The letter came at the right time, calming Shen Xihe’s anxious heart. Xiao Huayong had been unconscious when sent away – even with the Qu family leading the way across the sea, dangers weren’t impossible.

Shen Xihe wasn’t one to worry needlessly, yet without receiving a letter, she couldn’t help but feel concerned each day.

She couldn’t resist carefully stroking the handwriting on the letter over and over – it was undoubtedly Xiao Huayong’s writing.

As usual, the letter contained a strand of black hair.

The gyrfalcon would stay for her use from now on. He would try to help the tribal residents and strive for another chance to send her letters, telling her to take good care of herself and not worry about him.

Since Xiao Huayong’s departure, Shen Xihe finally showed traces of a smile around her eyes, making Zhenzhu and others feel relieved.

Shen Xihe’s features were striking – when not smiling, she gave off an unapproachable aura. Even slight silence from her carried a natural authority that intimidated even Zhenzhu and others who had followed her for a long.

Tianyuan, upon hearing the news, hurried to handle the matter the Crown Prince had instructed before leaving.

While Shen Xihe was in good spirits, Tianyuan approached with a box, presenting it to her: “Your Highness, the Crown Prince commanded this subordinate to give this to you after his letter arrived.”

The box was familiar, but Shen Xihe’s mind was still absorbed in Xiao Huayong’s letter. Only when Tianyuan opened it did she remember – it was the box containing the rattan cup Xiao Huayong had gifted her.

This one was Xiao Huayong’s own, with his miniature portrait carved on the upper side. He had given another to her with her portrait carved on it, but back then she had been indifferent to him and gave it to her father.

Remembering the past, Shen Xihe couldn’t help but smile. She finally folded the letter and took out the cup from the box.

Tianyuan hurriedly conveyed Xiao Huayong’s message: “The Crown Prince said though he left many portraits, how could they compare to holding one in hand? And painted portraits lack the dimensionality of carved ones…”

Lost in memories, Shen Xihe didn’t immediately grasp the deeper meaning of these words.

The anxious Tianyuan, seeing no reaction from Shen Xihe, had to boldly ask: “Your Highness, would you like to send some items back to the Crown Prince?”

Her fingers, stroking Xiao Huayong’s miniature on the cup, paused. Shen Xihe looked up at the expectant Tianyuan, then lowered her eyes back to the lifelike miniature.

Through the extremely similar portrait, she seemed to see that person’s obvious hint.

“So… he’s been dwelling on this all along,” Shen Xihe murmured.

Tianyuan pretended not to hear.

The Crown Prince had more than just dwelled on it – he had been obsessed!

Ever since seeing that cup at the Western King’s place, he had hidden this cup after returning to the palace, afraid that seeing it would remind him and make him upset. He could only be upset with himself, unwilling to speak harshly to the Crown Princess.

When packing for his treatment this time, he had quietly instructed that if he sent word that treatment showed promise, this cup should be delivered to the Crown Princess immediately.

Firstly, to make the Crown Princess remember her husband was away, and not be easily swayed by opportunists.

Secondly, to remind the Crown Princess where the other cup was – letting her know he very much wanted such a cup to hold!

Tianyuan didn’t know what expression to make then – the Crown Prince was still that same Crown Prince whose mind went slightly askew when it came to the Crown Princess.

However, the Crown Prince had also said if his letter was long delayed, to burn the cup to prevent the Crown Princess from being reminded of sad memories when seeing it.

Tianyuan dared not criticize the Crown Prince anymore and like Shen Xihe, counted days waiting for his letter.

“I understand. You may withdraw,” Shen Xihe put down the cup and instructed Tianyuan.

Xiao Huayong was still mindful that she had given the cup he carved to her father. He was using his treatment as leverage, wanting her to get the cup back and send it to him.

That man, so graceful and magnificent, a towering figure with great vision, when it came to matters concerning her, was always so childish and petty.

Shen Xihe’s reaction to this side of Xiao Huayong had evolved from initial incomprehension to slight disdain, to becoming numbly accustomed, and now she couldn’t help but smile whenever she thought of it.

After carefully storing the letter and the strand of hair, Shen Xihe took the cup to her study and ordered Biyu to grind ink. After the ink was ready, she didn’t write for a long while, staring at the Pingzhong leaf bonsai on the desk ahead.

Biyu waited for a long time before finally venturing to call softly: “Your Highness.”

Shen Xihe came back to herself, neatly rolled up her sleeves, and picked up the brush without hesitation. What was there to be hesitant about asking her father to return a previously gifted item? She had never been one to be coy or evasive.

She told Shen Yueshan directly that the cup was given by Xiao Huayong before they had made their lifelong commitment. At that time, she had found Xiao Huayong frivolous, and since the cup bore her portrait, it wasn’t appropriate to give to others or destroy personally, nor did she want to keep it, so she gave it to her father.

Now that she had given her heart to Xiao Huayong, and having found its pair while organizing his things today, considering they were separated and his treatment was dangerous, she didn’t want the pair of cups separated, fearing it might be inauspicious. Thus, she asked her father to return the cup.

Shen Xihe wrote this letter without any pressure. Xiao Huayong probably didn’t know how bitter and angry her father would be upon receiving it. When he returned one day, he would have to endure much from his father-in-law.

In any case, her father couldn’t bear to blame her at all.

What fault could his daughter have? All blame lay with the wolf cub who had stolen his precious daughter!

In August, when Shen Yueshan received his daughter’s letter, he indeed felt mixed emotions – happy that his son-in-law wouldn’t die, his daughter wouldn’t have to grieve or be widowed, and his grandson wouldn’t lose his father; angry precisely because his son-in-law wouldn’t die!

Not dying was one thing, but to become spoiled while sick and make his precious daughter lower herself to ask for returned gifts!

Growing angrier, Shen Yueshan felt he couldn’t be angry alone and immediately found his son. Father and son together fumed over Shen Xihe’s obvious care for Xiao Huayong.

They had already planned – when Xiao Huayong returned, they would first take turns beating him!

If one beating wasn’t enough, they’d give him two. For this, Shen Yueshan even quit drinking and delegated night patrol duties to his son. He needed to stay healthy – he couldn’t let his fists be weak when the man returned!

No, he needed to practice martial arts more!

Regardless of how father and son planned to torment Xiao Huayong later, just for Shen Xihe’s mention of inauspiciousness, Shen Yueshan sent the cup back. The day the letter was sent, Xue Jinqiao went into labor and gave birth to a delicate baby girl.

Shen Yunan was so happy his eyes disappeared from his smile, personally writing a lengthy letter expressing his joy at becoming a father!