After lying low for eight years to eliminate the eunuchs, enduring nineteen years to dismantle the noble families, pacifying the Tujue, and destroying the Tubo – what was another ten years of waiting for him?

What he desired most wasn’t territorial expansion, but rather the concentration of military power. Only when all armies in the realm were under his sole command would he begin his conquests.

“So that’s it,” Bu Shulin suddenly realized. “If you can’t lure him into the palace, you’ll have to draw the Princess out. But how can the Princess leave while she’s in confinement?”

“With both His Majesty and Noble Consort outside the palace, who could stop her from leaving?” Shen Xihe’s lips curved slightly. “She knows better than anyone whether she’s truly two months pregnant. Right now, she must be suffering in silence. If someone were to let her know there’s a medicine that can cause false pregnancy symptoms, don’t you think she’d rush out of the palace to find it? To prove her innocence?”

Only Princess Yangling herself knew how wronged and resentful she felt right now. Yet all the Imperial Physicians had diagnosed her as two months pregnant. She must be both anxious and furious, especially after being forced to terminate the pregnancy.

If she learned that she had been misdiagnosed by the Imperial Physicians and was being framed, she would certainly seek evidence to prove her innocence. Otherwise, she couldn’t wash away the stain of being labeled as loose and shameless, which would inevitably incur His Majesty’s disgust.

“I am in awe,” Bu Shulin cupped her hands respectfully.

Shen Xihe ignored her and turned to give Mo Yuan, who was standing guard outside the arena, a meaningful look.

At that moment, unprecedented cheers erupted from the field. Shen Xihe’s attention was drawn to see that the Prince’s team had scored a goal.

The previously invincible diplomatic team was now being completely suppressed by the seamless coordination between Xiao Changqin and Xiao Changying.

The two brothers truly lived up to their blood ties – a single glance was enough for them to understand each other’s intentions.

Xiao Huayong had arrived at some point, though Shen Xihe hadn’t noticed. However, Xiao Huayong had no interest in watching the game. He sat slightly sideways, his eyes fixed on Shen Xihe, with a faint smile playing at his lips as if he could never tire of looking at her.

After watching for a while, he noticed that Shen Xihe seemed absorbed in the game. Following her line of sight to the field, after several observations, he confirmed that her gaze was following the brother Xiao Changqin, and his expression immediately darkened.

His lips moved in displeasure as he turned to look at Tianyuan, who was also watching with great interest. Xiao Huayong asked coldly, “Is the polo match that entertaining?”

“Yes, it’s…” Tianyuan responded instinctively before realizing something was amiss. He turned his head and indeed met Xiao Huayong’s chillingly smiling face. His mind raced, and he inadvertently glimpsed Shen Xihe watching the game with interest nearby.

Suddenly understanding, he hurriedly explained: “Your servant hasn’t seen such a match in a long time, hence watching with such enthusiasm. It’s quite ordinary. I imagine the Princess hasn’t seen such a lively polo match in the Northwest, which is why she’s watching intently like your servant.”

Thinking his explanation was perfect and should smooth over his master’s ruffled feathers, Tianyuan heard Xiao Huayong rebuke lightly: “Youyou prefer tranquility. How could she be as uncultured as you? When was she ever watching intently?”

Tianyuan: …

“Your servant was wrong to presume about the Princess.” Tianyuan lowered his head in the admission of guilt.

In his heart, however, he was praying: Princess, please stop watching! Look at our Prince instead, or I won’t know how to appease him.

Naturally, Shen Xihe couldn’t hear Tianyuan’s prayers. Her gaze was simply following the ball, but since the ball was so tightly controlled by the Xiao Changqin brothers, rarely leaving their possession, Xiao Huayong was just needlessly jealous.

When another goal was scored, even Bu Shulin couldn’t help but cheer loudly, yet Shen Xihe remained composed. As she raised her teacup, she seemed to sense something and looked toward Xiao Huayong’s position, meeting his somewhat resentful gaze.

Shen Xihe frowned slightly – when had she provoked him this time?

Unable to figure it out, Shen Xihe didn’t dwell on it. She gave a slight nod in acknowledgment before turning back to watch the field.

Xiao Huayong’s expression grew even more difficult: “I want to join the game too.”

What’s so special about polo? If he went on the field, these people would all be showing off before an expert!

“Your Highness, please don’t…” Tianyuan was nearly in tears.

How could the Crown Prince possibly join the game? Of course not. If people noticed his skills, wouldn’t everything be exposed?

Even if he made an excuse to leave his seat and disguised himself as someone else, if he dominated the field and drew His Majesty’s attention, being called forward for questioning… Tianyuan felt the sky would fall just thinking about such a scenario.

Before Xiao Huayong could speak again, Tianyuan hurriedly said, hoping to discourage him: “The Princess is taking action today, shouldn’t Your Highness be helping her?”

Xiao Huayong’s impulse was finally suppressed. He cast a wistful look at Shen Xihe: “She doesn’t need my help.”

Tianyuan sensed an opportunity and quickly added: “That the Princess doesn’t need help speaks to her capability, but Your Highness’s willingness to help shows your sincerity.”

Xiao Huayong finally seemed to take Tianyuan’s words to heart and fell silent.

Tianyuan let out a long sigh of relief.

After sitting for a while, Xiao Huayong grew bored again. Spotting the fruit platter before him, he picked up a tangerine and peeled it, arranging the segments neatly on a clean plate before handing it to Tianyuan with a raised eyebrow.

Tianyuan immediately understood and brought it to Shen Xihe. She had been watching the game intently when Tianyuan suddenly presented her with a plate of tangerine segments. She turned to look at Xiao Huayong, who gave her a warm smile.

Shen Xihe maintained a faint smile, nodded in acknowledgment again, and kept the tangerine.

“I… I should leave first,” Bu Shulin said, seeing this situation. She felt she might be offending the Crown Prince by sitting here, and for the sake of her life, she’d better make a swift exit.

Shen Xihe didn’t stop her. She was thinking of eating one or two segments of the tangerine Xiao Huayong had sent.

After sending the tangerine, Xiao Huayong continued sending pastries, tea, and various snacks bought from outside – he never stopped for a moment.

Xiao Huayong’s attentive behavior caught everyone’s attention. All could see how the Crown Prince treasured Princess Shaoning, treating her like a precious pearl in his palm. Some noble ladies couldn’t help but feel envious as they looked at the incomparably handsome, though pale-faced, Xiao Huayong.

Their families all said the Crown Prince wouldn’t live long and forbade them from having designs on the Eastern Palace. But with such a gentleman, even if they could only spend three or four years being gazed at so attentively and treated so considerately by him, it would be enough to reminisce about for a lifetime.

Xiao Huayong’s influence extended beyond these romantic young ladies to those on the field, including Xiao Changying, who even lost control of the ball after catching a glimpse of Xiao Huayong smiling tenderly at Shen Xihe, causing a wave of disappointed sounds.

Xiao Huayong turned to see this and coldly snorted: “Still harboring improper thoughts.”

Since he had gotten leverage over the brothers through Xiao Changqin, they had become much more behaved. Xiao Changying had stopped trying to get close to Shen Xihe, saving him the trouble of sending Xiao Changying away.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him: “Tianyuan, do you think any of my brothers are hoping for my death so they can set their sights on Youyou?”