He desperately wanted to be magnanimous, to pretend he didn’t care who she associated with, but he couldn’t bring himself to lie to her face. Though he knew such pettiness would displease her, he couldn’t fake generosity.

Shen Xihe had never been stumped by anyone or anything before. This was the first time she felt somewhat at a loss, unsure how to proceed. Previously, she could have disregarded Xiao Huayong’s feelings, but now she was gradually becoming mindful of them. She hoped that in their future life together, they could be more understanding and tolerant of each other. Of course, their goals differed – Xiao Huayong hoped they would become loving partners, while she strived to make him like family, similar to her father and brothers.

Regardless of their purposes, they seemed to be heading in the same direction. But now she discovered that Xiao Huayong was clearly different from family – he cared deeply about her male friendships, and even after she compromised, he remained unsatisfied.

Unable to figure out a solution herself, Shen Xihe didn’t avoid the issue. She asked directly: “What would Your Highness have me do?”

This question left Xiao Huayong speechless, making him feel as if he was being unreasonable. He knew his jealousy was petty, yet he couldn’t help but care and fret about it.

After a long while, he said softly: “Youyou, could you… embrace me?”

He didn’t want her to cut ties with Xie Yunhuai. He simply lacked confidence and hoped she would show him somehow that he was different from other men, to soothe his vulnerable and sensitive heart in her presence.

Shen Xihe had never expected such a request from Xiao Huayong. She was stunned, then became suspicious and hesitant.

Normally, she would firmly refuse Xiao Huayong’s attempts to take liberties with her. But at this moment, she saw the light in his eyes wavering, as if her refusal would shatter it completely.

Yet her upbringing and learned propriety made such an action seem quite inappropriate, causing her hesitation.

The trees were still, the wind silent, as if the world had fallen into complete stillness.

The long wait caused Xiao Huayong’s long lashes to droop, casting shadows beneath his eyes, like a lone figure abandoned in the late autumn sun, leaving only a lingering shadow and endless solitude and desolation.

Shen Xihe stood up without realizing it. When she came to her senses, she was already beside Xiao Huayong. She paused briefly, then smiled in resignation and wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he sat upright. She spoke gently at his side: “Your Highness, I cannot speak for other women, but I will only have one husband in this life.”

Though she had initially planned for Xiao Huayong’s early death, she had never considered remarrying. The current dynasty encouraged widows to remarry, even imperial daughters-in-law, though common people usually dared not marry them, leading to marriages with uncles and elder relatives.

“I will only have one husband in this life.”

Perhaps this was comfort born from her compassion; perhaps it was the appropriate gesture from a future wife.

Even without the love he yearned for, her words flowed like a gentle stream into his heart, making him unable to resist leaning his head against her waist, breathing in her scent: “Youyou…”

He simply sighed her name softly, a thousand words hidden in that single breath.

“Playing pitiful, playing pitiful.” The tender moment was broken by a discordant voice.

Shen Xihe smoothly stepped away as Xiao Huayong glared darkly at Baisui on its perch. For the fifty-sixth time, he regretted giving this stupid bird to Shen Xihe – it was more trouble than it was worth!

Baisui showed no fear. It turned its head to one side, stretched its neck, and called out: “Youyou is soft-hearted, Youyou is soft-hearted!”

Hearing this, Shen Xihe’s beautiful obsidian eyes regarded Xiao Huayong with amusement.

Even thick-skinned Xiao Huayong couldn’t quite handle this. These were indeed his words, somehow memorized by this stupid bird, though he certainly hadn’t been playing pitiful just now: “I… it… I…”

The usually eloquent Crown Prince was now tongue-tied, unsure how to quibble… er, explain!

“I… I have an appointment with Master Tao. It’s about time. I’ll come see you tomorrow.”

This was the first time Xiao Huayong had fled in such disarray before Shen Xihe, making her laugh out loud. Did he think she lacked judgment? If he had truly been playing pitiful earlier, would she have fallen for it so easily?

She admitted she treated him differently from others, but not to the point of losing her reason.

Yet he felt he couldn’t explain himself and didn’t know how to face her, so he fled in panic.

Turning back, Shen Xihe gently tapped Baisui’s head: “You…”

“Youyou calls like a deer, forever united in heart; harmonious as zither and se, phoenix pair singing!” Baisui began to sing.

These were probably the words Xiao Huayong repeated most often to it, which Baisui recited to her several times daily.

When Xiao Huayong was training it, it likely pretended to be slow to avoid being drilled with too much information. Thus, Xiao Huayong let his guard down when saying certain things, probably not even remembering how much the bird had overheard and memorized.

“Princess’s greetings,” it started singing again.

After playing with it for a while, Shen Xihe turned to see Duanming crouching in a corner, looking fierce with sharp eyes glaring hostilely at Baisui.

Just as Zhenzhu had said, Duanming and Baisui – their names alone marked them as natural enemies. Weren’t cats and birds always foes?

“Princess, Prince Xin requests an audience,” Zhenzhu entered to report.

Shen Xihe was about to refuse, but considering Xiao Changqin’s likely purpose, she changed her mind: “Please show him to the main hall.”

After entrusting Baisui to Ziyu, Shen Xihe tidied herself and walked to the main hall.

Xiao Changqin arrived before her. After they exchanged formal greetings, he bowed in apology: “I came today to apologize to the Princess. I was impulsive and rash before, causing you trouble. Please forgive me.”

Shen Xihe sat down slowly: “I thought Your Highness came to apologize for the theft.”

Xiao Changqin didn’t defend himself against her mockery. He had indeed sent someone to steal the letters between Shen Xihe and Gu Qingchi. After marrying Gu Qingchi, he had been busy with various matters, and she never opened her heart to him. He had no way to verify this correspondence between Gu Qingchi and such a friend.

But the two different handwritings, the personalities revealed between the lines – he couldn’t help but believe.

Xiao Changqin said: “Would the Princess allow me to keep my late wife’s letters as a memento?”

This was his purpose in coming. He had intended to return Shen Xihe’s letters personally, but Xiao Huayong had intercepted them.

“These belonged to Princess Xin and me,” Shen Xihe had no intention of giving them to Xiao Changqin.

Xiao Changqin seemed to have expected this response. He didn’t insist but said: “If the Princess ever needs help in the future, you need only bring the letters to me. I will do everything in my power to assist.”