When Shen Xihe awoke, Xiao Huayong lay sleeping beside her, breathing softly. She turned her head to see his face, illuminated by the morning light with a jade-like luster, his thick dark lashes enough to make young ladies envious.
Her gaze moved down to his lips, which were slightly dark due to the poison within his body. Yet this detail perfectly balanced his overly handsome features, reducing their feminine quality and adding a touch of firmness to his flowing features.
Though Shen Xihe had never been one to place much importance on appearance, she had to admit having such a pleasing sight beside her pillow was incredibly wonderful.
“Is my lady looking at me this way because she finds me delectable and wants a taste?” Xiao Huayong, who had awakened at some point, curved his lips slightly and opened his silver-bright eyes, his gaze entangling with hers as he emphasized the word “taste.”
The gentle smile instantly vanished from Shen Xihe’s face. She sat up, took a deep breath feeling refreshed, and called to the figure outside: “What time is it?”
“Crown Princess, it’s early morning, six o’clock,” Zhenzhu answered from outside.
“You should leave quickly. People will be around soon, and I need to get up to see Father.” After getting out of bed to give Xiao Huayong the sleep-inducing incense, Shen Xihe urged him to leave. It was already quite late – she should have risen half an hour earlier to visit her father.
Xiao Huayong took the incense and suddenly leaned in to plant a kiss on Shen Xihe’s cheek. Before she could react, he had already floated to the window, half his body outside. He winked at Shen Xihe, the small mole by his eye visible, and then his figure flashed and disappeared.
Shen Xihe shook her head helplessly and composed herself. While doing her makeup, she realized she had slept well through the night and her complexion was excellent, necessitating some makeup to conceal it. After eating a few bites of breakfast, she hurried to Shen Yueshan’s room, where everyone had already gathered.
Shen Yun’an came forward to support her shoulders: “Look how haggard you are. Why didn’t you rest longer? I’m here with Father.”
Her haggard appearance was feigned and concealed, and Shen Xihe looked up at Shen Yun’an. His eyes were bloodshot and stubble had grown on his chin – he likely hadn’t seen his current appearance.
“Brother, you should rest for a moment. I’ll watch over Father,” Shen Xihe said with concern. “Youyou needs you, Father needs you, and the Northwestern King’s mansion needs you. Even if not for yourself, you must take care of yourself.”
“I’m fine, Sister. In past military campaigns, I’ve gone days without sleep while watching for enemy attacks. I can endure this, don’t worry.” Shen Yun’an couldn’t possibly sleep now, his heart was completely focused on Shen Yueshan’s condition.
“Brother, if you insist on this, then from this moment on, I too will stay by Father’s side without leaving.” Seeing she couldn’t persuade Shen Yun’an, Shen Xihe resorted to threats.
“Youyou…”
“Your Highness, the Crown Princess speaks truly. At this critical time, anyone can falter, but you especially cannot. We subordinates are here, and with the Crown Princess present, you should go rest briefly,” one of Shen Yueshan’s confidants joined in persuading him.
Then Shen Yueshan’s brothers stepped in, assuming their elder roles and using both advice and commands. Only then was Shen Yun’an sent back to his chambers. Shen Xihe gave Zhenzhu a meaningful look.
Shen Yun’an wouldn’t be able to sleep now without calming incense.
After Shen Yun’an left, Geng Liangcheng and several brothers surrounded Sang Yin. Someone prompted by his hint spoke up: “Old Sang, give us the truth. How is His Highness? We’re not outsiders – whether good or bad, we need to know where things stand.”
Sang Yin’s face was dejected and unkempt. Since Shen Yueshan’s return, he had searched through all his medical texts without eating or drinking, finding no viable solution. When asked directly about Shen Yueshan’s condition, Sang Yin opened his mouth several times before speaking hoarsely: “His Highness was given a fierce medicine. Though not poison, it’s worse than poison. It has activated all the hidden injuries accumulated from years of military campaigns, striking violently and instantly riddling his iron-like body with wounds. I… I am powerless to help…”
Sang Yin’s words shocked everyone. One hot-tempered man immediately rushed toward the door: “Damn it, I’m going to kill him…”
“Big Tiger, don’t be rash.”
“Rash? His Highness has nearly been killed, and you say I’m being rash!”
“Where would you go now? Do you even know who injured His Highness so severely?”
As several men pushed and pulled at each other, Geng Liangcheng’s cold shout instantly silenced them.
Even from the side room, through a wall, Shen Xihe could hear their argument at the main entrance. In the Northwest, Geng Liangcheng’s position was second only to Shen Yueshan, even slightly above Shen Yun’an.
For this very reason, they needed solid evidence and proof to eliminate Geng Liangcheng. Otherwise, he might turn the tables, causing the Northwestern people to scatter, become suspicious of each other, and harbor resentments.
They didn’t know who had injured Shen Yueshan so severely. Geng Liangcheng knew but wouldn’t tell them. Since his return, Shen Yueshan had remained unconscious, giving them no chance to learn anything while they worried about his condition.
“His Highness was brought back by the Princess. Why not ask her?” someone suggested. The Princess they referred to was naturally Shen Xihe. In truth, they had little reverence for the court in their bones, subconsciously considering their Princess more prestigious than the Crown Princess.
This was one reason why Shen Yueshan dared not easily release control of the Northwest. These men were fierce warriors – brave on the battlefield but not necessarily sophisticated off it. They respected Shen Yueshan because they had fought together, risking their lives through sword and fire.
They protected the Northwest, maintaining peace for the court in this region, yet the Emperor still distrusted them, which greatly angered them.
Precisely because under Shen Yueshan’s leadership they had never harbored thoughts of rebellion – indeed, they had lost many brothers fighting to return the current Emperor to the capital, paving his way to power with Northwestern military blood.
As subjects, their loyalty to the royal family was natural, but when such loyalty and sacrifice were met with suspicion, it prevented them from truly revering the Emperor in their hearts.
Shen Yueshan tried to mediate this, but he couldn’t say too much lest these men think he meant to abandon them and hand the Northwest over to the court’s mismanagement.
As Shen Xihe sighed inwardly, someone came to request her presence. She went out accordingly. Several men bowed with clasped hands – Geng Liangcheng’s group addressed her as Crown Princess, while Uncle Big Tiger and his associates still called her Princess.