Shen Xihe left the Eastern Palace because she was angered by Xiao Huayong. She feared if she stayed any longer, she would lose her composure and become physical with this man.

“Hahaha…” Xiao Huayong laughed with delight as he watched Shen Xihe storm away in anger.

Tianyuan cast a complex look at the Crown Prince: “Your Highness, the Princess is upset.”

“I know.” Xiao Huayong couldn’t contain the smile at the corners of his lips. “This was intentional.”

Indeed, he had deliberately provoked Shen Xihe.

“Your Highness, you…?” Tianyuan was shocked.

He knew His Highness was skilled at reading people’s emotions. The Princess’s displeasure and anger were written on her face, yet His Highness seemed to ignore them completely. He had thought His Highness was simply carried away with excitement.

He hadn’t expected it to be deliberate. But His Highness treasured the Princess, so why would he intentionally anger her?

Though Tianyuan’s face was full of questions, he dared not ask. However, Xiao Huayong was in a good mood and explained as he walked forward with leisurely steps: “Youyou has a calm and steady temperament. She was born into nobility, and since childhood, she has been surrounded by people who pampered and indulged her. Simply doting on her and pleasing her won’t move her heart.

She has already experienced the most indulgent love this world has to offer – even Shen Yueshan and Shen Yun’an would fight over a meatball for her in the Northwest.

No matter how much I pampered and indulged her, at most, I could only match her father and brothers. It wouldn’t be enough to stir ripples in her heart.

Moreover, she’s capable in every way and lacks nothing. Whatever she needs or wants, she could obtain it herself even without me.”

Such a Shen Xihe had been raised in the utmost privilege since birth. How could she be easily moved by others?

With her qualities and appearance, surely there was no shortage of people pursuing her in the Northwest, and undoubtedly some who would even give their lives for her.

Therefore, it wasn’t that she was cold or purely concerned with the bigger picture, but rather that she had already experienced people doing anything for her, making it difficult to touch her heart.

Facing Shen Xihe, heaven’s favored daughter, no man in this world had any advantage.

Tianyuan suddenly understood: “So, Your Highness is taking an unconventional approach.”

Xiao Huayong, his eyes hiding amusement, gave Tianyuan an approving glance: “In the past when her health was poor and she couldn’t handle strong emotions, I wouldn’t have dared to do this. Now that she’s healthy, I want her to experience the joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness of a living person – with these naturally come the seven emotions and six desires.”

He was deliberately provoking Shen Xihe with trivial matters that she couldn’t properly rebuke him for, yet couldn’t ignore his shamelessness either, leaving her helpless and stirring her emotions because of him.

In important matters, he would naturally accommodate and protect her, but in small things, he would tease her, adding spice to their days together.

He couldn’t always bind her with gratitude – too much gratitude becomes a burden and would instead push them apart. He had gotten snow lotus for her; she had obtained jade flowers for him, and now she would surely exhaust all methods to interpret them.

With this give and take, neither feeling indebted to the other, only gratitude and emotion remaining, their hearts could gradually grow closer.

Though Tianyuan didn’t fully understand, he noticed that since being honest with the Princess, apart from those few anxious and restless days, His Highness had become enlightened after seeing the Princess again. These days, the joy in his eyes couldn’t be concealed even if he tried.

As long as His Highness was happy, they were happy too.

Unlike the joyful master and servant, Zhenzhu followed Shen Xihe and watched her displeased expression with worry in her eyes.

The Crown Prince could affect the Princess’s emotions too easily. The Princess had always been of a calm disposition, only showing playfulness in front of the Prince and Young Master in the Northwest, occasionally becoming melancholic when away from them, sensitive in thought, but mostly as still as water.

Never had anyone like the Crown Prince been able to provoke her anger with just a few words.

What worried her most was that although the Princess was angry, she hadn’t thought to warn His Highness or say anything hurtful to him.

This silent indulgence – the Princess herself probably hadn’t noticed it.

Zhenzhu’s thoughts stirred: “Princess if you don’t show some displeasure at the Crown Prince’s increasing boldness, I fear His Highness will only become more aggressive.”

Shen Xihe paused her steps and turned to look at Zhenzhu: “Why am I angry? It’s because I feel he’s being unreasonable like a child. Should I quibble over such small matters? Wouldn’t that make me just as childish as him?”

He was just being difficult – should she fuss over it? Wouldn’t that be too idle?

Hearing this, Zhenzhu couldn’t help but look at Hongyu.

Hongyu said: “Princess, you treat Young Master Bu and the Crown Prince quite differently.”

Bu Shulin also played around, didn’t he? When had he not been difficult? Although Shen Xihe also went along with it, she would discipline him when needed and never showed mercy in verbal sparring.

“I’m close with Alin, so naturally there’s less formality and more casualness.” Shen Xihe felt there was nothing wrong with this.

“Princess…” Zhenzhu hesitated, but meeting Shen Xihe’s inquiring gaze, she gathered her courage and said, “Princess, your treatment of His Highness… isn’t formal or polite, but rather accommodating…”

“What’s wrong with being accommodating?” Shen Xihe didn’t understand. “We are betrothed, sincerely intending to join our families. If he acts inappropriately and I make a fuss over every little thing, how are we supposed to live together in the future?”

Shouldn’t she be more accommodating and understanding?

She had so many important matters to plan for – how could she waste her thoughts and time arguing and quarreling with him?

So this was Shen Xihe’s thinking. Zhenzhu and Hongyu were both skeptical. They had thought the Princess might have some true feelings for the Crown Prince, which was why his antics could anger her.

While Shen Xihe’s explanation was reasonable, they both felt something was off but couldn’t quite put their finger on it.

Zhenzhu was fine with it – she always followed Shen Xihe’s lead.

Hongyu let out an almost inaudible sigh. She had thought their hopes would come true.

So Shen Xihe’s attitude toward the Crown Prince was that of an elder’s affection for a junior?

The magnanimity of not arguing with a child even when annoyed by them?

Thinking this, Zhenzhu couldn’t help but laugh, drawing Shen Xihe’s suspicious glance. She quickly suppressed her laughter and lowered her head.

If the Crown Prince were to know this, Zhenzhu wondered what expression he would wear – it would surely be quite spectacular.

Shen Xihe stayed at Yong’an Palace. The Empress Dowager was an easy-going person and didn’t constrain her to stay by her side for company. It was clear that the Crown Prince was very important in the Empress Dowager’s heart – she would tell Shen Xihe about various amusing incidents from the Crown Prince’s childhood, mostly filled with praise and pride.

Besides this, the Empress Dowager mostly urged Shen Xihe to visit Xiao Huayong at the Eastern Palace.

Unable to refuse, Shen Xihe had to go to the Eastern Palace. This time, the palace servants directly made way for Shen Xihe and said: “His Highness has ordered that henceforth when the Princess visits the Eastern Palace, there’s no need to announce her arrival. Princess may come and go freely as she pleases.”