The midday breeze swept through the deep mountain valley, emerging from the dense forest shade and carrying natural fragrance through the small window.

Robes swaying gently, dark hair stirring slightly, Xie Yunhuai lowered his gaze: “Your Highness, I admire and respect Princess Shaoning, but harbor no romantic feelings.”

The glossy black stone began turning rhythmically between fingers again as Xiao Huayong’s tone took on a hint of languor: “Let’s hope so.”

A faint smile appeared on Xie Yunhuai’s lowered face: “Your Highness, Princess Shaoning will never belong to anyone.”

Xiao Huayong’s dark eyes took on a cool tint.

As if unaware, Xie Yunhuai slowly raised his head, fearlessly meeting his gaze, the smile at his lips deepening.

Their eyes met – one growing dark and cold, the other calm and unruffled.

“Duke Xie already knows you’re here,” Xiao Huayong said quietly.

Xie Yunhuai’s expression sobered slightly as he cupped his hands in greeting: “Thank you for informing me, Your Highness.”

Xiao Huayong gave a slight nod before steadily departing Xie Yunhuai’s small fenced courtyard.

Early the next morning, Shen Xihe heard that the Crown Prince’s illness had suddenly worsened the previous night. The Sixth Prince Xiao Changyu, who had been punished to kneel for a day at home, was summoned to the palace by Emperor Youning and made to kneel at the Eastern Palace gate.

“Why did it suddenly worsen?” Shen Xihe frowned.

“This servant doesn’t know either,” Biyu shook her head.

Though they had people in the Six Departments and Twenty-Four Offices, none had access to the Eastern Palace.

“Keep an eye on any news,” Shen Xihe instructed.

She had never doubted that Xiao Huayong’s illness was real – after all, he had left the palace at age eight because his severe condition made palace treatment unsuitable.

Although Emperor Youning still assigned great scholars to teach him, how could that compare to being immersed in court affairs?

Other princes could attend court by age fourteen, but he was nearly coming of age and had still never attended court or dealt with any state matters.

Because of this incurable strange illness, he had missed far too much.

However, this time when he supposedly coughed blood after being angered by Xiao Changyu, Shen Xihe somewhat suspected Xiao Huayong had manipulated his weak condition.

Now that Xiao Changyu had been punished and the hints meant for her had been given, Xiao Huayong should have achieved his goals. There was no need to fake illness anymore, so had it truly worsened?

By noon, word had spread inside and outside the palace that the Crown Prince’s condition was severe. From the Imperial Physician-in-Chief down to the medical officers, none in the Imperial Medical Office could help. Emperor Youning was furious and berated the entire office.

Just as he was about to take action against the Physician-in-Chief, a young medical officer tremblingly proposed an idea that gained unanimous approval from the office – but they lacked one ingredient.

“What medicine?”

“Tianshan Snow Lotus,” Biyu said, then added, “The supreme grade.”

“What makes it supreme grade?” Shen Xihe knew Tianshan Snow Lotus had different qualities but didn’t know how they were evaluated.

“They say the flower must be nearly two chi long.”

Shen Xihe was slightly startled. She had seen many Tianshan Snow Lotuses, all about one chi long, at most one chi and three or four cun: “That must be rare.”

“Indeed. For the Crown Prince’s sake, His Majesty has posted an imperial notice offering a thousand gold reward to whoever finds supreme grade Tianshan Snow Lotus,” Biyu said softly. “He even sent the Sixth Prince out of the palace to search for it personally.”

Hearing this, Shen Xihe smiled faintly.

Emperor Youning’s doting on Xiao Huayong always involved such grand gestures, yet he never truly considered Xiao Huayong’s position.

Whether renovating the Eastern Palace, making other princes defer to him, or posting imperial notices – what did the Eastern Palace have beyond empty glory?

If not for Xiao Huayong’s weak health occasional bouts of illness, and people’s tendency to be lenient toward the weak, there would have been complaints long ago. Who knows how poor his reputation might have been otherwise?

Xiao Huayong surely understood this clearly.

This made Shen Xihe think even more highly of him.

Not only was Xiao Huayong estranged from Emperor Youning, but he also wasn’t close with his brothers either. When they each pursued their interests in the future, he wouldn’t be hampered by brotherly sentiment or indecision.

However, Xiao Huayong’s constitution seemed too weak. She wasn’t afraid of difficulties or of fighting alone with her son against the Xiao clan, but she worried whether he could survive until they had children.

Without an heir, what could she use to compete?

“Biyu, have our people in the palace watch for an opportunity to obtain a copy of the Crown Prince’s pulse diagnosis,” Shen Xihe needed to understand Xiao Huayong’s condition. “Send a message to the Hua residence in Luoyang – I want to discuss business with Hua Taoyi.”

“Princess, that person is very strange. We haven’t confirmed his identity yet…” Biyu disagreed.

Biyu didn’t know that the former Imperial Investigator Hua Fuhai, Cui Jinbai, and Guo Daoyi were the same person. She only thought Hua Fuhai was suspicious because Shen Xihe investigated him and didn’t want Shen Xihe to take risks.

“Someone who can discover the whereabouts of something as rare as the Immortal’s Ribbon must be able to find supreme grade Tianshan Snow Lotus,” Shen Xihe said. “If we’re interested, we must show sincerity. Even purely beneficial relationships require mutual giving to last.”

Since she was now planning for Xiao Huayong, helping with his urgent needs was a way of showing her attitude.

She wouldn’t just accept favors without giving anything in return – Shen Xihe never owed anyone.

“Princess…”

“Princess, Under-Secretary Cui from the Court of Judicial Review is here again,” Red Jade reported from outside.

“He dares to come?” Shen Xihe raised her eyebrows.

When she saw Cui Jinbai again, she understood why he dared come – because he was the genuine Cui Jinbai.

Shen Xihe deliberately stood closer to him and detected only the refreshing scent of winter plum, without any trace of eaglewood.

His movements and mannerisms were very similar to the Cui Jinbai who had sought her at the post station. To strangers, it would be truly difficult to notice anything amiss. If Shen Xihe hadn’t known they were different people, she would have been deceived too.

She had to admire the impersonator’s skill.

“Undersecretary Cui, I was rude last time,” Shen Xihe deliberately probed.

Cui Jinbai knew she was referring to when she had exposed the Crown Prince’s disguise and used poison needles on him: “Princess is too kind. I’m here about a murder case…”

Through Cui Jinbai’s account, she learned that someone had died outside Jianfu Temple yesterday – an escort from the south. This morning they had questioned everyone who might have seen this escort, and finally came to ask Shen Xihe.

“Isn’t that…” Ziyu was surprised to see the portrait – it was the man who had bumped into them yesterday.

“The Princess saw the deceased?” Cui Jinbai glanced at Ziyu.

Shen Xihe nodded to Biyu, who explained the whole situation: “Under-Secretary Cui should question the Pingyao Marquis Manor’s people. He ran hurriedly from where the Old Madam fell in, and right after that someone discovered the Old Madam had fallen into the water.”

Cui Jinbai carefully asked for details once more, ensuring nothing was omitted, before taking his leave.