When Shen Xihe said she would investigate, she meant it with the force of thunder, directing her focus straight at the Department of Internal Affairs and uncovering evidence leading to a Junior Supervisor. This Junior Supervisor was personally promoted by Liu Sanzhi, and Shen Xihe handed the man over to Liu Sanzhi to deal with personally.
The Department of Internal Affairs had two Internal Affairs Supervisors of the third rank who served as the Emperor’s confidants. One was Liu Sanzhi, and the other was stationed at Changqiu Court. Changqiu Court was established by the Late Emperor as a place for interrogating palace personnel, and its torture methods were even more feared than those of the judicial courts.
Six Junior Supervisors were managing the imperial harem under the Empress’s command. Since Emperor Youning’s ascension, he hadn’t established a formal harem. For over twenty years, Noble Consort Rong held authority over the palace, but the entire Department of Internal Affairs remained under the Emperor’s control.
This explained why Emperor Youning wasn’t concerned when Shen Xihe received palace authority. The internal affairs system was intricately connected to both the previous dynasty and the current harem, and incredibly complex inside. Shen Xihe had never acted rashly before, but today she didn’t want to weigh the pros and cons – she just wanted to vent her anger.
Though she hadn’t previously moved against the Department of Internal Affairs, she had been watching them. The evidence was substantial, and her actions were swift, leaving no room for reversal.
Liu Sanzhi had no choice but to accept defeat, ordering one hundred strokes of the heavy bamboo rod for his subordinate. When Shen Xihe wanted to promote Zhu Sheng as the new Junior Supervisor, Liu Sanzhi dared not object.
“This servant thanks Your Highness for the promotion. I will serve with absolute loyalty and dedication, without any divided allegiance!” Zhu Sheng kowtowed to Shen Xihe.
Three years ago, he and another young eunuch had accompanied the now-deceased Huang Zhongsi to escort her to the capital. Even in that situation, he had shown his wit. Over these three years, that once timid but clever young eunuch had grown considerably. Shen Xihe had secretly supported him, and now wearing the fourth-rank eunuch’s robes, he carried himself with an official’s bearing, his eyes no longer showing his former caution.
It wasn’t that Shen Xihe had no one else to promote – the Shen family had their people in the palace. But she still chose Zhu Sheng: “I’m glad you dare to accept.”
By moving against Liu Sanzhi’s man, she was openly declaring a life-or-death struggle with the Department of Internal Affairs. It was also her second confrontation with the Emperor. By accepting Shen Xihe’s opportunity at this moment, Zhu Sheng would face hostility from the entire department.
Even those who were oppressed and wanted change wouldn’t dare openly side with him.
“A lonely official with a loyal heart – this servant is fortunate,” Zhu Sheng had never been without ambition. Fortune favors the bold – he knew that if he stood with Shen Xihe through this battle, if she emerged victorious, he would become the next Liu Sanzhi.
Whether in success or failure, in this life, one must give everything for what they believe in at least once.
Shen Xihe had intended to say more to him, but catching sight of Xiao Huayong in her peripheral vision, she dismissed him: “You may go.”
After Zhu Sheng respectfully acknowledged and withdrew, Xiao Huayong lifted the pearl curtain and walked to Shen Xihe’s side.
Shen Xihe ignored him, acting as if he wasn’t there, and directly opened the documents submitted by the Six Offices of the Inner Court.
Xiao Huayong paced uncertainly for two circles before finally standing beside her: “Youyou… can we not be at odds?”
His tone was dejected and pleading – the Crown Prince had never stood on ceremony before the Crown Princess, always maintaining a humble attitude.
The fingers holding the document suddenly tightened. Shen Xihe couldn’t read a single word, yet still refused to acknowledge him.
“Youyou, some things are inevitable. Even if we don’t want to accept them, we must eventually face them.” Xiao Huayong suddenly spoke seriously, “If my words today have angered you, I hope you’ll forgive me, but they were… all from my heart.”
His permission for her to remarry was sincere. He would try Xie Yunhuai’s method but held no hope. He dared not hope, and Xie Yunhuai couldn’t guarantee success – it was merely a dying man’s refusal to submit.
He had to think of her – how could he let someone so brilliant spend the rest of her life keeping faith in him? He couldn’t bear it.
Just thinking about him lying cold on the ground while she remained alone made his heartache.
Shen Xihe wasn’t one to avoid things. Given the situation, she didn’t want to stay angry with Xiao Huayong. Skipping over the talk of remarriage, she turned to him, gazing at him calmly but persistently: “I only want our flesh and blood.”
It wasn’t that she couldn’t conceive, just that it was difficult. Until the very end, she refused to give up.
Since she couldn’t keep him, she would continue his bloodline. This was the most meaningful thing she could do for him.
“Youyou…” Xiao Huayong disagreed, trying to persuade her, “I don’t have much time left. I hope that before I go, you will have already ‘given birth.’ Otherwise, how can I leave in peace?”
The palace was surrounded by tigers and wolves. Just thinking about her giving birth alone filled him with inexplicable terror.
Childbirth itself was like walking through death’s door, and she would be bearing the legitimate imperial grandson. Including the Emperor, countless people wouldn’t allow this child to be born. Moreover, even if Shen Xihe did become pregnant, there was no guarantee the child would be male.
Furthermore, he knew her character too well. If they had no children, perhaps someday someone else might touch her heart, and she might open herself to love again. But once they had a child, she would never allow such a person to appear, never give herself another chance.
“Beichen, whether boy or girl, I want to have our child. A child with our blood flowing through their veins.” Shen Xihe’s gaze was determined. “In this life, I’ve been indifferent to love and affection. Even my relationship with you had ulterior motives. Marrying you involved many compromises and calculations. This past year, you’ve treated me well, and I’m not made of wood – I couldn’t help but be moved.
I have you in my heart, but I’m not someone who lives and dies for love. I will grieve and hurt, but I will still live well.
However, I can tell you with certainty, whether we have a child or not, for the rest of my life, no one else will enter my heart.”
She understood his intentions, but she told him – she didn’t want any of that.
Xiao Huayong had never felt such chaos in his heart – sweet, bitter, joyful, painful, hopeful, desperate…
Contradictory emotions filled his chest, seeming to tear his heart into countless pieces, making his body tremble uncontrollably.
Shen Xihe stepped forward, slipping her arms under his, actively embracing him: “In this life, I’ve always been calm and composed, strictly disciplining myself. I’ve never acted rashly or impulsively. I know that if you’re gone and I become pregnant, the child in my womb will be a living target. Those hoping for the child’s death will be countless, each with vast influence. Though I have some ability, I might not be able to protect them completely.
I also know that if I’m not careful, it could end with both of us dead – truly unwise.
But I want to be willful just once.
Beichen, you’ve indulged me to act so arbitrarily, so please indulge me until the end.”
A tear formed on Xiao Huayong’s long lashes. Her words, one by one, drove the crystalline droplet to fall uncontrollably.