“There’s another point,” Shen Xihe, prompted by Xiao Huayong’s reminder, realized something else that didn’t add up. “Prince Xin had people blow up the imperial tombs. Logically, since the Fourth Prince was guarding the tombs, he would have been forced to lay low again because of this, all thanks to Prince Xin. He should hate Prince Xin intensely.

Either he wouldn’t have let Prince Xin succeed, or if he did let him succeed, he would surely have caught Prince Xin’s weakness. Yet even now he hasn’t exposed Prince Xin. Only one explanation makes sense.”

Xiao Langzhen wasn’t at the imperial tombs that day!

The fact that Xiao Langzhen dared to reduce himself to a commoner and hide in the imperial tombs to scheme showed his absolute confidence. If so, he wouldn’t have let Prince Xin succeed.

He was the mastermind behind the grave robbing case. Knowing Bu Shulin had gone to Henan Prefecture and that Shen Xihe had exposed it in Linchuan County, he knew the matter couldn’t be contained. He must have left the tombs secretly to handle it urgently, giving Prince Xin his opportunity, while failing to catch any evidence against him.

Therefore, Cui Jinbai might still be Prince Jing Xiao Langyan’s man, while the grave robbing scheme was Fourth Prince Xiao Langtai’s doing.

“Your Highness speaks highly of Prince Jing. Do you see something of yourself in him?” Shen Xihe asked.

“How could we possibly see ourselves in each other?” Xiao Huayong chuckled softly, shaking his head. “We share no common misfortunes, so how could we empathize? My praise for him is merely objective… Eighth Brother is who His Majesty favors to succeed the Eastern Palace.”

Otherwise, His Majesty wouldn’t have allowed him to maintain his military power in Annan for so many years, letting him escape early from the capital’s web of intrigue.

His lack of connections in the capital reassured His Majesty more. After His Majesty’s passing, he would transfer all his connections to him, ensuring his firm grip on the throne.

So that was it, Shen Xihe sighed inwardly. In His Majesty’s mind, Xiao Huayong was destined to die young, so everything had been arranged early.

“Prince Jing will come of age soon, won’t he?” Shen Xihe suddenly asked. “What kind of princess consort will His Majesty choose for him?”

Xiao Huayong was extremely sensitive to this topic, fearing Shen Xihe might have developed feelings for Xiao Langyan. He studied her carefully for a while, and only after confirming she was asking casually did his expression soften: “He’ll come of age after the new year. His Majesty won’t arrange his marriage for another two years. The Cui family has a young daughter, the Minister of Ceremonies’ legitimate granddaughter, who’s twelve now.”

It would be better to arrange the marriage in two years, binding the Cui family to Xiao Langyan.

“His Majesty certainly puts much thought into Prince Jing’s affairs.” Shen Xihe felt she should send someone to Annan to infiltrate Prince Jing’s circle early, though choosing the right person would be difficult.

Xiao Huayong merely smiled without comment. Shen Xihe, remembering her promise to Shen Yueshan to stay in the Eastern Palace no longer than half an hour, took her leave. Xiao Huayong personally escorted her out. As snow fell, he called out unexpectedly just before she descended the steps: “Youyou.”

Against the white snow, red plum blossoms, and gentle wind, she turned slowly, her clear gaze carrying the moistness and confusion of a deer, that wet look piercing straight into Xiao Huayong’s heart.

Her calm, gentle, and kind eyes made Xiao Huayong hesitate to speak what was on his mind. He took a deep breath: “If I were keeping something from you, would you be angry with me?”

Shen Xihe paused briefly before smiling.

Against the pure white landscape, her rouge-touched lips were soft and crimson, her smile enchanting yet restrained in its brilliance: “Your Highness, everyone in this world has secrets. I too have things I haven’t told Your Highness. As long as it doesn’t harm me or those I care about, I won’t be angry with Your Highness.”

This understanding answer didn’t calm Xiao Huayong’s heart. What he concealed wouldn’t harm Shen Xihe, but it might make her reassess everything and possibly show him a different face.

She might never again be as open and frank in their discussions as she was now.

He dared not say more: “Youyou speaks truly. I was overthinking.”

Shen Xihe’s smile deepened: “Does Your Highness have anything else?”

Xiao Huayong: “Be careful on your way, Youyou. The weather is cold. In the future, if anything comes up, just send someone with a message, and I’ll come see you.”

“My father is at home. Is Your Highness sure about visiting me?” Shen Xihe asked with a hint of amusement.

Xiao Huayong: …

He’d forgotten – there was now a formidable presence at the Princess’s mansion. While his skills could easily evade the mansion’s servants, evading Shen Yueshan was another matter. If Shen Yueshan caught him in the act, he’d likely take the opportunity to break his legs.

“Messages it is…” Xiao Huayong changed his mind. Though more troublesome, it had its charm.

“There shouldn’t be any major issues before spring,” Shen Xihe smiled faintly, nodded in farewell, and floated away with her umbrella.

Returning to the Princess’s mansion, she saw Shen Yueshan standing at the main gate, craning his neck to look out. Shen Xihe couldn’t help but smile wryly as she jumped down from her horse, startling Shen Yueshan who rushed forward: “Be careful! What if you’d fallen?”

“I just didn’t want Father to wait too long,” Shen Xihe said with a smile.

“If you got hurt, Father would be heartbroken.”

“If Father waited too long in the cold, Youyou would be heartbroken too.”

Shen Yueshan understood – his daughter was cleverly reproaching him for standing in the cold waiting.

“I was just… taking a stroll by the gate, looking at…” glancing outside to find no one there, “looking at the capital’s architecture…”

“Kaka ka…” Purple Jade couldn’t help laughing – she didn’t want to mock the Prince, but his excuse was too amusing.

Shen Xihe gave Purple Jade a look, then offered her father a way out: “Have you finished looking? If so, let’s go inside.”

“Yes, yes, finished,” Shen Yueshan glanced at Purple Jade.

As father and daughter crossed the threshold together, Shen Yueshan immediately couldn’t resist asking: “What did the Crown Prince think about Minister Xue’s matter?”

Shen Xihe held back her laughter without immediately answering. She knew well that Shen Yueshan never interfered with official appointments, never giving Emperor Youning any chance to suspect him of ulterior motives. He was only asking to find out what she and Xiao Huayong had discussed.

“Youyou, tell me quickly.” Shen Yueshan waited until they reached Shen Xihe’s courtyard before pressing.

Even if Shen Yueshan hadn’t asked, Shen Xihe would have told him: “His Highness wants to arrange for Grandfather to oversee the Three Departments.”

Shen Yueshan’s expression changed slightly. He had only been fishing for information, with any outcome being unimportant, but hearing this, he had to take it seriously: “Did he bring this up himself?”

Shen Xihe nodded.

After a moment’s silence, Shen Yueshan snorted lightly: “He must be testing you!”

Shen Xihe: …

Couldn’t she tell whether it was a test or not? But she couldn’t say so. From previous experience, she knew that if she spoke the truth now, Shen Yueshan would accuse her of favoring Xiao Huayong again.

Shen Xihe didn’t believe Shen Yueshan didn’t know better – he was just habitually disparaging Xiao Huayong in front of her.