Shen Xihe gave Zhenzhu an approving look. Zhenzhu had pinpointed the key issue: “There must be someone behind her.”

If it was just about dealing with Fifth Princess, there had been countless ways over the years, with plenty of people in the palace to utilize – no need to take such a roundabout approach. Shen Xihe suspected that the Fifth Princess was acting on someone’s instructions to deal with her, and whoever instructed the Fourth Princess would grant the Fifth Princess’s wishes.

The Fifth Princess didn’t know Shen Xihe’s true capabilities and dared not act directly, so the willful and unreasonable Fourth Princess became a useful tool.

This also helped Shen Xihe understand why the Fourth Princess had suddenly shown interest in her brother that day.

The fourth Princess must have praised Shen Yun’an frequently in front of Princess Changling, giving the proud Princess Changling ideas. Fourth Princess anticipated that she would refuse, which would surely make Princess Changling harbor resentment.

Everything that followed then fell naturally into place.

The seemingly weak and pitiful Fourth Princess was the most scheming one, no wonder someone had sought her out.

“County Princess, should we…”

“Let’s not move against her for now. I want to see who’s behind her – they’ll surely strike again,” Shen Xihe shook her head slightly. “Right now the Xun Prince’s matter is more urgent.”

The Xun Prince’s situation affected the Northwest. Shen Xihe couldn’t let him return there. Even if she couldn’t get the army’s location from him, she had to ensure the Xun Prince left his life here. Without him as commander, even the troops he had personally trained couldn’t exhibit their full power.

Instead of returning directly to the County Princess’s residence, Shen Xihe went to Duhuo Tower. Perfume-making required herbs, and Duhuo Tower cooperated with several major medicine merchants in the capital. She ordered the manager to inquire with the medicine shops about the herbs the Xun Prince needed: “For these herbs, whether sold together or separately, have someone watch…”

“I want this fragrance fan.”

While Shen Xihe was instructing the manager upstairs, Shen Yingnan’s voice came from below, making her glance down. Sure enough, there was Shen Yingnan in plain clothes.

“Does she come here often?” Shen Xihe asked the manager.

The manager, one of Madam Tao’s dowry servants who naturally knew the intricacies of the Shen family, hurriedly replied: “County Princess, Second Miss Shen doesn’t come often. Like other young ladies, she only visits occasionally to buy needed items.”

Since they were running a business, Shen Xihe hadn’t treated Shen Yingnan differently or instructed them to refuse her business, so the manager treated her like any other customer.

Shen Xihe nodded slightly, waving the manager away. She withdrew her gaze and began examining the account books. Since she was here, she might as well carefully review the accounts and see which customers might be useful.

“Second Miss Shen, this fragrance fan has already been reserved.”

“Is that so? I came too late then.” Shen Yingnan showed some regret.

“If An’nan likes it, it’s yours.” A deep male voice cut in. Shen Xihe’s gaze paused before looking down again.

The second Prince, Prince Zhao Xiao Changmin strode in steadily. The clerk attending to Shen Yingnan immediately packed the fan in a box and handed it to Xiao Changmin: “Your Highness, your fan.”

So this fan had been reserved by Xiao Changmin, and he and Shen Yingnan knew each other. Moreover, Xiao Changmin’s familiar tone suggested their relationship wasn’t shallow. Shen Xihe’s gaze circled between them.

“Thank you for Your Highness’s kindness, but a gentleman shouldn’t covet what others desire,” Shen Yingnan curtsied gracefully, politely declining.

“An’nan…”

“If Your Highness has no other instructions, this humble one takes her leave.” Without waiting for Xiao Changmin’s reaction, Shen Yingnan curtsied and left, keeping her eyes straight ahead.

Xiao Changmin took the fan and went after her. Shen Xihe stood and walked to the street-facing window. Standing at the open window, she saw Shen Yingnan board her carriage while Xiao Changmin didn’t catch up.

She pondered thoughtfully. The last time Prince Kang was imprisoned, only two people visited him – Prince Zhao Xiao Changmin, who had stayed at Prince Kang’s residence in his youth, and Shen Yingnan.

At the time, neither she nor Xiao Huayong had connected these two, but seeing them today, she felt Xiao Changmin’s thoughts ran deep.

He first openly visited Prince Kang himself, then sent Shen Yingnan. Any information Shen Yingnan gathered would be reported to him, with no one suspecting him.

However, Prince Zhao hadn’t made any moves afterward, and seeing Shen Yingnan’s attitude just now, it seemed likely that no one had granted his wishes.

“County Princess, Prince Zhao’s intentions aren’t pure. Second Miss, she…”

“Whether she fares well or poorly depends entirely on herself,” Shen Xihe interrupted Zhenzhu. “Don’t worry, she knows nothing about Northwest matters. If Prince Zhao hopes to use her to connect with the Northwest, he’s miscalculated. However…”

“However what?” Zhenzhu quickly asked, afraid of missing something important.

“What do you think… if I were gone and he married Shen Yingnan…” Shen Xihe’s lips curled in a cool smile.

Without Shen Xihe, Shen Yingnan would be Shen Yueshan’s only daughter. Even if Shen Yingnan wasn’t favored, their familial connection would be cemented in people’s eyes. Shen Yueshan couldn’t distance himself unless he publicly expelled the morally upright Shen Yingnan from the Shen family.

If he did that, what kind of person would Shen Yueshan become? How could he maintain the trust of the Northwest’s people and soldiers?

“County Princess means… the person behind Fifth Princess is very likely Prince Zhao!” If these two events hadn’t happened on the same day, Zhenzhu wouldn’t have made the connection, but occurring together made her alert.

“I just can’t understand – even if Prince Zhao isn’t very clever, he should know His Majesty won’t let two daughters from the Shen family marry into the royal family. Everyone knows why I came to the capital, so why does he still pursue Shen Yingnan?”

Knowingly pursuing the impossible either meant uncontrollable feelings that only Shen Yingnan could satisfy or never considering Shen Xihe an obstacle.

If not for Shen Yingnan’s ill-timed visit to Prince Kang that day, which convinced her that Shen Yingnan was acting on someone’s behalf, and today’s certainty of Prince Zhao Xiao Changmin’s involvement, Shen Xihe might have believed in momentary deep feelings.

After all, there was Sixth Prince Xiao Changyu who could abandon wealth and glory for Bian Xianyi, and now… now there was everything Xiao Huayong did for her. At least at this moment, Shen Xihe believed Xiao Huayong’s actions were sincere.

The reason she remained unmoved was that she had never seen unchanging devotion. Even with Xiao Changyu and Bian Xianyi, while she admired Xiao Changyu now, she didn’t believe he would regret it later.

Hence, she spoke of believing in temporary deep feelings.

But with everything that had happened, it was clear Xiao Changmin didn’t have pure, devoted feelings for Shen Yingnan. Yet he persisted – which meant he didn’t take Shen Xihe seriously. What made him so certain Shen Xihe would step aside for them?

Unless… Xiao Changmin had long been preparing to strike against Shen Xihe.