Xiao Huayong’s “Aunt” was, given his position as Crown Prince, the sister of his nominal mother – the late Empress, and more significantly, His Majesty’s beloved.

“Over all these years, hasn’t anyone tried to earn Imperial favor by imitating her?” Shen Xihe questioned.

“They have,” Xiao Huayong nodded. “A similar appearance might catch His Majesty’s eye briefly, and a similar temperament might make His Majesty remember such a person.”

However, no one had ever succeeded.

Shen Xihe lowered her long eyelashes. “Previous attempts failed because His Majesty’s beloved was still alive. Now she’s gone.”

“That’s one reason,” Xiao Huayong’s eyes flickered with amusement. “Secondly, Princess Yaoxi’s advantage isn’t in imitating others. Imitations are ultimately fake, and even the deepest dreams must end. Her advantage lies in having lived under the same roof as that person for over ten years.”

There was no need to imitate that person or become her substitute – substitutes never met good ends. Princess Yaoxi only needed to share little details about that person’s life in Tibet, and it would be enough to captivate His Majesty’s soul and dreams, enough to make His Majesty want to stay by her side.

It had nothing to do with romance. As long as she remained authentic, His Majesty would protect her; as long as she was clever enough, she could always discern His Majesty’s every move.

Romantic love wasn’t what Princess Yaoxi sought – Tibet’s stability and her brother’s throne were everything to her. This much, Shen Xihe could tell from their brief conversation yesterday.

Shen Xihe thought this scheme was excellent, and she would need to give Princess Yaoxi some guidance.

Naturally, Shen Xihe wouldn’t seek out Princess Yaoxi herself. His Majesty monitored Princess Yaoxi’s every move. If the Princess came to Shen Xihe, His Majesty wouldn’t be suspicious, assuming it was because Princess Yaoxi earnestly wanted to marry into the Eastern Palace, hence her persistent attention to Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong. The reverse would appear suspicious in His Majesty’s eyes. Any slight change in Princess Yaoxi would certainly arouse His Majesty’s suspicion.

Two days later was Shen Xihe’s coming-of-age ceremony. Neither Shen Yueshan nor Shen Yunan had received special permission to enter the capital. As the only relative from the Shen family able to attend, Shen Xihe couldn’t be absent.

She had promised that she wouldn’t let anyone bully Shen Xihe – this was Shen Xihe’s rightful privilege as a daughter of the Shen family.

Following custom, she prepared generous gifts. She only needed to make an appearance, as the palace would handle all arrangements. The ceremony would naturally be grand – not only did Shen Xihe have a father who commanded significant military power, but she also had a sister who would soon enter the Eastern Palace, and she was a County Princess favored by His Majesty. Princess Pingling would be her ceremony’s honorary sponsor.

Shen Xihe also used this coming-of-age ceremony to meet Princess Yaoxi. Though she hadn’t planned to catch Princess Yaoxi’s eye for conversation, when Princess Yaoxi actively sought a meeting, Shen Xihe decided to accept after hearing the message from Princess Yaoxi’s maid.

Though she hadn’t lived long in the Shen residence, she knew it better than Princess Yaoxi. So she named a location and sent Biyu to guide Princess Yaoxi while she went ahead to wait. Princess Yaoxi arrived quickly.

“I agree to your proposal, but you must tell me how to earn His Majesty’s special regard,” Princess Yaoxi had deliberated for two days and consulted repeatedly with her confidants, concluding that Shen Xihe’s suggestion indeed served her interests best.

Becoming His Majesty’s consort now would immediately intimidate the Xiazha family and stabilize her brother’s position on the throne, as matters with her father couldn’t be delayed any longer.

In the future, she could assess the situation – if Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe remained victorious, she would continue cooperating with them. If the couple’s fortunes declined, as long as she held His Majesty’s secrets, she wouldn’t lack new allies.

This truly put her in an unbeatable position.

“You have the greatest advantage…” Shen Xihe had never imagined Princess Yaoxi would reject her proposal, so she told her about that peerless beauty’s story.

“The Queen…” Princess Yaoxi first showed surprise, then sudden understanding. “So that’s it…”

Twenty years ago, Tibet had planned to attack the Celestial Dynasty. At that time, the Celestial Dynasty faced both internal and external troubles, while Tibet had reached unprecedented strength. However, her father had suffered repeated defeats at Shen Yueshan’s hands and grown wary.

Another reason was that her father had fallen in love with a woman from the Central Plains. Her strong grasp of Han culture came from this woman’s influence. If the Queen hadn’t been childless, she and her brother might never have come into this world.

Her father had been too infatuated with her, heeding her every word. After having her, he’d shown nothing but disdain for other women. That woman had been too clever – her wisdom had made the entire palace aware of her father’s infatuation, yet no one had been jealous, instead competing to curry her favor.

Her mother had been the most skilled at pleasing her, even sending herself to be raised at her knee to win her favor.

She had been good to her, and because of her, her father had especially favored her. It was also because of her departure that her father had suffered a sudden collapse in spirits, falling ill and now approaching death.

“County Princess, do you know that on her deathbed, she had me burn a piece of parchment?” Princess Yaoxi’s gaze grew distant, staring into space as if lost in long memories. “I couldn’t resist peeking out of curiosity – it was Tibet’s military defense map.”

That must have been what she had wanted to give to the Celestial Dynasty’s Emperor as her final gift. She could have easily sent it back to the Celestial Dynasty – her father had never restricted her movements. Yet on her final day, she had chosen to burn it, perhaps moved by her father’s sincere and selfless love for her.

Shen Xihe remained silent, having no interest in others’ tangles of love and hate.

Princess Yaoxi quickly returned to the present, abandoning that topic: “Thank you, County Princess, for your strategic advice.”

“Princess,” Shen Xihe felt compelled to add one more reminder, “Everything has its limits. No father wishes to marry a woman whose heart belongs to his son.”

Shen Xihe suggested that Princess Yaoxi publicly declare her intentions to satisfy a man’s vanity and ensure Princess Yaoxi achieved her goals without fail. As for whether His Majesty would be suspicious, those concerns could be addressed later through daily interaction.

Xiao Huayong’s suggestion would save trouble later – once His Majesty truly developed feelings, he wouldn’t test her as much. But the early stages could easily go wrong, and Princess Yaoxi would need to judge that balance herself.

She needed to show she had never thought of marrying His Majesty, that her heart was set on marrying a prince, but without letting His Majesty think she was hopelessly in love with any particular prince. Once His Majesty formed such an impression, he would never develop feelings for Yaoxi.

Princess Yaoxi gave Shen Xihe a deep look – this young woman understood too well how to control people’s hearts.

“Then I must ask County Princess to assist me once more.”

She couldn’t appear to pursue another target without experiencing any setbacks – that would seem too deliberate.