Shen Xihe had considered all the possible things Crown Prince Xiao Huayong might say to her, but she never expected him to start by speaking ill of Xiao Changyu.
“Your Highness, Zhaoning has not yet had the honor of meeting the Sixth Prince,” Shen Xihe said softly.
Xiao Huayong, holding a loose fist against his lips behind the beaded curtain, allowed a faint smile to cross his face while his voice remained weak: “Not having met yet doesn’t mean you won’t meet in the future *cough* *cough* *cough*… Princess, my sixth brother already has someone he admires. You should be careful.”
It seemed as though he had used all his strength to complete this sentence, as Xiao Huayong weakly lay back down.
Shen Xihe could hear his labored, difficult breathing.
Seeing this, Shen Xihe didn’t know how to respond, fearing to disturb him.
The room suddenly became extremely quiet, and soon Xiao Huayong’s long, drawn-out breathing could be heard.
Tian Yuan silently walked to Shen Xihe’s side, making a gesture of invitation. Shen Xihe followed him out of the sleeping chambers.
“Princess, the other day when the Sixth Prince tried to approach you using the polo game as an excuse, the Crown Prince didn’t point it out directly, but privately sent word to the Sixth Prince. We thought the Sixth Prince had already given up on the idea, but unexpectedly…”
Tian Yuan carefully chose his words as he quietly explained to Shen Xihe: “The Crown Prince learned that the Sixth Prince had schemed multiple times to approach you, so early this morning he summoned the Sixth Prince to the Eastern Palace to question him directly, and had something of a confrontation with him.”
So it turned out that Sixth Prince Xiao Changyu had been invited to the Eastern Palace by Xiao Huayong himself, whose purpose was to question Xiao Changyu about his intentions toward her.
Xiao Huayong knew that Xiao Changyu had feelings for someone else, yet he still tried to approach her. It was because he was protecting her that he became angry.
Just because she had given that evidence to Xiao Huayong, could the isolated Crown Prince, who was under the favor of both the Emperor and Empress Dowager, have grasped onto that subtle hint of warmth in her intentions and valued her so highly?
Though it made sense, Shen Xihe was unwilling to believe it.
She was someone who placed benefit relationships above emotional ones – only absolute benefits could make people align themselves together.
Emotions were such ethereal things, scattered by the slightest breeze.
However, Xiao Huayong had been angered to the point of coughing blood – surely that couldn’t have been fake?
There were so many imperial physicians in the palace. If Xiao Huayong wasn’t faking, would he cough up blood just to gain her favor?
Shen Xihe didn’t think she carried that much weight.
This Crown Prince left Shen Xihe feeling very conflicted.
All signs indicated that he was a pure-hearted, noble gentleman as clear as a cloudless sky.
The naturally suspicious Shen Xihe still had her doubts, yet when she tried to analyze this Crown Prince using her usual suspicious methods, she couldn’t figure out what his purpose might be.
“Who is it that the Sixth Prince admires?” Shen Xihe asked.
Fang Yuan seemed to struggle, hesitating for a long while before finally whispering as he escorted Shen Xihe out of the palace: “It’s the palace dancer, Master Bian.”
Ah, Bian Xianyi – Xiao Changyu had good taste.
Of the former Nine Perfections of the capital, including Gu Qingzhi, four had already passed away.
Bian Xianyi was also from an official’s family, accomplished in both talent and beauty. Unfortunately, her grandfather had committed a serious crime, and she was sent to the Yeting Palace. However, through her talents, she managed to change her status from criminal to entertainer.
Now in the Department of Music, at nineteen years old, she was almost past a woman’s most beautiful season.
So Xiao Changyu had delayed marriage for so long because he was waiting for her – that was worthwhile indeed.
Shen Xihe smiled with an unclear meaning, then left the Eastern Palace with her lake-green silk shawl flowing in the wind.
She finally understood why Xiao Huayong had gone to such lengths to warn her.
After leaving the Eastern Palace, Shen Xihe didn’t leave the palace grounds but instead made a trip to the Yeting Palace.
This was where all the criminal palace women were kept. She specifically asked to see Gu Zexiang, who was Shen Xihe’s pigeon-message correspondent for several years.
The manager naturally didn’t dare to stop her.
When Gu Zexiang met Shen Xihe for the first time, she had styled her hair in an elegant lily bun, with gold-inlaid jade hair ornaments that sparkled as they swayed, highlighting her jade-like immortal appearance. Zhenzhu flower ornaments adorned the corners of her eyes and eyebrows, displaying an otherworldly elegance.
“This servant pays respects to the Princess,” Gu Zexiang performed a proper greeting.
“Gu Xiaoyu.” Shen Xihe personally helped her up.
Gu Zexiang looked at Shen Xihe in astonishment – in this world, only one person called her Gu Xiaoyu, and that was Miss Shen who exchanged letters with her.
Miss Shen…
“Princess, you are…”
“Yes, it’s me.” Shen Xihe smiled slightly. “I need a clever maid by my side, would you be willing?”
Although Gu Zexiang was from a criminal family and currently had criminal status, doing the roughest work in the palace, if she wanted to take someone, Emperor Youning would at least grant her this small favor.
Following her would mean becoming a slave, but after a few years she could find an opportunity to release her from slave status, and she could become a free citizen again.
Gu Zexiang’s large eyes quickly filled with tears. She smiled and cried and hurt and harbored some hatred, letting teardrops fall one by one, but in the end, she bit her lip hard and wiped away all her tears.
With a thud, she knelt before Shen Xihe and gave her a deep, devout bow: “Princess, this servant is unwilling to leave.”
Shen Xihe quietly looked at her for a moment before sighing softly and bending down to help her up: “Are you sure about this?”
Women who enter the palace and have a chance to leave but are unwilling to do so only have one purpose – to become the Emperor’s woman.
“I’m sure, more sure than I’ve ever been.” Gu Zexiang was extraordinarily firm. “Princess’s kindness today, Zexiang will engrave in her heart. If Zexiang has a chance to repay you in the future, I will not hesitate to do so.”
“There’s no need for that. For me, it was just a small gesture.” Shen Xihe shook her head gently.
“To the Princess, it may be a small gesture, but to Zexiang it’s like being saved from fire and water.” Gu Zexiang’s still-moist eyes shimmered movingly.
“I came too late after all.” Shen Xihe sighed softly.
Gu Zexiang bit her lip, holding back tears as she shook her head, took a step back to bow to Shen Xihe, then turned resolutely and entered the Yeting Palace without looking back.
The autumn wind rose, carrying the fragrance of osmanthus flowers, as scattered petals fell and a graceful figure swayed.
Gu Zexiang was undoubtedly a beauty, like the osmanthus tree at the entrance of Yeting Palace – upright and unyielding despite her circumstances.
“Biyu, have someone take care of things.” This was all she could do for Gu Zexiang.
Not having taken Gu Zexiang with her, when Shen Xihe was leaving the palace, Xiao Changyu was still kneeling at the palace gate. She ordered her carriage to stop.
Step by step, she walked to Xiao Changyu’s front. Ziyu held an umbrella for her as Xiao Changyu looked up at Shen Xihe, amazement in his eyes but no trace of affection or tenderness.
“Sixth Prince, do you know what kind of person Zhaoning is?” Shen Xihe lowered her eyes, her gaze completely devoid of warmth. “I only like people in this world to be useful to me, and absolutely cannot tolerate anyone using me.”
Leaving Xiao Changyu with a cold, faint smile, Shen Xihe stepped past him, leaving him with these words:
“Sixth Prince, shall we see what’s faster – me killing Bian Xianyi, or you two living happily ever after after I’m dead?”
The young woman’s voice was as cold as clashing ice and jade, bringing a chill to the fierce autumn sun. A cold sensation crept up Xiao Changyu’s spine from his tailbone straight to his brain.