Either the local pasture supervisors are lining their own pockets—falsifying reports, exaggerating losses, concealing breeding numbers, and privately selling the embezzled horses—or the missing horses are being diverted for other purposes.
Jiang Bashi, the Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud responsible for horse administration, was an orphan rescued by the Youning Emperor during the northwestern wars. With ancestral horse-taming skills, he rose from being a horse slave to one of the Nine Ministers under the emperor’s patronage, remaining unwaveringly loyal.
"Brother, could you dispatch a capable person to investigate the pasture supervisors across regions? Ideally, we should secure evidence," Shen Xihe said, then chuckled. "No, we need not send our own people. I will visit the Eastern Palace."
"You plan to use the Crown Prince?" Shen Yungan was slightly startled.
"This is not 'using'," Shen Xihe corrected with a clever smile. "I am merely delivering information to His Highness."
Pasture offices are established in regions with rugged customs. To deal with someone, one need not act directly—setting a simple trap could incite local unrest against the target. Such risky, thankless tasks are unfit for our own men.
Moreover, any misstep exposing our involvement would hand our enemies leverage, jeopardizing the northwest.
"Will the Crown Prince certainly go?" Shen Yungan felt uncertain.
"He will," Shen Xihe replied, her cherry-blossom lips curling slightly. "If others informed him, he might not. But if I do, he will."
If others told him, he would suspect a trap and weigh the dangers. But with Shen Xihe, it is different—both know an alliance is brewing. Such collaboration requires shared adversaries, so her tip would never be false.
Additionally, this offers him a chance to prove, as the emperor’s legitimate son, that he truly aligns with them, dispelling suspicions that he is the emperor’s pawn. It is an exchange of sincerity.
Shen Xihe’s sincerity lies in not deceiving him; his lies in trusting her, giving her assurance.
Shen Xihe noticed that each visit to the Eastern Palace treated her to fresh, exquisite delicacies. Today, Xiao Huayong had prepared small heavenly crisps, golden milk pastries, folded-flower goose cakes, and other snacks.
"Your visit brings me great joy, Princess," Xiao Huayong said with gentle eyes. He wore a moon-white round-collar robe embroidered with delicate eucommia leaves at the lapel and cuffs, draped in a marten-trimmed navy blue cloak that accentuated his grace and elegance.
"Your Highness, Zhaoning does not visit the sacred hall without cause," Shen Xihe said bluntly, retrieving a folded apricot-colored letter. Pressing it on the table, she slid it toward him with two fingers. "This matter must be delivered to you personally."
Xiao Huayong picked up the letter. As he opened it, a faint fragrance wafted out, and the paper bore eucommia leaf patterns. While scanning the content, his mind lingered elsewhere: "Your stationery is quite distinctive, Princess.""
"I enjoy crafting in my leisure—this is my own design," Shen Xihe said, her gaze resting on the paper. "It uses eucommia wood and is scented with eucommia leaves."
"Lustrous as polished jade, smooth and delicate," Xiao Huayong murmured, lightly stroking it. "Might I beg some from you, Princess?""
"Zhaoning will have some delivered to you tomorrow," Shen Xihe replied generously.
Satisfied, Xiao Huayong smiled and handed the letter solemnly to Tianyuan behind him. "Rest assured, princess." I will attend to this diligently and provide you a satisfactory response promptly.""I await Your Highness's good news." Shen Xihe lifted her teacup, toasting Xiao Huayong with tea instead of wine. After finishing the tea, she rose. "My elder brother awaits me at the residence, so I shall not disturb Your Highness further."
Xiao Huayong was caught between laughter and exasperation. She was always like this—direct and straightforward, leaving as soon as she finished speaking.
Since Shen Xihe had invoked Shen Yungan as her reason, he had no grounds to insist she stay. He could only say, "The Eastern Palace is often quiet and lonely. I can only hope the Junzhu will visit often to converse with me, bringing a touch of warmth to these halls."
Shen Xihe refused outright. "Your Highness may not be aware, but those who know me say I am unapproachable and detached. If I were to visit frequently, it would only make the Eastern Palace feel colder."
For the first time, Xiao Huayong found himself speechless, yet inexplicably delighted. His gaze toward Shen Xihe sparkled like starlight, and he said nothing more, personally escorting her out of the Eastern Palace.
"Your Highness, the Junzhu was clearly testing you. Why did you take the bait?" Tianyuan glanced at the letter in his hand, which read: "Irregularities in horse administration."
"If I hadn’t accepted, she might never set foot in the Eastern Palace again." A faint smile touched Xiao Huayong’s lips as he took the letter from Tianyuan. "The Court of the Imperial Stud has given me quite a surprise."
Jiang Bashi controlled the Court of the Imperial Stud with an iron grip. Despite Xiao Huayong’s extensive network, there were still gaps he hadn’t filled. The Court of the Imperial Stud, being less critical, was one such oversight. Now, if he could leverage this situation skillfully...
"Your Highness, the regional horse pastures are no ordinary places." Tianyuan remained concerned.
The Crown Prince had too many areas to manage simultaneously. Tianyuan wasn’t worried about handling them eventually, but taking on this matter now and prioritizing it would disrupt many of His Highness’s plans.
"Then send an extraordinary person to handle it." Xiao Huayong remained calm and composed. "Have Hua Fuhai go personally."
Tianyuan: !!!
"Your Highness, if Hua Taoyi goes and the Junzhu finds out, you—" You’ll be exposed!
"She won’t send anyone." Xiao Huayong was certain. "By informing me of the horse administration issues, she is testing my trust in her. Since that’s the case, she won’t act in a way that shows distrust. She will only wait for me to deliver results, to see how capable I am and whether I have truly turned against His Majesty."
The Emperor harbored deep suspicions about the Northwest. She would not choose a husband who was indecisive or still held filial devotion to the Emperor.
Her fear was that even if they succeeded in their plans and won the empire, her husband might later harm the Shen family of the Northwest due to his late father’s decrees.
He needed to erase all her doubts, to make her trust completely that he would stand united with her.
"As you command." Tianyuan sighed softly, unsure where His Highness’s confidence came from. If the Junzhu were to exercise even a little more caution and set a trap during the investigation of the horse pastures—a case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind—His Highness would be largely exposed!
This was truly too risky.
Xiao Huayong cast a faint glance at Tianyuan’s worried expression. "I recall there is a piece of Duojialuo wood in the treasury."
"This subordinate will check." Xiao Huayong possessed far too many items for Tianyuan to remember them all.
"Retrieve it." Xiao Huayong ordered.
"What does Your Highness intend to use it for?" Tianyuan asked casually.
Xiao Huayong’s gaze fell on the letter, his smile tender and profound. "Since Youyou has given me a gift, it is only right that I return the favor. I’ll have it carved into a pair of bracelets for her."
"Your Highness, this subordinate dares to say, the Junzhu will likely not accept them." Bracelets were too intimate a gift."As a coming-of-age gift, how could she refuse?" A sly glimmer flashed through Xiao Huayong's silver-bright eyes.
Duojialuo was his most treasured possession, and he was giving his most treasured possession to his most beloved person.
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