Shen Xihe stood silently before Mo Yuan for a long while, her calm gaze resting upon him. The young military officer, despite having seen bloodshed on battlefields, inexplicably felt a suffocating pressure.

“Your Grace, please be careful not to catch a cold,” Zhenzhu came down with a cloak at that moment, draping it over Shen Xihe’s shoulders.

Shen Xihe cast Zhenzhu a glance, allowing her to adjust the cloak before tugging at it herself. “Mo Yuan, be clear about who your true master is.”

Without giving Mo Yuan time to respond, Shen Xihe stepped forward, walking purposefully toward a cliff edge. “Moyu, bring Master Huang and his two men. Biyu, fetch the dark blue sachet from the third compartment of my carriage.”

Zhenzhu and Mo Yuan remained standing in place, exchanging glances, both seeing the gravity in each other’s eyes.

Shen Xihe hadn’t rebuked them or pointed out anything specific, hadn’t even shown a trace of displeasure, yet they could sense her dissatisfaction with them.

The Princess at this moment was incredibly perceptive and unfathomable, her emotions impossible to read.

Standing at the cliff’s edge, Shen Xihe took several pebbles from Hongyu’s hand, casually tossing them down, seemingly idle but gauging the depth below. After throwing several stones, she remarked, “Not deep enough. The fall alone won’t kill.”

“Shall this servant find another location?” Moyu, in her fitted black narrow-sleeved attire, immediately inquired.

“No need, this will do nicely,” Shen Xihe stepped aside, and Moyu promptly pushed the three men forward.

“Your Grace, please spare us!” The two young eunuchs turned deathly pale with fear.

Huang Degui was also terrified but still stuck out his neck defiantly: “Your Grace, this is contempt for imperial authority! This servant is an envoy dispatched by His Majesty!”

“Biyu.” Shen Xihe extended her hand, and Biyu immediately passed her the sachet. Shen Xihe tossed it to Moyu. “Push him down.”

Moyu tucked the sachet into Huang Degui’s clothes and secured it in his belt, ensuring it wouldn’t fall out during the drop, then without hesitation pushed him over the edge.

“Aah!” The sharp scream startled a flock of birds into flight.

The two young eunuchs nearly fainted from fright, but Shen Xihe didn’t immediately leave. She stood at the cliff’s edge, raising her head to gaze at the wildflowers on the opposite slope as if admiring the scenery.

About a quarter hour later, Huang Degui’s terrified screams rang out again from below, quickly drowned out by the roars of bears and tigers. The two young eunuchs were so frightened they lost control of their bladders.

Not just them, even Zhenzhu and the others stared wide-eyed, only Moyu maintaining her composure.

They now understood what Shen Xihe meant by “will do nicely” – she hadn’t wanted the fall to kill him, but rather to use the fragrance to attract wild beasts to tear him apart.

Shen Xihe’s expression remained impassive as if nothing had happened. She turned her head, her gaze falling on the trembling young eunuchs: “How did Master Huang meet his demise?”

The young eunuchs stared blankly, involuntarily shrinking their necks. After a moment’s stupor, one of them quickly responded: “Reporting to Your Grace, the Master… while escorting Your Grace back… unfortunately fell from his horse over a cliff, and then encountered fierce beasts…”

He finished speaking shakily, then knelt helplessly and anxiously in place, his frail body trembling uncontrollably.

“Very good.” Shen Xihe raised her eyebrows in satisfaction. “Your name.”

“Ah?” The young eunuch who had just breathed a sigh of relief instantly responded, “This… this servant is Zhu Sheng… an attendant of the Internal Service Bureau…”

After stating his position, he suddenly realized he might have said too much, and his voice grew weaker.

Shen Xihe showed a faint smile: “A clever one. Your companion will be your responsibility.”

With that, she had them untied and taken away.

“Your Grace, these two…” Hongyu expressed some concern.

“If they all died, that would truly be contempt for imperial authority,” Shen Xihe lowered her gaze, her long lashes like a delicate gauze screen casting shadows beneath. “It’s better they live. I’m not afraid of them talking back – everything needs evidence.”

The reason she didn’t kill them directly was that bodies were difficult to dispose of and would always leave evidence. Moreover, it wouldn’t be sufficient to intimidate the other two. They needed to see clearly and know fear, so they wouldn’t dare provoke her easily.

“Tsk tsk tsk… Princess Zhaoning killing an imperial servant – what valuable leverage.” A clear voice came from the forest behind the hillside.

Moyu and the others quickly moved to protect Shen Xihe.

In an instant, an agile figure darted out from the forest, landing gracefully before them.

The newcomer wore common blue fabric robes, and was tall and slender, standing half a head taller than Shen Xihe, with striking features.

A face of indeterminate gender, long eyebrows paired with sharp black eyes, a straight nose above full lips, dressed simply but standing ramrod straight, exuding an air of vigor and unconventionality.

“Who are you?” Mo Yuan’s gaze turned sharp, killing intent already rising.

“Stand down.” Shen Xihe commanded Mo Yuan quietly, then walked straight toward the newcomer, showing no fear as she approached, speaking in a voice only they could hear, “The Crown Prince of the Shu South King, actually being female – what valuable leverage.”

The current dynasty had two kings of different surnames: the Northwest King and the Shu South King.

Two mighty lions guarding the frontiers, each commanding a hundred thousand troops. When the previous emperor was alive, though he favored concubines over his wife and indulged in beauty, the empire remained stable – no matter how absurd he became, he never wronged these two.

Bu Shulin suddenly stared at Shen Xihe, lips curled in a faint smile: “Princess Zhaoning, is this how you insult people?”

Not admitting it? Shen Xihe moved closer to Bu Shulin and took a gentle sniff: “Late Jade Women’s Fragrance…”

Bu Shulin’s expression changed slightly.

Shen Xihe had already stepped back gracefully, putting distance between them. Her incredibly enchanting eyes surveyed the surroundings: “Why the Crown Prince appears in these remote mountains, I won’t investigate. Let’s consider that we never met.”

Her nose was particularly sensitive. Earlier when Bu Shulin had darted over, the wind had carried a faint trace of Late Jade fragrance, a scent primarily made from Late Fragrant Jade, suitable for bath oils and leaving only the faintest trace on the skin.

This fragrance was delicate and sweet – something a man would never use.

Only now did she realize that the Shu South King’s only son was female.

If Emperor Youning discovered this, the Bu family wouldn’t be far from extinction.

Bu Shulin’s hand pressed on her carried sword, but Moyu had already instantly flashed in front of Shen Xihe.

Shen Xihe glanced back casually: “Crown Prince, the Northwest King’s Manor, and the Shu South King’s Manor will never be enemies.”

Neither Shen Yueshan nor Bu Tuohai harbored ambitions to usurp the throne. In their hearts, the safety of the Northwest and Shu South superseded everything.

In her memories, Shen Yueshan had always appreciated Bu Tuohai, but the two houses couldn’t associate for fear of arousing the emperor’s suspicion.

Bu Shulin released her grip and gave Shen Xihe a formal salute: “Princess, I’ll return this favor to you one day.”

After these cryptic words, Bu Shulin took several leaps and vanished from everyone’s sight.