Glancing over, she caught the faint smile appearing on Shen Xihe’s face. Though subtle, her eyes betrayed a glimmer of amusement.

Zhenzhu’s thoughts stirred and she said: “In the past, when the Princess mentioned His Highness’s childishness, she seemed helpless and… somewhat uncomfortable. But today, she seems inclined to tease His Highness, as if finding his current behavior endearing.”

Shen Xihe neither evaded nor dismissed the observation, instead frankly acknowledging: “That’s the difference between when you dislike someone versus when you like them.”

When she disliked Xiao Huayong, she purely wanted to establish a mutually beneficial relationship with him, so naturally her tolerance, appreciation, and patience were limited. Now that she had taken a liking to him, she found even his sulking to be… charming.

After hearing this, Zhenzhu lowered her head with a smile: “Princess, when do you plan to send the five-colored threads?”

The five-colored threads, also called longevity threads, were said to ward off evil and extend one’s life when worn.

There was a knot in the relationship between the Princess and the Crown Prince – specifically, the Crown Prince’s physical condition. Initially, the Princess had chosen the Crown Prince, who was rumored to have a shortened lifespan, to seize complete power.

The Crown Prince hadn’t realized this at first, but later when he knew, even though he still refused to give up on the Princess, and the Princess had exhausted every effort to begin detoxifying him, the Crown Prince likely still harbored some misgivings. That’s why the Crown Prince, who usually pestered the Princess incessantly, had consistently refused to ask for the five-colored threads.

The Crown Prince himself might not truly understand why he couldn’t bring himself to ask – what meaning would there be in receiving them? It wouldn’t be from her true heart, nor would it represent her genuine wishes. If it were someone else’s items, the Crown Prince would have asked for them long ago.

“Tomorrow is only the Dragon Boat Festival, there’s no rush.” Shen Xihe’s lips curved in a faint smile.

She would give them to him – she had already woven them – but seeing Xiao Huayong’s struggling expression today, wanting them but unwilling to ask, Shen Xihe simply found it quite amusing.

On the fifth day of the fifth month, the Dragon Boat Festival, colored pavilions, feast tents, and shelters had been set up along the riverbank several days prior, stretching for dozens of li along both shores. Young men and women in fine silk clothing mingled about, waiting to watch the races.

Before the races, people carrying placards carefully approached the area where officials and nobles sat, asking if any distinguished persons wished to place bets.

This was to add excitement to the dragon boat races, jointly organized by the court and merchants. The merchants had obtained the rights to conduct business today through legal channels – for instance, the outside vendors had gone through multiple rounds of screening to have the opportunity to earn this windfall.

The court guaranteed today’s wagers wouldn’t vanish into thin air. It seemed Yangzhou had taken advantage of this point, controlling the races’ outcomes to rake in a substantial profit.

In the capital, there was a betting limit – small stakes for entertainment only, not exceeding ten gold per person.

However, some found loopholes, bringing multiple people along – ten gold per person adding up to hundreds of gold.

As long as this didn’t cause major issues, the court turned a blind eye. What mattered most was having a lively festival celebration.

When someone came to inquire about Shen Xihe’s location, she spotted Bu Shulin on the dragon boats. As a representative of the young nobles, how could he not participate in such a grand event?

He might be useless at official duties, but when it came to eating, drinking, and merrymaking, he was undoubtedly the leader.

Shen Xihe took out ten gold to bet on Bu Shulin’s victory.

Looking at Bu Shulin, whose clothes were coated with tung oil to prevent getting wet, gleaming in the sunlight, Shen Xihe shook her head with a helpless smile. Turning to look elsewhere, she saw Cui Jinbai maintaining a black expression throughout, appearing completely unapproachable, frightening his attendants into standing far away.

Bu Shulin stood among a group of young men, happily catching five-colored threads thrown from above, occasionally casting flirtatious glances at the beauties on shore, making them giggle dazedly.

She felt Bu Shulin was playing with fire, but she had no way to warn him.

However, seeing the five-colored threads made her think of Xiao Huayong. She looked down at the threads in her hand, then turned to look at Xiao Huayong in the colored pavilion not far away. He was crouching there, his pale face tightly drawn, looking like someone owed him tens of thousands of gold.

He was sitting where the sun slanted in, and when Tianyuan tried to hold up an umbrella for him, he brushed it away with one sweep.

“No one cares, so what does it matter if I get sunstroke?” Xiao Huayong said petulantly.

Tianyuan: …

He now actually guessed what His Highness wanted, but since His Highness wouldn’t say it, and the Princess showed no inclination, His Highness sat there sulking, not even caring if the princes laughed at him. He simply maintained his sickly pale face, forcing himself to sit there, staring straight ahead.

Emperor Youning noticed Xiao Huayong’s sour expression and sent Liu Sanzhi to inquire.

Tianyuan could only say: “His Highness is unwell but doesn’t wish for the common people to see the Crown Prince’s weakness, so he’s forcing himself to endure. When this servant tried to hold an umbrella for His Highness, he said how could a proper man of seven chi be as delicate as a lady? That’s why he became angry with this servant.”

Tianyuan’s explanation, combined with Xiao Huayong’s behavior, was watertight, and Liu Sanzhi reported back to Emperor Youning accordingly.

This scene fell into Shen Xihe’s view, and she couldn’t help raising her hand to cover her mouth as she laughed.

“Princess… what’s so funny?” Biyu had been watching the festivities and hadn’t noticed anything else, only growing curious when Shen Xihe laughed out loud.

Shen Xihe laughed a moment longer before composing herself and turning to say softly: “Look at the Crown Prince’s expression.”

Biyu and the others all looked over simultaneously, seeing the Crown Prince’s poor complexion, angry but not quite furious – what was funny about that? They were completely puzzled.

Only Zhenzhu, who had accompanied Shen Xihe to the Eastern Palace yesterday, could understand why Shen Xihe was laughing. She boldly added: “The Crown Prince looks as if he’s saying ‘if the Princess won’t give him the five-colored threads, he’ll get sunstroke on purpose.'”

“Hahaha…” Zhenzhu and Shen Xihe had thought of the same thing. Shen Xihe, this paragon of noble ladies, had never laughed out loud like this before. Though not very loud, her laughter was covered by the suddenly rising pre-race drum beats. Unless someone had been specifically watching Shen Xihe, no one would have noticed.

Biyu and the others finally understood, and looking at the Crown Prince again, they had to admit it did seem that way, making them unable to hold back their laughter.

They didn’t dare laugh out loud like Shen Xihe, so they could only cover their mouths with the backs of their hands.

Shen Xihe handed the prepared sour plum drink to Moyu: “Take this to the Crown Prince.”

She didn’t dare send Zhenzhu and the others, worried they wouldn’t be able to maintain composure in front of Xiao Huayong and might laugh at his expression.

The palace had prepared many snacks and drinks, but Xiao Huayong certainly wouldn’t consume them, and they couldn’t prepare alternatives without risking accusations of disrespect toward His Majesty. The inner court ladies could bring their refreshments, and her sour plum drink was different from others, more thirst-quenching.

Upon receiving the sour plum drink, Xiao Huayong glanced toward Shen Xihe’s direction, but quickly withdrew his gaze, maintaining his unhappy expression.

To Shen Xihe’s eyes, it looked exactly like he was saying: Come comfort me!