If managed properly, for instance, when people recruited from the same place share deep emotional bonds, they can be distributed to different locations. As long as the military officers don’t forget to reinforce daily that they are one unit, and there are no conflicts of interest, they won’t grow apart. Instead, this arrangement will help motivate them to train vigorously, not wanting to fall behind their unseen hometown friends or even brothers.

After listening, Shen Xihe quietly praised this as indeed a good method: “So does Your Highness think that Prince Xun doesn’t know the locations of all the Divine Brave Army?”

“As the supreme commander, Prince Xun doesn’t necessarily need to appear in person, and even if he does need to appear personally, he might not truly reach the destination directly.” Xiao Huayong thought of His Majesty’s cautiousness and said, “His Majesty excels most at checks and balances – there must be someone keeping Prince Xun in check. Prince Xun cannot stay in the same place as the Divine Brave Army for training, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to return to the capital.”

Nodding as if enlightened, Shen Xihe felt this was truly His Majesty’s strategy. Just as they walked out of the small alley, there were still vendors setting up stalls in the late night. Shen Xihe decided not to walk with Xiao Huayong anymore and got into her carriage.

However, Xiao Huayong didn’t follow her up, but instead stood below, smiling warmly as he looked at her: “Rest early.”

Guessing that Xiao Huayong likely needed to handle the aftermath of events, Shen Xihe slightly nodded and lowered the carriage curtain.

Just as the wheels were about to turn, Xiao Huayong called out softly again: “Youyou.”

The driver immediately pulled back on the horse’s reins, and Shen Xihe lifted the carriage window curtain, casting an inquiring look at Xiao Huayong.

Xiao Huayong wore a gentle smile, his eyes flowing with moonlight-dappled spring-like radiance under the night sky: “In half a month, I will have my coming-of-age ceremony.”

Shen Xihe knew that everyone in the court was aware of the Crown Prince’s birthday, especially the coming-of-age ceremony. The Ministry of Rites and Imperial Clan Court had been busy with preparations lately and had even purchased many spices from Duhuo.

Shen Xihe didn’t understand why Xiao Huayong specifically mentioned this to her, as she would naturally have to attend the Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony.

Her confusion and quiet anticipation of his next words made Xiao Huayong secretly sigh. Indeed, he couldn’t be too indirect: “May I request a unique birthday gift from Youyou?”

“A unique birthday gift?” This puzzled even the intelligent and quick-witted Shen Xihe, as she had never carefully prepared a birthday gift for anyone in her life.

She had senior maids around her who handled all ceremonial matters. For all ritual exchanges of gifts, the servants would draft lists for her review, and she would make additions or deletions as appropriate.

Shen Yun’an and Shen Yueshan were different, of course. For their birthday gifts, Shen Xihe would personally sew clothes and shoes, emphasizing the sentiment. These were not appropriate to give to Xiao Huayong, an unrelated man.

“Unique.” Xiao Huayong ignored Shen Xihe’s troubled expression and shamelessly repeated.

“Your Highness, please forgive me, but Zhaoning has no clever ideas,” Shen Xihe firmly refused. It wasn’t that she was being stingy, but that she truly had no special thoughts about it.

“In that case…” Xiao Huayong appeared to contemplate for a long time before finally voicing what he had been yearning for, “May I brazenly request a Pingzhongye medicinal pillow personally sewn by the Princess?”

Shen Xihe hesitated for a moment. Although a pillow goes under one’s head, it’s not as intimate as clothes or shoes, nor does it carry the implications of romantic attachment like sachets or jade pendants.

“I heard from Bu Wei that the Princess’s Pingzhongye pillows are excellent for sleep. Although the Princess shared the filling method, I always feel that the ones made by the Imperial Bedchamber Bureau aren’t as remarkable as Bu Wei described. I’m particularly curious about the Princess’s medicinal pillows – it’s become quite an obsession.”

It had indeed become an obsession, but not with the pillow – rather, it was an obsession with having something personally made by Shen Xihe.

In all her years, Shen Xihe had never given anything personally to any man outside of her father and brothers. Counting back, Xiao Huayong was the first unrelated man to taste the food she had personally prepared. She still felt it wasn’t quite appropriate.

“Does Your Highness have any other wishes?” Shen Xihe asked.

This was a tactful refusal. In the night, the exceptionally handsome young lord’s gentle and bright gaze visibly dimmed, though his disappointment vanished in an instant: “Youyou can decide. As long as it’s not carelessly done, it will be fine.”

Shen Xihe noticed that Xiao Huayong would call her “Princess” in particularly formal or serious moments, but use her childhood name in casual situations.

Which meant he did want a medicinal pillow made by her.

Shen Xihe didn’t promise, only saying: “Zhaoning will give it careful thought.”

Since the birthday celebrant had personally made the request, and considering how much Xiao Huayong had helped her, if he weren’t the person she had chosen to marry, she probably wouldn’t treat him much differently than Xie Yunhuai. She would have to give it serious consideration.

Returning to the Princess’s mansion, it was already the second watch of the next day. After washing up, she had a good night’s sleep.

The next day, Shen Xihe began pondering what to give Xiao Huayong for his birthday. With only half a month left until the birthday, preparations needed to start immediately to avoid last-minute rushing. For this reason, she even gathered Hong Yu and the others.

But this troubled Hong Yu and the others, as they still didn’t know exactly what position the Crown Prince held in their Princess’s heart. They all knew the Princess was to marry the Crown Prince, but the Princess didn’t seem to be particularly nervous about or attentive to him.

It was as if… as if the Princess could replace the Crown Prince if she became dissatisfied.

They didn’t dare to ask, so how could they offer suggestions?

“Princess, we truly don’t know,” Zhenzhu pleaded with a bitter expression.

Shen Xihe naturally wouldn’t blame them. If she couldn’t make up her mind, how could she blame others for not having solutions?

“What if I blend a special fragrance for him?” Shen Xihe tentatively asked.

Zhenzhu and the others exchanged glances, and Biyu boldly said: “Princess, if it’s a specially made fragrance from you, what if His Highness uses it up and then comes back to request more? How could the Princess refuse?”

“What about giving him the fragrance formula?” Shen Xihe suggested.

Zhenzhu showed a strange smile: “Princess, this servant feels it’s not appropriate.”

“What’s inappropriate about it?” Shen Xihe didn’t understand.

“After returning, this servant asked Hong Yu and Biyu, and it seems the people of the Eastern Palace aren’t very capable,” Unlike Shen Xihe and the others who experienced things periodically, Zhenzhu heard everything at once. “The Princess gave the Eastern Palace the recipe for wonton filling, but their version didn’t taste right. The Princess shared the method for making Pingzhongye medicinal pillows, but the Crown Prince also felt the Eastern Palace’s version didn’t live up to its name…

Therefore, this servant can’t help but suspect that even if the Princess gives them the fragrance formula, the Eastern Palace probably won’t be able to reproduce it.”

If that’s the case, wouldn’t the Princess end up being relied upon by the Crown Prince for life?

Unlike the Bihan fragrance which was regularly sold and given as thank-you gifts, this was a birthday gift. If the Crown Prince asked for more in the future, how could the Princess refuse? Wouldn’t that make it only half a birthday gift?

Hearing this reasoning, Shen Xihe nodded in deep agreement: “The people of the Eastern Palace indeed aren’t very capable.”

Shen Xihe didn’t suspect the problem lay with Xiao Huayong because she wouldn’t publicly disparage her servants.