The noble ladies who had witnessed Shen Xihe using a bamboo pole to prod Hu Ying into the pond at Furong Garden already knew of her ruthlessness. Yet they never imagined Shen Xihe could still refresh their understanding – her methods made their scalps tingle with fear.
Especially the young lady who had just stood up in indignation to accuse Shen Xihe of going too far – she was so frightened that her face turned pale as she collapsed back into her seat.
Even at the gentlemen’s banquet just a waterside pavilion away, the various princes and noble sons were too shocked to recover their composure. Xiao Changying directly sprawled against the pavilion’s railing, staring intently at this side with an appreciative smile, practically ready to applaud. The others cast thoughtful glances at Xiao Changying, while Qin Zixie also swept a cold look.
“Princess… you… are abusing your power…” Liang Danpu’s forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat as she spoke through gritted teeth with hatred.
Though Liang Danpu maintained a tough exterior, her heart was filled with panic. She had thought her schemes were brilliant. She had deliberately come to provoke Li Yanyan, aiming to drive a wedge between the couple. As soon as she entered, she spotted Shen Xihe.
Every single incident involving Shen Xihe since her arrival in the capital had been terrifying – she was a fearsome person that everyone avoided.
When the teacup was thrown, it had landed near her feet. If Shen Xihe hadn’t been behind her, she naturally wouldn’t have dodged. She might have even subtly moved toward it, letting everyone witness Li Yanyan’s tyranny and intolerance. This would have helped her gradually bring down Li Yanyan.
But Shen Xihe happened to be behind her. While she wasn’t certain if the fragments could harm Shen Xihe, she had to try if there was even a possibility! Once Shen Xihe was injured, she could successfully set up a formidable enemy for Li Yanyan.
She never expected Shen Xihe to see through her deliberate intentions! Even more unexpected was how Shen Xihe would deal with her so directly, contrary to convention.
“The Prince Dai’s wife is a proper royal consort, who had her face cut because of startling me.” Shen Xihe turned to face Yu Sangning, though her gaze flickered toward Liang Danpu behind her. “Shouldn’t you be begging forgiveness for this? Since you don’t understand propriety, I shall teach you. If you feel wronged, you’re welcome to file a complaint against me. I’ll await you at the Princess’s residence.”
With those words, she lifted her hand with a slight movement of her fingertips, releasing her grip on Liang Danpu’s jade ornament.
“Biyu, personally escort Lady Liang back to her residence, and report everything that happened here to the Liang household, without missing a single detail,” Shen Xihe commanded softly.
“Yes, my lady.” Biyu supported Liang Danpu and headed toward the exit.
Shen Xihe gracefully stepped back to her position, standing behind the low table: “I grew up in the Northwest, where both men and women are straightforward. I dislike beating around the bush, and I especially dislike those who take me for a fool while thinking highly of themselves.”
Everyone present felt a lingering fear, secretly grateful they hadn’t offended this harbinger of destruction.
By this point, anyone who wasn’t a fool could see through Liang Danpu’s intentions. Recently, there had been widespread rumors that Consort Zhao intended to arrange for Liang Danpu to become Prince Dai’s concubine. Prince Dai was already twenty-four and had been married for six years, yet still had no children, causing his mother Consort Liang great anxiety.
It was no secret that Liang Danpu admired Prince Dai. Given the occasion today, since Ye Wantang had invited Prince Dai’s wife, she certainly wouldn’t have invited Liang Danpu.
Liang Danpu had come uninvited, but with her status, she could only have gained entry through Consort Zhao’s influence. She could have simply offered congratulations to Ye Wantang and left, but she deliberately sought out Prince Dai’s wife.
She had blatantly provoked Prince Dai’s wife – everyone knew Li Yanyan’s temper. The Princess Consort’s anger was expected, and she had used this opportunity to play the victim. Not content with just sowing discord between the Prince and his wife, she had even tried to use Shen Xihe against Li Yanyan.
She must have eaten a bear’s heart and a leopard’s gall to be so bold – even Ye Wantang, the Princess Consort of Prince Ding, wouldn’t dare to do such a thing, yet she dared!
Such fearlessness – was it because she thought herself clever enough that no one could touch her?
Did she think she was the only smart person in the world?
Though some still felt Shen Xihe was cruel, it didn’t prevent them from feeling that Liang Danpu deserved it!
Yu Sangning listened until her hands and feet turned cold, especially after that seemingly casual glance from Shen Xihe earlier that had carried a hint of a smile.
Her instincts told her that Liang Danpu’s public punishment by Shen Xihe today was partly because of her earlier actions.
Shen Xihe must have seen clearly how she had tried to use Yu Sangzhi to curry favor at the prince’s mansion gates, and when Liang Danpu followed the same pattern, it provoked her anger.
This Princess…
When Yu Sangning thought of Shen Xihe, she couldn’t help but feel admiration.
Xihe was the sun goddess, and she lived up to her name – radiating brilliant light, supreme and untouchable.
She was incredibly grateful that today she had only harbored thoughts of seeking connection with Shen Xihe, without any intention to harm her. Otherwise…
Shen Xihe was not only incredibly intelligent, but she also acted with unrestrained arrogance, completely disregarding the need for evidence.
Just like with Liang Danpu’s situation – she had no evidence, and Liang Danpu would never admit to anything, but she hadn’t taken Liang Danpu’s life, merely inflicted some surface wounds.
Whether the Liang family acknowledged their fault didn’t matter – they wouldn’t risk offending Shen Xihe and the Northwestern Prince’s mansion behind her over such minor injuries.
Having successfully made an example to warn others, Shen Xihe maintained a peaceful expression. She mentioned feeling a bit tired after speaking, casually poured herself a cup of osmanthus drink and drank it, as if nothing had happened earlier.
Ye Wantang, as the hostess, quickly tried to liven up the atmosphere after the servants had cleaned everything: “Everyone’s in for a treat today – I’ve invited Master Bian to dance for us.”
Just then, drum sounds rose from the stone platform. Everyone looked over to see Bian Xianyi in flowing red robes, dancing gracefully.
She would sometimes leap into the air, sometimes bend and twist, sometimes kneeling on the ground, her toes skillfully tapping the drum surface, her body striking the drum face, her dance steps as light as flying, her spinning like snowflakes drifting, her movements blooming like flower buds.
Bian Xianyi’s dance was, as always, breathtakingly beautiful and captivating.
“Nothing special,” remarked Shen Xihe as she joined others at the railing to watch. At some point, Qin Zixie had come to stand beside her.
Shen Xihe initially ignored Qin Zixie, but as people crowded together, the chaotic mixture of various perfumes assaulted her brain. She unconsciously stepped back, especially when the breeze carried the scents to her sensitive nose, making it even harder to bear.
Just then, a faint trace of agarwood wafted past her nose. This time she precisely identified it as coming from Qin Zixie beside her. If it had been only agarwood, Shen Xihe wouldn’t have thought much of it.
But the main fragrance on Qin Zixie was a perfume derived from lotus flowers – the lotus scent was subtle and lingering, seeming to fade yet persisting endlessly.
Such an elegant and pleasant fragrance indeed suited Qin Zixie’s taste, but this type of perfume would never use agarwood as a harmonizing note.
Just as Shen Xihe hesitated over this detail, someone pushed past to get a better view of Bian Xianyi’s dance. Shen Xihe’s eyes flashed, and she deliberately stumbled against Qin Zixie, her hand seemingly accidentally landing on Qin Zixie’s chest.
The soft feeling caused Shen Xihe to quickly pull away from Qin Zixie’s embrace.
It was a woman!
Shen Xihe thought she had concealed her probing action well, but Qin Zixie had seen it all. Where others couldn’t see, the corners of her lips curved up ever so slightly for just a moment.
Silly girl, he had done his homework thoroughly.