After their marriage, Xiao Huayong gradually discovered some of Shen Xihe’s preferences. Although she never explicitly showed them, careful observation revealed that she enjoyed dairy products – whenever food contained sheep’s or cow’s milk, she would always eat a bit more.

Recently, she had been going out at dawn in the rain and returning only at dusk. Being bedridden, he couldn’t accompany her. If it were sunny, he could have pretended to drag his sick body along, but in this weather, even that wouldn’t have been appropriate.

He would only be a burden, so he could only wait for her return to the residence. With nothing else to do, he brewed hot tea with ginger and cow’s milk. Finding it delicious, he waited here, hoping she could taste it as soon as she returned.

In the entire county, Xiao Huayong was the only one at leisure. His weak constitution forced him to rest, yet nobody complained about this. The Crown Prince doing nothing was more endearing to the common people than Xiao Changqin and Xiao Changyan who toiled daily with them in the muddy fields.

Because the Crown Prince was the one guided by divine powers, who, despite his illness, came to help them through their hardships.

“If you truly catch a cold, who will wait for my return home?” Shen Xihe held the warm but not scalding porcelain cup with both hands, the warmth seeping from her fingertips into her skin and spreading to her heart.

Knowing her concern, Xiao Huayong turned around, took a cloak, and draped it over her shoulders, leading her to sit in a nearby pavilion. “I understand. With you by my side, how could I not take care of myself? Quick, try my new tea.”

Shen Xihe, not one to needlessly argue, lowered her head and lifted the cup’s lid. The rich milk fragrance accompanied by warm steam made her take a deep breath. She picked up the spoon and couldn’t resist taking a sip. Though there was a ginger scent, the taste had none of ginger’s spiciness.

“I know you don’t like ginger,” Xiao Huayong said softly, seeing Shen Xihe’s relaxed brows.

She disliked ginger’s spiciness and usually preferred dishes with minimal ginger. Previously, getting her to drink ginger soup was more difficult than taking medicine. He had pondered this, knowing ginger was best for dispelling cold.

“Rich, lingering flavor that warms straight to the stomach. Excellent tea,” Shen Xihe couldn’t help but praise. She put down the spoon and lifted the cup, taking small sips continuously until she finished it all, still seeming to want more.

“There’s more. I’ll have someone fetch it. Let’s return to our chambers,” Xiao Huayong said, the corners of his lips never dropping.

Shen Xihe nodded slightly. They walked together, one tall and one shorter, in perfect harmony. Though they weren’t even holding hands, they were like strands of hair intertwined in the wind, showing an indescribable intimacy that seemed to reduce the chill of the damp cold wind.

In contrast to the contentment of the Eastern Palace couple, in the capital, Emperor Youning finally received the delayed message from Xiao Changyan. It wasn’t a complaint, but rather his duty to report everything that had occurred.

After reading it, Emperor Youning slammed his palm on the desk, startling several officials who held their breath, none daring to speak first.

Emperor Youning was furious, thinking Shen Xihe was too brazen to make such major decisions on her own. However, Xiao Changyan had reported everything impartially, without embellishment, including Shen Xihe’s rebuttals to him, leaving Emperor Youning unable to find a starting point for blame.

To accuse them of disrespecting the emperor? They had sent the message, its delay solely due to Dengzhou’s special circumstances, and the flood couldn’t wait for His Majesty’s permission. To accuse them of trickery? He had been the first to acknowledge the heaven-sent stone, personally ordering Xiao Changqin to escort Xiao Huayong to Dengzhou…

With anger stuck in his chest, Emperor Youning regretted bringing Shen Xihe to the capital. He cast a subtle glance at Liu Sanzhi, who had been responsible for investigating Shen Xihe’s character. The person they discovered was far more difficult to handle than expected.

She handled matters flawlessly, with admirable adaptability, strong yet not impulsive, wise yet not arrogant – more challenging to deal with than Shen Yueshan!

Liu Sanzhi lowered his head further, knowing without doubt that the Crown Prince Consort must have caused another disturbance. In his entire life of handling matters perfectly, never had he disappointed His Majesty until this matter with the Crown Prince Consort.

Suppressing his displeasure, Emperor Youning swept his gaze over the respectfully bowed officials: “Regarding Dengzhou… since it’s already settled and has heaven’s guidance, it’s a blessing for our dynasty. Issue orders to fully supply Dengzhou.”

The officials found this bewildering but dared not speak ill. Had this not yet been implemented, they could have debated it, but as it was already done, and even His Majesty could only hope for the best, how could they say otherwise?

Someone did mutter: “Why did the divine spirit possess the Crown Prince, and not…”

And not what?

Though unfinished, everyone knew the implied words – the Crown Prince, and not His Majesty. Did this suggest the Crown Prince was more favored by heaven? Especially considering this year’s prayer ceremony, where His Majesty’s incense wouldn’t light, yet the Crown Prince’s did.

The clever ones pretended not to hear. Emperor Youning’s gaze turned cold, but he didn’t rage, instead impatiently waving them away if they had no other business.

Emperor Youning didn’t take the divine possession seriously, seeing it as mere mystification. What was so special about a living person without a pulse? The divine doctor behind the Shen family could even revive the dead! Hadn’t Shen Yueshan demonstrated this recently?

As for his incense not lighting this year, if he had three parts suspicion of Shen Xihe’s involvement before, now he had seven parts. However, he had no evidence and didn’t know how Shen Xihe had managed it. He wondered if she was deliberately building momentum for Xiao Huayong.

Could they be planning rebellion? If not, didn’t Shen Xihe realize she was putting Xiao Huayong on the hot seat?

When the heir’s reputation surpasses the emperor’s, isn’t that inviting disaster?

Or was the Shen family deliberately setting a trap, provoking him to take severe action against the Crown Prince?

For once, the clever emperor couldn’t fathom the underlying intentions.

If Shen Xihe knew, she could only laugh helplessly – it was mere coincidence. She had never intended to build such momentum for Xiao Huayong.

But those words still reached Shen Xihe’s ears.

“Your Highness, the common people are discussing heaven’s choice of ruler…” Ziyu reported to Shen Xihe as soon as she heard it.

Shen Xihe raised an eyebrow slightly, glancing at Xiao Huayong sitting in the distance, calmly reading a book.

Seeming to sense Shen Xihe’s gaze, he gave her a warm smile across the distance.

Shen Xihe didn’t believe Ziyu had heard this while he remained unaware, still maintaining such an unbothered appearance.

As if guessing her thoughts, Xiao Huayong declared proudly: “With my wife by my side, what is there to fear?”