In this world, many sought his help, but no one had ever found him a nuisance. Shen Xihe was undoubtedly the first.

“Your Highness overthinks. It’s not that you’re a nuisance, but with you present, this play cannot be properly performed,” Shen Xihe explained.

“I stay alone in the Eastern Palace with only cold snow for company, in utter solitude. Youyou put on a play, yet won’t let me watch…” Xiao Huayong seized the opportunity, lowering his eyelids, his long lashes like gauze casting shadows, his expression quite forlorn.

He sat by the window, slightly opened, with occasional snowflakes drifting in on the wind, echoing his melancholy pose, looking like a pitiful soul abandoned in the snow and ice.

“Your Highness wants to know what I intend to do, but I don’t wish to tell you at this moment,” Shen Xihe smiled lightly.

If she let him know what Munuha would do, he would likely behead Munuha before she could act. With His Majesty watching his every move, he couldn’t act rashly – one wrong move would expose everything to His Majesty, which would be too disadvantageous for their future path. Shen Xihe didn’t want to take that risk.

“Youyou has seen through me,” Xiao Huayong sat up straight. “Very well, I promise Youyou, I won’t go to Prince Dai’s manor the day after tomorrow.”

Having convinced Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe stayed in the Eastern Palace for about a quarter-hour before leaving. Xiao Huayong reluctantly escorted her to the Eastern Palace gate – whenever she visited, as long as he wasn’t feigning illness and fainting, he would escort her thus and gaze after her departure.

Shen Xihe was accustomed to this and didn’t stop him, turning to leave without lingering.

After leaving the Eastern Palace grounds, Zhenzhu whispered while supporting Shen Xihe’s arm: “Someone’s watching.”

Shen Xihe’s lips curved slightly. Usually, when she came to the Eastern Palace, no one spied on her – not because no one wanted to investigate, but because these people had their power in the palace and could do so inconspicuously.

Today’s exposure could only mean this person lacked skill, at least wasn’t trained by palace people. Nine times out of ten it would be someone Munuha had bribed – their presence was welcome, she had only feared they wouldn’t come.

Shen Xihe walked to a frozen lake and instructed Bi Yu: “Go invite the Fifth Princess. If she won’t come, ask if she wants to know how Consort Liang died.”

“Yes.”

The winter wind cut like a knife. Even with her hand warmer, Shen Xihe felt somewhat cold. Snow had accumulated around the lake, but the surface wasn’t frozen – the palace staff treated it especially daily, as palace waters mustn’t freeze, needing to stay alive to maintain vitality.

Princess Yanling, bundled up like a dumpling and holding a hand warmer, slowly approached with two personal palace maids. Her pale face confronted Shen Xihe, her eyes filled with resentment and grievance: “What do you want with me?”

“Princess still won’t reveal who instigated you to act against me?” Shen Xihe asked languidly.

In the bitter cold, her words created swirling white mist, making her face and eyes indistinct.

“I’ve said I don’t know,” Princess Yanling remained tight-lipped.

“Princess, my patience has limits. I’ve already shown you the greatest tolerance,” Shen Xihe turned her head, gazing at her coldly.

Yanling looked away: “I said I don’t know!”

“Very well.” As Shen Xihe’s cold words fell, Zhenzhu flicked a small bead from her fingertip, striking Princess Yanling’s knee.

Princess Yanling’s knee went numb, and her body immediately fell toward the lake, but Shen Xihe swiftly grabbed her while Zhenzhu and Bi Yu blocked her two palace maids.

Shen Xihe asked once more: “Will you speak or not?”

“I don’t know…” Princess Yanling said tearfully, “Let me go, please let me go…”

“Junzhu, someone’s coming,” Zhenzhu suddenly warned.

Shen Xihe quickly released her grip on Princess Yanling’s wrist. With a splash, Bi Yu jumped in after her, appearing to rescue her but ensuring she swallowed several mouthfuls of icy winter water.

When Noble Consort Rong arrived with others in the courtyard, they arrived just in time to see Bi Yu pulling Princess Yanling out.

“What’s this…” Noble Consort Rong came with two consorts and Princess Pingling accompanying her, all looking at the scene in confusion.

“Noble Consort, Zhaoning Junzhu pushed our Princess into the water!” One of Princess Yanling’s palace maids immediately knelt before Noble Consort Rong and accused.

Rather than defend herself, Shen Xihe instructed Zhenzhu: “Zhenzhu, take Bi Yu to change clothes, and have the Eastern Palace brew a decoction to ward off cold.”

“Yes.” Actually, Bi Yu wasn’t severely affected, as Shen Xihe had planned everything – Bi Yu wore an inner layer of oilcloth clothing. Still, given the cold, caution was warranted.

“Zhaoning, what do you say?” Noble Consort Rong asked.

“Noble Consort, the priority is to take Princess Yanling back to the palace for the Imperial Physician. As for whether I pushed the Princess in, or the palace maids neglected their duties allowing the Princess to fall in, when the Princess wakes, there will be a conclusion,” Shen Xihe said methodically.

Her attitude made Noble Consort Rong somewhat believe her, especially since she had personally seen Shen Xihe’s maid rescue Princess Yanling – not jumping in after she arrived, but entering the water early to save her.

Shen Xihe calmly accompanied them back to Princess Yanling’s chambers. After the Imperial Physician checked her pulse and prescribed medicine, and the decoction was ready, both Emperor Youning and Xiao Huayong arrived. Only then did Princess Yanling slowly regain consciousness.

“Yanling, how did you fall in?” Emperor Youning asked when he saw Princess Yanling awake.

Princess Yanling looked up to see Shen Xihe standing beside Emperor Youning, smiling at her as coldly as the winter wind. She steeled herself: “It was Zhaoning, Zhaoning pushed me into the water.”

Everyone turned to look at Shen Xihe, who showed a puzzled expression: “Could the Princess explain why Zhaoning would push her? We have no grudge between us.”

“You… you sent your maid to invite me to the Small Pavilion, so many people in my palace saw!” Princess Yanling only wanted to bring their discord into the open – if anything happened to her in the future, Shen Xihe would be the prime suspect!

“Yes, Zhaoning invited the Princess. Zhaoning merely came on behalf of the Hereditary Prince to ask if the Princess truly consents to the marriage,” Shen Xihe said unhurriedly. “But the Princess said it was none of Zhaoning’s business and told Zhaoning not to meddle, then left angrily and slipped on the ground. The Princess’s two palace maids dared not enter the water to save her, so Zhaoning had her maid do so.”

She then curtsied to Emperor Youning: “Your Majesty can send someone to investigate – there must be traces where the Princess fell.”

Traces? Of course, there were, though they were deliberately left by Bi Yu when entering the water.

Emperor Youning, stern-faced, sent Liu Sanzi to investigate personally. Liu Sanzi not only found the traces but brought two palace servants: “Your Majesty, these are the servants responsible for cleaning the Small Pavilion.”

The two hurriedly bowed, and Emperor Youning asked: “Did you see the Junzhu and Princess?”

“Yes, Your Majesty…” one small palace servant trembled. “The Princess slipped, and the Junzhu reached out to grab her but couldn’t catch her, and the Princess fell in.”