It was rare to see the Crown Prince so happy, and Tianyuan didn’t dare dampen his spirits. He knew that although His Highness seemed unconcerned about his inability to distinguish colors, how could anyone truly not care when they suddenly lost the ability to see the world’s vibrant hues?
If not for this, why would His Highness lose control of his emotions and feel somewhat resentful and hurt upon learning that the Princess had given away his gifts to the Prince?
However, his Highness… Tianyuan could see crystal clear that the Princess’s gaze toward the Crown Prince was as still as dead water – there wasn’t even a hint of affection. He wondered when their Highness would truly be able to claim his bride.
“Princess, about the Twelfth Prince…” Biyu said in a low voice, “This servant heard that the Twelfth Prince has begun attending court.”
A prince could only receive assignments after entering court politics. Only with assignments could they build achievements and establish merit. It didn’t matter if they lacked the Emperor’s favor – as long as they had ability and achieved results, establishing merit, the Emperor would have no choice but to bestow rewards.
“An insignificant person, why waste thoughts on him?” Shen Xihe closed her eyes to rest.
She knew Biyu suspected that Xiao Changgeng had deliberately fallen in front of her that day. While Shen Xihe wasn’t someone who easily trusted others, she also wasn’t overly suspicious. Such matters could be either true or false.
Everything that happened afterward wasn’t his doing – even if he had anticipated Princess Changling’s actions, he couldn’t have predicted how she would respond.
She knew people outside were saying that she had stood up for Xiao Changgeng, which was why he received the treatment he deserved.
Shen Xihe didn’t care how these rumors started. Her actions were merely meant to embarrass the Emperor and make Princess Changling realize she wasn’t someone to be trifled with. If Princess Changling didn’t learn her lesson, she would ensure the Princess met a miserable fate as well.
Though Xiao Changgeng was the same age as her, Shen Xihe viewed him as a child. No matter how deep his thoughts might be, he wasn’t within her consideration.
The day after meeting Xiao Huayong, Xie Yunhuai brought medicine to her door.
“Princess, the bone-shedding pill has intense properties. Previously you took it with snow water, but now your internal organs are weak and can’t withstand the shock of extreme temperatures. You can no longer use snow water, so I’ve prepared this medicinal bath as a substitute. Princess should soak for a quarter-hour before taking the bone-shedding pill.”
“Thank you.” Shen Xihe trusted Xie Yunhuai completely and immediately ordered the medicinal bath to be prepared.
As she soaked in the bathtub, the cool fragrance of snow lotus encircled her nostrils. She was particularly sensitive to scents, and this fragrance was identical to the snow lotus she had smelled previously, though mixed with other medicinal herbs it wasn’t as refreshing as when it stood alone.
“There’s snow lotus in the medicine,” Shen Xihe said.
“Yes, there is snow lotus,” Biyu nodded. “That day when the Princess fainted, Doctor Qi also used this kind of medicinal bath…”
Taking a deep breath, Biyu continued, “Though it seems more fragrant and cool than that day. This servant also smelled the snow lotus fragrance then.”
Before this, Biyu had never smelled Tianshan snow lotus – she first encountered it when saving Shen Xihe. Later when the Tianshan snow lotus was delivered, she realized that’s where the fresh fragrance came from, though that day’s scent was far inferior to today’s.
Biyu assumed Xie Yunhuai had modified the prescription, and Shen Xihe didn’t think much of it either, only mentioning it because the snow lotus was somewhat special.
Though the medicinal bath was warm, for some reason Shen Xihe felt her limbs growing increasingly cold as she soaked. However, this coldness gathered very gradually, unlike the terrifying sensation of drinking snow water all at once.
After a quarter hour, she drank the bone-shedding pill mixed with warm water. A warm current flowed down her throat, the heat dispersing throughout her body, making her feel extremely comfortable without even a trace of pain.
She even fell into a peaceful sleep while soaking in the medicinal bath. Biyu was somewhat worried and immediately went out to inform Xie Yunhuai who was waiting outside: “The Princess has fallen asleep, is this alright?”
“Does the Princess show any signs of discomfort?” Xie Yunhuai asked.
“None at all,” Biyu shook her head.
Xie Yunhuai struck his palm with his fist: “It worked! Go back in and add more medicine to the bath as I instructed. Let her soak for half an hour, then carry her out without waking her. The longer she sleeps, the better the medicine will work.”
Biyu and the others were overjoyed at hearing this.
Shen Xihe slept until sunset before waking. Upon awakening, she felt an indescribable warmth throughout her body.
“Doctor Qi, I feel excellent.” Shen Xihe threw on a cloak, not even bothering to arrange her hair, and strode toward Xie Yunhuai who had stayed behind fearing something might go wrong.
Standing in the courtyard, Xie Yunhuai heard a clear call containing hints of joy. Turning to look, he saw the young woman in a white dress, her flowing hair, and a slightly lifted cloak, her face like pure white porcelain, her eyes gleaming like black obsidian – she possessed an unsullied, transcendent beauty.
Xie Yunhuai smiled and extended his hand to check her pulse. Noting that her pulse was moving excellently, he too revealed a pleased smile.
“I must thank you,” Shen Xihe looked up at Xie Yunhuai, whose eye sockets were sunken and whose eyes were bloodshot in the moonlight. She performed a proper, elegant curtsy: “Zhaoning gives her thanks.”
“Princess said we are friends, close confidants. Being confidants, why the formality?” Xie Yunhuai raised his hand without touching Shen Xihe, who was wearing thin gauze. “The night is cool. Princess should have some food and rest another night. I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”
Shen Xihe initially wanted to personally see him out, but after taking a step, she realized she had been too happy and hadn’t arranged her appearance. If she saw Xie Yunhuai at the door in this state, it would confirm the rumors about him being her lover: “Biyu, see Doctor Qi out.”
Shen Xihe was truly delighted, showing such obvious joy after so long. The first time she took the bone-shedding pill, she hadn’t felt much, but this time she could feel herself truly undergoing a metamorphosis.
The next day, Bu Shulin, who wasn’t on duty, came to visit. Upon seeing Shen Xihe, she couldn’t help but examine her with clicking sounds: “What magical medicine did you take? How is it that you seem like a completely different person?”
She had seen Shen Xihe just two days ago, and while Shen Xihe hadn’t appeared sickly then, one could still sense her lack of energy.
After just one day apart, she was now radiant, as if all her old ailments had instantly vanished. Though her cheeks and lips were still paler than normal people’s even without makeup, they now had a lustrous glow.
“Don’t ask,” Shen Xihe rolled up her sleeves to pour Bu Shulin a drink.
“Why not?”
Setting down the water pitcher, Shen Xihe raised her eyes and gave her a slight smile: “Even if you ask, it’s medicine you can’t have.”
Bu Shulin: …
She noticed that not only had Shen Xihe’s health improved, but her mood was also quite good – she even had the leisure to tease her now.
Quickly taking advantage of her good mood to discuss something important and seek advice: “My father wants to unite with various regions to jointly expose the military funding discrepancies. What do you think about the feasibility?”
Previously they hadn’t dared expose it, thinking they were the only ones affected. After counting and stamping approval for military supplies, they could only swallow their losses silently. But now they discovered it wasn’t just them – except for the Northwest, only a few places hadn’t been tampered with.