Shen Xihe had considered what Xiao Huayong might say when meeting her, but never expected him to immediately speak ill of Xiao Changyu.
"Your Highness, I have yet to meet Zhaoning and the Sixth Prince," Shen Xihe replied softly.
Xiao Huayong, covering his lips with a loosely clenched fist, took advantage of the bead curtain's concealment to let a faint smile touch his lips. His voice remained weak: "Not having met... doesn't mean you won't meet in the future... cough cough cough... My Lady, Sixth Brother already has a woman he favors. You should be cautious."
Having seemingly exhausted all his strength to utter these words, Xiao Huayong weakly lay back down.
Shen Xihe could hear his labored, painful breathing.
Seeing this, Shen Xihe didn't know how to respond, fearing she might disturb him.
The room fell into profound silence, soon filled with Xiao Huayong's steady breathing.
Tianyuan silently approached Shen Xihe and gestured for her to leave. She followed him out of the bedchamber.
"My Lady, the day before yesterday, the Sixth Prince attempted to approach you through polo. His Highness didn't expose him directly but privately sent him a message. We thought the Sixth Prince had abandoned his intentions, but unexpectedly..."
Tianyuan carefully chose his words as he whispered to Shen Xihe: "His Highness learned that the Sixth Prince had repeatedly schemed to approach you. Therefore, this morning he summoned the Sixth Prince to the Eastern Palace to confront him directly. Some conflict ensued between them."
So the Sixth Prince Xiao Changyu had been invited to the Eastern Palace by Xiao Huayong himself, specifically to question Xiao Changyu's intentions toward her.
Xiao Huayong knew that Xiao Changyu already had feelings for someone else, yet still sought to approach her. It was because he wanted to protect her that he became angry.
Just because she had given him that evidence? Under the Emperor and Empress Dowager's intense favoritism, the isolated Xiao Huayong had grasped that faint warmth hidden in her purposeful action, and now valued her so highly?
It seemed reasonable, yet Shen Xihe was unwilling to believe it.
She was someone who prioritized practical relationships over emotional ones. Only absolute interests could truly align people.
Emotions were such elusive things—they could scatter with the wind.
However, Xiao Huayong had coughed up blood from anger—surely that couldn't be faked?
With so many imperial physicians in the palace, if Xiao Huayong wasn't pretending, would he truly cough up blood just to gain her favor?
Shen Xihe didn't believe she held such significance.
This Crown Prince left Shen Xihe feeling conflicted.
All signs indicated he was a gentleman of pure character and luminous integrity.
Yet Shen Xihe, with her suspicious nature, always harbored doubts. Though she tried to assess this Crown Prince using her usual methods of suspicion, she couldn't discern his ultimate purpose.
"Who is the Sixth Prince fond of?" Shen Xihe asked.
Fangyuan struggled internally, hesitating for a long time before whispering as he escorted Shen Xihe out of the bedchamber: "It's the Palace Dancer Bian Dajia."
Bian Xianyi. Xiao Changyu had good taste indeed.
Among the former Nine Unrivaled Talents of the Capital, including Gu Qingzhi, four had already passed away.
Bian Xianyi was also from an official's family, talented in both arts and beauty. Unfortunately, her grandfather committed a grave crime, and she was consigned to the Side Court Palace. However, through her own talents, she managed to change from convict status to musician status.
Now in the Office of Music, at eighteen years old, she was nearly past a woman's prime blooming years.
So Xiao Changyu had delayed marriage all this time because he was waiting for her. That was actually quite admirable.
Shen Xihe smiled with ambiguous meaning, then adjusted her lake-green shawl fluttering in the wind and left the Eastern Palace.
She finally understood why Xiao Huayong had gone to such lengths to warn her.After leaving the Eastern Palace, Shen Xihe did not exit the palace grounds but instead went to the Side Court Palace.
This was where female relatives who had committed offenses were held. She specifically requested to see Gu Zexiang—the pen pal with whom Shen Xihe had exchanged letters via carrier pigeons for years.
The overseer naturally dared not obstruct her.
When Gu Zexiang first laid eyes on Shen Xihe, the latter wore an exquisitely styled Lily Bun. A Gold-Inlaid Jade Hairpin swayed with each movement, casting shimmering reflections that accentuated her jade-like complexion and ethereal grace. Pearl Forehead Decorations adorned the corners of her eyes and brows, radiating an elegance untouched by worldly vulgarity.
"Your humble servant pays respects to the Junzhu," Gu Zexiang performed a formal salute.
"Gu Xiaoyu," Shen Xihe personally helped her rise.
Gu Zexiang stared at Shen Xihe in astonishment. Only one person in this world ever called her Gu Xiaoyu—the Miss Shen who had corresponded with her all these years.
Miss Shen...
"Junzhu, it was you..."
"Indeed, it was I." Shen Xihe smiled faintly. "I am in need of a clever maid by my side. Are you willing?"
Though Gu Zexiang was the descendant of a convicted official, now bearing Convict Status and performing the coarsest labor in the palace, Shen Xihe knew the Youning Emperor would grant her this small favor to claim one person.
Following her would mean assuming Slave Status, but after a few years, Shen Xihe could find an opportunity to release her from servitude, allowing her to regain Free Person status.
Gu Zexiang's unusually large eyes rapidly welled up with tears. She wept with joy, pain, and a tinge of bitterness, letting teardrops fall one by one before fiercely biting her lip and wiping all traces away.
With a thud, she knelt before Shen Xihe and bowed deeply with devout reverence. "Junzhu, this humble servant is unwilling to leave."
Shen Xihe watched her silently for a moment before sighing softly and bending to help her up again. "Have you thought this through clearly?"
For women who entered the palace, refusing to leave when given the chance had only one purpose: to become the emperor's consort.
"Clearly, more clearly than ever before," Gu Zexiang declared with unusual firmness. "This kindness Junzhu has shown me today, Zexiang will engrave in my heart. Should I ever have the chance to repay it in the future, I will not hesitate."
"There is no need for that. To me, it was merely a trivial effort," Shen Xihe gently shook her head.
"What is a trivial effort to Junzhu is salvation from fire and water to Zexiang," Gu Zexiang insisted, her still-damp eyes glistening movingly.
"I have come too late in the end," Shen Xihe sighed softly.
Biting her lip, tears brimming, Gu Zexiang shook her head. She stepped back, saluted Shen Xihe once more, then turned resolutely and entered the Side Court Palace without looking back.
The autumn wind rose, carrying the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms. Petals scattered and were crushed underfoot as her graceful figure faded into the distance.
Gu Zexiang was undoubtedly a beauty, much like the osmanthus tree at the entrance of the Side Court Palace—fragrant, upright, and unyielding.
"Biyu, have someone make arrangements." This was all she could do for Gu Zexiang now.
Having failed to bring Gu Zexiang with her, Shen Xihe exited the palace. Xiao Changyu was still kneeling at the palace gates. She ordered her carriage to halt.
Step by step, she approached Xiao Changyu. Ziyu held an umbrella over her as Xiao Changyu lifted his head to look at Shen Xihe. His eyes held astonishment but no tenderness or affection.
"Sixth Highness, do you know what kind of person Zhaoning is?" Shen Xihe lowered her gaze, her eyes devoid of warmth. "I only enjoy making use of others in this world. I absolutely cannot tolerate anyone attempting to use me."
Leaving Xiao Changyu with an icy smile, Shen Xihe stepped past him, delivering one final remark.
"Sixth Highness, would you care to test whether I can kill Bian Xianyi faster, or whether you can wait for my death and fly together as lovebirds sooner?"The girl's voice was as clear and cold as the clash of ice and jade, lending a touch of chill to the autumn sun. A wave of cold air crept up Xiao Changyu's spine from his tailbone, jolting straight to his brain.
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