As September arrived and the Double Ninth Festival approached, Shen Yun’an became downhearted, because after the festival, they would have to part—he had to return to the Northwest.
“Brother, I will write to you often,” Shen Xihe smiled reassuringly.
She too felt reluctant to part, but she viewed worldly separations very lightly.
“Youyou.”
Shen Yun’an looked at his sister standing gracefully before him. Her fair cheeks had finally gained a hint of color; previously her lips had been pale, requiring rouge, but lately, they had gradually become naturally pink. She was becoming healthier with each passing day—he should be grateful.
“Youyou, I still want to send someone to investigate the horse supervisor matter. The horses weren’t resold; they must have been diverted elsewhere,” Shen Yun’an wasn’t comfortable leaving Shen Xihe alone in the capital and wanted to arrange everything properly.
For so many places to coordinate such actions, following this trail might lead them to where His Majesty was hiding troops, helping them understand how large a private army His Majesty had assembled, allowing them to prepare early.
“Brother, His Majesty must be extremely cautious about this. The recent matter of private weapon manufacturing already implicated you and me. His Majesty must have suspicions now. If he learns we’re involved in other matters as well, it could be detrimental to us.”
Shen Xihe advised: “We still don’t know how many troops His Majesty commands. Since the Crown Prince is involved in this matter, let’s trust him this once.”
The Crown Prince would soon come of age, and her coming-of-age ceremony wasn’t far off. Barring anything unexpected, when the Crown Prince came of age, Emperor Youning would surely arrange his marriage, and she had already…
After long consideration, Shen Xihe finally decided to give him a chance. She would let this matter determine whether she and Xiao Huayong could be joined in marriage.
“Youyou, you must know that if he succeeds in this, his coldness toward his imperial father and his deep scheming nature will be concerning,” Shen Yun’an’s sword-like eyebrows knitted together. “If he fails, either he’s in league with His Majesty, or he’s overestimating himself.”
Shen Xihe couldn’t help but laugh—it seemed neither success nor failure would be acceptable.
“Brother, these days, I’ve been observing coldly. The Crown Prince doesn’t seem to be a cold-blooded person. His conflict with His Majesty must be unusual. As for his deep scheming nature, that’s better than being stupid and ignorant,” Shen Xihe said. “Where else could we find someone more suitable?”
Shen Xihe had been observing all the princes lately. Excluding those who already had principal wives or were otherwise attached, only a few remained. The Crown Prince was already the best choice.
“Youyou, have you truly not considered the Fierce Prince?” Shen Yun’an asked in a low voice.
Just yesterday, he had met Prince Xin, Xiao Changqin. Prince Xin had specifically come to seek him out to propose marriage on behalf of the Fierce Prince.
“Young Master, although Little Nine is impetuous and proud, he is a person of firm character. He has developed feelings for the Princess, which is why I’ve come shamefully to seek this marriage. Little Nine is my only full-blooded younger brother. Regarding the Northwest’s situation, I can try my best to fulfill both Young Master’s and the Prince’s wishes.”
Xiao Changqin showed full sincerity: “If the Young Master and the Prince allow this marriage, I will watch over Little Nine and ensure he takes no other women. With me as his elder brother, I will take responsibility for everything. If our great endeavor succeeds, Little Nine will certainly live in prosperity without worry.”
Shen Yun’an was tempted. From the beginning, he and his father had favored the Fierce Prince. Prince Xin and the Fierce Prince shared deep brotherly affection. If Prince Xin became emperor, the Fierce Prince could live freely. Once everything settled, the Shen family could confidently hand over the Northwest, and the new emperor would not be suspicious.
They could lay down their burdens, and the whole family could enjoy their later years in peace and harmony, especially since Xiao Changying promised to take no other women, allowing his sister to live more contentedly.
Shen Yun’an told all this directly to Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe was slightly startled. Xiao Changqin had also promised Gu Qingchi he wouldn’t take other women, and Gu Qingchi didn’t blame him for breaking that promise—in truth, Gu Qingchi had forced him to this point by never responding to any of Xiao Changqin’s affection.
Xiao Changqin took An Shi, Gu Qingchi’s cousin, because that day Gu Qingchi returned to her maiden home and happened to witness An Shi seducing Xiao Changqin.
Xiao Changqin had intended to refuse, but after seeing her, he didn’t dodge away, allowing An Shi to approach. He wanted to make Gu Qingchi jealous.
Gu Qingchi left as if she hadn’t seen anything. Xiao Changqin became furious and sought out Gu Qingchi for a private argument.
Yes, a private argument. In their several disagreements after marriage, she would just sit quietly, watching him go from burning with rage to powerless dejection, finally leaving him in disarray.
Later, her aunt sought out Gu Qingchi, saying An Shi was threatening to starve herself, begging her to let An Shi enter the household.
It was common for men to have multiple wives and concubines, so Gu Qingchi simply passed along the message. Unexpectedly, Xiao Changqin became so angry he flipped the table, repeatedly demanding explanations. Gu Qingchi found this man inexplicable—she was merely delivering a message; whether to accept a concubine was his own decision.
Perhaps Gu Qingchi’s indifference shattered the last dignity of this heaven’s proud son. In his anger, he agreed.
Gu Qingchi turned and delivered the message to her aunt, and the matter was settled. The day before taking the concubine, with forced fierceness in his eyes, he gripped her hand: “Qingqing, just beg me once. If you just beg me once, I’ll immediately cancel the marriage.”
An shi was also from a great family. It was already beneath her to be a secondary wife as a legitimate daughter. If he canceled the marriage now, Gu Qingchi replied: “Your Highness must be drunk and confused.”
Xiao Changqin stared blankly at Gu Qingchi for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter—laughing hysterically while hiding his deep pain, until tears came to his eyes. Still unwilling to give up: “Qingqing, I beg you, I beg you to say one word, tell me not to take a concubine. Just say it, please?”
“Your Highness is a man, how can you change your mind so easily? If you cancel the marriage now, how will His Majesty punish you? If An Shi is quick-tempered and, unable to bear the humiliation, takes her own life, how will Your Highness stand firm in the future?” Gu Qingchi was heartless; she considered everything except matters of love between men and women.
Xiao Changqin’s bone-deep painful gaze was as deeply etched as when Gu Qingchi died in his arms.
Pulling back her thoughts, Shen Xihe looked at Shen Yun’an with puzzlement: “Brother, I don’t care whether my husband takes concubines.”
She didn’t understand why she should be jealous or concerned about whether a man took concubines, why she should care about such matters.
Shen Yun’an’s pupils contracted in shock: “Youyou!”
“My ambitions don’t lie in the inner court. No matter how many women he has, I can keep them all well in line. With more women, he’ll trouble me less.” Shen Xihe spoke truthfully.
Shen Yun’an: …
He, he, he was somewhat devastated!
After opening his mouth for a long while, wanting to ask many questions, Shen Yun’an finally asked dejectedly: “Youyou, please tell your brother, what do you care about?”
“I care about Father and Brother, I care about the blue sky and sandy winds of the Northwest that raised me,” Shen Xihe answered.
Shen Yun’an sighed in relief, then felt some regret. They had protected Shen Xihe too thoroughly, to the point where she was extremely indifferent to anyone and anything beyond her father, brother, and the Northwest.
“Youyou…” Shen Yun’an wanted to say that their father and brother couldn’t accompany her for life, but in the end, he swallowed these words.