“This item is too precious, I dare not accept it. Guard Cao, please take it back,” Shen Xihe declined.

This was different from their usual exchanges. Such valuable items were either sufficient payment or gifts between those close enough. She hadn’t helped Xiao Huayong with anything, and their relationship hadn’t reached such intimacy.

Her amazement was merely the natural reaction anyone would have upon seeing something rare and beautiful, without any greedy desire to possess it.

“His Highness said this is a gift to thank the Princess for seeking the jade orchid from afar,” Tianyuan’s smile remained unchanged as if he had anticipated Shen Xihe’s refusal.

“I sought the jade orchid only to repay His Highness for saving my life,” Shen Xihe replied.

Tianyuan expressed slight surprise: “Didn’t the Princess have Young Master Sui treat His Highness’s eyes to repay his assistance at the hunting grounds?”

“Yes…”

“If so, the Princess has already repaid that debt. The jade orchid favor means His Highness now owes the Princess. His Highness has been thinking about this, wanting to repay the Princess’s kindness. Finally finding this unique pearl, he eagerly sent it over.”

Tianyuan secretly admired his master – he had predicted the Princess’s reactions perfectly. If it were up to Tianyuan to argue with the Princess, he wouldn’t be able to: “If the Princess doesn’t accept, His Highness will surely misunderstand that this item doesn’t please you, and will undoubtedly worry about finding something else.”

Shen Xihe: …

“Having Axi treat His Highness’s eyes and seeking the jade orchid were both to repay His Highness for saving my life that day,” Shen Xihe explained patiently.

“If that’s the case, the Princess might as well tell His Highness directly. I cannot make decisions for him,” Tianyuan said respectfully.

Indeed, Tianyuan was a subordinate; she shouldn’t make things difficult for him: “As it happens, I plan to enter the palace today.”

Tianyuan smiled and said: “My lord and I will await the Princess in the Eastern Palace.”

After Tianyuan left, Zhenzhu held up a sandalwood box decorated with intertwining peonies and flying birds, containing the golden pearl, awaiting Shen Xihe’s instructions: “Princess, the pearl…”

“I’m afraid we can’t return it,” Shen Xihe gently rubbed the pearl with her thumb.

She knew she was no match for Xiao Huayong in sophistry, and he always had so many reasons.

“Go find something valuable to gift to the Crown Prince,” Shen Xihe said after brief contemplation.

“A return gift?” Zhenzhu asked uncertainly.

Return gifts were basic etiquette, but Zhenzhu felt if the Princess gave the Crown Prince a return gift, he might misunderstand it as a sign of affection, leading to mutual confessions…

“Never mind what he thinks. In the future, whenever he sends gifts, regardless of what they are, match them with gifts of equal value,” Shen Xihe smiled slightly. “He might deceive himself once or twice, but if it happens every time, he’ll grow bored and naturally understand my intentions.”

Zhenzhu’s eyes lit up upon hearing this – the Princess always had solutions.

Shen Xihe turned to meet Shen Yueshan’s heavy gaze. Her father wore the medicinal fragrance she had concocted. She had known he was there, seeing him staring at the northern pearl as if wanting to pierce holes in it with his glare.

“Father, countless young men from the Northwest try to please your daughter, yet I haven’t seen you so annoyed,” Shen Xihe looked at Shen Yueshan helplessly.

“That’s because you never took them seriously, so I treated it as entertainment,” Shen Yueshan said. “Those rough men from the Northwest, how could they be worthy of Youyou?”

Shen Xihe: …

The Northwest had rough men, while the capital had dandies – everyone seemed worthless in her father’s eyes.

“The Crown Prince is different from you. He has wolfish ambitions, yet you still intend to marry him.” The last words were ground out between his teeth.

Shen Xihe found this both amusing and exasperating. Her father now looked exactly like her brother did months ago, making her want to laugh: “Father, if that’s the case, why don’t you just take Youyou back to the Northwest, never to marry?”

Shen Yueshan was suddenly at a loss for words. He couldn’t keep his daughter from marriage – even if she were willing, as father and brother they couldn’t bear to see her slandered. Yet marrying her off felt like having a piece of flesh carved from his heart – how could he show a pleasant face to the one doing the carving?

A father’s thoughts – his Youyou didn’t understand.

“I just feel Youyou is biased toward the Crown Prince, yet Youyou denies it!” Shen Yueshan was very angry. His daughter never used to speak to him this way!

This misplaced anger left Shen Xihe helpless. Seeing Shen Yueshan grinding his teeth like a child, she could only soothe him gently: “Youyou spoke wrongly, please don’t be angry, Father.”

“Youyou did nothing wrong, it’s all the Crown Prince’s bewitchment!” Shen Yueshan insisted. His daughter couldn’t possibly be wrong – it must be others bewitching her.

“Father speaks truly, it’s the Crown Prince’s bewitchment.” Faced with such a Shen Yueshan, Shen Xihe could only reluctantly slander Xiao Huayong once.

Shen Yueshan was finally soothed: “You’re entering the palace?”

This was an important matter. Shen Xihe spoke seriously: “Youyou are going to discuss Lord Xue’s matter with the Crown Prince.”

“Why discuss with him?” Shen Yueshan was displeased. “If you want to inform him, just send someone to the Eastern Palace with the message, just like you’re sending Zhenzhu with the return gift. Have them deliver the message along with it.”

“Father, Youyou doesn’t just want to inform the Crown Prince, but also wants to know what arrangements he has in mind,” Shen Xihe felt back-and-forth message delivery was troublesome.

She could resolve everything with one visit to the Eastern Palace. Having servants constantly going back and forth would make others think she and the Crown Prince were deeply in love and inseparable.

Shen Yueshan’s expression gradually grew serious: “Youyou, do you want to walk this path?”

“Father, what’s the point of living without ambition?” Shen Xihe said frankly. “Father has always treated daughters and sons equally. If this is Youyou’s ambition, doesn’t Father want to let Youyou fight for it?”

In the bitter winter cold, amidst the white snow, Shen Yueshan’s gaze was deep yet warm, like the spring sun, as if trying to melt the snow-covered world reflected in his eyes, placing his daughter amid spring blooms.

Sheltered from the cold wind, untouched by severe winter.

“Youyou, you’re coming of age, growing up. Father is past the age where he can make decisions for you. Though reluctant to let you learn independence, I must hope for your self-reliance,” Shen Yueshan spoke softly. “Since this is your ambition, as your father, I can only watch from afar, protect you with all my might, always standing behind you.

But regarding the Crown Prince, are your initial intentions unchanged?”

Shen Xihe was moved by Shen Yueshan’s trust and support. Like the hand warmer she held, its gentle warmth seeping into her palms, penetrating her whole body, warming her to her core.

“Father, I owe him a life debt. This is my obligation, which I will strive to repay,” Shen Xihe said seriously. “I absolutely won’t let it affect the greater situation.”