For ten miles around the lotus pond, a clear breeze rippled the water's surface. Suddenly, a clap of thunder echoed through the skies. Looking up, they found dark clouds had gathered, and a drizzling rain began to fall like fine threads, stirring circles of ripples in the pond and pattering softly against the lotus leaves, the muffled sounds drifting through the air.
Shen Xihe couldn't resist stepping to the railing, her eyes sparkling with delight as she watched the misty rain suddenly descend.
Xiao Huayong stood beside her, the cool breeze brushing past, causing their silk robes to sway and their wide sleeves to tangle together.
"Youyou, why do you love the rain?" Xiao Huayong tilted his head slightly, gazing at her brightened eyes, unable to resist asking.
Shen Xihe extended her hand, feeling the cool, refreshing sensation of the fine rain against her palm. "I've loved the rain since I was young. Father and Brother have asked me the reason too, but I could never explain it."
Whether it was a downpour, heavy rain, or gentle drizzle, Shen Xihe had a special fondness for rainy days. If it rained at night, she would sleep soundly with the rain as her lullaby. If it rained during the day, listening to the rainfall seemed to wash away all her worries, as if clearing clouds to reveal the sun.
"I understand," Xiao Huayong suddenly smiled, his gaze tender. "Just as my heart delights in Youyou."
He couldn't explain why he was so drawn to her—it was simply that seeing her brought him joy.
Shen Xihe gave him a complicated sidelong glance before withdrawing her rain-dampened hand. Before she could turn to fetch a handkerchief, her wrist was caught in his strong grasp. Xiao Huayong had already pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve, laying it over her palm. With gentle movements and focused attention, he carefully wiped the rainwater from her hand.
On the handkerchief was a pattern of Eucommia leaves, looking as if butterflies were about to take flight—the very one she had given him.
"Rainwater is cold," he said softly. "Young women are delicate. Even if you love the rain, you mustn't harm yourself." After drying her hand, Xiao Huayong noticed her fingertips were still chilly. He cupped her hands between his palms, as if trying to warm them.
Shen Xihe struggled slightly but couldn't free herself, so she reluctantly let him be.
Noticing her growing tolerance for his touch and closeness, Xiao Huayong felt sweet honeyed joy bubbling in his heart. However, his happiness didn't last long as Zhenzhu arrived with an umbrella, carrying two cloaks.
Just as Zhenzhu moved to drape the cloak over Shen Xihe, Xiao Huayong reluctantly released her hand. The other cloak was handed to Biyu, who moved to assist Xiao Huayong, but he raised a hand to stop her. Taking the cloak himself, he threw it over his shoulders—it fit him perfectly.
Xiao Huayong couldn't help looking down at it, stroking it fondly before asking with barely concealed excitement, "This cloak..."
"I made it for Brother. Your Highness and my brother have similar stature," Shen Xihe's words shattered Xiao Huayong's fantasy.
Shen Yunan and Xiao Huayong were about the same height, though Shen Yunan was more broadly built while Xiao Huayong, though not slender, was more proportioned.
Xiao Huayong immediately felt somewhat awkward. Seeing this, Shen Xihe assumed he disliked sharing personal items and explained, "The cloak hasn't been sent to the northwest yet after being made. It's completely new, Your Highness can rest assured."
Pursing his lips, Xiao Huayong couldn't voice his discomfort to Shen Xihe. While she might find it endearing if he showed jealousy over her attention to his younger brother, he feared she would consider him unreasonable if she knew he was even jealous of her brother.
Suddenly struck by a thought, Xiao Huayong couldn't suppress another smile.After explaining, Shen Xihe still sensed a trace of melancholy in him. Just as she was pondering the reason, he suddenly broke into a radiant smile, making Shen Xihe deeply feel that a man's heart is as unfathomable as a needle at the bottom of the sea—unseen and untouchable.
Xiao Huayong chatted extensively with Shen Xihe, discussing everything under the sun. Both were widely knowledgeable—one had read countless books, the other had traveled thousands of miles. When talking about strange tales from across the land and local customs, Shen Xihe would often verify with Xiao Huayong whether they matched the descriptions in books. They continued their conversation until the rain stopped.
Shen Xihe instructed Zhenzhu, "Prepare the evening meal..."
"I should set off back to the palace," Xiao Huayong said unexpectedly. For once, he didn't linger for a meal and even declined Shen Xihe's offer to stay.
The last time Xiao Huayong had left so proactively was when he had stolen her handkerchief. This made Shen Xihe suspicious of him for a moment. Today, since his arrival, he had been accompanying her the entire time and definitely hadn't taken any of her belongings.
If there were urgent matters at the Eastern Palace, Tianyuan hadn't come to report anything. Could he have suddenly remembered something?
Though these thoughts crossed her mind, Shen Xihe didn't voice them. Instead, she personally saw him off to the screen wall. Xiao Huayong gazed deeply at Shen Xihe, then strode to the gate. Before stepping over the threshold, he turned, raised his hand to grasp his cloak, and said, "Youyou, since I've worn this, it wouldn't be proper to gift it to the heir now. You worked hard to sew it, and it would be a pity to ruin it. Why not give it to me instead? I won't have the Eastern Palace return it."
After speaking, Xiao Huayong winked at Shen Xihe with his mole-adorned eye, looking immensely pleased with himself before striding away.
It wasn't until he had disappeared from sight that Shen Xihe couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head.
So, he had been scheming to keep the cloak for himself. Indeed, since Xiao Huayong had worn it, Shen Xihe wouldn't give it to Shen Yungan. If Shen Yungan found out, he would surely gnash his teeth in frustration at Xiao Huayong. However, she hadn't considered directly gifting it to him either and hadn't yet decided how to handle it afterward.
Since he liked it, she might as well give it to him.
The tender affection between them stood in stark contrast to the situation between Ye Wantang and Xiao Changtai at the Ye residence.
Neither Xiao Huayong nor Shen Xihe had anticipated that Xiao Changtai wouldn't arrange everything properly or seek accomplices first, but would instead go directly to Ye Wantang.
Despite Shen Xihe's prior warning, Ye Wantang still felt a tumult of emotions upon seeing Xiao Changtai, her gaze complex.
She looked at him as if devoid of surprise, suspicion, or resentment, yet also as if containing all of them, making Xiao Changtai's heart tighten. "Wanwan, I didn't mean to keep you in the dark. I never wanted this—I was forced into this desperate measure. Making you suffer is my fault. Whether you're angry, hate me, hit me, or scold me, I'll accept any punishment. Just don't look at me like this, please?"
Ye Wantang's face was haggard, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. Her voice was hoarse and tinged with light mockery. "Suffer? It was more than just suffering. It felt like my heart was being sliced to pieces, bit by bit, until it was bruised and bloody, hurting so much I became numb to the pain."
"Wanwan, it's my fault. I shouldn't have deceived you, but my feelings for you are genuine. Do you still doubt how I feel about you?" Xiao Changtai stepped forward and grasped Ye Wantang's hands. His hair was disheveled, his panicked eyes bloodshot, and stubble dotted his chin.
Ye Wantang had never seen Xiao Changtai in such a disheveled state. As she studied him, her heart softened considerably.
She despised herself for it, remembering Shen Xihe's firm words that day.Those eyes veiled in cold mist pierced straight into the heart like sharp blades, laying bare the uncontrollable emotions one could not even govern themselves.
Detecting Ye Wantang's wavering resolve, Xiao Changtai felt a weight lift from his chest.
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