Bu Shulin’s paranoia was justified – something was truly amiss in Henan Prefecture. From the governor to the local magistrates, none were trustworthy. Countless eyes watched her every move. She felt it was laughable that Cui Shitou had sent her here under the pretense of using her presence as cover – even with her secret imperial orders, she couldn’t hide.

Bu Shulin didn’t know she was merely a decoy. She had been deliberately given secret orders that were leaked, making everyone watch her while the Emperor had already sent Imperial Censors to investigate the matter.

This was Cui Jinbai’s complete strategy. As for the Emperor’s plans to move against Bu Shulin, this naturally wasn’t explicitly stated to Cui Jinbai – it was merely hinted to gauge his reaction. Thus, Cui Jinbai didn’t know exactly how the Emperor would act against her.

Not knowing didn’t matter – it would either be assassination attempts or manufacturing conflicts to have the Henan Prefecture officials violently eliminate Bu Shulin. Cui Jinbai favored the latter approach.

Once the Imperial Censors found evidence, they could make the Henan officials believe Bu Shulin had obtained it. This would redirect attention, causing local officials to hunt Bu Shulin while allowing the Censors to withdraw unsuspectedly, with the evidence already in the Emperor’s hands.

Then Bu Shulin would be considered killed in the line of duty while eliminating the vicious criminals of Henan Prefecture – a suitable explanation for Bu Tuohai.

It was a plan with multiple benefits – why wouldn’t the Emperor approve?

“Young Master, this is from the Eastern Palace,” Jin Shan said. “I saw the Eastern Palace’s token. Besides Young Master and the Princess, who would know the Princess was helping you? Even the Crown Prince, without the Princess’s confession, could only suspect but not be certain.”

Bu Shulin felt relieved hearing this and eagerly wrote a reply, including some exquisite items she’d found in Henan Prefecture to send to Shen Xihe.

However, following the letter’s instructions, her gifts were returned, leaving only a letter.

“Why were my gifts returned?” Bu Shulin frowned.

“They said to only deliver the letter,” Jin Shan answered truthfully.

“But I mentioned sending gifts to the Princess in my letter!” Bu Shulin exclaimed angrily.

“They said they would explain the reason to Young Master,” Jin Shan replied helplessly.

Bu Shulin paced back and forth before snorting coldly: “It must be the Crown Prince being jealous of the Princess’s closeness to me!”

“Young Master, this servant suspects…” Jin Shan voiced his long-held suspicion, “The Crown Prince might have known early on that you’re…”

Otherwise, how could he tolerate their Young Master frequently visiting the Princess’s mansion and helping deliver messages between them?

Bu Shulin: !!

She stumbled back two steps in shock. She had hidden her identity so well – except for Shen Xihe with her heaven-granted nose, no one had ever suspected her identity. If Xiao Huayong knew, it certainly wasn’t from Shen Xihe telling him – he must have figured it out himself!

This was terrible – she had given Xiao Huayong enormous leverage over her.

“Young Master, don’t panic. Since the Crown Prince has known for so long without exposing you, never confronted you about it, or moved against South Shu, he likely never intended to harm you,” Jin Shan reassured her. “Moreover, the Crown Prince now favors the Princess and knows of your friendship with her – he certainly won’t harm you.”

“Do you think I’m stupid? Of course I know that,” Bu Shulin fumed. “What upsets me is that he knows my identity – how can I ever be assertive in front of him again?”

Jin Shan: …

With all due respect, even without this leverage, the Young Master could never be assertive before the Crown Prince.

Shen Xihe first received an emotionally charged letter from the Crown Prince. Xiao Huayong had sent Bu Shulin’s letter with a different hawk, immediately having his gyrfalcon return his letter to Shen Xihe.

“Since your departure, thoughts of you encircle my heart daily; With mountains green and rosy clouds bright, the sky high and road far, none accompany me after dusk; Though just half a month has passed, I grow thinner by the day…”

Shen Xihe only read the first few lines before she couldn’t take the cloying sentimentality anymore. She folded it up and burned it directly over a candle. Since Xiao Huayong had such leisure to write while knowing of her concerns about Bu Shulin, Bu Shulin must be safe.

“Princess, there was this in the letter too…” Zhenzhu reluctantly presented a strand of hair from the letter.

A strand of black hair, a thread of love.

Since ancient times, men and women could only gift hair to their spouses.

Xiao Huayong sent this single strand placed prominently in the letter where it would be seen immediately upon opening…

To say it wasn’t deliberate – he would surely argue the hair fell accidentally while writing. To say it was deliberate – his intentions were as clear as day!

“Burn it too,” Shen Xihe ordered coldly.

Zhenzhu could only place it in the envelope and burn it. Then, to Shen Xihe’s surprise, from that day forward, Xiao Huayong’s letters came daily, each containing a strand of black hair.

“If the Princess stays in Linchuan much longer, won’t the Crown Prince worry about going bald?” Hong Yu couldn’t help but jest.

Though she joked, she increasingly liked the Crown Prince, feeling only someone like him could bring more warmth to their Princess’s life. She increasingly looked forward to the Princess marrying into the Eastern Palace, wanting to see how the Crown Prince would dote on their Princess.

“Princess, shouldn’t we reply?” This was already the fifth letter, and the Princess had burned them all. One couldn’t blame the Princess for being heartless – Hong Yu had accidentally glimpsed the Crown Prince’s words once and nearly fainted.

In her eyes, the Crown Prince was an extremely noble, dignified, and lofty deity. Though he occasionally teased the Princess, she never imagined he could write such explicit words. It was so frivolous she suspected someone was impersonating him.

But since Shen Xihe had first contacted Xiao Huayong, it wouldn’t be right to abandon him now, especially since she still needed his help contacting Bu Shulin. She could only endure daily, but was it appropriate to never reply?

“Tomorrow is Third Cousin’s wedding. Send him a wedding cake,” Shen Xihe ordered coldly.

She had discovered the gyrfalcon was extremely fast – within half an hour, the cake could reach Xiao Huayong’s hands. She hoped he would understand she was trying to stop his mouth with food.

However, when Xiao Huayong received the wedding cake wrapped in a handkerchief and oiled paper, though somewhat crumbled, the bright red “double happiness” character was still striking. The moment he saw it, his eyes softened until they could almost drip water.

“Tian Yuan, look – Youyou sent me a wedding cake,” Xiao Huayong immediately showed off to Tian Yuan. “I knew Youyou was thinking of me.”

Tian Yuan: …

Though he didn’t quite understand why the Princess would send a wedding cake, he knew it certainly wasn’t a good omen. But whatever His Highness thought, as long as he was happy…

“Don’t you think Youyou is hinting that I should prepare for our wedding?”

Tian Yuan: …