Following proper customs, he had waited a year without discussing marriage. Then last year, his father, the Prince, truly passed away, and as a son, he naturally had to observe the mourning period, even though he had already observed one when his father had previously faked his death.

“Let her be.” Shen Yingruo could marry a prince, and Shen Xihe wouldn’t interfere. Her marriage would be entirely her own decision. The Shen household would prepare a dowry according to custom and give her all of Madam Xiao’s belongings. Whether her future life turned out well or not would be her own choice.

Xiao Huayong glanced at Shen Xihe. Though she didn’t manage Shen Yingruo’s affairs, as long as Yingruo carried the Shen name, if she lived unhappily in the future and came seeking help while gritting her teeth, Shen Xihe wouldn’t refuse her. Even if she didn’t ask for help, if her husband’s family bullied her too severely, Shen Xihe wouldn’t ignore it. Rather than that, why not arrange for her to marry someone reliable?

“Ahing is also an excellent person, this year’s top scholar. He will surely achieve the highest honors in next year’s imperial examinations, with limitless prospects,” said Xiao Huayong.

Xiao Fuxing was the son of Princess Imperial Ruyang and the late Prince Consort Wei. After Prince Consort Wei was executed in the rouge case, Princess Imperial Ruyang offered vast treasures to fill the national treasury and was granted a divorce. The two siblings had their surname changed from Wei to Xiao.

“I know he is your man, and if you arrange his marriage, he would surely treat her well.” Shen Xihe gently shook her head. “Although I think romantic love is of little importance, not everyone is like me. Someone we think is good may not seem good to her. I also don’t want her to think I’m interfering, nor can I force your trusted subordinate.”

The smile gradually fell from Xiao Huayong’s face, his jaw slowly tightening. “Romantic love… is of little importance?”

His eyes seemed to still hold traces of smiles and starlight, but simultaneously appeared covered by the chill of a winter night.

Shen Xihe realized that her words had likely struck a nerve. He had been wholeheartedly trying to draw her into love’s river, but she didn’t want to favor him. Even now, she still felt that romantic love was of little importance, take it or leave it.

She also knew that if she truly said this, he would surely become angry and sulk. After a moment of silence, she said, “Romantic love is of little importance, but Your Highness is of the utmost importance to me.”

He was quiet for a moment before his smile spread from his lips to his eyes, his voice extremely gentle: “You’re coaxing me.”

Not in the sense of deceiving, but in the sense of accommodating.

“Doesn’t Your Highness like this?” Shen Xihe tactfully acknowledged.

She wasn’t lying. She now clearly realized that Xiao Huayong was gradually becoming important in her heart, but this importance had nothing to do with the lingering, passionate love between men and women, where one day apart feels like three autumns.

She cared about Xiao Huayong’s emotions, was willing to tolerate his temperament, and was happy to accommodate his habits. Yet she didn’t feel the need to see him every moment, didn’t need to rely on him for everything, and if he traveled far away, she wouldn’t lose her appetite or worry herself sick over him.

“I like it. How could I not be happy when Youyou has me in her heart?” Xiao Huayong smiled tenderly, his eyes flowing with radiance.

Shen Xihe also smiled with slight helplessness.

The two moved past this topic and spoke of other things. Xiao Huayong knew when to stop, not because he was satisfied with Shen Xihe’s answer, but because he wasn’t in a hurry. He knew that while she was important in his heart, she wasn’t that important to her.

But that was fine. There would be plenty of time ahead. They would soon have their grand wedding, and afterward, he would naturally have more time to occupy her heart. He would occupy her entire heart inch by inch.

After Shen Xihe returned from the Eastern Palace to her residence, she hadn’t expected Shen Yingruo to rarely seek her out. She invited her in, and seeing Shen Yingruo hesitate to speak, she got straight to the point: “If you have something to say, just say it.”

“Yesterday I received my coming-of-age gift from Father, and Father also had someone relay a message about my marriage.” Shen Yingruo slowly began, “I don’t know Father’s intentions, so I came to ask Sister if Father is hoping for me to marry soon?”

After hearing this, Shen Xihe was quiet for a moment before seriously saying, “You’re overthinking it. You’re a Shen family daughter, and since you’ve come of age, your father naturally should inquire about your marriage. If you have someone you favor, just tell him. Father won’t interfere with your marriage. As long as you think it’s good, any status is acceptable.”

Hearing this, Shen Yingruo lowered her eyes and again fell silent for a long while.

Shen Xihe showed no impatience, nor did she actively inquire further, quietly taking a sip of tea.

Perhaps feeling that such strange silence was somewhat uncomfortable, Shen Yingruo spoke again: “If… if I never marry, will Father resent me?”

Shen Xihe gave Shen Yingruo a puzzled look, then remembered that she had never interacted with Shen Yueshan and didn’t understand his character. Where in the capital were there unmarried ladies of advanced age?

Not only would they become a laughingstock, but their family would also become a topic of gossip.

“Why don’t you want to marry?” Shen Xihe answered with a question.

Shen Yingruo lowered her head, her fingers twirling her handkerchief several times before saying, “I… I don’t want to be confined to the inner court, don’t want to serve parents-in-law, don’t want to be a married woman.”

She hated being constrained. No one had constrained her in all these years. Once married, she would take on another identity, representing the Shen family. Even if she disliked something, she would have to put on a smiling face to avoid tarnishing the Shen family’s reputation.

What was the point of living like that?

Shen Xihe nodded to show understanding: “You can rest assured, even if you never marry, that’s fine too.”

This was something both Shen Xihe and Shen Yueshan could accept, and as for Shen Yun’an, he acted as if Shen Yingruo didn’t exist.

Those lively almond eyes seemed to be filled with flowing water, instantly becoming animated. Shen Yingruo’s joy showed on her face as she bowed to Shen Xihe: “I… I’ll take my leave.”

Knowing Shen Xihe didn’t wish to see her, having gotten her answer, Shen Yingruo didn’t want to offend her further.

In the following days, many people came to the Princess’s residence inquiring about Shen Yingruo’s marriage, and Shen Xihe rejected them all. This had been Shen Yingruo’s purpose – if she hadn’t come to state her position, Shen Xihe would have surely passed all these proposals to her to choose from herself.

As Shen Xihe’s rejections mounted, it gradually became understood that the Shen family wasn’t in a hurry to arrange matches for Shen Yingruo, and the marriage proposals were set aside.

Princess Yaoxi would visit either the Princess’s residence or the Eastern Palace every few days, not minding being turned away each time. After half a month, one day, when Princess Yaoxi came to Shen Xihe’s residence, she was unexpectedly kidnapped right outside the Princess’s residence. No one could find her, and even Emperor Youning dispatched the Imperial Guards.

“You don’t need to endure this hardship,” Shen Xihe said flatly to Princess Yaoxi on the outskirts of the capital.

“Since we’re putting on a show, it naturally needs to be convincing to make His Majesty believe it.” After a pause, Princess Yaoxi smiled mysteriously, “I also want to use this to test how much status I have in His Majesty’s heart.”

Over this half month, the Princess’s residence and Eastern Palace were just going through the motions – all her attention had been on Emperor Youning.

With matters having reached this point, Shen Xihe said no more. She gave Moyu a look, and Moyu hung the bound Princess Yaoxi from a tree.