"Have you seen the maid by her side?" Shen Xihe asked.
Zhenzhu shook her head, but Biyu, who had more opportunities to visit the palace, replied: "Your Highness, it vaguely resembles someone from the Third Princess's entourage."
"Indeed..." Shen Xihe let out a soft chuckle.
This was the horse market, an important trading hub for foreign countries. While not heavily guarded, security was strict, with interpreters present to facilitate transactions. The sudden disappearance of people was highly unusual.
"Second Young Lady has fallen into the Third Princess's trap." Biyu instinctively frowned.
Shen Xihe watched Shen Yingluo chatting and laughing with the Tibetan Prince, smiling faintly: "She was raised in the palace as well. Don't underestimate her as isolated and weak."
Withdrawing her gaze, Shen Xihe's smile gradually took on a frosty edge: "However, the patrol guards were so easily diverted—they deserve to be taught a lesson. Zhenzhu..."
Zhenzhu leaned in, and after Shen Xihe whispered instructions in her ear, she immediately withdrew.
Meanwhile, Shen Yingluo had helped the Tibetan Prince resolve a troublesome situation. Her ability to speak Tibetan impressed him greatly, and he immediately asked: "Are you His Majesty's princess?"
"I am not His Majesty's princess, merely a study companion to the princess," Shen Yingluo replied with a courteous bow. "Our princess noticed that you, esteemed guests, had encountered some trouble and specifically sent me to assist."
Upon learning that Shen Yingluo was only a study companion—in Tibet, such companions were selected from among servants—the Prince felt somewhat disappointed. However, hearing her subsequent words, his eyes lit up again.
Following Shen Yingluo's gaze, he spotted the Third Princess seated in the distance. He had seen her before and immediately felt a sense of admiration. He couldn't help but ask Shen Yingluo: "Does the Third Princess also speak Tibetan?"
"Of course, the princess is learned and talented," Shen Yingluo praised.
Unfortunately, the palace maid accompanying Shen Yingluo did not understand Tibetan. When the Tibetan Prince cast an inquiring glance, Shen Yingluo casually explained: "The Prince asked if I am a princess. I told him I am His Majesty's niece."
The palace maid promptly nodded.
Shen Yingluo then said to the Tibetan Prince: "Our princess greatly admires Tibet—its emerald grasslands, the fragrance of freedom in the flowers, and the unrestrained songs."
The Tibetan Prince was overjoyed: "The princess will surely achieve her wish."
Shen Yingluo gave a slight bow and left with the princess's maid. As soon as she turned away, her smile vanished.
Few knew she could speak Tibetan. The Third Princess had pushed her forward to resolve the issue using her status.
These past few days, the Third Princess had been persistently bothering her, making her utterly weary. With daily invitations, the only way to completely deter the Third Princess was to strike at the root of the problem.
If the Third Princess wanted the Tibetan Prince to fall for her and actively seek marriage, then she would let the Third Princess taste the bitterness of being manipulated.
No sooner had Shen Yingluo left the horse market than a large-scale brawl broke out between horse merchants and foreign guests. Such an incident, which could affect diplomatic relations, was naturally reported directly to the Emperor. The patrol guards on duty that day were caned, several officers received varying degrees of punishment, and many were demoted.
After all, negligence in such a crucial place could easily lead to conflicts between nations. If not severely punished to serve as a warning, any future mishaps could have fatal consequences!Thanks to this farce, Bu Shulin not only purchased her horse but also pestered Shen Xihe to wander elsewhere. Fate works in mysterious ways—just as Bu Shulin was about to take Shen Xihe to enjoy some delicacies, they ran into Cui Jinbai exiting the eatery.
Cui Jinbai was accompanied by officers from the Dali Temple, clearly there on official business.
The moment Bu Shulin saw Cui Jinbai, her expression stiffened, and she immediately avoided him as if evading the plague. She didn’t even allow Cui Jinbai to pay his respects to Shen Xihe, tugging at Shen Xihe’s sleeve instead: “Hurry, Junzhu.”
Caught off guard, Shen Xihe was pulled forward. Turning her head, she saw Cui Jinbai pause with his back to them for a long moment before finally walking away at his subordinate’s reminder.
Shen Xihe shook off Bu Shulin’s grip: “If you do this again, don’t blame me for being impolite.”
Bu Shulin gave an embarrassed laugh. To make amends, she ordered a variety of dishes, but ended up devouring most of them herself. As she ate with evident satisfaction, she chattered incessantly, explaining the origins of each dish to Shen Xihe.
She remained completely unaware of her own unusual behavior.
“A Lin,” Shen Xihe suddenly called.
Bu Shulin stopped eating and looked up at her.
“A Lin, you care,” Shen Xihe pointed out. “You’re upset. You care about Cui Shaoqing—you have feelings for him.”
Shen Xihe didn’t know if it was right or wrong to say this, but seeing Bu Shulin forcing a smile while unaware of why she was doing so softened her heart inexplicably.
“I have feelings for him?” Bu Shulin pointed at herself in disbelief. “Impossible!”
“There’s no need to deny it to me. Search your heart,” Shen Xihe said. “I am not one to dwell on romantic feelings, but if someday someone truly stirs my heart, I would not dare to avoid facing it. Whether to part or stay together, to take a risk or withdraw in time—I would make it clear, so as not to betray myself.”
Bu Shulin parted her lips but ultimately said nothing, lowering her head in silence.
Did she have feelings for Cui Jinbai?
She had never considered it, yet she couldn’t refute Shen Xihe. Under Shen Xihe’s calm, penetrating gaze, her hidden feelings—so subtle she hadn’t even noticed them herself—were laid bare.
She stuffed a few more bites of food into her mouth, but her hand, holding the chopsticks, suddenly froze mid-air. Stunned, she spaced out for a moment, and a glistening tear fell into her rice bowl. Setting down her bowl and chopsticks, she wiped her face and looked back at Shen Xihe with newfound clarity. “Youyou, you’re right. Perhaps, at some point, I’ve truly developed some feelings for him.”
Yet, their relationship was doomed from the start. He was a young, capable official, destined for high rank and to lead the Cui clan. She was the heir of a different-surnamed feudal prince—she could not abandon her responsibilities or leave her old father to face things alone for his sake.
She didn’t even dare to reveal her true gender to him. It wasn’t that she distrusted his character, but some matters allowed no room for error.
Perhaps it was better that he didn’t know—it would save them both trouble. Let him continue to dislike her; that way, they would naturally drift apart.
If someday, someday her identity were exposed, he would remain uninvolved.
“Youyou, I am the Shunan Prince Heir,” Bu Shulin said, her gaze resolute and her voice cool. “You’re right—there’s nothing I dare not face or acknowledge. Indecision only brings chaos. Since there’s no future for us, it’s better to cut ties now, for both our sakes.”When Shen Xihe saw that single tear from Bu Shulin, she knew Shulin had made a painful severance—otherwise, how could someone as resolute as her shed tears?
Love is truly the most tormenting poison in this world, capable of breaking one's heart with unbearable sorrow. Shen Xihe sighed inwardly.
This was Bu Shulin's decision, and Shen Xihe said no more.
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