"Your Highness, this humble servant also has joyous news to report." Sui Axi requested an audience with a beaming face after seeing Qi Pei off.
"Succeeded?" Shen Xihe's heart stirred as she guessed.
Exactly three months had passed. Shen Xihe instructed Sui Axi to bring the person in. When he slowly stepped through the main gate, his face astonished both Shen Xihe and Zhenzhu - it was completely identical in appearance.
Zhenzhu even stepped forward to touch his face, finding no traces of alteration or disguise. She marveled, "What miraculous bone-shifting artistry!"
Shen Xihe circled the man for a closer inspection: "Similar in appearance but different in spirit."
She had Biyu fetch Lu Bing's twin maces and handed them to him: "Take these. From today onward, you are Lu Bing. Go wander the four seas for a period, become a true wandering knight, and immerse yourself in the jianghu of wandering knights."
Only this way could he become a seamless Lu Bing. Xiao Changfeng was still observing private mourning for Xun Wang, which likely wouldn't last three years but probably one year. That gave him half a year to make his name before joining Xiao Changfeng's side.
"This humble servant will not fail the mission." Lu Bing accepted the twin maces. From this moment, he was Lu Bing. He would thoroughly master everything belonging to Lu Bing - what he couldn't figure out, no one else would know either.
Having witnessed the excellence of bone-shifting artistry, Shen Xihe was in high spirits. She arranged a banquet for everyone to celebrate together. Sui Axi was also delighted that his abilities had gained his master's recognition. When he wanted to drink, Zhenzhu stopped him.
"The wounds on your back have just healed - you shouldn't drink alcohol," Zhenzhu said.
Sui Axi suddenly blushed, his smile carrying a hint of bashfulness as he stammered, "I-I'll listen to you."
Everyone present cast scrutinizing glances between the two. Ziyu and Hongyu were particularly mischievous - Hongyu pretended to pour wine while Ziyu imitated Zhenzhu stopping him, deliberately softening her tone: "The wounds on your back have just healed - you shouldn't drink alcohol."
Hongyu played along, mimicking Sui Axi: "I-I'll listen to you..."
Before they finished speaking, an embarrassed and annoyed Zhenzhu chased them with her handkerchief. The two quickly dodged behind Shen Xihe: "Your Highness, Your Highness, Sister Zhenzhu is flustered and angry! You must save us!"
Zhenzhu glared at them.
"Enough, you two are being naughty," Shen Xihe feigned anger with a light scolding, then gave Zhenzhu an excuse to save face. "A Xi was injured while saving Zhenzhu, so it's not excessive for Zhenzhu to show concern."
"Yes, yes, we servants were mistaken," Hongyu admitted verbally while winking at Zhenzhu.
Mo Yuan, sitting beside Sui Axi, witnessed this and secretly glanced at Moyu who was staring straight ahead. His expression immediately dimmed. Unwilling to give up, he stole another look but was caught by the sharp-eyed Moyu's cold gaze, frightening him into lowering his head immediately.
Moyu expressionlessly turned her face away, continuing to stare straight ahead as if the surrounding noise and laughter had nothing to do with her.
However, their reactions didn't escape Shen Xihe's notice. Since Moyu and Zhenzhu's desks were on either side of Shen Xihe, she thought meaningfully before revealing a faint smile at the corner of her lips.
She had already reached marriageable age, while Zhenzhu, Moyu, Biyu and the other two were all older than her. It was time to consider suitable matches for them.
Shen Xihe planned to arrange marriages for all of them by the time she turned eighteen, so they wouldn't be considered too old."Youyou, when will you make your move against Yangling Princess?" Bu Shulin visited the next day. As they chatted, Bu Shulin suddenly recalled seeing Yangling Princess earlier that day. Though the princess hadn't pestered her, she couldn't help asking.
"No rush. We're waiting for a reason. The envoys won't depart the capital until early next month," Shen Xihe replied calmly.
"What reason?" Bu Shulin asked curiously.
"A reason that would make Munuha killing the princess appear completely justified." Shen Xihe never left loose ends in her schemes.
"Justified?" Bu Shulin found this unlikely. Both parties had consistently claimed mutual affection before His Majesty. Why would Munuha kill the princess at this point?
She had assumed Shen Xihe planned to forcefully frame Munuha. Since His Majesty never wanted the marriage alliance anyway, as long as Shen Xihe left no evidence against herself, even a flimsy reason would suffice for His Majesty to make Munuha speechless in his own defense. "The princess will be diagnosed as pregnant one month from now." Shen Xihe saw no harm in telling Bu Shulin - keeping it from her would only invite persistent questioning. Though Bu Shulin wasn't the brightest, she knew how to keep secrets.
Bu Shulin: !!!
Shen Xihe's absolute certainty meant it didn't matter whether the princess was truly pregnant - she would ensure everyone believed Yangling Princess was with child.
"If that's the case, Munuha would be even less likely to harm her." This would be his own flesh and blood! Killing his wife and child on their own turf? Unless Munuha had gone mad.
Shen Xihe glanced at her faintly and said with detached calm, "Yangling Princess won't be one month pregnant."
Bu Shulin: !!!
So in this conspiracy, not only would the princess be made pregnant, but Munuha would also be cuckolded.
If so, when Munuha discovered everything was Yangling Princess's scheme to find a father for her "bastard," killing her in rage would indeed seem justified.
Truly seamless - Munuha would undoubtedly be left speechless!
"Did you drug the princess to fake pregnancy?" Bu Shulin considered other potential flaws. "What if Yangling Princess is actually pregnant? Could your medication backfire?"
"She won't be truly pregnant." Shen Xihe had planned everything. That day in the chamber, besides lighting aphrodisiac incense, she had hung an ordinary contraceptive sachet in the window curtains.
"Thank goodness we're friends, not enemies." Bu Shulin felt grateful once again.
Shen Xihe said mildly, "You should thank your lucky birth."
If not for Bu Shulin's connection to the Prince of Shunan - and Shen Xihe's need to prevent Shunan's military command from falling into His Majesty's hands - she would never have repeatedly tolerated Bu Shulin, let alone befriended her.
Bu Shulin refused to acknowledge her status gained her favor, firmly believing she won people over through charm alone!
After spending half a day at the Princess Manor and enjoying a satisfying meal, Bu Shulin departed. Just outside the manor, she was intercepted by Tianyuan.
Tianyuan handed her a medicine bottle. "Worldly Son Bu, tomorrow someone will take Munuha to the pleasure house for drinks. Use this medicine to prepare fine wine and drink with Prince Munuha."
"What is this?" Bu Shulin asked warily.
"Medicine that will prevent a man from ever being a man again," Tianyuan replied with a bow.
Bu Shulin's eyes widened. Xiao Huayong actually planned to drug Munuha into impotence!She had heard of this type of medicine but never seen it before. Her eyes instantly sparkled with avarice. Clearing her throat lightly, she said, "Guard Cao, since I'm handling this matter for His Highness, shouldn't he reward me with some..."
As she spoke, she waved the medicine bottle in her hand, her implication unmistakable.
Tianyuan replied with a smile, "Worldly Son Bu, this medicine only harms men, not women."
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