Chapter 469: She Was Not Someone to Be Bullied
His heart seemed to burst with blooming flowers, crackling with joy. Xiao Huayong, overwhelmed with emotion, grasped Shen Xihe’s hand in return, his voice trembling slightly: “You… Youyou, are you saying… you care for me?”
The last three words were spoken in an extremely low voice. His eyes, shimmering like silver, also flickered with unease as he gazed at her.
“Yes, Your Highness is someone I care about,” Shen Xihe replied without the slightest evasion.
If she hadn’t cared, why would she have stayed by his side all night when she mistakenly thought he had been poisoned?
Such behavior was rather unconventional for the reserved and proper Shen Xihe.
Xiao Huayong spread his arms and embraced Shen Xihe fully, exclaiming excitedly, “Youyou, I am so happy!”
Shen Xihe had never spoken the words “care” aloud. Her restraint and rationality often left him feeling helpless and frustrated. He had dreamed of one day becoming irreplaceable and indispensable to her. Hearing her say she cared was like finding a priceless treasure, and his joy was evident in his expression.
Shen Xihe allowed him to hold her, a gentle smile softening the corners of her lips. “I made wontons for Your Highness.”
It was true that Xiao Huayong enjoyed eating wontons, not merely because they were associated with Shen Xihe. Even before he met her, he had loved wontons, and after meeting her, his fondness for them only deepened.
Wontons were not meant to be left sitting for long. Reluctantly, Xiao Huayong released Shen Xihe, who then brought out the wontons and placed them before him.
Xiao Huayong looked at the white-skinned wontons floating in the broth, raised the corners of his lips, and ate them all, leaving not a single drop of soup.
The Crown Prince was quickly appeased and pulled Shen Xihe along to see their bridal chamber. The room was nearly fully decorated. Shen Xihe noticed that all the chairs were carved with Eucommia Leaf patterns—some freely unfurling, some clustered together like blooming flowers, and others drifting as if dancing like butterflies.
Xiao Huayong had also prepared an incense room just for her. The room was fully equipped with all the necessary incense-making tools and contained many rare fragrant spices. Outside the window, two Eucommia trees shed their apricot-yellow leaves in the breeze. When the window was opened, the faint, fresh scent of Eucommia leaves wafted in.
“Your Highness, there’s no need to accommodate me to this extent,” Shen Xihe said after seeing everything. Though she loved it, she felt that every detail reflected her preferences, with no consideration for Xiao Huayong’s own needs.
“I only need you. With you here, everything else is insignificant to me,” Xiao Huayong said affectionately.
As long as she was with him, everything else was merely supplementary—functional and presentable was enough.
“Your Highness, do you not have any particular preferences of your own?” Shen Xihe pondered. Aside from knowing that Xiao Huayong loved wontons, she couldn’t recall any other distinct preferences he had.
“Before I turned eight, I loved Cheese Cherry,” Xiao Huayong said, his smile fading. “It was because of this preference that I couldn’t resist taking that bowl of Cheese Cherry. Since then, I have never allowed myself to indulge again.”
Only by having no preferences could one remain free of sorrow and joy, and avoid falling easily into traps.
Shen Xihe suddenly felt a pang of heartache. She understood that this was how a strong person should be, which was why the strong were often lonely. A person without personal likes and dislikes lacked the joy of living. He had likely faced the prospect of a short life with composure.
“It didn’t matter before, but now I have one,” Xiao Huayong said, looking down at their clasped hands and lifting hers. “Youyou is my preference.”This was the first time Xiao Huayong spoke words brimming with affection without Shen Xihe falling silent or deliberately avoiding the topic. She replied, "I am honored."
In Shen Xihe's view, every living person should have their own preferences—it is what makes life vibrant and gives one motivation and joy. She felt deeply honored to become the preference of someone like Xiao Huayong, a man who stood firm between heaven and earth, holding the universe in his hands.
She allowed Xiao Huayong to take her hand as they strolled through every corner of the Eastern Palace. He shared his plans for the future, and unlike before when she would listen quietly, Shen Xihe now actively offered her suggestions and voiced her own requests. This made Xiao Huayong beam with even greater delight, committing every word she said to memory. At each location, he would ask for her thoughts.
Shen Xihe stayed for dinner at the Eastern Palace before departing. On her way back, the lingering glow of the sunset outlined the bustling crowds. The streets of the capital were still lively and vibrant, with food establishments at the peak of their business.
"Your Highness, Second Miss and Second Miss Yu," Hongyu, who was also looking outside, unexpectedly spotted Yu Sangning and Shen Yingluo together, and the two seemed to be engaged in a cheerful conversation.
Shen Xihe followed Hongyu's gaze toward a silver shop. The two appeared to be discussing jewelry, seemingly sharing similar tastes and interests.
"Wasn't Second Miss Yu brought up outside the capital? How does she know about gold hairpins and pearls?" Biyu expressed surprise.
"She has been in the capital for a year now," Shen Xihe replied. Yu Sangning had arrived around the same time as her. Although Yu Sangning might not have been taught these things before, especially after her dance performance, Yu Sangzi had been guiding her in every aspect. Being clever and diligent, she found it easy to learn such matters.
"Your Highness, Second Miss Yu is cunning and full of tricks. Should we warn Second Miss?" Zhenzhu asked.
Although Shen Xihe did not concern herself with Shen Yingluo's affairs or interfere in her life, Yu Sangning was different. She was a young woman with blood on her hands. If she were to attempt to harm Shen Yingluo, Shen Xihe would undoubtedly intervene.
"No need," Shen Xihe calmly refused. As the carriage moved forward, both Shen Yingluo and Yu Sangning were left behind. "She is not as easily bullied as you might think. Second Miss Yu would not dare to harm her."
Yu Sangning had long been afraid of her, and the incident at the temporary palace had terrified her even more. Even if she still dared to approach those associated with Shen Xihe, she would never dare to scheme lightly.
"Your Highness, Prince Zhao favors Second Miss, and it's unclear whether Second Miss still has feelings for him. Now that Eldest Miss Yu has been betrothed to Prince Zhao, and you mentioned that Second Miss Yu has long had her eyes on this marriage..." Zhenzhu added, "I'm worried that Second Miss Yu might incite conflict between Eldest Miss Yu and Second Miss, like a snipe and a clam locked in battle."
"A snipe and a clam locked in battle?" Shen Xihe pursed her lips slightly. "That won't happen."
Shen Xihe's certainty left Zhenzhu puzzled.
"Eldest Miss Yu was never satisfied with this marriage, and she (Shen Yingluo) has already lost interest in Prince Zhao." If she hadn't, last year when Shen Yueshan was present and both of them fell into the frozen lake, and Prince Zhao offered to take responsibility, Shen Yingluo would not have outright refused.
With neither of them having any interest in Prince Zhao, how could there be any conflict?
As long as Yu Sangzi wasn't foolish, she wouldn't resort to such a plan.
"Second Miss Yu has been quiet so far, which makes me overthink things," Zhenzhu said."No rush," Shen Xihe said calmly. "Their wedding date hasn't even been set yet—it must take place after my marriage to the Crown Prince. She has plenty of time to scheme slowly. Moreover... she may have already made moves in places we cannot see."
After a pause, Shen Xihe added, "She must be doing this for Shen Yingluo's coming-of-age ceremony."
(End of Chapter)
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