The Tianshan Snow Lotus was delivered to Shen Xihe that very night by an unremarkable-looking stranger with sharp eyes and a sturdy martial artist's physique.
A white jade box measuring over twenty inches square was opened, releasing a crisp, cold fragrance that instantly cleared one's mind upon inhalation.
"Wow, what a huge snow lotus!" Ziyu's eyes widened in amazement.
As large as a washbasin, its jade-green leaves appeared dewy and vibrant. The white petals gently unfurled like goose feathers—soft, pure white with distinct veins and a captivating luster.
Shen Xihe took one of her small seals and placed it in the box, handing it to the messenger. "Give this to your master."
She had already discussed the Northwest Trading Market matter with Shen Yungan. Since he had safely returned to the northwest, he must have reached an agreement with Father. When Hua Fuhai brought this seal to the northwest, they would negotiate the profit distribution themselves.
"Your Highness, just smelling this snow lotus makes me feel refreshed and uplifted," Ziyu cooed after the messenger left. "Could we keep one petal?"
"The Tianshan Mountains are thousands of miles away. For this flower to remain so intact, with even its roots undamaged..." Shen Xihe gazed at the snow lotus swaying amidst the ice-jade. The jade box contained a solid block of ice, making the snow lotus appear as if it were still growing within it.
Through the transparent ice, the remaining roots were clearly visible. "We don't know how much His Highness needs nor when he will use it. It must not be damaged."
"I understand," Ziyu nodded obediently.
"Rest early. We enter the palace tomorrow morning," Shen Xihe instructed before washing up and retiring.
Normally, she would clear her mind upon lying down and fall asleep within moments. But tonight, she pondered whether the Crown Prince was truly him.
If he was, then this snow lotus was originally what he needed. Why would he send it to her after obtaining it, only for her to deliver it back to the Eastern Palace? What sense did that make?
If he wasn't, then who stood behind Cui Jinbai and the others? Could it truly be Prince Jing, who was thousands of miles away?
Rarely did anything leave her so uncertain and unable to see clearly. Xiao Huayong had only admitted that his condition wasn't a strange illness or weakness but a potent poison that had plagued him unresolved.
The Bone Shedding Pill wasn't an antidote; it primarily nourished. Old Man with White Hair had also said he hadn't thoroughly examined it and didn't know if it could cure all poisons. Thus, it was possible that the person pretending to be Hua Fuhai in the Apricot Grove that day wasn't Xiao Huayong.
Why did Xiao Huayong leave the capital at this time?
Was he involved in the intercepted autumn grain case?
Too many mysteries eluded her. Though her intuition strongly suggested Xiao Huayong was the one, she trusted her intuition but never relied solely on it. All decisions required rigorous reasoning.
After contemplating for nearly half an hour, Shen Xihe cast aside her thoughts and fell asleep.
So be it. Take one step at a time. When the moment comes, the truth will reveal itself.
Early the next morning, Shen Xihe had a light morning meal before entering the palace. Unsure if Xiao Huayong had returned to the capital, and knowing the Imperial Hospital had claimed the Tianshan Snow Lotus had remarkable effects on the Crown Prince, she acted discreetly.
If His Majesty learned she had delivered the snow lotus but Xiao Huayong hadn't returned and couldn't awaken, it might expose him. Shen Xihe secretly met Tianyuan and handed him the Tianshan Snow Lotus.
"This subordinate thanks Your Highness on behalf of His Highness," Tianyuan performed earnestly, displaying immense excitement and gratitude.He was well aware that the Crown Prince had no need for the Tianshan Snow Lotus. Moreover, the Snow Lotus had been obtained by the Crown Prince himself. He didn't understand why the Crown Prince didn't want the Junzhu to know about it and had to go through such a roundabout way. He was even more puzzled as to why the Crown Prince hadn't returned yet, and he felt somewhat worried.
"Is His Highness using the Tianshan Snow Lotus to detoxify?" Shen Xihe asked softly.
The matter of the Crown Prince being poisoned had been personally arranged by Tianyuan to be disclosed by Gu Zexiang, so he wasn't surprised that Shen Xihe knew about it. "Reporting to Junzhu, it is not for detoxification, but for strengthening his health."
Tianyuan found himself in a difficult position. The Crown Prince had instructed that in the future, it was permissible to conceal but not to deceive. Otherwise, if the Junzhu were to settle accounts, he would have to take the blame himself. To avoid accumulating too many offenses in the future, yet unable to reveal everything, he was truly caught in a dilemma.
"Has His Highness returned?" Shen Xihe asked again.
Tianyuan bowed and replied, "Not yet."
"Why did His Highness leave the capital?" Shen Xihe pressed further.
"For the matter of the autumn grain." These were the instructions the Crown Prince had given before his departure.
Sure enough, Shen Xihe had already suspected as much. The autumn grain matter was indeed related to him.
"Is His Highness going to..." Shen Xihe asked one last question, "pursue or conceal?"
"First pursue, then conceal." Tianyuan answered with a smile.
In other words, the theft of the autumn grain was not orchestrated by Xiao Huayong. He was retrieving the goods but then concealing them to use in his schemes.
Having learned what she wanted to know, Shen Xihe said no more. Just as she was about to leave, Tianyuan stepped forward half a pace. "Junzhu, His Highness has his sights set on the Ministry of Revenue."
Shen Xihe abruptly looked up, her obsidian-like eyes fixed directly on Tianyuan, a trace of surprise in her expression.
Although the tax grain was related to the Ministry of Revenue, it didn't necessarily mean that the Ministry of Revenue was the target. Who had intercepted the grain? And for what purpose?
Shen Xihe nodded slightly and turned to leave.
Tianyuan watched Shen Xihe's retreating figure, recalling the Crown Prince's instructions before leaving the capital: "If she asks why I left the capital, tell her it's for the autumn grain."
"What if the Junzhu presses for details? How should I respond?" Tianyuan had no desire to engage in mind games with the Junzhu. He was no match for her, and without the Crown Prince's guidance, he feared that one misstep might lead him into a trap set by the Junzhu, exposing something about the Crown Prince.
"Regarding the autumn grain, you may tell her everything." Xiao Huayong smiled, twirling a black chess piece between his fingers. "She learned about the Pasturage Bureau from Shen Yungan and will also turn her attention to the Ministry of Revenue. By telling her that I have my sights set on the Ministry of Revenue, let her know how in sync we are."
Tianyuan:
Ever since the Crown Prince met the Junzhu, Tianyuan could no longer fathom the Crown Prince's thoughts. Because he couldn't guess the Junzhu's thoughts, but the Crown Prince could.
Not only could the Crown Prince guess them, but he also always followed the Junzhu's train of thought, making Tianyuan wonder if he should get closer to the Junzhu's maids to gain some insight into her mind.
Would that help him preserve his position as the Crown Prince's top confidant?
The reason Shen Xihe leaned toward the idea that the person behind Cui Jinbai and others was Xiao Huayong was that after she alerted Xiao Huayong to the existence of such a person, he had taken no action at all. This time, when he left the capital, Shen Xihe speculated that he might be going to investigate Jing Wang.
If he truly left the capital because of Jing Wang, that would confirm that the person was Jing Wang.
His inaction could only mean two possibilities: one, he was that person himself, or two, he had long known about the existence of such a person.
Shen Xihe walked slowly in her pearl-adorned upturned-toe shoes, lost in thought, with Hongyu and Biyu following behind her.
"Ahhh, move aside, quickly!"Suddenly, a loud cry came from above, and a shadow fell. Hongyu swiftly pulled Shen Xihe aside, while Biyu reached out with both hands to catch the falling person. The impact sent Biyu stumbling backward, crashing into Hongyu, and causing Hongyu and Shen Xihe to tumble down together.
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