The Embroidered Uniform Guard surely could see their government uniforms, yet chose to ignore them, striking with such ruthless precision. To Xie Yunhuai, this clearly showed the protection of Shen Xihe.

“Doctor Qi, do you recognize that Guard?” Shen Xihe asked.

Xie Yunhuai had suddenly mentioned the Embroidered Uniform Guard because he’d overheard her conversation with Zhenzhu in the carriage, so there was no need to hide his identity anymore.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard appeared and vanished mysteriously. Shen Xihe had only encountered them twice before, never meeting this particular Guard.

“The fifth son of Duke Zhao’s household, born of a concubine,” Xie Yunhuai replied.

Duke Zhao, and from a concubine?

Shen Xihe’s fine eyebrows creased slightly – that person had worn the scent of agarwood.

Agarwood was the finest of all incense, with one tael worth a hundred taels of gold, far more precious than even ambergris, which the world considered valuable.

This fragrance was priceless in the marketplace, at most only obtainable by the enormously wealthy.

Though Duke Zhao’s household still held their title, they had long fallen into decline. Even their legitimate second son had married a merchant’s daughter – that grand wedding procession had been the talk of the capital for months.

How could they afford such a precious item? Perhaps it was bestowed by Emperor Youning?

Shen Xihe fell into deep thought. Before she knew it, they had entered the city, barely making it before the gates closed. Xie Yunhuai insisted on escorting them to their inn. Since he couldn’t leave the city now, he took a room at their lodgings.

After dining together, Shen Xihe noticed Xie Yunhuai’s reluctance to leave and knew he had something to say.

She personally arranged the tea set, gracefully starting from heating spring water in the small stove, dividing the tea leaves, steeping, and pouring – her movements flowing smoothly in one breath. Every movement of her white hands was pleasing to the eye.

“Doctor Qi, please have some tea.”

Xie Yunhuai looked down at the clear, apricot-colored tea. Its fresh fragrance filled his nostrils. “Jun Mountain Silver Needle. Princess seems to know me quite well.”

Shen Xihe didn’t pour tea for herself, instead serving herself a bowl of peach blossom drink. “I was close friends with the late Princess Xin. Before her marriage, she mentioned Doctor Qi to me.”

Coincidentally, Shen Xihe shared a deep sibling bond with her eldest brother, the Western North Prince’s heir Shen Yun’an. When she was eight, Shen Yun’an went to the capital for half a year. After just one month, Shen Xihe constantly called for her brother, so Shen Yueshan helplessly gave her a messenger pigeon.

Two months into their pigeon correspondence, her bird was accidentally injured and fell into the hands of Miss Gu.

Miss Gu nursed the pigeon back to health and sent it back with an apologetic note and small gifts. The current Shen Xihe would have dismissed it with a smile.

But the Shen Xihe of those days was understanding and found it quite novel. She replied with reassurances, and they ended up corresponding for six or seven years. Zhenzhu and the others only knew the other party’s surname was Gu until the letters stopped last year.

Shen Xihe knew who this Miss Gu was – unrelated to the exterminated Gu family, but from another official family in the capital. However, she had gotten into trouble late last year, her father Official Gu died during exile, and his daughter should now be serving in the imperial palace.

She could look for her after entering the capital, but currently, she was deliberately identifying this pen-friend as Gu Qingzhi, clearly having other plans.

As for whether Shen Yueshan and Shen Yun’an had investigated this Miss Gu, Shen Xihe wasn’t worried – who said correspondence required real addresses?

Whoever she said it was, that’s who it was!

Shen Xihe’s words made Xie Yunhuai freeze, his teacup clutched tight as his mind churned.

If Gu Qingzhi and Shen Xihe were old friends, and Shen Xihe could recognize him at first sight without meeting him, it meant Gu Qingzhi must have sent Shen Xihe his portrait.

A noble lady could only paint portraits of her father, brothers, or husband – he must have been betrothed to Gu Qingzhi then.

He had never imagined Gu Qingzhi would paint his portrait…

“Doctor Qi seems quite surprised.” Shen Xihe caught the flash of astonishment in his eyes.

“Princess Xin was the most composed, steady, and clear-minded woman I’ve ever met. She had eyes that looked beyond the ordinary.” After speaking, Xie Yunhuai drained his now-cold tea in one gulp.

“Eyes that looked beyond the ordinary?” This was the first time Shen Xihe had heard someone use such unique words to describe her former self.

“The dead are gone.” Instead of explaining to Shen Xihe, Xie Yunhuai avoided the topic out of respect for the deceased.

Shen Xihe didn’t pursue it, instead suddenly asking: “Doctor Qi’s description of Princess Xin is unique. I wonder how Doctor Qi views me as a woman?”

‘Eyes that looked beyond the ordinary’ – upon careful consideration, it was an extremely apt description of Gu Qingzhi.

Shen Xihe wanted to know if Xie Yunhuai, who was so incisive, found her different as well.

Xie Yunhuai raised his eyes, meeting Shen Xihe’s gaze directly. Knowing she harbored no romantic thoughts or intention to flirt, but was genuinely engaging in serious conversation, he spoke frankly: “Princess is the most far-sighted, unfathomable, yet discreet woman I have ever met.”

He had seen Shen Xihe at Ma Family Village, knew she had saved Xiao Changying, and knew why Xiao Changying was being hunted. His return to Ma Family Village wasn’t coincidental – he too had come for Xiao Changying.

Xiao Changying hadn’t returned to the capital to report yet, indicating that the well-protected item he’d been pursued to Ma Family Village with had disappeared.

Recently, he’d discovered Xiao Changying had followed Shen Xihe to Luoyang – it was obvious whose hands the item had fallen into.

Today when Shen Xihe was ambushed, she had been thoroughly prepared, seemingly knowing exactly who was behind it.

He firmly believed that even without the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s intervention, she would have escaped unscathed. She might have even made the incident more dramatic until even the one on the dragon throne would have to bow his head in compromise to resolve it.

He was intensely curious – how had the martial, masculine Western North region produced someone with such deep sophistication, unshakeable composure, and strategic wisdom?

“Woman?” Shen Xihe tasted these words. “So there must be a man.”

Xie Yunhuai set down the teacup he’d been holding, standing up: “Princess will meet him after entering the capital.”

This was an indirect confirmation that such a person indeed existed.

After speaking, Xie Yunhuai gave Shen Xihe a slight bow and left.

Shen Xihe didn’t delve deeper into this question. She remained in the private room until Mo Yu rushed back, slightly wounded, and only retired after confirming she was unharmed.

After a good night’s sleep, early the next morning, an elderly servant in hemp clothing returned her scroll painting, leaving an address and inviting her to meet that afternoon.

The address was in the city. Shen Xihe had Zhenzhu take out the Immortal’s Cord. Every time she caught its scent, she felt refreshed and at peace, and even her occasionally restless lungs would settle down.

There were too few records of this item in books, leaving her at a loss. It hadn’t withered yet, but she didn’t know how long it could be preserved.

Finally, Shen Xihe decided to take the Immortal’s Cord to meet the White-Haired Elder.