Upon hearing this, Shen Xihe was puzzled.
Even if Munuha had truly escaped the city, it shouldn't have angered Xiao Huayong to this extent.
Zhenzhu thought carefully before saying, "My Lady, His Highness might be jealous."
"Jealous?" Shen Xihe grew even more perplexed. What reason did he have to be jealous?
"My Lady... you painted another man?" Zhenzhu's words were somewhat awkward. She felt the Crown Prince's jealousy was unfounded, yet her intuition insisted this was the reason.
Shen Xihe rarely showed such astonishment. Glancing at Zhenzhu and Hongyu, both of whom found this reasoning valid, she didn't know what expression to wear while processing this information.
Was that really "painting another man"?
If he got jealous over this, he'd surely sour himself to death someday!
She had lost count of how many men she'd painted over the years, especially during her time with Brother.
"His Highness simply... cares too much about you..." Hongyu spoke dryly in defense of the Crown Prince.
"Hmph." Shen Xihe snorted coldly and turned toward the garden.
The palace garden was lush with spring greenery, dotted with occasional early blossoms that added unique vitality. As she gazed, her mood gradually settled. Just as she began to feel slightly better, she encountered someone she'd rather not see.
Princess Anling had harbored hatred for Shen Xihe ever since being slapped by her last time. Though she'd learned to fear Shen Xihe's capabilities and dared not openly oppose her, the princess initially rushed to turn away. Then she remembered her royal status—how could a mere external-line princess yield to her!
Fuming, Princess Anling marched toward Shen Xihe. The path was broad, and Shen Xihe performed a slight curtsy upon seeing her, observing proper etiquette.
After rising, Shen Xihe resumed admiring the scenery, utterly ignoring the princess's presence.
Having walked some distance away, Princess Anling spun back resentfully. Staring at Shen Xihe as she approached, she whispered words only they could hear: "You're the one who harmed Yangling!"
Shen Xihe slowly lifted her eyelids, gazing calmly at her. "Princess Anling, if one slap wasn't enough, I can grant you another."
"How—how dare you!" Princess Anling flushed crimson with rage.
"Princess Anling," Shen Xihe replied serenely, "if you utter another baseless word, I'll take you before His Majesty immediately. Let him judge whether I harmed Princess Yangling."
Recalling how Shen Xihe had once dragged Shen Yingluo to the Emperor to preemptively accuse others, Princess Anling knew she lacked evidence. If Shen Xihe really went now, the Emperor wouldn't believe her, only growing more displeased.
"Yangling said repeatedly before her death that if she were ever killed, it would be your doing! You knew she incited Changling against you!" Princess Anling refused to relent. "Shen Xihe, just wait—I'll find evidence someday—"
Slap! Before she could finish, Shen Xihe struck Princess Anling across the face.
In her entire life, Princess Anling had only been slapped twice—both times by Shen Xihe. Consumed by bitter resentment, she shrieked, "I'll fight you—!"
Princess Anling tripped over Zhenzhu's foot and fell. Her two maids, restrained by Hongyu, were knocked unconscious with hand chops before they could cry out.
Shen Xihe had purposely chosen this secluded spot, never expecting to cross paths with Princess Anling here.Princess Anling also had her mouth covered, her face pale with terror. Shen Xihe slowly crouched down before her: "You want to escalate this? Today, I struck you first, giving you a reason to reclaim some ground."
Facing the glaring Princess Anling, Shen Xihe chuckled softly: "Do you know that even if you escalate this, you won’t get justice?"
Princess Anling clearly didn’t believe her. Shen Xihe gave Zhenzhu a look, and Zhenzhu released her.
Though she had the chance to cry out, for some reason, Princess Anling found herself unable to make a sound.
Shen Xihe watched her calmly for a moment before speaking: "If you so much as whisper that I harmed Princess Yangling, the Turkic envoys will seize upon it. You are a princess—why would you spout baseless lies? Your words would be taken as truth.
The Turkic delegation would believe it and pressure His Majesty, accusing him of shielding me and deliberately causing harm to their prince.
Then, instead of His Majesty demanding an explanation from the Turks, it would be the Turks demanding one from him. What do you think His Majesty would do?"
Anling grew completely calm, her face showing signs of fear.
"Would he investigate whether I am truly the culprit, turning the victim into an accomplice? And face the consequence of compensating the Turks for a prince? Or would he dismiss you as having lost your mind, speaking recklessly out of hatred for me?"
Princess Anling shuddered, finally letting go of her resentment and arrogance.
At that moment, Shen Xihe’s hand gently touched Princess Anling’s face, making her recoil as if a venomous snake were crawling over her skin.
Savoring Princess Anling’s fear, Shen Xihe revealed a cold, faint smile: "Your Highness, if one is foolish, one must learn to hide it. Those who are foolish yet unaware seldom live long. For example… Princess Changling."
After terrifying Princess Anling to the point of pallor, Shen Xihe released her, stood up, and left with Zhenzhu and Hongyu.
"My lady, Princess Anling…"
Shen Xihe raised a hand to stop Zhenzhu: "I deliberately frightened her to see if the one who used Princess Yangling would try to use her as well…"
After a pause, Shen Xihe herself doubted the likelihood: "She’s not as clever as Princess Yangling."
Such a person would probably be of no use to that individual.
But it didn’t matter. Too many had died in the palace—it was time for a respite. Of His Majesty’s four daughters, two had met tragic ends due to conflicts with her. Princess Yangling had only escaped suspicion because of Munuha.
If she had just clashed with Princess Anling and Princess Anling were to die, she would undoubtedly be the prime suspect…
At this thought, Shen Xihe narrowed her eyes: "Perhaps there’s another way to make use of Princess Anling."
With this in mind, she lifted her skirts and changed course to the Eastern Palace.
When she arrived, Master Xuqing had just left. Xiao Huayong sat with his eyes covered by a black cloth. Though he knew Shen Xihe had come, he remained stiff-faced beside her, devoid of his usual eagerness and delight, clearly sulking and waiting to be coaxed.
Shen Xihe had never coaxed anyone in her life—why would she start with Xiao Huayong?
"Your Highness’s sour expression—is it because I painted another man?" she asked bluntly. "If so, let me inform you: I began learning painting at six, and by twelve, I could sketch portraits. I’ve painted so many men, I can’t even remember them all."Xiao Huayong suddenly turned to face Shen Xihe. Though his eyes were covered with a black cloth, preventing Shen Xihe from seeing his gaze, she could well imagine the furious glare beneath it.
He really was becoming more and more childish...
Realizing that the unromantic Shen Xihe had no intention of comforting him, Xiao Huayong had no choice but to find his own way out: "Youyou has drawn so many men, yet not a single one is me!"
OpenNovel