In an instant, Xiao Huayong had an epiphany. He had never understood how Shen Xihe always managed to guess his identity—now he knew!
It was the scented bath!
Due to his poisoning, he was practically a walking medicine jar. If not for genuinely being one, he could never have deceived Your Majesty for so many years. Those medicines were real, and he truly had to drink them, which left him with a strong medicinal odor.
Every time he disguised himself, he would bathe in scented water to wash away the smell of medicine. Little did he expect that while this deceived others, it failed to fool her alone.
The scent after the bath was not strong—at least, Tianyuan and he himself couldn't detect it—but that didn't mean Shen Xihe couldn't.
So, was this fate?
Of all people, it had to be her, and only her!
To confirm his suspicion, Xiao Huayong asked softly, "You knew the Princess Consort of Dai had met the Fourth Prince because of this too?"
Shen Xihe nodded gently. "To me, everyone has a distinct scent. Even with the same fragrant spices and identical incense blends, I can detect differences in proportions. Yesterday, the Princess Consort of Dai carried the scent of agarwood that the Fourth Prince often uses, along with the fragrance of incense."
Shen Xihe disclosed this openly, considering their long-term cooperation ahead. She could evade the issue now, but after marriage, with daily proximity, Xiao Huayong's intelligence would surely uncover the truth. Since it was impossible to hide, why resort to mystification?
Xiao Huayong's heart was now torn between ice and fire. The cold part knew he was doomed: with Shen Xihe's acute sensitivity to scents, she must not have seen the Duojialuo bracelet he included in her coming-of-age ceremony. Such top-grade Duojialuo was extremely rare, and he was currently using Duojialuo derived from the same agarwood, making the scent identical.
Once she saw the bracelet, he would be exposed.
The fiery part was that Shen Xihe had voluntarily shared her innate talent with him. This indicated that his efforts these past days must have moved her. Otherwise, given her nature, even if she knew she couldn't hide it from him later, she wouldn't have revealed it in advance.
For the first time in his life, he felt such panic. He wanted to confess everything but couldn't muster the courage. Her attitude toward him had only slightly improved; if he spoke up now, would everything revert to how it was?
The tenderness she had shown him was so scarce that even a taste of it made him fear losing it again.
He knew he couldn't hide it forever. He knew confessing now might be the best opportunity. He knew continuing to conceal it was unwise. But he was too attached to that sliver of kindness from her—he just wanted to savor it a little longer, that was all.
"I..." He opened his mouth with difficulty, but the words stuck on his lips. He despised himself for this, loathed himself, yet an inexplicable fear in his chest made him swallow what he wanted to say.
"Your Highness, are you unwell?" Shen Xihe noticed Xiao Huayong suddenly turn pale, with fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Deeply concerned, she immediately stood up to support his arm.
"A Xi, Zhenzhu!" Shen Xihe called out urgently.
"Youyou, I..." Xiao Huayong opened his mouth and unexpectedly spat out a mouthful of black blood.
"Not good, His Highness's poison is flaring up!" Tianyuan turned ashen with fear and shouted outside, "Quick, go fetch the Chief Imperial Physician!"
Xiao Huayong tightly gripped Shen Xihe's hand and suddenly fainted.
"Your Highness!" Shen Xihe's face paled in fright.Zhenzhu and Sui Axi disregarded formalities as they rushed forward. Both simultaneously checked Xiao Huayong's pulse, exchanging puzzled glances before Sui Axi took out silver needles to examine him further. Zhenzhu ran to prepare a prescription, handing it to Tianyuan after writing it: "Quickly fetch the medicine and have the kitchen boil several buckets of water. His Highness's cold poison has flared up."
The toxin in Xiao Huayong's body was always most severe and difficult to control during winter, but sudden emotional agitation had caused it to spiral out of control. Fortunately, Sui Axi was present—otherwise, the Crown Prince's situation would have been critical.
"Why is His Highness's body so cold?" Xiao Huayong had fainted into Shen Xihe's arms, his hand still clutching hers. Shen Xihe didn't pull away—this was her first time witnessing Xiao Huayong's poison flare-up. His icy coldness, like freezing snow, was terrifying.
"When His Highness's poison flares up, it manifests this way," Tianyuan explained, barely maintaining composure as he watched Sui Axi apply the needles.
By the time the Chief Imperial Physician arrived from the Imperial Hospital sweating profusely, Sui Axi had already completed the acupuncture. Rubbing his hands warm, the Chief Imperial Physician checked Xiao Huayong's pulse, his expression despairing. "What caused His Highness such sudden distress?"
Everyone exchanged glances. Shen Xihe didn't know the reason either, though she suspected he must have been stimulated by some thought.
Tianyuan had some inkling but didn't dare speak.
Unable to determine the cause, the Chief Imperial Physician couldn't vent his frustration. He could only ask Zhenzhu and Sui Axi about their treatment plan. After hearing their suggestions, he acknowledged their precision: "Medicinal bath combined with acupuncture at specific points—I had considered this approach, but opening those acupoints carries extreme risks."
The targeted acupoints could be fatal if handled improperly. The Chief Imperial Physician wasn't concerned for his own safety but admitted he lacked over fifty percent confidence. Placing Xiao Huayong in a medicinal bath while maintaining scalding water temperature created heavy steam—needle placement would rely on touch rather than visual precision.
Sui Axi glanced at Shen Xihe. "This subordinate has seventy percent confidence."
"Proceed with the attempt," Shen Xihe responded, looking down at Xiao Huayong in her arms who lacked any warmth of a living person.
Just as the medicinal bath was prepared, the Empress Dowager and Youning Emperor arrived upon hearing the news. After learning what happened, both wore grim expressions.
"Only seventy percent certainty?" Youning Emperor expressed dissatisfaction.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this commoner indeed has only seventy percent confidence," Sui Axi insisted under the emperor's furious gaze.
Youning Emperor turned his gaze to Shen Xihe before asking the Chief Imperial Physician, "Are there other methods?"
"His Highness's poison erupted with unusual ferocity this time. Had the princess not possessed capable assistants who administered timely acupuncture..." The Chief Imperial Physician didn't dare complete the ominous thought.
"Treat him! Let them proceed!" the Empress Dowager declared decisively. She addressed Sui Axi with authoritative sternness, "Focus completely on the treatment. Neither His Majesty nor I will hold you accountable for the outcome."
Then, turning to Youning Emperor, she proposed, "Your Majesty, since Qilang favors Zhaoning, and I've heard Zhaoning previously requested your permission to marry him. Why not seize this occasion to grant Zhaoning and Qilang your imperial blessing for marriage?"
Shen Xihe glanced at the Empress Dowager but remained silent.
Both Sui Axi and Zhenzhu were Shen Xihe's people. While the Empress Dowager ostensibly refrained from pressuring them to ensure focused treatment, her timing in requesting the marriage decree simultaneously prevented Shen Xihe from potentially exploiting the situation to harm the Crown Prince.As an engaged couple, if anything were to happen to the Crown Prince during the treatment by Shen Xihe's subordinates, even if she and the Youning Emperor didn't punish her for medical negligence, it would still force Shen Xihe to remain chaste for Xiao Huayong for the rest of her life!
In the imperial family, no one is simple-minded.
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