Shen Xihe was feeling rather irritable. It was the first two days of her monthly cycle, which always left her feeling this way, and the summer heat without any ice to cool her only made her more lethargic.
She couldn't bring herself to explain this to Xiao Huayong, yet the man seemed completely oblivious to her mood. He insisted on probing further and even reached out to feel her forehead.
The weather was sweltering, and she was particularly sensitive to heat. Before his hand even touched her forehead, she could feel the warmth radiating from it. Without regard for propriety or anything else, Shen Xihe raised her hand and swatted his away. "I told you, I'm fine."
Her faint anger and annoyance made Xiao Huayong's heart clench slightly. He felt both bewildered and inexplicably wronged—a whirlwind of emotions swirling in his chest. His expression grew complicated, yet he didn't know how to voice his thoughts.
He silently took a seat half a step away from her, watching her cautiously with a gaze full of confusion and concern.
Shen Xihe felt inexplicably restless. She wanted to be alone, undisturbed by anyone. At this moment, even the sight of Xiao Huayong made her feel as though someone was intruding on her space. Even if he remained silent, his presence disrupted the atmosphere around her.
Since when had she become so unreasonable?
Shen Xihe was startled by her own unreasonable behavior, and her expression darkened even further.
Xiao Huayong, who had been closely watching her expression, noticed her growing displeasure. After a moment's thought, he could only murmur softly, "There are still matters to attend to in the Eastern Palace. I'll take my leave now."
"Mm," Shen Xihe responded indifferently, feeling a sense of relief in her heart.
If he left, would she be able to regain control of herself?
Xiao Huayong noticed how her expression brightened slightly at the news of his departure, which only deepened his hurt and heartache. He turned and left without looking back.
Zhenzhu, who had been shooed outside to stand guard, saw Xiao Huayong stride away with a tense expression and unusually large steps—clearly upset. She brought a bowl of warm white fungus and lotus seed soup to Shen Xihe and asked, "My lady, have you had a disagreement with His Highness?"
Shen Xihe glanced at her inexplicably. "No."
"His Highness seemed somewhat displeased," Zhenzhu cautiously reminded her.
Shen Xihe took a sip of the soup but then paused, setting the bowl down. After reflecting on what had just happened, she realized she might have indeed gone too far. "I don't know why, but I was just feeling irritable. I didn't want to talk or pay him any attention, and I couldn't help but act impolitely."
Zhenzhu was taken aback for a moment. Their lady was the epitome of grace and elegance, rarely losing her temper and never throwing tantrums without reason. Even when dealing with the Prince or the heir, she might occasionally act willful, but she was never unreasonable.
Today, however, she had been unable to restrain her temper in front of the Crown Prince.
After figuring out the reason, Zhenzhu's expression grew even more complicated. "My lady, you... you're acting this way because you feel secure in his affections..."
"Hmm?" Since when had she felt so secure?
"Human nature is such that we only reveal our true selves to those we trust and feel close to. The more intimate the relationship, the less restraint we show," Zhenzhu carefully explained.
Shen Xihe instinctively furrowed her delicate brows.
"My lady, consider this: if it had been someone else who came just now, not His Highness, would you have acted the same way?" Zhenzhu guided her patiently.
"If it were someone else, I wouldn't have agreed to see them at all," Shen Xihe replied.
Xiao Huayong was able to enter because he visited so frequently that the guards now skipped the step of announcing him. Unless Shen Xihe was in her bedchamber, even Zhenzhu and the others wouldn't stop him.
"What if it were someone you had to see? For example, a eunuch sent by His Majesty," Zhenzhu offered another scenario. "Would you have treated him the same way?"Of course not, but that person was carrying out imperial orders, so Shen Xihe naturally had to treat him with courtesy.
She didn't argue, instead realizing that Xiao Huayong was the Crown Prince - even more noble than someone carrying imperial orders. Yet at some point, she seemed to have gradually forgotten he was the Crown Prince.
Her treatment of him had become increasingly casual, with the distance, formality, and respect fading away. She felt less and less constrained around him.
"You're right..." Shen Xihe was never one to be stubborn or unwilling to admit mistakes. Zhenzhu's words indeed made sense. "I was somewhat presumptuous with the Crown Prince earlier. Is that why he was displeased?"
"This servant doesn't think so. His Highness hopes you would be less distant with him and show more of your true self. It's just that His Highness probably doesn't understand why the Princess dislikes him. The Princess has always maintained an ambiguous distance, which makes His Highness insecure, hence his... frustration.
His frustration isn't about the Princess's cold treatment, but rather not knowing what he did to displease her."
"Is that really the case?" Shen Xihe felt something wasn't quite right, but couldn't pinpoint what.
If their positions were reversed, she would never engage in self-reflection - she'd probably stop paying attention to that person altogether. Thinking this made her realize her earlier behavior was indeed inappropriate: "I'll go apologize to him in a couple of days."
It wasn't that she couldn't swallow her pride, but she genuinely wasn't feeling well. She feared that instead of apologizing properly, she might end up arguing with him.
"Your Highness needn't wait. His Highness will surely come again tomorrow," Zhenzhu declared confidently.
Shen Xihe was skeptical, thinking it unlikely.
Zhenzhu merely smiled without elaborating.
Meanwhile, Xiao Huayong had boarded his carriage. Tianyuan clearly sensed the Crown Prince radiating displeasure from head to toe. Usually when visiting the Princess Manor, His Highness would linger until the palace was about to impose curfew and the gates were closing before returning. But today, he had entered and left almost immediately...
Trouble, serious trouble.
"Tianyuan, investigate whether I've committed any improper acts recently," Xiao Huayong suddenly spoke.
Tianyuan cautiously asked: "Your Highness means... in what regard?"
Dark eyes swept over as Xiao Huayong stared expressionlessly at Tianyuan.
Tianyuan immediately understood: "Your Highness, regarding the Princess, you haven't committed any improper acts, or perhaps..."
Already somewhat displeased, Xiao Huayong grew even more irritated seeing Tianyuan's hesitant manner: "Playing games with your master?"
"This subordinate wouldn't dare." Tianyuan swallowed before saying, "If the Princess is angry with Your Highness, it could only be because of something you said... that offended her."
The word "offended" was whispered almost inaudibly, but Xiao Huayong heard it clearly. He had only said something ordinary today - compared to usual, it was nothing noteworthy. Shen Xihe had never reacted like this before, so why would she today?
"No," Xiao Huayong stated firmly, certain this wasn't the reason.
Tianyuan grew so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead. Under Xiao Huayong's intense stare, he blurted out recklessly: "This... this subordinate doesn't know why the Princess is angry either. Perhaps it's not because of Your Highness at all? Maybe she's angry with someone else and took it out on you?"
After speaking, Tianyuan wished he could bite off his tongue - there you go speaking ill of the Princess again!
But upon hearing this, Xiao Huayong gradually relaxed his gloomy demeanor, his lips curling upward involuntarily: "You're right. Someone else must have angered her, so she took it out on me."
Completely bewildered, Tianyuan couldn't understand why the Crown Prince, having inexplicably earned someone's displeasure, would be so happy about it."She sought me out to vent her anger because she no longer considers me an outsider. She must have feelings for me." Xiao Huayong was instantly overjoyed.
Tianyuan: ...
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