Chapter 431: The Crown Prince's Fifty-Sixth Regret
He desperately wanted to be magnanimous, to pretend and tell her he didn't care whom she associated with, yet he found himself incapable of lying to her.
He knew full well that such pettiness would earn her disdain, yet he couldn't force himself to feign generosity.
Shen Xihe had never been troubled by any person or matter before—this was the first time she felt utterly perplexed, at a complete loss for how to proceed.
In the past, she might have disregarded Xiao Huayong's feelings entirely, but now she was gradually beginning to consider his emotions. She hoped that in their future life together, they could cultivate more mutual tolerance and understanding. Of course, her goal differed from Xiao Huayong's: he wished for them to become lovers bound by mutual affection, while she was committed to transforming him into a presence as dear as her father or brother.
Though their aims diverged, they ultimately sought the same destination. Yet now she realized that Xiao Huayong clearly wouldn't resemble a father or brother—he cared deeply about her interactions with male friends, and even when she made concessions, he remained unsatisfied.
However, this was already her greatest compromise. Unable to unravel the solution herself, Shen Xihe didn't evade the issue but asked directly, "Your Highness, what would you have me do?"
This question rendered Xiao Huayong speechless again, giving him the illusion that he was being unreasonable. He knew his behavior was overly narrow-minded, yet he couldn't help but mind and dwell on it.
After a long silence, he finally whispered, "Youyou, could you... hold me?"
In truth, he didn't truly want her to sever ties with Xie Yunhuai. He simply lacked confidence and yearned for some gesture from her that would make him feel she treated him differently from other men—something to soothe his perpetually fragile and sensitive heart in her presence.
Shen Xihe never imagined Xiao Huayong would make such a request. She froze, then grew suspicious and hesitant.
Under normal circumstances, faced with Xiao Huayong's constant attempts to take advantage, Shen Xihe would have firmly refused. But in this moment, she saw the flickering light in his eyes—as if her rejection would shatter it completely.
Yet her upbringing and the rules instilled since childhood made such an act feel truly improper, hence her hesitation.
The trees stood still, the wind ceased—the world seemed plunged into utter silence.
The prolonged wait caused Xiao Huayong's long lashes to droop, casting shadows beneath his eyelids. He resembled someone abandoned by the world in the late autumn sunset, leaving behind only a solitary figure, a fading shadow, and boundless loneliness and desolation.
Shen Xihe didn't realize when she had risen, but when she came to herself, she was already standing beside Xiao Huayong. Startled, she then smiled in resignation, reaching out to encircle the shoulders of the seated Crown Prince. Leaning close, she whispered gently, "Your Highness, I cannot speak for other maidens, but in this lifetime, I shall have only one husband."
Though she had initially targeted Xiao Huayong for his short life expectancy, she had never considered remarrying. While their dynasty encouraged widows to remarry—even royal daughters-in-law—common men dared not marry them, leading to instances of widows wedding their husband's relatives.
In this lifetime, I shall have only one husband.
Perhaps this was comfort born of her pity; perhaps this was the devotion she deemed appropriate as his betrothed.Even without the adoration he yearned for, it still flowed into his heart like a gentle stream, making him unable to resist leaning his head against her waist and abdomen, breathing in her unique scent: "Youyou..."
He merely sighed and softly called her name, countless unspoken words lingering in that single utterance.
"Faking pitiful, faking pitiful." What should have been a tender moment was shattered by this discordant voice.
Shen Xihe subtly pushed him away, while Xiao Huayong glared darkly at Baisui on its perch. For the fifty-sixth time, he regretted giving this foolish bird to Shen Xihe—utterly useless and only causing trouble!
Baisui showed no fear, tilting its head to the side and stretching its neck to cry: "Youyou soft-hearted, Youyou soft-hearted!"
Hearing this, Shen Xihe fixed her beautiful obsidian-like eyes on Xiao Huayong with mild amusement.
Even someone as thick-skinned as Xiao Huayong found this hard to withstand. Though these were indeed his words—the foolish bird had memorized them at some point—he clearly hadn't been feigning pitifulness just now: "I... it... I..."
The eloquent Crown Prince was rendered speechless, unable to devise a proper excuse—ahem, explanation!
"I... I have an appointment with Tao Gong. It's almost time. I'll visit you again tomorrow."
This was the first time Xiao Huayong had ever fled in defeat before Shen Xihe, making her laugh aloud. It wasn't as if she lacked judgment—had he truly been pretending, would she have been so easily deceived?
She admitted she treated him differently from others, but not to the extent of losing her rationality.
Yet he, convinced he couldn't explain himself clearly and unsure how to face her, had panicked and run off like that.
Turning, Shen Xihe gently tapped Baisui's head: "You..."
"Deer cry 'yo yo', forever bound in heart; lutes and zithers in harmony, phoenixes sing in concord!" Baisui began to chant.
This was likely the phrase Xiao Huayong repeated most often to it, as Baisui would recite it to her several times daily.
When Xiao Huayong had been teaching it, the bird had probably feigned slowness to avoid being overburdened with too many lessons, thus leading Xiao Huayong to let down his guard. Now, he likely couldn't even remember how much the bird had secretly learned.
"May the Junzhu be blessed with boundless fortune," it started chanting again.
After playing with it for a while, Shen Xihe turned and noticed Duanming crouched in a corner, poised to attack, its eyes sharp and hostile—directed at Baisui.
Just as Zhenzhu had said, Duanming and Baisui, judging by their names alone, were destined foes—a cat and a bird were natural enemies.
"Junzhu, Prince Xin requests an audience," Zhenzhu entered to report.
Shen Xihe was about to refuse, but after considering Xiao Changqing's likely purpose for visiting, she changed her mind: "Escort him to the main hall."
Handing Baisui to Ziyu, Shen Xihe tidied her appearance and walked to the main hall.
Xiao Changqing had arrived before her. After exchanging greetings, Xiao Changqing bowed in apology: "I came today to offer my apologies to the Junzhu. My previous impulsiveness and rashness caused you trouble, and I beg your forgiveness."
Shen Xihe slowly took her seat: "I thought Your Highness came to apologize for the theft."
Xiao Changqing did not refute Shen Xihe's sarcasm. He had indeed sent someone to steal the correspondence between Shen Xihe and Gu Qingzhi. After marrying Gu Qingzhi, he had been preoccupied with various matters, and she had never opened her heart to him. That she had such a pen pal was something he could never have verified.
Yet the two distinct handwriting styles and the contrasting personalities evident between the lines left him no choice but to believe it.Xiao Changqing said, "Could the Junzhu grant this humble prince the letters of my late wife to keep as a memento?"
This was his purpose in coming. He had originally intended to personally return the items belonging to Shen Xihe to her, but they were intercepted by Xiao Huayong.
"These are matters between the Consort of Prince Xin and myself," Shen Xihe had no intention of leaving them with Xiao Changqing.
Xiao Changqing seemed to have anticipated this outcome. He did not insist, but instead said, "If the Junzhu ever encounters difficulties in the future, you may bring these letters to find this humble prince. I will certainly spare no effort to assist."
The previous chapter was from yesterday. Because the update was already past midnight, and the ninth is Mother's Day as well as the birthday of my top fan Goumei, I plan to update more. That's why I left a message saying there would be a surprise tomorrow. This is today's update - I didn't treat it as the same day's update just because it was past midnight. Although it's not much, I'm not being careless about it.
There will be more updates tomorrow. Wishing all reader mothers an early Happy Mother's Day! For readers who aren't mothers, happy Mother's Day to your moms! Happy Mother's Day to all great mothers!
(End of Chapter)
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