"How dare the Sixth Prince!" Ziyu, who knew of Xiao Changyu's schemes, flushed with anger.
"Why wouldn't he dare? He does possess remarkable qualities, does he not?" Shen Xihe sat in the swaying carriage, her slender fingers toying with the pearl tassels of her waist pendant.
"He may be handsome in a martial way, but this maid finds him less comely than the Crown Prince..." Ziyu muttered under her breath.
It was strange—Ziyu normally detested pretty-faced youths and sickly-looking men.
The Crown Prince's complexion was paler than most women's, his face perpetually bearing a sickly pallor, coughing for half the time after speaking just a few words. Yet she never felt he lacked masculinity.
Hearing this, Shen Xihe pinched a pearl between her fingertips, rotating it gently as she shook her head slightly.
Biyu couldn't stand Ziyu's foolishness any longer and poked her forehead. "Your head is full of straw. The princess wasn't referring to appearance when she spoke of his remarkable qualities!"
Ziyu dodged, rubbing her poked forehead. "If not appearance, then what?"
They'd only met the Sixth Prince once—could it be his temperament?
Biyu took a deep breath, struggling to control her anger, reminding herself that Ziyu's simple, charming nature made her the princess's source of amusement.
Only then did she suppress her frustration. "It's because he lacks imperial favor."
The Sixth Prince has already undergone his capping ceremony. In our dynasty, princes attend court at fourteen, train in the Six Ministries at sixteen, and receive their princedoms after capping. The Ninth Prince was exceptionally ennobled early, yet the Sixth Prince remains merely 'Sixth Prince.'
This isn't due to Xiao Changyu's incompetence or lack of skill, but because his biological mother committed grave errors, and the Youning Emperor is taking out his anger on him.
Since Shen Xihe must choose a husband, the best candidate would be someone estranged from the Youning Emperor, thus creating the strongest possible bond of shared interests.
From this perspective, the Sixth Prince appears to be the optimal choice on the surface.
"But he has nothing! Just because he lacks imperial favor, he thinks he can win our princess's regard? Does he take our princess for a fool?" Ziyu grew even angrier.
"Nothing?" Shen Xihe looked up, her indifferent eyes glimmering with faint amusement. "How do you know he has nothing?"If he didn't have some foundation, how would he dare approach the princess?" Even if he mistakenly thought the princess was easily deceived, would he also think the Prince and heir apparent stabilized the northwest through brute force alone?" Biyu shot Ziyu an exasperated glare.
Ziyu shrunk her neck, turned to pick up some pastries, and quietly began nibbling.
Shen Xihe also took a piece of osmanthus cake to settle her stomach.
The capital differed from the northwest—where soldiers trained day and night with three daily meals, while the capital favored only morning and evening meals.
"This isn't even the crucial point." The sweet, soft flavor melting in her mouth lifted Shen Xihe's mood, so she offered Biyu some guidance. "The Sixth Prince is past his capping age, and Bian Xianyi has reached her eighteenth spring. If the Sixth Prince wished to take Bian Xianyi as a concubine in his princely residence, it would be exceedingly simple."
A prince having a concubine of Musician Status was no great matter and wouldn't prevent him from marrying a noble daughter as his principal wife.
"So he wants to marry the princess first, then after the princess.".." Ziyu burst out angrily, "he can make his beloved his second wife!"
Shen Xihe cast a light glance at Ziyu. Ziyu was a simple soul, and she didn't need everyone around her to be clever. Having someone naive around was rather pleasant.
"What's your perspective?" Shen Xihe asked Biyu.Biyu was somewhat overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. She straightened her back and, after careful thought, said, "Bian Dajia has fallen into Musician Status. Even if the Sixth Prince has no regard for face, she is not qualified to become his principal wife."
Shen Xihe cast an approving glance her way, encouraging her to continue.
Feeling encouraged, Biyu shared all her thoughts: "They are well aware of this, yet they still made such plans. This means it is possible for Bian Dajia to become the Sixth Prince’s principal wife—as long as His Majesty nods in approval."
"You mean His Majesty instigated the Sixth Prince to approach the Princess?" Ziyu asked in disbelief.
Biyu shot her a glare. "His Majesty is wary of the Princess, but she has only just arrived in the capital. There’s no need for such haste."
Moreover, as the ruler of a nation, he would not resort to such methods—they were too undignified.
Shen Xihe was quite pleased with Biyu’s response. "Indeed, it was not at His Majesty’s behest. However, nothing happens in this palace without His Majesty’s knowledge. If the Crown Prince had not brought this matter into the open, His Majesty would likely have feigned ignorance to the end."
He would have allowed Xiao Changyu to continue pestering her. If it succeeded, it would resolve one of his troubles; if it failed, at most, it would involve an unfavored son—a scolding or beating would be of little consequence.
Xiao Changyu and Bian Xianyi must have tested the waters and confirmed the Youning Emperor’s tacit approval before daring to make their attempt. Once Shen Xihe was dead and the Western Prince’s household destroyed, they would have rendered a service. If they wished for the lovers to be united, the Youning Emperor might very well grant their wish.
Such was the difference between being favored and unfavored in an imperial family.
Ziyu listened with her heart pounding. "These... these people, how do their minds even work?"
She muttered softly, and Shen Xihe pretended not to hear. Her gaze turned cool. "It remains unclear whether this was the Sixth Prince’s idea or that of Bian Dajia..."
If it was Xiao Changyu’s idea, as a prince after all, she would spare his life out of respect for the Youning Emperor.
If it was Bian Xianyi’s idea...
Ziyu looked up and saw Shen Xihe lighting incense in the burner. The smoke curled upward, and for some reason, it reminded her of the incense burned before spirit tablets during ancestral rites.
Suddenly, the carriage felt a little colder.
Unconsciously, she lifted the curtain and realized they had unknowingly strayed from the route back to the residence. Ziyu grew flustered. "Princess, aren’t we returning to the residence?"
"We’re going to meet someone," Shen Xihe replied before closing her eyes.
Jianfu Temple was not far from the Shen residence and enjoyed decent incense offerings. Shen Xihe was not one to believe in Buddhism or Taoism; she came to Jianfu Temple solely to meet someone. After having Biyu make the arrangements, they soon secured a meditation room in the inner courtyard.
Though she did not believe in Buddhism, she respected the sanctity of the temple. Thus, she lit some dutihuaxiang incense and rested with her eyes closed in the meditation room for about half an hour before the door was knocked.
Biyu turned and saw Shen Xihe open her eyes, then went to open the door.
Mo Yuan brought two women inside. The one in front wore a brocade dress and a silk skirt, her hair elegantly pinned with a gold hairpin, her makeup exquisite. The one behind her appeared to be a maid.
After pushing the two into the room, Mo Yuan closed the door from the outside.
"You... who are you?" the woman dressed as a noblewoman asked warily, looking at Shen Xihe.
"Who I am is not important. What matters is who you are," Shen Xihe said slowly as she rose to her feet. "Should I address you as Consort Luo or as Yu Xiaodie?"
Yu Xiaodie’s eyes sharpened. She tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her hand, doing her utmost to remain composed.This Jade Butterfly was nearly thirty years old. Ten years ago, she was gifted to Prince Kang, rising from an unnamed and unacknowledged concubine to the position of side consort.
Shen Xihe knew this because she came from the same place as the rouge in the rouge case.
It was clearly recorded on Xiao Changying's list.
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