Chapter 568: Lotus Leaf Crossing

Chapter 568: Chapter 568: Lotus Leaf Crossing

"It was an herb called Stone Orchid, used to refresh the mind and promote alertness. The Crown Prince ordered this servant to add it because His Highness, last night..."

As Blind Student spoke, Mo Lingwei gave a light cough. Blind Student was clever and immediately took the hint.

He changed his story. "His Highness didn’t sleep well last night."

’Princess Funing is here,’ he thought. ’The Crown Prince must not want her to know that he stayed up all night just so he could spend today with her.’

Shen Ningning’s confused gaze slowly shifted to the Historian, who was lying by the window.

"Then what’s wrong with him? Why is he in so much pain?"

The Imperial Physician finally rose, cupping his hands in a bow. "Your Highness, the Historian is suffering from indigestion, not from the tea. I just questioned him, and it seems he ate an overly rich breakfast."

The Historian, his face bright red, had already sat up. He looked exceptionally awkward and embarrassed.

In private, he was quite the gourmand and a bit of a glutton, which explained his portly figure.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been the only one to hastily take a couple of sips while the tea was still scalding and everyone else was blowing on theirs and chatting idly.

He had eaten far too much before the morning court session and had already felt a bit unwell while being carried over in his sedan chair. A moment ago, Shen Ningning’s scare made him clutch his stomach in sudden pain, convincing him that he had truly been poisoned.

Now that everything was cleared up, Shen Ningning felt even more awkward.

She had just burst in so recklessly and caused a huge, embarrassing misunderstanding.

’Now that I think about it, those two little sparrows must have misunderstood.’

’They saw Blind Student putting something into Mo Lingwei’s teacup and immediately assumed it was poison.’

’Such gossipy birds!’

Shen Ningning looked up, awkwardly fiddling with her sleeves, her face, as lovely as a spring blossom, flushed with embarrassment.

"I’m so sorry for interrupting your discussion of state affairs. I’ll take my leave now."

But Mo Lingwei caught her by the wrist. The delight in his sharp eyes, set beneath sword-like brows, was practically overflowing.

’She still cares about me. So all that heartlessness... it really was just an act.’

’There really is a place for me in her heart.’

For the first time, Mo Lingwei spoke to his ministers with a pleasant expression.

"You’ve all had a fright, and we’ve discussed most of what we needed to. That being the case, you are all dismissed."

The officials bowed and took their leave one by one.

After they had all gone, Mo Lingwei took Shen Ningning by the wrist. She wanted to pull away, but then she thought about the spectacle she had just made. She really had embarrassed Mo Lingwei, especially in front of so many ministers.

So, Shen Ningning let him lead her. Together, they descended the White Jade Steps and walked along a sun-drenched palace path.

Red walls, golden tiles, and the scent of early summer carried on the breeze.

Shen Ningning kept her head down, abashed. Her small, rounded earlobes were bright red.

Mo Lingwei glanced at her a few times, unable to suppress a soft chuckle.

Shen Ningning instantly bristled like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on, a mix of shame and indignation.

"Don’t you laugh! I didn’t know it was a misunderstanding either."

"Where did you hear that from?" Mo Lingwei asked with a curious, raised eyebrow.

Shen Ningning pouted. "I heard it from the sparrows in the garden when I was out for a walk."

Mo Lingwei’s eyebrows shot up in amusement.

’It seemed that as long as Shen Ningning wished, the entire palace could become her network of "informants."’

’And even though she had said such cruel things to me, she had still come running the moment she heard I might be in danger.’ ℯℯ𝑙.

At this thought, Mo Lingwei stopped walking.

"Shen Ningning." The wind stirred, making his golden crown gleam. As she looked up at him, his handsome face and tall, straight figure filled her vision. "It was wrong of me to kiss you by force last time," Mo Lingwei said.

Shen Ningning’s cheeks instantly flared red, and a hint of reproach entered her dark, lustrous eyes.

She turned away. "Don’t ever bring that up again, or I’ll never speak to you."

Mo Lingwei smiled. "Alright, I won’t. I just feel that I was too impulsive before. After thinking it over, I realized I can’t blame you for choosing Lu Shaoyuan. I should blame myself."

Shen Ningning lifted her long, thick lashes and looked at him in confusion.

Mo Lingwei continued, "It’s my fault for always hesitating. I wanted to wait until you were a little older, so I never told you how I felt, and Lu Shaoyuan beat me to it."

Shen Ningning fell silent and lowered her head. "It has nothing to do with Lu Shaoyuan."

Hearing the defensive note in her voice, Mo Lingwei felt a pang of jealousy but managed to restrain himself.

He didn’t want to scare Shen Ningning away again.

"I want to tell you, until you’re officially engaged to Lu Shaoyuan, I won’t give up. Shen Ningning, I like you. I like you a great deal."

The girl looked up. Through the dappled shadows of the flowers, she saw the searing intensity in Mo Lingwei’s eyes.

It was a sincerity that could move any woman’s heart.

If not for what the Emperor had said, Shen Ningning might have wept with joy.

And yet...

Mo Lingwei saw her lower her head, her expression growing even more somber.

"I don’t want to say anything hurtful again. Let’s just go back to how we were. I’ll just keep calling you ’Brother.’"

Hearing this, Mo Lingwei’s expression stiffened.

Shen Ningning always seemed to have something weighing on her mind, refusing to meet his gaze, refusing to accept his feelings.

’Does she really like Lu Shaoyuan that much?’

After a long moment, Mo Lingwei’s calm voice came from above her.

"Alright. We’ll take it slow, then."

’As long as she didn’t push him away, he wasn’t completely without a chance.’

They walked side-by-side along the sun-warmed, red-walled palace path. Shen Ningning took the initiative to ask, "Brother, isn’t it time to go to the Sunlight Tower to pray for Uncle Emperor?"

Mo Lingwei shook his head. "I want to take you somewhere first. You might like it."

She followed him and soon they arrived at the shore of Qinxin Lake, where a small boat was moored.

"It’s nearly early summer, and there’s a patch of lotuses in the lake, so vibrantly green. You’ve been in a bad mood lately, and it’s my fault. So, I thought I’d take you boating on the lake to help you relax."

As he spoke, Mo Lingwei boarded the small boat and extended a hand to Shen Ningning.

The girl hesitated for a moment before placing her slender hand in his palm.

The boatman was Wu Fang. He pushed off with his pole and called out, "Sit tight, Your Highnesses!"

Shen Ningning sat across from Mo Lingwei, her eyes falling on a table of pastries and tea he had arranged for in advance.

A breeze rippled across the water, carrying the fragrance of lotuses. The bright sun hit the surface, scattering into a glittering expanse of light like fine diamonds.

Shen Ningning’s mood gradually began to brighten.

Before long, the boat neared a cluster of lotus leaves in the middle of the lake. Shen Ningning had already moved to the bow. She lay down on her stomach, reaching out a small, jade-white hand to tug at a large lotus leaf.

Mo Lingwei crouched down beside her. "Let me. Be careful you don’t fall in."

Wu Fang deliberately drew in his pole, letting the boat drift freely among the lotuses of Lotus Leaf Crossing.

Shen Ningning held the lotus leaf Mo Lingwei had picked for her, holding it over her head like an umbrella to block the scorching sun.

The sun warmed them both through and through. Mo Lingwei’s eyes were half-closed; he was clearly getting drowsy.

While Shen Ningning lay on her stomach, playing with the water, he simply lay down beside her. With the gentle rocking of the boat and the sweet fragrance of his beloved so close, Mo Lingwei’s heart grew exceptionally calm.

"Brother, look! There are so many little fish under the lotus leaves!" Shen Ningning exclaimed, but received no reply from Mo Lingwei.

She turned to look and saw that Mo Lingwei had fallen asleep.

His sharp eyes were closed beneath his striking brows, and his straight, prominent nose cast a shadow across his face.

Shen Ningning froze.

’She remembered what the little eunuch, Blind Student, had said—that he hadn’t slept well last night and had been up early for court and to handle state affairs. He must be exhausted.’

The sun was beating down, so Shen Ningning quietly lifted the lotus leaf and held it over his head to help him sleep more comfortably.

Then, the girl carefully lay down beside him, tucking half of her own exquisite face under the shade of the broad, green lotus leaf.

The water gently lapped against the boat. The two of them lay there, sharing a quiet, beautiful moment that even Wu Fang, at the stern, dared not disturb.

As the Emperor passed by the shore with his entourage, he saw them from a distance, and a complicated look crossed his face.