Shen Xihe possessed sacred cat fragrance from short-lived origins, collecting plenty each year. The Duhuo Tower also gathered some externally. Using this as the main ingredient, they created an incense mixture. Burning it in places where rats gathered in the city and each disaster-affected village, along with providing preventive instructions to the people, would surely prevent any plague outbreak.

These fragrances were quite expensive. Shen Xihe donated them freely in the Eastern Palace’s name, personally handing them to the Circuit Inspector. Once the new Provincial Governor arrived, the Inspector would pass down instructions for distribution level by level.

Everything had to wait until the rain stopped. Remarkably, after months of heavy rain, it weakened the day after the drainage, continuing as light rain for three to five days before completely ceasing.

When the skies cleared, people who hadn’t seen the sun in ages ran into the streets to bask in its warmth. Households with women laid out damp items to dry. On this day, Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong began their departure from Deng Prefecture.

People lined the roads to bid them farewell, from inside the city to beyond its walls. Only after Shen Xihe had the military guards intervene several times did the crowds stop following. Beyond Wendeng County, the enthusiasm continued. Neighboring counties, though less severely affected, had also suffered. Shen Xihe took charge, providing grain supplies as she had in Rongcheng County, lifting the people’s spirits.

The blocked roads had been cleared. Their arrival had been through rain, climbing mountains where even horses struggled. Their departure was under bright sunshine on smooth roads, the carriage rolling gently without hitting a single stone.

Returning to the capital, they went directly to the imperial palace. It was mid-November, with heavy snow falling. In this cold weather, Emperor Youning sent clan elders, Second Prince Xiao Changmin, and Third Prince Xiao Changzhen to welcome them at the city gate, while he waited at the palace gate.

Though the capital’s citizens had seen the Crown Prince and Princess before, they still gathered in the winter cold, peering out to watch, creating more excitement than a spring scholar’s parade.

The Emperor bestowed the highest honors, seemingly genuine. Although Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe had won the people’s hearts, they had also brought glory to the Emperor. Emperor Youning wasn’t intolerant, and this was perhaps his happiest moment since Prince Changzhen’s tomb-raiding incident, even more pleasing than repelling the Turks and securing their tribute agreement.

Had Xiao Huayong’s birthday not passed during their return journey, the Emperor might have held a grand celebration.

The palace’s majestic walls were covered in snow. In December, Shen Xihe celebrated her birthday, and the palace welcomed a joyous event – Third Princess Anling’s marriage to a meritorious family. At nineteen, approaching twenty, she needed to marry before becoming too old.

With Princess Anling’s marriage, seventeen-year-old Princess Pingling’s pre-wedding preparations also began. As manager of the inner palace, Shen Xihe had to oversee these matters, including drafting the princesses’ dowry lists.

Princess Anling, remembering her past discord with Shen Xihe, anxiously came to apologize, fearing Shen Xihe might compromise her dowry with items that appeared proper but were useless. She regretted their previous conflicts, knowing her fate now lay in Shen Xihe’s hands.

Shen Xihe neither troubled her nor exposed her concerns. Their friction had been mere personal incompatibility, and the princess had never truly wronged her. As head of the inner palace, such matters weren’t worth dwelling on.

Shen Xihe handled both Princess Anling’s and Princess Pingling’s matters strictly according to custom.

After marriage, Princess Anling seemed transformed, often visiting the palace to pay respects, keeping Shen Xihe company, and sharing news of noble ladies outside, clearly trying to curry favor. Shen Xihe neither rejected nor embraced these gestures.

Peaceful days passed quietly. During this year’s end celebrations, Shen Xihe was overwhelmingly busy. Palace banquets required her attention, leaving her little time for Xiao Huayong. Finally, the Crown Prince could bear it no longer. He grabbed her for some intense make-up time, then took over the inner palace affairs himself.

After the New Year, Shen Xihe finally caught her breath, but several royal weddings demanded her attention: Xiao Changmin and Yu Sangning’s wedding, Xiao Changfeng and Shen Yingruo’s wedding, Xiao Changying’s marriage to a prince’s consort, Princess Pingling’s wedding… all required her oversight.

“You shouldn’t be distracted by these trivial matters,” Xiao Huayong expressed his disapproval again, pressing his hand on Shen Xihe’s register.

“In Your Highness’s eyes, these may seem unimportant, but not to me,” Shen Xihe brushed his hand away. “Hidden within are family connections – some seemingly unrelated people are closely linked; some appearing to be rivals are conspiring together…”

Understanding this allowed her to extract useful information from seemingly futile details.

“I don’t want you too tired,” Xiao Huayong placed his hands on her shoulders, gently massaging her.

“How could this compare to reviewing memorials? It’s much lighter than handling state affairs,” Shen Xihe didn’t feel tired.

If she couldn’t handle these matters effortlessly, how could she… She stopped her thoughts there, realizing she hadn’t had such thoughts in a long time. Looking up at Xiao Huayong, she suggested, “If you’re concerned about my fatigue, perhaps Your Highness could take over?”

She closed the register and pushed it into Xiao Huayong’s hands, seated him in the chair, then gracefully turned to sit on a nearby noble consort’s couch. Taking a warm cotton towel from Zhenzhu, she wiped her hands and picked up a noble consort cake, eating it with relish while raising her eyebrows playfully at Xiao Huayong.

Xiao Huayong smiled helplessly, looking at the register and then at the animated Shen Xihe. He suddenly swooped over, biting away half the cake still visible in her mouth and stealing a kiss from her lips.

Shen Xihe froze, not from his intimate gesture, which she was used to, but from how swiftly he’d moved – her cake diminished and lips left warm.

“Hahaha…” Xiao Huayong couldn’t help laughing at her dazed expression, happily beginning his work for her.

Shen Xihe recovered and glared at him, picking up another cake and chewing forcefully while watching him as if venting her frustration by imagining it was his flesh.

Xiao Huayong occasionally turned to smile at her, making her look away, before continuing his work with a smile.