A thin layer of cold snow, like a woolen carpet from the northwest, lightly blanketed the pavilions and towers. Amid the flickering candlelight, silver glimmers shimmered.
In the depths of late winter, the desolate earth lay barren with withered trees, yet only the proud plum blossoms and frost flowers vied in splendor.
Shen Xihe, dressed in a pale cloud-colored plum-patterned jacket and skirt with a silver-vermilion cloak edged in white fox fur, sat beside the charcoal brazier. She unfolded the letter handed to her by Mo Yuan, which detailed the life and deeds of Munuha, the third prince of the Turks.
From the lines of the letter, Shen Xihe sketched an image of Munuha in her mind—not of his appearance, but of his manner of action and character.
"He is a vigilant and astute man, with exceptional martial prowess," Shen Xihe set down the letter and took the hand warmer passed to her by Zhenzhu. "To set a trap for him, we must strike with a single, decisive blow."
Otherwise, it would inevitably alert him, making further attempts difficult to succeed.
"Princess, Munuha is also inquiring about you," Mo Yuan added.
"The Crown Prince escorted Father to confront him," Shen Xihe said with a light laugh. "In the capital, the Crown Prince and I have been closely associated. It is only natural for him to investigate me."
What worried her more was that Munuha might try to probe Xiao Huayong through her. Shen Xihe had been pondering how to take the initiative without arousing the Youning Emperor's suspicion. If Munuha came to her of his own accord, it would save her considerable trouble.
"Princess, you must not use yourself as bait," Zhenzhu immediately understood Shen Xihe's thoughts and urged with concern.
Shen Xihe swatted away the furry paw attempting to sneak a pastry from the table and picked up the meowing Duanming. "How do you think he would test the Crown Prince through me if he truly intends to?"
"The Princess remains secluded in the manor—he wouldn't dare break into the Princess Manor to abduct you," Hongyu said.
Biyu added, "When the Princess goes out, she is accompanied by guards. He has few men with him and wouldn't risk attacking her recklessly."
Ziyu blinked; she had no say in the matter.
Zhenzhu pondered for a moment. "The sixth day of the month is the birthday of the Princess Consort of Dai. If he attends the celebration, it would be an opportune moment to act."
Moreover, if anything happened at the Dai residence, the Emperor would find it difficult to investigate thoroughly, reducing suspicion on him.
"However, the Crown Prince certainly won't attend."
The Crown Prince's poor health was well-known throughout the court. He never attended minor banquets, and since the celebration was for the Princess Consort of Dai, not the Prince himself, an invitation might not even be extended to the Crown Prince. Last year, during the birthday of the Princess Consort of Ding, the Crown Prince did not appear.
"If he wishes to come, I won't allow it," Shen Xihe chuckled. Given the Crown Prince's current feelings for her, his intentions were far from pure. Even without an invitation, if he forced his way in, no one would question it.
Zhenzhu was puzzled. "If His Highness doesn't attend, why would Munuha act?"
Shen Xihe scratched Duanming's neck and leaned forward, her dark tresses cascading to veil half her face. The charcoal fire cast a warm, crimson glow around her, lending her an exceptionally gentle demeanor. "Between men, to provoke the greatest fury—aside from slaughtering their loved ones—is to seize their power, status, and... their beauty."
Zhenzhu gasped in shock, while Biyu and Hongyu also paled.
"Princess, are you saying Munuha intends to... violate you?" Even the usually slow-witted Ziyu grasped the implication.
"How dare he?" Zhenzhu exclaimed, believing Munuha would have to be insane to lay a hand on Shen Xihe.He is the Turkic prince, and the Northwest King is an insurmountable wall for the Turks. If he dares to harbor any intentions toward Shen Xihe, the Youning Emperor would be the first to eliminate him.
"You are mistaken." Shen Xihe smiled faintly, releasing Duanming, who had coiled its tail contentedly after being teased. It clung to Shen Xihe's sleeve, but she gently yet firmly pried its claws away.
Previously, it had also clung to her, tearing her sleeve. Shen Xihe had punished it severely for this, and since then, it had learned to restrain its strength.
"He naturally wouldn't dare to take the initiative to harbor intentions toward me. But if we were to 'accidentally' become intimate, the fault wouldn't lie with him. What could His Majesty do then?" Shen Xihe lowered her gaze, picked up Duanming as it continued to paw at her, and set it aside.
Duanming tried to rush toward her again, but Shen Xihe shot it a half-smiling glance, and it immediately obediently lay down in place.
"Not only would His Majesty not blame him, but he might even welcome such an outcome."
If she lost her purity, she would have to marry Munuha. Shen Yueshan would then have to voluntarily step aside to avoid suspicion and relinquish his military authority in the northwest. With such a seemingly justified reason, even the people of the northwest would find it difficult to voice grievances for Shen Yueshan.
Though they rely on Shen Yueshan, they care more about their own homes. How could they trust the father-in-law of a Turkic prince to guard the northwest?
The Youning Emperor could not actively send Shen Xihe into a marriage alliance to reclaim military power, as this would disillusion the people of the northwest and all the border garrison soldiers. If they feared that one day their achievements would overshadow the ruler and their wives and daughters would meet tragic ends, who would dare to fight fiercely in the future?
He could not take the initiative, but he could be passive!
Zhenzhu and the others turned pale, as they had not considered this layer of complexity.
"Now, what he needs is an opportunity to act freely, and he needs someone to lend him a hand." Shen Xihe's lips curved slightly. "I will send him that person."
Xiao Huayong had not expected Shen Xihe to enter the palace so soon. He had only just instructed Tianyuan yesterday to inform her to be cautious during this period and avoid entering the palace, lest she become a pawn in someone else's scheme against him.
"Does Your Highness think so little of me?" Shen Xihe said calmly. "If someone were to take action, would I simply wait for doom? It remains to be seen who would benefit."
Her expression was as composed as ever, but Xiao Huayong knew she was speaking casually and did not truly believe he underestimated her.
Perhaps even Shen Xihe herself had not noticed that during their casual conversations, she had become increasingly at ease and unrestrained. This subtle change made Xiao Huayong's heart feel as if it were coated in honey. A tender, lingering smile spread to the corners of his eyes and brows, making the mole at the corner of his eye infinitely captivating. "How dare I underestimate Youyou? I know you prefer tranquility and worry that my actions might disturb your peace, causing you to resent me."
This was the truth. Unless it was an unexpected attack like Bian Xianyi's use of Shen Yungan to ambush her, even if he were to confront her with all his might, he might not be able to strike Shen Xihe down in one blow, let alone anyone else.
His recognition of Shen Xihe's wisdom was not merely "beauty in the eyes of the beholder" but a matter-of-fact assessment.
Shen Xihe raised her brows, a faint smile appearing at the corners of her lips. Xiao Huayong indeed understood her well enough. If someone implicated her, she would genuinely transfer her displeasure, just as she still regarded Xiao Changying unfavorably after the Chongyang Festival incident when the Rong family's young lady schemed against her on his behalf."Today I came to see Your Highness to inform you that for the birthday banquet of the Princess Consort of Dai the day after tomorrow, Your Highness should not brave the wind and snow to join the festivities," Shen Xihe advised.
"Youyou, are you afraid I'll be in the way?" Xiao Huayong found it both amusing and exasperating.
OpenNovel