“Go to the front and call Zhenzhu over,” Shen Xihe instructed the Shen Manor maid nearby.

Having lived at Shen Manor for a short while with Zhenzhu and the others, the maids all recognized Zhenzhu and immediately went to carry out the order.

“There’s no need to trouble County Princess. I’ll take the cat away,” Yu Sangning stood up with the bandaged cat in her arms.

“Better have someone look at it. I also keep a cat, and whenever there’s any problem, Zhenzhu takes care of it. She’s no less skilled than the palace veterinarians.”

This wasn’t mere praise from Shen Xihe. The medical notes left by Elder Baitouweng included some basic veterinary knowledge. Though Shen Xihe’s Duanming hadn’t been ill much this past year, Zhenzhu had taken great interest, spending time each day studying and practicing by treating abandoned cats in her spare time, developing considerable skill.

Shen Xihe didn’t want to interfere too much in Yu Sangning’s affairs, but since Yu Sangning chose to create drama at Shen Manor, she had to step in as the host.

It would be best if even Zhenzhu couldn’t save this cat – then it would truly be fated to die here. If Yu Sangning took it away like this, the cat would certainly die. Only its death would make Xiao Changfeng feel guilty enough to at least compensate Yu Sangning with another cat.

This back-and-forth would give someone as calculating and opportunistic as Yu Sangning enough chances to gradually become familiar with Xiao Changfeng and catch his eye.

Shen Xihe wasn’t trying to deliberately sabotage her – Yu Sangning meant nothing to her, nor did she find Yu Sangning’s methods particularly despicable or feel compelled to uphold justice. She was simply doing what was reasonable as the host.

Zhenzhu arrived quickly and examined the cat before shaking her head at Shen Xihe: “This cat’s organs are damaged. It won’t live much longer.”

As soon as Zhenzhu finished speaking, a tear rolled down Yu Sangning’s cheek, though she tried to hide it, as if not wanting anyone to see her grief.

Hearing this, Xiao Changfeng felt guilty: “Second Miss Yu, this prince used too much force. Please accept my condolences. Whatever compensation Second Miss Yu desires, just name it – this prince will do everything possible to fulfill it.”

At these words, even Shen Xihe couldn’t help but give Xiao Changfeng another look.

Logically, for nobles like them, let alone a cat’s life, even a human life might mean nothing. Yet Xiao Changfeng hadn’t casually offered to give Yu Sangning another cat, showing he understood that life was irreplaceable, not to be trifled with or taken lightly. This point alone placed his moral character above countless young nobles.

If Shen Xihe could discern Xiao Changfeng’s character from just one sentence, how could someone as astute as Yu Sangning not recognize him as a virtuous royal relative? She gracefully curtsied: “Your Highness need not mind. I failed to watch it properly and disturbed you. You were only defending yourself. Its misfortune was due to my negligence, not Your Highness’s fault.”

What an understanding, magnanimous, and properly dignified young lady.

Shen Xihe raised an eyebrow, remaining silent.

Xiao Changfeng’s expression remained unchanged: “Thank you for your understanding, Second Miss Yu. However, the cat died by my hand, and I must express my apologies regardless.”

Meaning that Yu Sangning’s silence only made him more uneasy.

Understanding his implied meaning, Yu Sangning said: “Though born a cat, it was still a life. Since it died today due to my negligence, I wish to hold a Buddhist ceremony and make a grave for it. If Your Highness has time, perhaps you could attend its final journey.”

Shen Xihe almost applauded Yu Sangning’s psychological manipulation – she was one of the most skilled minds among young ladies that Shen Xihe had encountered.

She simply watched quietly as they coordinated. Xiao Changfeng didn’t make things difficult: “Second Miss Yu can send someone to notify me at Prince Xun’s residence. This prince will certainly attend personally.”

How easily could even a clever and wise man see through a woman’s schemes? Especially ones as unconventional as Yu Sangning’s. If Shen Xihe hadn’t already known Yu Sangning’s true nature, if she hadn’t smelled the spider incense, she might not have guessed this was an ingeniously executed plan.

Not a chance encounter, not a display of beauty, not a contrived rescue scenario. A cat, a touch of remorse, and a show of understanding – enough to touch someone’s heart.

After all, cats were living creatures that couldn’t be controlled long-term. Xiao Changfeng naturally wouldn’t know when spider incense had been applied to him, and the cat only needed to be placed here early, kept here by whatever means, knowing he would pass by. Yu Sangning’s early arrival was also well-calculated.

She knew Shen Xihe and Xiao Changfeng had met privately, and to avoid suspicion, they wouldn’t leave together. She only needed to see Shen Xihe to follow her path back and naturally encounter Xiao Changfeng.

Presumably, during this time she had visited Shen Manor often while getting close to Shen Xihe, becoming somewhat familiar with its layout.

Or perhaps she simply followed the cat to find Xiao Changfeng. As for how and when she managed to get spider incense on him without detection, only she would know.

Such precision planning was needed to achieve such an unsuspicious effect.

The next day, when Shen Xihe went to the Eastern Palace, she couldn’t help but share this story with Xiao Huayong during their casual conversation.

During his time recuperating at the temporary palace, Xiao Huayong had often used his boredom from being confined to bed as an excuse to ask about outside happenings, wanting Shen Xihe to tell him stories to relieve his tedium.

Unable to resist his pleading, Shen Xihe would select stories she’d heard from Ziyu to tell him, thinking he’d find such ladies’ matters uninteresting after a few times and stop asking.

Unexpectedly, he seemed to find everything she told him fascinating, even seriously offering his opinions and discussing them with her. This made Shen Xihe feel she couldn’t be perfunctory, and thus she developed the habit of telling him about whatever she encountered.

She discovered she had fallen into another trap he had deliberately set.

The scariest part wasn’t that she discovered the trap, but that after discovering it, she didn’t find anything wrong with it and had no desire to change.

“His Majesty shows some genuine care for Second Miss,” Xiao Huayong’s first reaction was identical to Shen Xihe’s.

Hearing this, Shen Xihe’s lips involuntarily curved upward – they seemed to share more and more spiritual resonance.

Her reaction made Xiao Huayong understand why she smiled, and he couldn’t help but smile gently himself: “If Second Miss is interested, my cousin would make a fine husband.”

Xiao Changfeng was Prince Xun’s legitimate son, two years older than Xiao Huayong. The reason he remained unmarried was that he had once been betrothed – his intended was five years younger than him. By the time she came of age, he was already capped, but she had unfortunately passed away shortly after her coming-of-age ceremony.