Chapter 164
**Chapter 164: Knowing People by Their Faces, Not by Their Hearts**
Prince Heng's thin lips curled into a teasing smile.
Upon reflection, it had been quite a while since he last saw Shen Wei. What a coincidence today, to run into this cunning little fox in the vast imperial city.
“Second Brother, what a coincidence!” Prince Heng waved his white jade fan, his eyes sparkling with charm as he cheerfully approached.
The summer sun blazed down, casting its warmth on the long palace path. Prince Heng's face was all smiles, as if he and Prince Yan were not bitter rivals in the court, but rather a pair of affectionate brothers.
Prince Heng leaned in closer, his gaze landing on the small infant in Prince Yan's arms. The baby’s face was plump and fair, with big, bright eyes that bore a resemblance to Shen Wei.
So adorable, it was impossible not to feel a pang of affection.
“Oh, what a beautiful little niece!” Prince Heng closed his fan and playfully attempted to touch the baby’s cheek with the edge of it.
Unfortunately, before the fan could reach the swaddled infant, the little girl suddenly grinned and burst into loud wails, tears streaming down her chubby cheeks.
Prince Heng: ...
What a setup! This was definitely a setup!
The little girl was not even a year old, just five months! She couldn’t even speak yet, yet she had somehow learned her mother’s tricks of manipulation!
A chill swept through the air, and Prince Yan’s eyes glinted with a cold, murderous intent.
Prince Heng felt utterly wronged, his handsome face flushing red: “Second Brother! I didn’t even touch your daughter! Her crying has nothing to do with me!”
Little Le You continued to wail.
Her cries were heart-wrenching, making one’s heart ache.
Shen Wei hurried forward, her tone gentle: “Your Highness, please hand the child to the wet nurse. She must be hungry.”
Prince Yan shot a cold glare at Prince Heng, his eyes sharp as knives. The accompanying wet nurse quickly took the howling Le You into her arms, turned around, and began to feed her.
The piercing cries finally ceased.
Prince Yan said, “Father has asked you to discuss border trade policies with the envoy from Nan Chu. You seem rather idle.”
A surge of murderous intent roiled within Prince Yan. His daughter was perfectly content in his arms, not crying or fussing. Yet, the moment Prince Heng approached, she was terrified into tears.
“Oh, it’s just a small country like Nan Chu. A day or two of delay won’t matter,” Prince Heng replied, his eyes crinkling with mirth, always wearing that cheerful smile, as if everyone were his friend.
Out of the corner of his eye, Prince Heng caught sight of Shen Wei beside Prince Yan. Today, she was dressed elegantly, her hair meticulously arranged, radiating a bright and graceful aura.
She bore no trace of a peasant woman’s clumsiness, like a peony blooming under the morning sun, increasingly pleasing to the eye.
Prince Heng couldn’t help but click his tongue in admiration.
Every time he saw Shen Wei, she seemed to grow even more beautiful, vibrant and full of life. He even thought that in the flower-laden city of Yan Jing, her beauty could stand out.
Now that Shen Wei had become a concubine in the Yan household, Prince Heng had heard that she was managing the household in place of the ailing main consort, keeping everything in order. It could be said that Shen Wei was currently riding high on the waves of success.
But... Prince Heng simply couldn’t stand to see her thriving!
He wanted to pull this cunning, hypocritical woman down from her pedestal, to reveal her deceitful nature to the world.
Clearing his throat, Prince Heng deliberately raised his voice to remind Prince Yan: “Knowing people by their faces, not by their hearts. Some people claim to like you, but they have ulterior motives; they’re quite hypocritical, you know.”
Prince Yan: ...
Shen Wei: That scheming dog!
Prince Heng thought to himself, I’ve made my warning so clear; if Second Brother had any sense, he would surely see through Shen Wei’s hypocrisy. So, with a smile, Prince Heng clasped his hands in farewell, saying, “Mother is still waiting for me. I’ll take my leave now, Second Brother.”
He opened his white jade fan again, casting a meaningful glance at Shen Wei before striding away.
Prince Yan furrowed his brows slightly, not quite understanding the meaning behind Prince Heng’s words. What did “knowing people by their faces, not by their hearts” mean?
However, Prince Yan was well aware of his scheming brother. Nine out of ten things Prince Heng said were lies.
As Prince Yan left the palace with Shen Wei, they boarded the carriage back to the Yan residence. The road was smooth, and the carriage moved slowly.
Prince Yan pondered over Prince Heng’s words, “knowing people by their faces, not by their hearts”... Was Prince Heng hinting that someone around him was being deceitful? Did he genuinely have such good intentions?
As Prince Yan was lost in thought, he inadvertently glanced up to find Shen Wei frowning slightly, her delicate features reflecting confusion.
“Wei Wei, what are you thinking about?” Prince Yan asked.
Shen Wei gently pressed her lips together, her beautiful eyes lifting to meet his. She seemed hesitant, but finally couldn’t hold back, her eyes glistening with unshed tears: “Your Highness... do you not like me?”
Prince Yan: !!!
His expression stiffened, his eyelids twitching: “How could I not like you!”
Shen Wei lowered her head, feeling wronged, and murmured, “But, just now, His Highness Heng said... knowing people by their faces, not by their hearts. You treat me so well and care for Le You, but I come from humble beginnings. Perhaps you only like my looks, or desire my body...”
Prince Yan’s temples throbbed.
He immediately realized that Prince Heng’s words were meant to sow discord! His innocent and kind-hearted Wei Wei had been misled by Prince Heng’s few words and was starting to doubt his love.
Prince Yan cursed Prince Heng in his heart, that scheming little brat, so malicious!
How dare he disrupt their harmonious family!
“Wei Wei, don’t overthink it,” Prince Yan took Shen Wei’s delicate, fair hand, patiently soothing her, “Only you understand my heart, and I will naturally cherish you.”
Prince Yan’s words were sincere.
He truly liked Shen Wei, and her importance in his heart was growing. Only in front of Shen Wei could Prince Yan open his heart and express his true feelings.
He couldn’t help but think that perhaps Prince Heng knew this, which was why he deliberately tried to sow discord, aiming to shake Shen Wei’s trust.
“Really?” Shen Wei gazed intently at Prince Yan, seeming uncertain, “But what Prince Heng said...”
Prince Yan reassured her, “It’s just a ploy to sow discord; don’t believe it.”
Shen Wei seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, her eyes shining with complete trust as she gently leaned against Prince Yan’s chest: “I believe in you, Your Highness. You are the best man in the world and would never deceive me.”
Prince Yan wrapped his arm around Shen Wei’s slender shoulders, feeling a bit more at ease.
Thank goodness he reacted quickly; otherwise, Wei Wei might have been deceived by sweet words.
From a perspective that Prince Yan couldn’t see, a cold glint passed through Shen Wei’s eyes. This Prince Heng, full of malice, actually wanted to undermine Prince Yan’s trust in her.
Fortunately, she was quick-witted and turned the tables on him.
Prince Heng wanted to sow discord? He was still too young for that.
...
...
Prince Heng strolled leisurely down the long palace path, making his way to the palace of Consort Qian. The aging Emperor Da Qing was frail, and within the palace, Consort Qian and the Empress barely managed to stand on equal footing.
“Son pays his respects to Mother.” Prince Heng entered the inner hall.
The attending servants withdrew, leaving only Consort Qian in the inner chamber. She leaned against a soft couch, meticulously folding a stack of yellow paper.
Consort Qian had only one son, and though she was nearing fifty, she still maintained her beauty, her features reminiscent of her past allure.
“Have a seat,” Consort Qian said without looking up, her hands deftly folding the yellow paper.
Prince Heng plopped down onto a rosewood chair, tilting his head to examine the stack of yellow paper: “Mother, that Princess Taihua has been dead for a hundred years. Why do you go to Qiu Liang Palace every early autumn to pay respects to her?”
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