Some skilled guards joined in the cat-chasing battle, but with Biyu and Moyu causing disruption, every time they nearly caught Short-Life, it escaped. Short-Life finally jumped onto the roof.

It was then that Lady Yuan was supported by her maids, appearing late and seemingly low in spirits.

“Princess, please forgive me. I’m unwell and have been remiss in my duties,” Lady Yuan’s smile appeared weak but was casual.

“My lady, let’s dispense with formalities. I came today only to find Doctor Qi,” Shen Xihe went straight to the point. “I’ve investigated – three days ago, your household’s servant invited him into your mansion. Someone witnessed this, but he hasn’t returned for three days. Doctor Qi has been attending to my illness, and today was supposed to be my follow-up examination at my residence. But he hasn’t come. If you’ve finished consulting him, please return the doctor to me – I’m waiting for treatment that could save my life.”

“Princess, I don’t know any doctor surnamed Qi,” Lady Yuan feigned ignorance.

“Oh, his original surname was Xie, but he later took his mother’s surname,” Shen Xihe’s cold gaze fell on Lady Yuan. “Because of an unkind stepmother, he had no choice but to sever family ties to preserve his life.”

“Princess!” Lady Yuan’s expression changed, her eyes flashing with anger. “I respect you as imperially appointed, and if I show you courtesy, that doesn’t mean you can come to my door and point fingers to humiliate me. I too am a Duke’s wife bestowed by imperial decree!”

“Duchess, so now you recognize who I’m talking about?” Mockery surfaced in Shen Xihe’s eyes. “Since you know who I mean, hand him over. Don’t make me search your mansion.”

“Such arrogance from the Princess!” A deep, resonant voice filled with authority rang out.

Shen Xihe turned to see Duke Xie, Xie Ji, approaching slowly in a dark blue round-collared robe.

“My lord…” Upon seeing Xie Ji, Lady Yuan strode toward him, her face still showing anger and grievance.

Xie Ji patted the back of her hand and stood before Shen Xihe: “Does the Princess think the capital is the northwest? Even princesses and imperial princes wouldn’t dare show such disrespect, saying they’ll search my ducal mansion as they please!”

Shen Xihe unhurriedly stood up and first gracefully performed a junior’s greeting bow to Xie Ji. After straightening, she said: “Duke Xie, either hand over Doctor Qi now, or I’ll search your mansion immediately. Duke Xie can report to His Majesty, saying Zhaoning was discourteous and offended your household. Let’s see how His Majesty deals with me.”

Xie Ji’s face turned green with anger at Shen Xihe’s arrogant attitude: “The Princess truly fears nothing. Fine, fine, fine! I want to see if the Princess can truly do as she pleases in the capital!”

“Duke Xie, you should think thrice. If this truly reaches His Majesty, I fear you’ll find it difficult to resolve,” Shen Xihe’s tone was casual, clearly meant to provoke.

“Those are my words to you, Princess!” Xie Ji sneered, unable to hide his anger.

The faint smile on Shen Xihe’s face disappeared: “Mo Yuan, search!”

Mo Yuan immediately led a team of men charging in. Because Shen Xihe had been born weak and nearly died several times, causing her condition, the royal family found it difficult to speak of. Besides appointing her as Princess with her fief and ducal treatment, Emperor Youning had given her a gold token allowing her to command five hundred guards.

She was the only lady allowed to have her guards, all brought from the northwestern military camps.

Duke Xie’s mansion also had guards, but only forty or fifty. Shen Xihe had brought two hundred men today who directly suppressed them. However, before they could begin searching, the Capital Prefecture and Palace Guards arrived one after another.

“Princess, what is this about, causing such disturbance at Duke Xie’s mansion?” The Prefect truly feared Shen Xihe now.

He pondered that he should quickly transfer positions, whether promotion or lateral move, even without real power would do! With this Princess in the capital, his position as Prefect was nerve-wracking. Sooner or later, the Princess would wear years off his life.

“Lord Zhang, I lost my imperially bestowed gold token and suspect it’s in Duke Xie’s mansion. Duke Xie and his wife refuse to return it, so I had no choice but to order a search,” Shen Xihe said righteously.

Xie Ji and Lady Yuan were so angered by her shamelessness that their chests heaved. Xie Ji: “Nonsense!”

Too angry to argue with Shen Xihe, he stormed out, seized a Palace Guard’s horse, and rode toward the palace. Seeing this, Shen Xihe remained calm and unperturbed.

The Prefect and Palace Guard General couldn’t determine who was right. The Prefect could only say negotiatingly: “Princess, why not let His Majesty judge this matter? Please come to the palace with us?”

Shen Xihe: “But we haven’t found my token yet.”

The Prefect and Palace Guard General: …

The Prefect endured his throbbing headache: “Princess, do you have evidence for your suspicion?”

“None,” Shen Xihe said frankly. “But my token must be in Duke Xie’s mansion.”

The Prefect: …

Taking a deep breath, the Prefect had to ask seriously: “Princess, do you know that if the token isn’t in Duke Xie’s mansion, you’ll be caned for trespassing according to law?”

“No matter, I have my token,” Shen Xihe said carelessly.

The Prefect: …

“Princess, if no token is found in Duke Xie’s mansion, His Majesty will surely take back your token.”

“Thank you for your concern, Lord Zhang, but you’re worried about the wrong person. You should better remind Lady Yuan what crime Duke Xie’s household would face if an imperial token is found during the search,” Shen Xihe said calmly, looking ahead.

Seeing Shen Xihe so confident, the Prefect also began to wonder – perhaps she wasn’t simply being reckless?

Since Shen Xihe refused to go to the palace, the Prefect could only wait with her for an imperial summons, lest she forcefully search Duke Xie’s mansion after he and the Palace Guards left.

About half an hour later, Liu Sanzhi personally rode over to summon Shen Xihe and others to the palace.

But Shen Xihe wouldn’t leave: “Eunuch Liu, my token is in the Xie mansion. The Palace Guards and Capital Prefecture must station men here, and my people must also stay to watch the Xie household, lest they tamper with evidence and hide my token.”

“Princess, stop fabricating false accusations!” Lady Yuan was so angered by Shen Xihe that she wanted to tear her apart.

Duke Xie’s mansion had never suffered such slander and humiliation!

“Whether it’s fabrication can only be known after a search,” Shen Xihe said quietly.

“Princess, His Majesty is waiting,” Liu Sanzhi reminded softly.

“I also don’t wish to keep His Majesty waiting, but this matter concerns who is right between me and Duke Xie’s household,” Shen Xihe said firmly. “How dare I leave without determining right from wrong?”

“Princess, according to your words, if Duke Xie’s mansion is searched and no token is found, are you willing to accept the consequences?” Liu Sanzhi lowered his voice and spoke to Shen Xihe word by word.

Shen Xihe: “If no imperial token is found in the Xie mansion, I’m willing to bear the crime of losing an imperial token and willing to kowtow to Duke Xie in apology.”