HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 59: The One Who Will Never Hurt You

Chapter 59: The One Who Will Never Hurt You

“Ahem… Why is the Princess looking at me this way?” Xiao Huayong cast a puzzled glance.

Shen Xihe spoke directly: “I’ve been perceptive since birth, and though I haven’t met many people, I’ve never encountered someone I couldn’t see through. Your Highness, you are the first. I want to see what kind of person you are.”

Xiao Huayong coughed lightly twice before meeting her gaze frankly: “Princess need not investigate what kind of person I am, only believe that I will never hurt you.”

Such deeply emotional words, yet they didn’t move Shen Xihe’s hardened heart at all. She even found these words somewhat laughable and remained noncommittal.

“Princess need not believe these words now,” Xiao Huayong said softly, seeing through Shen Xihe’s thoughts. “Just remember them, and let time prove their truth.”

What a certain tone, what a confident voice, what an arrogant attitude.

This man’s promises were different from others – he didn’t swear to heaven, nor was he rushing to prove himself. He was calm and composed, carrying himself with complete assurance.

Afterward, Xiao Huayong didn’t dwell on this topic. Their conversation turned casual, and during their chat, Shen Xihe accompanied Xiao Huayong in having some rice wine.

Xiao Huayong was well-read in many subjects. No matter what they discussed, he could converse pleasantly with Shen Xihe. Before they knew it, the sun had set in the west, and only then did Shen Xihe rise to take her leave.

“Princess, His Highness the Crown Prince is truly learned and talented. I’ve never seen anyone who could chat so enjoyably with the Princess,” Ziyu finally spoke up with dancing eyebrows once their carriage had passed through the palace gates, having held back for so long.

Shen Xihe was physically weak, and to keep herself from idle thoughts, she had read many books. Shen Yun’an would fall asleep at anything except military texts, and Shen Yueshan wasn’t one for reading either.

It was precisely for this reason that her maternal grandfather’s Tao family, known for their literary heritage, particularly treasured Shen Xihe.

“If only His Highness the Crown Prince had a stronger constitution,” Ziyu sighed after praising Xiao Huayong.

In her view, the Crown Prince was truly wonderful – unmatched in appearance and extensively talented. Moreover, he particularly understood their Princess.

All his gifts touched the Princess’s heart, and he even planned to have the Young Master come to the capital to accompany the Princess during the New Year.

Biyu glanced at Ziyu – only this fool hadn’t understood the Princess’s intention in naming him “Short-life.”

If the Crown Prince had a stronger constitution, their Princess would treat him the same way she treated Prince Lie.

However, the Crown Prince’s effort to obtain an imperial edict allowing the Young Master to enter the capital and accompany the Princess during New Year moved Biyu, leading her to speak well of him: “His Highness the Crown Prince truly puts his heart into caring for the Princess.”

Regardless of feelings or motives, the Crown Prince was genuinely attentive to the Princess.

Shen Xihe smiled slightly but said nothing.

Tianyuan was deeply worried: “Your Highness, if you request an edict to allow Young Master Shen to enter the capital, certain people might become restless…”

He worried about things backfiring. While Xiao Huayong helping Shen Yun’an enter the capital wasn’t particularly concerning regarding the various princes and factions, what he feared was the Emperor taking action. If anything were to happen to Shen Yun’an, how could they face the Princess?

“Shen Yun’an is no fool, and Shen Yueshan is no brute,” Xiao Huayong shed his sickly demeanor. “Tianyuan, I want to marry her – I want both the person and the heart.”

He wanted not only to let Shen Xihe know that he wasn’t marrying her for benefits but also to make this clear to Shen Yueshan and his son.

If he wished to win her heart, their marriage couldn’t begin under the name of a mutually beneficial alliance.

“I’m planning for the future…”

He couldn’t possibly hide from Shen Xihe forever. Eventually, she would know his true face. When the time was right, he would remove all his disguises before her. He only hoped that before then, he could move her heart a bit more.

Since she valued Shen Yueshan and his son so highly, the more devoted he was to her, the more they would likely support their union.

When that day came, if she became angry about his current deception, he could hope they would speak up for him.

Tianyuan felt his master was truly putting his heart and soul into winning the Princess. In all these years of maneuvering in court politics, his master had never schemed so meticulously with such careful thought.

He somewhat didn’t want to relay the recently received news, yet dared not conceal it: “Your Highness, there’s news about the Snow Lotus.”

“Speak.”

“Wandering knights spotted it at the peak of Tianshan – it’s a perfect-grade Snow Lotus.” Tianyuan respectfully reported, “We sent people and posted bounties at the Hunters’ Guild. Many skilled people took the job, but none could climb to the peak.”

The mountain peak was bitterly cold, with thin air making breathing difficult. Even highly skilled martial artists had perished below the summit. Despite the generous reward offered, everyone now shied away from the task.

After hearing this, Xiao Huayong pondered briefly: “I’ll go myself.”

Tianyuan dropped to his knees with a thud: “Your Highness, even without the Snow Lotus, the Princess will only suffer somewhat when taking her medicine – she can endure it. You cannot risk going to Tianshan!”

The peak’s climate was harsh, with frequent blizzards and avalanches, plus fierce beasts and birds. Many who went never returned. Tianyuan had worried Xiao Huayong would personally attempt this venture since receiving the news.

Xiao Huayong fixed Tianyuan with a cold gaze.

Tianyuan knelt straight, head bowed in silence.

After a long while, Xiao Huayong finally sighed softly: “She is weak, and each time she takes the medicine, it’s like walking through death’s door.”

This was true. After meeting Xie Yunhuai, he had written to ask Old Whitehead. Surviving was fortunate – if one couldn’t endure, they would fail to catch their breath and instantly perish.

Xie Yunhuai and Shen Xihe probably thought that as she took the medicine more often, the pain and torment would lessen, but they wouldn’t.

They had all underestimated the potency of the Bone-Removing Dan.

“Rest assured, would I take such risks without fifty percent certainty?” Xiao Huayong comforted Tianyuan, “I’ve been to Tianshan’s peak before.”

Over these years, what treacherous mountains hadn’t Xiao Huayong visited in search of a cure for the strange poison in his body?

“Your Highness…” Tianyuan’s eyes reddened.

“There are golden eagles on Tianshan too. Perhaps I might find traces of a hundred-year-old golden eagle at the snowy peak. Even if not for the Snow Lotus, I would need to visit Tianshan’s peak for my own sake,” Xiao Huayong added.

Tianyuan bit his lip. Knowing that when his master spoke to him so gently to this extent, he couldn’t be dissuaded, he wiped his eyes and asked: “When does Your Highness plan to depart?”

“Naturally, after the Double Ninth Festival,” Xiao Huayong smiled, the expression reaching the beauty mark at the corner of his eye, radiating limitless charm.

This would be their first appointment outside the palace – it couldn’t go wrong.

“Hmm, and incidentally find someone to torment…” He was still smiling, though this smile carried more coldness than before.

If he was leaving, his illness would have to worsen, leaving him unconscious in the Eastern Palace, with his body double taking his place.

Such a good opportunity – it would be wasteful not to use it.

“Who has Your Highness chosen?” Tianyuan had a vague guess.

“How about Wang Zheng?” Xiao Huayong smiled mysteriously.

Let the Fifth Prince deal with the Wang family’s foundation. Before that, he would give Wang Zheng a taste of what was to come.

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