After the complainants were sent away, only Shen Xihe, her maids, and Prince Xiao Xiangqing remained in the hall.

Prince Xiangqing gave Shen Xihe a deep look: “The Crown Princess and Crown Prince are truly… a perfect match.”

After this meaningful comment, Prince Xiangqing felt deep sympathy for Prince Xiangyan.

He could see through it because he already knew Prince Xiao Huayong’s true face. He knew Prince Xiao Huayong’s true face not only from his initial uncertain speculation but also thanks to Prince Xiao Huayong deliberately revealing it to him.

Prince Xiangyan was worse off because he had been deceived.

No, it wasn’t just Prince Xiangyan who had been deceived – everyone had been deceived by the couple.

Because of Shen Xihe’s displayed ambition, intelligence, and cunning, her sufficiently firm and chilling methods, combined with Prince Xiao Huayong’s deliberate restraint, perfectly concealed Prince Xiao Huayong’s true nature.

No one would think that the rational and decisive Shen Xihe would be constrained by romantic sentiment, so they would unconsciously wonder why a woman like her would choose to marry Prince Xiao Huayong.

She was so intelligent and meticulous – since she chose to marry him, she must have been certain everything was under her control, that Prince Xiao Huayong was exactly what she wanted: someone who wouldn’t live long and would leave her a smoother path forward.

Especially after the incident of Shen Yueshan’s fake death in the Northwest, everyone knew the Shen family had a great physician who could make people “die” when they wanted to “die” and “live” when they wanted to “live” – someone whose extraordinary skills could fool all the doctors in the city.

With such a person at hand, Prince Xiao Huayong couldn’t possibly be pretending to be ill, or he wouldn’t escape Shen Xihe’s eyes.

Perhaps some might think Prince Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe had reached some mutual agreement, benefiting each other.

But the Shen family’s intense situation dispelled these doubts. Except for Prince Xiangqing, who had personally experienced love and was willing to sacrifice everything for his wife, probably no one would believe that if Prince Xiao Huayong was truly pretending and biding his time, would someone as shrewd as Shen Xihe dare to make deals with a tiger?

Following Shen Xihe’s logic, Prince Xiao Huayong was indeed someone who wouldn’t live long but was infatuated with her, more pitiful than her stepping stone.

However, how many people could imagine that Prince Xiao Huayong was no easier to deal with than Shen Xihe?

“Thank you for Prince Xin’s praise. I also wish Prince Xin will soon find another good marriage,” Shen Xihe calmly accepted Prince Xiangqing’s praise, seemingly oblivious to his implications.

“I take my leave. If the Crown Princess and Crown Prince have any instructions, just send someone to inform me,” Prince Xiangqing bowed with clasped hands.

Shen Xihe didn’t try to keep him, watching his figure disappear into the rain curtain.

Returning to her chamber, she picked up a water pitcher to sprinkle some water on the potted landscapes inside. She rather missed her Pingrong leaf bonsai, but this trip to Deng Prefecture had such winding roads, many places impassable by carriage, so many things couldn’t be brought along, including her Duanming.

After watering, Shen Xihe gazed absently at the rain beating against the banana leaves outside the window.

Several rooms away, after hearing Prince Xiangyan’s general report about Deng Prefecture’s situation, Prince Xiao Huayong took a sip of hot tea, moistening his throat before saying: “Eighth Brother has been in Deng Prefecture for months and naturally knows the situation better than I do. Let us brothers work together to restore the people’s homes as soon as possible.”

The implication was that although Prince Xiangyan wouldn’t nominally be in charge of disaster relief, he would still actually be involved.

After hearing this, Prince Xiangyan couldn’t help but feel his eyes flutter as he watched Prince Xiao Huayong lower his head to drink tea again: “Twelfth Brother occasionally mentioned Crown Prince Brother, saying that Brother deeply loves the Crown Princess. Today, this brother has truly opened his eyes.”

Prince Xiao Huayong’s smile deepened at the corners of his lips, with tender light flickering in his eyes: “Youyou is young and somewhat frank – I hope Eighth Brother will be understanding.”

When he mentioned Shen Xihe, it was as if he was speaking of a treasure, his words protective, even his tone full of tenderness and indulgence.

Frank?

Prince Xiangyan’s lips twitched. How blind would one have to be to think Shen Xihe was frank?

“Brother, allow me to be presumptuous for once – the Crown Princess’s intentions are clear as day.”

The tenderness vanished from his face and the smile instantly disappeared from his lips. Prince Xiao Huayong looked at Prince Xiangyan with dark eyes: “Watch your words.”

“Brother…”

“The rain hasn’t stopped, and there are still people’s grievances to address. I imagine you must have many matters to attend to. Don’t delay important business – I won’t keep you today.” His face changed instantly as he directly dismissed his guest.

Prince Xiangyan also realized his words had gone too far. He wasn’t close enough to Prince Xiao Huayong to say such things: “This brother takes his leave.”

After Prince Xiangyan left, Prince Xiao Huayong finally stood up and walked steadily with large strides toward the bedroom, just in time to see Shen Xihe half-leaning against a tall chair, supporting her chin with one hand, gazing absently at the pouring rain outside the window.

Her expression was serene, her face like white porcelain, even the jade porcelain with flowers on one side had lost its luster. The elaborate incense burner’s smoke curled around her beautiful face, making her beauty seem somewhat unreal as if she might disappear with a wisp of fragrant smoke.

Prince Xiao Huayong hurried to her side and gripped her shoulders. The warm touch finally set his heart at ease.

He always felt he hadn’t truly caught her, that she might leave him. With her, he was always tense and worried, even insecure.

“Finished deceiving people?” Shen Xihe turned her head and asked.

Prince Xiao Huayong couldn’t help but laugh softly: “So this is how Youyou sees me – that I’m a deceiver.”

“It seems His Highness the Crown Prince lacks some self-awareness.” Shen Xihe didn’t know when she had started to freely trade barbs with Prince Xiao Huayong.

There wasn’t a single aspect of Shen Xihe that Prince Xiao Huayong didn’t like. He sighed deeply: “If I could become a deceiver in Youyou’s eyes, that would be fine. But unfortunately, after spending so much time together with Youyou, I still haven’t managed to deceive your heart.”

He was being frivolous again, but Shen Xihe had no time to play along: “Prince Jing appears steady and mindful of the bigger picture, without any sharp edges, but he’s quite calculating. The show we just put on – he might not completely believe it.”

“Whether he believes it or not, what can he do?” Prince Xiao Huayong turned and sat in the chair opposite Shen Xihe across the table, tilting his head toward her. “Whether he believes it or not, what follows is that you will shoulder the responsibility for the people’s food and clothing.”

Actually, without Prince Xiangyan’s manipulation, Prince Xiao Huayong had already figured out the entire situation in Deng Prefecture. It was about time for relief efforts, and Prince Xiangyan’s quick concession was partly due to his desire to get rid of this hot potato.

Of course, it was also due to Prince Xiao Huayong’s proper handling – otherwise, even if he was desperately eager inside, he would still have put on an act and argued based on principle.

Shen Xihe took out a memorial and handed it to Prince Xiao Huayong: “Already prepared.”

This was a memorial requesting aid from the court. The court couldn’t fill this hole now, but Shen Xihe had written out how to appeal to righteous people from various regions to help Deng Prefecture.

Written in Prince Xiao Huayong’s handwriting but in Shen Xihe’s tone, it confirmed before the Emperor that Prince Xiao Huayong was merely a tool in her hands.

Prince Xiao Huayong accepted it with a smile, his eyes full of intense, lingering tenderness that seemed about to overflow.

He used everyone in the world as chess pieces, yet willingly became a pawn in her hands.