“Well, this truly came effortlessly,” Shen Xihe chuckled softly.

She had originally planned to set aside the matter of the Fifth Princess using the Fourth Princess against her, but unexpectedly, the suspicious person delivered themselves to her door.

“Have Mo Yuan tell the palace people to keep a close watch on Princess Yangling, to see if she has any contact with Prince Zhao,” Shen Xihe instructed Zhenzhu, then calmly returned to reviewing the account books.

Meanwhile, Shen Xihe hurriedly returned to her residence and told her wet nurse, “Sell off Chuyi!”

Chuyi was her senior maid who had grown up with her. Ever since she became Princess Changling’s study companion and met Prince Zhao, and after Prince Zhao’s principal wife passed away, when she received much care from Prince Zhao, Chuyi had constantly spoken to her about Prince Zhao’s good qualities.

Her mother was a madwoman who had done nothing but beat and scold her, blaming her for not being a son, otherwise her father wouldn’t have treated her so coldly.

Throughout her life, she had only secretly gone to see her father once several years ago when he was summoned to the capital. It was on that day when she fell from a false mountain while trying to steal a glimpse of her father. Prince Zhao had swooped in to cushion her fall, saving her life.

That day she had cried terribly in fear. She had only wanted to see her father – why had such a simple wish become an extravagance? She often asked herself what she had done wrong, and why heaven punished her so.

Prince Zhao had stayed with her, letting her cry on his shoulder. Later he had comforted her, saying that in this world, some people simply had shallow fates with their kin.

From then on, Prince Zhao became different in her eyes. She was only seven or eight years old then, and Prince Zhao treated her merely as a sister. No one knew she had met Prince Zhao at that time.

Later she became Princess Changling’s study companion, naturally harboring gratitude toward Prince Zhao. Two years after Prince Zhao’s principal wife died from illness, she began to grow up and understand matters between men and women. Prince Zhao was dignified and handsome, so she inevitably experienced her first stirrings of love.

With Chuyi’s encouragement, she and Prince Zhao developed feelings. Now that she had awakened, she couldn’t bear to hear such talk anymore. She had already warned Chuyi, yet Chuyi still told Prince Zhao about her leaving the residence. She didn’t believe it was a mere coincidence that Prince Zhao had arrived right after her!

“Yes,” the wet nurse was delighted. Though that little hussy was improper, she had a sweet tongue, and the County Lady had always protected her.

“How have I offended you?” Just as the wet nurse was dragging Chuyi away, Xiao Changmin secretly entered the Shen residence.

Most of the people in the Shen residence had been reassigned to protect Shen Xihe at the Princess’s residence, making it not difficult for Xiao Changmin to sneak in.

“Your Highness, such behavior is truly frivolous!” Shen Xihe’s expression turned cold.

“A’Ni, tell me what I’ve done wrong to make you insist on severing all ties with me?” Xiao Changmin’s gaze was desolate. “If you don’t explain clearly, how can I be content? It was you who asked me to wait until you grew up.”

Two years ago, a twelve-year-old girl, afraid that the man she liked would remarry, had gathered her courage to tug at his sleeve: “Second Brother, will you wait for A’Ni to grow up?”

At that time, she didn’t yet understand the feelings between men and women, only knowing she didn’t want him to marry another. He had agreed and indeed kept his word thereafter.

Shen Xihe closed her eyes briefly: “Your Highness, the Shen family cannot have two daughters marry into the royal family. Elder Sister is the one who should be a prince’s wife.”

From the moment Shen Xihe was summoned to the capital, she knew she and Xiao Changmin were impossible. As long as His Majesty could control her father’s beloved daughter, it wouldn’t be her, the one who shouldn’t have existed.

“If that’s all, leave it to me…”

“What do you intend to do?” Shen Xihe demanded harshly.

Her extreme reaction made Prince Zhao Xiao Changmin pause. Xiao Changmin still spoke gently: “A’Ni, there are many ways to prevent the Princess from marrying into the royal family…”

“Such as? Ruin her reputation? Take her life?” Shen Xihe’s gaze was cold and deep. “Your Highness, please don’t destroy the noble image of you in my heart, and don’t forget that I too am named Shen. Though I’m not close with Elder Sister, the happiness I want cannot come from trampling on her misfortune. The Shen family teachings are: don’t breed rebellion, don’t fight internally!”

It didn’t matter if they didn’t acknowledge her as part of the Shen family; she would conduct herself as one.

“A’Ni…”

“Your Highness, if you don’t leave now, I will immediately pack my belongings and shamelessly move into the Princess’s residence,” Shen Xihe threatened.

If she was truly forced to move to the Princess’s residence, she would naturally have to tell Shen Xihe everything about her past with him. Shen Xihe would certainly become wary of him, making it difficult for him to make his move.

“I’ll come see you another day…” Xiao Changmin conceded.

Shen Xihe refused to look at him. Her forced strength drained away after Xiao Changmin disappeared, and she collapsed onto the round stool. Closing her eyes, she couldn’t help but let two streams of tears fall – she had truly deeply loved Xiao Changmin.

Xiao Changmin was the only person in her life who had ever given her warmth. When she was at her loneliest, when she felt abandoned by everyone in the world, he appeared in her life, giving her light, kindness, and smiles, making her gray life vibrant.

“County Lady, the Second Prince is not a good match,” the wet nurse returned and embraced Shen Xihe sympathetically.

“Nurse, I know, but my heart still hurts so terribly.” Shen Xihe sobbed uncontrollably in her wet nurse’s embrace. “Why did he become like this? Why is it so difficult for me to find someone who truly cares for me?”

The wet nurse’s eyes also grew moist. The mistress and servant embraced and cried together until Shen Xihe fell asleep from exhaustion. When she awoke, she sat in the study writing, crumpling, and discarding papers.

“County Lady, what are you doing?” The wet nurse looked at the paper balls strewn across the floor.

“Prince Zhao must intend to harm Elder Sister. Since I’ve guessed it, I can’t be at peace if I don’t tell her.” Shen Xihe was somewhat agitated. “If I tell her, he might also be hurt by Elder Sister. Princess Changling’s death was suspicious…”

Though she was disappointed in Xiao Changmin and planned to sever her feelings, she didn’t want to personally harm him, leaving her torn.

“County Lady, this matter cannot satisfy both sides. You should consider which weighs more heavily,” the wet nurse said.

When Shen Xihe received the note sent by Shen Xihe’s messenger, she was startled. The note contained only four characters: “Beware of Prince Zhao.”

“Second Young Lady… is she trying to curry favor with the Princess?” Red Jade was also shocked.

In the eyes of the serving maids, it was already miraculous that Shen Xihe and Shen Xihe weren’t bitter enemies, let alone showing goodwill.

“Perhaps we’ve underestimated her.” Shen Xihe glanced at Red Jade.

If Shen Xihe wanted to curry favor with her, she wouldn’t avoid coming before her.

“Though raised in the Xiao family, she’s more like Father’s forthrightness.” Shen Xihe sighed softly. She put away the paper and said no more.

Today she had an uneasy feeling. She had been waiting for Xie Yunhuai but waited and waited without him appearing. Xie Yunhuai had never been like this before – if something truly held him up, he would certainly have sent someone with a message.

“Princess, Doctor Qi has been missing for three days. This servant went to Doctor Qi’s residence and found a layer of dust on the table,” Mo Yuan reported upon his return. “The villagers say they haven’t seen Doctor Qi these past few days.”