Chapter 566: Two Little Sparrows

Chapter 566: Chapter 566: Two Little Sparrows

Shen Ningning’s beautiful eyes rippled with alarm. When she saw clearly that it was Mo Lingwei, she let out a sigh of relief.

"Ah... My scriptures." She quickly moved the ink and brush aside and used a handkerchief to blot the ink spill.

Fortunately, each scripture was copied onto a separate sheet. Shen Ningning had already finished quite a few, and the one she’d just ruined had only a few words on it.

Mo Lingwei hadn’t expected his touch to frighten her so much.

He sat down beside her, his tone a little cold. "You were so engrossed in your copying that you didn’t even notice me approach?"

Shen Ningning hummed in agreement. "If I’m going to copy them, I should give it my full attention. Is the Crown Prince finished with his work?"

She always called him "Crown Prince," which Mo Lingwei found particularly grating.

But he couldn’t bring himself to ask her to call him ’Brother’ again.

"Mostly. Didn’t Qing Yuan tell you that you could start these prayer preparations tomorrow?"

"She did, but I wanted to come. Besides, there’s nothing for me to do in Zichen Palace."

Shen Ningning said this because she truly felt it was inappropriate for her to be staying in Kunling Hall, which was meant for the Crown Princess Consort. ’It’s better to get out for a while, anyway.’

After a moment’s thought, she said to Mo Lingwei, "I feel that since I’m here to pray for blessings, staying in Zichen Palace is a bit inconvenient. It’s too far from the Sunlight Tower. I saw that Upper Forest Palace is right next to it. How about I move there?"

Mo Lingwei had been looking at the other scriptures she’d copied. At her words, he lifted his gaze, his eyes cool as they landed on her.

For some reason, Shen Ningning felt a pang of nervousness, and her hand, hidden in her sleeve, tightened its grip on her dress.

"Upper Forest Palace is for imperial concubines. If I were to allow you to move in, *that* would be a true breach of protocol."

Shen Ningning hesitated. "Well, another place would be fine too."

Mo Lingwei let out a cold laugh and set down the scroll. "I see what this is about. You just don’t want to be in the same palace as me, is that it?"

Since he had said it so bluntly, Shen Ningning no longer tried to evade the topic.

She spoke to him in a calm, negotiating tone. "For someone of my status to live in the palace you’ve arranged for me will only invite gossip and criticism."

"Who would dare criticize? That Second Young Master Lu of yours, the one you aren’t even engaged to yet?" Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow.

Before Shen Ningning could answer, he made his decision in a cold voice. "There’s no need to discuss this further. Since I had the means to bring you into the palace, I certainly won’t let you live anywhere else."

"You’ve always been clever. You know exactly what being brought into the palace like this means. I can’t just let you leave my side. Not touching you is already my limit. If you won’t even let me see you, then I’ll have to resort to harsher methods."

Shen Ningning’s heart skipped a beat, and a sorrowful look appeared in her shimmering, beautiful eyes.

"What are you going to do to me?"

Mo Lingwei scoffed. "I won’t do anything to you. But as for Lu Shaoyuan... I can’t guarantee something won’t happen to him."

The color drained from Shen Ningning’s delicate face. "Don’t you touch him!"

Lu Shaoyuan was only being dragged into this because of her; Shen Ningning couldn’t bear to see him get hurt on her account.

But Mo Lingwei’s sharp brows furrowed.

’Her defending Lu Shaoyuan like this... could it be she’s truly developed feelings for him?’

At that thought, Mo Lingwei stood up. He looked down at her, his handsome face utterly aloof and cold.

"You’re so good to him," he said, then turned and left with a flick of his sleeve.

That night, perhaps because she had angered him, Shen Ningning heard from Qing Yuan that Mo Lingwei had ordered a soft mattress prepared in the side room of the Imperial Study Room. It seemed he intended to rest there for the night.

Lying in bed in Kunling Hall, Shen Ningning stared at the intricate patterns on the bed curtains. The fine yellow pearwood bedframe was exquisitely carved with intertwined phoenixes, a symbol of marital bliss.

’Unfortunately, none of this belongs to me.’

The young woman turned over. In the darkness, her beautiful eyes were filled with complex emotions.

Just as Shen Ningning couldn’t sleep, neither could Mo Lingwei, who was lying in the side room of the Imperial Study Room.

One hand rested on his forehead. Though his eyes were closed, his sharp brows were tightly knitted.

He repeatedly asked himself if he shouldn’t have acted out of spite.

He finally had this rare chance to spend so much time alone with Shen Ningning. How could he have just turned and walked away?

’If she chose Lu Shaoyuan because he spent more time with her... then now that I’ve handled my official duties, I can free up my entire day to be with Shen Ningning. Maybe I can make her change her mind.’

At this thought, Mo Lingwei immediately sat up. The eunuch keeping watch outside heard the movement and turned to see that the lights in the Imperial Study Room had been lit again.

He pushed the door open and went inside to find the Crown Prince had already thrown on a robe and was sitting behind his desk once more.

The eunuch was aghast. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, it is nearly midnight! It is far too late. Please, take care of your health and go rest!"

Mo Lingwei picked up his red pen without looking up. "It’s fine. I’ll rest once I’ve finished these trivial matters. Go and order the Imperial Chef to prepare a bowl of invigorating soup."

Seeing that he couldn’t be persuaded, the eunuch could only sigh and withdraw.

「The next day.」

Shen Ningning didn’t know when she had fallen asleep last night. By the time she awoke, it was already past 7:00 AM.

Mo Lingwei hadn’t sent anyone to disturb her, but Shen Ningning felt she shouldn’t sleep in, so she sat up as soon as she was awake.

Qing Yuan entered to attend to her, bringing a brand-new set of clothes.

Shen Ningning glanced at them. "I brought my own clothes with me to the palace. I’d rather wear those."

But Qing Yuan said, "Please forgive me, Princess. These are the clothes to be worn by the blessed girl. This servant is only following orders."

There was that title, "blessed girl," again. Shen Ningning had no grounds to refuse and could only let Qing Yuan help her dress.

During breakfast, without Shen Ningning having to ask, Qing Yuan took the initiative to report, "The Crown Prince has gone to morning court. He sent someone just now to relay that after you finish your meal, you may take a stroll in the Imperial Garden. He will come to find you later, Princess."

Shen Ningning’s expression was placid. "I understand."

After breakfast, Qing Yuan and six other palace maids accompanied Shen Ningning to the Imperial Garden to enjoy the sun.

In early April, the sunlight was perfectly pleasant, and the garden was filled with a brilliant, refreshing fragrance.

Shen Ningning sat down behind a vibrant cluster of hibiscus flowers to rest her feet for a moment.

Qing Yuan said, "You must be tired after walking for a while, Princess. This servant will go have some tea brought over."

The other palace maids stood guard a short distance away.

Just then, two voices drifted from an unknown source, and Shen Ningning was surprised to hear her own name mentioned.

"I bet Shen Ningning will definitely become the Crown Princess Consort. I’ll wager two grains of millet."

"Why are you so sure? I bet that Meng girl will be the Crown Princess Consort! I’ll wager three red beans."

Shen Ningning searched for the source of the voices but couldn’t see anyone around.

But when she looked up, she saw two chubby sparrows hopping about on a branch.

The young woman narrowed her beautiful eyes.

’The voices really are coming from them.’

The chubby sparrow on the left said, "My bet’s on Shen Ningning! Because that Chief Palace Maid, Qing Yuan, was specially trained by the court for the Crown Princess Consort. Whoever she serves is the one who will be the Crown Princess Consort!"

The round-headed sparrow on the right ruffled its feathers.

"That’s too rash a conclusion. Last time, from the window of the Imperial Study Room, I heard the Crown Prince’s men arranging for him to meet Meng Wanning."

The two sparrows argued heatedly, each betting from their own stashes.

There were bets of millet, red beans, and green beans. Finally, the sparrow supporting Shen Ningning got desperate and wagered a small pearl it had found.

Hearing this, Shen Ningning couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.

The sparrows’ squabbling came to an abrupt halt.

"Why do you think she laughed?"

"You don’t think she heard us, do you?"

"Oh no! Then does that mean she also heard us talking about someone putting poison in the Crown Prince’s tea today?"

Shen Ningning’s expression changed drastically.

’What?! Poison?!’

She shot to her feet. The two guilty little sparrows flapped their wings and, with a frightened flutter, zipped away.