Xiao Huayong felt helpless about Shen Xihe’s lack of romantic sensibility, but he was also filled with inexplicable joy that she was willing to change and consider his feelings.
Though satisfied in his heart, Xiao Huayong dared not linger long. Despite Shen Xihe appearing defenseless now, they were husband and wife after all, and how could he not notice her peripheral vision constantly tracking his every movement?
When Xiao Huayong stepped forward, Shen Xihe quickly moved a step ahead. He merely wanted to get closer to bid her an intimate farewell, but her vigilant demeanor reminded him of that released little deer, equally endearing.
“Rest early. If you need me, just blow the bone whistle,” Xiao Huayong said with a soft laugh before silently departing through the window.
Shen Xihe breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to wash up and bathe. Before retiring, she specifically instructed Moyu: “Even if His Highness the Crown Prince comes in the middle of the night, do not let him enter without my permission.”
“Yes,” Moyu nodded in acknowledgment.
Only then did Shen Xihe lie down contentedly and enter sweet dreams.
Meanwhile, at the relay station, the Crown Princess suddenly fell ill. Zhenzhu, the medical maid by the Crown Princess’s side, knocked on the traveling physician’s door to obtain some medicines. The physician didn’t have them either, so they had to disturb Xiao Changfeng, who was currently in charge of their safety. Xiao Changfeng sent someone to buy medicine from the city pharmacy and brought the physician to the Crown Princess’s bedchamber, waiting behind the screen for the physician’s diagnosis results.
After the examination, Xiao Changfeng keenly noticed something off about the physician’s expression and asked with concern: “How is Her Highness the Crown Princess?”
The physician’s eyes flickered before he bowed and said: “In response to Your Highness, the Crown Princess is suffering from cold deficiency. I’ve seen Miss Zhenzhu’s prescription, and the medicine is extremely appropriate. With Miss Zhenzhu present, this humble one need not show off before experts. Her Highness the Crown Princess will surely recover soon.”
Xiao Changfeng raised his eyebrows upon hearing this and glanced at the shadowy figures behind the screen. He felt something was amiss but couldn’t quite figure out what. Moreover, it wasn’t appropriate to linger in Shen Xihe’s room late at night, given the delicate situation.
“It’s good that the Crown Princess is well,” Xiao Changfeng said respectfully. “This prince is just next door. If the Crown Princess has any instructions, feel free to send someone to call for me.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Prince Xun,” the Crown Princess’s voice was extremely hoarse and weak.
After Xiao Changfeng left, his attendants followed closely behind. When the physician reached the end of the corridor near Xiao Changfeng’s temporary quarters and was about to withdraw after bowing, he was grabbed by the arm: “This prince is feeling unwell. Physician, please come in and check my pulse.”
Brought into Xiao Changfeng’s room, the physician became uneasy. Xiao Changfeng sat leisurely at the table, unhurriedly poured himself a cup of hot water, then looked up at the nervous physician: “How is Her Highness the Crown Princess?”
“In response to Your Highness, the Crown Princess is indeed well. With the appropriate medicine, she should be able to leave her bed tomorrow,” the physician replied.
“Oh?” Xiao Changfeng’s voice rose meaningfully. “If that’s the case, why did you appear flustered after taking her pulse?”
“Your Highness, this humble one didn’t—”
“Think carefully before answering. I most hate being deceived,” Xiao Changfeng sternly interrupted.
The physician’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly knelt: “Your Highness, the Crown Princess’s body is indeed unharmed, but…”
“But what?” Xiao Changfeng pressed.
“Your Highness, everyone has their unique pulse pattern, which doesn’t easily change significantly in a short time. This humble one checked the Crown Princess’s pulse two days ago when Your Highness came, and was very familiar with her physical condition. Tonight, checking her pulse again, the Crown Princess’s pulse pattern is very different from the days prior. A person’s health condition shows great variation in pulse strength.”
The physician spoke very indirectly, but how could someone as perceptive as Xiao Changfeng not understand the deeper meaning? “Are you saying the Crown Princess’s pulse patterns these past few days differ greatly, as if belonging to different people?”
The physician lowered his head in silence, his lack of denial serving as confirmation.
Xiao Changfeng’s eyes flickered slightly. The Crown Princess had been replaced right under his nose, but why make such a scene tonight? Shouldn’t they have kept it hidden?
The relay station wasn’t sealed off. If Zhenzhu and others wanted medicine, they could have sent someone to the pharmacy. Why need to disturb the physician? And if they hadn’t disturbed the physician, how would it have alerted him?
If they had quietly obtained the medicine, even if he found out tomorrow, he wouldn’t have thought much of it. The maids around the Crown Princess all appeared very shrewd – how could they not have considered this? Such actions seemed deliberately designed to let him know through the physician that the Crown Princess had been replaced.
“Have you seen the Crown Princess?” Xiao Changfeng asked.
“Your Highness, this humble one is too lowly to dare gaze upon such an exalted countenance,” the physician said softly.
The Crown Princess was already in bed, and when he arrived, the bed curtains were drawn. Someone of his low status couldn’t raise their head while taking a noble’s pulse, so both times he hadn’t seen the Crown Princess’s face.
“Go rest now, and keep this matter to yourself,” Xiao Changfeng waved to dismiss the physician.
The physician couldn’t wait to flee, quickly bowing before hastily withdrawing.
Xiao Changfeng had no mind to care about the physician’s discourteous retreat. He was pondering what game Shen Xihe was playing.
Before His Majesty sent him, he had confided that he suspected something was amiss with Shen Yueshan’s disappearance.
On this point, Xiao Changfeng had his judgment. Not specifically regarding Shen Yueshan, but anyone familiar with Shen Yueshan’s past illustrious military achievements wouldn’t believe he could be ambushed and go missing. Langzhou wasn’t far from the northwest, and Shen Yueshan should have known the terrain like the back of his hand. It was impossible that there would still be no trace of him.
On the boat to Lanzhou, Shen Xihe had also faced such a large-scale assassination attempt. His Majesty said these people’s backgrounds were extremely complex, involving at least three different factions. All signs indicated this matter wasn’t simple, so he naturally exercised extreme caution.
The next day, the Crown Princess was indeed able to leave her bed. In the small courtyard behind the relay station, Xiao Changfeng watched her sitting alone, pale-faced and appearing distracted, with surprisingly no one by her side. He walked over, and the Crown Princess raised her eyes to look at him.
Xiao Changfeng clasped his hands in greeting, and the probing words that came to his lips were ultimately swallowed back. He said: “The wind is strong outside. Your Highness has just recovered from illness and should be careful not to catch a cold. Why are there no attendants by your side?”
“I was feeling vexed… and sent them away,” the Crown Princess’s voice had a sickly hoarseness.
Although Xiao Changfeng had seen the Crown Princess several times, he had only really spoken with her at Shen Yingruo’s coming-of-age ceremony, when Yu Sangning’s cat was injured and Shen Xihe intervened as the host. Beyond that, they had no other interactions, so he couldn’t immediately judge true from false.
But first, there was the deliberate notification through the physician about the Crown Princess’s identity, and now this coincidental solo encounter – Xiao Changfeng felt it wasn’t simple.