If managed properly, for instance, by assigning people recruited from the same locality—who share deep bonds—to different posts, while training officers to consistently instill the idea that they are a unified whole, and ensuring no conflicts of interest arise, they will not only remain close but also be motivated to train diligently, striving not to fall behind their unseen hometown friends or even brothers.
Upon hearing this, Shen Xihe inwardly praised it as an excellent method: "So, Your Highness believes that what Xun Wang knows is not the entirety of the Invincible Army's locations?"
"As the overall commander, Xun Wang may not need to appear in person. Even if he does, he might not directly reach the destination." Thinking of His Majesty's caution, Xiao Huayong added, "His Majesty excels at maintaining balance; there must be someone to counter Xun Wang. Xun Wang would not reside and train with the Invincible Army, or else he could not return to the capital in time."
Nodding with dawning understanding, Shen Xihe felt this truly reflected His Majesty's tactics. Just as they exited the alley, vendors still set up stalls late into the night. Shen Xihe did not continue walking with Xiao Huayong and instead boarded her carriage.
Xiao Huayong, however, did not follow her. He stood below, gazing at her with a gentle smile. "Rest early."
Suspecting that Xiao Huayong likely had matters to tidy up, Shen Xihe gave a slight nod and lowered the carriage curtain.
Just as the wheels were about to turn, Xiao Huayong softly called out again: "Youyou."
The coachman immediately reined in the horses. Shen Xihe lifted the carriage window curtain and cast an inquiring look at Xiao Huayong.
Xiao Huayong wore a warm smile, his eyes gleaming like a spring stream shimmering under the moonlit night: "In half a month, I will be crowned."
Shen Xihe knew—no one in the entire court was unaware of the Crown Prince's birthday, especially his capping ceremony. The Ministry of Rites and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices had been busy lately, even purchasing a considerable amount of fragrant spices from Duhuo.
Shen Xihe did not understand why Xiao Huayong was specifically telling her this; she would inevitably attend the Crown Prince's capping ceremony.
Her confusion and the way she quietly awaited his next words made Xiao Huayong sigh inwardly. Indeed, he could not be too subtle: "Might I ask Youyou for a uniquely thoughtful birthday gift?"
"A uniquely thoughtful birthday gift?" This stumped the intelligent and perceptive Shen Xihe. In her entire life, she had never carefully prepared a birthday gift for anyone.
Her personal maids handled all major matters for her, including drafting lists of ceremonial gifts for her review, which she would then modify as she saw fit.
Shen Yungan and Shen Yueshan were naturally different. For their birthdays, Shen Xihe would personally sew clothes, shoes, and socks, emphasizing the sentiment. These were clearly unsuitable to give to Xiao Huayong, an unrelated man.
"Uniquely thoughtful." Xiao Huayong ignored Shen Xihe's troubled expression and shamelessly repeated his request.
"Your Highness, please forgive me. Zhaoning lacks clever ideas." Shen Xihe firmly refused. It was not that she was stingy, but she truly had no particularly special ideas.
"In that case," Xiao Huayong pretended to ponder for a long time before voicing the request he had long cherished, "Might I shamelessly ask the princess for a personally sewn Eucommia Leaf medicinal pillow?""
Shen Xihe hesitated for a moment. Although a pillow is placed under the head, it is not as intimate as clothing, shoes, or socks, nor does it carry the romantic connotations of scented sachets or jade pendants."I recall Ting Buwei mentioning that the eucommia leaf pillow prepared by the Princess is exceptionally soothing for sleep. Although the Princess provided the preparation method, I feel the Shangqin Bureau's version lacks the unique quality Buwei described. I've grown particularly curious about the Princess' medicinal pillow—it has become an obsession."
It had indeed become an obsession, though not with the pillow itself, but with the version personally prepared by Shen Xihe.
Having lived this long, Shen Xihe had never gifted any man outside her father and brothers with something she personally crafted. Counting it up, Xiao Huayong was actually the first unrelated man to taste food she personally prepared. She couldn't help feeling this was inappropriate.
"Does Your Highness have any other desired gifts?" Shen Xihe asked.
This was a tactful refusal. Under the night sky, the exceptionally handsome young man's warm, gentle gaze visibly dimmed, though his disappointment lasted only a moment: "Youyou may decide. Just don't make it a casual perfunctory."
Shen Xihe noticed that Xiao Huayong would address her as "Princess" during particularly formal or solemn occasions, but used her milk name during ordinary, casual moments.
This meant he truly wanted a medicinal pillow prepared by her own hands.
Shen Xihe didn't commit, merely saying: "Zhaoning will give it proper consideration."
The birthday star had personally requested it, and considering how much Xiao Huayong had helped her—if he weren't the man she had chosen to marry, she probably wouldn't treat him much differently from Xie Yunhuai. She really would have to give this serious thought.
By the time she returned to the Princess Manor, it was already the second day's zi hour (11pm-1am). After washing up, she slept soundly through the night.
The next day, Shen Xihe began contemplating what to give Xiao Huayong for his birthday. With only half a month remaining until the celebration, preparations needed to begin to avoid last-minute rush. For this purpose, she even summoned Hongyu and the others.
This put Hongyu and the others in quite a predicament—they still didn't understand what position the Crown Prince held in their Princess' heart. They knew the Princess was to marry the Crown Prince, yet her attitude toward him didn't seem particularly attentive or significant.
It was almost as if... if the Princess became displeased, she could simply replace the Crown Prince.
They didn't dare ask, much less offer suggestions.
"Princess, we truly don't know," Zhenzhu pleaded with a pained expression.
Shen Xihe naturally wouldn't blame them. If she couldn't make up her own mind, how could she fault others for having no solutions?
"Perhaps I could blend a special incense for him?" Shen Xihe tentatively suggested.
Zhenzhu and the others exchanged glances. Biyu ventured boldly: "Princess, if this is a specially crafted incense by you, what if His Highness uses it up and comes asking for more? How could you refuse him?"
"Then I could gift him the incense formula?" Shen Xihe proposed again.
Zhenzhu showed a peculiar smile: "Princess, this servant feels that wouldn't be appropriate."
"Why wouldn't it be appropriate?" Shen Xihe didn't understand.
"This servant asked Hongyu and Biyu after returning—the Eastern Palace staff don't seem particularly competent." Unlike Shen Xihe and others who experienced things intermittently, Zhenzhu had heard everything at once. "Your Highness gave the Eastern Palace the wonton filling recipe, yet what they produced tasted wrong. You provided the eucommia leaf pillow preparation method, yet His Highness still felt the Eastern Palace version didn't live up to its name."
"Therefore, this servant can't help suspecting that even if you provide the incense formula, the Eastern Palace likely still won't be able to blend it properly."
If that were the case, wouldn't the Princess be stuck with the Crown Prince pestering her for life?
Unlike incense like Pihan Xiang which was periodically sold and given as thank-you gifts, this was a birthday present. If the Crown Prince later made requests, how could the Princess refuse? Otherwise, wouldn't it seem like she had only given half a birthday gift?Upon hearing this, Shen Xihe nodded in deep agreement: "The people of the Eastern Palace are indeed rather incompetent."
Shen Xihe did not suspect that the problem lay with Xiao Huayong, as she herself would never stoop to slandering those who served her in public.
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