A veiled look of disgust flashed across Yu Zihan's face. He pursed his lips and said, "So, Aunt Kang is also here to see Father? But Chief Chen said he isn't seeing anyone right now."
Shen Qing's gaze darkened.
'So that was Aunt Kang, the daughter of a concubine from the Duke Qi Mansion.'
She remembered that ten years ago, the Duke Qi Mansion was still a noble family that acted with great discretion, having perfected the principle of keeping a low profile to stay safe.
Even though their family had produced a few imperial concubines and Princes, that was decades ago. It was safe to say they had long since withdrawn from the center of power struggles, which was why Shen Qing didn't have a strong impression of the Duke Qi Mansion.
But she never expected that they would now do something as high-profile as sending one of their young ladies into the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Those who sent women to Yu Jiuqing surely had their own motives—be it for fame, wealth, or power. It was just that Shen Qing had been away from this world for ten years, and the information she possessed was insufficient for her to grasp the full extent of the situation.
Anyone who wasn't a fool could hear the coldness in Yu Zihan's voice. Aunt Kang, however, seemed completely unaffected, maintaining a graceful smile. "I know the Lord has never liked others to disturb his peace," she said. "But I was so worried when I heard he was injured. Chief Chen said the Lord isn't seeing anyone right now, but the young master is an exception, I presume?"
'Yu Zihan wanted to deny it outright. In truth, he just wanted to end this conversation with her as quickly as possible.'
But she wasn't wrong. Chief Chen hadn't let anyone into his father's room, except for him—although he had been inside for only a few moments before his father had thrown him out with a cold expression.
Yu Zihan managed a noncommittal "Mhm" and said with a touch of mockery, "Chief Chen may have let me in, but Father has no desire to see me either. If Aunt Kang is hoping to use me to curry favor with him, you'd best give up that idea."
Shen Qing watched the young boy from a distance, her heart tightening.
'These messy inner-residence squabbles over favor and affection were not things a boy his age should have to deal with.'
'Growing up in this kind of environment, he was bound to be affected.'
Yu Zihan's words were incredibly impolite, but Aunt Kang merely looked at him as one would a petulant child. "I know there have been some misunderstandings between you and your father," she said softly. "But you are the Lord's only legitimate son. No matter how cold he may appear, I'm certain he holds you dear in his heart.
Your thirteenth birthday is in a few months. It's not good to keep throwing childish tantrums at the Lord like this…"
Though she spoke gently, the irritation on Yu Zihan's face grew heavier. Finally, as if unable to bear it any longer, he took a sharp step back and snapped, "What business is it of yours what goes on between my father and me?!"
Aunt Kang paused, her expression remaining placid. "If the young master doesn't wish for me to speak, then I will stop," she said softly. "I didn't come here expecting to see the Lord. I was simply too worried to sit still. Seeing you, young master, has been an unexpected pleasure. Might I ask if you could tell me how the Lord is faring?"
Yu Zihan's face was a mask of strained tolerance. "Father is doing just fine," he sneered. "No need for Aunt Kang to trouble herself."
With that, he turned to leave. But then his gaze met Shen Qing's in the distance, and the frustration simmering in his heart instantly vanished as if swept away by a spring breeze. A look of delight unconsciously brightened his features as he strode over to her. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
Shen Qing glanced at Aunt Kang, whose eyes had followed Yu Zihan's over to her. She gave Yu Zihan a curtsy and said, "I was looking for a lost handkerchief and found myself here without realizing it."
Yu Zihan had been eager to get away from the woman, so he seized the chance. "I actually have something I need to talk to you about," he said to Shen Qing. "Come with me."
As he spoke, he gestured for Shen Qing to follow and turned, walking through the Moon Cave Gate.
Shen Qing raised a slight eyebrow but said nothing more, following Yu Zihan inside.
The guards on either side of the Moon Cave Gate hesitated for a moment but ultimately said nothing.
Yu Zihan walked quickly, and Shen Qing followed a short distance behind. As she passed Aunt Kang, she heard one of the woman's Maids mutter under her breath in discontent, "The young master's attitude is simply outrageous…"
'Even if our mistress isn't his birth mother, she's still his elder, for goodness' sake.'
'Besides, who knows what the future holds? Maybe soon, the young master will have to call our mistress "Mother."'
'Once our mistress gives birth to a son or daughter and captures more of the Lord's affection, this arrogant little brat will finally learn just how pitiful and naive he really is.'