Princess opened her mouth indifferently amidst the oily aroma in the room:
“For example… this roasted chicken, can the General eat it?”
So it was this matter.
Shen Zhishu secretly let out a long sigh of relief and said frankly, “I really can’t eat it. To be honest with Your Highness, I have already had dinner.”
“Then why did the General drag me into the restaurant in such a hurry just now?”
Shen Zhishu: …
She had forgotten about that.
She was about to make up another excuse when she saw the Eldest Princess gently shake her head:
“Is the General still not going to tell me the truth? The General clearly came with General Xie.”
Shen Zhishu was stunned.
Her lips parted slightly, and before she could ask “How did Your Highness know,” the next second, the Eldest Princess flicked her sleeve, and her clear and cold voice sounded along with the sound of pouring tea:
“And… the General’s friendship with General Xie was originally faked, just to put on a show for the Third Miss Xiao, wasn’t it?”
Shen Zhishu: ?!
So… she knew everything?
She clearly knew everything, but she said nothing, just watched from the side as she racked her brains to come up with some ridiculous excuses. What was this?
Was she impressive?
…This was already the second time.
The last time at the Banquet Again Pavilion, Xie Jin had been led upstairs by the manager first. When she met the Eldest Princess at the bottom of the stairs, this person had also listened to her nonsense with a knowing look, saying nothing with her mouth, but leisurely watching the show in her heart.
Shen Zhishu’s tone at this moment was not good, “Since Your Highness already knows, why ask me?”
The Eldest Princess’s tone was still very faint, “I just hope that the General will be honest with me in everything.”
Honest?
Shen Zhishu suddenly felt a ridiculous and sad emotion.
She lowered her head and suddenly thought, from what position was the Eldest Princess saying this to her?
—Clearly, the Eldest Princess herself had not been honest in everything!
She said “I have no selfish motives” in the most understated tone, making her, who would still remember that night, feel ashamed; but in her heart, she had hidden nine-tenths of the truth and watched her clumsy act with a cold eye.
The courage in the darkness grew along with the memories, like a lantern fish swimming around in the dark deep sea where there was no light.
“Honest?” Shen Zhishu raised her head and suddenly laughed, “Honest is good. So why don’t Your Highness tell me, whose drug did you take before, and who were you acting with me for?”
The Eldest Princess finally showed some emotional fluctuation—her eyes narrowed.
The room was silent, and the air suddenly stopped flowing.
The attendant was flustered and hurriedly said, “General, be careful with your words!”
The Eldest Princess’s eyes were clear and light, and she stared at Shen Zhishu with a blank expression. She continued the attendant’s words in a faint voice:
“It’s alright, let her speak.”
…Let me speak?
Was she so indifferent?
Then… as she wished.
“Yes, I am unwilling to have any dealings with Your Highness,” Shen Zhishu’s brow furrowed. “…Because that wonderful night is unforgettable to me. Are you satisfied with this explanation, Your Highness?”
“Your Highness used me and then threw me away, always ‘honest’ and indifferent, as if I was the only one who remembered what happened that night. To Your Highness, it was just a small interlude, so small that it was like a swallow under the eaves in winter chirping lightly.”
Shen Zhishu suddenly stood up and strode to the Eldest Princess’s side, her wide sleeve brushing heavily against her shoulder.
Her rough fingers brushed past the Eldest Princess’s temple, grazing her slightly red ear, then suddenly fell, resting on her shoulders.
She saw the Eldest Princess tremble violently.
She had also trembled like this on the bed that night.
Shen Zhishu smiled.
She bent down, and her warm breath sprayed on the Eldest Princess’s ear:
“Jiang Yu, you don’t have to put on such an indifferent attitude.”
“I see that you haven’t completely forgotten either, have you?”
