Xiao Huayong had never met Prince Qian. Before the age of eight, no one had ever mentioned Prince Qian in his presence. When he suddenly learned that Prince Qian was his real father, he felt lost and helpless. Perhaps because they had never met, he only had a vague impression of Prince Qian, with little emotional attachment.

This didn’t prevent him from instinctively wanting to protect everything related to his father, especially when his ancestral tablet was set ablaze before his eyes. How could he remain unmoved?

Protection was almost instinctive, an irrepressible impulse. Fortunately, Shen Xihe was by his side, and fortunately, she knew everything, which was why she held him back at the crucial moment. When he went to extinguish the fire, he didn’t have to reach past the other tablets to get to Prince Qian’s tablet.

“His Majesty’s thoughts run deep. We must be careful in our future dealings,” Shen Xihe said softly.

Neither of them had imagined that His Majesty would use such a method to test whether Xiao Huayong knew about his true lineage. If she hadn’t been there today to realize this possibility in an instant, Xiao Huayong would surely have revealed himself.

Xiao Huayong gently leaned against Shen Xihe’s shoulder, his heart heavy with emotion.

Shen Xihe held his hand and instinctively blurted out, “I will make His Majesty pay for this.”

Xiao Huayong, who had been feeling somewhat dejected, immediately looked at her upon hearing her words of comfort and protection. No one had ever offered to stand up for him before; he had always been the one upholding justice for others.

Even the Empress Dowager only protected him without taking much action on his behalf, especially regarding His Majesty. Being caught between two sides was difficult enough, but her position also constrained her in dealing with His Majesty.

Fearing an irreparable rift with His Majesty, who showed no hesitation in harming him, she often maintained a facade of courtesy.

After all these years, Shen Xihe was the first person who, knowing full well it was His Majesty behind the attack, unhesitatingly offered to stand up for him and turn the tables.

His gaze upon her was like scattered stardust from the Milky Way, more brilliant than the sun and moon, deep and passionate as if he wanted to drown her in his eyes.

Shen Xihe was somewhat frightened by such a gaze, reminiscent of that night under the moonlight when he wouldn’t let her go, his eyes fierce with determination.

She couldn’t help but look away, pretending to brush aside her temples to hide her discomfort.

Her evasion made Xiao Huayong raise his eyebrows. Suddenly inspired, he seemed to realize something, his eyes growing even darker as he leaned close to her ear and whispered something, earning a warning and wary glare from Shen Xihe.

“Hahaha…” Her startled deer-like expression melted his heart, and he couldn’t help but let out a joyful laugh from deep in his chest.

Upon returning to the Eastern Palace, just as Xiao Huayong wanted to stay close to Shen Xihe, Liu Sanzhi was already waiting at the entrance, surely about the burning tablets incident. Emperor Youning had summoned him, much to Shen Xihe’s relief.

She went to the fragrance room with Hong Yu, staying there all afternoon. Shen Xihe had a rule in the fragrance room – no one could disturb her without her permission.

When Xiao Huayong returned looking for her, Zhenzhu mentioned this rule and offered to announce him, but he stopped her. He simply stood outside the fragrance room, breathing in the faint fragrance, waiting for her all afternoon.

When Shen Xihe opened the door and saw Xiao Huayong’s tired expression, she questioned Zhenzhu sternly: “Why didn’t you announce him?”

Zhenzhu, terrified because she knew Shen Xihe was angry, immediately fell to her knees.

“It’s not her fault. I told her not to break your rules,” Xiao Huayong quickly explained.

“Rules are dead, people are alive,” Shen Xihe led him to sit nearby, instructing Hong Yu to bring her prepared fragrant balm. She applied it to her fingertips and massaged his temples. “This is the Eastern Palace, and you are the Crown Prince. There should be no place you cannot go.”

As the cool fragrance spread with a hint of refreshing sensation, Xiao Huayong closed his eyes to enjoy it, sighing, “The Eastern Palace used to belong to the Crown Prince alone, but now it belongs to both the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. If it were my study today, would Youyou enter without asking?”

Shen Xihe was rendered speechless by the question. Put that way, she indeed wouldn’t intrude uninvited. This was a form of respect – even between husband and wife, one needed to respect the other’s privacy and provide some space that belonged solely to him or her, not to be invaded at will.

In late spring, birdsong and fragrant flowers filled the air under the azure sky, as all things in nature renewed themselves.

Shen Xihe felt that her state of mind had also changed since entering the Eastern Palace.

She had expected to feel confined within the high walls, but because of his attentive care and thoughtful consideration, she felt more at ease than when she was outside.

A yellow bird flitted across the treetops. Shen Xihe looked up, watching it land on a branch and hop about happily before spreading its wings to fly elsewhere, free and content. She couldn’t help but smile.

So this was what marriage felt like, somewhat different from what she had seen… or perhaps it varied from person to person?

Shen Xihe’s happiness didn’t last long. By nighttime, when she was being constantly pursued, exhausted from responding, she felt that the only imperfection in married life was probably Xiao Huayong’s insatiable desire for intimacy.

On the third day of their marriage, the bride was to return home. Xiao Huayong had prepared generous gifts early and accompanied Shen Xihe. In the carriage, her eyelids were heavy with sleepiness.

Seeing her state, Xiao Huayong carefully reached out to support her head, gently guiding it to rest on his shoulder.

Shen Xihe woke up in her maiden bedroom, sitting up suddenly with an unreal feeling as if she had never married. The discomfort in her body brought her thoughts back to reality.

She hurriedly got out of bed. Hearing movement, Zhenzhu and Bi Yu entered together.

“How… how did I end up sleeping here… what time is it now?” Shen Xihe asked disjointedly.

While helping Shen Xihe dress, Zhenzhu replied, “His Highness carried the Crown Princess inside. It is now ten in the morning.”

They had set out at seven, and it took less than half an hour to reach the Princess’s mansion from the palace. She had slept for over three hours after returning home!

Shen Xihe was shocked and somewhat angry – what would her father think of her?

After quickly dressing, she rushed to the main hall to find Shen Yueshan, expecting him to speak harshly to Xiao Huayong or treat him coldly. Instead, she found her father and husband chatting cheerfully.

Shen Xihe looked at Shen Yueshan’s heartfelt smile with suspicion.

“Father,” Shen Xihe called out tentatively.

“Youyou’s awake, prepare the meal,” Shen Yueshan instructed the steward.

Shen Xihe was anxious, expecting Shen Yueshan to at least scold them for their behavior, but surprisingly he didn’t mention it at all.

He smiled all day, and his gaze toward Xiao Huayong was even more loving than when he looked at her brother.

Shen Xihe found it incredibly hard to believe, feeling as if Xiao Huayong had somehow bewitched Shen Yueshan.

“What spell did you cast on my father?” she couldn’t help asking after bidding farewell to Shen Yueshan.

Xiao Huayong brought his handsome face close, pointing at it with strong suggestive meaning.