His passionate feelings were as fervent as his gaze upon her, making even the winter’s cold wind seem to transform into waves of heat.

Shen Xihe lowered her head with a slight smile, offering no comment.

She didn’t know how to respond to Xiao Huayong’s flame-like surge of emotions. She had already said everything that needed to be said to him. His actions were his freedom, and she had no right to interfere. She knew what Xiao Huayong wanted, but she couldn’t give it to him.

Xiao Huayong’s gaze fell on her hair arrangement: “Have Youyou checked the coming-of-age gifts I presented to you?”

“I’ve looked over the gift registry,” Shen Xihe replied candidly.

She had reviewed the list of gifts from all the guests, but she wasn’t lacking in possessions. Apart from those given by her father and brothers, and those privately given by Bu Shulin and Xue Jinqiao, she hadn’t opened any of them.

“There is a hidden sword hairpin that I carved personally. Youyou must not give it away to others,” With the precedent of the Tengshi fragrant cup, Xiao Huayong felt compelled to speak up, “I wanted to give you the hairpin privately for your hair, but guessing you wouldn’t accept it, I had to include it with the coming-of-age gifts.”

For people of their noble birth, they would receive countless gifts during festivals, birthdays, weddings, and other important occasions. These gifts, except those given privately, would either enter their private treasury, be used personally, be bestowed upon subordinates and servants, or be given to others—such actions were not improper.

Royal bestowments were different; they could only be kept and passed down to future generations as a sign of respect.

“Your Highness is quite skillful at calculating people’s hearts,” Shen Xihe couldn’t help but laugh.

First mentioning how he helped her deal with Wang Zheng, predicting she wouldn’t respond, then falling back to discuss the birthday gift that she would certainly have placed in storage. It wasn’t that she couldn’t refuse, but there was no need to be so unreasonable: “Your Highness, I somewhat regret choosing you.”

He was too adept at handling people. If she hadn’t chosen Xiao Huayong, not wanting mutual wariness after marriage, with external threats unresolved while internal troubles remained, Shen Xihe would have preferred to be more ruthless.

Xiao Huayong raised his eyebrows, not angry at all, his smile growing even deeper: “Youyou, you don’t regret it, you’re afraid.”

Afraid of his pursuit, afraid of his kindness toward her, afraid that one day she might soften, that one day she might unconsciously give her heart to him.

“Is Your Highness always so presumptuous?” Shen Xihe asked.

“Whether I am or not, saying more now is futile. You will understand in time,” Xiao Huayong was full of confidence. She firmly believed she only didn’t know how to respond to him, yet unknowingly, from this point on, she was no longer as cold as before, “The hairpin cannot be given away.”

“I won’t give it away.” Having accepted gifts from others, and being specifically reminded, naturally, she couldn’t give them away.

Though she wouldn’t give it away, she wouldn’t wear it either.

A smile flickered in Xiao Huayong’s eyes: “You will wear it, sooner or later.”

With that, Xiao Huayong rose and left the Princess’s manor with a pleased smile.

Even from far away, Shen Xihe could still hear his heartfelt, joyful laughter, making her begin to doubt herself. She couldn’t help but turn to ask Zhenzhu: “Am I truly afraid?”

Zhenzhu shook her head: “This servant doesn’t know.”

The others all shook their heads in unison. The Princess was already difficult enough for them to understand, and now there was the addition of the equally unfathomable Crown Prince. They both looked forward to the Princess entering the Eastern Palace, curious to see who would ultimately prove stronger between the Princess and the Crown Prince.

Yet they also worried that after the Princess married into the Eastern Palace, would they become fools. They could barely comprehend one master, let alone two.

Shen Xihe pondered for a moment, not feeling that she was afraid, but purely thinking that Xiao Huayong was even more persistent and difficult to deal with than she had imagined.

While Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong discussed matters of the heart, Wang Zheng’s second suspension from duties caused many to think deeply.

“Fifth Brother, I feel the recent changes among court officials have been rather significant,” Xiao Changying came to Prince Yi’s manor at night to discuss his concerns with his brother, “First the Minister of Revenue, then the Minister of Justice, and now Wang Zheng…”

Strictly speaking, the Minister of Revenue was dismissed because Xiao Changqing had exposed the financial hole in the ministry, while the Minister of Justice was coincidental—who could have imagined the Yang family’s women would be so bold?

Although these two incidents occurred close together, they hadn’t made any connections, but Wang Zheng’s mistake during the court assembly was a trap, someone deliberately setting him up.

“The Wang Zheng matter must be the Crown Prince’s doing,” Xiao Changqing said with certainty, “Within the palace, to be able to execute something so flawlessly that even the Emperor’s investigation couldn’t find any traces, leaving no choice but to severely punish Wang Zheng to give the two countries’ envoys an explanation—besides the Crown Prince, I can’t think of anyone else who could manage it so thoroughly.”

“He… why would he move against Wang Zheng?” Xiao Changying hadn’t understood since the first time Wang Zheng was dismissed for startling the Crown Prince into fainting.

If they had directly removed Wang Zheng completely, it could be said it was for his position, but this wasn’t the case.

“Wang Zheng isn’t as easy to deal with as others. He’s loyal to His Majesty, and eliminating him is no simple task,” Xiao Changqing felt that dealing with Wang Zheng was not as easy as dealing with Cui Zheng and Xue Heng. These two had more actual power and higher prestige, but they weren’t as loyal as Wang Zheng.

Cui Zheng and Xue Heng cared more about the interests of the noble families, even though their position was now precarious.

After a pause, Xiao Changqing continued: “I find it rather suspicious that His Majesty allowed the Xue family’s legitimate daughter to marry the Northwestern Prince’s heir.”

For a marriage alliance between noble and military families, His Majesty was unexpectedly generous, not only not creating difficulties for the two houses but even bestowing his blessing on the marriage.

This move left everyone puzzled.

What reason could make His Majesty allow his two most guarded enemies to form a marriage alliance?

“Could it be… Xue Heng plans to retire?” Xiao Changqing felt this was the only explanation that could make everything clear.

“Xue Heng has barely passed fifty,” Xiao Changying felt something was wrong.

The current dynasty’s regulations stated: “All officials upon reaching seventy when vigor diminishes, shall retire according to custom.”

“If you say he’s retiring to fulfill Xue Qiniang’s wishes, he would become the Xue family’s sinner, and even Xue Qiniang wouldn’t fare well. The Cui family would be angered by this too,” Xiao Changying added.

“What if he has no choice but to retire?” Xiao Changqing’s dark pupils grew deep, “For instance, due to serious illness?”

“But Xue Heng doesn’t appear to be gravely ill, and if so, the Xue family couldn’t possibly be unaware. The Xue family members show no signs of knowing,” Xiao Changying felt this didn’t make sense.

“Xue Bi’s abilities are mediocre, Xue Heng wouldn’t pave the way for him,” Xiao Changqing said firmly, “Xue Heng adopting Xue Qiniang must fulfill her future, letting her protect the Xue family later. The Xue family might not prosper, but it cannot decline.”

This move by Xue Heng served both purposes.

After his passing, Xue Bi would inevitably lead the Xue family to submit to His Majesty, but with Xue Jinqiao married to Shen Yun’an, regardless of who won or lost, the Xue family wouldn’t face extinction.