Chapter 169: The Crown Prince Is Really Not a Good Person

Crown Princess Gongsun Yu has always been frail, living year-round in the Eastern Palace to recuperate, rarely going out to meet outsiders. Thus, when the other party said the Crown Princess had arranged to meet her at the Cloud-Sky Pavilion, Shen Shuangning was somewhat surprised.

The Crown Princess is very kind, the gentlest and wisest female ruler Shen Shuangning has ever seen.

Initially, it was also the Crown Princess who risked herself to warn her that Xie Yan had a problem; based solely on this favor, it was enough for Shen Shuangning to feel grateful for a lifetime.

Perhaps knowing the Crown Princess's short-lived fate in her previous life, the tragic beauty that evokes pity, she always feels a bit of sympathy for this female ruler in her heart.

Shen Shuangning glanced at Xiao Jingyuan, and he immediately understood her meaning.

Xiao Jingyuan said, "Get in our carriage; I'll take you there."

The palace maid who came to deliver the message, seeing this, said nothing more, only making a respectful "please" gesture.

The Eastern Palace's carriage led the way, with the Prince Yan's mansion carriage behind, slowly proceeding down the street as night fell.

Inside the carriage, Xiao Jingyuan asked, "Your relationship with that Crown Princess is very good?"

Shen Shuangning replied gently, "We're not close friends, just got along well; the Crown Princess is a fine person, and I hope she lives a long life."

Xiao Jingyuan naturally knew the Crown Princess's fate in her previous life.

If I remember correctly, the Crown Princess passed away when the snow melted and spring arrived next year.

And the Crown Prince...

Xiao Jingyuan's brows furrowed slightly.

After Gongsun Yu's death, the Crown Prince became like a soul lost, losing all interest in state affairs and the throne, spending his days in the Eastern Palace planting flowers and gardening, cutting himself off from the outside world.

It is said that Gongsun Yu enjoyed the company of flowers and plants even in life.

Precisely because the Crown Prince was inactive in this way, when Prince Rui returned from his fief to the capital, he found himself unable to resist, being pressed step by step under the pretext of "assisting governance"; the court's forces were crushed into disarray, and even the Eastern Palace's guards were cut by more than half, becoming nominal.

Later, he was even placed under house arrest by the Empress, confined to the Eastern Palace awaiting death.

At that time, Xiao Jingyuan looked down on this Crown Prince.

As the heir of a nation, bearing the heavy responsibility of the realm, yet he completely collapsed and sank into decadence over the loss of a woman—how could such a person become emperor?

The Crown Prince's weakness not only ruined himself but also indirectly bolstered the arrogance of Prince Rui and the Empress, plunging the court into deeper chaos; Xiao Jingyuan had to deal with Prince Rui on one hand and clean up his mess on the other.

If he weren't the Crown Prince, Xiao Jingyuan would have long ago cut that waste down with a single sword.

But later, Shen Shuangning also lost...

Then he came to somewhat understand the Crown Prince.

Losing her, everything in the world lost its meaning.

The carriage jolted lightly, and Xiao Jingyuan gathered his thoughts.

He turned his head, firmly gripping Shen Shuangning's hand, feeling the warmth from her palm, and only then did he feel somewhat reassured.

He would spend two years striving to be a good husband.

Not long after, the carriage stopped outside the Cloud-Sky Pavilion.

Seeing the two appear together, the Crown Princess was not surprised either, sitting in a chair and smiling, "Heir Apparent, you don't mind me occupying the Heir Apparent's consort for a while, do you?"

Xiao Jingyuan glanced over the furnishings in the elegant room, confirmed nothing was amiss, then looked at the Crown Princess, his tone flat yet with propriety: "You two talk. I'll wait downstairs."

After saying that, he turned his head, his gaze falling on Shen Shuangning, and lowered his voice slightly.

Shen Shuangning gave a slight nod.

After Xiao Jingyuan left, the Crown Princess invited Shen Shuangning to sit, smiling and teasing: "I'd heard that after the Heir Apparent married, he changed like a different person; I was skeptical, but seeing how attentively he treats you now, not even wanting to be apart for a moment, I truly believe it."

Shen Shuangning usually doesn't pay attention to such irrelevant matters, so she didn't know how widely her marriage to Xiao Jingyuan had spread among the common folk and aristocratic circles.

After all, Xiao Jingyuan was once the most sought-after marriage prospect in the capital, constantly a topic of discussion, with every move drawing attention.

In earlier years, the young ladies of capital aristocratic families privately loved to bet on which family's daughter this aloof Heir Apparent would eventually marry.

Back then many placed their bets on Song Xizhi; only after she married into the Eastern Palace did this years-long wager get reshuffled, as people began guessing a new prospect, yet no matter how they thought, they never imagined it would be the Duke of Rong's mansion.

No one expected him to marry Shen Shuangning, and everyone found it unbelievable.

Thus, on the day of Xiao Jingyuan's wedding, the unwilling ladies still sneaked over to look, and the result was seeing Xiao Jingyuan personally holding the bride as she boarded the bridal sedan...

After further inquiries, more details emerged; before long, the story of the two spread everywhere, even reaching the Crown Princess's ears.

She was truly envious.

"That day of your wedding, I originally wanted to personally come congratulate you, but my old ailment flared up, and I really couldn't get out of bed—what a pity." The Crown Princess's voice was soft and feeble, revealing a hint of weakness.

She seemed to have grown even thinner.

Shen Shuangning quickly said, "Crown Princess, take care of your health; it's the thought that counts, no need to worry about these formalities."

Seeing the person's pallid complexion before her, Shen Shuangning couldn't help but worry: "Your health is poor; why not rest properly in the palace?"

The Crown Princess lowered her eyes slightly: "The palace feels stifling; I don't like it."

Shen Shuangning, hearing this, also understood the reason and fell silent for a moment.

The Crown Princess looked at her and lightly laughed: "I just wanted to go out for a walk today, to find someone to talk with; but after thinking it over, I actually had no friends to confide in, so I thought of you—I won't take up too much of your time."

Actually, today is the Crown Princess's birthday.

In past years she celebrated at her mansion, later accompanied by the Crown Prince. A person who disliked celebrating birthdays once told her: "From now on, every year on your birthday, I will accompany you; you must live a long life."

But this year, Song Liangdi was unwell, so the Crown Prince accompanied her to the temple to pray for blessings.

She herself staying alone in the palace really found it meaningless.

"If you have any worries, just tell me." Shen Shuangning said patiently, "Don't keep them bottled up; prolonged depression harms the body."

The Crown Princess opened her mouth, but the words rose to her lips and she swallowed them back.

Shen Shuangning said, "But is it because of the Crown Prince?"

The Crown Princess bit her lip, lifted her gaze to Shen Shuangning, her eyes reddening: "Am I being too petty? He is the Crown Prince; it's only natural that he isn't alone by his side. Moreover, that is the person he longed for and couldn't obtain, whom he finally married—how could I possibly compare to her......"

Suddenly a great sense of injustice welled up in her heart; she lowered her head, a drop of tears falling onto her clothes, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably, so fragile it made one's heart ache.

Seeing this, Shen Shuangning immediately rose and sat beside her, drawing her into her embrace, and with her other hand gently patted her back to soothe.

The Crown Princess leaned against her shoulder, and the tears she had held back for days finally burst forth.

Shen Shuangning said nothing, just quietly staying with her.

After a while, the Crown Princess gradually stopped her crying, took the handkerchief Shen Shuangning offered, and gave a bitter smile: "You had to see me like this, so undignified..."

Shen Shuangning, however, grabbed her hand without explanation: "Come with me to a place."

The Crown Princess blinked blankly: "Where to?"

Shen Shuangning gave a sly smile: "Just follow me."

Not long after, Shen Shuangning led her out of the Cloud Pavilion.

The two walked through the bustling street market in front of the Cloud Pavilion.

Just after turning a corner, they heard a crisp "bang bang" from ahead, mixed with the stall owner's low shout: "Come on, come on! Twenty cash for three throws, smash away your bad luck——"

The Crown Princess followed the sound with her gaze.

They saw a simple stall set up by the roadside, the vendor propping up a half‑person‑high wooden rack holding dozens of coarse porcelain bowls, while opposite the wall base lay a thick layer of shattered pottery, clearly doing brisk business.

At that moment, a man in a short blue‑cloth outfit stood before the stall, picked up a bowl, and hurled it hard at the wall——

With a crisp "bang!", the porcelain bowl shattered instantly into pieces, shards scattering on the ground.

Yet the man seemed to have lifted a thousand‑jin burden, exhaled deeply, broke into a relieved smile, paid cheerfully, and walked off with light steps.

"This…" the Crown Princess stared, slightly dazed.

Having grown up in a grand manor, she was accustomed to music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry and song, and had never seen such a "crude" livelihood, nor understood why smashing a bowl could be cause for joy.

Shen Shuangning, however, pulled her to the stall, casually produced a tael of silver, placed it on the table, and told the vendor: "I'll take the rest."

The vendor, who had been bending to tidy up, snapped his head up at the words, staring at the newcomer in surprise.

It turned out to be two young ladies.

One of them had her face veiled by a light gauze, making her features indistinct, yet her bearing was extraordinary; the other had bright eyes and brows, skin fair as snow, and was exceedingly beautiful.

Taking a closer look, they saw the table glittering with silver. "Goodness," the vendor thought, "we're going to make a fortune!"

The vendor dared not delay, wiped his hands on his sleeve, and eagerly handed over a porcelain bowl: "Please, ladies! Smash away—I'll bring more if you need."

The one wearing the veil was the Crown Princess; she looked at the bowl the vendor offered, didn't move—not out of disdain, but feeling a bit restrained, unsure what to do, and glanced at Shen Shuangning.

Shen Shuangning snatched it up, turned to face the wall, and raised her arm.

The coarse porcelain bowl flew through the air with a whoosh and struck the wall.

The Crown Princess widened her eyes, somewhat dumbfounded.

Shen Shuangning clapped her hands, turned, and handed her a bowl, saying: "When I'm unhappy, I come here to smash a few; it makes me feel better. Give it a try."

"Is it really that effective?" the Crown Princess hesitated before taking it.

As she was about to throw it, Shen Shuangning added: "When you throw it, you must silently curse the person you dislike in your heart for it to work."

The Crown Princess blinked, not quite understanding: "What should I silently say, then?"

"For example…" Shen Shuangning leaned close to her ear and whispered: "The Crown Prince really isn't a good person!"

Hearing that, the Crown Princess looked at her in surprise: "Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

"What's wrong with that? He won't know."

The Crown Princess pressed her lips: "That makes sense."

She silently uttered something in her heart, then threw the bowl from her hand.

With a bang, it shattered.

The Crown Princess blinked; as the bowl shattered, it seemed the resentment pent up in her heart also found an outlet.

She looked at Shen Shuangning and asked timidly: "Um, can I smash another one?"