At the transition between autumn and winter, howling winds rattled the post station’s doors relentlessly, much like the persistence of the man before her.

Though his eyes were gentle and his smile warm, appearing quite approachable, Shen Xihe knew he wouldn’t negotiate on this matter – he had only given her two choices.

Shen Xihe put the bone whistle back in its box: “I’ll accept it. Your Highness should return to the capital soon.”

“I’ll stay to guard you for one night and return tomorrow morning,” Xiao Huayong said, giving Shen Xihe no chance to refuse. “I cannot stay here long, as it would harm Youyou’s reputation.”

Using this excuse, Xiao Huayong completed the act by formally bowing to Shen Xihe before withdrawing.

Whether arranged by Xiao Huayong or by the commanding officer trying to curry favor with Shen Xihe, Xiao Huayong was assigned to guard Shen Xihe’s door that night. The cold wind persisted. His sensitivity to cold was something Shen Xihe had noticed from how he always wore a cloak when she saw him – why else would she have given him the cold-dispelling incense? Even after learning it wasn’t a weakness but poison causing this, she still noticed his cold constitution.

“You may withdraw. I don’t like strangers standing guard at night,” Shen Xihe came out personally to order, then called for Mo Yuan.

Mo Yuan came to dismiss Xiao Huayong, who wanted to say something but met Shen Xihe’s cool gaze when he looked up. Reading the situation, he rubbed his nose and swallowed his words.

Just as he turned, Shen Xihe instructed Zhenzhu: “Go tell Commander Wei that Teng Jing has received my orders to leave the escort. Let him allow it.”

Xiao Huayong sighed softly – she was determined to send him away. With a helpless smile, he decided to follow her wishes, though he couldn’t resist teasing her before leaving: “I know Youyou are worried about me.”

After dismissing Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe slept well through the night. The next day when she went to board the carriage, a different person was standing there. Shen Xihe couldn’t understand how Xiao Huayong could be so bold – he hadn’t even changed his appearance, just kept his head lowered submissively, yet no one questioned him. Could it be that none of these guards recognized the Crown Prince?

Or were all these people his men? There were fifty guards drawn from different units – if they were all his people, he wouldn’t have needed to tell her who was trustworthy.

What Shen Xihe didn’t know was that Xiao Huayong had only joined them halfway during their rest stop. After they resumed their journey, he kept following the carriage. Since nothing unusual happened en route, who would especially check who was sitting on the carriage shaft?

When she asked his name, Xiao Huayong followed her into the post station, then used a moment when no one was watching to hide. He had the real Teng Jing, who had arrived at the station before them, go talk with his colleagues. When he was assigned to guard her, it was him again – he had used an ingenious substitution to avoid detection.

Though it was bold and risky if someone suddenly called out to him, he naturally had other ways to handle such situations.

“Your Highness, let’s return,” Di Fang stood with Xiao Huayong on the hillside watching Shen Xihe’s convoy gradually disappear into the distance. He breathed a sigh of relief, truly afraid the Crown Prince might suddenly decide to follow personally.

Xiao Huayong did want to follow, not because he feared his confidants would object or worry about problems in the Eastern Palace, but because he knew Shen Xihe wouldn’t like it. He could only regretfully see her off from here.

“Have arrangements have been made everywhere?” Xiao Huayong asked softly.

“Your Highness need not worry. This servant has sent orders – the Princess’s entire route will be thoroughly checked before her arrival. No evil spirits will trouble the Princess, ensuring her safe and smooth journey both ways,” Di Fang replied solemnly.

In his heart, he marveled: Brother said the Princess was His Highness’s heart’s flesh and the apple of his eye, telling them to be extra careful. He hadn’t understood before what could qualify as “heart’s flesh,” but now he understood – protection for a thousand miles, sweeping clean every place she would pass.

“I’m still somewhat worried…” Xiao Huayong murmured. As long as she wasn’t under his eye, within his reach, no matter how thorough the arrangements, he would always feel uneasy.

Di Fang: …

He had truly underestimated the weight of “heart’s flesh”!

Just when he was nervously afraid Xiao Huayong would chase after her, Xiao Huayong finally turned his horse around and rode back toward the capital.

Shen Xihe had prepared for all sorts of trouble, but the journey went so smoothly that it was unbelievable. Not only were there no people who meant her harm but there also weren’t even any instances of bullying or tyranny that required her to draw her sword.

The journey should have taken fifteen or sixteen days, but without any delays, they arrived in twelve. She came bearing the Emperor’s gifts, so her younger uncle Tao Cheng took advantage of his position to personally welcome her at the city gates in his official robes.

The south was warmer, rarely seeing snow, though Linchuan had been experiencing continuous rain these past two days. Unlike her previous visit, this time the whole city knew of her arrival. The great families of Linchuan competed to visit and present gifts, but Shen Xihe refused them all.

She was somewhat worried about Bu Shulin. She had reminded Bu Shulin to send word to Linchuan. Bu Shulin had left the capital four or five days before her, heading to Henan Prefecture in the metropolitan area. By all rights, she should have settled in by now.

Unfortunately, her itinerary had been arranged by the Emperor. After leaving the capital, she took the shortest route from E Prefecture to Linchuan. She would have to find an excuse on the return journey to detour through Liyang County to reach Henan Prefecture.

Still worried about Bu Shulin, she finally took out the bone whistle and used Xiao Huayong’s gyrfalcon to send a message. However, the gyrfalcon automatically took everything to Xiao Huayong, so the letter went to him first. Upon reading it, his expression soured.

Bu Shulin had barely left the capital when Shen Xihe followed. Although he believed she was genuinely going to congratulate her brother on his marriage, he couldn’t believe she hadn’t helped Bu Shulin at all. Even after confirming this, he still couldn’t help feeling sour.

“Give Cui Jinbai some trouble, let him give bad advice when he has nothing better to do,” Xiao Huayong handed over the letter, having his connections delivered to help Bu Shulin quickly.

He was annoyed with Cui Jinbai – why couldn’t he have chosen another time to listen to the Emperor? He had to pick this moment to follow the Emperor’s wishes and create obstacles for Bu Shulin to show his loyalty. In his view, Cui Jinbai probably knew beforehand that Shen Xihe was going to Linchuan and chose this perfect timing.

Just too idle.

Tian Yuan silently said a prayer for Cui Jinbai, not daring to say a good word, and hurriedly ran out to make arrangements. He worried if he ran too slowly, His Highness would think he was idle too!

If Young Master Bu weren’t female, Tian Yuan felt the young master probably wouldn’t have to wait for the Emperor to act – His Highness would personally send her on her way.

Bu Shulin was naturally not in danger, but she discovered she was being watched as soon as she entered Henan Prefecture. She hadn’t dared to rashly send word to Linchuan, worried about implicating Shen Xihe. When she unexpectedly received Shen Xihe’s letter, she was first delighted, then immediately asked: “Could someone be impersonating Youyou?”