The summer day was intense, with unrelenting heat. Shen Xihe enjoyed spending her days in Bibo Pavilion, surrounded by shady green trees and equipped with ice blocks. When the wind blew, it brought refreshing coolness.

He stood before her, his eyes gentle like the blue-green ripples outside the pavilion. His tall, imposing figure cast a long shadow in the sunlight, as if he truly could support the heavens and earth.

Previously, he had always shown restraint before her, but at some point, he began to reveal himself completely, gradually displaying his dominance.

“How did Your Highness learn His Majesty’s birth time?” Shen Xihe was very curious.

Hearing this, Xiao Huayong couldn’t help but laugh softly: “Youyou must be like others, surprised by this. Thinking I have heaven-reaching abilities to know such secrets.”

“Is that not the case?” Shen Xihe asked, puzzled.

“I spent twelve years with Grandmother at the Taoist temple. Though I wasn’t always there, I spent considerable time with her,” Xiao Huayong said softly. “I happened to learn His Majesty’s birth time from Grandmother.”

When Emperor Youning was born, it was the Empress Dowager’s most difficult time, trapped in the palace, bullied by favored concubines. Emperor Youning was born weak, barely surviving, and couldn’t speak fluently even at age three. The Previous Emperor’s disdain became one of the reasons the Empress Dowager was later banished to the Northwest.

In the Northwest, with the Shen family’s secret protection and care, Emperor Youning gradually grew stronger, though still frequently plagued by illness. The Empress Dowager once received guidance from a Taoist priest – on His Majesty’s birthday, she would personally draw talismans with blood and cinnabar, burn them, and pray to heaven and earth. This would keep His Majesty free from illness.

The Empress Dowager originally didn’t believe it, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Coincidentally, when Emperor Youning was five and the Empress Dowager first did this, he stopped being constantly sick. He gradually began practicing martial arts and studying. The Empress Dowager maintains this habit to this day.

During the twelve years at the temple, the talisman paper the Empress Dowager burned didn’t completely ash, and he glimpsed it by chance, thus learning His Majesty’s birth time.

Learning the truth, Shen Xihe was stunned. She never imagined he had learned His Majesty’s birth time this way.

Not just her – likely no one could have guessed he learned it so simply.

After her brief shock, Shen Xihe regained composure and asked another question that had long puzzled her, one she felt unqualified to probe given her status: “Your Highness, your current position must be due to the Empress Dowager’s protection. Why does she treat you differently?”

This difference exceeded her treatment of all princes, even… His Majesty.

As the eldest grandson, the Empress Dowager’s favoritism was reasonable, but surpassing her son was harder to understand.

Xiao Huayong went to the temple at age eight. Without the Empress Dowager’s cover, he couldn’t have fooled His Majesty about studying and training. An eight-year-old child, no matter how capable, couldn’t quickly find such distinguished teachers, even someone like Linghu Zheng.

Why would the Empress Dowager help him deceive His Majesty? Between son and grandson, she had no reason to oppose her son for her grandson. Her love for Xiao Huayong was evident – one word from him and she held the Spring Banquet for princes to select consorts.

Moreover, during the Crown Prince’s several illnesses, Shen Xihe encountered the Empress Dowager. Though showing worry, Shen Xihe felt she had spare attention for other matters, surely confident the Crown Prince was fine. This meant the Empress Dowager knew the Crown Prince was feigning illness, and her visits to the Eastern Palace were likely more to provide cover for him.

Xiao Huayong lowered his gaze, hands behind his back, one hand gently rubbing the five-colored thread on the other wrist. After a moment, he looked up and ordered Zhenzhu and others: “All of you withdraw. I have words to speak privately with the County Princess.”

Zhenzhu and the others looked to Shen Xihe, who nodded slightly. Only then did they silently bow and withdraw, guarding the pavilion’s surroundings. They were far enough not to hear the conversation inside while ensuring no one could sneak in.

Only Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe remained in the pavilion. He strode forward to her side, facing outside at the summer scenery: “I’ve been waiting, waiting for Youyou to ask me.”

Shen Xihe was too proper – anything unrelated to her, inappropriate to inquire about, or beyond her reach, she wouldn’t step half a pace over. Just as she wouldn’t make clothes for other men before marriage.

This matter touched on his privacy. Before becoming his wife, or rather, before accepting him in her heart as more than a husband but someone she cared for, she wouldn’t overstep by asking such things.

His gaze, filled with silvery light, burned like the blazing sun overhead. Shen Xihe avoided his eyes: “Isn’t this what Your Highness has been hoping for?”

She had wanted to ask for a long time, partly because she increasingly feared the gradually revealed Xiao Huayong, and partly because although Xiao Huayong became more dangerous, she could feel his heart toward her growing more sincere.

This was contradictory, yet undeniable.

“What I hope for is far more than this,” Xiao Huayong’s affectionate gaze swept over Shen Xihe with amusement before continuing, “But I am still happy that Youyou has finally softened toward me. It matters not if it’s shallow – day after day, year after year, accumulating annually, even a spark can start a prairie fire.”

Though used to Xiao Huayong’s flirtations, Shen Xihe still couldn’t remain calm when he blatantly expressed his feelings. She glanced at him and sighed helplessly: “Your Highness is avoiding the subject. If you find my earlier question inappropriate, I won’t force an answer, nor will I be displeased.”

After a light laugh, Xiao Huayong completely cleared his smile for the first time. He shifted his gaze to look far away, and after a while finally said: “I am not His Majesty’s true son.”

Shen Xihe turned abruptly, looking at Xiao Huayong in disbelief, wondering if she was hallucinating and Xiao Huayong had said nothing.

Xiao Huayong turned his head, his gaze firm and serious, his expression grave: “Youyou didn’t mishear. I am not His Majesty’s true son.”

“Then you…” Who are you?

This news struck Shen Xihe like thunder from clear skies, leaving even her typically calm and composed self struggling to process it.

“Actually…” Xiao Huayong suddenly lowered his eyelids, a smile returning to his lips, “The reason the Northwest King so easily accepted Youyou marrying me, besides his love for you, must be that he guessed my origins.”

Her bright eyes shifted slightly, and in an instant, Shen Xihe knew Xiao Huayong’s background: “You are… Prince Qian’s posthumous son!”

Xiao Huayong’s eyes were black as night, sparkling with starlight. He nodded affirmatively: “Yes.”

Shen Xihe found it incredible: “Does His Majesty know?”

“How could he not?” Xiao Huayong smiled mysteriously.