No sooner had the Sixth Prince, Xiao Changyu, shown the slightest hint of paying court to her than he provoked the Crown Prince.
Shen Xihe was someone who habitually overthought matters, believing all coincidences were carefully orchestrated.
While the other imperial princes viewed the Eastern Palace as a fearsome beast to be avoided at all costs, why had the Sixth Prince suddenly appeared there? And why was it this particular prince, who clearly had ulterior motives toward her, who had provoked the Crown Prince to the point of vomiting blood?
"Your Highness, shall we enter the palace to visit the Crown Prince?" Biyu asked softly.
She knew the princess harbored no genuine feelings for the Crown Prince, yet if the princess were to choose a husband, the Crown Prince currently seemed the most favorable candidate.
That day at the Dali Temple, the Crown Prince had intervened on the princess's behalf, and afterward, the Eastern Palace had sent a food box to her. By both sentiment and reason, upon hearing the Crown Prince had fallen gravely ill from anger, the princess ought to pay him a visit.
"Go, why wouldn't we go?" Shen Xihe waved her hand, instructing Biyu and the others to make preparations.
The Sixth Prince paid court to her, and the Crown Prince became so enraged he vomited blood. Then she immediately rushed to visit the Crown Prince. Outsiders would inevitably speculate and mistakenly assume she shared an intimate relationship with the Crown Prince.
It would create the illusion that she favored the Crown Prince, aligning her with his faction.
Hence, her first reaction was: How could it be such a coincidence?
Of course, the simplest way to avoid such speculation was to refrain from visiting the Crown Prince today.
At most, rumors would circulate that the Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince were competing for her favor.
Yet she insisted on going precisely to see whether these coincidences were masterminded by the Crown Prince himself or if there were other reasons.
As for what others thought, she cared little.
Even if she did not marry the Crown Prince in the future but wed someone else, she was not concerned this would become a thorn in his heart.
Whoever she married, it would merely be a facade of affection—each taking what they needed.
However, in Biyu's eyes, Shen Xihe's decision to visit the Crown Prince at this juncture signaled her firm resolve to draw closer to him.
As the carriage passed the palace gates, the curtain was blown open by the wind, and Shen Xihe saw the Sixth Prince, Xiao Changyu, kneeling upright under the scorching sun.
Seemingly hearing the carriage, Xiao Changyu turned his head.
It had to be said that all of Youning Emperor's sons possessed exceptional grace and bearing. Xiao Changyu had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, his features slightly exotic due to his mother's heritage, with deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, and perfectly proportioned facial structure.
Moreover, he favored martial arts, and despite his young age—just having reached adulthood—even kneeling under the blazing sun, he exuded a radiant, vigorous masculinity.
"So... the Sixth Prince is so heroic and imposing," Ziyu admired the tall and mighty men of the northwest.
"Imperial sons are endowed with myriad graces," Shen Xihe remarked impassively. "In the capital, talented scholars and beautiful ladies are a dime a dozen."
She then glanced at Ziyu and Biyu. "In a few years, I shall grant you your freedom. Even among humble families, there are many outstanding men."
Those by her side must inevitably become proper wives.
"Your Highness, Biyu will never leave you," Biyu exclaimed in alarm.
"Your Highness, Ziyu will not marry either. Rather than serve some foul man, I would rather follow you for a lifetime," Ziyu also spoke fearfully.
Shen Xihe merely smiled faintly without further comment.
Her words were sincere, meant to let them know she would never allow her personal maids to become her husband's concubines—concubines could only be brought in from outside.
When Shen Xihe arrived at the Eastern Palace, she encountered the Empress Dowager.The day before yesterday when she entered the palace, she had paid respects to the Empress Dowager, but the Empress Dowager had caught a chill and only spoke with her from behind a screen.
Today, the Empress Dowager still appeared somewhat unwell. Her face was marked by the vicissitudes of life, her hair completely grayed. Having been exiled to the northwest in her twenties, she had endured immense hardships. Even after twenty years of living in comfort and luxury, the traces of past sufferings remained indelible.
Nevertheless, she still looked slightly younger than most women in their sixties. Perhaps due to years of vegetarianism and Buddhist devotion, she carried a calming aura reminiscent of Tibetan incense.
"Zhaoning pays respects to the Empress Dowager..."
"No need for formalities." Before Shen Xihe could complete her curtsy, the Empress Dowager personally helped her up.
The hall contained not only the Empress Dowager but also Noble Consort Rong, who was managing the six palaces temporarily, and the birth mother of Xiao Changqing and Xiao Changying.
Noble Consort Rong's surname was Rong. None of the women in the Imperial Harem had special titles, only ranks. Thus, they were distinguished by their surnames combined with their ranks.
The woman who gave birth to Xiao Changqing and his brother was naturally exceptionally charming. Though already in her forties, she still possessed thick, dark hair and fair skin. Her high-coiled hairstyle was adorned only with two golden hairpins and a vibrant peony blossom.
This made her appear as dignified and graceful as the peony itself. With smiling eyes, she resembled an amiable elder.
"I've long heard of Zhaoning County Princess's peerless beauty. Seeing you today truly makes it hard to look away," Noble Consort Rong praised with a smile.
Although Noble Consort Rong held the rank of consort, she was not the legitimate empress. When Shen Xihe entered the palace the day before yesterday, she had only paid respects to the Empress Dowager.
Noble Consort Rong was not worthy of such courtesy.
"You flatter me, Your Highness," Shen Xihe replied merely according to etiquette.
Seemingly unaware of Shen Xihe's perfunctory and distant manner, Noble Consort Rong remained dignified and elegant: "I feel delighted upon seeing the County Princess. Since you are new to the capital, if you feel unaccustomed, you may come to Hanzhang Hall to find me. Coincidentally, Pingling is about your age and could keep you company."
Noble Consort Rong had two sons and one daughter. The sixth princess, Princess Pingling, had just turned fourteen this year.
"Your Highness honors me. Zhaoning has a delicate constitution and should not move about excessively. I fear I might neglect the princess," Shen Xihe declined directly.
"Empress Dowager..." Before Noble Consort Rong could say more, Tianyuan emerged: "His Highness has awakened and expressed a wish to see the County Princess."
"We've been waiting here half the day without him waking, yet the County Princess arrives and the Crown Prince immediately awakens. Had we known, we should have invited the County Princess earlier to spare the Empress Dowager and His Majesty their worries," teased an exceptionally beautiful consort.
This woman, who outshone all others in the Imperial Harem, was Consort Qin. Having entered the palace fifteen years ago without bearing any children, she remained deeply favored by the Youning Emperor.
"Young people are thin-skinned, unlike you," the Empress Dowager scolded Consort Qin with a laugh before saying to Shen Xihe, "Go see the Crown Prince."
In this dynasty, gender segregation was not strictly enforced. Young men and women could interact with each other, as propriety was emphasized in substance rather than mere appearance.
Shen Xihe performed an elegant bow and entered the inner chamber with her maid.
The thick scent of medicine was even stronger than last time. Shen Xihe's acute sense of smell had its drawbacks—for instance, what would be merely a slightly strong medicinal odor to others nearly made her faint at this moment.
She took several steps impassively before gradually adapting.
When she saw Xiao Huayong, he was sitting by the bedside wrapped in a heavy cloak, downing a bowl of medicine in one gulp.
After drinking it, he coughed several times, waited to recover, and then said to Shen Xihe through the beaded curtain, "County Princess, please have a seat."After speaking, he coughed violently as if struggling for breath again. Only when Shen Xihe took a seat did he manage to say with effort, "Your Highness, Sixth Brother harbors impure intentions."
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