Chapter 529: Don’t You Know I Like You?
Chapter 529: Chapter 529: Don’t You Know I Like You?
Just before New Year’s Eve, another snow fell upon the Capital City.
Taking advantage of a clear day, Mo Lingwei, having finally wrapped up most of his work, sent for Shen Ningning to join him at the palace to admire the plum blossoms.
Coincidentally, Grand Tutor Ye had also come to request an audience with the Crown Prince.
As Shen Ningning stepped down from her sedan chair, she saw Grand Tutor Ye clasping his hands in a salute, asking a guard outside Zichen Palace to announce him.
"Grandpa Ye," Shen Ningning greeted him, her voice sweet and soft.
She was very close with Ye Shangyi and had been a frequent guest at the Ye Mansion over the years.
In private, Grand Tutor Ye treated her almost like his own granddaughter.
Upon seeing Shen Ningning, a smile immediately spread across Grand Tutor Ye’s otherwise stern and dignified face.
"Ningning, have you also come to see the Crown Prince?"
"Brother said he was taking me to see the plum blossoms today."
Grand Tutor Ye hesitated for a moment. "I see."
Shen Ningning tilted her head. "Are you here to discuss state affairs with Brother? If so, I can wait in a side hall. I’ll come back after you’re finished with your important business."
Grand Tutor Ye quickly stopped her. "Ningning, it is best that you are present today. I have not come for matters of politics, but for a matter of national importance."
Hearing how important it was, Shen Ningning nodded quickly.
Just then, Mo Lingwei strode out. "Shen Ningning, why haven’t you come in yet?"
His sharp eyes swept over the scene and landed on Grand Tutor Ye, who was smiling and clasping his hands. Mo Lingwei’s cold brows instantly furrowed.
"Old tutor, you’re here again? If it’s about that same matter, my answer is still no. Hurry on home. It’s freezing cold, and an old man like you shouldn’t be making such a fuss."
As he spoke, he descended the steps and took Shen Ningning’s small hand in his large, warm one.
Mo Lingwei frowned, tucking her hand into his robes to warm it.
"How long were you waiting out here? Your hands are so cold."
"I just got here. Not as long as Grandpa Ye has been waiting."
As Shen Ningning spoke, she saw Mo Lingwei was about to pull her inside.
Grand Tutor Ye followed behind them. "Crown Prince, but... according to court regulations, you are already twenty years old. If you do not take a wife soon, it will be detrimental to the stability of the nation!"
Shen Ningning’s sparkling eyes widened.
She finally understood. Grand Tutor Ye was here to admonish him about this very matter!
’No wonder he called it a matter of national importance. The Crown Prince’s marriage is, of course, a major event.’
Mo Lingwei’s sharp, cold brows knitted together, and deep displeasure churned in his piercing eyes.
"I have told you countless times that I do not wish to marry right now. Are you incapable of understanding, or are you just pretending not to?"
His tone was vicious.
Just last night, the Emperor had brought this up and had been lectured by Mo Lingwei for his trouble.
And now today, Grand Tutor Ye was here tempting fate over the same issue.
"Do I need to have you beaten with a rod for you to finally give up?" he asked, lifting his chin slightly. His gaze was bone-chillingly cold, his voice laced with a warning.
Just then, the young woman beside him cleared her throat.
Mo Lingwei’s domineering, arrogant aura instantly deflated by half.
He glanced at Shen Ningning from the corner of his eye and saw her pressing her lips together, watching him through narrowed, sparkling eyes.
Mo Lingwei: ...
He turned back to the trembling Grand Tutor Ye, his tone softening.
"I understand your difficult position. As Imperial Tutor, it is your duty to admonish me."
Grand Tutor Ye was so grateful he could have wept. "Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness. As long as you remain unmarried, this subject must continue to ease the Emperor’s worries by offering my counsel. I implore the Crown Prince to please give serious consideration to the matter of his marriage!"
When the Emperor was the Crown Prince’s age, the Empress was already expecting a child.
Mo Lingwei’s sharp eyes narrowed, a perfunctory, fake smile gracing his handsome face.
"Fine. I will certainly consider it. You may go back now."
"Thank you, Your Highness. This old subject takes his leave."
Grand Tutor Ye let out a long sigh of relief and departed, his retreating figure radiating a sense of pleasure.
Only then did Mo Lingwei’s expression drop, his features turning ice-cold.
An intimidating aura emanated from him, so powerful that the guards in Zichen Palace dared not even breathe too loudly.
Shen Ningning tugged on his sleeve. "Smile."
Mo Lingwei immediately did as he was told, the corners of his lips turning up in a smile, but his eyes remained a sharp, piercing black.
His antics, however, made Shen Ningning laugh.
"It’s just considering marriage. What’s got Brother so worried?"
Mo Lingwei gave her an impassive look. "Is getting married a small matter?"
Shen Ningning sat in his crown prince chair, familiarly helping herself to the seasonal fruits on his desk.
The young woman swung her feet. "Mmm, I don’t really get it, but Grandma says Brother is of age and really should be getting married."
Mo Lingwei pulled over a small stool and sat down beside her, looking glum.
He watched as Shen Ningning’s slender, jade-white hands peeled a tangerine.
Worried the juice would stain her fingertips, he took it from her.
He then raised a sharp brow, asking meaningfully, "Do you want me to get married, too?"
Shen Ningning now had a better concept of what marriage entailed. It wasn’t like when she was little and thought two people just had to kowtow to each other to become husband and wife.
She thought about it carefully before saying, "I want you to do whatever is best for you."
Mo Lingwei silently placed the peeled tangerine in her hand.
"How is getting married ’best for me’?" he asked, his voice low and cold.
"Everyone around me says so. My father says the happiest thing that ever happened to him was meeting my mother. Second Uncle also says finding the right person to marry is the most wonderful experience. Even Aunt Yun from the shop says so!"
Mo Lingwei scoffed. "That only counts as marriage if it’s with someone you love. Otherwise, tying two strangers together for a wedding ceremony is just called resigning to your fate."
Shen Ningning blurted out, "Then Brother should just go find someone he loves."
Mo Lingwei’s previously nonchalant expression suddenly turned grim and dark.
He stared at Shen Ningning. ’How could she say something like that?’
The young woman hadn’t thought much of it, but she found Mo Lingwei’s gaze too cold, almost freezing.
She froze mid-chew, her pale cheeks puffed out with tangerine. She couldn’t help but ask, "What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?"
Mo Lingwei stood up abruptly. "You didn’t say anything wrong. To get married, one must find someone they love."
His voice was tinged with anger. He stalked over to the side and began to read a book, ignoring whatever Shen Ningning said to him.
No matter how dense she was, the young woman realized he was angry.
So she went over, sat down obediently beside him, and leaned against his arm.
Mo Lingwei shifted away slightly, continuing his pretense of reading coldly.
Shen Ningning glanced at the book in his hands.
"You’re holding it upside down."
"..." Mo Lingwei was silent for a moment, then tossed the book aside. "I’m going to close my eyes and rest. You can entertain yourself."
Shen Ningning tilted her head. "Aren’t we going to see the Hongmei?"
"I’ve lost interest for now," he said, his thin lips pressed into a particularly cold line.
Shen Ningning nodded. "Alright then."
Mo Lingwei kept his eyes closed, but he was keenly aware of Shen Ningning’s every move.
He heard the little girl walk around his desk, a soft rustling sound, and couldn’t tell what she was doing.
Then he heard Shen Ningning walk to the door, close it, and instruct the guards outside, "Go in and refill the hot tea in a little while."
Wu Fang asked, "Princess, where are you going?"
"I’m going to Yimei Garden to see the plum blossoms. I’ll pick some to bring back and make plum blossom cakes for Brother."
Hearing this, Mo Lingwei couldn’t help but purse his lips to hide a smile. A feeling of delight finally washed away the annoyance in his heart.
’Have I not been obvious enough?’ he wondered.
’Can’t Shen Ningning tell that I like her?’
’Even if I were to marry, it would have to be to her.’
Mo Lingwei finally opened his eyes, deciding to read some memorials while he waited for her to return.
As he reached his desk, he saw that Shen Ningning had peeled some tangerines and arranged the segments into a smiley face on a plate.
"Tch," he huffed with a laugh. "Such childish tricks to coax someone."
He acted as if he didn’t care, but he was thoroughly pleased.
However.
Mo Lingwei waited and waited, but Shen Ningning did not return.
Half an hour had already passed. ’Surely she must be tired of looking at plum blossoms by now?’
He immediately ordered Wu Fang to go and check on her.
Unexpectedly, Wu Fang returned shortly after, panting as he reported, "Your Highness, the young master of the Lu family came to the palace to deliver a cloak to Commander Lu. He ran into the Princess, and the two of them went to pick plum blossoms together. When this subordinate arrived, he was making the Princess laugh nonstop."
A vein pulsed on Mo Lingwei’s forehead, and his sharp eyes instantly turned frigid.
Lu Shaoyuan again?!
’Why is he everywhere!’
"Prepare my retinue for Yimei Garden." The hem of Mo Lingwei’s violet-gold robe swept over the small blades of grass beneath the steps, seeming to crush them with its force.
His dark, imposing figure rushed away.