The incident of Shen Yingruo falling into the water remained unsolved, with no traces to follow. The palace’s catnip was all accounted for. That day was also Shen Xihe’s coming-of-age ceremony, with many people entering and leaving the palace. Searching for catnip that could have been hidden in sachets without raising suspicion would be like finding a needle in a haystack. A thorough investigation would also expose Shen Yingruo’s fall.

The mastermind, seeing Emperor Youning’s intervention and their scheme failing, also dared not spread more rumors to force Shen Yingruo and Xiao Changmin together.

Although Shen Xihe also suspected it might be to prevent her marriage to Xiao Huayong, this wasn’t necessarily the case. Since the matter couldn’t be deeply investigated, she didn’t dwell on it.

Moreover, Shen Yueshan had to return to the Northwest. The year-end was crucial for them, and the Lantern Festival was a nationwide celebration. The Turks outside the Northwest didn’t observe such festivals and loved to launch surprise attacks at these times. If they learned Shen Yueshan was absent, they wouldn’t miss such an opportunity.

Before Shen Yueshan’s departure, he received Shen Yunan’s reply agreeing to marry Xue Qinian. Shen Yueshan personally made a formal visit. The Xue family, under Xue Heng’s pressure, could only pretend to joyfully accept this marriage.

Once the marriage was settled, it couldn’t be kept secret. Emperor Youning even summoned Xue Heng for this. No one knew what was said between ruler and subject, but in the end, Emperor Youning generously granted marriage between Shen Yunan and Xue Jinqiao, to be carried out after Xue Jinqiao came of age.

“Ah, why is your brother marrying that little demoness? Wouldn’t a bold and martial woman like me be better matched with your brother?” After learning this, Bu Shulin ran to Shen Xihe with a face full of abandonment.

“If you dare to go reveal your female identity to His Majesty and still survive, I’ll try to matchmake for you,” Shen Xihe was in a good mood about her brother finding a good match. She casually retorted before asking seriously, “You’re always mixing with the capital’s young nobles – have you heard any dirt on the Ministers of War and Justice?”

Playing the role of a noble youth had its advantages. These young nobles were mostly dim-witted but from prominent families, making it easy to get information from them.

Bu Shulin was biting into a plum cake when she asked mysteriously: “How have they offended you?”

Shen Xihe rarely actively made trouble for others unless they crossed her.

“This time they haven’t offended me, but they’re blocking my path,” Shen Xihe smiled slightly.

Xue Heng returned from the palace only saying he’d told His Majesty about his declining energy and desire to retire, and that the Xue family’s future depended on the next generation. He only raised Xue Jinqiao, and in the end, just wanted to fulfill his child’s wishes.

Since he was retiring anyway, there was no intention of allying with Shen Yueshan. This was a tactful way of telling Emperor Youning he was willing to trade his career for his child’s marriage.

Emperor Youning had no reason to blame or resent him. He was considering who among his confidants to promote after Xue Heng’s retirement.

However, Xue Heng hadn’t told Emperor Youning when he would resign. The Emperor assumed it would be after Xue Jinqiao’s marriage, but Xue Heng likely couldn’t hold on until then. This wasn’t exactly deceiving the Emperor, but it bought them time. They needed to pave the way before His Majesty could make plans and before Xue Heng couldn’t hold on any longer.

The best method was to replace the Ministers of War and Justice beforehand, just like the Minister of Revenue. Once replaced, no further promotions could be made for half a year, greatly affecting the six ministries’ operations and efficiency.

“Oh,” Bu Shulin said with interest, “planning to build power in court? Why not ask the Crown Prince? You’re practically part of the Eastern Palace now.”

“He does his thing, I do mine,” Shen Xihe said calmly. “We each go our way, without conflict.”

Bu Shulin nodded: “Alright, I’ll go inquire for you.”

Having entrusted this to Bu Shulin, Shen Xihe didn’t waste effort sending others to investigate, avoiding alerting anyone who might catch wind and clean up their traces.

She spent a day with Shen Yueshan, packed the things she’d made for him recently, and reluctantly saw him off at the city gate the next day. When Shen Yunan left, Shen Xihe was sad but not affected. With Shen Yueshan leaving, her eyes stung with tears.

The grown man Shen Yueshan also had reddened eyes: “Go back quickly, don’t catch a cold.”

“Mm,” Shen Xihe responded glumly.

Shen Yueshan’s heart ached more. In the wind and snow, he adjusted Shen Xihe’s cloak hood, patted her head through the hood, and said hoarsely: “Take good care of yourself. Father will send messages often.”

“On this journey through snow and icy roads, Father must be careful,” Shen Xihe worried.

“I know,” Shen Yueshan smiled, then nimbly mounted his horse. The horse galloped a few steps before he pulled the reins, turned to wave at her, and then whipped the horse forward like an arrow leaving the bowstring, quickly disappearing into the vast snow.

Only after Shen Yueshan’s figure completely vanished did Shen Xihe let two streams of tears fall.

“Princess,” Zhenzu offered a handkerchief.

Shen Xihe took it to dry her tears, composed herself, and turned to head home. Unknown to her, after her carriage disappeared down the city gate’s long road, Shen Yueshan emerged from a small path on horseback, watched her departing figure for a moment, then finally whipped his horse and left with peace of mind.

Not long after Shen Xihe entered the city, a shivering young beggar rushed over and fainted in front of her carriage.

Mo Yuan carried the child over. Shen Xihe was about to order them to take him to a physician when she saw a piece of torn cloth in the beggar’s hand with “Ping Zhongye” embroidered on it. Her eyes flashed: “Take him back to the Princess’s mansion.”

“Ping Zhongye” was an agreement between Shen Xihe and the former Ah Dai, now Cui Dai – if he needed help, he would send a young beggar with something embroidered with these characters to find Shen Xihe.

Zhenzu and Sui Axi examined the young beggar together and found he had fainted from hunger and cold. They applied acupuncture, and he soon woke up. Realizing he was lying on a bed in the Princess’s mansion, he struggled to get up, afraid of dirtying the bed.

“Lie still and tell me what’s happened,” Shen Xihe waited nearby.

Cui Dai, now recommended by Cui Jinbai to the Cui family school, could read and write. He wouldn’t urgently send a message in such bitter cold unless it was important.

“Princess, a beggar came to our Lonely Garden from Lizhou County in Dingzhou, Hebei. His kneecaps were dug out, his legs rotting with maggots. When Brother Ah Dai came to see us, he said this person wasn’t an ordinary beggar and told me to find you,” the young beggar spoke fluently, pulling out a piece of silk from his clothes. “He asked me to give this to you.”

Shen Xihe looked at the silk and finally understood how serious the official corruption was in Hebei.