Binding Spring Love

Upon hearing this, Song Wan asked, "Do you recognize the eunuch from the Hall of Mental Cultivation who came to deliver the message?"

Hengzhi was taken aback by the question, and then carefully recalled the appearance of the eunuch who had come to deliver the message.

She thought for a long time and frowned slightly: "He is indeed an unfamiliar face."

Song Wan said, "His Majesty has never had any intention of indulging in frivolous affairs with palace maids, and he never allows anyone to serve him closely when bathing or changing clothes. Why would he suddenly leave a palace maid by his side?"

"And the phrase 'beautiful face' certainly evokes a lot of imagination, but it also seems rather deliberate."

After many years of marriage, Shen Qianyu disliked undressing in public the most, so the claim that he was staying while bathing was simply untenable.

"I'm afraid it's just that there have been a lot of rumors circulating in the palace lately, which has given some people different ideas, and this side is deliberately coming to test them."

Song Wan smiled gently: "If I were to take this opportunity to lash out, it would be tantamount to confirming my reputation for being jealous. I'm afraid that tomorrow someone would use this as an excuse to attack me for controlling the harem and interfering with the imperial heir."

Hengzhi, Hengwu, and the others tensed up, realizing that they had been disturbed by the rumors circulating outside.

"No wonder people have been coming up to me and gossiping lately; it turns out someone has set a trap to frame Your Highness."

Luan Jian clenched her fists and pressed her lips tightly together.

"Your Majesty must find out who is behind this and punish them severely."

"No, it won't work."

Song Wan smiled and said, "This matter can't be investigated. Let them be."

It is true that she and Shen Qianyu are deeply in love, which is a wonderful thing for ordinary people. However, it is wrong for Shen Qianyu, as the emperor, to favor only one person.

The fact that those officials from the previous dynasty would test her like this was not disrespectful; rather, she and Shen Qianyu should bear some responsibility.

"If we don't investigate, the matter can be dropped. But if we make a big fuss about it, it will only provoke public dissatisfaction, which people will then use as an excuse to cause trouble."

"It is best to refuse people and matters tactfully. Moreover, we cannot fight against the masses. Getting involved with them will only result in mutual destruction. It is better to go with the flow."

Seeing that Song Wan showed no sign of anger or resentment, Hengzhi and the others were relieved.

The young lady of the house never acts rashly or hastily, which makes the servants around her become more and more composed.

Song Wan picked up an exquisitely crafted cloth bell and teased the three fat cats, while Shen Shixiao was surrounded by the cats in the very center, giggling from time to time.

An hour later, Shen Qianyu hurriedly walked in from outside, his face dark and gloomy.

As soon as he entered the hall, Hengzhi and the others withdrew.

"What's wrong with you? Why are you so angry?"

Before Song Wan could speak, Shen Qianyu said, "We captured an assassin in the Hall of Mental Cultivation earlier. He was taken to the Eastern Depot's torture chamber by Wan Xiao, but he bit his tongue and committed suicide without saying a word."

"I don't know who is behind this or what their intentions are, and I have no clue at the moment."

Upon hearing this, Song Wan paused slightly: "An assassin?"

"How could an assassin suddenly appear in the palace?"

Shen Qianyu said, "I don't know either."

"I took my medicine and rested in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. After waking up, I was sweating and about to take a bath when someone sneaked into the Hall of Mental Cultivation and suddenly grabbed my neck."

"..."

Song Wan frowned: "Is it a man or a woman?"

"Wearing a palace maid's dress, she must be a woman."

If it were an assassin, why would they deliberately send someone to Chang Le Palace to inform her?

Song Wan looked up, puzzled, and asked, "What weapon is she holding?"

"No, that's not true."

How did she strangle you?

Shen Qianyu said, "I was resting with my eyes closed in the bathtub when this person reached out a hand to me, and I broke the arm and threw him out. What happened? Is there a problem?"

"By the way, we need to send more people to Chang Le Palace. I've asked Wan Xiao to send more people to keep an eye on Yan'er. Be careful until we find out who made the move."

After saying that, Shen Qianyu frowned and said, "I don't know who or why they wanted to kill me. Moreover, this person is very well hidden. Although they have no fighting skills, they are ruthless. As soon as they entered the Eastern Depot and saw Wan Xiao, they bit their tongue and committed suicide."

"Such a temperament suggests he has been trained as a spy for many years."

"..."

Shen Qianyu didn't consider the woman's offer of herself to him at all. As soon as he saw her, he accused her of assassination. Perhaps the woman was afraid of implicating her clan and had no choice but to seek death.

Such a straightforward manner suggests a distinguished background; one might be from a prominent family.

Song Wan looked up at Shen Qianyu and smiled slightly, but did not reveal the matter.

His actions will likely extinguish any thoughts of those with malicious intentions.

Thinking of this, Song Wan found it amusing.

Taking a bright yellow soft towel from the washstand, Song Wan walked up to Shen Qianyu and began to wipe his hair little by little.

The woman's soft fingertips gently stroked Shen Qianyu's head, making him twist his body uncomfortably.

But as soon as he moved, he felt a piercing pain in his left knee.

"What's wrong?"

Shen Qianyu gritted his teeth and endured the sharp pain: "It's nothing, I just shivered because of the cold."

"If you can't stand the cold, why aren't you wearing the padded undershirt I sewed for you?"

"I can't bear to wear it."

Shen Qianyu grinned: "Wan'er sewed it for me by hand, I can't bear to part with it."

He has never had any close relatives sew clothes or shoes for him by hand.

Seeing Song Wan busy for several days just because he casually mentioned feeling cold these past few days before going to bed, Shen Qianyu felt that the thick cotton inner shirt was heavy and extremely precious.

"I'll sew it back on for you if it gets worn out."

"I have already asked the palace embroiderers to do it, so Wan'er doesn't need to worry about it."

Knowing that she cared about him, Shen Qianyu felt incredibly sweet inside.

"I will stay with you in Chang Le Palace tonight. I will not be at ease until the person behind the scenes is revealed."

"it is good."

She gently dried his hair, then slipped her hand inside his shirt to check his hair.

"What are you doing, Wan'er?"

Shen Qianyu pressed down on his collar, looking rather awkward: "It won't work for now. If you want to... you'll have to wait a while longer."

The man looked up at Song Wan and said seriously, "Wan'er, stop teasing me."

Song Wan smiled upon hearing this; "It's just checking someone's temperature, what are you thinking?"

"There's a charcoal brazier inside; go and change into something heavy."

Song Wan took out several heavier pieces from the large wardrobe and helped him change into them little by little.

In previous winters, Shen Qianyu's body was always burning hot, but since the beginning of winter this year, his hands and feet have been ice cold. Sometimes when the two of them rested together, he would wake her up from the cold.

He also began to feel cold, and would often unintentionally utter the word "cold" on winter mornings and evenings.

Song Wan paused in helping him change his clothes, frowned slightly, but quickly covered it up again.

"I have had the palace decorators make a few light and small hand warmers. When you go to court again, you can put them in your sleeves or on your chest to keep warmer."

"It's just that this winter is particularly cold; there's no need to pamper me like this."

Although Shen Qianyu verbally refused, the corners of his mouth remained turned up for a long time.

"Back in Nanqing, I could easily spend the night naked in the snow, so why would I be scared by this winter?"

"That's true."

Song Wan smiled gently and agreed to Shen Qianyu's suggestion.

But there was no smile in her eyes; instead, she looked quite worried.

It is indeed winter this year...

It's not particularly cold; in fact, it's a bit warmer than last year.