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Lady Chang smiled as she looked towards Princess Xueyan, "Princess Xueyan, what do you think?"

"Of course, it’s my first visit to Daxia, and I’m able to see a twin lotus, and even with Your Highness, I’m very happy." Princess Xueyan lifted her eyes to Xiao Jinyan, emphasizing the last sentence in hopes that Xiao Jinyan would call her ’Xueyan.’

Xiao Jinyan said indifferently, "It’s the princess’s good fortune to witness such a spectacle upon arrival."

Princess Xueyan didn’t hear the address she longed for, and felt somewhat disappointed. Thinking of the twin lotus, she excitedly said, "Your Highness, when we see the twin lotus later, could you pluck it for me?"

Upon hearing this, Lady Chang sneered internally, "Princess Xueyan, the twin lotus is a rare spectacle, wouldn’t it be troubling for His Highness to pluck it? Why not let it bloom naturally for more people to admire, wouldn’t that be better? Princess Xueyan, don’t you agree?"

Her words stumped Princess Xueyan, who looked at Xiao Jinyan with a hint of grievance, "Your Highness, it’s my first time seeing a twin lotus, I like it so much, I don’t wish to monopolize it."

Xiao Jinyan nodded, "This palace understands."

Princess Xueyan shot a glance at Lady Chang, a flicker of disgust passing through her eyes, and she looked at Xiao Jinyan, "Your Highness, where is the twin lotus? Why haven’t we arrived yet?"

Xiao Jinyan’s gaze had been searching for Shen Chuwei all along; her pink figure entered the lotus pond and was quickly obscured by the dense lotus leaves, vanishing from sight.

He responded lightly with two words, "Soon."

Lotuses generally bloom after June. Today, Liu Xi reported that in Taiye Pond, a lotus flower had bloomed early, and it was even a twin lotus.

Princess Xueyan happened to hear this and asked him to take her to see it.

A twin lotus is indeed rare and auspicious.

In their small boat, Shen Chuwei and her two companions were no slower than Xiao Jinyan’s larger vessel. Amid the dense lotus leaves, it was even easier to navigate.

The boatman, Qin Xiao, followed as Shen Chuwei arrived at Taiye Pond, accompanying her in case of any accidents.

From a distance, Shen Chuwei saw the lotus flower, and indeed it was a twin lotus. She pointed excitedly at it, "There really is a twin lotus!"

"Let me see." Consort Xu followed the direction of Shen Chuwei’s pointing finger, saw the twin lotus, and was also extremely excited, "It’s my first time seeing a twin lotus."

Tao Chenghui saw it too, "It’s my first time as well, and it seems to be bicolor."

As the boat drew closer, they could see it more clearly.

Shen Chuwei observed the twin lotus and found that it was bicolor, pink and purple, which became a highlight among the verdant lotus leaves.

When the boat approached, Consort Xu urged, "Lady Shen, pluck it. Let’s see what that shameless one will favor then?"

Qin Xiao: "..." Why did it feel like she was cursing Princess Xueyan?

Shen Chuwei nodded in agreement, the twin lotus could be taken back, nourished with Spiritual Spring Water, and could last for a very long time.

Shen Chuwei stretched out her arm, and fifteen inches below the twin lotus, she plucked it.

This was not an ordinary lotus, but a water lily, pink and purple, and very beautiful.

"So beautiful."

Tao Chenghui looked at the twin lotus in Shen Chuwei’s hands, "Indeed very beautiful, I’ve heard that twin lotuses are hard to come by, seeing one also signifies that good things will happen."

"I’ve heard the same, and at my age, it’s the first time I’ve seen a twin lotus, could it be that something good is going to happen?" Consort Xu suddenly became somewhat expectant.

Shen Chuwei had not heard that seeing a twin lotus meant something good would happen, but indeed it was her first time seeing one.

She gestured in her palm and instructed Qin Xiao, "Let’s return."

Qin Xiao looked at the twin lotus in Shen Chuwei’s hand, he hadn’t expected her to just pluck it like that...

"Are we returning now?"

Shen Chuwei raised the twin lotus in her hand for Qin Xiao to see, "Otherwise, are you waiting for His Highness to make things difficult?"

Qin Xiao immediately reacted, his hands swiftly plying the oars, leaving this troublesome place at the fastest speed.

Xiao Jinyan stood at the bow, seeing a small boat emerging from the lush green, and soon after, a touch of pink appeared in his field of vision.

Princess Xueyan saw a small boat suddenly appear in Taiye Pond, and was somewhat surprised when she saw the people on it, "What are Lady Shen and the others doing?"

Lady Chang also saw it and felt somewhat relieved that they didn’t join this boat; otherwise, with more people, she wouldn’t even have a chance to speak with Xiao Jinyan.

She casually answered, "They’re probably here to enjoy the lotuses as well."

"Then why didn’t they join us?" Xueyan looked at Xiao Jinyan with confusion, hoping for his reply.

Xiao Jinyan’s gaze was fixed on that pink figure, puzzled why this time she didn’t come to see him, but went to enjoy the lotuses with Consort Xu and the others instead, and did not pay attention to Xueyan’s words.

Xueyan called out with confusion, "Your Highness? Did you hear my question?"

Xiao Jinyan looked down at Xueyan, "Yes, what is it?"

Xueyan asked timidly, "Is Lady Shen angry with me? She didn’t join us to admire the lotuses."

Xiao Jinyan: "..." He didn’t like women who were insincere, with one set of behaviors in public and another behind people’s backs—this was also why he disliked getting close to women.

But Shen Chuwei was not like that.

Lady Chang tentatively spoke up, "Princess Xueyan, you will eventually marry into the East Palace. Lady Shen’s displeasure is just for the moment."

Xueyan did not hide her thoughts, seizing the opportunity to make them clear.

She smiled lightly, "Lady Chang is right, in the future we are all sisters in the family. It’s best to help and tolerate each other."

"Princess Xueyan is right," Lady Chang huffed silently in her heart. I will not let you take the position of Crown Princess away from me.

Xiao Jinyan glanced at Lady Chang upon hearing this, surprised that she was still coveting the position of Crown Princess at this time.

Weichi reminded, "Master, the twin lotus is supposed to be right here."

Princess Xueyan looked at only a field of green lotus leaves without seeing anything else and asked with a puzzled face, "Where is the twin lotus? Why can’t I see it?"

Lady Chang saw the twin lotus in Shen Chuwei’s hand not far away, her brow furrowing tightly, "It’s been picked by Lady Shen."

Xiao Jinyan had also just seen the twin lotus in Shen Chuwei’s hand.

Xueyan felt very angry inside, yet her voice remained gentle, "Your Highness, why did Lady Shen pick the twin lotus? Now others won’t be able to see it."

"I don’t know either," Xiao Jinyan answered perfunctorily and then ordered coldly, "Let’s go back."

Qin Xiao brought the boat to shore, waiting for the three young mistresses to disembark.

Chun Xi was waiting on the shore, and seeing Qin Xiao, she quickly lowered her head, not daring to look up for fear that Qin Xiao would recognize her.

Qin Xiao saw the maid repeatedly lowering her head and couldn’t help feeling a bit anxious, "Don’t just stand there, quickly help Lady Shen. If she falls, His Highness will blame you, and you won’t be able to bear the responsibility."

"I’m going to help right now." Chun Xi didn’t understand why Qin Xiao was so fierce. Would she really let her own mistress fall?

Chun Xi hurried forward with her head lowered to assist Shen Chuwei, "Miss, please take your time."

Qin Xiao looked at the three maids, his gaze falling on Chun Xi who kept her head down all the time, feeling that there was something off about this maid.