"They are different." Xiao Changqing disliked anyone being compared to Gu Qingzhi. It wasn't that he looked down on Shen Xihe, but Gu Qingzhi was unique and incomparable to him. "Your fifth sister-in-law is inherently indifferent by nature, while Zhaoning County Princess is driven by ambition and self-interest."
Xiao Changying didn't argue. The two brothers fell into a temporary silence.
After leaving the Lie Palace, Xiao Huayong returned directly to the Eastern Palace. However, that very night, he developed a high fever and fell unconscious due to catching a chill.
"A chill?" Shen Xihe's first reaction upon hearing this was that he had used illness as an excuse to leave the palace again.
Xiao Huayong, taking advantage of having connections in the Imperial Hospital, had always been audacious. He would find someone to impersonate him, and on the rare occasions when the Youning Emperor visited, nine out of ten times, he would be told that the Crown Prince had just taken medicine and was resting. The Emperor never grew suspicious, as he had no particular need to see him in person.
Thus, Xiao Huayong managed to deceive him every time, partly because his illness was deeply ingrained in people's minds.
However, considering how cold it had been the previous day, and knowing that he was particularly susceptible to the cold yet had insisted on leaving the palace to see her, Shen Xihe began to think that this time he might genuinely have fallen ill. Both Sui Axi and Zhenzhu by her side were injured, so she could only ask when Xie Yunhuai came for her next examination: "Doctor Qi, would you accompany me into the palace?"
"To see the Crown Prince," Xie Yunhuai said, as if he had already anticipated it.
Shen Xihe nodded. "The Imperial Hospital has many talented physicians, but the Crown Prince is still undergoing bee venom acupuncture treatment. Since A Xi can no longer continue his treatment, I must trouble you, Doctor Qi."
Because Xie Yunhuai was responsible for Shen Xihe's health regimen, he often visited the Princess Manor. While Sui Axi excelled in acupuncture, his other skills, particularly diagnosis and prescription, were weaker. He was eager to learn from Xie Yunhuai, who was generous with his knowledge. In return, Sui Axi shared his acupuncture techniques with Xie Yunhuai.
In recent times, when Sui Axi administered bee venom acupuncture to Xiao Huayong, he frequently consulted with Xie Yunhuai.
"You seem to treat the Crown Prince differently," Xie Yunhuai remarked as he packed his medicine chest.
"He is my savior and the person to whom I will entrust my future," Shen Xihe stated frankly. "Naturally, he is different from others."
Yet this difference was not the kind Xiao Huayong had hoped for.
Xie Yunhuai agreed to accompany Shen Xihe into the palace. As it was winter and cold, Xie Yunhuai couldn't enter the palace on his own, nor could Shen Xihe's maid bring him in. Shen Xihe had to make the trip herself.
When they arrived at the Eastern Palace and met Tianyuan, she explained her purpose. Tianyuan could only draw Shen Xihe aside and confess: "His Highness is not in the palace."
Shen Xihe nodded. She had originally been concerned that Xiao Huayong had truly fallen ill, but his absence under the pretext of illness was within her expectations. She saw no issue with it, as it was Xiao Huayong's private affair, and she had no intention of prying.
She turned to leave, but Tianyuan stopped her. "His Highness has gone to pursue the Northwest King."
Shen Xihe's gaze sharpened. "Why is he pursuing Father?"
"There are some petty troublemakers who intend to harm the King. His Highness went personally to deal with them." Seeing Shen Xihe's expression turn cold and worried, Tianyuan quickly added, "Do not worry, County Princess. They are merely a disorderly mob, not worth mentioning."
"A disorderly mob, not worth mentioning? Then why does he need to go personally?" Shen Xihe clearly didn't believe him. Her father was a seasoned veteran of the battlefield. If it were a minor issue, Xiao Huayong could have simply sent a message. Her father could handle it himself. Why would Xiao Huayong take the risk to go in person?
Tianyuan shifted uncomfortably. "I advised His Highness the same, but he said...""What did he say?" Shen Xihe couldn't understand why Tianyuan looked so reluctant to speak.
Tianyuan lowered his head: "His Highness said this is an excellent opportunity to make an impression before Father-in-law."
Shen Xihe:...
A surge of irritation choked her heart, leaving her feeling utterly vexed. She had always known Xiao Huayong was shameless, but never imagined he could be so brazen as to privately refer to her father as "Father-in-law" before his close aides!
Sensing Shen Xihe's anger, Tianyuan immediately bowed his head even lower. He had known the County Princess would surely be angry, yet the Crown Prince had been utterly confident before departing.
"I offended her today. Though I eventually yielded, I still displeased her. If she hears I've caught a chill and comes to the palace to visit instead of first suspecting I'm using illness as an excuse to go out, it must mean she regards me differently."
The Crown Prince had spoken with such gentle eyes, as if already witnessing today's scene of the County Princess visiting: "Just tell her my exact words."
Tianyuan felt that as a close aide, he ought to advise his master when he became overconfident: "Your Highness, the County Princess has always been proper and observant of etiquette. You... you aren't even married yet, nor even betrothed, and you already... the County Princess will likely be furious."
"Never mind her anger. I won't be before her anyway. She distinguishes clearly between gratitude and grievance and is most considerate of subordinates. However angry she gets, she won't take it out on you." With a smile curling his lips, Xiao Huayong stroked his pillow for a while before leaving the palace.
Xie Yunhuai saw the usually calm and composed Shen Xihe storming out of the main hall. Though she concealed her anger upon seeing him, her displeasure was unmistakable. Xie Yunhuai asked, "Is His Highness the Crown Prince alright?"
"Perfectly fine. Let's go."
Shen Xihe left the Eastern Palace with a dark expression. Soon, rumors spread throughout the palace. The version from the Eastern Palace was that Zhaoning County Princess had caught the Crown Prince not taking his medicine properly, making her so angry she left in a huff.
The Crown Prince, knowing he was in the wrong, immediately sent gifts to the Princess Manor to apologize.
Unattached men and women who heard this found it sickeningly sweet. It's just taking medicine! Did they have to make such a scene? Who were they trying to impress!
Only after returning to the Princess Manor and receiving Xiao Huayong's letter did Shen Xihe realize he had anticipated her anger. His purpose was to have her cooperate in acting out this scene, making his presence in the Eastern Palace more believable. The letter also briefly explained that those targeting Shen Yueshan were Turks, aiming to suddenly leave the northwest leaderless, frame His Majesty, and disrupt court affairs.
Shen Yueshan had indeed been ambushed by Turks who infiltrated the valley before entering Longyou Circuit. These Turks had been waiting there for him. Amid heavy snowfall and harsh conditions, they were caught by surprise and trapped in the valley.
Fortunately, the archers above had been taken out by Mo Yuan, whom Shen Xihe had sent to follow secretly. With enemies both ahead and behind, they could only fight their way through. However, the opponents had set numerous traps, making Shen Yueshan hesitant to act recklessly. Had he charged through regardless, they would have broken free long ago.
These were all men he had meticulously trained in the northwest, and Shen Yueshan didn't want to lose a single one. But someone had to take the lead to trigger all the traps, and that person would most likely sacrifice themselves. Shen Yueshan intended to go himself, but a dozen men pressed blades to their own necks, threatening to commit suicide if he went personally. Furious, Shen Yueshan had no choice but to stop and consider other options.At that moment, several eagles circled in the sky before swooping down, passing over Shen Yueshan and the others as they flew toward the narrow valley ahead. Their flight triggered numerous traps concealed by the snow and wind, unleashing volleys of long arrows and blades, while rocks tumbled down from the valley walls above.
A lone rider on horseback galloped swiftly toward them from behind.
OpenNovel