Chapter 440: A Different Kind of Charm
Bu Shulin, who was fully on guard, had initially thought it was some other lord. She truly hadn't sensed anyone following her. Witnessing the Crown Prince's lightning-fast lightness skill with her own eyes, even Bu Shulin—who considered herself peerless in lightness techniques—widened her eyes in astonishment.
Weren't they supposed to be sickly, coughing every three steps and panting every five?
Even knowing there was some exaggeration, this was far too exaggerated!
The Crown Prince before her, though fair-skinned, had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, brimming with vitality. The moment his gaze left Shen Xihe, it became as profound and unfathomable as an abyss. If one didn't look carefully, he seemed like a completely different person from the one she usually saw!
"When did Youyou notice me?" Xiao Huayong asked, sniffing his own scent. He hadn't bathed in scented water before going out today, and the medicinal smell on him wasn't strong. He had deliberately stood where there was no wind—so when had he been exposed?
"Moonlit Cold Fragrance—I've only ever given it to one person." If not for that scent, she would have taken action long ago.
Moonlit Cold Fragrance was a blend Shen Xihe created using another variety of Jade Flower. Since Jade Flower was also known as the Moonlit Beauty, Shen Xihe named this fragrance "Moonlit." Its distinctive feature was that with prolonged use, the fragrance would linger persistently. If someone passed by, the scent would remain in the area for a long time, though it was so subtle that ordinary people could hardly detect it.
On her way to deal with Yu Sangning, she had caught a whiff of this fragrance. Xiao Huayong must have lingered there, likely stepping aside upon hearing the hoofbeats. He then saw Yu Sangning and her carriage arrive one after the other, so he hid nearby to watch the drama unfold.
"So, Youyou wants me to be entirely enveloped in your scent," Xiao Huayong said with a tender, sweet smile.
Bu Shulin: ??
Was she being ignored? She was a living, breathing person—no, not just her, but also Zhenzhu, Biyu, and Ziyu. In front of so many people, this Crown Prince really had no filter.
She once thought she was frivolous enough, unmatched in all of the capital in this regard. But now she felt she was still far inferior to the Crown Prince.
What shocked her even more was that Shen Xihe, always elegant and proper, showed no anger. Instead, she seemed accustomed to it, as if Xiao Huayong hadn't said anything flirtatious at all.
"Your Highness came looking for me?" Though Shen Xihe phrased it as a question, her tone was declarative.
"Naturally." Xiao Huayong seized the opportunity without hesitation. "Who else but Youyou could make me disregard my evening meal, overlook my frail health, ignore the chill of the deep night, and brave a thousand li... all just to see you sooner and ease the pain of longing?"
Bu Shulin felt a chill run down her spine and shivered. Sensibly, she quietly shifted backward, opened the rear door of the carriage from the inside, and slipped out unnoticed.
She felt that if she stayed seated any longer, she wouldn't be able to control herself from showing disrespect to the Crown Prince.
Shen Xihe glanced at him. There he stood, a full-grown man beside the carriage, his gaze fixed intently on her.
Unable to withstand his stare, Shen Xihe had no choice but to alight from the carriage. Seeing her dressed in lilac purple instead of moon white, Xiao Huayong completely forgot that Tianyuan had referred to the previous day. He turned his head and cast a cold smile in Tianyuan's direction.
Tianyuan felt bitter inside. Wasn't it all to make His Highness leave earlier? If he had let His Highness continue deliberating like that, they might not have even left the traveling palace by now.
"A Lin, go hunt some game," Shen Xihe instructed Bu Shulin.For the first time, Bu Shulin, who had distanced herself due to being unable to bear the flirtatious remarks, had just found a tree to climb and lie on when Shen Xihe directly called her out. She doubted she had heard correctly, turning to look at Shen Xihe and even pointing at herself: "Me?"
"Is there a problem?" Shen Xihe asked directly.
A problem? Of course there was a problem. She was also a young lady! In the dead of night, to send a delicate maiden like her into the deep mountains and wild forests to hunt—all because this man hadn't eaten his evening meal? What kind of logic was that?
But remembering Shen Xihe's methods and the debts she owed that could never be repaid, Bu Shulin had no choice but to lower her head.
Seeing Bu Shulin being assigned a task by Shen Xihe, and for his sake at that, Xiao Huayong felt pleased: "I enjoy rabbit meat."
Gritting her teeth, Bu Shulin still had to cup her hands in salute: "Your servant obeys the command."
As Bu Shulin went hunting, Shen Xihe instructed Moyu to follow and guard her, while the guards and Tianyuan were sent to gather firewood. Zhenzhu and Biyu began clearing and preparing the area, and Ziyu hurriedly took stock of the fragrant spices for cooking and readied the utensils. Shen Xihe retrieved a box of pastries from the carriage: "Have something to tide you over."
Opening the pastry box revealed translucent flower cakes, which reminded Xiao Huayong of around this time last year when he had disguised himself as Guo Daoyi, followed Shen Xihe to the wilderness, and exchanged a box of translucent flower cakes for a bit of roasted meat.
Back then, Shen Xihe had been so aloof and indifferent that it had left him astounded.
"Youyou always keeps translucent flower cakes on hand?" Xiao Huayong said delightedly.
Shen Xihe poured cold water on his enthusiasm without mercy: "In the Eastern Palace, I’ve likely sampled every pastry in the world. Whatever I prepare, does it necessarily mean it’s specially for you? If you insist I’m thinking of you, just say so."
"Pfft—"
Biyu really hadn’t meant to laugh aloud. She knew it was highly disrespectful, but she simply couldn’t help it. Even the usually composed Zhenzhu’s lips twitched, struggling hard not to burst out laughing.
Being laughed at by his beloved’s maid didn’t bother Xiao Huayong in the slightest—he was magnanimous, after all. So he chose to complain immediately: "Youyou, your maid is mocking me!"
Biyu’s heart sank. Your Highness, where is the dignity befitting a Crown Prince?
Though she inwardly grumbled, Biyu promptly dropped to her knees with a thud: "This maid has been impudent. I beg the princess for forgiveness."
Shen Xihe knew Biyu hadn’t done it intentionally and certainly held no disrespect toward the Crown Prince: "Go fetch some water for His Highness."
Biyu felt as if granted a pardon and quickly withdrew.
Xiao Huayong, however, let out a soft, meaningful hum—audible only to Shen Xihe who was nearby—to express his dissatisfaction: "I’m not hungry."
He set the translucent flower cakes aside without eating any.
Shen Xihe watched him calmly and uttered just four words: "I made them."
Clearing his throat twice, Xiao Huayong changed his expression faster than an opera performer, picking up the box again: "I’m hungry now."
Then, without leaving a single piece, Xiao Huayong devoured the entire box of translucent flower cakes. When Tianyuan returned after gathering firewood—having also missed his evening meal—he could only watch longingly. Xiao Huayong didn’t even glance his way, and when Tianyuan’s stomach emitted an untimely growl, Xiao Huayong acted as if he heard nothing.
The rabbit Bu Shulin hunted was roasted by Ziyu under Shen Xihe’s direction, allowing Tianyuan to finally eat most of it.Full and content, the Crown Prince began to act spoiled, refusing to move or leave. Shen Xihe knew he simply wanted to spend the night outdoors with her. Even with so many attendants following them—preventing him from taking any advantage—he still insisted on sharing this unique night with her.
In his words, it was "a different kind of romance."
Shen Xihe didn’t understand this kind of romance, but she still indulged him, accompanying him as they gazed at the stars for most of the night.
Another day of the unromantic Crown Princess and the romantic, dramatic, green-tea Crown Prince.
(End of Chapter)
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