As befitting his position as Minister of the Court of Judicature, Xue Heng was naturally cautious and immediately sent people to investigate.

Following Shen Xihe’s guidance, results came quickly – basil indeed could make horses lose control.

They also examined the fallen horse, but this proved more difficult to verify – there was no way to prove the presence of basil fragrance on the horse.

Besides Shen Xihe, no one else could smell it now.

Xue Heng immediately sent people to question Ding Jue, the Third Young Master of the Northern Garrison Marquis, who was receiving treatment. Ding Jue himself knew his horse had lost control and was angry at Shen Xihe’s servants for acting without asking questions. Upon hearing the Court officials’ explanation, he calmed down.

He had indeed smelled a peculiar fragrance before his horse lost control. After specifically smelling the basil, he confirmed that although the scent had been blended, it was extremely similar to the fragrance basil emitted.

“Therefore, I have reason to suspect that someone, upon seeing me at the city gate, deliberately tampered with the Northern Garrison Marquis’s Third Young Master’s horse,” Shen Xihe stated, standing in the main hall. Her tone was gentle and unhurried, lacking the anger or accusation typical of a victim. She spoke as casually as if discussing everyday matters.

“Otherwise, why choose this particular moment, neither earlier nor later? If they didn’t know I would be at the city gate, what purpose would there be in drugging the Third Young Master’s horse?”

Indeed, if it hadn’t resulted in a collision with Shen Xihe, even if the horse had trampled several commoners to death, as long as their families accepted compensation, the authorities wouldn’t investigate without a formal complaint.

So tampering with the Third Young Master’s horse would have been meaningless.

If it was merely a prank, wouldn’t it have been simpler to act in the outskirts, causing a fall from the horse or over a cliff?

“Your Highness’s reasoning is sound. Once this official finds evidence…”

“Minister Xue need not trouble himself about evidence. Just bring a basin of clear water,” Shen Xihe interrupted. “I have a powder that when added to water, will cause it to change color if someone who has touched basil comes in contact with it.”

Xue Heng hurriedly followed Shen Xihe’s instructions. When the water was brought, Shen Xihe added the powder and then produced some basil incense. “Minister, you may demonstrate for them.”

Xue Heng was quite eager to try. As someone who managed criminal cases, he was interested in such curious items.

After having medical officials verify that Shen Xihe’s powder was indeed made from basil, he dipped his finger in it and then placed his hand in the water containing Shen Xihe’s powder. Sure enough, a faint red color spread from his fingertips.

“Indeed it works.” Xue Heng was amazed and turned to order, “Line up and put your hands in the water one by one to prove your innocence. Know this: attempting to harm a princess carries a sentence of ten years of hard labor! Using the Northern Garrison Marquis’s household to secretly harm the Western North Prince’s family could even warrant a charge of causing dynastic chaos. This official must report to His Majesty, and then…”

Everyone understood the consequences of causing dynastic chaos without Xue Heng having to explain further. The young men and women turned pale with fright.

Those who were innocent naturally stood tall. Shen Xihe watched as one person maintained a composed expression while continuously rubbing their lowered hands.

Several people had already tested the water with no reaction. Shen Xihe slowly walked past the line of people, confirming she could smell basil on only one person, and gave Mo Yu a signal.

Mo Yu stepped forward and kicked the person down. The sudden action drew everyone’s attention.

“It’s him.” Shen Xihe gestured for Mo Yu to drag him forward and forcibly submerge his violently struggling hands in the water basin. Like with Xue Heng, threads of red spread from his fingertips.

Seeing this, the others stepped back, staring at him in shock.

“It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me! Princess, Minister Xue, it wasn’t me!” The sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth cried, tears streaming down his face.

“If it wasn’t you, why is there basil powder on your hands?” Xue Heng demanded.

“It was him, it was Ding Zhi! Ding Zhi promised me three hundred gold pieces to sprinkle the powder on Ding Jue!” The youth pointed at a tall young man nearby, crying out, “I broke my grandmother’s fragrant jade carving and took it for repairs, but no one could fix it. It needed to be completely recreated, but the fragrant jade is extremely expensive, and with Master Li’s carving fee, it would cost three hundred gold pieces… waaah…”

“You’re spewing nonsense! When did I ever instruct you?” Ding Zhi, the Second Young Master of the Northern Garrison Marquis, remained quite calm.

“But did he personally give you the powder?” Shen Xihe asked.

“Yes.” The youth nodded vigorously, red-eyed. “It was wrapped in paper when he gave it to me.”

“No matter. This powder is extremely fine – anyone who handles it will inevitably get some dust on them,” Shen Xihe said. “Mo Yu.”

Mo Yu stepped forward. Ding Zhi tried to resist but was quickly subdued by Mo Yu, who forcibly pressed his hands into the water.

Everyone craned their necks to look. At first, there was nothing, but soon a faint pink color began to spread.

Faced with irrefutable evidence, Ding Zhi dared not quibble. However, he insisted that he had acted out of hatred for his brother Ding Jue, and that this was an internal matter of their household. He claimed he hadn’t known Shen Xihe would be at the city gate; he had only wanted Ding Jue to be responsible for someone’s death. Even if it could be settled privately, the Marquis would still despise this brother.

“Does ignorance equal innocence?… *cough* *cough* *cough*…”

A hoarse voice sounded from outside the hall. Everyone turned toward the sound.

The crowd parted, and Shen Xihe turned to face the newcomer.

He wore an apricot-white straight-collared wide-sleeved casual robe, with intricate and beautiful embroidery at the collar, cuffs, and hem. At his waist hung a plain white jade pearl-inlaid dragon pattern jade pendant on a leather belt, and his feet were clad in black leather boots. He had a tall, slender figure.

His face, capable of stunning the world, was unusually pale. Below his carefully groomed sword-like eyebrows were particularly gentle eyes, though somewhat lacking in spirit. Below his straight nose were slightly pale lips, giving him a sickly appearance that nonetheless couldn’t mask his otherworldly beauty.

His features were neither harsh nor effeminate. For the first time, Shen Xihe saw in a man’s face a perfect balance of strength and gentleness taken to the extreme. It was as if his face had been meticulously carved from the world’s finest jade by the heavens themselves.

His black hair was bound by a pearl-studded golden crown with coiling golden dragons – a crown that only princes could wear.

She had seen all of Emperor Tianyou’s princes, except for one…

“Paying respects to His Highness the Crown Prince.” Xue Heng hurriedly stepped forward and knelt, while others respectfully followed suit.

“*Cough* *cough* *cough*…” Xiao Huayong seemed to be ill. “No need for formalities…”

She had heard that the Crown Prince was physically weak, but Shen Xihe hadn’t expected him to be even frailer than herself – even speaking seemed to require great effort.

Xiao Huayong approached with the support of his attendants. At his waist hung a particularly unusual jade pendant in the shape of a half-black, half-white taiji, which swayed elegantly with his movements.

As he drew near, a strong, complex medicinal fragrance enveloped Shen Xihe.

“Attempting to harm the Princess, intending to provoke conflict between two houses, is an unforgivable crime.”

In the softest voice, he spoke the weightiest words.