Shen Xihe stood to the side, watching as Bu Shulin was about to bow with clasped hands, and quickly coughed lightly to stop her from exposing herself!

“Could it be Young Master Bu thinks himself a lady?” the sharp-eyed young members of the Tao family immediately teased.

No one suspected Bu Shulin – her daily behavior and mannerisms didn’t have the slightest trace of femininity.

Bu Shulin also reacted quickly, hurriedly kneeling to kowtow and speak auspicious words. After completing the ceremony, she said, “This is all the Princess’s fault. Every time I express my feelings to her, she always says she treats me no differently from Miss Xue Qi. She’s almost made me doubt whether I’m a woman…”

Everyone burst into laughter. Shen Xihe didn’t expose her, and Censor Tao gave her a red envelope just like all the other juniors.

She took it and pressed her luck further, saying to Censor Tao, “Lord Tao, next year you must show mercy to your subordinate!”

She was the top candidate at the Censorate, and it was only after Shen Xihe came to the capital – before Shen Xihe’s arrival, the Censorate would list dozens of charges against her every month!

“Next year you’ll be a year older, approaching your coming-of-age ceremony. It’s time to show some proper behavior,” Censor Tao only treated Shen Xihe differently; with others, he was always like a lecturing teacher.

Bu Shulin, finding no advantage, slunk away rubbing her nose.

On New Year’s Eve, one couldn’t rest. After celebrating with the family, Shen Xihe returned to her courtyard and called for Biyu and the others. The revelry between master and servants hadn’t lasted long when Duanming, forcibly wearing a small red hat put on by Biyu, started barking.

Shortly after, a tall figure appeared at the door, and Biyu and the others immediately became formal.

Shen Xihe wasn’t surprised. Earlier she had been thinking that this unrestrained Crown Prince wasn’t one to observe proprieties – he had barged into her chambers before, and today he surely wouldn’t follow the rules either. Sure enough, here he was.

“There’s still half a quarter hour until New Year’s Day. I wanted to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new with Youyou,” Xiao Huayong smiled gently.

“Your Highness, this is the Chief Censor’s residence!” Shen Xihe reminded him.

If Censor Tao saw this, he would surely berate him harshly.

“Love extends to all things associated – if Censor Tao saw me, he would likely spare me for Youyou’s sake,” Xiao Huayong stepped over the threshold, completely unworried. “On New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, families gather together. In the palace, there are only rulers and officials. I have no relatives in sight, and could only think of Youyou.”

Listen to that tone – those who didn’t know better would think he was a homeless beggar on the street, not the Crown Prince who stood above all but one.

Shen Xihe knew she couldn’t drive him away and turned her head, ignoring him.

Zhenzhu and the others tactfully withdrew to the side, making room for them. Xiao Huayong sat down beside Shen Xihe, watching her weave a knot: “This knotted cord is unique. I happen to need one – might Youyou gift it to me?”

Zhenzhu and the others: …

The Crown Prince’s thick skin was truly unprecedented in their experience.

Shen Xihe wouldn’t indulge him. She didn’t drive him away only because she didn’t want to cause a scene that would be difficult to explain to her grandfather. Now her grandfather and the others knew she was to marry into the Eastern Palace, but didn’t know the reason – they probably thought she had feelings for Xiao Huayong.

“This is a knotted cord I’m making for Father.”

Hearing this, Xiao Huayong seemed to suddenly remember something: “That day I saw a rattan fruit cup in the Prince’s hands. Youyou gave away what I had gifted you to the Prince. My heart was deeply wounded.”

“Can Your Highness’s gifts not be given to others?” Shen Xihe asked without looking up.

“They can. Whatever is given to Youyou is yours to do with as you please, though I still can’t help but feel despondent,” Xiao Huayong said dejectedly.

His manner made him look like Shen Xihe was some unforgivable heartless villain who had cruelly abandoned him – utterly sinful.

“Don’t be angry, Youyou. I know you feel nothing for me, so you don’t like my gifts,” Xiao Huayong said softly. “I’m not blaming or resenting you. I just can’t help feeling heartbroken. Let me feel this pain for a moment; after that, I can let it go.”

Shen Xihe: …

How should she respond to this? Tell him to wake up. He was perfectly clear-headed. Ask him to give up. He obviously wouldn’t. Say something cutting? But he had just mentioned saving her father – if she spoke harshly now, she wouldn’t just be cold but cruel.

She could only maintain silence.

“I spoke too much just now, letting slip my true feelings. Please don’t take it to heart, Youyou,” Xiao Huayong continued. “I truly envy the Prince, having Youyou and the Young Master for company. Unlike me – though I have many brothers and sisters, none accompany me even on New Year’s Eve, and no one gives me New Year’s gifts, ah…”

That sigh was heavy and plaintive as if suddenly wrapping his entire being in a layer of loneliness.

Hearing this, Biyu and the others felt the Crown Prince’s life was too difficult and couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.

Shen Xihe: …

“I wonder when I too will have someone who cares for me, someone who prepares handmade gifts for me during festivals.” Xiao Huayong’s gaze fixed glumly on the swaying knotted cord in Shen Xihe’s hands. “The Princess’s knotted cord looks more and more exquisite the more I look at it.”

The dignified Crown Prince lowering himself to such a degree for a knotted cord almost made Shen Xihe laugh. It was just a “fu” (blessing) character knot, nothing taboo about it. She happened to have just finished it, so she tossed it to him: “Here you go!”

The bright red knotted cord, a vivid “fu” character, lay in his palm. Just then, firecrackers went off and the New Year’s watch bell sounded. Xiao Huayong’s face lit up: “Receiving Youyou’s blessing for the new year – I’m sure to have endless good fortune this year.”

Shen Xihe hadn’t expected such perfect timing – the moment she threw him the knotted cord, the New Year’s bell rang.

She wasn’t angry, she just found Xiao Huayong thick-skinned and long-winded. She hated people who talked too much.

She needed to find a way to repay this man’s kindness quickly. Next time he acted so unreasonable, she would knock him down and throw him out!

Having gotten what he wanted, Xiao Huayong knew when to stop. He carefully put away the cord and immediately diverted Shen Xihe’s attention: “Is the New Year in the Northwest different from our capital? How did Youyou spend New Year’s in the past?”

“In the Northwest, I would stay up with Father and Brother…” Shen Xihe missed her father and brother. She wondered if they had quarreled this year without her there if they had fought if they would have laozawan to eat in the morning.

“Laozawan? I love that! Shall I make it with Youyou?” Xiao Huayong said eagerly.

“This is the Tao residence, and I’m a guest!” How could she cook here?

“Then shall we go to the Princess’s mansion?” Xiao Huayong coaxed. “Youyou can send word to the Prince and Young Master that you’ve made their favorite laozawan this year too.”

Shen Xihe was somewhat tempted. She wanted to make Laozawan, missing the days in the Northwest.

However, she was someone who had etiquette and rules carved into her bones. She wouldn’t suddenly leave without notice, lest the Tao family couldn’t find her when they looked. So in the end, Xiao Huayong’s persuasion wasn’t successful.

He was disappointed at missing the chance to eat Shen Xihe’s laozawan.

It was dawn when he returned to the Eastern Palace. The first thing he did was cut a strand of his black hair and wind it around the knotted cord, hanging it above his bed. Lying on his favorite pillow, he murmured: “An inch of kindred thread, a hundred years of life’s flower.”