Chapter 468: Doesn't Mean I Don't Care About You
"Exactly, exactly! If not for you, my lady, who would care who the Crown Prince is?" Ziyu chimed in repeatedly.
"We're not speaking in defense of the Crown Prince," Zhenzhu also voiced her opinion, then added, "My lady always thinks we side with His Highness, but in truth, when it comes to you and His Highness, His Highness appears to be in a weaker position. When we speak of him, we can't help but show a bit more gentleness."
"Weaker position?" This term sounded quite novel to Shen Xihe, who couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing it.
A weaker position?
Shen Xihe thought carefully and realized it might indeed be described that way.
Xiao Huayong treated her with consideration in every aspect. Even though he often teased her with words, he had never truly done anything she couldn't tolerate. Instead, every single matter was handled with her best interests in mind.
"My lady treats His Highness with less of a maiden's tenderness," Zhenzhu carefully chose her words before speaking her mind.
"I was born without a maiden's tenderness," Shen Xihe replied calmly. "I know what you're thinking. Princess Yaoxi's feelings for the Crown Prince are obvious to all. By reason and emotion, I should have some reaction—I shouldn't be so indifferent."
Zhenzhu and the others all lowered their heads in unison, remaining silent. This was indeed what they all thought.
Shen Xihe didn't blame them, for this difference lay with her—the root of the issue was hers alone: "I simply feel there's no need to take it to heart. Firstly, I trust him; secondly, even if he finds it difficult to act, as long as he truly intends to refuse, I can step in.
Princess Yaoxi, to me, is someone I could deal with just by lifting a finger. Why should I let her cause resentment and annoyance?"
She felt it was unnecessary—one could even say Shen Xihe didn't regard Princess Yaoxi as worthy of attention at all, not even as a rival.
Although Zhenzhu couldn't fully articulate Shen Xihe's perspective, she understood her lady's meaning and couldn't help but sigh: "My lady, this servant presumes to say—perhaps to you, some matters seem unreasonable or trivial. But to others, they are of utmost importance. Just like the matter of Princess Yaoxi, this servant believes the Crown Prince hopes you would care."
This isn't separate from trust or from overwhelming capability.
Shen Xihe lived too rigidly, too logically, completely unaware that emotions sometimes don't require excessive rationality—they need impulsiveness, require setting aside reason, demand forgetting measured considerations.
If Shen Xihe hadn't shown any softening toward Xiao Huayong, or if Zhenzhu deemed Xiao Huayong unworthy of trust, she would never have spoken these words to Shen Xihe, for fear of harming her.
Now that the lady was clearly beginning to treat the Crown Prince differently—this difference already included spontaneous, heartfelt concern—and having witnessed everything Xiao Huayong had done for the lady, if Shen Xihe still hadn't realized this point, conflicts would inevitably arise after marrying His Highness.
When that time came, as the lady's maid, she naturally couldn't side with the Crown Prince. If the lady failed to grasp this nuance, she would likely believe herself not at fault, and the two might develop misunderstandings because of it.
Zhenzhu's words made Shen Xihe pause her hands. She thought carefully for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "If the rumors grow even more intense tomorrow, we shall visit the Crown Prince in the palace."
Upon hearing that Princess Yaoxi had sat in the Eastern Palace for a long time, Shen Xihe had initially thought it was because Xiao Huayong was upright and unafraid of gossip. Now, after listening to Zhenzhu, she began to wonder if perhaps Xiao Huayong had intentionally let the news reach her.
As for the purpose...Just as Zhenzhu had said, he wanted her to care about Princess Yaoxi—perhaps only her concerned reaction could make him feel that she cared about him. At this moment, what he desired was her attention, not her trust.
Although Shen Xihe felt that men were truly perplexing creatures, she couldn't quite grasp why Xiao Huayong was being so... well, melodramatic.
But since he treated her so well, she didn't mind tolerating and indulging him, even trying to understand his melodrama.
The next day, the rumors indeed grew increasingly rampant. By the end, some were even saying that Princess Yaoxi and Shen Xihe would stand as equals, both serving as Crown Princesses. Shen Xihe was certain that without Xiao Huayong's indulgence, the rumors would never have escalated to this extent.
He was doing it intentionally—deliberately making sure she heard them.
Shen Xihe brought an exquisitely prepared food box to the Eastern Palace. Xiao Huayong deliberately sat sideways, holding a scroll in his hand, pretending not to see Shen Xihe, making his sulky attitude perfectly clear.
After setting down the food box, Shen Xihe found a long couch and seated herself, sitting there quietly watching him with a gentle expression.
Xiao Huayong initially tried hard to endure, waiting for Shen Xihe to speak first. But after the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Shen Xihe remained silent, simply gazing at him calmly. Unable to hold back any longer, he set down his book.
With a sarcastic tone, he asked, "What are you here for? To question me about the Crown Princess's position?"
"Pfft." The moment he spoke, Shen Xihe couldn't help but laugh.
She hadn't understood his intentions two days ago, which was why she hadn't visited the Eastern Palace to see him. Now that rumors were spreading about her position as Crown Princess being unstable, she had finally come. So, he thought she had come for the sake of her interests and was putting on this act, refusing to even look at her while speaking.
"Yes, I'm terribly anxious about my position as the principal wife," Shen Xihe said with a straight face.
Xiao Huayong remained turned away from her. Though he didn't show it too obviously, Shen Xihe could still see his chest heaving excessively and his nostrils slightly flaring—clear signs of his agitation.
His hand, resting loosely on his leg, instantly clenched into a fist.
Shen Xihe stood up, walked slowly to his side, and gently sat down beside him. Her soft hand rested on his tightly clenched fist, and she felt his body stiffen for a moment.
In a soft, gentle voice, she said, "That day at the banquet, I already knew there was nothing between you and her. So, I didn't come here to question you. Later, when she came to see you, you received her in the Eastern Palace. I could guess that she must have come to confess her feelings, wanting to marry into the Eastern Palace. And when you met her, you undoubtedly sternly warned her. No matter how ugly the rumors outside become, I have always trusted you."
Xiao Huayong slowly turned his head, his deep pupils shimmering with a piercing, intense light.
Shen Xihe met his gaze, and the hand resting on his tightened slightly as she held it. "Your Highness, I am a woman who knows little about romance. I don't know how to express affection in the ways others might. I only know how to be sincere. Some of the jealousy and possessiveness you might desire—I may never be able to give you that in this lifetime.
If my heart belongs to you, even if the whole world doubts you, I will still believe in you. If my heart does not belong to you, even if you have three thousand consorts in your harem, I would hardly care at all."
Shen Xihe was such an unromantic person—her rationality far outweighed her emotions.
Yet, she had encountered Xiao Huayong, a man whose heart and eyes were filled only with her, a man with immense power who could resolve any situation. She believed there was nothing he couldn't handle, unless he simply didn't want to.Such a person as her could not possibly feel jealous.
Her heart was pounding fiercely, Xiao Huayong asked softly, "Therefore?"
Her obsidian-dark eyes brimming with laughter, she said, "Therefore, not feeling jealous does not mean I do not care about Your Highness."
"Grand Minister" refers to the prime minister of the Tibetan Empire. During the Tang Dynasty, Tibet experienced a particularly powerful period, once occupying the entire Qinghai region and even most of Yunnan.
The princess is an iron-willed straight woman—someone whose rationality outweighs her emotions, and whose intelligence surpasses her emotional intelligence. She rarely displays typical feminine delicacy, but this does not mean she is incapable of love.
End of 6,000 words. Mwah.
(End of Chapter)
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