The matter concerning Yangling Princess and Munuha was an open secret among everyone. No one dared discuss it behind closed doors, and the Youning Emperor's ambiguous attitude further compelled most who knew about the incident to feign ignorance.
Munuha also remained holed up in the Honglu Guesthouse, not because he feared gossip or slander—as a man, why would he care about rumors?—but because he sensed something amiss. Why had Yangling Princess fallen victim to a counter-scheme?
Was it Shen Xihe who had orchestrated the plot against Yangling Princess, or had someone secretly aided Shen Xihe to escape unscathed?
These questions swirled in his mind, leaving him with an inexplicable sense of foreboding that lingered, refusing to dissipate.
Moreover, why had he lost control upon entering the room that day? The suspicious fragrance had aroused his doubts.
Unfortunately, the Daiwang Residence was not a place they could search. To avoid exposing the incident, he dared not reveal that he had been framed, and thus the incense in the room went uninvestigated.
These suspicious elements convinced him that someone was watching, intent on harming him. He had no choice but to hide in the Honglu Guesthouse and observe covertly.
It must be said that his seclusion these past few days left Xiao Huayong with no recourse. Munuha had no relatives or friends in the capital to lure him out, and Xiao Huayong himself was under surveillance by the Youning Emperor’s men, preventing him from openly abducting Munuha from the guesthouse.
The Youning Emperor, furious with Munuha these days, had no intention of summoning him.
Though he loathed Munuha, the emperor was not one to act rashly. He decided to let Munuha enjoy a few days of ease to lower his guard.
During this time, Shen Xihe stayed at the Princess Manor, collecting snowmelt and picking plum blossoms for preservation. She exchanged letters with her father and brothers. Xue Jinqiao happened to visit the manor and, upon seeing her painting, begged Shen Xihe to teach her.
Due to incidents in her childhood, Xue Jinqiao had missed her early education. Later, as she gradually recovered, she grew impatient with scholarly pursuits, focusing solely on martial arts to ensure no one could ever bully her again. Her barely legible handwriting was the result of her grandaunt forcing her to practice diligently.
Now, inspired by Shen Xihe’s painting, she developed an interest. Shen Xihe had never taught anyone before, and her own painting skills were not exceptional, but they were more than sufficient for a beginner. Thus, she patiently began instructing Xue Jinqiao.
“Your Highness is truly gentle with the Seventh Lady,” Biyu remarked after seeing Xue Jinqiao off.
“The Seventh Lady will be my sister-in-law in the future, so it’s only natural I treat her warmly,” Shen Xihe replied with a smile, noticing Qi Pei being wheeled over by a servant.
After nearly a month of recuperation, Qi Pei’s health had improved significantly, and his complexion had regained some rosiness.
“I’ve come to bid farewell, Your Highness,” Qi Pei said.
“You’ve only just stopped taking medicine. With the cold weather and slippery roads, it’s not a good time to travel,” Shen Xihe advised.
“I’m not leaving the capital. My old servant has found me and purchased a residence here,” Qi Pei explained. “As an unrelated man, it was acceptable to stay here temporarily due to the urgency of the situation, but I cannot remain at the Princess Manor any longer.”
Shen Xihe nodded. “In that case, you may go.”
After a moment of silence, Qi Pei added, “Your Highness, I am disabled and know I should not entertain presumptuous thoughts. Yet I shamelessly offer myself to serve in your household and work for you.”
Shen Xihe raised an eyebrow. She had never considered recruiting Qi Pei—a young man a year her junior. She had saved him because he was entangled with the Yang Residence, which happened to be an obstacle she intended to remove.
Later, at Qi Pei’s own request and with the Youning Emperor’s approval, Shen Xihe had agreed to shelter and treat him without objection."I keep no useless people by my side." She had never shown mercy to strangers.
Upon hearing this, Qi Pei's face instead revealed a trace of a smile. He didn't know how others might interpret Shen Xihe's words, but he believed that while her statement appeared cold and indifferent, in reality, it meant she did not differentiate him from those with intact limbs.
She did not measure people by physical wholeness, but judged their worth solely by capability.
"I beg the County Princess to grant this humble one an opportunity to prove himself." Qi Pei's eyes were bright and resolute.
"What kind of opportunity do you want?" Shen Xihe asked.
"The Qi family has been merchants for generations. I have been immersed in business since childhood. The County Princess was born into great wealth and certainly lacks no money. I only hope to ensure the Northwest King's estate also never lacks funds." Qi Pei declared firmly and powerfully.
Did the Northwest King's estate lack money? Of course not. But Qi Pei was not referring to that.
Shen Xihe's gaze calmly looked down at Qi Pei. She observed him for several breaths before speaking softly, "Do you know what you are saying?"
"County Princess, this humble one does not question the Northwest King's or your loyalty to the sovereign. But matters of life and death are at stake. Having more preparations is always better, is it not?" Qi Pei said respectfully.
The subtext was: even if they did not rebel, accumulating more wealth could help cope with sudden changes and crises.
"Have you considered what your actions imply?" Shen Xihe asked softly.
"That day, the County Princess told me to live gloriously to honor my ancestors and comfort my elder brother and sister-in-law in the afterlife." Qi Pei said. "During this period, I have pondered daily what to do in the future. After careful consideration, I wish to serve the County Princess.
The County Princess and the Northwest King's estate have reached a point of either success or ruin. I naturally understand that by choosing to serve you, I too embark on a path of no return—either success or ruin."
He wanted to live on, yet could not remain trapped by past pain. He could only seek a new cause to strive for. Shen Xihe's suggestion to glorify the Qi family was the best meaning for his continued existence.
But walking this path alone would be too difficult. He needed someone's support and protection, which meant he must choose to amass wealth for the powerful.
Once entangled with power, one inevitably loses control. The Shen clan had reached a point where the next step could lead either to the heavens or to hell. If he chose to serve others, he would inevitably become an enemy of Shen Xihe, his benefactor. So he might as well choose Shen Xihe.
He would see in the future whether the Qi family would rise to great heights alongside the Shens or be crushed to dust together.
"Since you understand all this and still choose to serve me, I will give you an opportunity." After some thought, Shen Xihe said, "I will give you one hundred gold pieces. Within one year, if you can turn one hundred gold into one thousand, I will accept you."
"This humble one accepts the command." Qi Pei agreed immediately.
Shen Xihe had Mo Yuan and Sui Axi escort him to his residence and agreed that he could decide when to collect the money. The one-year period would begin from the day he took the funds.
"County Princess, can he really succeed?" Ziyu asked curiously.
In their eyes, Qi Pei was a pitiful child. The Living-Alone Pavilion was so prosperous, yet its annual profit was only about one thousand gold. After deducting costs, the net profit from both shops combined was only around five hundred gold per year.
And this was in the capital, where Shen Xihe's fragrant spices were truly exceptional, attracting the pursuit of nobles, officials' wives, and young ladies of prestigious families.
"Whether he succeeds or not, let him try." Shen Xihe did not place great importance on the outcome.The gloom in Qi Pei's eyes had noticeably faded a great deal. She had given him a chance, allowing him to see himself more clearly. If it succeeded, everyone would be happy. If it failed, at least her earnest advice from that day would not have been in vain.
If she hadn't given him even a single opportunity, it would have been a fatal denial for Qi Pei.
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