“Meow?” Short Life responded.

It was no wonder Hongyu thought this way. Until now, only Xiao Huayong had successfully managed to enter Shen Xihe’s private chambers in the Princess’s manor – how could ordinary people evade the hidden guards?

The manor’s staff were all brought from the Northwest and were completely trustworthy. They would never steal the Princess’s handkerchief, and besides, the handkerchief had no signature – even if stolen and given to a man, it couldn’t damage Shen Xihe’s reputation.

Xiao Huayong had visited Shen Xihe’s room today, they all knew that, but he was the Crown Prince, known for his illustrious conduct and comprehensive virtues – how could he possibly commit theft!

Shen Xihe didn’t believe it either, but the fact was that Xiao Huayong’s docile departure from the Princess’s manor today was because he had discovered this handkerchief in her room and casually pocketed it, leaving early for fear of being caught!

“Alright, you may all retire and rest early,” Shen Xihe dismissed them and lay down on her bed.

At first, she lay there so angry she couldn’t describe the frustration in her heart. But as she kept thinking about it, somehow her anger turned to laughter. Wasn’t he afraid that when he became emperor in the future if others learned of this, how would it be recorded in history? Wasn’t he afraid of the embarrassment?

As the moon leaned against the western tower, Shen Xihe shook her head, shaking away these thoughts before finally falling into a peaceful sleep.

In the Eastern Palace, Xiao Huayong couldn’t sleep. He carefully caressed the finely textured handkerchief: “Tianyuan, I discovered one of Youyou’s secrets today.”

Tianyuan, somewhat yawning, struggled not to show it. Since returning from the Princess’s manor, the Crown Prince had been unusually excited, his eyes sparkling as bright as Venus, making them all unable to look directly at him.

“It must be something good,” Tianyuan could only agree.

His Highness didn’t need a subordinate with many questions, only one who knew how to listen.

“Look,” Xiao Huayong showed the handkerchief to Tianyuan, but only for a glance before quickly putting it away, as if afraid Tianyuan might look too long and wear holes in it with his gaze.

Tianyuan: …

He vaguely saw a familiar pattern, this pattern…

In a flash of insight, Tianyuan’s drowsiness vanished: “It’s the Immortal’s Sash!”

Tianyuan had accompanied Xiao Huayong to Xinglin Garden, disguised at the time, and had seen the Immortal’s Sash there.

“Yes, it’s the Immortal’s Sash,” Xiao Huayong’s smile was tender and sweet. “Youyou embroidered it on a handkerchief – what do you think this means?”

What did it mean?

For ordinary young ladies, it would certainly indicate special affection or deeper meaning – only matters concerning a lover would be embroidered on a handkerchief.

The Princess wasn’t an ordinary lady and couldn’t be judged by ordinary standards, but the Crown Prince’s love-struck expression showed he wanted to think of her as one.

Tianyuan could only humor his master: “Your Highness, the Immortal’s Sash must hold special significance for the Princess.”

“The Immortal’s Sash was my gift to her,” Xiao Huayong was satisfied, his smile growing more content and sweet.

Tianyuan could only grumble internally: Perhaps when this handkerchief was embroidered, the Princess didn’t know you were Hua Fuhai.

If so, the Princess had no idea who Hua Fuhai was, and didn’t care who he was – perhaps she embroidered this handkerchief on a whim, just passing time?

If he said these words aloud, the Crown Prince would likely kick him out of the palace that very night, throwing him old clothes and sending him to trade with locals.

Although His Highness was increasingly peculiar in the palace, it was limited to matters concerning the Princess when he showed signs of being muddle-headed. Most of the time he was his usual self. Palace life offered good food, drink, and lodging without exposure to wind and sun – Tianyuan didn’t want to go outside to trade with locals.

“Youyou must have had feelings for me early on, but is angry about my deception, so she’s unwilling to express them,” the Crown Prince reached this conclusion.

Tianyuan tilted his head slightly to look at the ceiling, not the sky. Using his somewhat intelligent little mind, he couldn’t figure out how the Crown Prince had deduced that the Princess had early feelings for him.

So he boldly asked: “Your Highness, did the Princess give you the handkerchief?”

If the Princess had specifically gifted it, then perhaps such a conclusion could barely be drawn.

Xiao Huayong’s smile faltered: “Tianyuan, it’s getting late, you may retire.”

Tianyuan felt greatly relieved, as he was truly tired: “Your Highness should rest early as well.”

After bowing, Tianyuan happily left. Walking out of the great hall and closing the door, a night breeze blew past, and Tianyuan awakened from his joy at being able to rest.

He seemed to have asked a question earlier, only to be dismissed by the Crown Prince. Given His Highness’s nature, if it had been a gift from the Princess, he would certainly have been proudly delighted, not avoiding the topic.

Therefore, that handkerchief…

Their wise and mighty, virtuous and accomplished, noble and upright Crown Prince…

Had stolen it!

Reaching this conclusion, Tianyuan felt completely unsettled. He showed an expression uglier than crying as he stiffly returned to his room and lay on his bed like a corpse.

“The Crown Prince is no longer the jade-holding Crown Prince of before…”

Xiao Huayong was unaware of how distressed Tianyuan was over his moral decline. Hugging his stolen handkerchief and resting on his favorite pillow, he drifted sweetly into dreamland.

The next day, Shen Xihe had already forgotten about the handkerchief. She was contemplating how those who wanted to harm her would target Princess Anling.

“Palace security is strict, making it difficult to escape unscathed, and framing me within the palace would seem implausible.” After some thought, Shen Xihe summoned Mo Yuan and ordered, “Go watch Meng Chang.”

Meng Chang was an examination candidate waiting for results after the spring imperial examinations, and the man Princess Anling had fallen for at first sight. The two had been in contact, and since planning to use Princess Anling to draw someone out, Shen Xihe had thoroughly investigated Meng Chang.

Putting herself in their position, thinking of someone who wanted to kill Princess Anling and frame her, Shen Xihe felt using Meng Chang was the best method. Not only could they avoid exposure, but they could easily lure Princess Anling outside the palace. How similar to Princess Yangling’s death?

This way, it would further prove that Princess Yanling and Princess Anling died at the same person’s hands – and wasn’t Shen Xihe their common enemy before death?

Xiao Huayong had thought of this too, and almost simultaneously with Shen Xihe, he sent people to secretly monitor Meng Chang.

Two days later, Princess Anling indeed left the palace to meet Meng Chang, but during these two days, Meng Chang didn’t contact any suspicious persons.

Mo Yuan, waiting outside, counted the time and realized Princess Anling had been inside for a quarter-hour. Given the humble dwelling, the conversation shouldn’t be audible outside, but martial artists like them should at least hear some sound.

Sensing something wrong, regardless of possible exposure, he burst in to find Meng Chang strangling Princess Anling from behind. They were back-to-back, Princess Anling unable to make a sound or kick anything.

Mo Yuan rushed forward, grabbed and twisted Meng Chang’s hand, forcing him to release his grip, then kicked him away, freeing the breathless Princess Anling.

At this moment, the fallen Meng Chang coughed up blood: “Princess… it was… Princess Zhaoning… who ordered me to harm you…”