Yu Zao had exposed the Prince of Dai as the mastermind behind the tomb-raiding case. The three judicial departments joined forces to investigate, but they found no direct evidence linking him to the prince. After the matter of first compensating them and then consulting them on how to handle Yu Zao's family, the common people no longer held a shred of dissatisfaction toward the imperial family. Many thought it couldn't have been the Prince of Dai.
After all, the imperial mausoleum had been blown up. No matter how short of money an emperor's son was, would he really go and dig up his own ancestral tombs?
Furthermore, Yu Zao was a man full of lies. He had first committed a heinous crime, and then it was discovered that he had assumed someone else's identity. His words were likely ill-intentioned and not necessarily credible.
The common people were appeased, and no evidence could be found against the Prince of Dai for the time being. The Youning Emperor did not press the matter, nor did he release the prince.
Shen Xihe temporarily paid these matters no mind, because Shen Yueshan had entered the capital.
She had been at the city gate since early morning, craning her neck in anticipation. When she saw that tall and burly figure on a fine horse galloping toward her, her eyes were like spring water rippling in the night, gentle and sparkling.
"Daughter—" Shen Yueshan's voice was extremely loud. With one shout, the entire city gate tower fell silent. In the blink of an eye, the bear-like, sturdy figure leaped off his horse and rushed before Shen Xihe.
"Father!" Shen Xihe trotted forward and took her father's hand. His hand was rough and scarred. When it touched her soft and delicate one, the uncomfortable sensation made her eyes well up with tears of heartache.
Shen Yueshan was a tall and imposing man, strong and well-built with broad shoulders and a long torso. The constant wind and sand of the northwest had tanned his skin and made his gaze as sharp as a desert eagle's. He sized Shen Xihe up, first satisfied, then putting on a stern face. "Who allowed you to wait at the city gate? Look how windy and snowy it is here. What if you catch a chill?"
Shen Xihe looked up. The sky was dotted with snowflakes so sparse you couldn't see them without looking closely. There was no wind at the moment...
"Father, I just wanted to see you sooner," Shen Xihe said in a gentle voice.
"I'm a grown man, it's not like you won't get to see me. Don't be so willful in the future!" Shen Yueshan said with a straight face.
The smile on Shen Xihe's face instantly vanished. She flung his hand away, huffed, and walked around him.
This frightened Shen Yueshan, who froze and forced a smile onto his face. "It's all my fault. I'm too naggy. My darling, don't be angry. It's not good for you to get angry."
Shen Xihe wouldn't look at him, turning her face to the other side. "Getting angry can't be worse for my health than catching a chill."
"No, no, no, both are bad for your health, both are bad. It's my fault. I was being ungrateful. I wasn't considerate of you," Shen Yueshan apologized in a low, placating voice.
"Will you still be fierce with me in the future?" Shen Xihe glared at him.
"I swear I won't dare do it again," Shen Yueshan said, holding up four fingers.
Shen Xihe's clear, bright eyes glanced over.
Shen Yueshan followed her gaze to his own fan-like palm, chuckled sheepishly, and curled his pinky finger down. "I swear, I swear."
Shen Xihe couldn't hold back a laugh. For some reason, ever since she was little, the gentler she was, the more serious he became; the angrier she got, the more cautious he would be.
"Let's go, let's enter the city quickly," Shen Xihe said, taking his arm.
Upon entering the city, they headed straight for the Princess Manor. Shen Yueshan really wanted to squeeze into the carriage with his daughter, not even caring for his beloved steed. His frame was so robust that once he crammed himself in, he took up half the carriage, forcing Hongyu and Biyu out, leaving only Zhenzhu inside.
"Father will block the wind for you." Seemingly aware that his daughter's carriage was too delicate, he made an excuse for himself, then began to list Shen Yungan's crimes. "Your brother and I must have had a blood feud in our past lives. He does nothing but anger me all day. He says he misses you every day, yet you're in the capital making him food, making him pillows, and even making him clothes, shoes, and socks..."
He rattled on and on, every sentence denouncing Shen Yungan, but in reality, he kept glancing at her, accusing her of not treating them equally.
Shen Xihe put on an air of seriousness. "The way Father puts it, it's as if I've never made you food, never made you pillows, and never made you clothes, shoes, and socks. I even sent you a one-of-a-kind cup. By the way, the Scented Coal I made this year, did you give half to Brother?"
"I did!" Shen Yueshan said with righteous conviction.
Shen Xihe squinted her eyes suspiciously. "Really? I'm going to write and ask Brother."
Shen Yueshan's imposing manner immediately deflated, and his eyelids fluttered. Whenever he felt guilty in front of Shen Xihe, he would blink uncontrollably. "Your brother said he's young and has a lot of internal heat, so he doesn't need it."
Zhenzhu tried her hardest not to laugh. The poor Young Master was probably out in the cold wind, begging the Prince to share some Scented Coal. The Prince would surely not have softened his heart and would only have shown it off while enjoying it himself.
Shen Xihe didn't expose him, but said, "And Father still says Brother is unfilial. He left all the Scented Coal for you."
Shen Yueshan was speechless.
After mulling over how his precious daughter had roundaboutly defended that brat, the vinegar jar in his heart overturned. Shen Yueshan huffed at the roof of the carriage.
"Father is angry. It must be Youyou's fault. I will go back to the manor and reflect on my actions..."
"I'm not," Shen Yueshan said dryly. "Youyou is a good girl. I'm angry at your brother."
Even when he had done nothing, if his daughter was displeased, it was his son's fault.
This was Shen Yueshan's law. Shen Xihe didn't argue with him further. If she did, Shen Yungan would become the most unfilial son in the world.
After bringing Shen Yueshan into the Princess Manor, Shen Xihe had him wash up, change his clothes, and trim his beard. She personally combed his hair and put on his guan cap before letting him go to the palace to pay his respects to the Youning Emperor.
Unlike Shen Yungan, Shen Yueshan had to enter the palace for an audience with the emperor on the day of his arrival in the capital, unless it was late at night after the palace gates were locked.
Shen Xihe had just sent Shen Yueshan off and had not even returned to her room when a servant came to report, "Your Highness, the Second Lady is here."
"Let her in," Shen Xihe instructed in a low voice.
It wasn't that she thought well of Shen Yingluo, nor was she grateful for Shen Yingluo's past actions. In fact, she felt a little disappointed by Shen Yingluo's existence—disappointed that she was not her father's only daughter. But Shen Yingluo was, after all, Shen Yueshan's own flesh and blood. Shen Yueshan had a duty to shoulder his responsibility as her father.
As the elder sister, she had no reason or right to stop Shen Yingluo from wanting to see Shen Yueshan.
"Elder Sister." Shen Yingluo entered and respectfully curtsied to Shen Xihe. She was a little excited; she had originally thought Shen Xihe would not let her in.
"There's no need for formalities. Father will likely be having his evening meal in the palace," Shen Xihe said faintly, then stood up and left.
Shen Yingluo was left hanging there alone. Her wet nurse glanced worriedly at her Second Lady.
Shen Yingluo found a seat. This was probably for the best. She felt more at ease this way, much more relaxed than sitting in awkward silence with Shen Xihe.
"Your Highness, the Second Lady seems to have a pure heart," Zhenzhu said after she and Shen Xihe had walked some distance away.
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