The phoenix-beak ornament held pearls, with chains reaching to her earlobes swaying gently, creating halos of light that complemented her peerless beauty, causing Xiao Huayong to gaze at her adoringly.
However, Shen Xihe hadn’t noticed, her attention completely captured by Xiao Huayong’s statement about an inevitable battle with Prince Jing: “It seems Prince Jing is also someone who refuses to submit to others.”
Between the Crown Prince and princes, if it came to armed conflict, it could only be for the throne.
“Being princes, learned in both civil and military arts, how many can avoid developing ambition?” Xiao Huayong understood his brothers well – if he were a prince rather than the heir apparent, he might not submit either.
Shen Xihe could understand too. This could be considered a form of ambition, and for a prince who possessed both virtue and talent, with extraordinary intelligence, to have no interest in the throne must have a reason – only if something more important in his eyes was worth pursuing instead.
“Does His Majesty currently favor Prince Jing more?” Shen Xihe turned her head, tilting her chin up to look at Xiao Huayong.
This question stumped Xiao Huayong. After lowering his eyes to contemplate for a moment, he said: “Youyou, he and I have the blood feud of my father’s death, and I look down on many of his methods and actions. But if you ask who he favors as heir, I truly cannot fathom.”
Emperor Youning was an extremely strange monarch. He didn’t care who could fight their way to victory in the end; he cared about his achievements while on the throne, whether he could become a wise ruler praised by thousands. As long as the country wasn’t lost or usurped by traitors, he seemed able to accept whichever prince ascended the throne.
Xiao Huayong even vaguely felt that even in his case, as long as he didn’t step out of line during the Emperor’s reign, the Emperor could accept his ascension. This might be one reason why Emperor Youning could calmly accept him becoming Crown Prince.
Shen Xihe was startled, her eyes widening slightly as she looked at Xiao Huayong in disbelief.
Amused by her endearing expression, Xiao Huayong couldn’t help bending down to quickly brush her lips: “Do you find it hard to believe? All these years I’ve been trying to understand His Majesty’s mind, and when I reached this conclusion, I too doubted myself.”
“His Majesty is truly an extraordinary person,” Shen Xihe couldn’t help sighing. Such a person would be impossible for her to understand. Her gaze toward Xiao Huayong showed genuine admiration, “In understanding and reading people, I am far behind you.”
“Youyou have her way of calculating people’s hearts. My only advantage is that I’ve traveled more places and seen more people over these years.” He had only won in terms of experience.
Shen Xihe couldn’t help lowering her head and smiling. She felt she had many shortcomings, but in Xiao Huayong’s eyes, she was flawless – even her weaknesses, he had countless reasons to explain as reasonable.
“Don’t doubt – in my eyes, you are the best in the world.” Xiao Huayong cupped her face in both hands, devoutly placing a deep kiss on her forehead where the flower ornament lay. “I must go now. In two days, I can openly be by your side.”
The body double-leading His Majesty’s men had already left Liangzhou; another two days’ journey would naturally bring them to the Northwestern King’s manor.
Though reluctant in his heart, Xiao Huayong left decisively – any hesitation and he feared he wouldn’t be able to step away, wouldn’t be able to leave her.
Shen Xihe watched him climb out the window and leave. She couldn’t help standing up and walking to the window to see exactly how he came and went so freely without being discovered by the manor’s guards.
Standing by the window, she realized her courtyard was in the back, where guards were most sparse – partly because of the separation between men and women, preventing offense to her, and partly because everyone knew her maids were all skilled in martial arts. Mo Yu in particular could defeat many warriors in the military camp. Anyone who tried to break in would certainly alert Mo Yu guarding Shen Xihe’s room, followed by the rotating shifts of Zhenzhu, Bi Yu, and others.
Trying to harm Shen Xihe would be even harder than harming the heir – one would first have to pass through layers of guards to reach the back quarters, then simultaneously evade both Mo Yu and Zhenzhu’s double protection. Yet they had overlooked Xiao Huayong.
Evading guards was his specialty, and at Shen Xihe’s quarters, unless she ordered otherwise, Mo Yu pretended not to see when their young master climbed through the window.
Lowering her head with an amused smile, Shen Xihe ordered Mo Yu to rest. After having a bowl of bird’s nest soup, she took Zhenzhu to Shen Yueshan’s sick room. Without incident, Sang Bo would make his move against Father today.
She again saw Shen Yun’an, who had kept vigil over Shen Yueshan through the night. Seeing his haggard appearance and furrowed brow, she was tempted several times to tell him the truth but held back.
Father said this was a test that an heir must endure to become a qualified head of the family. Only by experiencing such pain and despair, even if false, could he remain steady when others used this to disturb his mind on future battlefields.
“Brother…” Shen Xihe took the still-warm meat porridge from the wooden tray held by a maid beside her. “Brother, have some food. It pains me to see you like this.”
Catching Shen Xihe’s worried and pained look, Shen Yun’an looked at their father’s worsening complexion and thought how she must be as worried as himself about Father, yet still had the heart to care for him. He felt himself a worthless brother.
Quickly taking the porridge Shen Xihe offered, he gulped it down in a few mouthfuls. Before she could offer a handkerchief, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve and forced a smile: “Don’t worry, Youyou. Brother won’t fall.”
He couldn’t fall. If Father truly couldn’t overcome this crisis, he would be his sister’s only support.
A glimmer of tears flashed in Shen Xihe’s eyes. Having such a father and brother in this life completely made up for never having met her mother. Mother was distant to her, worthy of respect and gratitude, but like Xiao Huayong’s feelings toward Prince Qian, she couldn’t generate any attachment.
She was different from Xiao Huayong – she felt no regret over lacking maternal love because of her father and brother’s thorough care. Xiao Huayong, having experienced too many life-and-death situations, had become detached from everything. He was already strong enough, strong enough to need nothing to yearn for, which was why he could remain so composed.
Thinking this way, Shen Xihe inexplicably felt sorry for Xiao Huayong again, feeling she should treat him better – perhaps she was the only thing the all-powerful Crown Prince yearned for in this life.
“Young Master, Your Highness Crown Princess, the military doctor has arrived,” someone reported from outside.
Shen Xihe slowly raised her eyes, her obsidian pupils gleaming darkly.
Shen Yun’an had been waiting anxiously and ran out personally to welcome him. Meeting right at the door, he grabbed Sang Yin’s arm and strode in: “Uncle Sang, I see Father’s condition has worsened. Please examine him quickly.”
Upon entering, Sang Yin met Shen Xihe’s eyes, and with just one glance, they understood each other’s thoughts.