“I am the daughter of the Northwest King. I can choose among the imperial sons, and I would dare say this even before His Majesty. Does Your Highness Prince Lie believe this?”

Shen Xihe changed from her gentle, graceful manner, though her tone remained light. But those misty eyes, like cold smoke in fog, revealed endless arrogance—so arrogant that she even dropped her deferential terms.

Surprisingly, Xiao Changying calmed down. His eyes, deep and black as midnight, suddenly filled with endless amusement and interest: “Shen Xihe, regardless of why you appeared here, regardless of your purpose, you’ve truly caught this prince’s interest. This prince doesn’t believe there exists in this world a woman this prince cannot obtain.”

“Would Your Highness please release my hand?” Shen Xihe’s gaze fell on Xiao Changying’s hand.

The wide sleeve slipped down, revealing her bandaged arm. Xiao Changying’s gaze flickered—he vaguely remembered last night, how his fingers had dug into her delicate wrist. His eyes softened slightly, and he released his grip.

Having gained her freedom, Shen Xihe naturally let her hand fall: “In this world, even one as noble as His Majesty has things he cannot obtain. Prince Lie, remember these words, I’ll only say them once: Shen Xihe is destined to be a woman you can never obtain in your entire life. Your Highness, please do not set your heart on this subject.”

With that said, without sparing Xiao Changying another glance, she stepped away.

…

Sandalwood incense curled through the air, blue smoke rising slowly.

A thin layer veiled Shen Xihe’s smooth, fair face like congealed cream, making her exceptional beauty seem to float between visibility and obscurity, hazy and indistinct.

Mo Yuan pushed open the door and saw Shen Xihe behind her desk, tuning zither strings, her composed demeanor inspiring awe in him.

“Is it done?” Shen Xihe asked softly without looking up, plucking a string.

“Princess, your servant has had the evidence delivered to His Highness the Crown Prince, ensuring absolutely no mistakes.” Mo Yuan immediately bowed his head respectfully and replied, “The Changsha Prefecture Governor is also on his way, expected to arrive in about half an hour.”

“Zhenzhu, how is everything packed?” Shen Xihe’s long, soft fingers gently pressed the zither strings as she looked up at the docile Zhenzhu standing to the side.

“In reply to the Princess, everything has been packed and ready. We can depart at any time.”

Shen Xihe: “Issue the order, we depart in half an hour.”

“Yes.” Zhenzhu acknowledged, bowed, and withdrew.

“Princess.” Mo Yuan couldn’t help speaking after Zhenzhu left.

“What is it?” Shen Xihe turned her head to ask.

That profile, turning gently halfway from the dim light, was like a half-moon emerging from thick clouds, luminous and serene.

Mo Yuan lowered his head: “Princess, you’ve given that item to the Crown Prince. Though your servant has been extremely careful and cautious, the fact that you saved Prince Lie cannot be concealed. I fear once the Crown Prince receives the evidence, he’ll know it was offered by you. Princess first had the life-saving grace with Prince Lie, and now shows favor to the Crown Prince. Your servant worries, worries…”

“Worried that by trying to please both sides, I’ll end up with nothing?” Mo Yuan dared not say it, but how could someone as clever as Shen Xihe not understand his meaning? “I simply want to see if the Crown Prince is worth my further effort and time. As for Prince Lie… isn’t it better to let him misunderstand?”

Shen Yueshan had arranged this drama of a beauty saving a hero, yet she showed nothing but disdain for Xiao Changying, who was now convinced she was playing hard to get.

When he discovers that the thing he fought desperately to protect is long gone, would he need to guess who did it?

But he has no proof—what could he do to her?

He would understand that she came for his possessions, not for him as a person. Better to draw clear boundaries early.

“Princess, if so, we’ll surely become enemies with Prince Lie!” Mo Yuan said anxiously.

Shen Xihe was the Northwest King’s daughter, traditionally uninvolved in court politics, the changing winds of the court had nothing to do with her. Yet she specifically stole the evidence Prince Lie had obtained with such difficulty—this would send only one message to Prince Lie.

Someone behind Shen Xihe needed it!

Connecting this with the reason for Shen Xihe’s entry to the capital, it wouldn’t be hard for Prince Lie to understand that Shen Yueshan had already chosen a certain prince as a suitable match for Shen Xihe…

“Enemies?” Shen Xihe smiled dismissively. “It’s only a matter of time.”

Her right fingertip was smoothly plucked, and elegant, ethereal, ethereal zither notes cascaded from her hands, suddenly calming people’s spirits.

However, before Mo Yuan and Xiao Changying on the other side of the wall could enjoy it, Shen Xihe turned her wrist, and the melody instantly became deep, magnificent, and profound, like the sound of ancient bells.

The momentum rushed like thousands of horses trampling heartstrings, making people’s spirits tense as if the strings might snap at any moment.

Just as listeners’ breathing grew tight, Shen Xihe’s fingertips turned and swept, delicate, soft, and tinged with sorrow, very much like the singing of one departing, dispersing with confusion about where to go.

Even after the piece ended, those who had heard the music remained lost in thought for a long while.

“The zither is an elegant instrument, not to be left idle.” Shen Xihe stood, her light steps swaying the trailing long dress. “This zither is like people. Left unused too long, one forgets how to use it. If used daily, it becomes increasingly familiar. Having not played for so long, I’ve indeed grown rusty.”

In the neighboring courtyard, a nimble figure silently slipped into Xiao Changying’s room, kneeling on one knee before the bed: “Your Highness, your servant came late, please punish me.”

Xiao Changying was lying on the couch with one leg bent, head resting on one hand. He was still savoring Shen Xihe’s previous zither music.

The ancient zither has three tones—heaven, earth, and human. Very few people could connect them so seamlessly, playing them as one, rising and falling, each change perfectly placed.

“Rise. This matter is not your fault; this prince was careless.” He had been forced to let go of what he held, so naturally his people couldn’t find him easily either. “Was the item retrieved?”

The person below immediately prostrated: “Your Highness, your servant found the place marked by your signal had been dug up, the item nowhere to be found.”

Xiao Changying suddenly sat up, completely disregarding the pain from his wound: “What did you say?”

The subordinate buried his head deeply in fear: “The item was taken by someone who got there first. As for who it was, your servant is incompetent and hasn’t yet discovered.”

His fist suddenly clenched, Xiao Changying’s bright black eyes grew increasingly cold and deep, and then he gave a cold laugh: “Heh, this prince truly underestimated her.”

Xiao Changying abruptly strode down from the bed, his unsteady yet urgent steps heading outside. Seeing the courtyard mostly empty, ignoring the newly arrived Changsha Prefecture Governor, he quickly rushed to the main gate.

He could only see the distant shape of Shen Xihe’s departing procession. Her earlier zither performance had merely covered the sounds of moving luggage, allowing her to leave while he remained completely unaware.

The dust stirred up by horse hooves had not yet settled. As it seemed to fall into Xiao Changying’s eyes, his gaze turned terrifyingly dark.