Xiao Huayong's laughter echoed above the Eastern Palace, carrying far and wide, as if he wished everyone in the palace could know how overjoyed he was at this moment.
Shen Xihe stood silently, watching the delight spread across his face.
Only after he had reveled in his happiness did Xiao Huayong gaze deeply at Shen Xihe and say, "Youyou, you will never know how endearing every move you make is to me."
"Your Highness, this unrestrained and hearty laughter of yours is not suitable for the Eastern Palace," Shen Xihe couldn't help but remind him.
Xiao Huayong immediately restrained his smile, coughed lightly into his loosely clenched fist, turned to Shen Xihe, and blinked. "I'll listen to you in everything."
Shen Xihe remained unmoved.
Xiao Huayong didn't mind either. He simply took Shen Xihe's hand, ignoring her resistance, and led her into the Eastern Palace.
Like an impulsive youth, he held her hand and broke into a light run, leaving the palace attendants far behind. "I've cleared out this entire courtyard. After our wedding, we'll live here."
Taking her to see their future home, he didn't ask Shen Xihe how she wanted it arranged. He knew she wouldn't answer even if he asked. Instead, he had decorated it according to his own preferences and his understanding of her. Leading her into the empty bedchamber, he said, "Push open this window, and you'll have a full view of these two Eucommia trees. We'll place a long couch here with a small table on it. In the future, you can eat or read here, lifting your eyes to the scenery you love most."
"This area will be partitioned into a small study. Next to the study, there's a spare room that can serve as your incense chamber, furnished with fragrant wood. You can blend incense or play the qin here. The small room has a window overlooking a flower garden. In summer, when the flowers bloom, you can gather materials right there."
"This is where our bedchamber connects. I've ordered a hot spring pool to be dug here, with a fireplace built into the wall. It will be warm in winter and cool in summer."
He spoke excitedly about his plans and arrangements, from the overall layout and color schemes down to the materials for each piece of furniture and the carvings on them. As he spoke, the light in his eyes was unmistakably filled with longing and anticipation.
Shen Xihe spent most of the day being led by Xiao Huayong to plan their future bedchamber. She was not one to suffer in silence, so whenever Xiao Huayong asked for her opinion, she offered suggestions where appropriate. They discussed everything thoroughly, something few engaged couples in the world could likely achieve.
After their discussions, Shen Xihe sat for a while longer before leaving the Eastern Palace. As usual, Xiao Huayong escorted her out, gazing for a long time in the direction where her figure disappeared.
When Shen Xihe returned to the Hall of Eternal Peace, where the Empress Dowager resided, she heard that after the feast bestowed by the Empress Dowager, the young ladies had left on their own. Shen Xihe still went to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager before leaving the Hall of Eternal Peace. Along the way, she indeed saw many young ladies, indicating they had just dispersed.
Walking in small groups, Shen Xihe spotted Shen Yingluo ahead from a distance. Beside Shen Yingluo were two familiar young ladies: Yu Sangzi and Yu Sangning from the Pingyao Marquis's household.
Since their dance performance last time, these two sisters had become inseparable, as close as twin flowers.
Shen Xihe had no intention of concerning herself with whom Shen Yingluo associated. She had merely glanced up and happened to see her. Just as she was about to look away, she saw Princess Anling storming angrily from the opposite direction, heading straight for Shen Yingluo.
Before anyone could react, Princess Anling raised her hand and slapped Shen Yingluo across the face.
Shen Xihe halted her steps, narrowing her eyes.
The other young ladies were also startled, frozen in place."How dare you! You actually dared to scheme against me!" Princess Anling's gaze at Shen Yingluo was as if dipped in poison.
She had been unable to uncover any news about Tubo's movements these days, and only today did she learn that the Tubo prince had already requested a marriage alliance from His Majesty. The intended bride wasn't Shen Yingluo, whom she had pushed forward, but herself!
She had specifically captured a Hanlin scholar who understood the Tubo language to inquire about the details, only to discover that it was Shen Yingluo's doing.
Shen Yingluo had never been slapped like this in her life. Princess Anling was so enraged that she struck with immense force, leaving Shen Yingluo's ears ringing. However, the other party was a princess, her cousin, so she had no choice but to endure it. "What has angered Your Highness? How has Huaiyang offended you?"
"You don't know what you've done?" Princess Anling gritted her teeth.
"Huaiyang is unaware. Please enlighten me, Your Highness," Shen Yingluo asked, covering her face.
"You framed me into marrying into Tubo! How vicious your heart is!" Princess Anling accused sharply.
"Princess Fifth is marrying into Tujue. If Tubo seeks a marriage alliance, His Majesty cannot favor one over the other. Princess Sixth is already betrothed, making Princess Third the only suitable candidate for the Tubo alliance. Why would Huaiyang scheme against you?" Shen Yingluo refuted logically and reasonably.
If one were to ask which noble lady was currently most favored in the capital, it would undoubtedly be Princess Yangling. Because of her, the other noble ladies were spared from marriage alliances—their status wasn't high enough. With Princess Yangling, a legitimate princess, set to marry into Tujue, any alliance with Tubo must also involve one of His Majesty's own daughters. They couldn't simply select a minister's daughter to deceive Tubo.
Thus, Shen Yingluo's words were entirely reasonable.
Those who were clever began to look at Princess Anling differently.
Princess Anling was clearly the only suitable candidate for the Tubo marriage alliance. Even if Shen Yingluo hated her, she wouldn't interfere in this already decided matter. If Shen Yingluo had indeed intervened, it must have been because someone forced her, leading to a case of outsmarting oneself.
"You—"
Princess Anling, humiliated and enraged, raised her hand to slap Shen Yingluo again. She was a princess—what did it matter if she was unreasonable? Since she was being forced to marry into Tubo, she no longer cared about her reputation or face. She just wanted to vent her anger, and she didn't believe Shen Yingluo would dare to resist.
Unfortunately, this slap never landed. Her wrist was seized by someone. Princess Anling turned to see Shen Xihe, her expression turning even colder. "Zhaoning, what do you think you're doing?"
Shen Xihe smiled faintly, but her eyes turned icy. In one swift motion, she slapped Princess Anling across the face. The force of her blow was so strong that Princess Anling staggered and fell to the ground.
Princess Anling's eunuch shrieked in a shrill voice, "How dare you—!"
Shen Xihe ignored him. Grabbing Shen Yingluo's wrist, she dragged her out. Everyone assumed Shen Xihe was taking Shen Yingluo to flee, and Shen Yingluo thought so too. She resisted, saying, "This matter started because of me. I will take the blame myself."
Shen Xihe raised her hand and slapped Shen Yingluo's face as well, though this time without much force. "Shut up."
Though Shen Xihe hadn't struck hard, she had hit the same spot where Princess Anling had slapped her. For some reason, the pain felt even more searing. Stunned, Shen Yingluo's eyes welled with tears as she allowed Shen Xihe to drag her away. By the time she regained her senses, they had already arrived at the Hall of Bright Governance.
Without waiting for the eunuch to announce them, Shen Xihe pulled Shen Yingluo to the main entrance of the Hall of Bright Governance and knelt with a thud. The eunuch was so frightened his legs went weak, and he scrambled inside to inform Liu Sanzhi.This ancestor is definitely the one they, the eunuchs, fear the most—here he comes again, and with such a grand display once more!
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