No right to refuse…

No…

Right…

Xiao Huayong had been appointed Crown Prince before he was even a month old. The Emperor’s obvious favoritism toward him left him isolated, yet no one dared to oppose him. Never had anyone told him he had no right to refuse.

Shen Xihe’s words weren’t groundless. What she said made sense – she need only spread some rumors or make some subtle moves, and the vigilant Emperor would launch a massive purge, destroying much of what he had painstakingly built.

“Your Grace, even when a deal falls through, goodwill should remain. By forcing this transaction, aren’t you concerned about making enemies?” Xiao Huayong asked with darkened eyes.

“There’s a common saying: When you owe too much, you stop worrying. I have so many enemies already, one more makes little difference,” Shen Xihe said dismissively. “I gave Hua Taoyi a choice – peace or war, it all depends on his decision.”

After her move against Cui Jinbai last time, this person knew she had seen through him. Since she already held such leverage over him, it would be more dangerous not to address it openly.

“Your Grace favors the Crown Prince, yet seeks to ally with me without questioning my identity,” Xiao Huayong smiled meaningfully. “What is your intention? Aren’t you worried that if the Crown Prince learns of this, it might be disadvantageous to you?”

“When did I say I wanted to ally with you?” Shen Xihe corrected. “Cooperation is merely a temporary mutual benefit. Whether we can continue to get what we want depends on whether our interests conflict in the future. When that time comes, may the best person win.”

Xiao Huayong was momentarily speechless, feeling conflicted: “Your Grace is truly unsentimental, speaking of future confrontation before we’ve even begun cooperating…”

“Not unsentimental, but sincere,” Shen Xihe corrected again. “I dislike engaging in hollow pleasantries with clever people. If we’re clear with each other from the start, there won’t be resentment when we eventually cross swords.”

Xiao Huayong seemed to understand and nodded: “Since Your Grace has considered the future, you must have guessed that I too have a prince backing me… Or perhaps I am one. Why not favor me instead?”

“I already answered that,” Shen Xihe repeated. “I dislike engaging in hollow pleasantries with clever people.”

Xiao Huayong had long noticed that Shen Xihe was different from typical gentle and virtuous young ladies. She was extremely strong-willed and would never submit to or comply with men. Therefore, rather than those who were exceptionally clever, she was more patient with those who were ordinary yet not mediocre, because she disliked being controlled by others.

Though his guess was correct, Xiao Huayong felt strange: “Does this mean the Crown Prince is a fool?”

Shen Xihe lifted her chin, her tone cooling: “Hua Taoyi, mind your words.”

Through the layer of white gauze, Xiao Huayong couldn’t see the reaction of the naturally reserved Shen Xihe, but he could sense her displeasure.

Was she displeased because someone had insulted him?

Xiao Huayong was delighted inside: “I spoke out of turn. I’m still curious what makes the Crown Prince worthy of Your Grace’s protection? Perhaps… I still have a chance?”

“He is different from all of you,” Shen Xihe said flatly. “Hua Taoyi, I choose to cooperate with you now because I think we needn’t clash too early and let others benefit from our conflict.”

Who would dare to infiltrate the Emperor’s trusted Embroidered Uniform Guard and manipulate his valued talents?

The person before her was undoubtedly a prince, but she had never interacted with any of the princes before. Although she understood something of their personalities from their actions, she couldn’t hastily conclude which one he was.

The only thing she could be certain of was that he was not Xiao Changqing.

Even the one in the Eastern Palace hadn’t been completely cleared of suspicion in her mind.

She proposed cooperation with this person at this time for several reasons. First, as she said, she didn’t want to engage in a life-or-death struggle too early and benefit others.

Second, he already knew she had seen through him, so finding a reason to bring things into the open would prevent suspicion in the shadows.

Third, with more interaction, she would eventually peel back his final layer of disguise.

Fourth, letting his influence penetrate the Northwest would make it easier for her to control more information about him.

Fifth, promoting Northwestern commerce would help the people there live more comfortably.

The snow lotus was just a pretext – even without it, she would have found another reason to do what she did today.

“Your Grace has been frank with me, and I have no way back. I look forward to your guidance in the future.” Xiao Huayong raised his tea cup in a distant salute to Shen Xihe.

Shen Xihe also raised her cup with both hands and thus their agreement was reached.

After taking a sip, Shen Xihe didn’t put down her teacup, but kept one hand on the lid, lowering her gaze to examine it carefully, as if studying the patterns on the cup.

Xiao Huayong, well-versed in the tea ceremony, naturally recognized this as a subtle signal to take his leave.

He couldn’t help but laugh – when it came to burning bridges after crossing them, no one was quicker than Shen Xihe.

He took the hint and rose to bid farewell. Shen Xihe disliked false courtesy and didn’t say a single word to detain him, yet maintained perfect etiquette by personally seeing him at the main gate.

“Your Highness, how did it go? What did the Princess say?” Tianyuan had been waiting in the carriage at the foot of the mountain. His master had found his wit lacking and feared he might give away their identity if he appeared too often before the Princess.

Xiao Huayong ignored Tianyuan and instead lifted the carriage curtain. Through the overlapping trees up the mountainside, he could still faintly see a corner of the estate. His eyes softened with tenderness: “She said I’m different from others.”

“Huh?” Tianyuan was confused.

Seeing his master’s gentle expression, Tianyuan thought to himself: Could it be… could the Princess have confessed her feelings to His Highness?

But then he realized – no, the Princess had met with Hua Fuhai, not knowing it was his master in disguise.

Looking over his master’s appearance as Hua Fuhai, Tianyuan shook his head like a rattle drum – the Princess wouldn’t be interested in that.

Xiao Huayong lowered the curtain and turned to see Tianyuan’s eyes darting around while shaking his head. He took a folding fan from beside him and tapped Tianyuan’s head: “She promised Hua Fuhai the Northwestern market and asked him to find premium snow lotus for me.”

“Is this why Your Highness is so pleased?” Tianyuan found it hard to express his thoughts.

The premium snow lotus was something His Highness had schemed to get for the Princess, though she didn’t know it. Although she had gone to some trouble, in the end, it was for herself. Yet look how happy it had made their master – since when had His Highness been so easily pleased?

“She thinks of me, willing to deal with merchants for my sake. Should I not be pleased?” Xiao Huayong was dissatisfied with Tianyuan’s reaction.

“You should, you should, you absolutely should!” Tianyuan immediately put on an envious smile. “The Princess truly has a sincere heart for Your Highness. As soon as she heard you needed snow lotus to sustain your life, she anxiously sought it out for you. This shows how important Your Highness is to her.”

He would swear that if the Princess didn’t have other motives, she would never have approached Hua Fuhai for snow lotus. But since his supremely intelligent master chose to ignore this, what could he, a mere subordinate, do but go along with his master’s wishes?