Shen Xihe gazed at him quietly without responding.
Xiao Huayong, however, smiled and said, "Let me answer for Youyou: if we were married and she harmed me, you would certainly reprimand her. The severity of the reprimand would depend on how deeply she injured me. If we were not yet married, even if she injured me, you would disregard it.
Naturally, Youyou would neither reprimand her for my sake nor interfere with my retaliation against her."
Shen Xihe blinked, a fleeting smile passing through her eyes. She had remained silent for a long time.
Xiao Huayong's words precisely reflected her own thoughts.
"Youyou would act this way because she distinguishes between closeness and distance in her heart," Xiao Huayong murmured. "I am the same. Youyou will only consider me family after we marry. Yet to me, at this very moment, Youyou already surpasses all things in this world and every living being.
Anyone who harms you—I can slay them with my own hands!
I am not cold-blooded, nor am I bloodthirsty, and I am certainly not devoid of familial affection.
I simply regard you as the most important person to me.
If one day my closest kin and you become irreconcilable enemies, my choice will always be you."
"Your Highness, Zhaoning is an exceedingly difficult person to move. Your Highness should take better care of yourself," Shen Xihe sighed softly.
She felt the sincerity in Xiao Huayong's words and was profoundly shaken that he could go to such lengths for her today. Yet, damnably, she remained utterly calm. She even felt it was unworthy for Xiao Huayong to devote himself to a woman like her, but she simply would not easily fall in love.
A man can withdraw from love at any time, leaving without a trace, departing with ease.
A woman is different. A woman is too persistent and emotional. Once she falls in love, it becomes a life-and-death gamble—and one with slim chances of survival.
"I do not wish to take care of myself. I firmly believe that someday, someone will cherish me immensely," Xiao Huayong declared, his gaze burning as he looked at Shen Xihe.
Xiao Huayong was always so resolute, whether trying to convince himself or truly possessing such confidence.
Shen Xihe shook her head gently, performed a curtsy, and then led Zhenzhu and the others onto the carriage. Drawing the curtain, she turned to Biyu and asked, "Are you alright?"
"Do not worry, my lady. I took the cold dispelling medicine before coming. This maid is fine," Biyu replied, her eyes clear and bright, showing no signs of weakness.
"This maid will look after Biyu," Zhenzhu said. Her martial skills were better, but her burns had not fully healed, and Moyu's arrow wound was also still mending. Otherwise, Biyu would not have had to endure this ordeal. Zhenzhu was more concerned about another matter: "My lady, will they take the bait?"
If they did not, Biyu's plunge into the water would have been in vain.
"They will. They definitely will," Shen Xihe replied with a profound smile.
They all needed each other too much. Munuha was an exceedingly proud man. Shen Xihe had investigated and found he had never suffered defeat. The blow from Xiao Huayong last time had been severe—destroying his carefully laid plans and killing his trusted aide right before his eyes. His hatred for Xiao Huayong ran deep.
Xiao Huayong was the Crown Prince of the Celestial Dynasty. In the future, it would be difficult for Munuha to strike again, especially since no one knew Xiao Huayong's true nature, which only fueled his resentment. During this time, he must have been tormented by his inability to expose Xiao Huayong. Unable to target Xiao Huayong directly, he had to find another approach.
Shen Xihe, the only person Xiao Huayong cared deeply about, was that shortcut. Even better, Shen Xihe was also connected to Shen Yueshan. By provoking Xiao Huayong, unmasking his true self, and effortlessly removing Shen Yueshan—the northwestern barrier—Munuha would never let this opportunity slip away.He now only lacked an inside agent. Shen Xihe's move today not only allowed Munuha to see Yangling Princess, but also made it impossible for Yangling Princess to refuse Munuha's plan.
She had pushed Yangling Princess into the freezing winter pond, yet no one believed Yangling Princess's account. This made Yangling Princess clearly realize how many informants Shen Xihe had in the palace, deeply feeling the palace was unsafe. Simultaneously, she had Biyu hint to Yangling Princess that Liang Zhaorong's death was her doing.
Yangling Princess would become even more terrified. Liang Zhaorong's death had always been a mystery. Liang Zhaorong's foundations in the palace were much deeper than hers as a princess, yet she couldn't escape Shen Xihe's deadly hands—how could she?
Another point: since Shen Xihe rarely left the Princess Manor, they had few opportunities and would inevitably choose the birthday banquet of Princess Consort of Dai the day after tomorrow. Liang Zhaorong was Prince Dai's birth mother.
Yangling Princess would definitely go to Prince Dai to spread malicious rumors. Prince Dai might not believe her, but involving his birth mother would force him to take it seriously. Regarding Yangling Princess's actions, even if he didn't assist, he would turn a blind eye—just like his attitude in court, appearing detached from all matters.
What Shen Xihe wanted was for Prince Dai to know Yangling would target her, so he would overlook various incidents at Prince Dai's residence the day after tomorrow. This would facilitate her counterattack against Yangling and Munuha, preventing Prince Dai from ruining her plans.
When it came to cunning schemes, Shen Xihe never considered herself inferior to Xiao Huayong.
On her way back to the Princess Manor, Munuha at the Honglu Guesthouse received news from a bribed eunuch in the palace. Shen Xihe had made the incident very public, including Yangling Princess's accusations against her, which were no secret—almost everyone inside and outside the palace knew.
"Your Highness, think carefully," Munuha's subordinate advised.
He felt acting in the capital was too risky. They didn't have many people here, and if a major incident occurred, it would make it difficult for them to escape.
"The one taking action is His Majesty's princess, and we are also victims," Munuha laughed, his deep blue eyes flickering with an unusual light. "I've heard this County Princess is the one His Majesty intends to marry to the Crown Prince. This Crown Prince is cunning and sinister, hiding in the shadows waiting for an opportunity. If he learns his woman has become another man's, I don't believe he can remain hidden!"
"Your Highness, we are in the capital. Angering the Crown Prince puts us in great danger," the subordinate still felt uneasy.
"His Majesty will protect us. As long as I marry Shen Yueshan's daughter, Shen Yueshan cannot guard the northwest—this is what His Majesty wishes to see," Munuha had considered everything thoroughly. "As for retreat, with this County Princess accompanying us, the Crown Prince wouldn't dare pursue us extensively."
"Your Highness..."
"Enough. I'll first go meet this princess who deeply hates Zhaoning County Princess," Munuha wanted to assess this princess's capabilities before deciding whether to ally with her.
Yangling Princess's fear of Shen Xihe had reached the point where she had nightmares whenever she closed her eyes. In her dreams, Shen Xihe's countless ferocious faces intertwined into a net, binding her tightly and making it hard to breathe.
She knew Shen Xihe had revealed Liang Zhaorong's death to her, meaning she truly wouldn't spare her. Even if she exposed the mastermind behind the scenes, it wouldn't help. She and Shen Xihe had reached the point where one must die.
When she received a message containing only a location and one sentence—"Can solve your current predicament"—she knew her path was set.She had grasped at a life-saving straw. At this critical moment of life and death, no matter who it was, as long as they could help her escape Shen Xihe, she would risk meeting them!
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