Xiao Huayong was a man whose smile could melt winter into spring, yet in his solemnity he carried an awe-inspiring dignity that made hearts tremble. At this moment, he wore no expression as he faced Shen Xihe, though his eyes remained tender.
Shen Xihe knew his words were no jest—if she stubbornly refused, he would truly act accordingly. The more this reality pressed upon her, the more infuriated she grew, for she detested nothing more than being threatened: "Xiao Beichen!"
His long, fan-like lashes fluttered twice. Xiao Huayong set down the medicine bowl, turned to sit beside Shen Xihe, pulled her upright, and before she could react, drew her into his embrace from behind, restraining her struggles. "Youyou, I have been restraining myself greatly."
"You..."
"I do not wish to offend you, nor to earn your disdain," he whispered into her ear, holding her tightly. "Therefore, do not push me, Youyou."
"Xiao Beichen, how dare you! If you dare—"
"If I dare, what will Youyou do?" Xiao Huayong held her even closer, even nuzzling his cheek gently against her neck in a seemingly intimate gesture, his voice low and tender as a lover's. "Will the Youyou who prioritizes the greater good abandon me for this? Choose another? Who else could suit Youyou better than I?"
"Legitimate heir, and short-lived—is that not so?"
Shen Xihe, who had been struggling, froze slightly. Indeed, these were the two reasons she had chosen Xiao Huayong, and she had never intended to hide this from him—she was forthright by nature. Yet, being abruptly exposed by him stirred an inexplicable discomfort within her.
The strong scent of medicine wafted over as the bowl reached her lips. From behind, Xiao Huayong coaxed with an unyielding tone, "Youyou, drink your medicine."
Feeling weary and unwilling to waste good medicine on further argument, Shen Xihe wrested one hand free, snatched the bowl, and drained it in one gulp. She then shoved Xiao Huayong away, her cold eyes fixed on him. "Legitimacy can be altered, and lifespan can be strategized!"
If Xiao Huayong died, could His Majesty not simply appoint another Crown Prince to the Eastern Palace? Perhaps he need not even die—being deposed would suffice.
As for lifespan and mortality, in matters of life and death, on narrow paths where fates collide, she, Shen Xihe, had never been one to sacrifice herself for others!
He had allowed her to break free and push him away lest he hurt her. Watching Shen Xihe place the empty bowl on the bedside table, Xiao Huayong observed her—palefaced, clad in snow-white inner robes, her jet-black hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall. Though her posture appeared fragile, her gaze held a resolute strength that daunted any who met it.
"Youyou, do not be angry. I was at fault—overwhelmed by worry, I momentarily overstepped," he apologized again in soft, placating tones.
Furious, Shen Xihe pointed toward the door. "Get out!"
"Very well, I shall leave at once," Xiao Huayong replied with obedient compliance. "Rest well. I will handle the remaining matters. There is no need for you to thank Xiao Jiu."
After these gentle reminders, Xiao Huayong turned and left with a faint smile. Only when the door closed did Shen Xihe lie down again.
No sooner had she settled than Biyu rushed in, falling to her knees with a thud. "This maid is incompetent! I failed to stop His Highness. I beg for your punishment, Princess."
With Sister Zhenzhu and Sister Moyu recuperating from injuries, and Mo Yuan leading the Hidden Guards to escort the Prince, the defense of the Princess Manor had fallen to them.
"Rise," Shen Xihe said, closing her eyes wearily. "This is not your fault, nor any of yours."How could Biyu possibly stop Xiao Huayong? Even if Mo Yuan and the others were present, they might not have been able to hold him back.
"How are Zhenzhu, Moyu, and A Xi's injuries?" Shen Xihe asked with concern.
"Your Highness, rest assured, their injuries are not severe. Moyu will recover in ten to fifteen days. Sister Zhenzhu only suffered minor burns and will be fine in three to five days. A Xi's injuries are more serious and may require one or two months of recuperation," Biyu reported in detail, based on Doctor Qi's personal diagnosis.
"Who sent the assailants to the orphanage?" Shen Xihe, now relieved, continued her inquiry.
"Your Highness, it was the Minister of Justice's residence—the old madam who sent them," Biyu replied. By now, night had fallen, and the details of the incident had been fully uncovered.
"What audacity." Shen Xihe couldn't help but admire the old woman's nerve—perhaps ignorance truly bred fearlessness.
To set fire to an orphanage in the imperial city, which provided shelter for orphans, and even dare to hire assassins.
"They didn't know Your Highness had gone there personally," Biyu remarked, believing that had the old woman known Shen Xihe was at the orphanage, she wouldn't have acted so brazenly.
The old woman hadn't acted impulsively. She had instructed the Yang family to help evacuate the orphanage, intending only to take Qi Pei's life. Since Qi Pei had arrived as a beggar and was unknown to anyone, his death would likely go uninvestigated.
She then planned to donate money to rebuild the orphanage. If not for Shen Xihe, Moyu, and the others being present, the prepared archers wouldn't have been necessary. With only a legless beggar dead, no one to file a complaint, and the authorities unlikely to pursue the matter, the orphanage would have been rebuilt with her funds.
It wasn't far-fetched to think the incident could have been swept under the rug—if only Shen Xihe hadn't been there personally.
"What about Qi Pei?" Shen Xihe asked again.
"Young Master Qi is a witness. His Majesty sent someone to take him away." With palace officials personally arriving, they had no choice but to release him.
Given the scale of the incident, Qi Pei was essentially safe now. Feeling weary, Shen Xihe said, "I'll rest for a while. Prepare some gifts of gratitude and have A Qingbo deliver them personally to the Lie Prince's residence."
Xiao Huayong had mentioned Xiao Changying's act of saving her and insisted she needn't bother with it, but she paid no heed. This was her own affair—why should Xiao Huayong intervene on her behalf?
Meanwhile, Xiao Huayong had just left the Princess Manor. Accompanying him this time was Tianyuan. He hadn't sneaked out but had openly requested permission to visit Shen Xihe.
"Your Highness, why go to such lengths?" Tianyuan didn't understand why Xiao Huayong had forcibly kept the Princess's maids outside, needlessly provoking her anger.
Seated in the carriage, Xiao Huayong looked down at a black chess piece between his fingers, gently rubbing it. "A moment of heated impulse."
In that instant, fury had overwhelmed him. Learning of her danger, he had been frantic with worry. He wanted to express his concern, yet he knew she neither needed nor cared for it. This helpless, anxious feeling was something Tianyuan couldn't comprehend.
Seeing her refusal to show any vulnerability or yield in his presence, he grew both angry and impatient. He had nearly lost control, almost forcing her to take the medicine. Fortunately, reason prevailed, preventing a grave mistake.
She was so resilient and unyielding, her pride unbreakable, that he couldn't bring himself to force her—nor did he dare.
"Shall we return to the palace?" Tianyuan sighed softly.
Whenever His Highness encountered the Princess, he engraved the word "humility" into his very bones."To the Prince of Lie's residence." Xiao Huayong's expression darkened.
He would not allow Shen Xihe to owe anyone a life-saving debt.
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