At the mention of revealing her identity, Bu Shulin immediately backed down and fell silent.

How could Bu Shulin not understand these principles? But she simply didn’t want to expose the truth, using this to remind herself that she and Cui Jinbai could never be together.

If she revealed her female identity, Cui Jinbai would certainly maintain his distance out of propriety and stop his advances. But his gaze upon her would change. No matter how well he could act, the chances of her secret being exposed would greatly increase. She didn’t want her identity to be revealed because of Cui Jinbai one day.

If that happened, Cui Jinbai would blame himself for life. Even if she didn’t resent him, they couldn’t associate anymore, not even as friends. How else could she face her father and the Bu family?

Everyone had their concerns. Shen Xihe didn’t want to force Bu Shulin: “Have a calm discussion with Junior Minister Cui. You don’t have to reveal your female identity if you don’t want to but don’t deny your feelings for him. Tell him about your difficulties and the troubles he’s causing you. Junior Minister Cui is resolute – he responds better to gentleness than force.”

This was wisdom Shen Xihe had gained from Xiao Huayong. Master and servant were alike – stubborn, dominant, and excessively proud favored children of heaven.

When she had rejected Xiao Huayong, he had responded with equal force, baring his sharp fangs. But when she softened her attitude, he became docile in return.

“How can I compare to you?” Bu Shulin refused, “You’re going to marry His Highness the Crown Prince, so naturally you can take a step back and try to find ways to get along with him. But Cui Jinbai and I…”

How could there ever be a future?

“Alin, how will you know there’s no possibility if you don’t try?” Shen Xihe urged, “I don’t believe in eternal hearts, didn’t before, and still don’t now. The Crown Prince has always been earnest. I went from dismissing him with a laugh to avoiding the topic, to now believing in his present sincerity.

It’s because I feel his genuine sincerity that I no longer deceive myself or distort reality just to maintain my stubborn views.

Junior Minister Cui is a grown man. He can make his own decisions, understands what he should do, and knows what consequences his choices will bring. You have no right to choose for him.”

Shen Xihe wasn’t usually talkative, so speaking at such length with such gravity was rare. Bu Shulin understood her good intentions.

She wanted Bu Shulin to stop deceiving herself, to not despair without trying, and to not think she was doing what was best for Cui Jinbai while becoming the person who hurt him most deeply.

She used to be guarded against Xiao Huayong. Now she couldn’t say she had completely dropped her guard, but at least she wasn’t rejecting him or denying him any chance based solely on her views.

Shen Xihe’s change in attitude and today’s words left Bu Shulin unable to immediately process everything, but they did move her: “Let me think about it…”

Before Bu Shulin could sort out her thoughts, good news arrived from Jiangzhe two days later. Prince Yan and Cui Zheng had cleared up the Leaf Price case. That day, Emperor Youning received all civil and military officials qualified to attend court in separate batches.

Some emerged confused, some pale-faced, some tottering, some overjoyed…

When they compared notes privately, they discovered that those the Emperor praised, berated, or punished had nothing to do with the Leaf Price case. Some were about other cases entirely, and some of those punished couldn’t possibly have been involved in the Leaf Price case. This left everyone bewildered.

At the next day’s court session, Emperor Youning announced the final results of the Leaf Price case. The Prefects of Yuhang and Jiaxing had conspired to deceive both their superiors and subordinates.

The Circuit Inspector of Jiangnan East Circuit was demoted for failing to properly supervise his subordinates. Both Prefects were stripped of their positions, their property was confiscated, and they were sentenced to execution. All merchants involved were punished according to the severity of their crimes, with over half being exiled.

Of the confiscated illegal funds, only a portion was used to compensate the silk farmers’ losses. The leaf merchants who had suffered losses could only blame their greed and ignorance.

As the series of punishments unfolded methodically, the officials finally understood. His Majesty had known the truth all along and had already planned how to handle it. It wasn’t that no one in the capital was involved – His Majesty had simply chosen to pursue only the two Prefects.

Those not involved were satisfied. They knew that for His Majesty to reach this point, these people must have failed to hide their tracks completely. Now he was simply showing restraint for the sake of the bigger picture. The evidence was all in His Majesty’s hands. He could reveal it at any time, claiming it was overlooked in the initial investigation and these people were merely ones who had slipped through the net, then punish them severely. With swords hanging over their necks, these officials could only serve cautiously from now on, loyal to His Majesty, not daring to step wrong even slightly.

“His Majesty has always preferred to settle accounts after autumn,” Xiao Huayong stood with Shen Xihe by the roadside, personally holding an umbrella for her as they looked at the wheat fields transitioning from green to yellow.

With the Leaf Price case concluded, Emperor Youning immediately announced their departure for the summer palace. The journey would take three days, and today they were stopping here to rest.

The local officials had already arranged their accommodations. Shen Xihe, fascinated by the nearby farmland, went out for a walk, with Xiao Huayong following closely.

“People who have made mistakes and left evidence are easier to control than those who haven’t erred at all,” Shen Xihe remarked, looking at the pleasing wheat ears, green with hints of yellow. Her mood lifted somewhat. “This will be another year of good harvest.”

She then looked up and asked, “Has Prince Xin not sent the person away yet?”

“It should be today,” Xiao Huayong found it quite coincidental. “He’s been quite active these past few days, creating diversions and laying false trails. It took me quite some effort to unravel it all. Finally confirmed he’s chosen an excellent path, using substitution tactics.”

“Your Highness seems very confident,” Shen Xihe smiled slightly.

“Unless he can conjure an escape route out of thin air, I’ve blocked all his paths,” Xiao Huayong smiled. “Even if they manage to escape the capital against all odds, I’ve already created a manhunt case outside the capital to search for dangerous criminals.”

“Conjure an escape route?” Something flashed through Shen Xihe’s mind, but before she could think it through, Bu Shulin called out from afar, “Princess!”

Shen Xihe’s thoughts were interrupted as she saw Bu Shulin waving a fishing rod at her.

Though she didn’t want to fish herself, she could go watch by the cool riverbank. She invited Xiao Huayong along, who gladly went and ended up catching several fish. They returned only at sunset, and just as they entered, they happened to see Xiao Changqing coming out.

Gu Qingchi had come along as well. While traveling, it was common for the ladies to share quarters – she, Gu Qingchi, Shen Xihe, and the two princesses were in the same courtyard.

Since they’d met, greetings were necessary. Shen Xihe gave a graceful curtsy, and as Xiao Changqing made a gesture to support her, his sleeve fell back, revealing his wrist. That seal pendant dropped into Shen Xihe’s view.

In that instant, she understood everything!

How Xiao Changtai had convinced Xiao Changqing to help, and how Xiao Changqing had conjured an escape route out of thin air!