Xiao Huayong had actually assumed Shen Xihe would be gone by the time he woke, or that he might rouse when she moved him. To his surprise, upon opening his eyes, he found her leaning against the couch, quietly reading a book.
Lanterns had just been lit, and the warm candlelight in the room spilled over her, accentuating her grace and gentleness. From his angle, he could see her naturally blinking eyes through the hand holding the book. Her slightly lowered eyelids half-covered her bright pupils, which usually held a distant haze but now radiated only a serene tranquility that evoked longing and admiration.
He never thought he could witness such peaceful stability—an era of calm and prosperity—reflected in someone’s gaze.
As Shen Xihe, absorbed in her book, was about to turn the page, she caught sight of his dark eyes watching her. She set the book down. "Your Highness, please rise."
Xiao Huayong truly wanted to linger a little longer, but with candles lit in the room, it was clear that evening had fallen. Shen Xihe must not have had her supper yet. Just as he was about to get up, a thought struck him. Feigning weakness, he put on a helpless act: "I’ve grown limp from sleeping—I can’t get up."
Shen Xihe fixed him with a penetrating stare.
Shamelessly, Xiao Huayong stretched out a hand. "How about giving me a hand, Youyou—"
Thump! Before he could finish, Shen Xihe shoved him with both hands. Caught off guard, Xiao Huayong tumbled off the bed and landed on the carpet below.
Fortunately, the bed was only about twenty inches high. Sprawled on the carpet, he lay there for a moment, dazed.
Shen Xihe rose slowly, her legs somewhat numb. After standing still for a moment to adjust, she remarked coolly, "If you’ve grown limp from sleeping, a good roll ought to restore your strength."
Hearing this, Xiao Huayong rolled onto his back, propped his head on one hand, and grinned with the radiance of melting snow giving way to spring breezes. "My heart is joyous."
Shen Xihe paid him no mind. Once her legs no longer felt numb, she stepped past him without a glance, intending to leave.
But the moment she moved past, Xiao Huayong sprang up from behind and wrapped his arms around her. His iron grip pinned her arms, ignoring her struggles as he held her tightly, murmuring tenderly by her ear, "Youyou, my heart is joyous—more than it has ever been."
"Xiao Beichen, let go!" Shen Xihe struggled in vain and hissed in a low voice.
"I won’t. I just want to hold you. Let me hold you for a moment, won’t you, Youyou…" His tone was both pleading and roguish.
Shen Xihe, a woman who lived by rules and propriety, could not tolerate such intimacy. Her momentary soft-heartedness earlier had already left her vexed, and now Xiao Huayong only grew bolder. Furious, she lifted her foot and stomped hard on his instep.
The pain made Xiao Huayong grimace, his grip loosening slightly. Seizing the chance, Shen Xihe broke free and shoved him away forcefully. "Xiao Beichen, if there’s a next time, I’ll use a Poison Needle!"
Her flustered rage and embarrassment only made her all the more endearing in Xiao Huayong’s eyes. Even through the pain, he couldn’t help but smile tenderly, his expression a mix of amusement and absurdity—not that he minded. "What am I to do then? From now on, I’ll cling to you every moment, wishing we could merge into one…"
His words were suggestive, his tone flirtatious. Shen Xihe’s eyes fell upon a sword hanging nearby. In one swift motion, she reached out and drew it."Youyou, calm your anger, calm your anger. It was my abruptness, my fault. Don't be angry, don't be angry." Xiao Huayong knew that his unrestrained habits, acquired from roaming the martial world, had thoroughly enraged the dignified and elegant Shen Xihe, and he hurriedly apologized.
He cautiously approached Shen Xihe, took the sword from her hand, and sheathed it.
Then, with an ingratiating smile at Shen Xihe, he called out, "Tianyuan, prepare some food..."
"No need." Shen Xihe coldly tossed out these two words and strode away.
Watching her depart, Xiao Huayong rubbed his nose but did not stop her. Only when her figure had completely vanished from his sight did he turn, leap onto the couch, and close his eyes. The cool fragrance of her seemed to linger in the air around him, and he couldn't resist hugging the quilt and rolling over.
As he rolled back, he happened to face Tianyuan, who had just entered. Tianyuan quickly lowered his head, pretending he had seen nothing.
Xiao Huayong's smile vanished instantly, and he resumed his dignified and elegant demeanor, sitting up to ask, "What is it?"
"Munuha has disappeared," Tianyuan replied.
"Disappeared?" Xiao Huayong frowned.
"Yes. Today, someone witnessed Munuha killing Yangling Princess, and he was arrested by the Capital Prefecture and imprisoned. But when His Majesty sent someone to interrogate him, Prefect Zhang discovered he was gone. Strangely, no one in the Capital Prefecture knows how he vanished." Tianyuan's expression was grave.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Huayong stood up and rushed out, but Tianyuan desperately clung to his leg. "Your Highness, you cannot go out. Otherwise, today's plan will backfire!"
"Get away," Xiao Huayong commanded sternly.
But Tianyuan refused to let go. Xiao Huayong lifted his other foot and kicked Tianyuan in the shoulder, sending him stumbling back, then charged out. At the main gate, he ran into Shen Xihe, who had turned back.
Seeing her, Xiao Huayong finally relaxed, the fear and worry in his eyes fading away.
His expression did not escape Shen Xihe's notice. Her earlier anger toward him dissipated once again—his concern for her was genuine, yet his frivolity was equally real.
Shen Xihe said calmly, "Zhaoning already knows about Munuha's escape. With his intelligence, even if no one pointed out that Zhaoning set the trap, he would likely figure it out. Your Highness need not worry. Zhaoning has people around her. If he dares to come, he will only be walking into a trap."
She and Tianyuan had just missed each other; Tianyuan had only just received the news. As she reached the gate, she heard Zhenzhu mention it.
Her first thought was that if Xiao Huayong heard this, he would surely rush to find her without regard for consequences, fearing Munuha might harm her.
Unconsciously, she had been influenced by Xiao Huayong to believe he would act impulsively for her sake.
At this moment, he was supposed to be "injured" in both eyes. If he ran out now, how would he explain it to His Majesty? Even if he managed to cover it up, the Youning Emperor's suspicions would only grow, undoing all their previous schemes.
After a moment's hesitation, she turned back to reassure him personally.
Noticing Tianyuan standing with obvious discomfort in his shoulder, Shen Xihe instructed, "Zhenzhu, have A Xi take a look at Tianyuan's injury."
Reminded by Shen Xihe, Xiao Huayong felt a pang of guilt. His excessive worry for her had made him lose his composure. He apologized to Tianyuan, "Just now, I...""Your Highness, do not humble your subordinate." Tianyuan immediately moved to kneel, but Xiao Huayong stopped him first. Tianyuan truly bore no resentment and spoke with sincere earnestness, "Your Highness is merely concerned for the princess. Over these years, Your Highness has always treated us subordinates as close as brothers. I hold nothing but reverence and gratitude for Your Highness."
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