After the door closed, Shen Xihe’s shoulder pain had become quite severe. Only after confirming that Zhenzu wasn’t seriously injured did she let her examine herself.

As the light gauze fell away, the red, swollen, purple-black bruising on her shoulder was shocking to behold. Hong Yu let out a startled cry.

“How… how did this injury occur?” Zhenzu’s eyes reddened with distress.

“It’s…”

“I accidentally knocked into something,” Shen Xihe cut off Hong Yu’s words.

Hong Yu immediately fell silent, realizing that although the Crown Prince was outside, he could certainly hear their conversation within the room.

Seeing Shen Xihe and Hong Yu’s reactions, Zhenzu guessed what had happened. She pressed her lips together without speaking and took a hot towel soaked in medicine to apply to Shen Xihe’s shoulder.

Shen Xihe drew in a deep breath, the intense pain making her close her eyes.

Zhenzu had always known that Shen Xihe could endure pain. When injured in the Northwest, she would fear worrying her father and brother, always maintaining an unchanged expression. She would always say she couldn’t help her father and brother with anything, so she could at least spare them some worry.

But seeing the fine cold sweat beading on Shen Xihe’s forehead, she still felt heartache. However, if this blood stasis wasn’t dispersed, Shen Xihe would suffer for quite some time, and in serious cases, it could render an entire arm useless.

If only Sui Axi were here. Though Sui Axi wasn’t good at formulating medicines, she was extremely skilled at acupuncture. Although piercing acupoints with silver needles would also hurt, it would disperse the stasis faster. Zhenzu herself wasn’t skilled in acupuncture, and with Shen Xihe’s arm so swollen it was deformed, she might not even be able to locate the acupoints accurately.

“Princess, shall this servant prepare some anesthetic?” Zhenzu asked softly.

“No need…” Shen Xihe forced out trembling words through clenched teeth.

Duanming had been left outside and was pawing at the door. The improperly closed door was pushed open by it. Xiao Huayong had been fully focused on listening to the movement inside the room, worried about Shen Xihe’s injuries, and hadn’t noticed Duanming until the door was pushed open.

He reached out to grab it, concerned about the cold wind entering and chilling Shen Xihe, when he happened to meet the gazes of Shen Xihe and the others. Xiao Huayong’s pupils dilated as he stared at her severely swollen, blackened injury.

Shen Xihe immediately pulled up the clothes that had fallen to her elbow, while Zhenzu and Hong Yu moved to block his view.

Xiao Huayong’s lips moved, but he said nothing in the end, closing the door again. His mind was filled with the image of Shen Xihe’s shoulder injury. He had heard her say it was from bumping into something, but what kind of collision would cause such severe injury?

Most importantly, that arc-shaped pattern was very familiar to him!

He strode outside the courtyard and blew his bone whistle.

The gyrfalcon spiraled down, circled the courtyard twice, and landed on his extended arm.

Seeming to sense his displeasure, the gyrfalcon, which usually liked to perch near his shoulder, this time chose a spot near his elbow and even shuffled further down toward his forearm after landing.

Before Xiao Huayong could say anything, the door opened and Shen Xihe appeared before him, wearing a heavy cloak with her black hair loose. She worried Xiao Huayong would blame the bird – though it sounded ridiculous, it was something he would do.

“There was a hidden arrow shot at me then. If it hadn’t knocked me aside, I fear I would have been shot through the heart,” Shen Xihe spoke up for the gyrfalcon.

As if understanding, the gyrfalcon happily flapped its huge wings.

Xiao Huayong’s cold gaze swept over, and it quickly folded its wings again, even shuffling closer to his wrist, making cooing sounds from its throat.

Turning to face Shen Xihe, Xiao Huayong’s face instantly broke into a smile, his voice as gentle as his gaze: “You’you needn’t worry, it did well and I will certainly reward it.”

Shen Xihe looked at the gyrfalcon, which had turned its head to look at her along with Xiao Huayong. This god of the skies, this supremely fierce bird – for the first time, Shen Xihe saw its gaze lacking its usual sharpness, instead appearing somewhat confused and even a bit muddy. She nodded and withdrew.

As soon as the door closed, Xiao Huayong’s expression changed again, his gaze as cold as the night wind as he stared at the gyrfalcon.

The gyrfalcon moved its small head, making intermittent cooing sounds from its throat, its head drooping lower and lower.

“Dull bird, stupid bird, foolish bird!” Xiao Huayong poked its head with his finger. It kept turning its head away but didn’t move its body, cooing innocently and helplessly.

“From today, find your food for three months,” Xiao Huayong said with a cold laugh.

Since being tamed by Xiao Huayong, the gyrfalcon was fed by him every half month. Whenever it caused trouble, Xiao Huayong would withhold its food. Of course, he wouldn’t let it starve – he never prevented it from hunting, but it preferred the white bird’s Xiao Huayong fed it.

These white birds were rare, and Xiao Huayong specially raised many for them.

Seeming to realize its favorite food would be withheld again, the gyrfalcon’s cooing grew louder, very much like a child grumbling after being scolded by parents.

Watching this scene through the window, Shen Xihe couldn’t help but smile.

With Shen Xihe’s plea for leniency, Xiao Huayong didn’t punish it too harshly. After giving his instructions, he let it fly away. It seemed to want to make amends, circling Xiao Huayong several times, but seeing that he was determined to discipline it, it finally let out a long cry and soared away as if in a huff.

“Meow!” Shen Xihe had been watching the gyrfalcon for too long, and Duanming let out a sharp, short cry.

Shen Xihe glanced down at it, thinking that if not for it, Hong Yu might have been in danger. She reached down to rub its head and Duanming contentedly rubbed against her.

By the time Zhenzu had finished treating Shen Xihe’s injury, Mo Yuan and Teng Jing had both returned. The Guard Commander was still alive. Shen Xihe had Zhenzu treat his wounds to keep him from dying – they would take him to seek an explanation from the Emperor.

“The reason they suddenly moved against you was because your uncle’s marriage connection in Linchuan was exposed. Your uncle decisively captured many of their people, so they wanted to capture you to negotiate with him,” Xiao Huayong entered the room and explained what he had learned about the cause and effect once Shen Xihe was properly settled.

He knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep without understanding the situation clearly.

Something had gone wrong on Tao Cheng’s side, and the people Shen Xihe had left behind had helped significantly, which angered those behind it all. They happened to learn that Shen Xihe was delayed here, and three-tenths of their people were also here. Additionally, among those following Shen Xihe, there were also their people, so this led to…

“His Majesty’s people are all others’ eyes and ears,” Hong Yu said softly, her tone heavy with sarcasm.

Xiao Huayong didn’t seem to mind.

Shen Xihe gave her a cool glance: “The Emperor has over a thousand men in each guard, and these fifty were selected from various guards, with at most two or three taken from each. Why do you think His Majesty specifically sent these fifty people?”

It was precisely because these people’s loyalty was difficult to determine that he asked Shen Xihe for help. Among thousands of people, there were just these few uncertain ones, and the Emperor could point them out precisely – his control was admirable.

Xiao Huayong cast an appreciative look at Shen Xihe: “You’you is clever and wise.”