Shen Xihe smiled slightly at Bu Shulin’s words: “So far, as you say, I haven’t wrongfully harmed any innocent person. But in the future…”
“You won’t in the future either,” Bu Shulin cut her off, looking at her with admiration. “You’re not as cold-blooded and ruthless as you think. Your gentleness is just hard for others to notice.”
Just as when she killed Huang Zhongsi – it was only for that noble lady who had been violated by the eunuchs, though others thought she was merely showing Emperor You her strength or wanted to eliminate future trouble.
Just as when she spared Yu Xiaodie – a dead person would be safest, and she should have silenced her permanently to prevent future problems.
After all, if Yu Xiaodie could help her trap Madam Xiao to save her own life, she might also turn against her in the future to save herself.
Yu Xiaodie had helped her, and she had saved Yu Xiaodie’s life – they were even.
Rather than saying she was cold and ruthless, it would be more accurate to say she didn’t like owing anyone anything.
“Haven’t you suffered enough losses at my hands?” Shen Xihe asked with an ambiguous smile.
Bu Shulin coughed lightly in discomfort: “If you had wanted to harm me since you had already seen me that day, it would have been simple to frame me for stealing the evidence. That way you wouldn’t have been entangled with and resented by Prince Lie and Prince Xin.
Although you took three thousand elite soldiers from me, you did help me resolve the trouble with Princess Shang.”
Apart from the loyal servants who had grown up with her, no one had ever thought she was a good person.
Bu Shulin’s words sounded fresh to her: “What kind of person is Chen Yi?”
“You can feel free to move against him. The Marquis of Xuanping’s household is full of bad seeds. Chen Yi is skilled in martial arts and well-versed in military strategy,” Bu Shulin sneered. “But he’s recklessly ambitious and bloodthirsty. To climb up, he deliberately sent people to brutally kill Tubo merchants and provoke conflicts.”
However, this fellow was also cunning. Each time he used the battles as cover to thoroughly silence everyone involved, leaving no evidence.
Otherwise, her father would have long since dealt with him according to military law. Yet he had achievements in suppressing rebellions and killing enemies. If not for the King of Southern Shu keeping him in check, who knows what state Southern Shu would be in by now?
“The year before last, he even submitted a memorial to His Majesty claiming my father was unfair in rewards and punishments, deliberately downplaying his achievements,” Bu Shulin felt angry just thinking about it. “I suspect he was specially sent by His Majesty to cause trouble for my father in Southern Shu.”
In their eyes, Emperor You had many faults – cold-blooded, selfish, power-hungry, fickle, and petty. But he had sat firmly on the throne for nearly twenty years and was definitely not simply a confused ruler. He was very skilled in using people and would certainly know what kind of person Chen Yi was.
“In that case, I’m helping your father eliminate a major trouble,” Shen Xihe raised her eyebrows. “Should you gift me another two thousand elite soldiers to show your gratitude?”
Bu Shulin: …
She was wrong, truly!
How could she pour her heart out to this woman whose mind had more holes than a sieve, just because of a moment of emotion?
Unable to handle this, Bu Shulin immediately made her escape: “There are urgent matters at the residence, farewell!”
Watching Bu Shulin disappear in a flash, Shen Xihe couldn’t help but laugh in amusement.
“Ah, Sister Biyu, wouldn’t it be nice if Young Master Bu were a real man?” Having witnessed this from outside, Ziyu couldn’t help whispering to Biyu. “Since Lingling’s betrayal, the Princess has rarely been so cheerful. The few times she has been were mostly because of Young Master Bu.”
Biyu cast a glance at Ziyu: “If Young Master Bu were a real man, the Princess wouldn’t be so close to her.”
“That’s true…” Ziyu hung her head dejectedly.
Shen Xihe pretended not to hear their whispers and instead summoned Mo Yuan, giving instructions regarding arrangements for the Chen family.
A few days later, Mo Yuan reported to her: “Princess, someone is already setting up a trap for Chen Yi.”
“Someone?” Shen Xihe was surprised and alert. “Who?”
“Your servant is incompetent and couldn’t trace the source,” Mo Yuan lowered his head in shame.
“At this time, who would move against the Marquis of Xuanping’s household?” Shen Xihe couldn’t figure it out no matter how hard she thought.
Before she moved against someone, she always had to understand them thoroughly. As far as she knew, the Marquis of Xuanping’s household had no enemies except her – at least none who wanted to see them executed and their property confiscated.
While Shen Xihe was wondering about who was plotting against the Marquis’s household, Xiao Huayong, the mastermind behind it, had just received Tianyuan’s reply that everything was arranged. At this moment, he was examining a pot of golden moss transplanted into a porcelain container: “It shouldn’t wither easily. Find an opportunity to send it to the Princess’s residence, saying it’s my congratulatory gift for her move.”
“…Your Highness, you’re still unconscious…” Tianyuan reminded him softly.
Xiao Huayong’s hand paused slightly: “Still no news about the snow lotus from Tianshan?”
“Not yet.” It had only been a few days, and it took time to reach Tianshan Mountain.
“But I miss her…” Xiao Huayong suddenly wanted to see Shen Xihe after not seeing her for so long.
Tianyuan stayed quiet as a chicken, not responding.
After pondering for a while, Xiao Huayong said: “It’s normal for me to improve for a day.”
Tianyuan’s lips twitched, but even so, the next day he had to personally carry a pot of golden moss to the Princess’s residence to find Shen Xihe.
“Princess, this is what His Highness asked your servant to bring to you,” Tianyuan resignedly conveyed Xiao Huayong’s message. “His Highness woke up last night and seemed to improve this morning. Upon hearing that the Princess had moved to the Princess’s residence, he sends this to congratulate you on your relocation.”
“The Crown Prince is awake?” Shen Xihe was slightly surprised at how sudden it was.
“His Highness has been talking in his sleep these past few days, and the physician said His Highness was clear-minded during these times. Yesterday he fully regained consciousness,” Tianyuan helplessly covered for his master’s lie. “His Highness also said that if it’s convenient for the Princess, he requests your presence in the palace today to continue their conversation. His Highness is unwell and doesn’t know when he might fall unconscious again.”
Shen Xihe: …
She still hadn’t seen Xiao Huayong’s medical records and knew nothing about his specific condition. But the way he put it – what did he mean by “doesn’t know when he might fall unconscious again”?
His Highness had always been outside the palace and had only recently returned, so it was impossible to inquire about anything. Was he saying he frequently fell unconscious?
Since the Crown Prince was so anxious, worried about falling unconscious again before he could tell her some matters he considered urgent, Shen Xihe naturally couldn’t delay. After midday, she entered the palace, first paying her respects to the Empress Dowager before heading to the Eastern Palace.
When she arrived, palace servants were already waiting at the Eastern Palace. As they led them in, before entering a small courtyard, they heard Tianyuan’s worried persuasion: “Your Highness, please wait for the Princess in the bedroom. The Princess has already entered the palace and will be here shortly. You shouldn’t be in the wind…”
“cough cough cough… It’s… it’s fine… cough cough cough.” Xiao Huayong’s voice was extremely weak, accompanied by intermittent coughing. “The room… cough cough cough… has a strong medicine smell… afraid it might bother her… cough cough cough… she doesn’t like the smell of medicine…”
When had she ever disliked the smell of medicine? Was it because she had reacted strongly to the pungent medicine smell the last time she entered the bedroom?