Shen Xihe didn't have much reaction to this matter. It was rare for men in this world not to take concubines, let alone those from the imperial family. Though Xiao Huayong had promised marital fidelity, Shen Xihe didn't doubt his sincerity but neither did she take it seriously. His personal feelings might not always overcome his identity as the Crown Prince.
Zhenzhu and Biyu, however, were completely different. They grew increasingly indignant, for in the northwest, most men practiced monogamy.
This wasn't due to custom or legal decree, but rather the gender imbalance in the region. Women were scarce, and most men were soldiers who spent half their lives in military camps. Their lawful wives lived almost like widows—how could there be room for concubines?
Such an environment shaped Zhenzhu and Biyu's stringent expectations of men. They held great contempt for women who eagerly sought to become concubines. Every day, they acted as newsmongers, reporting which young lady had tried to curry favor with the Crown Prince, who had engineered "chance encounters" when the Crown Prince came to visit the princess, or who had feigned falls to trigger heroic rescues.
One day, Zhenzhu rushed over, stifling laughter, to where Shen Xihe was reading. "Princess," she said, "the Crown Prince won't be coming today.""
"Hmm?" Shen Xihe looked up to see Zhenzhu's sparkling eyes and beaming face. "Good news?"I wonder if the princess will consider it so."" Zhenzhu couldn't resist sharing. "The daughter of the Vice Minister of War actually dared to fall from a tree right in front of the Crown Prince! Her clothes came undone, leaving her practically exposed, and she frightened His Highness into fainting..."
These recent events had truly broadened their horizons. Whether driven by ambition or other motives, these young ladies employed every trick in the book, their boldness and fervor astonishing even these northwestern-born women.
This particular young lady's desperation to marry into the Eastern Palace knew no bounds. But her scheme backfired spectacularly. Not only did she fail to gain anything, but the matter was unlikely to end well. The Crown Prince had been frightened into unconsciousness, much like how former Attendant Wang had lost his standing in capital circles over a similar incident.
The Vice Minister of War would likely lose his position over this. Sure enough, he was soon dismissed from his post, and his family was disgracefully expelled from the traveling palace. Demoted from capital official to a minor magistrate in a remote region, his daughter was further branded by the Empress Dowager as ill-behaved.
Shen Xihe felt obliged to visit Xiao Huayong. She found him reclining against a desk, scroll in hand, reading intently. Noticing her arrival, he remarked gloomily, "So Youyou still has some conscience left."
His sarcastic tone made Shen Xihe scrutinize him. When had she provoked him?
Seeing her confusion only irritated Xiao Huayong further. "As my betrothed, you remain utterly unmoved by these flirtatious women harassing your future husband? Do you feel no remorse whatsoever?"
His fuming demeanor didn't evoke guilt in Shen Xihe but rather an urge to laugh. However, under his glare, she knew laughing would darken his mood—which precisely made her want to see it happen. Suppressing a smile, she let out a soft chuckle.
True to form, Xiao Huayong threw his scroll aside, sprang to his feet, and stormed out. Passing Shen Xihe, he deliberately snorted loudly: "Hmph!"
Turning to watch his retreating figure—stomping exaggeratedly to emphasize his displeasure—Shen Xihe could no longer contain her laughter.Xiao Huayong walked outside and stopped just as he was about to leave Shen Xihe's line of sight. With his hands clasped behind his back, he put on an expression of being very angry and unwilling to acknowledge her, which reminded Shen Xihe of a childhood playmate who would also turn away and refuse to look at the other after a disagreement.
She chuckled for a moment, then lightly coughed twice before suppressing her laughter and walking over. Deliberately tilting her head to look at his face, she saw Xiao Huayong abruptly turn his face in the opposite direction. She circled around to the other side, and he immediately turned again. Patiently, she moved to face him once more, and he turned away again.
Tianyuan and Zhenzhu watched the two from a distance, finding their behavior utterly childish and indescribable.
After circling around twice, Shen Xihe simply gave up: "I trust that Your Highness would never allow me to bear the reputation of a jealous woman."
This was her way of coaxing him. It wasn't a deception—after all, even if she were the Crown Princess, she would have no right to confront women who expressed affection for Xiao Huayong. At present, her level of concern for him only extended to this: if he took a concubine, she would accept it calmly but would no longer share a heartfelt connection with him; if he resolved such matters himself, she would be pleased and treat him a little better. It certainly didn't reach the point of competing for his affections out of jealousy.
"I am nothing more than someone dispensable to you," Xiao Huayong said with a despondent expression.
His despondency was half-genuine, half-feigned, and she knew it. She restrained her smile: "Your Highness, why belittle yourself so? You are far from dispensable."
Xiao Huayong's lips twitched, but he held back, still staring straight ahead, waiting to hear Shen Xihe coax him.
A mischievous glint flashed in Shen Xihe's eyes: "Your Highness is..."
She deliberately drew out the last syllable, clearly noticing Xiao Huayong's ears twitch and his body lean slightly toward her. His anticipation was palpable, but she quickly added: "Your Highness is making something out of nothing. There was never any 'dispensable' to begin with."
Xiao Huayong froze, then instantly turned around, his handsome face tense, his lips pressed tightly together in anger. But he was met with Shen Xihe's own tightly pressed lips as she struggled to hold back her laughter. The moment he turned, she could no longer contain herself and burst into laughter: "Hahahahaha..."
Her laughter was unrestrained and joyful. Only then did he realize he had been tricked by her. Xiao Huayong didn't know whether to be angry or amused. To hide his embarrassment, he lunged toward Shen Xihe, but she had already prepared to dart away.
"Don't let me catch you, or else..."
Or else what? He couldn't even bring himself to utter a harsh threat. Shen Xihe crouched to evade him, provocatively raising an eyebrow at him before running off again.
Tianyuan and Zhenzhu watched with twitching lips, especially Tianyuan, who saw the Crown Prince failing repeatedly to catch the princess and thought he looked like an impostor. He couldn't help but recall how, in the past, it was this same person who had relentlessly pursued Haidongqing until the bird was worn down and submitted to his authority.
Unable to watch any longer, Tianyuan turned away and looked up at the sky, thinking, As long as His Highness is happy.
Shen Xihe quickly managed to coax the overgrown infant Crown Prince back into a good mood. Beaming, she took her leave but soon came across Xiao Changqing, who had been waiting with his hands behind his back by a small lake.
Xiao Changqing had been unusually quiet lately—likely because he had been investigating her.
Hearing her approach, Xiao Changqing turned around. His dark eyes were piercing, as if trying to see through Shen Xihe to something beyond.
Soon, he averted his gaze and actively stepped toward her: "Junzhu, may I have a word in private?""
"I know what Your Highness wishes to ask, but I have nothing to say to you," Shen Xihe replied coolly, refusing him outright.After saying this, she moved past him and continued forward. He raised his voice and declared, "The day Qingqing perished was also the day the princess met her demise!"
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