"Your skills are lacking, be careful not to leave any traces." Biyu snatched the incense away.
The Kang Prince's residence still didn't know why these rats were running into the manor, thinking someone had maliciously released them. They had specially increased security outside the residence.
Ziyu lowered her head dejectedly when someone announced from outside: "Your Highness, the Eastern Palace has sent a food box."
Shen Xihe, who had just finished applying her Hua Dian, paused. She rose and draped her shawl over her shoulders as she walked toward the outer courtyard, where she saw Tianyuan standing there.
"Your Highness, His Highness ordered me to deliver this food box to you." Tianyuan smiled ingratiatingly. "His Highness often enjoys experimenting with food, but has never found anyone to share with before. It's nothing precious, please don't decline."
When the Eastern Palace sent a food box, even if Xiao Huayong was willing to give it, no one dared to accept.
The imperial princes worried about poison, while the nobles feared the Crown Prince had ulterior motives.
The princesses would have been more suitable recipients, but the Eastern Palace was so desolate that all the princesses likely considered the Crown Prince a worthless cripple not worth currying favor with.
Who would ultimately reign over the empire remained unknown - wouldn't pleasing the current Crown Prince offend the future emperor?
Indeed, it wasn't anything precious, and since it came from the Eastern Palace, it counted as a reward. Shen Xihe had no grounds to refuse.
"Thank you, Guard Cao." Shen Xihe signaled Biyu to accept it. "Please convey my gratitude to His Highness."
Xiao Huayong had two Eastern Palace guard captains who were brothers named Cao Tianyuan and Cao Difang.
"You honor me too much." Tianyuan humbly bowed. "There's a serving of Bone Marrow Congee inside that should still be warm. Please enjoy it while hot."
After saying this, Tianyuan saluted and took his leave.
Since it came from the Eastern Palace, Shen Xihe couldn't not eat it. When she opened the food box, the aroma wafted out, making her mouth water despite not being particularly hungry.
The Bone Marrow Congee was a porridge made from ox bone marrow cooked with japonica rice, regular rice, sesame, and bone broth. Smooth and fragrant, it slid down the throat deliciously. With no outsiders present, Shen Xihe finished the entire bowl and still wanted more.
There was also Noble Consort Cake, round as the full moon and milky white, with crust that melted in the mouth leaving a lingering fragrance.
Flower-Folded Goose Cake, pine-scented and soft as delicate blossoms.
And face pastries, elegantly shaped and red as maple leaves.
"Your Highness, please spare me some to taste!" Ziyu exclaimed, dazzled by the variety. Only by tasting them could she figure out how to recreate them.
Shen Xihe had always had a small appetite. The bowl of congee had already satisfied her, so she sampled small pieces of the other items and gave the rest to Ziyu and the others.
After enjoying her morning meal contentedly, Shen Xihe brought Ziyu and Moyu to the Tao residence—her maternal grandfather's home.
Her grandfather held the third-rank position of Censor-in-chief and was a stern old man. Her grandmother had long passed away. Her two uncles—one served in a provincial post while the other was a merchant. She had five male cousins and two younger male cousins, but no female cousins.
Thus, she received an enthusiastic welcome upon arriving at the Tao residence. Her eldest aunt Zhang Shi treated her with extreme warmth and kindness—the sort of affection untainted by any ulterior motives, pure tenderness.
Her grandfather hadn't returned yet from the Censorate. Three older cousins were still at school, leaving only five-year-old cousin Tao Xun at home. Her eldest uncle Tao Yuan had specially rushed back from outside.
"If Father knew you were visiting today, he would certainly claim illness to take leave," Tao Yuan said with an amused smile.
"That's precisely why I came secretly," Shen Xihe replied with a light laugh.Censor Tao was a man who even gave the Youning Emperor headaches. All civil and military officials regarded him as a stone in a latrine—both smelly and hard.
But this old stickler, seen by the world as upright and unsmiling, was nothing but a doting and unprincipled elder to Shen Xihe.
"What do you intend to do with Xiao Shi?"After some casual conversation, sensing that Shen Xihe held no aloofness toward them, Zhang Shi asked under Tao Yuan's suggestion.
"What? Have they pleaded with Eldest Uncle?" Shen Xihe knew that unless there was an underlying reason, they wouldn't bring it up without cause.
"They did seek me out for reconciliation," Tao Yuan sneered. "They may have forgotten my sister's life, but I have not."
"Master..." Zhang Shi called softly in disapproval.
Such matters shouldn't be mentioned in front of the child, lest it upset her.
"Eldest Uncle, Youyou thanks you on behalf of Mother." Shen Xihe stood up and bowed solemnly to Tao Yuan.
Youyou was Shen Xihe's milk name, chosen before Tao Shi had even given birth.
Tao Yuan was originally a jinshi graduate. It was Tao Shi's death that made him abandon scholarship for commerce. The people of Kang Manor were neither accomplished in letters nor martial arts, yet peculiarly adept at business. Over the years, Tao Yuan's rivalry with them had invisibly depleted much of Kang Manor's wealth.
"What are you doing, Youyou?" Tao Yuan pretended to be angry. "Your mother was my own sister."
"Eldest Uncle, Youyou hopes you will think more of Aunt and my cousins in the future." Shen Xihe said seriously. "Youyou has grown up now. The debts they owe should be collected by Youyou."
"Youyou, too many eyes are watching you. You mustn't act rashly." Tao Yuan's heart ached for his niece.
"Let them watch." Shen Xihe was completely indifferent. "No matter how arrogant I am, as long as Father and Eldest Brother are here, they'll have to endure it."
While the Northwest King lived, no one dared criticize her no matter how willful she was.
Without the Northwest King, no one would show her leniency no matter how cautious she was.
Tao Yuan looked deeply at his flower-like niece: "Your youngest uncle was right—Youyou is the most intelligent woman in the world."
Hearing this, Shen Xihe uncomfortably touched the corner of her lips with her handkerchief.
Youngest Uncle Tao Cheng was purely blinded by his deep affection.
Shen Xihe's life was the envy of many. Her father held her in the palm of his hand. Had it not been for the Youning Emperor offering rare medicinal ingredients only available in the palace, and Shen Xihe's condition being truly beyond help, Shen Yueshan would never have let her come to the capital.
Shen Yungan had been his sister's slave since childhood, devising all manner of tricks just to amuse her. No matter what Shen Xihe did wrong, he would coax her and smooth things over for her.
Her maternal family adored her beyond measure. Had she not been Shen Yueshan's daughter, marrying into the Tao family would have meant a lifetime of pampering.
Shen Xihe had no plans to stay overnight at the Tao residence. Too many eyes were watching her. After the evening meal, Censor Tao had still not returned.
She could only take her leave, but unexpectedly, as she was departing, Third Cousin Tao Qin returned home accompanied by the Sixth Prince, Xiao Changyu.
Shen Xihe pretended not to hear their greetings, instructing her carriage to depart without stopping.
Yesterday at the Eastern Palace when she met Xiao Huayong, Xiao Changyu had used polo as an excuse to see her. Today she had even left the Ninth Prince Xiao Changying at the Wang residence, yet the Sixth Prince Xiao Changyu remained persistent.
But Shen Xihe hadn't expected that early the next morning, news would come from the palace that the Sixth Prince Xiao Changyu had been punished by the Youning Emperor to kneel at the palace gates.
"The reason?""This morning, for some reason, the Sixth Prince went to the Eastern Palace and angered the Crown Prince so much that he vomited blood. The Crown Prince remains unconscious at this moment," Biyu truthfully reported.
Shen Xihe's first reaction was: What a coincidence?
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