Shen Xihe returned after being away for seven or eight days. Throughout this period, she had continuously taken medicinal baths and consumed the Bone Shedding Pill. At the hunting grounds, Xie Yunhuai had been too preoccupied to attend to her, so he visited her early the next morning after her return to personally check her pulse.
Naturally, he also noticed Zhenzhu standing closest to Shen Xihe. Lowering his gaze to conceal the melancholy in his eyes, he said, "Your health has recovered remarkably well, Junzhu. It seems there will be no further mishaps now. I heard you encountered a startled horse this time, yet emerged completely unscathed. There is hope for you to become as healthy as an ordinary person."
Shen Xihe replied, "When the horse startled, I struggled to breathe and felt a sharp pain in my chest."
"Startling a horse suddenly would understandably cause panic," Xie Yunhuai reassured her. "Your body has not yet fully recovered to that of an ordinary person, so some minor pain is normal. There is no need for concern, Junzhu. It is fortunate that your condition has not worsened."
"My recovery and eventual cure are largely thanks to you," Shen Xihe expressed sincere gratitude. "I owe Doctor Qi a great debt. You must allow me the opportunity to repay you in the future."
Xie Yunhuai smiled and said, "Junzhu once said we are kindred spirits. Between close friends, helping one another is only natural. To expect repayment would tarnish this bond."
Shen Xihe turned and took a notebook from Zhenzhu, handing it to Xie Yunhuai. "Doctor Qi, this is my heartfelt gesture. As kindred spirits, you cannot refuse."
Xie Yunhuai accepted it and carefully flipped through the pages as if he had obtained a rare treasure. He handled it with great care and, after reading a few pages, could not contain his joy. "A gift from a dear friend must be cherished and valued."
Shen Xihe also smiled and invited Xie Yunhuai to stay for the morning meal. Since he had arrived early and had not yet eaten, he did not decline.
After the meal, however, Xie Yunhuai said, "Junzhu, your health is gradually improving. You are already familiar with the medicinal bath method, and with Zhenzhu and A Xi by your side, even if something unexpected happens, my assistance may not be necessary. Henceforth, I will not visit again. If you have any further instructions, you may send someone to find me."
Shen Xihe asked, "Will you not leave the capital, Doctor Qi?"
"No, I will not," Xie Yunhuai replied firmly.
"Doctor Qi, what do you consider me to be?" Shen Xihe suddenly inquired.
Xie Yunhuai was slightly taken aback but quickly composed himself. "Junzhu, I once had feelings for you."
Shen Xihe's brows furrowed slightly.
She was not well-versed in matters of romance. Her relationship with Xie Yunhuai had always been open and honest. She admired him, but it had nothing to do with romantic feelings. Uncertain if he felt the same, she had asked to clarify. If he viewed her as she viewed him, she would disregard societal opinions and continue their candid friendship as if they were companions.
But Xie Yunhuai had confessed to having once been infatuated with her.
Not missing the gravity in Shen Xihe's eyes, Xie Yunhuai continued, "It was only a fleeting moment. But you and I are very much alike."
"Alike?" Shen Xihe was puzzled.
"We both live with too much clarity," he explained, his gaze steady and his smile serene. "We would not knowingly pursue the impossible. You and I are destined to have neither fate nor connection. Recognizing this, I could not allow myself to sink deeper."
"Now, I regard you as a friend, a kindred spirit."
Shen Xihe studied Xie Yunhuai intently, peering deeply into his eyes. He did not evade her gaze, meeting it with utter sincerity.
She believed every word he said and smiled faintly. "Why not consider me a younger sister?"Xie Yunhuai shook his head: "When an unfamiliar man regards a woman as a younger sister, deep down he actually perceives her as delicate and fragile—someone who cannot stand as his equal and requires his protection. That is why he calls her 'younger sister,' which has nothing to do with age.
In my eyes, the Princess is not someone who needs my protection. Her intelligence and wisdom command my admiration. The Princess is a person who can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any man. To be able to become her friend is my good fortune."
Xie Yunhuai was telling her that he placed her on an elevated level, sincerely wishing to form a life-and-death friendship with her—completely unrelated to romantic feelings.
"Since that is the case, why trouble two masters with one task? I shall continue to trouble Doctor Qi with my illness in the future," Shen Xihe said with a light smile.
Xie Yunhuai smiled and cupped his hands in salute. "Since the Princess entrusts this to me, I will devote my utmost care until you are fully recovered."
Having spoken, they exchanged a frank and open smile.
Neither of them sought to change how they addressed each other. Forms of address were unimportant—closeness or distance could not be determined by mere titles.
After resting for a day at the Princess Manor,
Bu Shulin delivered live bees and freshly harvested wild honey to Shen Xihe. Shen Xihe instructed Sui Axi to select a portion, then brought Sui Axi and Zhenzhu into the palace. The moment Shen Xihe entered the palace, Xiao Huayong was informed. While she went to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, he stood beneath the eucommia tree, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the autumn scenery in the garden. He remained silent for a long while.
He knew Xie Yunhuai had visited Shen Xihe yesterday and had left in high spirits—clearly, their conversation had been pleasant.
He hadn't sent anyone to monitor Shen Xihe, but someone had been following Xie Yunhuai.
He knew Shen Xihe held no romantic feelings for him, nor for Xie Yunhuai. Yet he had to admit that Shen Xihe regarded Xie Yunhuai as a friend. Perhaps because she had chosen him as her husband early on, she was actually less intimate with him than with Xie Yunhuai.
Shen Xihe saw him as a cooperative partner. Even now, she likely only felt gratitude toward him. In the future, after they married, in Shen Xihe's eyes, he might merely be her responsibility—the duty a wife ought to fulfill for her husband.
He was fully aware of all this, yet he couldn't suppress the ache in his heart. He wanted her to treat him differently, to regard him as unique.
"Ah..." He let out a heavy, melancholy sigh. Xiao Huayong knew deeply that this would be an extremely long and arduous path.
In truth, he could also take a step back—not aspire to be the irreplaceable one in her heart, but become a close friend like Xie Yunhuai. With the grace of having saved her life, they would likely grow close quickly. Yet this closeness would have nothing to do with romantic love.
And Shen Xihe was the kind of person who, once she defined someone's role, would never change it.
"Enough, enough. Since I desire the most, I must naturally give more. I must not be impatient, must not be impatient," Xiao Huayong repeatedly reassured himself.
"Your Highness, the Princess has arrived."
The moment Tianyuan's voice fell, Xiao Huayong couldn't help but reveal a tender smile.
His expression shifted in an instant, leaving Tianyuan in awe.
No longer needing to feign serious illness, Xiao Huayong hurried to personally welcome Shen Xihe. "I have prepared Dragon-Phoenix Cakes and Eucommia Leaf tea for you."
"Eucommia Leaf tea?" Shen Xihe was surprised. "Eucommia leaves can be made into tea?"
"I know you love eucommia leaves but dislike drinking tea. Yet I love tea. I wanted to share a tea we both could enjoy, so I experimented with making tea from eucommia leaves—and succeeded. This tea is emerald green and glossy, with a refreshing fragrance. It tastes smooth and leaves a sweet aftertaste." Xiao Huayong's eyes brimmed with tender warmth.Ever since Shen Xihe appeared, his eyes seemed to hold only her, his gaze never leaving her: "I had the Imperial Hospital verify it—it's safe to drink. After tasting it myself for half a month, I actually felt clearer in mind and sharper in vision, with my body at ease."
Shen Xihe heard this and felt somewhat at a loss—he had actually tested it on himself!
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