But that didn’t stop her from feeling angry and piling on!

With Jiang Baiyan tearing away their fig leaf of pretense, both Rong Changxun and Rong Mizhen lost face. Rong Changxun attempted to negotiate: “Princess…”

“Second Master Rong, we’ve already agreed on how to handle this, with Governor Zhang as a witness,” Shen Xihe had no desire for further discussion.

Rong Changxun choked, but wasn’t ready to give up: “Princess, my daughter is young and ignorant. I beg you to show mercy—the Rong family will remember this kindness forever.”

Shen Xihe let out a low laugh: “The Rong family’s gratitude is worth less to me than my peace of mind. If I spare her today, everyone will think I’m easy to bully, that as long as no one dies, they can obtain forgiveness. How could I ever have peace then? I may not be aggressive, but I don’t forgive easily either.”

Shen Xihe’s stance was clear. The Metropolitan Governor only looked at Rong Changxun: “Second Master Rong, do you want to settle this privately or proceed with a public trial?”

Their earlier agreement was private—Rong Changxun could refuse to honor it, at most losing his reputation for keeping his word.

If Rong Mizhen were truly bitten by a venomous snake and jumped from the cliff, she might lose her life. Though the incident was malicious, since Shen Xihe hadn’t suffered actual serious injury or death, by law the punishment would at most be a few days’ detention or a beating with the rod.

Settle privately and preserve reputation but lose his daughter’s life; proceed publicly and lose reputation but save his daughter’s life.

Rong Changxun took a deep breath: “The Rong family’s word is its bond. This wicked daughter was foolish, first plotting against the Princess, and then deceiving her father. She deserves punishment.”

After speaking, he bowed to the Metropolitan Governor, gave Rong Mizhen a deep look, then turned and strode away.

“Father, Father—” Rong Mizhen tried to rush after him, but the Metropolitan Governor had her restrained and handed over to Shen Xihe.

After asking what kind of snake had been used, Shen Xihe had Mo Yuan catch one. She didn’t have the snake bite Rong Mizhen directly. Instead, Rong Mizhen sat where she had sat earlier, while Mo Yuan stood where Li Er’lang had been and threw the snake over.

Whether it would bite depended on her fate.

She was fortunate—the snake didn’t bite her. When Rong Mizhen was pushed off the pavilion, she didn’t die either, only breaking both legs and scratching her face. Shen Xihe didn’t know if she had other injuries, as she was taken home by the Rong family’s people.

“Sister, why did you spare her life?” Xue Jinqiao was somewhat displeased.

Such a despicable person should have been killed.

While Rong Mizhen was indeed lucky not to be bitten by the snake, she survived the fall because Shen Xihe had specifically instructed that she be pushed toward tree branches, which provided resistance and support, saving her from death.

“If she died, others would pity her and think me cruel,” Shen Xihe glanced at Xue Jinqiao, who had changed how she addressed her again.

“Would Sister care about such things?” Xue Jinqiao felt she was being patronized, believing that Shen Xihe, like herself, didn’t care about others’ words.

“I don’t care,” Shen Xihe slowly curved her lips. “Alive, she suffers, and people won’t forget what the Rong family’s daughter did. The Rong family won’t dare tangle with me too much. But if she died, it would be different.”

“I see.” Xue Jinqiao propped her face on one hand, gazing at Shen Xihe with admiring eyes and an enchanting smile.

Shen Xihe pretended not to notice her infatuated look, allowing her to follow back to the Princess’s mansion. She took out two types of incense: “Nine Harmony Incense and Nine Truth Incense—which do you prefer?”

Xue Jinqiao’s eyes sparkled as she opened and smelled both. Though she preferred the Nine Truth Incense’s long-lasting and subtle fragrance, she asked: “In Nine Harmony Incense, does ‘harmony’ refer to Sister’s close friend He?”

Hearing this, Shen Xihe understood her thoughts and directly locked away the Nine Harmony Incense: “Nine Truth Incense suits you better.”

“Sister…” Xue Jinqiao pouted, drawing out the word coquettishly.

“I have matters to attend to and won’t keep you today. Go home early—it’s the Double Ninth Festival, don’t let your family worry,” Shen Xihe advised.

“Sister…”

“Mo Yu!”

Shen Xihe called out, and Mo Yu entered, grabbing Xue Jinqiao by the back of her collar and carrying her away.

Throughout it all, Xue Jinqiao kept staring at Shen Xihe, her pout growing ever higher.

“Princess, are you still going to keep your appointment with the Crown Prince?” Hong Yu asked, seeing Shen Xihe sitting at her dressing table.

“My word is my bond.” Shen Xihe chose a pair of rather wide gold-threaded hanging pearl hair ornaments. Her wound was on the left side of her forehead—initially a large red patch, now just a small crimson mark. These ornaments could perfectly conceal it.

After dealing with Rong Mizhen’s aftermath, Shen Yun’an returned to find Shen Xihe dressed magnificently, and immediately became jealous: “Sister, where are you going, dressed so enchantingly?”

Shen Yun’an only called her “sister” when he was sulking—normally he used her childhood name.

“Just to complement these hair ornaments,” Shen Xihe’s fingertips brushed the semicircular string of pearls hanging at her brow.

These ornaments were made from a bushel of fine fish-eye pearls that Shen Yun’an had obtained.

Sure enough, Shen Yun’an was appeased: “You look truly beautiful.”

Shen Xihe smiled helplessly: “Let’s go, we’ll depart.”

“We?” Shen Yun’an pointed at himself, somewhat uncertain.

“Of course. I have an appointment with His Highness, but it wasn’t specified that I couldn’t bring others,” Shen Xihe felt that if she went alone with Xiao Huayong to the tower, she might not know how to appease her brother afterward. Better to bring him along.

“I’ll go change clothes right away!” Shen Yun’an’s feet moved, and he flew out.

After their evening meal, at sunset, Shen Xihe and Shen Yun’an arrived at the palace gate together. They weren’t going to the city gate tower, but rather the tower at the palace gate.

Xiao Huayong wore a black round-collared robe with silver embroidery depicting elegant pear leaves and simple auspicious patterns. A silver cape draped his shoulders, and a silver crown bound his hair, making him look noble and dignified yet approachable.

“I heard the Princess was injured *cough cough cough cough*…” Xiao Huayong looked worriedly at Shen Xihe’s forehead.

She had deliberately made the incident widely known—those who should know in the capital already knew. Xiao Changying had personally come to the Princess’s mansion, though she hadn’t received him.

She had meant to make it public, partly to distance herself from Prince Xin and Prince Lie.

“Just a minor injury, thank you for your concern, Your Highness,” Shen Xihe smiled faintly.

Xiao Huayong coughed several more times before taking a box from Tian Yuan’s hands: “Inside are some moisturizing fragrant balms, particularly effective for scrapes and bruises.”

Before Shen Xihe could reach for it, Shen Yun’an stepped forward to take it: “On behalf of my sister, I thank Your Highness for your kindness.”

At that moment, the last light of day was swallowed by the horizon. A brilliant firework soared and exploded above their heads, its colorful light reflecting on the faces of the two tall men as they both held the same box.

The scene was somewhat… strangely awkward.

Tian Yuan slowly backed away. His Highness had put considerable effort into creating this atmosphere, only to have the Young Master cut in.

Yet he inexplicably wanted to laugh, though he had to hold it in.

Xiao Huayong’s smile froze slightly, but he gracefully withdrew his hand and cleared the way to the tower: “Young Master, Princess, please.”