It was a waterway hidden behind towering mountains. With their thousand-foot cliffs, few people ever climbed them, let alone imagined that beyond them lay a river running through the mountain ranges that could provide escape from the capital.

Gu Qingzhi liked climbing mountains to collect spices and search for rare flowers. She had accidentally reached the peak once and nearly fell. Later, Xiao Changqing found branches with pieces of her clothing and, thinking she had fallen, rushed down the mountain to search for her. Finding nothing on the mountain, he searched the water on a bamboo raft, accidentally discovering this secret waterway.

Very few knew of this. These past days, Xiao Changqing must have used many tricks to scatter Xiao Huayong’s men, then secretly found a route. Without this secret waterway, he could only choose paths that would mislead Xiao Huayong, making him certain they were the only options.

Shen Xihe initially moved to find Xiao Huayong, but quickly calmed herself. Xiao Changqing was likely monitoring Xiao Huayong’s every move.

After giving Xiao Changqing a slight nod, she returned to her room and immediately summoned Mo Yuan, sending him racing back to the capital under the pretense of retrieving something she had left behind.

With Xiao Huayong in the capital, Xiao Changqing hadn’t dared move rashly, which was why they were departing today. Having to cross mountains secretly while traveling with Ye Wantang would slow their pace. If Mo Yuan hurried, he might intercept them in time.

“Princess, what’s happened?” Zhenzhu asked, watching Shen Xihe gazing at the moon by the window as she moved the candlestick closer.

Since the Princess had met Prince Xin, she had grown serious, remaining silent after dispatching Mo Yuan.

“I know how Prince Xin is helping Xiao Changtai escape. I sent Mo Yuan back to ambush them.” Shen Xihe didn’t hide much from her confidantes, not wanting to leave them anxiously speculating, which would harm the trust and understanding between master and servants.

“Princess, shouldn’t we inform the Crown Prince?” Zhenzhu asked after hesitating.

Zhenzhu didn’t distrust Shen Xihe, nor had she grown dependent on Xiao Huayong. It was just that this matter had been a contest of wits between Xiao Huayong and Xiao Changqing from start to finish, and Shen Xihe had always stayed out of it.

“No need,” Shen Xihe shook her head.

Besides worrying that telling Xiao Huayong would alert Xiao Changqing once he acted, Shen Xihe mainly didn’t know how to explain to Xiao Huayong how she knew such secret information.

Should she lie? Xiao Huayong was too clever; he would surely judge whether she spoke the truth or not.

Would these plant seeds of discord between them, hiding future trouble?

If asked directly, it would be impossible – she hadn’t even planned to tell her father and brothers, let alone Xiao Huayong.

But without telling Xiao Huayong, relying on her power alone to ambush Xiao Changtai against the combined forces of him and Xiao Changqing, the chances of success were slim.

Fortunately, she hadn’t counted on killing Xiao Changtai this time, only doing what she could.

“Princess, are you waiting for news instead of resting?” Zhenzhu asked, “Shall I prepare some tea and snacks?”

“No need to trouble-“

“What are you doing here?” Before Shen Xihe could finish, Shen Yingruo’s voice rang out from outside.

Shen Xihe and Zhenzhu quickly went out to find Shen Yingruo with Lady Tan and two maids on the other side of the carved window in the wall, confronting Gu Qingzhi, who had arrived first.

This was a corner outside her room, only accessible by going around her quarters, though Gu Qingzhi’s adjacent room also had window access. She was alone, without servants.

Shen Yingruo’s room faced Gu Qingzhi’s window. While packing, she had seen Gu Qingzhi jump down from her window and crouch there motionless for a long time. She then brought her maids and Lady Tan over. Though separated by a wall, they could faintly hear sounds from Shen Xihe’s room, prompting her warning.

“I lost my cat. I heard it meowing and came here,” Gu Qingzhi explained softly.

“I saw you jump down from my room. I walked here from inside – this space is barely big enough to turn around in. Why did it take so long?” Shen Yingruo stood on the other side of the wall, her gaze through the window lattice particularly aggressive in the darkness. “If you were looking for your cat, why didn’t you call for it?”

“I…” Gu Qingzhi was momentarily speechless. Ignoring Shen Yingruo, she turned her clear eyes to Shen Xihe, “Princess, I was looking for my cat.”

Shen Xihe glanced around. She could indeed smell the scent of Gu Qingzhi’s cat, proving it had recently darted through here. She smiled slightly: “Looking for your cat is true, eavesdropping is also true.”

Gu Qingzhi wouldn’t have deliberately jumped down to this corner to eavesdrop. Before this, none of them knew this spot was suitable for eavesdropping, much less what secrets might be overheard.

She must have jumped down to look for her cat, then possibly heard Shen Xihe mention Xiao Changqing, leading her to let the cat run while she stayed to listen.

Following Shen Xihe’s gaze to the bent grass and footprints facing toward Shen Xihe’s room – marks that could only have formed from extended standing – Gu Qingzhi remained composed: “Princess, my cat was trapped here earlier. I crouched here to help free it, but Second Lady Shen startled me, allowing it to escape.”

Shen Yingruo’s voice had indeed startled Gu Qingzhi, causing the captured cat to break free and dart away. Shen Yingruo, Lady Tan, and the maids had all witnessed this, but the truth was different.

“You…”

As Shen Yingruo began to speak, Shen Xihe raised her hand to stop her, turning to say through the window: “It’s late. Return to your room to rest. Tomorrow’s journey is long, and it’s hard to nap in the carriage in this heat.”

As the elder sister, Shen Xihe’s instructions wouldn’t be contradicted by Shen Yingruo in front of others. Moreover, she understood Shen Xihe’s methods better than most. She complied and left with Lady Tan and the maids.

After they left, Shen Xihe turned to Gu Qingzhi: “County Princess Liyang, just this once. Don’t let it happen again.”

Leaving these words, Shen Xihe returned to her room with Bi Yu and Zhenzhu, disregarding Gu Qingzhi.

Since all were noble ladies, guards couldn’t stay inside their rooms. Mo Yu had returned to the capital with Mo Yuan, leaving only Zi Yu, Bi Yu, and Zhenzhu attending Shen Xihe closely, while Hong Yu remained in the capital to watch over the Independent Living Tower.

There were bound to be oversights.

“Princess, could she have heard…” Zhenzhu worried.

“What if she did?” Shen Xihe was unconcerned. “Even knowing now, it’s too late.”