Feeling his sister's concern, Shen Yungan's heart warmed, and he readily agreed, "Alright, Brother will have someone keep an eye on it."
"Brother, go rest quickly," Shen Xihe urged.
"Aren't you going to introduce someone to me?" Shen Yungan asked.
"Brother, just go rest. I'll have someone wait for you to wake up," Shen Xihe smiled gently. "When you wake up, I'll make Sugar Crisps for you."
"Really?" Shen Yungan's eyes sparkled.
Shen Xihe laughed, "Really. If you don't rest properly and I still see the redness in your eyes, I'll give the Sugar Crisps to someone else."
Shen Yungan was tall, sturdy, and strong, but only Shen Xihe knew he had a sweet tooth.
The Sugar Crisps Shen Xihe made had a crispy outer layer with a sweet filling inside, sprinkled with sesame seeds—crispy and sweet without being cloying. Shen Yungan could eat over ten of them.
Whether it was his bias toward his sister or not, he always found something lacking in Sugar Crisps made by anyone else.
"I'm going now!" Afraid the Sugar Crisps might be given away, Shen Yungan dashed off in a flash.
Her brother, forever childlike in front of her, made Shen Xihe smile helplessly. She instructed Hongyu to make preparations.
After finishing her grooming, Shen Xihe was about to enjoy her meal when Moyu came to report, "Princess, the seventh lady of the Xue family is climbing the wall again..."
This wasn't the first time Xue Jinqiao had scaled the walls of the Princess Manor. Ever since she learned that knocking on the door would lead to rejection, she had resorted to climbing.
In the past, they would have simply escorted Xue Jinqiao back to the Xue residence. However, last night, the Crown Prince had publicly stated that Xue Jinqiao had shown him kindness and assistance, so now they had no choice but to seek Shen Xihe's instructions.
Shen Xihe asked, "How many times is this?"
"Forty-three times..." Moyu remembered clearly, as she was always the one to escort the Xue lady back.
Counting the days, since the Chrysanthemum Banquet, Xue Jinqiao had come to climb her walls every single day without fail.
Rubbing her forehead, Shen Xihe said, "Invite her in."
She was a solitary person by nature, and apart from her closest family, no one could get close to her.
Xue Jinqiao's persistence hadn't moved her either, but since her brother seemed to regard Xue Jinqiao differently, Shen Xihe decided to be a little kinder to her.
Xue Jinqiao, who had prepared to be thrown back to her residence once again, was suddenly led into the Princess Manor. Her entire demeanor brightened, especially when she reached Shen Xihe, her almond-shaped eyes curving into crescents as she smiled.
Shen Xihe asked, "Have you had your morning meal?"
"I..." Before she could finish the word, Xue Jinqiao quickly changed her answer, "Not yet."
Shen Xihe pretended not to see through her little scheme. "Hongyu, set an extra bowl and chopsticks."
"Sister Xihe, I prepared a morning meal for you!" Xue Jinqiao immediately said. "It's outside, carried by Caocao."
Shen Xihe was slightly taken aback. "You brought it in the past too?"
As she spoke, Shen Xihe glanced at Moyu, who nodded slightly.
Shen Xihe was puzzled. "Why would you prepare a morning meal for me?"
Every day, she prepared it, even though Shen Xihe had never known or asked about it. Despite being turned away time and again, Xue Jinqiao persisted without a hint of complaint.
"Whatever others can do for you, Qiao Qiao can do for you too!" Xue Jinqiao emphasized.
"Others"... did she mean the Crown Prince, who had sent her a food box?
So, Xue Jinqiao thought she was close to the Crown Prince because he had sent her a food box and managed to please her?
Shen Xihe found it both amusing and exasperating. Naturally, she wouldn't explain the reasons to Xue Jinqiao and simply instructed Moyu to let Xue Jinqiao's maid in."Why... why do you like me so much?" Shen Xihe had never been able to understand.
"I liked you the moment I saw you, Sister Xihe." Xue Jinqiao's large eyes shone with genuine sincerity. "Sister Xihe was the first person who ever stood up for me."
Though Xue Jinqiao's answer was simple, it deeply moved Shen Xihe.
Due to her extraordinary beauty, Shen Xihe had been adored at first sight since childhood. However, her temperament was such that few could endure it without ulterior motives. Though she appeared universally flattered, in the northwest, she had no one with whom she could truly connect—not because others were unwilling, but because her own aloof pride disdained them.
This was why, after meeting Gu Zexiang, a trusted friend, she maintained their correspondence for so long.
Xue Jinqiao’s initial affection for her,
like that of most people drawn to beauty, was merely a superficial attraction based on appearance. The reason she now offered such heartfelt devotion was because Shen Xihe had stood up for her after Hu Yingrao pushed her into the water.
As the legitimate daughter of the Xue family, with her granduncle serving as the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and her father as the Minister of Personnel, the Xue family was at the peak of prosperity. Her status was exceedingly noble—what reason could there be for her to cherish someone so deeply simply because that person was the first to defend her?
Shen Xihe couldn't help but recall her own childhood experiences and softened her voice: "Qiao Qiao, you still have your parents and brothers."
"No, they would all abandon me." Xue Jinqiao shook her head. "To please Grandmother, my parents left me at home and took my brothers with them to their provincial posts. They left me with a eunuch—he whipped me, burned me with candles, forced me to drink waste water..."
As she spoke, Xue Jinqiao's pupils gradually dilated, and a fierce aura emanated from her. Shen Xihe grasped her hand: "Qiao Qiao, it's all in the past..."
The warmth on the back of her hand made Xue Jinqiao's heart tremble. She immediately clutched Shen Xihe's hand tightly, her smile turning sweet again: "I'm not easy to bully—I bit off one of his ears! But he was strong and had accomplices; they knocked me out and nailed me inside a coffin!"
Xue Jinqiao's face darkened once more, and Shen Xihe gently squeezed her hand.
"They... all abandoned me!"
She had done nothing wrong—it was her cousin who had committed murder, yet they made her take the blame. While she was being tortured, how she wished someone would save her!
When she woke inside the coffin, suffocating and in agony, her fingernails torn off from scratching the lid, how she longed for someone to rescue her!
Battered and bruised, she returned home and waited endlessly for her parents to come back. How she hoped they would punish the wrongdoers for her, but they didn't...
They merely held her and told her that as a daughter of the Xue family, she must prioritize the greater good, be sensible, and consider her brothers' interests...
From that moment on, she knew she was utterly alone in this world. No one would protect her, no one would stand up for her or defend her!
Then she must learn to be strong!
So that no one could ever bully her again!
Those who wronged her would be made to crave death but find no escape!
"Qiao Qiao, let's eat." Shen Xihe keenly felt the intense hatred in Xue Jinqiao's heart and quickly spoke to pull her back from her thoughts.
"Mhm." It took Xue Jinqiao a while to calm down, and she responded firmly.
Shen Xihe tried to move her hand but found Xue Jinqiao stubbornly clinging to it. Frowning slightly, she met Xue Jinqiao's large, tear-filled eyes and decided to indulge her this once.After the morning meal, Xue Jinqiao still did not let go of her. Before Xie Yunhuai arrived at the door, they instead received the fragrant spices sent by Shen Xihe. Overjoyed, they happened to run into Bu Shulin, who was off duty that day.
“How dare you hold onto my woman!” Bu Shulin stepped forward and roughly pulled Xue Jinqiao’s hand away.
Shen Xihe: …
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