Regardless of any internal conflicts, they were aligned in the bigger picture. By actively harming her future in-laws’ interests without reasonable cause, wasn’t Shen Xihe afraid of making her followers wary?

Moreover, she was about to marry into the Eastern Palace – she would represent them in the future. By acting this way, wasn’t she afraid of being suspected or causing the Eastern Palace to be distanced from others?

Although he hadn’t interacted much with Shen Xihe, Xiao Changqin could tell she was steady and intelligent, definitely not someone who would act rashly. She kept to herself and didn’t like deep relationships – such a person would neither like being entangled with others nor entangling others.

This move would affect the Eastern Palace’s authority. It shouldn’t be something Shen Xihe would do – what reason made her put all these concerns aside?

This was a particularly sensitive time. She hadn’t acted earlier or later but chose this moment. How had Xue Kui suddenly offended her?

Shen Xihe was someone who never harmed others without cause. If Xue Kui hadn’t violated some major taboo of hers, why would she suddenly disregard the relationship between their families and move against him?

So what taboo had Xue Kui violated?

Instinct told him it might be related to the Gu family, but reason told him this intuition was absurd.

Shen Xihe was such a cold person. She had no relation to the Gu family – to say she was upholding justice… He wasn’t belittling her; on the contrary, he admired and praised her. A woman with vision no less than men’s, who wanted to help the Crown Prince rule the world, wouldn’t have such an impulsive and ridiculous sense of justice.

People of their extraordinary status were cold-hearted. Except for those they acknowledged, others’ life, death, or grievances had nothing to do with them. If it wasn’t the Gu family, if it were different victims, he would have turned a blind eye too.

With suspicions in mind, Xiao Changqin left his mansion, rode out of the city to a temple, and went through its back door up the mountain. There was a hidden estate on the mountain, with an elegant and quiet courtyard blooming with clusters of hydrangeas.

He pushed open the courtyard gate. A slender, graceful figure stood silently before the hydrangea tree. The sound of the door startled her. When she turned and saw him, she smiled radiantly, wearing a jade-colored dress with a cyan silk shawl, beautiful yet charming.

Her black hair was piled in a cloud-like bun, with wisps framing her face; a red dot adorned her brow, and her smiling dimples tinted her cheeks pink.

“Brother-in-law,” the young woman walked up to Xiao Changqin and called out softly.

This person was none other than the only surviving blood relative of the Gu family, Gu Qingchi’s half-sister – Gu Qingshu.

Having lost her mother early, she was raised under Lady Gu’s care until age seven, growing up alongside Gu Qingchi, and was the only relative Gu Qingchi treated differently.

Back then, when he noticed His Majesty’s intentions, he had already begun arranging the switch. He took charge of the execution to facilitate matters. He could have switched out Gu Zhao, but Gu Zhao refused to cooperate, missing the best opportunity, so he only managed to save Gu Qingshu.

The Gu family was exonerated, but his unauthorized substitution of prisoners during the execution was a serious crime. Gu Qingshu couldn’t appear before the world either. Xiao Changqin hadn’t planned for her to hide like this forever. He had originally planned to select one or two reliable candidates from this spring’s imperial examinations, arrange a good marriage for Gu Qingshu, and have her marry far away from the capital where no one would recognize her – then she would be free from worry.

The spring examinations had gone awry, leaving the matter unresolved, and Gu Qingshu was already sixteen. He couldn’t delay any longer.

“Walk with me,” Xiao Changqin led Gu Qingshu away from the estate, just strolling along the mountain path. “Did your sister have any connection with Princess Zhaoning?”

Gu Qingshu lowered her eyes, her hand tightening on her fragrant fan: “Shu’er knows little about Sister, and has told Brother-in-law everything already.”

He came to her because of her sister. He had only visited her three times since saving her – first when she just woke up, second to ask about her sister’s past, and now again to ask about her sister.

Sister had never loved him, yet he remained devoted, blind to anyone else.

Xiao Changqin stopped walking upon hearing this. He gazed somewhat dejectedly at the lush woods ahead: “It’s I who didn’t know her well enough.”

He had given their relationship too little time, he had been too hasty with her, they had all been too young.

If he were to meet her now, would he be more patient?

The mountain forest was quiet, the breeze gentle. No one answered him.

“I came today to tell you that I’ve arranged for people to take you to Jiangnan. You’ll have a new identity there…”

“Brother-in-law!” Gu Qingshu suddenly called out loudly, then realizing her impropriety lowered her head and said, “Shu’er doesn’t want to leave the capital.”

“If you don’t leave the capital, you’ll have to hide here forever, and even here isn’t safe. Young men and women out for spring outings might come here,” Xiao Changqin explained patiently.

“Brother-in-law, couldn’t you take me to live in the back quarters of your mansion? Shu’er just wants to stay by your side,” Gu Qingshu said urgently.

Xiao Changqin suddenly stepped back, widening the distance between them. His face showed no trace of warmth: “Prince Xin’s mansion will not take in any new people.”

Gu Qingshu’s eyes widened: “Brother-in-law, you…”

He intended to remain faithful to her sister for life!

“Go back,” Xiao Changqin said coldly, escorting her back to the estate. “Pack your things. I’ll send someone to take you away the day after tomorrow.”

After walking a few steps, Xiao Changqin stopped: “I treat you well only because of your sister. If you behave, I’ll treat you like family. If you harbor other thoughts, I’m not afraid to disappoint your sister one more time.”

Xiao Changqin was in an extremely bad mood. He had come to ask about some matters but instead discovered Gu Qingshu’s feelings for him. He rode back with a cold face. As he was approaching the imperial city, he happened to see Shen Xihe leaving the palace in her carriage. The wind lifted the curtain, and in that fleeting glimpse, his heart inexplicably tightened.

He was somehow compelled to stop Shen Xihe’s carriage. When Shen Xihe lifted the curtain again, it was a completely unfamiliar face, without even a trace of resemblance in bearing.

“Prince Xin, is there something you need?” Shen Xihe asked.

Coming to his senses, Xiao Changqin felt an indescribable sense of loss: “Princess, might I invite you to a teahouse for a discussion? I have some confusion I’d like the Princess to help resolve.”

“About what matter and whom?” Shen Xihe asked.

“Xue Kui,” Xiao Changqin was direct.

Shen Xihe understood. Since Xiao Changqin had moved against Xue Kui, he must be thoroughly investigating him, looking for crimes even more serious than protecting those who falsified military intelligence. So his people must have also gone to Huayin Prefecture and learned of her move.

He couldn’t understand why she had suddenly moved against Xue Kui, coincidentally at the time when Xue Kui had offended the Gu family.

Regarding her correspondence with the Gu family’s daughter, Shen Xihe didn’t plan to mislead Xiao Changqin – not out of fear he would discover it was a lie, but because there was no need.

“Zhaoning is merely standing up for a member of the Shen family,” Shen Xihe said calmly.

A member of the Shen family – naturally not the Prince of the Northwest, his heir, herself, or Shen Xihe. It could only be Xue Jinqiao.