"Thank you for the healing medicine, Princess." Xiao Huayong extended his uninjured hand. Shen Xihe paid particular attention to his fingers.
Since returning from Tianshan, every time she saw Xiao Huayong, three of his fingers were always bandaged, likely injured, though Shen Xihe didn't know the nature of the wounds. She stared at his palm-up hand but saw no scars.
Shen Xihe placed the healing medicine in Xiao Huayong's hand without further comment.
Xiao Huayong took the medicine and withdrew his hand, beginning to sprinkle the medicinal powder on the scratches. Shen Xihe casually glanced a couple times but found no visible injuries.
"Princess, we're all ready—come give us some guidance!" Bu Shulin stood by the roasting fire and called out loudly.
Shen Xihe glanced at them, thinking that if she didn't intervene, they'd likely make a mess of things, so she walked over.
She wouldn't actually handle anything herself, merely instructing them to do it. Despite the simple conditions, fragrant aromas soon wafted through the air.
This stirred excitement among the group, who craned their necks and stood on tiptoes, some even exaggeratedly swallowing.
Shen Xihe couldn't help but chuckle inwardly—hadn't these people tasted every delicacy under the sun? It was just that doing it themselves made it feel more significant.
Just as the game was about to be fully roasted, hoofbeats approached—it was Bu Shulin's subordinate, carrying several bamboo tubes which he handed to Bu Shulin.
"You're in luck today, thanks to the Princess. I specially brought out my treasured Pi bamboo wine for you to try." Bu Shulin tossed one to each person, kept one for himself, and eagerly approached Shen Xihe.
Taking a cup from a brocade box his subordinate carried, he poured a serving for Shen Xihe: "It's sweet—have a taste."
Shu was famous for this wine: spring brew poured into bamboo tubes, wrapped in lotus fibers, covered with plantain leaves, its fragrance spreading beyond the woods, not releasing the fragrant wine as sweet as honey.
Shen Xihe had long heard of it but never tasted it—in fact, she'd never drunk alcohol since childhood. Her internal organs were weak, and the harshness of liquor was hard for her to endure.
Smelling the aroma from the small cup, she felt tempted and took it, sipping lightly. A sweet flavor spread in her mouth, followed by a burning sensation sliding down her throat, striking her stomach and spreading through her body, driving away a hint of cold.
"How is it?" Bu Shulin asked expectantly.
"The flavor is exquisite," Shen Xihe acknowledged.
Bu Shulin smiled with satisfaction, tilted his head back and gulped down large mouthfuls from his bamboo tube, then wiped his mouth boldly with his sleeve: "You're frail, so just sample it today. When you're better, I'll get you as much as you want."
Her words caused Xiao Huayong and Cui Jinbai's expressions to darken, while a particularly close young man teased in a falsetto: "Young Master, I'd like some too."
Another young man beside him chimed in: "Pity your charms are lacking."How annoying" Knowing these fellows were purely teasing Bu Shulin, Shen Xihe felt no anger, showing no reaction and maintaining an expressionless face.
Bu Shulin shot them a chilly glance, then gazed toward the distant stream: "No Pi bamboo wine for you, but there's plenty of water—want some?"
"No need, no need, Young Master, no need to be so polite," the two waved their hands hurriedly, "We meant we want to eat the roasted meat, the roasted meat."
Previously, Shen Xihe had held some prejudice against these people, always feeling they were idle, wasting their time, mediocre and unambitious.After getting to know Bu Shulin, Shen Xihe gradually realized that some people might only use such means to preserve their lives, while others perhaps genuinely found joy in this lifestyle. They neither bullied merchants nor abused their power, but simply sought their own happiness.
Being charming yet not vulgar, with upright character—how to live one's life is everyone's right.
While Shen Xihe was coming to understand these people, they, enjoying the fragrant roasted meat, also developed some fondness for the icy-cold Shen Xihe. She didn't seem as cold-blooded, arrogant, and aloof as the rumors suggested.
After finishing the roasted meat, daylight gradually faded. With only half an hour left before the city gates closed, everyone set off together.
The higher the official rank, the closer they lived to the imperial city. As they walked, only Cui Jinbai, Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe, and Bu Shulin remained.
Princess Ruyang's manor and Shen Xihe's Princess Manor were on the same street, while Bu Shulin's Bu Residence and Cui Jinbai's home were on another.
At the crossroads, Bu Shulin said, "Cui Shitou, I'm escorting the County Princess home. You go on ahead."
"I left some items at the Princess Manor. I'll accompany Xingzhi to the Princess Manor," Cui Jinbai said.
Xiao Fuxing, having just reached his capping ceremony at twenty, already had a courtesy name, Xingzhi.
Xiao Huayong glanced at Cui Jinbai but said nothing.
The group continued toward the Princess Manor. Shen Xihe's Princess Manor was located beyond the Princess Manor—it was originally a princess residence later bestowed solely upon Shen Xihe by the Youning Emperor.
They first arrived at Princess Ruyang's manor. Xiao Huayong and Cui Jinbai bid them farewell. Shen Xihe personally witnessed the servants of the Princess Manor come out, greeting the two men with practiced diligence, enthusiasm, and respect.
From the servants' attitude, it was clear that Cui Jinbai and Xiao Fuxing were indeed very close.
Shen Xihe thoughtfully withdrew her gaze. Bu Shulin escorted Shen Xihe to her Princess Manor before turning his horse around to leave.
As soon as Xiao Huayong entered the Princess Manor, Princess Ruyang brought him to Xiao Fuxing's room. The real Xiao Fuxing, dressed in plain clothes, was sitting inside reading military texts. Seeing Xiao Huayong return, he hurriedly stood up to pay respects.
"Thank you for waiting, Aunt. You should rest early," Xiao Huayong said gently.
"It's still early. I usually don't retire until 9 p.m.," Princess Ruyang replied with a smile. "Your Highness... do you admire Zhaoning County Princess?"
Princess Ruyang was Xiao Huayong's paternal aunt. Due to the Wei Tao incident, it was Xiao Huayong who protected her and her two children, making her one of his trusted allies now.
"Yes," Xiao Huayong admitted openly.
"Your Highness isn't seeking a marriage decree from His Majesty?" Princess Ruyang asked.
Presumably, the Emperor would be pleased to have Shen Yueshan's daughter marry the Crown Prince. Within a few years, she would be widowed and confined to the capital for life.
As the widow of a prince, if Shen Yueshan were powerful enough, he could bring his daughter back. But a former Crown Princess could not.
"My marriage with her should develop naturally, with mutual affection," Xiao Huayong's tone was gentle, filled with protective tenderness.
Princess Ruyang understood—the Crown Prince was deeply in love, unwilling to bind Shen Xihe to his side through an imperial decree.
Xiao Huayong changed back into his own attire at the Princess Manor and returned to the Eastern Palace via the secret passage.
In the Princess Manor, however, a slender figure watched his departure intently, her eyes filled with desolation.
"Xi'er, you now bear the surname Xiao," the Princess sighed softly.
The reason she had asked Xiao Huayong was precisely to have him personally admit he already had someone he admired, thus cutting off her daughter's hopes.Once known as Wei Wenxi, now called Xiao Wenxi, she had cherished Xiao Huayong for three years. At fourteen, she fell for him at first sight in Luoyang and had been waiting, longing for his return ever since.
Yet what she awaited was her father committing a grave crime, and her own change to her mother's surname, making marriage impossible due to shared lineage.
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