She wore a simple hairpin and cotton dress, her face free of powder, her posture straight and dignified, her expression cool and distant.
Even dressed as a common woman, the Crown Princess’s noble bearing was difficult to conceal. Another person now stood at her side.
Though Xiao Changfeng had seen imposters who could create perfect deceptions before, one glance was enough to convince him that this was the real person.
This kind of innate elegance and composure wasn’t something just anyone could imitate.
No wonder since he had rushed thousands of li to take charge, that fake Crown Princess had used the excuse of being traumatized by the boat attack to avoid facing him directly. The only time she had met him was deliberately to make him suspicious, causing him to overlook her bearing.
“Why did Your Highness disappear from the relay station?” Xiao Changfeng asked.
“I was naturally kidnapped,” Shen Xihe answered placidly.
“How did Your Highness escape from the bandits? And who kidnapped Your Highness?” Xiao Changfeng pressed.
“I do not know who was behind it,” Shen Xihe replied unhurriedly. “I have my secret guards. To be frank with you, Prince Xun, after the assassination attempt on the boat and then the attack at the relay station, I felt deeply unsafe. Thus, I deliberately went along with their kidnapping, allowing my secret guards to rescue me later, taking a roundabout route to Liangzhou.”
She spoke so frankly and naturally that if he hadn’t already known the Crown Princess at the relay station was an imposter, he might have believed her somewhat.
However, though he had no proof the Crown Princess at the relay station was fake, he couldn’t say so. Thus he also couldn’t claim Shen Xihe was working with her kidnappers to kill all the men His Majesty had sent.
“Your Highness is thoughtful and far-sighted. This prince admires you. Considering Your Highness has traveled from Yunzhou to Liangzhou, this prince won’t disturb your rest.” Xiao Changfeng knew he couldn’t get anything out of Shen Xihe, so there was no point wasting time with her. Better to investigate her whereabouts during this period.
This investigation was exactly what Shen Xihe wanted. She had deliberately waited two days before appearing because she needed to leave traces of her presence in Liangzhou. These traces were meant for Xiao Changfeng—once he finished his investigation, she could reasonably lead him to search for her father.
“Youyou!” Bu Shulin hurriedly came looking for her just as Shen Xihe had finished bathing and changing clothes with Zhenzhu and the others’ help. She looked Shen Xihe up and down, let out a long sigh of relief, then glanced behind her before lowering her voice to say, “Couldn’t you have let me know next time?”
Of course, Bu Shulin knew the one who disappeared from the relay station wasn’t her, but Shen Xihe had truly vanished afterward. When she questioned Zhenzhu and the others, there was no news at all, which had truly worried her.
“Tell you? How would we fool Prince Xun then?” Shen Xihe glanced at her.
This hurt of being distrusted made Bu Shulin clutch her chest: “You doubt my abilities, doubt my wisdom, and even doubt my acting skills!”
Shen Xihe’s gaze swept up and down her body: “Forgive my directness, but when it comes to ability, I’ve seen none in you.”
Bu Shulin: …
Just insult her, that’s all she knows how to do!
“Don’t forget, I helped you lure Xiao Changfeng over!” When they needed her help, they hadn’t found her lacking.
If she hadn’t led Xiao Changfeng over, how would he have so easily gone personally, believing Shen Xihe was in the inn? Following Shen Xihe into the remote mountains where he nearly lost his life.
Mentioning this made her angry: “I worked so hard planning for you, then you turned around and killed everyone His Majesty sent except me. Now everyone thinks I was working with the assassins.”
“Isn’t Prince Xun still alive? You can always throw suspicion onto him.” Shen Xihe’s lips curved slightly.
“I won’t argue about this with him. I’ll just say my martial arts are exceptional, my movements swift, and no one can match me.” Bu Shulin lifted her chin.
Shen Xihe gave an ambiguous laugh.
To Bu Shulin’s eyes, this laugh was pure contempt, blatant mockery: “My martial arts skills rank among the best in the world, don’t underestimate me.”
“Why don’t you fight Prince Xun and see who’s better?” Shen Xihe raised an eyebrow.
Bu Shulin: …
They had fought, when Xiao Changfeng ran back to the relay station and found all the others who had gone searching for the Crown Princess dead, with only her returning unharmed. He suspected her, and they had ended up fighting, with her losing by half a move!
Such humiliation! She had been practicing hard lately, determined to win back that half move.
Seeing her expression, it was clear she had crossed swords with Xiao Changfeng, and the result was self-evident.
Shen Xihe smiled subtly, and before Bu Shulin could get angry, said: “Alright, I need to rest.”
Though dismissed again, Bu Shulin didn’t leave, instead asking: “What exactly are you planning to do next? Give me some idea.”
“The remaining matters are rather complicated. Don’t get involved.” Shen Xihe had no intention of telling Bu Shulin.
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her, but that these matters couldn’t be explained in just a few words.
Seeing Bu Shulin’s glum expression, Shen Xihe added: “Just help me by keeping a close watch on Prince Xun.”
The satisfaction of being needed made Bu Shulin’s face break into a smile: “Alright, I’ll go keep an eye on him right away.”
Shen Xihe rested in her room for a day, never leaving once, but in the middle of the night she ran out—hair disheveled, casually wrapped in a cloak. Even Zhenzhu and the others didn’t know why, all rushing after her while calling out. She stole a horse from the stable and galloped away.
The awakened Xiao Changfeng, having learned from his previous experience, actually hesitated. He had never encountered someone like Shen Xihe, whose moves were completely unpredictable and whose thoughts ran incredibly deep.
However, Bu Shulin followed without hesitation, as did most of Shen Xihe’s maids. After giving some brief orders, Xiao Changfeng also mounted his horse and gave chase.
Shen Xihe rode at full speed, again heading toward the deep mountains. Xiao Changfeng had developed something of a psychological shadow regarding the mountains. This time he left all his men outside and pursued alone in their direction.
The night’s tranquility was shattered by hoofbeats. Even the chirping of cicadas and croaking of frogs fell silent. The deeper into the mountains they went, the quieter it became. Shen Xihe’s horsemanship wasn’t as refined as Xiao Changfeng’s or Bu Shulin’s, and she was soon caught up to it. Xiao Changfeng blocked her path: “Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?”
“Get out of my way.” Shen Xihe appeared anxious and irritable, giving the cold command.
But Xiao Changfeng didn’t yield: “Your Highness, this area is desolate, and though it’s night, there are still fierce beasts. We cannot go deeper. This prince is charged with protecting Your Highness’s safety. If Your Highness won’t explain the reason, this prince must give offense.”
“I dreamed of Father, Father was calling for me, he’s nearby, he’s in danger!” Shen Xihe said frantically and urgently.
This couldn’t convince Xiao Changfeng at all. His investigation had revealed that Shen Xihe had arrived in Liangzhou two days earlier, wandering around the area mysteriously, as if searching for someone.
“Your Highness, you’ve had a nightmare, it cannot be relied upon…”
Before Xiao Changfeng could finish speaking, the faint sounds of combat came from behind.