"It truly came without any effort." Shen Xihe chuckled softly.
She had originally planned to set aside the matter of the Fifth Princess inciting the Fourth Princess to target her, never expecting the suspicious party to deliver themselves to her doorstep.
"Have Mo Yuan assign palace personnel to keep a close watch on Yangling Princess—see if she has any dealings with His Highness Prince Zhao."
After giving these instructions to Zhenzhu, Shen Xihe opened the account books and calmly continued reviewing them.
Meanwhile, Shen Yingluo hurried back to her residence and immediately ordered her wet nurse: "Sell Chu Yi off!"
Chu Yi was her personal maidservant who had grown up with her. Ever since Shen Yingluo became Changling Princess's study companion in the palace, met Prince Zhao, and received his special care after the passing of his principal wife, Chu Yi had constantly praised Prince Zhao to her.
Her mother was madwoman who frequently beat and scolded her, blaming her for not being a son—otherwise Father wouldn't have treated her so coldly.
Throughout her childhood, she had only secretly gone to see him once years ago when Father was summoned to the capital. That very day, while trying to steal a glimpse of Father, she fell from an artificial hill. It was Prince Zhao who rushed forward to cushion her fall, saving her life.
That day she cried bitterly in fear—she only wanted to see her own father, so why had it become such an impossible wish? She often asked herself what she had done wrong, why heaven would punish her like this?
His Highness Prince Zhao stayed with her, letting her cry on his shoulder, and later comforted her, saying some people in this world simply have weak familial bonds.
From then on, Prince Zhao became different to her. She was only seven or eight at the time, and he treated her merely as a younger sister. No one knew she had already met Prince Zhao back then.
Later, when she became Changling Princess's study companion, she naturally felt grateful toward Prince Zhao. Two years later, when Prince Zhao's principal wife passed away from illness, she began to mature and understand romantic feelings. With Prince Zhao being so dignified and impressive, she inevitably developed her first crush.
Encouraged by Chu Yi's constant persuasion, she and Prince Zhao developed affection between them. Now that she had come to her senses, she couldn't bear to hear such talk anymore. She had already warned Chu Yi, yet the maid still informed Prince Zhao about her leaving the residence. She refused to believe it was mere coincidence that he arrived right after her!
"Understood." The wet nurse was delighted. That little hussy was improper, but sweet-tongued, and the County Lord had always protected her.
"Where have I offended you?" Xiao Changmin had stealthily entered the Shen residence just as the wet nurse was dragging Chu Yi away.
With most of the Shen household staff transferred to the Princess Manor to protect Shen Xihe, it wasn't difficult for Xiao Changmin to sneak in.
"Your Highness, such behavior is utterly improper!" Shen Yingluo's face turned cold.
"A Luo, tell me—where have I failed you, that you must sever all ties with me?" Xiao Changmin's eyes were filled with dejection. "If you don't explain clearly, how can I accept this? You were the one who asked me to wait for you to grow up."
Two years ago, the twelve-year-old girl, afraid that the man she liked would remarry, mustered her courage to tug at his sleeve: "Second Brother, will you wait for A Luo to grow up?"
Back then, she didn't understand romantic love yet—she only knew she didn't want him to marry someone else. He agreed and had indeed kept his promise since.
Shen Yingluo closed her eyes. "Your Highness, the Shen family cannot have two daughters marrying into the imperial family. Elder Sister is the one destined to be a princess consort."
Ever since Shen Xihe was summoned to the capital, she knew she and Xiao Changmin were impossible. His Majesty only needed the beloved daughter who could control Father—not someone like her who shouldn't even exist.
"If that's all it is, leave it to me—""What do you intend to do?" Shen Yingluo demanded sharply.
Her excessive reaction momentarily stunned Xiao Changmin, Prince Zhao. Still maintaining his gentle demeanor, he said, "A'Luo, there are many ways to prevent the Princess from marrying into the imperial family."
"Such as? Ruining her virtue? Taking her life?" Shen Yingluo's gaze turned cold and heavy. "Your Highness, do not destroy the noble image you hold in my heart, and do not forget that I also bear the surname Shen. Though I am not close with my elder sister, the happiness I seek cannot be built upon her misfortune.
The Shen family precept forbids rebellion and internal strife!"
It didn't matter if they didn't acknowledge her as part of the Shen family—she would uphold the family values herself.
"A'Luo..."
"Your Highness, if you don't leave now, I will immediately pack my belongings and shamelessly move into the Princess Manor," Shen Yingluo threatened.
If truly forced to relocate to the Princess Manor,
she would have no choice but to truthfully disclose her past with him to Shen Xihe. Once Shen Xihe became wary of him, it would be difficult for him to carry out any schemes. "I shall visit you another day," Xiao Changmin conceded.
Shen Yingluo refused to look at him. The strength she had forcibly maintained drained away after Xiao Changmin disappeared, and she collapsed onto a round stool. Closing her eyes, she couldn't hold back two streams of tears—she had truly loved Xiao Changmin deeply.
Xiao Changmin had been the only person in her life to offer her warmth. During her loneliest moments, when she felt abandoned by the entire world, he had entered her life, bringing light, kindness, and smiles, breathing life into her desolate existence.
"County Lord, the Second Prince is not a suitable match," her wet nurse returned and embraced Shen Yingluo with concern.
"Nanny, I know, but my heart aches so terribly," Shen Yingluo choked out, weeping unrestrainedly in her wet nurse's arms. "Why has he become like this? Why is it so difficult to find someone who genuinely cares for me?"
The wet nurse's eyes also welled up. Mistress and servant held each other and cried bitterly. Eventually, Shen Yingluo cried herself to sleep. When she awoke, she sat in the study, writing with a brush, then crumpling and discarding the paper.
"County Lord, what are you doing?" the wet nurse asked, noticing the scattered paper balls on the floor.
"Prince Zhao is surely planning to harm Elder Sister. Since I've guessed his intentions, I cannot rest easy without warning her," Shen Yingluo said irritably. "But if I inform her, he might also be harmed by her. The death of Changling Princess was suspicious..."
Though disappointed in Xiao Changmin and resolved to sever her feelings, she didn't want to personally cause his downfall, leaving her torn between conflicting loyalties.
"County Lord, this matter cannot satisfy both sides. You must weigh which is more important," the wet nurse advised.
When Shen Xihe received the letter sent by Shen Yingluo, she was astonished. The letter contained only four words: Beware of Prince Zhao.
"Is the Second Young Lady trying to curry favor with the Princess?" Hongyu was equally shocked.
In the eyes of servants like them, it was already a miracle that Shen Xihe and Shen Yingluo weren't openly hostile, let alone showing goodwill.
"You underestimate her," Shen Xihe glanced at Hongyu.
If Shen Yingluo truly wanted to gain her favor, she wouldn't avoid approaching her directly.
"Though raised by Xiao Shi, she resembles Father's upright character more," Shen Xihe sighed softly. She stored the paper scroll and said no more.
Today, she had a bad premonition. She had been waiting for Xie Yunhuai, but he never arrived despite her long wait. Xie Yunhuai had never been like this before. If something had truly detained him, he would have surely sent a message through someone."Your Highness, Doctor Qi has been missing for three days. When I went to his residence, there was a thin layer of dust on the table," Mo Yuan reported upon his return. "The villagers said they haven't seen Doctor Qi these past two days."
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