From the moment she changed her name to Xiao Wenxi, she knew she could never be with him.
"Mother, I understand. Even without changing my surname, I would still be a daughter of the Wei family, and he would never marry me." Xiao Wenxi lowered her eyes in sorrow.
She had delicate arched eyebrows and phoenix eyes, jade-like cheeks and vermilion lips. The corners of her lips naturally curved upward slightly, and her graceful, gentle eyes resembled water chestnuts, with waves of light shimmering within.
Her beauty was as vibrant as a peach blossom in spring, yet as pure and elegant as a chrysanthemum in autumn.
The Princess sighed softly and drew Xiao Wenxi into her embrace: "I'm relieved that you can understand this."
Xiao Wenxi leaned against her mother, forcing back the tears in her eyes: "Mother, may we invite the County Princess to visit?"
"Xi'er?"
"Mother, I want to see for myself what kind of lady could earn his such deep regard." Xiao Wenxi looked up, her eyes pleading.
The Princess thought for a long moment before agreeing: "Very well."
...
When Xiao Huayong returned to the Eastern Palace, it was already dusk. He noticed the lights were still bright in Xiao Changgeng's bedchamber, with the shadow of someone reading cast upon the windows and doors.
He went straight to his own chambers, where Tianyuan was waiting anxiously. Seeing Xiao Huayong, Tianyuan finally felt relieved and quickly prepared washing supplies. Finally, he used medicated water to soak Xiao Huayong's fingernail. Soon, a complete artificial nail came off.
The exposed flesh was bright red. Since Xiao Huayong's real nail hadn't fully grown back, he had been using one of his previous nails, specially treated and attached to his finger through a sheer gauze layer.
Due to the medication, the flesh beneath turned somewhat purple after the nail came off. Tianyuan looked at it with heartache: "Your Highness, please don't leave the palace anymore. Your nails need proper care."
In the palace, they were always lightly wrapped with medication, but when going out disguised as someone else, careful handling was unavoidable.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible." Xiao Huayong smiled faintly.
"Your Highness..." Tianyuan was utterly helpless.
"In two days, I must attend the autumn hunt." Xiao Huayong said, "Don't worry, I won't be using Xiao Fuxing's identity anymore."
Tianyuan was puzzled: "Why? Was you discovered by the County Princess again?"
"Precisely because I wasn't discovered." Xiao Huayong's face turned cold.
Shen Xihe was someone with a solitary and aloof nature. She rarely warmed up to people or situations. Those like Bu Shulin and Xue Jinqiao had only gained her special attention through persistent effort. Though she hadn't treated Xiao Fuxing particularly differently, she hadn't been as cold and dismissive as usual either.
This fact bothered Xiao Huayong, and he absolutely refused to use Xiao Fuxing's identity again.
Wasn't not being discovered a good thing?
Seeing Xiao Huayong's displeased expression, Tianyuan didn't dare say more.
However, Tianyuan never expected that Xiao Huayong, who had just vowed yesterday not to use Xiao Fuxing's identity again, would become restless upon hearing that Princess Ruyang had sent an invitation to Shen Xihe, and that Shen Xihe had accepted.
"I must go to Princess Ruyang's residence." The Crown Prince began fussing with his fingers again. "Youyou has rejected all invitations since arriving in the capital, yet today she accepted my aunt's invitation. This must be because of Xiao Fuxing."
Tianyuan: ...
Shen Xihe was indeed waiting for Xiao Fuxing to reappear, but instead she received an invitation from Princess Ruyang to take tea at her residence.
Normally, Shen Xihe would have refused, but today she suspected this might be Xiao Fuxing's scheme, so she unusually accepted.
When she arrived at Princess Ruyang's residence after preparing herself, she only found Princess Ruyang and her daughter, Lady Xiao Wenxi.
"Wenxi pays respects to the County Princess." After Shen Xihe exchanged greetings with the Princess, Xiao Wenxi stepped forward to pay her respects.This was Shen Xihe's first time meeting Xiao Wenxi. She hadn't encountered her earlier at Hibiscus Garden, and by the time of the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, she was already in mourning attire and did not attend.
Xiao Wenxi was a striking beauty with perfectly balanced elegance.
"Lady Xiao." Shen Xihe returned the greeting.
"I invited you here today to express gratitude for your kindness in presenting medicine to my son yesterday," Princess Ruyang said with a gentle tone and affectionate smile. "My daughter has long admired you and wished to meet you, hoping to learn even a fraction of your grace to benefit her in the future."
"Your Highness flatters me," Shen Xihe replied modestly. "Having grown up in the remote borderlands, it is I who should learn from Lady Xiao, who has benefited from Your Highness's careful guidance."
Hidden in the shadows, Xiao Huayong felt an inexplicable sourness in his heart.
He reflected on how Shen Xihe treated other elders—never putting on airs, yet never easily lowering herself to show such humility and respect. But with Princess Ruyang, she was different. It must be because of Xiao Fuxing!
Thinking this, Xiao Huayong couldn't help but turn and cast a cool glance at Xiao Fuxing, who had followed him.
Xiao Fuxing: ???
What had he done wrong? Why was the Crown Prince looking at him with such a frosty gaze?
"What are your usual pastimes, Princess?" Xiao Wenxi asked as she led Shen Xihe to a beautifully arranged floral pergola. The surroundings were entwined with blossoms, emitting a refreshing fragrance. On the stone table were exquisite tea and snacks, alongside a teapot and stove for brewing tea. "I personally enjoy preparing tea."
"I am not suited for much activity," Shen Xihe replied. "Usually, I stay in my residence reading or tending to flowers and plants."
Xiao Wenxi invited Shen Xihe to sit, and Princess Ruyang accompanied them. "If you don't mind, Princess, please taste the tea Wenxi has prepared."
"It would be my pleasure." Shen Xihe smiled faintly.
Her eyes lingered on the bronze wind stove, which felt somewhat familiar—she had seen a similar one in Xiao Huayong's Eastern Palace.
Notably, the charcoal Xiao Wenxi used was also identical to that in the Eastern Palace. Then, she poured water from a jar: "I used to believe spring water was best for brewing tea, but later, under someone's guidance, I learned that heavenly water is superior."
So-called heavenly water was collected through a complex process during rainfall.
"With heavenly water, the teapot doesn't accumulate residue, and the cups remain unmarked," Shen Xihe remarked.
Xiao Wenxi's smile deepened as she nodded. "The Princess is also a connoisseur of tea."
Shen Xihe merely smiled faintly. Princess Ruyang then engaged her in conversation about Tao Shi and Shen Yueshan, whom she knew, sharing stories about Shen Xihe's parents.
While responding, Shen Xihe observed Xiao Wenxi's every move. The more she watched, the more she noticed similarities between Xiao Wenxi's tea-brewing mannerisms and Xiao Huayong's.
There were two methods of preparing tea: boiling and steeping. During her visits to the Eastern Palace, Xiao Huayong always used the boiling method.
Xiao Wenxi stored her tea leaves in a gilded silver turtle box—a container Shen Xihe had also seen in the Eastern Palace.
The gilded silver spoon with flying phoenix patterns, the gilded silver cup shaped like a begonia with twin fish motifs, the silver bowl with ribbon patterns...
After observing everything, Shen Xihe asked, "Are you close to His Highness the Crown Prince, Lady Xiao?"
No one expected Shen Xihe to be so direct. Princess Ruyang looked puzzled, while Xiao Wenxi's smile remained unchanged. "Why do you ask, Princess?"
"I often visit the Eastern Palace. His Highness is also skilled at brewing tea," Shen Xihe explained. "Your technique resembles his, and many of your tea utensils overlap. Hence, my question."
Shen Xihe made no allusion to romantic implications. She was probing—testing the depth of the relationship between Xiao Fuxing or Princess Ruyang's household and Xiao Huayong.Xiao Wenxi, unaware of the truth, thought Shen Xihe was questioning her.
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