The scorching July heat enveloped the capital. This was Shen Xihe’s first experience of midsummer in the capital, where even the insects among the branches had fallen silent from the sweltering heat.
The original summer retreat plans were canceled due to Prince Jing’s rebellion and the Crown Prince’s death. His Majesty personally decreed three months of entertainment prohibition throughout the capital.
After receiving a letter about her father’s safe return to the Northwest, Shen Xihe dressed and went to seek an audience with Emperor Youning.
“Your Majesty, with the Crown Prince’s passing, it’s improper for me to remain in the Eastern Palace. I especially come to request permission to return to the Princess’s mansion to await childbirth.” Shen Xihe brought Zhenzhu and Biyu, one carrying ledgers and one carrying the seal – this was to hand over power.
While Emperor Youning was naturally pleased to see Shen Xihe relinquish power, the palace authority being returned to him wasn’t so simple to accept.
Though the Crown Prince was dead, he was buried with his title intact – he remained Crown Prince until death. Thus, Shen Xihe couldn’t be moved to the Sixteenth Prince’s residence, much less return to the Princess’s mansion to await childbirth.
How could a married daughter return to her maiden home without cause? Moreover, Xiao Huayong had just been buried, and yesterday’s palace incident was still fresh.
If Shen Xihe returned to the Princess’s mansion now, it would publicly declare she had suffered mistreatment in the palace.
Most importantly, Shen Xihe hadn’t given birth yet. Though everyone inside and outside the palace knew she was carrying a male child, and he had already bestowed a name, until the birth happened, the child’s gender couldn’t be confirmed.
Emperor Youning wouldn’t let Shen Xihe leave the palace. She must give birth under his watch – he absolutely wouldn’t allow any confusion in the royal bloodline.
As for preventing Shen Xihe from delivering this child, Emperor Youning never considered it. This was his elder brother’s only bloodline. Though he was unwilling to let the Shen bloodline inherit the throne, his wariness hadn’t reached the point of preventing Shen Xihe from giving birth.
To keep Shen Xihe in the palace, no place was more suitable than the Eastern Palace, which stood independently within the imperial palace.
“You are with child – this is Seventh Brother’s only flesh and blood. Neither I nor the Empress Dowager can allow any mishap. The Eastern Palace is where Seventh Brother lived since childhood. Stay here peacefully until birth. Other matters can be discussed after you safely deliver the child,” Emperor Youning arranged it thus.
As for whether Shen Xihe would continue living in the Eastern Palace after giving birth, Emperor Youning made no promises. If she truly bore an imperial grandson, staying permanently in the Eastern Palace wouldn’t be appropriate.
“As for palace duties…” he paused, then continued, “You should focus on the pregnancy. Palace affairs will be temporarily managed by the Empress Dowager.”
Though Noble Consort Rong had been restored, her previous crimes made her unsuitable to manage palace affairs. The remaining Consort Shu was still confined for her reckless words that day, to appease Shen Xihe.
With few high-ranking consorts, and not wanting to cause more trouble, Emperor Youning personally took Shen Xihe to seek the Empress Dowager, who agreed to temporarily take charge.
Emperor Youning’s arrangements were mostly within Shen Xihe’s expectations. She knew he wouldn’t let her leave the palace, but she made the first move to prevent later discussions.
Back at the Eastern Palace, just as Shen Xihe took a sip of warm water, Tianyuan hurriedly arrived: “Crown Princess, the person has been intercepted.”
The teacup was still at her lips, its porcelain-white rim highlighting Shen Xihe’s rosy lips. Her slightly curved smile made her appear unapproachable.
That night, Shen Xihe entered the palace’s secret passages for the second time. The last time was on her wedding day when Xiao Huayong took her through the passage to secretly meet Shen Yun’an.
The palace didn’t have many secret passages. Built mainly for discretion, there were only three: one from the imperial garden to the outside and Qinzheng Hall, one from the Eastern Palace to the outside and Taihe Hall, and another from the Imperial Kitchen to the Green Dragon Gate.
The three paths didn’t intersect, but their corners formed a hidden chamber.
Shen Xihe stood in the middle of the Eastern Palace passage, looking at the person tied to the wooden frame, her expression cold: “Who instructed you to manipulate Li? Tell me, and I’ll give you a quick death.”
Indeed, this pale-faced woman with cracked lips was Yu Sangning, who had supposedly died by poison.
“Crown Princess, might you first tell me how you knew I faked my death?” Yu Sangning appeared calm on the surface, but her heart was panicked and unwilling.
Perhaps Shen Xihe’s intimidation ran too deep – facing her always made Yu Sangning uneasy. If not forced, she would rather die than oppose Shen Xihe.
Thus, before being summoned to the Eastern Palace, she had taken poison – real, potent poison. Even if physicians examined her bloody vomit, they would find no discrepancy.
However, she had taken the antidote early. Though they couldn’t completely counteract each other, the remaining antidote could neutralize most of the toxin, preserving her life.
Some of her father’s people had fallen into her hands. These people would surely help her escape. Taking advantage of Li Yanyan’s fire at the prince’s mansion the previous night, her guards grew lax. She had just been rescued and replaced, but just as she left the capital gates, she was captured.
Initially thinking it was those who had forced her to oppose Shen Xihe, she now realized it was Shen Xihe herself.
“You died too neatly,” Shen Xihe answered flatly. “You chase glory and wealth. Someone like you who resents the world’s injustice yet refuses an ordinary life, clinging to worldly splendor, would never die gracefully. Even at the end of your rope, you’d want to go out spectacularly, making your death known to all.”
Yu Sangning had taken the antidote early, leaving a medicinal scent – not just from the poison, but something else. Shen Xihe knew some herbs, and both Zhenzhu and Axi had checked Yu Sangning’s pulse that day. It wasn’t hard to identify which poison caused her death.
When Shen Xihe inquired about this poison’s antidote and learned it contained herbs she had smelled, she had Zhenzhu and the others test if taking the antidote before the poison could preserve life. The answer was self-evident.
Naturally, Shen Xihe wouldn’t tell Yu Sangning this.
“Just based on that?” Yu Sangning didn’t believe it.
“Watching you only required two people. I have countless useful people at my disposal – it wasn’t difficult,” Shen Xihe said. “Even if you weren’t faking death, I wanted to see if anyone would claim your body, and if that person was connected to whoever instructed you.”
Shen Xihe’s latter words convinced Yu Sangning. Her expression became scattered as she said dejectedly: “I truly don’t know who wanted me to seek out Li.”
Shen Xihe’s expression remained unchanged as she coldly watched her.
“I don’t know,” Yu Sangning said urgently. “They captured my elder brother and sister. I couldn’t find them anywhere. If I didn’t comply, they would expose my sister’s matter and kill my brother, blaming it on me! They would also make all my past deeds known to everyone.”
Her past deeds – weren’t they harming her grandmother, killing to cover up her rise to power, then for the family’s status, harming her father’s colleagues, leading to the suicide of someone who loved her devotedly?
Perhaps there was far more behind the scenes, as Shen Xihe hadn’t paid much attention to her. But while Shen Xihe wasn’t watching, naturally others who found her useful were.