"Zhenzhu, please examine His Highness's pulse." Shen Xihe wasn't distrusting Tianyuan's words, nor suspecting this was pretense, but merely concerned about whether Xiao Huayong had sustained serious injuries.
"Yes." Zhenzhu stepped forward and knelt beside Xiao Huayong.
Xiao Huayong generously extended his hand. After taking his pulse, Zhenzhu detected an unusually fierce cold energy raging like a trapped beast within his body, despite him being male. Withdrawing her hand, she said, "The prescription from the Chief Imperial Physician is excellent for Your Highness."
"Are there any other discomforts His Highness experiences?" Shen Xihe asked Zhenzhu.
After brief consideration, Zhenzhu replied, "The winter chill is severe. Perhaps Your Highness could benefit from daily medicinal baths to alleviate stiffness and coldness in the limbs."
"The Imperial Hospital has already provided prescriptions. Tianyuan, take Zhenzhu to review them," Xiao Huayong instructed.
Tianyuan responded alertly and gestured politely, "Miss Zhenzhu, please follow me."
Zhenzhu glanced at Shen Xihe, who nodded in approval, before following Tianyuan out. The other palace attendants remained outside, leaving only Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong in the room. The charcoal brazier glowed with scented coal, filling the air with a subtle fragrance as Xiao Huayong gazed at her with tender amusement.
"My sincere gratitude for Your Highness's long journey to assist me," Shen Xihe expressed earnestly.
The smile lines around Xiao Huayong's lips deepened. "Youyou needn't thank me. Being able to help you brings me great joy."
"Regardless, my thanks stand," Shen Xihe deflected his flirtation. "Does Your Highness have any dietary restrictions?"
Xiao Huayong's eyes sparkled with sudden interest. "Is Youyou planning to cook for me?"
"Having been treated to delicacies each time I visit the Eastern Palace, I wished to prepare some dishes to express my gratitude," Shen Xihe acknowledged with a nod.
Unable to contain his excitement, Xiao Huayong seized her hand and pulled her toward the Eastern Palace's kitchen. Dragged along at a half-run by his exuberance, Shen Xihe had no choice but to protest, "Your Highness, release my hand."
Xiao Huayong abruptly let go, causing Shen Xihe to stumble backward. In a flash, he caught her firmly against his chest, his eyes filled with both guilt and concern. "Are you hurt, Youyou?"
Pushing him away forcefully, Shen Xihe steadied herself and fixed a stern gaze on his flustered expression. Though not one to suspect others without cause, she couldn't shake the feeling he had done this intentionally—yet without proof, she refrained from accusation. Remembering her purpose was to express gratitude, she suppressed her anger and straightened her hairpin. "I'm fine. The cold outside is severe. Your Highness should return inside and have someone guide me instead."
She couldn't bear another moment with this man—he was nothing but a scoundrel! A cunning scoundrel who left no evidence of his misdeeds! While she knew how to handle such people, what complicated matters was her current indebtedness to him.
"As long as Youyou is unharmed. I merely forgot myself in my joy," Xiao Huayong smoothly justified his impulsive act before leading the way with composed demeanor. "Let me escort you to the kitchen. I've never seen a noble lady cook before and am quite curious. Please indulge me—I promise not to interfere."Seeing his shameless demeanor, Shen Xihe felt a twinge of regret. If not for her overwhelming gratitude, she would have simply prepared a random gift to send to the Eastern Palace. But her ability to treat Xiao Changying this way was based on the fact that she had once saved his life.
Regardless of whether she had ulterior motives or not, and regardless of her initial intentions to save him, the truth was she had saved Xiao Changying and detoxified him in time. Without this, Xiao Changying would have faced severe consequences—at worst, losing his life; at best, losing an arm.
As for stealing Xiao Changying’s belongings, that was her own skill and not something to offset the debt of saving him. Thus, when Xiao Changying rescued her at the Solitary Garden, she felt justified in having the steward deliver only one gift as a token of her gratitude.
But with Xiao Huayong, it was different. She had never helped Xiao Huayong; at most, their relationship was mutually beneficial. Yet, she repeatedly owed him—whether passively or actively. A debt was a debt, and because of this, she couldn’t bring herself to use cold or harsh tactics against him.
Ignoring Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe silently expressed her displeasure. Xiao Huayong could clearly see her dissatisfaction but showed no anger, instead shamelessly following her.
The kitchen staff were somewhat apprehensive upon seeing Xiao Huayong. The memory of the chaos he had caused not long ago, when he suddenly took an interest in learning to cook, was still vivid in their minds.
"Your Highness, you..." Jiuzhang hurried over, bowed, and hesitated to speak further.
"Today, the Junzhu will prepare some dishes. Assist her as needed," Xiao Huayong instructed.
Jiuzhang breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that the Crown Prince wasn’t planning to wreak havoc himself. His smile became more sincere as he said, "Junzhu, please let me know what ingredients you need. I will prepare them right away."
Shen Xihe inspected the kitchen and listed some ingredients. "Just these. Please wash and trim them for me."
Shen Xihe had culinary skills, but these did not include washing or chopping ingredients. Noble young ladies learning to cook typically only handled the ladle—some didn’t even do that. Most merely observed, so that in the future, as mistresses of their households, they wouldn’t be deceived by the kitchen staff and could confidently oversee the cooking.
It was a habit to have snacks before meals, and Shen Xihe didn’t withhold from Xiao Huayong. She prepared a dish called "Han Palace Chess," a snack inspired by the Empress Wu Zetian, who was fond of the board game "Shuanglu." The pastry was shaped like round, sturdy chess pieces.
For the main meal, Shen Xihe roasted a goose, grilled a plate of large prawns—a rarity in such cold weather, only available in the palace—and noticed some pork as well.
Pork was generally disliked and avoided due to taboos. Shen Xihe specifically asked Xiao Huayong, "Your Highness, do you eat pork?"
"As long as it’s prepared by Youyou, I’d even eat poison," Xiao Huayong leaned against the counter, smiling brightly.
Shen Xihe gave him a faint glance and proceeded without further consultation, cooking according to her own preferences.
The dish of steamed shredded pork shoulder with Jiangxi spices was one Shen Xihe personally loved, but it was rarely prepared in noble households, where pork was avoided and pork shoulder was particularly hard to procure.
With five dishes and one plate of snacks ready, Shen Xihe warmed some chrysanthemum wine and joined Xiao Huayong for dinner in the Eastern Palace. She noticed that he, too, particularly enjoyed the pork shoulder she had prepared, showing no disdain for its humble origins. Her gaze softened.
"Youyou’s culinary skills are truly unforgettable," Xiao Huayong remarked, having eaten to the point of fullness without a care for decorum.
While his affection for Shen Xihe played a part, he had to admit that her cooking was genuinely exceptional."Your Highness flatters me, I am merely an empty shell," Shen Xihe said, not out of humility but as a matter of fact.
She could not handle ingredients nor wield a kitchen knife; without her servants, she might not be able to create delicious delicacies.
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