Chapter 470: The Crown Prince Is Not Your Best Choice
Shen Yingluo was about to have her coming-of-age ceremony. The Emperor had decreed that it be organized, though not as grandly as Shen Xihe's. It would not be held in the palace but at the Shen residence, yet it would still be presided over by the Ministry of Rites, the Palace Service Department, and the Six Bureaus. Shen Xihe would also attend.
The guests would inevitably be high-ranking officials and nobles. For Shen Xihe's coming-of-age ceremony, the guest list had been personally reviewed by Shen Yueshan and the Youning Emperor—not everyone was qualified to attend. Shen Yingluo's ceremony was different; she could invite whomever she wished.
Yu Sangning wanted to attend the ceremony, but Yu Sangzi had already been betrothed. Since Shen Yingluo had no friendship with Yu Sangzi, she naturally would not invite her. Yu Sangning had no way to tag along with her sister and had to find her own means.
"Why... why is she still scheming about such things at this point?" Biyu was puzzled.
If her goal was Yu Sangzi's marriage, and Yu Sangzi wasn't even attending, could it be that she was aiming for Prince Zhao?
Shen Xihe couldn't quite figure out Yu Sangning's intentions either. Even if it were merely to attend Shen Yingluo's coming-of-age ceremony, it was only Shen Xihe's speculation. She never wasted thought on irrelevant people.
However, she hadn't expected that upon returning to her manor, someone would be waiting for her.
The warm orange glow divided the Princess Manor into two halves—one in light, the other in shadow. Hidden in the darkness at the gate stood a slender, graceful figure. She was dressed in the vibrant and colorful attire of the Tibetan royal family, starkly different from the ladies of the capital, instantly catching the eye.
Shen Xihe ascended the steps silently and reached the entrance, coming face to face with Princess Yaoxi.
"Princess," Shen Xihe greeted first.
Princess Yaoxi was evidently well-versed in Han customs, likely having prepared thoroughly for the marriage alliance. She returned the greeting: "Princess, I have some words I wish to share with you."
Shen Xihe could roughly guess her purpose. After a moment of contemplation, she finally nodded in agreement and invited Princess Yaoxi into the manor.
"I wish to speak with the Princess alone," Princess Yaoxi said once they reached the main hall. Shen Xihe had servants prepare tea and snacks, but Princess Yaoxi glanced at the attendants around them.
Shen Xihe signaled to Zhenzhu, who led everyone out in an orderly fashion, leaving only Shen Xihe and Princess Yaoxi in the room.
"I beseech the Princess to assist me in entering the Eastern Palace," Princess Yaoxi stood and performed a deep bow to Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe also rose and supported Princess Yaoxi: "Princess, I must apologize, but I am unable to help."
"Princess, the Crown Prince is the heir apparent. Sooner or later, he will take consorts; the Eastern Palace will not have only you," Princess Yaoxi argued. Whether in the Celestial Dynasty or their Tibet, rulers never had only one wife or concubine. "If I enter the Eastern Palace, I will honor you as my superior and will not compete for favor. The Princess should know that even if I bear a prince, he would have no right to inherit the throne."
She needed support; Shen Xihe needed a reputation for virtue—they could benefit mutually.
Princess Yaoxi did not understand Shen Xihe. Shen Xihe did not need a reputation for virtue. She was not a jealous woman, but neither would she use Xiao Huayong or disregard his feelings merely to showcase wifely virtue.
If one day, Xiao Huayong personally told her he wished to take a consort, she would undoubtedly fulfill her responsibilities as the Crown Princess and adhere to her duties. She would not make decisions for Xiao Huayong for her own gain.
Had it been anyone else—even a lady with feelings for Xiao Huayong as the prospective Crown Princess—they might have been tempted by Princess Yaoxi's proposal.In the young lady's inherent beliefs, ordinary men often had more than one wife, let alone the Crown Prince. Knowing she would have to share her husband with others in the future, why not choose the most advantageous option early on?
Today, Princess Yaoxi's plea for help meant she owed a great debt of gratitude. Once she entered the Eastern Palace, even Princess Yaoxi herself knew that even if she bore a child, it would have no right to inherit the throne. She, and even her son, would have to rely on the Crown Princess, naturally making her obedient and subservient. If new concubines appeared, Princess Yaoxi could also step forward to restrain and suppress them, allowing the Crown Princess to remain aloof, forever playing the role of a virtuous Eastern Palace consort. All the sordid affairs would remain unrelated to the magnanimous and virtuous Crown Princess.
"Princess, please leave," Shen Xihe dismissed her.
Princess Yaoxi stared at Shen Xihe with a puzzled and confused gaze. By offering herself as a pledge of allegiance, she had taken the initiative, yet Shen Xihe remained unmoved.
"Does the princess have feelings for His Highness?"" Princess Yaoxi probed.
"My affairs are none of your concern," Shen Xihe replied without answering.
Princess Yaoxi did not leave. After hesitating for a moment, she gritted her teeth and said, "I am willing to accept only the title in name."
If Shen Xihe was concerned about sharing her husband with someone else, Princess Yaoxi could become a nominal consort of the Eastern Palace in name only. All she sought was for the Xia family to fear her status as the future imperial consort of the Celestial Dynasty, married to the Crown Prince, and thus refrain from killing her younger brother.
As long as she held significant influence in the Celestial Dynasty for even a day, Xia would not dare to usurp the throne, lest the Celestial Dynasty have reason to march troops into Tibet.
A flicker of surprise, dark as obsidian, passed through Shen Xihe's eyes. She had not expected Princess Yaoxi to go to such lengths. At this moment, there was urgency and sincerity in the princess's eyes, and Shen Xihe believed she was genuine—she merely wanted to find a powerful ally.
At this thought, Shen Xihe's mind stirred: "Princess, have you heard that the Crown Prince is afflicted with a serious illness that may shorten his lifespan?"
"He is pretending," Princess Yaoxi immediately refuted, not hiding the truth from Shen Xihe. I have seen him in Tubo. He is not only exceptionally intelligent but also highly skilled in martial arts, completely unlike the rumors circulating in the capital."So she had met Xiao Huayong in Tibet." Shen Xihe understood but said, "It is true he is not seriously ill, but he has an unsolved unique poison. To this day, neither he nor I have found an antidote. If we still cannot find one in three to five years, he will inevitably end up as the rumors say…"
Princess Yaoxi frowned slightly, scrutinizing Shen Xihe, trying to determine whether she was speaking the truth.
Shen Xihe met her gaze calmly.
Unable to discern Shen Xihe's true intentions, Princess Yaoxi simply asked, "Why are you telling me this?"
"I am informing you that the Crown Prince is not your best choice," Shen Xihe replied composedly. "The Crown Prince is not the emperor. If the Grand Minister wishes to usurp the throne, your entry into the Eastern Palace would only provoke him to secretly ally with other princes for the sake of imperial power.
In the struggle for the throne, if the Crown Prince were to fail…" Shen Xihe paused, then smiled faintly and corrected herself, "No, he will not fail, but there is a possibility he may withdraw midway."
If Xiao Huayong could find the antidote, the throne would undoubtedly be his. But Shen Xihe, fearing any misfortune might befall him, still did not dare to assert that they would definitely find the antidote.
"You want me to…" Princess Yaoxi instantly understood Shen Xihe's meaning.The Crown Prince is not the best choice. If the Crown Prince may not ascend the throne, then any prince might fail to do so. The best approach is to marry the already reigning Youning Emperor.
Since she could choose to enter the Eastern Palace in name only for the sake of power, why couldn't she marry the much older Youning Emperor for the same ambition?
(End of Chapter)
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