The sequence of events was as follows: Yangling Princess was two months pregnant and, for unknown reasons, wanted to find a father for her child. Originally, she intended to use Princess Consort of Dai's birthday banquet to randomly select a man to take the blame, but by a twist of fate, it became Munuha.
One party deliberately sought to marry the princess to evade responsibility, while the other went along with the flow and agreed to the marriage. However, Yangling Princess, perhaps fearing her status in the Turkic Khaganate would be unstable, believed she could deceive everyone about her child; or perhaps some unpleasantness occurred between them midway. In any case, Yangling Princess administered an impotence drug to Munuha.
The final letter clearly indicated that Munuha had seized hold of Yangling Princess's weakness, which prompted her to risk exposure and the cold during her miscarriage recovery, sneaking out of the palace to meet Munuha.
It was likely that Munuha discovered Yangling Princess had drugged him, leading to a dispute between them, and Munuha accidentally killed Yangling Princess in the heat of the moment.
As for whether such impulsiveness, disregarding the princess's status, seemed unreasonable—from a man's perspective, any man could understand this impulse. Placed in the same situation, facing a woman who had turned him into a pseudo-eunuch, any man would likely lose all rationality.
"Forgive my bluntness, but there are still inconsistencies in this matter..." Xiao Huayong said softly, coughing twice before continuing, "If Munuha truly accidentally killed Yangling, I believe he would... try every means to escape the city, so as to protect the other envoys..."
"I have already stationed people to watch the city gates, and a curfew is in effect starting today." Youning Emperor patted his shoulder. "Do not worry about them. Focus on recuperating."
"Your Majesty..." Xiao Huayong called out softly as he sensed the emperor rising to leave.
Youning Emperor turned to look at him, but Xiao Huayong suddenly lowered his head, his ears turning red. "Your Majesty, I wish to see Zhaoning. I wonder if Grandmother could summon her to the palace in the coming days to keep me company."
Though not all hearts in the palace were under his control, every move of its inhabitants was under his watchful eye. With Munuha still at large, Xiao Huayong remained concerned for Shen Xihe's safety and wanted to bring her into the palace where she would be more secure.
Youning Emperor rarely smiled. "You may ask your grandmother yourself."
If Xiao Huayong made the request, how could the Empress Dowager refuse?
"I wish to ask Your Majesty," Xiao Huayong expressed his respect for the emperor.
This softened Youning Emperor's expression. "I will send someone to deliver the imperial edict. Zhaoning shall be summoned to the palace tomorrow to accompany the Empress Dowager for a few days."
"I kowtow to thank Your Majesty..."
Before Xiao Huayong could bow, Youning Emperor stopped him. "Rest well. I will visit you another day."
Shen Xihe slept soundly through the night and woke early. Just after finishing her morning meal, a eunuch arrived from the palace to deliver the imperial edict. Seeing Tianyuan accompanying the eunuch, Shen Xihe felt somewhat helpless.
Who would dare defy the emperor's edict?
Shen Xihe had no choice but to pack some belongings and enter the palace with Zhenzhu, Hongyu, and Moyu. Before leaving, she instructed Biyu and the others, "Be careful. Although I suspect Munuha would not dare show himself easily, he is a man who enjoys taking risks. If he truly suspects I am involved and cannot harm me directly, he might target you instead to vent his anger and warn me."
Biyu and the others were touched. "Do not worry, princess." We can stay indoors for a few days without issue."
Shen Xihe also gave instructions to Mo Yuan and, after a moment's thought, added, "As for the second young lady, send someone to keep an eye on her as well."She certainly didn't want Shen Yingluo to be implicated because of her, causing her to feel indebted.
"Understood." Mo Yuan complied.
With the princess entering the palace, he could deploy half his personnel to the Shen residence. As long as Shen Yingluo didn't leave home unnecessarily, she would surely remain safe.
Shen Xihe had also considered this point. She wrote a brief letter containing just one sentence, advising Shen Yingluo not to leave the residence unless absolutely necessary these days.
Upon entering the palace, Shen Xihe headed straight for the Empress Dowager's Hall of Eternal Peace. There, she found Xiao Huayong already squatting and waiting for her, though his eyes were bound with white cloth wrapped around some medicinal herbs. The bundle appeared plump and emitted a strong medicinal scent.
"This old woman won't be in your way. I'll go rest for a while." After exchanging a few words with Shen Xihe, the Empress Dowager rose and departed, leaving Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe alone.
"Your Highness, your eyes..."
"Some herbs beneficial for the eyes. Would Youyou like to try them someday?" Xiao Huayong asked softly.
These were eye compresses prepared for him by Linghu Zheng - they could brighten vision, relieve fatigue, and nourish the eyes, suitable for ordinary people to use.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness." Shen Xihe politely declined. Her aroma fumigation method was equally beneficial for the eyes. Having such strongly scented medicine pressed against her eyes was something she felt she couldn't endure.
Xiao Huayong smiled faintly before asking quietly, "Are... are you angry with me?"
After a moment's silence, Shen Xihe realized Xiao Huayong was asking whether she was upset with him for making the decision without consulting her and having her summoned to the palace.
"If Your Highness can ensure my peace and quiet in the palace, then I won't be angry with you." As long as she could have tranquility without disturbance, changing locations didn't matter to her.
As for Xiao Huayong bringing her to the palace without prior discussion, Shen Xihe had no particular feelings about it.
Her Princess Manor was not like the Shen residence. She hadn't put much effort into securing the Shen residence, which was why Xiao Changying had been able to infiltrate it. But Xiao Changying wouldn't even dream of infiltrating her Princess Manor. Unless Munuha's martial prowess surpassed Xiao Huayong's and he also understood formation arrays, could someone possibly enter her bedchamber undetected.
"Then... you should be angry with me." Xiao Huayong decisively gave up.
Although he had schemed to bring her to the palace partly to protect her, his greater motivation was wanting to spend more time with her. With her so close at hand, being asked to restrain himself was something he simply wouldn't accept.
Shen Xihe: ...
"In that case, why did you even ask, Your Highness?" Shen Xihe was utterly speechless.
"I just... didn't want to deceive you." Xiao Huayong defended himself. "But asking me not to see you - that I cannot do."
Shen Xihe, who hadn't been angry originally, now felt somewhat irritated. How could this person justify his annoying behavior so righteously?
"Your Highness, are you taking advantage of our engagement and the fact that I haven't chosen someone else to act so presumptuously?"
Before his true nature was exposed, he had at least pretended to be decent. Now he wasn't even maintaining that pretense! Shen Xihe began to wonder if exposing him had been a mistake.
"Of course." Xiao Huayong declared righteously. "With this engagement, I am your betrothed husband - I have official status. Shouldn't someone with official status enjoy corresponding privileges? Just as when a couple marries, the wife enjoys her husband's devotion while the husband receives his wife's tenderness - aren't these natural entitlements? Since I have this status, why shouldn't I act presumptuously?""I want you to indulge me. Who told you not to allow me to spoil you? If you refuse to let me treat you well, that's your own choice. I want you to treat me well and regard me as your fiancé. This is what I deserve—why wouldn't I want it? I'm not foolish."
Shen Xihe: ...
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