"Who exactly are you?" Restrained in Cui Jinbai's embrace, Shen Xihe remained composed and calm.
Cui Jinbai wouldn't dare harm her!
"Does the County Princess truly wish to know?" Cui Jinbai slightly lowered his head, his voice dropping to an intimate whisper near her ear, both gentle and suggestive.
"Aren't you curious how I saw through your identity?" Shen Xihe never allowed herself to be at a disadvantage.
He was curious, intensely so.
Over the years, he had perfected the art of disguise to such an extent that even those closest to him couldn't see through it, yet this County Princess had accurately guessed every time.
"The County Princess sees through people's hearts," Cui Jinbai drawled lazily. "But I'm unwilling to make a trade with you."
After a pause, he leaned closer, his lips nearly brushing against Shen Xihe's delicate earlobe. "Because... I only reveal my secrets to my future wife. If the County Princess is willing—hiss—"
Before Cui Jinbai could finish his teasing remark, a sharp pain shot through his abdomen, and Shen Xihe instantly broke free from his grasp.
Moyu leaped forward with her sword drawn. Cui Jinbai flung the tablecloth aside, sending objects flying toward Moyu. By the time she deflected them, Cui Jinbai had vanished.
Just as Moyu prepared to pursue him, Shen Xihe stopped her: "No need to chase."
The others who had been alerted also halted.
Shen Xihe touched her wrist, where a white jade and gold bracelet adorned her arm. It was actually three arcs of white jade connected by gold links, with intricate hollow patterns in the gold settings containing fine needles. This was a protective device crafted for her by Shen Yungan, who had sought out a master artisan for its creation.
Though Shen Yungan had only dipped the needles in anesthetic—poison would have been better...
"Once he leaves my room, dressed in that manner and wearing official robes, he becomes the Deputy Chief of the Grand Court of Judicial Review. Are we to openly pursue and attack a court official in broad daylight?" Shen Xihe glanced at the others. "Prepare yourselves. We enter the city immediately."
They should have entered the city long ago, had this person not delayed them for so long.
Meanwhile, Cui Jinbai had actually been affected by Shen Xihe's muscle-relaxing incense but had forced himself to endure it. Otherwise, how could Shen Xihe have succeeded in her surprise attack so easily?
Fortunately, the incense hadn't penetrated deeply. After escaping and taking several deep breaths, he managed to expel its effects through controlled breathing. However, Shen Xihe's needles caused his limbs to grow numb and unresponsive. Struggling to maintain his composure, he finally reached the Grand Court of Judicial Review and hurried straight to his private office chamber.
Upon entering the room, his vision darkened, and he barely managed to close the door behind him.
"Your Highness!" The real Cui Jinbai and Tianyuan, who had been waiting inside, exclaimed in alarm, rushing forward to support Xiao Huayong.
"Your Highness, where are you injured? I'll summon Physician Yu immediately—"
"Just an anesthetic. No need to make a fuss." Xiao Huayong stopped Tianyuan, seating himself on the bamboo couch. "Remove these official robes from me."
The anesthetic only numbed Xiao Huayong's body—his mind remained sharp and clear.
As Cui Jinbai put on the official robes, he heard Xiao Huayong instruct: "His Majesty awaits your report. Simply state truthfully that Linglong was a spy sent by Prince Kang's household to infiltrate Zhaoning County Princess's retinue."
"As you command." Cui Jinbai bowed and withdrew, needing to report to the Emperor immediately.
Earlier that morning, His Majesty had personally ordered him to investigate this matter.
After Cui Jinbai left, Tianyuan fretted anxiously: "Your Highness, please allow Physician Yu to examine you. Could this anesthetic interact harmfully with the poison in your system?"
"It's of no consequence." Xiao Huayong smiled dismissively. "After all, she's just a girl not yet of age—her heart remains pure and kind."Such an intricate trigger, a device meant for preserving life, ought to be steeped in lethal poison.
Tianyuan nearly popped his round eyes out of their sockets.
Master, you're lying here injured, yet you still believe she has a pure and kind heart?
Is there something wrong with his brain, or are his master's eyes failing him?
These words Tianyuan dared not speak aloud.
He had begun to vaguely realize that his master treated Zhaoning County Princess somewhat differently.
As this thought crossed his mind, he heard Xiao Huayong's silver-bright eyes fixed on the ceiling: "Truly unfathomable."
Before dawn had broken, he had learned of the matters at Kang Prince's residence even before the one seated on the Dragon Throne. He knew that Linglong had been given to Shen Xihe by Bu Shulin and had remained in Shen Xihe's possession ever since.
That the Emperor would dispatch Cui Jinbai to investigate was also something he had orchestrated through his agents. He had come here early, disguised as Cui Jinbai—exactly as Shen Xihe had suspected—using this opportunity to legitimately extract information about Shen Xihe's preferences and temperament from her maids.
The information had been obtained, and he believed the maids hadn't lied. Yet the Shen Xihe they described was completely different from the one he had encountered, imagined, and observed.
He had thought he was the only one in this world who wore layer upon layer of masks, so that even those he trusted and held dear couldn't see through him.
Never had he expected to encounter another today.
"Growing more and more curious, more and more delighted..." A gentle, faint smile escaped Xiao Huayong's lips.
This is bad, really bad. His master is about to fall hard.
Watching Xiao Huayong's spring-like radiance, Tianyuan frowned with worry.
"Your Highness, do you truly intend... to seek marriage with Zhaoning County Princess?"
"Seek marriage?" Xiao Huayong hadn't yet considered marriage as a long-term prospect. Previously, mentioning the love knot was merely to tease Tianyuan. But now that Tianyuan had brought it up, he began to seriously contemplate the matter.
After careful consideration, he found the idea quite excellent: "Bringing her to the Eastern Palace would surely make the imperial city extremely lively."
"His Majesty likely wouldn't consent..." Tianyuan reminded in a low voice.
His master had returned from the Taoist temple. After his capping ceremony, marriage would inevitably be placed on the agenda. Rather than being forced into a union without mutual affection, Tianyuan also hoped his master could marry someone he truly loved.
Zhaoning County Princess was a celestial beauty—across the entire realm, probably no one could compare. She would be a perfect match for their master.
But Zhaoning County Princess represented military power in the background. How would the Emperor ever permit such a marriage?
"Since when has my marriage been his to decide?" The smile vanished from Xiao Huayong's face, his abyssal eyes turning profound and murderously stern.
Meanwhile, Shen Xihe's carriage procession had arrived at Mingde Gate. Passing through this majestic gate meant she was truly entering the capital.
"Make way for the carriage ahead, make way—"
Just as they had stopped at the city gate for the guards to inspect their documents, and Shen Xihe had lifted the carriage curtain to gaze at the imposing plaque of Mingde Gate, shouting and the galloping of horses arose behind them.
The commoners lined up behind Shen Xihe's procession scattered to make way—almost a reflexive action, as they had grown accustomed to such scenes.
The capital was prosperous. Its young nobles, clad in bright silks astride furious steeds, trampled blossoms in spring revelry, drank themselves into stupors with countless cups, squandered fortunes in a throw, and scorned ritual laws—this had long become the norm.
The men Shen Xihe had brought were all elite forces from the northwest. In their eyes, Shen Xihe was the most noble presence; there was no reason for her to yield to these spoiled young masters.A guard, seeing the other party not even pulling the reins and charging straight toward them like a ruthless enemy on the battlefield, immediately leaped forward and punched the horse to the ground. The youth on the horse crashed down, head bleeding.
A large group of young men and women behind the youth quickly arrived, and someone shouted, "How dare you!"
"I can be even bolder. Would you like to see?" Shen Xihe, holding a whip, walked around the carriage and stepped forward.
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