"Cough, cough, cough..." Cui Jinbai's words made Bu Shulin choke even more violently. She waved her hands repeatedly, taking a while to recover. The coughing made the wound on her chest ache, and she pressed a hand to it, saying, "No need, no need. I have everything I need. I can take care of myself."
Cui Jinbai remained silent, his dark eyes fixed intently on her.
This gave Bu Shulin a creeping sense of dread. She stammered, "Why are you here?"
"Looking for you," Cui Jinbai replied succinctly.
Ever since this man had gone mad, Bu Shulin felt that every conversation with him was like talking to a brick wall. She sighed and simply ignored him, striding out of the brothel with her hands behind her back. After all, her objective had already been achieved.
Cui Jinbai followed her all the way. She went to the Princess Manor to report to Shen Xihe, and to prevent this guy from finding someone to relay messages and pressure her again, she quickly left the manor and returned to her own residence. Cui Jinbai followed along.
The two faced each other in silence, with Cui Jinbai staring at her without blinking. Bu Shulin had no choice but to let him watch as she went about her own business.
The next day was the polo match, a grand event. Not only had Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager arrived, but all the nobles and royals were present as well. Polo was the most beloved sport in the dynasty, enjoyed by both men and women. As a palace-hosted event pitting our side against foreign envoys, naturally, everyone came to watch the excitement.
Shen Xihe also attended. Fortunately, her status was high enough to secure a private booth; otherwise, the chaotic mix of scents would have been unbearable for her.
Settling into her seat, Shen Xihe scanned the surroundings and noticed Xiao Huayong was absent. All the other princes were present—some in the stands, others dressed and ready on the field.
Shen Xihe then turned her gaze to the field. Munuha, who also loved equestrian sports, naturally wouldn't miss the polo match. However, he seemed particularly distracted on the field, and seeing this, Shen Xihe's lips curved into a faint smile.
The Honglu Hostel was crowded and chaotic. Although heavily guarded, causing a disturbance there was difficult, but gathering information was incredibly easy. Yesterday, Munuha had secretly summoned many doctors and was said to have flown into a rage, nearly causing a conflict with the Khitan envoys.
Today, with the polo match drawing most of the palace staff to the venue, and Princess Yangling recuperating from a miscarriage in the palace, it was the most vulnerable moment within the palace walls.
"Are you planning to make your move today?" Bu Shulin sneaked into Shen Xihe's booth. With the roaring cheers all around, they could chat freely without fear of being overheard.
"Yes," Shen Xihe nodded.
"How do you plan to do it? If there's anything I can help with, just say the word," Bu Shulin said, her eyes fixed on the field so that anyone watching would think they were discussing the match.
"In this matter, you've already served your purpose," Shen Xihe replied bluntly.
Bu Shulin shot her a sour look and muttered, "Looking down on me again!"
A faint smile touched Shen Xihe's lips, but she didn't respond.
Bu Shulin watched the match for a while. It was an exhilarating game. If she hadn't been injured, she would definitely have been on the field—she loved polo so much.
Unable to resist, she regretfully touched her wound, her disappointment unmistakable.
Shen Xihe glanced at her and said, "With all these snakes mixed in with the crowd, you should avoid such lively events in the future."Who exactly wants her life remains unknown, but the scheme during the Lantern Festival certainly wasn’t orchestrated by the Youning Emperor. For one, His Majesty would never jeopardize the festival just to eliminate Bu Shulin. For another, if the Emperor were to act, it wouldn’t be such a half-hearted attempt.
“I’d be bored to death,” she grumbled. By nature, she was restless—forcing her to emulate Shen Xihe’s composure would drive her mad in a single day.
“It’s a miracle you’ve survived this long,” Shen Xihe remarked with a slight shake of her head.
Unlike Bu Shulin, Shen Xihe was a master of risk avoidance. She meticulously assessed potential dangers in every situation, steering clear of high-stakes scenarios or abandoning them outright.
“Hey, look! That’s the Khitan prince—renowned for his bravery and exceptional polo skills,” Bu Shulin exclaimed, pointing at a tall figure on the field. She admired talent indiscriminately, praising anyone who performed well, regardless of their origin.
The spectators shared this open-minded spirit. Though their own team was being outperformed, the atmosphere remained lively, as everyone understood this was purely a friendly match to foster goodwill.
The Khitans excelled at polo, dominating the game from the start. Yet, the Youning Emperor remained unperturbed. The envoys, led by the Khitan prince, followed his commands with renewed vigor, maneuvering the small ball as if it were alive.
Even the Youning Emperor applauded a spectacular goal. Unburdened by concerns, the crowd immersed themselves fully in the match.
During a scramble for the ball, several horses collided on our side, throwing two riders to the ground. As substitutes were needed, Xiao Changying suddenly volunteered, “Your Majesty, I too itch to play. Grant me and Fifth Brother permission to join.”
Xiao Changqing, dressed in pristine white robes with his hair tied under a silver crown, was abruptly dragged into the fray by his younger brother. He cast a faint, disapproving glance but refrained from objecting.
The Youning Emperor scanned the brothers and replied, “Go ahead. Enjoy yourselves.”
He never believed the outcome of a polo match held any real significance. The prosperity and strength of his empire needed no such demonstration—he far preferred witnessing a thrilling, well-fought game.
“Prince Xin and Lie Wang have taken the field!” Bu Shulin’s eyes sparkled. She knew both were skilled polo players, not only highly proficient but also remarkably synchronized.
Shen Xihe continued watching with keen interest—the agile movements, cunning ball control, seamless passes, and galloping figures… It was a spectacle that stirred the blood and captivated emotions. Each unexpected goal sparked spontaneous applause.
“Munuha has been benched. What’s your plan?” Bu Shulin asked abruptly.
Munuha had been distracted all day, repeatedly hindering his teammates until collective frustration forced his removal.
“Lure him into the palace?” Bu Shulin pressed.
Shen Xihe shot her a look usually reserved for fools. “Even if the palace were empty and convenient for Munuha to strike, would anyone believe he’d be foolish enough to commit murder there openly?”
Even if driven mad by his impotence, Munuha wouldn’t be irrational enough to kill within the palace grounds—who would ever credit such a story?
“What does it matter whether they believe it or not?” Bu Shlin retorted dismissively. “As long as it’s done cleanly, he won’t escape blame.”"Yes, Your Majesty will stand on our side. The princess's death must be, and can only be, Munuha's doing." Shen Xihe turned her head to continue watching the ball game. "But Your Majesty harbors doubts in his heart. Afterwards, he will inevitably investigate thoroughly and remain wary of anyone exploiting this to sow discord between the two sides. He is certain to have contingency plans, waiting for the two nations to go to war. Thus, he will not easily sever ties with the Turks and fulfill the schemer's intentions."
Your Majesty excels at endurance—in this regard, Xiao Huayong truly takes after the Youning Emperor.
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