Shen Xihe nodded and entered the carriage. She carefully recalled her time calculations from earlier. The reason she came personally this time was to determine exactly how long it took for the flowers to reach full bloom. She judged their peak by their fragrance.
The flower’s scent had distinct layers as it passed her nose – gradually intensifying meant it was still blooming, while any slight fading indicated it was beginning to decline. Though this perception was unique to her, she had converted it into precise timing.
Although each flower might vary slightly, the differences shouldn’t be too great. Shen Xihe described her observations while Zhenzhu wrote them down. If proven effective, she could delegate the harvesting to her subordinates in the future.
Xiao Huayong sat nearby listening to her measured tone, each word blooming like a flower in his heart. Her focused, serious expression was truly beautiful, especially since this attention was for his sake. As he watched, he couldn’t help becoming entranced.
“Click!” Zhenzhu knew she shouldn’t make a sound, as it might offend His Highness, but his gaze was too passionate and obvious. Only the Princess could ignore it – she and Hong Yu simply couldn’t bear it.
“Your Highness should return to the capital. I’ll take a detour through Henan Prefecture,” Shen Xihe didn’t want to travel with Xiao Huayong.
Her heart and resolve were firm – Xiao Huayong’s influence on her was minimal, but his effect on those around her was considerable.
“I…”
“Who knows how long these flowers will last.” Before Xiao Huayong could make excuses, Shen Xihe placed the box containing the winter daphne in his hands. “Your Highness should take them back and use them soon. Don’t let my several nights of waiting go to waste.”
Though the box in his hands was light as a feather, her words weighed like a thousand pounds, leaving him no room to argue.
If he insisted on accompanying her when they returned, the flowers would have withered, wouldn’t that waste all her effort?
“How could I disappoint Youyou’s kindness? I’ll ride swiftly back to the capital tomorrow,” Xiao Huayong had to compromise.
Shen Xihe nodded in satisfaction: “I’ll have Mo Yuan escort Commander Wei and the others to the capital to face His Majesty.”
Was she making sure he returned to the capital? Afraid he might detour to find her again?
Xiao Huayong felt this was Shen Xihe’s intention, but he also knew these prisoners needed to be delivered to the capital urgently. Delays could not only cause complications but also arouse His Majesty’s suspicion about why they had taken such a roundabout route with these prisoners.
Now at least her detour could be explained – from Linchuan to Liyang was to draw out Commander Wei and the others; from Liyang to Henan Prefecture was to avoid potential ambushes along the way. She would never admit it was specifically for Bu Shulin, as she hadn’t interfered in state affairs.
“Be careful in Henan Prefecture,” Xiao Huayong advised gently.
“Hasn’t Your Highness already sent people to protect me?” Shen Xihe smiled lightly.
Xiao Huayong chuckled softly: “Nothing escapes Youyou’s keen eyes. Still, while obvious threats can be avoided, hidden arrows are hard to guard against. Please be careful.”
“Your Highness need not worry,” Shen Xihe said calmly but didn’t ask him to withdraw his men.
She knew even if she asked, he wouldn’t do it – or would only do so superficially while still having people follow her. Pointing this out wasn’t to blame him, but to let him know she was aware of everything and he needn’t worry about her.
“I’ll await your return to the capital.”
Await your coming of age.
Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong had only rested for two hours when they received news of the imperial tombs being bombed. Being far from the capital, they couldn’t determine the exact situation, but the news spread like a rolling snowball, growing more intense. Someone with similar intelligence had made arrangements in advance, causing the situation to spiral out of control.
When Shen Xihe arrived at the inn for a meal, she heard that several wealthy families had already reported to the authorities. Upon hearing about tomb raiders, they immediately checked their family tombs and indeed found signs of disturbance.
Xiao Huayong hadn’t departed – he wanted to observe the local reaction. Shen Xihe knew this wasn’t just an excuse, so she didn’t urge him. She also didn’t immediately set out for Henan Prefecture, choosing to stay and observe for a day.
After finishing their meal, an eagle landed nearby. Shen Xihe raised her eyebrows – this wasn’t a gyrfalcon, but an ordinary male eagle.
While carrier pigeons were common, this was Shen Xihe’s first time seeing a message delivered by an eagle. Eagles were different from pigeons – pigeons were used because they deeply remembered their home and wouldn’t fly astray, but eagles were different.
“It’s from Fifth Brother,” Xiao Huayong smiled, raising his eyebrows.
Interrupted from her thoughts, Shen Xihe looked up at Xiao Huayong: “The imperial tomb incident was Prince Xin’s doing?”
Xiao Huayong was surprised: “Why doesn’t Youyou think I meant the tomb-raiding case was Fifth Brother’s doing?”
He paused before adding: “Or perhaps both the imperial tomb incident and the tomb-raiding case were his work.”
“Prince Xin is in the capital,” Shen Xihe said these five words.
She didn’t explain further, simply following the logic of Prince Xin being in the capital. Xiao Huayong nodded. He was sensitive about any man she mentioned, especially his unmarried brothers – each one a potential rival.
He wondered if he should arrange primary wives for all his brothers’ households after returning.
“Your Highness?” Seeing Xiao Huayong suddenly lost in thought, Shen Xihe called out softly.
Coming back to his senses, Xiao Huayong smiled: “Youyou guessed correctly. The imperial tomb incident was Fifth Brother’s doing.”
“Prince Xin’s influence shouldn’t be underestimated.” Shen Xihe hadn’t expected Xiao Changqin could spread rumors throughout the capital and surrounding prefectures, even reaching Liyang County, in just one night.
“The timing was pre-arranged, with people stationed in various counties and prefectures. After his action, signals were released, then people outside the capital released signals, and those who received those signals released more.” Without these signals, Xiao Huayong wouldn’t have known so quickly it was Xiao Changqin’s work.
“That still requires many people.” This only accelerated the transmission speed. “Prince Xin must have long known about the tomb-raiding case.”
“He was once His Majesty’s chosen heir apparent candidate,” Xiao Huayong gazed at Shen Xihe. “His Majesty wanted to forge him into an iron-blooded ruler, arranging his marriage to the Gu family’s daughter. But he didn’t expect him to be broken in the process. Though His Majesty was greatly disappointed and no longer valued him, the methods he learned from His Majesty during those years and the influence he cultivated through His Majesty’s favor remain.”
“His Majesty used the Gu family and the late Princess Xin to forge Prince Xin. What about Your Highness?” Shen Xihe returned his gaze.
“His Majesty won’t forge me,” Xiao Huayong’s lips curved. “In his heart, I’m destined not to be the one who ultimately inherits his throne.”
“What about three to five years from now?” Shen Xihe asked.
For these three to five years, His Majesty naturally wouldn’t suspect anything, but if Xiao Huayong was still alive and well after that, would His Majesty remain so calm?
“If I haven’t outmaneuvered His Majesty in three to five years, I might as well die early from poison,” Xiao Huayong spoke the most audacious words in the most casual tone.