When Shen Xi He met his gaze, she showed no surprise, casually shifting her attention to the others as if merely appraising strangers.

Although she had suspected this person might be Xiao Hua Yong, without concrete proof, anything was possible.

This time she would play a new game with him. As they were sizing each other up, Xiao Hua Yong, Cui Jin Bai, and the others rode over. Someone laughingly addressed Bu Shu Lin: “Young Master Bu, we haven’t disturbed your pleasant time with the Princess, have we?”

“Yes.” Before Bu Shu Lin could answer, Shen Xi He coldly tossed out a single word.

The speaker hadn’t expected Shen Xi He to be so cold, not even offering pleasantries, directly showing her unwelcoming attitude. Given Shen Xi He’s status, he couldn’t say much and could only awkwardly touch his nose.

“Master Xiao, Young Minister Cui, Fourth Young Master Wen…” Bu Shu Lin greeted them one by one.

Shen Xi He pulled her reins, slowly turning her horse away, completely ignoring them.

“The Princess, she…” Someone wanted to comment on Shen Xi He’s apparent arrogance and lack of manners, but was silenced by Master Xiao’s intimidating glance, forcing him to swallow his remaining words.

After these people arrived, Shen Xi He dismounted with Mo Yu’s help, handing the reins to Mo Yuan. Accompanied by Mo Yu, she stood on a nearby hillside, gazing at the distant undulating mountains, feeling the cool autumn breeze.

Bu Shu Lin, after finishing the greetings, hurried after Shen Xi He – how could these people interrupt her time with her beauty?

“I usually spend time with them, that’s why they followed…” Bu Shu Lin explained softly.

She had forgotten to warn her group of friends not to disturb her precious time with her beauty – they had to join in everything!

Shen Xi He tucked her wind-blown hair behind her ear, glancing toward the distance. Seeing that the group seemed to understand her dislike and kept their distance despite not leaving, she asked, “Who is their leader?”

Bu Shu Lin looked back before answering, “Xiao Fu Xing, the eldest legitimate son of Princess Ruyang.”

The son of Wei Tao, the Prince Consort involved in the rouge case?

This was Shen Xi He’s first time seeing Wei Fu Xing. He was strikingly handsome, carrying himself with noble restraint in every movement. Sitting tall on his horse, he possessed an indescribable heroic air. His build was tall and proportionate, with long limbs. His complexion was neither as fair as the capital’s young men nor as rough and dark as Shen Yun An’s from living at the frontier.

His skin tone struck a perfect balance, displaying a healthy, vigorous beauty. His features were defined, yet he had eyes full of sentiment.

“When Prince Consort Wei was implicated in the rouge case, Princess Ruyang was kept in the dark. Later, after returning large amounts of embezzled funds to the treasury, His Majesty remembered how the Princess had helped protect the lives of the Empress Dowager, himself, and Prince He when they were exiled to the northwest. Thus, he didn’t pursue the matter further.

He ordered the Princess and Wei Tao to divorce, and Xiao Fu Xing has since taken his mother’s surname. His Majesty wanted to grant him a title, but he refused.”

Bu Shu Lin still admired Xiao Fu Xing – how many people coveted a Marquis title?

He believed that as a man, one should either inherit a title to honor one’s ancestors or achieve merit to become a marquis or minister.

However, although the Princess had divorced the Prince Consort, he had passed away, and Xiao Fu Xing had to observe three years of mourning, unable to seek achievements on the battlefield.

“So he’s also of royal blood…” Shen Xi He mused thoughtfully.

His father Wei Tao had orchestrated the rouge case that made Emperor You Ning pale at its mention, and after its exposure, his mother could still protect him, with the Emperor wanting to grant him a title – this showed that the Wei family and Princess couldn’t be underestimated.

Such a character could indeed support such an identity, but whom did he serve?

“Who does he associate with closely?” Shen Xi He asked again.

Bu Shu Lin noticed Shen Xi He seemed overly interested in this young man, and couldn’t help looking back again.

Sunlight broke through the clouds, showering down from above, enveloping his figure and making him appear like jade and gold – a strikingly beautiful young man hard to forget.

“Oh my, you couldn’t be…” Bu Shu Lin couldn’t help but speculate.

Coming from the northwest, Shen Xi He should have preferred more masculine men, but she was the future Crown Prince’s consort!

Shen Xi He gave her a bland look, and Bu Shu Lin immediately stopped, thinking seriously before answering formally: “In his youth, he was inseparable from Prince Jing. After Prince Jing went to An Nan, he became friends with us through various encounters, and we’ve spent considerable time together.”

“Prince Jing?” Shen Xi He fell into deep thought.

“You… you couldn’t be thinking of marrying him instead of Prince Jing?” Bu Shu Lin worried, “Although I don’t think much of the sickly Crown Prince, Prince Jing would have to pay too high a price to marry you, so I don’t think it’s possible.”

Prince Jing commanded An Nan’s army – to marry Shen Xi He, he’d have to lay down his armor and military power. Otherwise, nearly all of Da Xing’s territory would be in their hands – how could His Majesty sleep at night?

“Of all feminine traits, only overthinking seems to have stayed with you,” Shen Xi He gave Bu Shu Lin a sidelong glance, then prepared to tell Mo Yu and the others to get ready to return home.

Just then, Cui Jin Bai and Xiao Fu Xing approached. Xiao Fu Xing said to Bu Shu Lin: “Young Master Bu, we’re planning to hunt some game and feast here. We’d like to invite you and the Princess to join.”

“That sounds gre-” Bu Shu Lin loved eating freshly hunted game roasted outdoors, as did all Shu Nan soldiers, but after starting to agree, she remembered Shen Xi He’s dislike of crowds. She quickly declined, “Another day perhaps, I’ll invite everyone another time.”

“Go if you want to,” Shen Xi He said flatly.

“I don’t want to,” Bu Shu Lin, thinking Shen Xi He was unhappy, hurriedly declared, shaking her head vigorously.

Cui Jin Bai’s gaze at Bu Shu Lin grew increasingly hostile. This person who showed their teeth and claws to others, fierce as an untamed leopard, became as docile as a house cat before Princess Zhao Ning, practically begging for a favor!

“What are you looking at?” Noticing Cui Jin Bai’s gloomy stare, Bu Shu Lin grew annoyed and snapped back fiercely, “Let me tell you this – just because of your stinking presence, I’ve lost my appetite. What’s there to eat?”

Cui Jin Bai ground his teeth and suddenly smiled coldly: “In that case, if you see me at every meal, wouldn’t you starve to death?”

“It won’t come to that,” How could Bu Shu Lin fall into such a trap? She bumped Cui Jin Bai with her arm and raised her eyebrows at him flirtatiously, “Didn’t Young Minister Cui used to avoid me like the plague? Why are you thinking of facing me at meals now?

Let me be clear – I won’t marry or be the one lying underneath. But if Young Minister Cui is willing to be carried in a grand bridal sedan to my Shu Nan Prince’s mansion and willing to…”

“Ahem!” Xiao Fu Xing coughed lightly, interrupting Bu Shu Lin’s increasingly outrageous words.

Only then did Bu Shu Lin realize that teasing Cui Jin Bai had become such a habit, that she’d forgotten her pure and innocent sister was still present.