Two flourishing red maple trees stood at the palace gate, their flame-like leaves drifting in the wind, reflecting in his gentle pupils as if igniting flames, his gaze intense.

“Zhaoning pays respects to Your Highness…”

“No need for formalities, no need.” Before Shen Xihe could curtsy, Xiao Huayong had already helped her up.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Shen Xihe discreetly freed her arm.

“Ka ka ka…” Xiao Huayong seemed to have rushed over too quickly, as a series of unstoppable coughs erupted.

“Your Highness, the wind is strong here. Please speak with the Princess inside,” the palace servant beside Xiao Huayong hurriedly said.

As Xiao Huayong was supported inside while coughing, Shen Xihe, who had originally planned to just pay her respects and leave, thought: …

Well, better not argue with someone critically ill.

Shen Xihe could only follow inside with Bi Yu and Hong Yu.

Upon entering the Eastern Palace, Shen Xihe’s eyes brightened. While the Eastern Palace appeared magnificent from the outside, inside it was verdant and full of vitality.

The Eastern Palace housed many rare flowers and unusual plants, many of which Shen Xihe had never seen before. A fresh fragrance drifted in the wind, making one want to close their eyes and breathe deeply.

For a moment, Shen Xihe felt she wasn’t in the deep, oppressive palace, but rather in a paradise of spectacular blooms.

“Oh, why is this courtyard full of moss?” As they passed a garden covered in moss, Hong Yu couldn’t help asking Shen Xihe quietly.

Shen Xihe looked at the golden round fruits of varying sizes on the moss, glowing as brilliantly as warm sunlight: “This is Golden Creeping Moss.”

“The Princess has good eyes,” Xiao Huayong stopped ahead, coughing lightly twice. “When the sun sets, the garden fills with radiant light, incomparably beautiful. I like to come here at night. Another day, when the opportunity arises, I’d like to invite the Princess to admire it together.”

This statement carried certain implications – how could Shen Xihe, as a subject’s daughter, stay in the palace to accompany the Crown Prince viewing gardens at night?

Unless…

Shen Xihe looked somewhat probingly at Xiao Huayong, whose gaze remained as gentle and clear as ever, so openly honest that those who doubted him felt ashamed: “Thank you for Your Highness’s kind invitation.”

She hadn’t accepted, and Xiao Huayong visibly dimmed, though he remained graceful: “Ka ka ka, Princess, please, this way.”

By now, Xiao Huayong had given Shen Xihe the impression of a good-natured young man, possessing the refined nobility of an imperial son without the aggressiveness of a royal prince.

Xiao Huayong had made many preparations. The reception hall was on a high platform, offering a view of half the Eastern Palace’s outline, with excellent visibility.

Flowering and fruit vines wound around the high platform, with grape vines bearing round, crystalline grapes. No incense was needed, as flower and fruit fragrances surrounded them, unconsciously relaxing one’s mood.

“It’s nearly noon. I’ve prepared some tea snacks, please try them, Princess.” After sitting down, Xiao Huayong had Tian Yuan lead palace servants to bring out platters of tea snacks.

The capital’s tea snacks were abundant – there were five or six types of pastries alone, all crispy outside and tender inside, with subtle fragrance and sweetness that wasn’t cloying.

There was also a Xiao Ling Zhi being roasted – this was a delicacy using only four ounces of the finest meat from lamb leg, prepared with a secret imperial recipe, available only to the royal family.

Shen Xihe had eaten it twice and couldn’t forget it. Though she had researched many times privately, she never managed to discover the recipe.

Steam rose from the small stove as Xiao Huayong, wrapped in cloth, lifted the clay pot. He filtered out the first brewing of tea water and divided it into three teacups.

His movements were slow but not at all awkward; rather, every gesture drew one’s attention.

“Please, Princess.” After Xiao Huayong poured the tea, Tian Yuan bowed and brought it before Shen Xihe.

Shen Xihe accepted with both hands and upon lifting the tea lid, an amazing tea fragrance wafted up.

After smelling it, Shen Xihe took a small sip. This tea had a smoothness that other teas lacked.

Previously when tasting tea, Shen Xihe’s first reaction was to identify the type, but this cup made her completely forget about the tea’s origin, absorbed instead by the texture of the tea soup itself.

Only after the flavor faded did Shen Xihe realize she hadn’t identified what tea it was, prompting her to take another sip.

This time she tasted purposefully, yet still couldn’t determine the type.

“This is a tea I grew myself,” Xiao Huayong smiled gently, seemingly noting her attempts to identify it. “I hope the Princess doesn’t mind.”

“No, this is the best tea I’ve ever had,” Shen Xihe said honestly. “Your Highness excels at tea making.”

Xiao Huayong smiled slightly: “I suffered a serious illness in my youth, and afterward couldn’t expend much energy or concentration. I couldn’t match my brothers in studying literature or martial arts. Father Emperor pitied me and always held back my brothers’ progress. I felt guilty about this, so I simply gave up these pursuits. Over the years, the only thing I’ve persisted in is my love for tea, hence I’ve gained some insights.”

Though he was smiling, Shen Xihe seemed able to read, behind his sincere smile, an overwhelming history of melancholy.

“Your Highness, ‘Learn the arts of war and peace, to serve the emperor’s needs,'” Shen Xihe unconsciously softened her tone. “You need not learn these things; they will all be presented before you.”

Xiao Huayong’s gaze brightened: “Princess, you are the first person to say such things to me.”

“Perhaps because… we share the same affliction,” Shen Xihe smiled wryly.

They were both physically weak, both longed for some unreachable things, both loved flowers and plants.

“Sharing the same fate…” Xiao Huayong murmured before breaking into another fit of coughing.

Just then, the roasted Xiao Ling Zhi was served, and Xiao Huayong had it placed before Shen Xihe: “I cannot eat roasted meat.”

Looking at Xiao Huayong’s condition, Shen Xihe understood that his fragile constitution indeed required avoiding rich foods.

Faced with such delicacies, Shen Xihe naturally didn’t stand on ceremony, though even with things she liked, she only sampled lightly.

She never easily revealed her preferences.

Once a person shows preferences, they become fatal weaknesses when known by others.

So she tasted just enough of each tea snack, neither too much nor too little, before setting down her chopsticks.

“How would you have me handle what you gave me?” Xiao Huayong suddenly asked, unexpectedly.

Shen Xihe looked up, knowing he referred to the evidence she had intercepted from Xiao Changying. No wonder this matter remained unresolved after two or three months – it turned out Xiao Huayong had been holding onto it, never releasing it.

Looking at the sincerely inquiring Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe wondered whether she had overthought matters, making her think this person was unclear to read, or if this person before her was unfathomable.

“Princess, compared to my brothers, though I may not be clever, I’m not foolish either,” Xiao Huayong’s smile remained as warm as sunlight. “You saved Ninth Brother.”

So upon receiving the evidence, he naturally knew it came from Shen Xihe.

“Your Highness…” Shen Xihe suddenly probed, “Don’t you think my thoughts are devious, intentionally stirring up conflict between Your Highness and Prince Lie?”

Xiao Huayong looked at Shen Xihe seriously before shaking his head with a smile: “What ill intentions could the Princess possibly have?”