Shen Xihe did not evade him, nor did she say she did not believe him. Instead, after nodding with a smile in acknowledgment, she asked, "Should I take Munuha away, or will you take him?"
Xiao Huayong rubbed the Five-Colored Thread on his other hand with his fingertips. "I will take him."
It was unknown whether Munuha had any other accomplices. Leaving him with Shen Xihe was something Xiao Huayong could not feel at ease about.
Upon hearing this, Shen Xihe raised no objections. Just as she had said earlier, trust was needed. Handing Munuha over to him was her way of showing trust in Xiao Huayong.
The two only parted ways after returning to the Princess Manor. Where Xiao Huayong took the man, she did not ask.
Xiao Huayong's carriage entered the palace. When they arrived at the Eastern Palace, Tianyuan moved to support him. As a frail Crown Prince, Xiao Huayong habitually extended his hand, only to notice the Five-Colored Thread on it. He immediately switched to the other hand.
Tianyuan had to circle around to the other side to assist him. Shortly after, someone carried down a chest, said to be a Dragon Boat Festival gift from Zhaoning County Princess to His Highness. No one knew what was inside, but it was stuffed with Munuha.
Beneath the Eastern Palace was a secret chamber. For over a decade, Xiao Huayong had been unaware of it. It was only later, after obtaining the palace's secret passage map from Consort Wei, that he learned of the secret chamber in the Eastern Palace—a perfect place to stash Munuha.
After ordering Luling to subject Munuha to severe torture, Munuha remained stubbornly tight-lipped, not uttering a single word.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Huayong asked, "Have the three tigers from the region been captured yet?"
Luling replied, "They were all captured just yesterday."
"Keep a close watch on them. Don’t let them die too easily," Xiao Huayong said, not wanting them to meet an easy end.
"Your Highness, should we continue—"
"No need," Xiao Huayong interrupted Luling.
Although Munuha came from a noble background, his martial skills must have been honed through considerable hardship. He was inherently a resolute man, and after experiencing sudden upheavals and being hunted all the way, he remained clear-headed even now. How tough his bones were went without saying. Continuing the interrogation would yield no results.
The next day, after finishing his official duties, Xiao Huayong was about to leave the palace to see Shen Xihe when the Youning Emperor intercepted him first. "Munuha is still at large, and he poses a threat to Qilang. Qilang should avoid leaving the palace for now."
"Your Majesty, this subject is precisely... concerned that because of me... Zhaoning County Princess might be implicated," Xiao Huayong insisted. "If I do not leave the palace, I will be restless with worry. Moreover, Third Brother was poisoned yesterday because of my involvement. I also wish to visit the Wang residence to see him.
If I leave the palace, I might draw Munuha out. That could very well be a good thing."
"Munuha must have accomplices," the Youning Emperor said, unconvinced that Munuha alone could have meddled with the food on the Dragon Boat Festival. The small kitchen was heavily guarded, and aside from a young eunuch who was knocked out in the Toilet, nothing else was found.
This was precisely another layer of Xiao Huayong's intention—to make the Youning Emperor aware that Munuha had accomplices. With this commotion, His Majesty would not suspect that the tampering in the small kitchen was his doing.
Xiao Huayong feigned ignorance. "Perhaps it was the same person who helped him escape from the Jingzhao Prefecture."
The Youning Emperor turned to look at Xiao Huayong. "I heard that a few days ago, you and Zhaoning were ambushed by a fierce tiger?"
"How did Your Majesty come to know of this?" Xiao Huayong feigned surprise, though it was he who had arranged for the information to be leaked to the Emperor at this moment.
"Such a major incident, and you kept it from me? Had I known someone was targeting you, how could I have been so unprepared?" the Youning Emperor reprimanded.
Xiao Huayong coughed lightly before bowing respectfully. "I originally thought it was just an accident.""An accident?" the Youning Emperor said gravely. "Tigers are typically solitary creatures. While two traveling together have been seen, three is unheard of. If methods weren't employed to deliberately lure them, how could three tigers have attacked you?"
"It was my oversight for not considering this carefully," Xiao Huayong bowed his head in admission.
To protect Shen Xihe, details about the beast-attracting incense and Haidongqing's appearance were naturally withheld from the Youning Emperor. What the emperor knew was that their entire party had encountered three tigers together, not that only he and Shen Xihe had faced them alone.
Those Xiao Huayong brought along to accompany Shen Xihe were naturally trusted aides, as were Shen Xihe's companions. There was no fear of information leaking.
Despite the Youning Emperor's attempts to persuade him, Xiao Huayong remained determined to leave the palace. When the emperor suggested sending guards with him, Xiao Huayong argued that he wanted to use himself as bait to draw out Munuha. Too many guards would attract attention, and Munuha wouldn't dare approach.
Ultimately unable to dissuade him, the emperor allowed Xiao Huayong to leave the palace. Xiao Huayong first visited the Dai Prince's residence to see Xiao Changtai, who was somewhat weak but otherwise fine. After exchanging pleasantries as affectionate brothers, Xiao Huayong left for the Princess Manor.
"Youyou, you can even make clothing..." Xiao Huayong arrived to find Shen Xihe engaged in sewing.
Actually, women in this dynasty held quite high status. Noble families didn't specifically teach young ladies such skills - compared to needlework, most preferred activities like archery, horseback riding, or Cuju ball.
"When I was young, I couldn't move about much, so I had to learn some stationary skills," Shen Xihe replied with a gentle smile.
While not all noble ladies in the capital excelled at needlework, many were proficient. The dynasty didn't require women to be exclusively elegant and tranquil - they were taught everything appropriate, with personal interests determining their focus.
"Who are you making clothes for, Youyou?" Xiao Huayong craned his neck to ask.
"For my Brother."
"Isn't the heir already engaged? Would it be inappropriate for you to still make clothes for him?"Xiao Huayong asked indirectly."
Shen Xihe continued working, needle flying through fabric. Not treating Xiao Huayong as an outsider anymore, she saw no need to stop her work to entertain him, lest she appear neglectful: "Qiao Qiao isn't skilled at needlework, and she won't mind."
Qiao Qiao would only be jealous.
Thinking this, Shen Xihe looked up at Xiao Huayong. His jealous expression remarkably resembled Xue Jinqiao's, making her dismiss his thoughts: "I don't make clothes for men outside my family."
Xiao Huayong wasn't discouraged in the slightest, his eyes instead sparkling: "Youyou means that after we marry, you'll make some for me too?"
Being an outsider now doesn't matter - after marriage, he wouldn't be one anymore.
Shen Xihe smiled gently and faintly, lowering her head to continue her work: "What happens after marriage cannot be known now."
Whether she would or wouldn't, that could wait until after marriage. She hadn't even figured out how to interact with him post-wedding and couldn't be bothered to plan. Xiao Huayong himself was life's greatest unexpected variable - with him, any amount of planning would be disrupted.
Go with the flow, take one step at a time.
"Your Highness, what brings you here today?" Shen Xihe changed the subject from clothing.
"Munuha refuses to reveal his accomplice," Xiao Huayong said seriously.
Shen Xihe nodded: "I actually anticipated this. He knows full well that even if he talks, you and I won't spare him. He's content to have an unknown enemy lurking behind us, ready to harm you and me at any time - for him, that's revenge."She thought of someone as resolute as Munuha—even if they fell into her hands, she would have no way to make them talk—which was why she so decisively let Xiao Huayong take them away.
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