Bu Shulin, who had been on high alert, initially thought it might be some other royal. She truly hadn’t sensed anyone following them. Seeing the Crown Prince’s lightning-fast martial arts skills with her own eyes, even Bu Shulin, who prided herself on her lightness techniques, stared in amazement.

What happened to him being sickly, coughing every few steps, and panting constantly?

Even knowing there had been some exaggeration, this was far beyond her expectations!

The Crown Prince before her, though pale-faced, had sharp features and bright eyes, radiating vitality. His gaze, whenever it left Shen Xihe, became as deep and unfathomable as the ocean. If one didn’t look carefully, he seemed like a completely different person from the one she usually saw!

“When did Youyou discover my presence?” Xiao Huayong asked while sniffing himself. He hadn’t bathed in fragrant water today, and the medicinal scent wasn’t strong. He had deliberately stood where there was no wind, so when had he given himself away?

“Moon’s Cold Fragrance – I’ve only ever given it to one person,” she replied. If not for that scent, she would have attacked already.

Moon’s Cold Fragrance was a perfume Shen Xihe had created from a different variety of jade orchid. Since the jade orchid was known as the Beauty Under the Moon, Shen Xihe named this fragrance “Moon’s.” It had a unique characteristic – its scent would linger persistently after extended use, and places, where someone wearing it had passed, would retain the fragrance for a long time, though it was so subtle that ordinary people couldn’t detect it.

She had caught this scent on her way to deal with Yu Sangning. Xiao Huayong had stopped there, presumably moving aside when he heard the horse hooves, then watched Yu Sangning and her carriage arrive one after another, choosing to observe from the sidelines.

“So Youyou want me to be completely covered in your scent.” Xiao Huayong smiled tenderly.

Bu Shulin: ??

Was she being ignored? She was standing right there, and not just her – there were also Zhenzhu, Biyu, and Ziyu. How could the Crown Prince say such things in front of so many people?

She had thought herself quite frivolous, unmatched in all of the capital in this regard, but now she felt far inferior to the Crown Prince.

What amazed her most was that Shen Xihe, usually so proper and dignified, showed no anger. Instead, she seemed accustomed to it, as if Xiao Huayong hadn’t said anything flirtatious at all.

“Has Your Highness come to find me?” Though Shen Xihe phrased it as a question, her tone was declarative.

“Of course,” Xiao Huayong seized the opportunity without hesitation. “Besides Youyou, who else could make me skip dinner, disregard my weak health, brave the cold night, and journey thousands of li… all just to see you sooner and ease the pain of longing?”

Bu Shulin shuddered, her spine turning cold. She tactfully moved backward, quietly opening the rear door of the carriage from inside and silently slipping out.

She felt that if she stayed a moment longer, she wouldn’t be able to control herself from showing disrespect to the Crown Prince.

Shen Xihe watched him as he stood there by the carriage, his gaze fixed intently on her.

Unable to resist his stare, Shen Xihe had to step down from the carriage. Seeing her wearing lilac purple instead of moon white, Xiao Huayong completely forgot that Tian Yuan had been referring to yesterday, and turned to give Tian Yuan a cold smile.

Tian Yuan felt bitter – he had only suggested that outfit to get His Highness to leave earlier. If he had let His Highness continue choosing, they probably wouldn’t have even left the palace residence yet.

“Alin, go hunt some game,” Shen Xihe instructed Bu Shulin.

Bu Shulin, who had retreated to a tree intending to climb it and rest, being unable to handle the flirtatious atmosphere, was directly called out by Shen Xihe. She doubted her ears and turned to look at Shen Xihe, pointing at herself: “Me?”

“Is there a problem?” Shen Xihe asked directly.

A problem? Of course, there was! She was a lady too! Sending a delicate lady into the deep forest to hunt in the middle of the night, just because this man hadn’t eaten dinner?

What kind of logic was this?

But thinking of Shen Xihe’s methods and her unpayable debts, Bu Shulin could only lower her head.

Seeing Bu Shulin being dispatched by Shen Xihe for his sake, Xiao Huayong was pleased: “I love rabbit meat.”

Bu Shulin gritted her teeth but had to bow: “This subject accepts the command.”

As Bu Shulin went hunting, Shen Xihe sent Moyu to accompany her. The guards and Tian Yuan went to gather firewood, while Zhenzhu and Biyu began clearing a space. Ziyu quickly checked the spices for cooking and prepared the utensils. Shen Xihe took out a box of snacks from the carriage: “Have some of these first.”

Opening the snack box revealed flower-patterned rice cakes, reminding Xiao Huayong of around this time last year when he had disguised himself as Guo Daoyi and followed Shen Xihe to the wilderness, trading a box of these rice cakes for some grilled meat.

How cold and distant Shen Xihe had been then, shocking even him with her aloofness.

“Do Youyou always keep flower-patterned rice cakes ready?” Xiao Huayong asked contentedly.

Shen Xihe mercilessly poured cold water on his happiness: “I’ve probably tried every dessert in the Eastern Palace. Whatever I prepare, how can it be special to Your Highness? If Your Highness thinks I’m being thoughtful, just say so.”

“Pfft-“

Biyu didn’t mean to laugh out loud. She knew it was greatly disrespectful, but she couldn’t help it. Even Zhenzhu, known for her composure, had to struggle to keep from laughing, her lips twitching with effort.

Being laughed at by his beloved’s maids didn’t bother Xiao Huayong at all. He was being magnanimous, so he chose to immediately tattle: “Youyou, your maids are laughing at me!”

Biyu felt mortified – where was Your Highness’s dignity as Crown Prince?!

Though she thought this, Biyu quickly fell to her knees: “This servant was improper, please forgive me, Princess.”

Shen Xihe knew Biyu hadn’t meant any disrespect and certainly had no intention of slighting the Crown Prince: “Go fetch some water for His Highness.”

Biyu gratefully withdrew, as if granted amnesty.

Xiao Huayong let out a slight huff that only the nearby Shen Xihe could hear, expressing his dissatisfaction: “I’m not hungry.”

He set aside the rice cake box without eating.

Shen Xihe quietly watched him before saying just four words: “I made them myself.”

Coughing lightly, Xiao Huayong’s expression changed faster than an opera performer’s, picking up the box again: “I’m hungry after all.”

He then proceeded to eat every single rice cake in the box. When Tian Yuan returned from gathering firewood, having also missed dinner, he could only watch helplessly. Xiao Huayong didn’t even spare him a glance, and even when Tian Yuan’s stomach growled audibly, Xiao Huayong pretended not to hear.

When Bu Shulin returned with rabbits, Shen Xihe had Ziyu roast them, and only then could Tian Yuan eat most of his share.

After eating and drinking his fill, the Crown Prince began to act spoiled, refusing to move or leave. Shen Xihe knew he just wanted to spend the night outside with her, even with so many people around. Though he couldn’t take any liberties, he wanted to share a different kind of night with her.

In his words, this was a different kind of romance.

Though Shen Xihe didn’t understand this type of romance, she indulged him, accompanying him as they watched the stars for most of the night.