"Your Highness, though the capital is close to Luoyang, this is only the third day since you sent a reply to the Junzhu. Given her intelligence, she will surely deduce that we possess a special method of communication." The letter remained unfolded, and Tianyuan felt his eyelids twitch as he read it.
He couldn't help but feel that his usually cautious and meticulous master became just a tad... besotted when it came to matters concerning the Junzhu?
Xiao Huayong glanced at Tianyuan before lowering his gaze to the black chess piece shimmering faintly in the moonlight between his fingertips, his expression gentler than the moon itself: "In time, she will come to know more and more about my affairs."
Regarding Shen Xihe, Xiao Huayong had to admit that what began as curiosity upon receiving the evidence she sent had evolved through repeated probing into genuine fascination. Each time she managed to anticipate his moves delighted him, and she increasingly captivated him.
He had reached marriageable age, and wedding was a natural progression. Shen Xihe's appearance made him unwilling to sit back and watch his imperial father's theatrical arrangements for his marriage.
He sensed a budding affection for her within himself. As for how deep this affection ran or how far their relationship would go, only time would tell.
Shen Xihe received news of Xiao Shi's death and Hua Fuhai's reply simultaneously. The former was expected, but the latter surprised her: "Luoyang is over eight hundred li from the capital. I only sent the letter to Luoyang yesterday afternoon—the earliest he could have received it was last night..."
The letter stated he was in the capital. How could Hua Fuhai, who was in the capital, have learned of a letter sent to Luoyang as if by magic?
Not even an eight-hundred-li urgent dispatch could achieve that!
"So, he is a noble from the capital." This single letter had revealed far too much about him to Shen Xihe.
The letter proposed that Shen Xihe decide the meeting place and reply through the messenger.
"Hua Fuhai is quite considerate in his dealings." Hongyu remarked, noting that since he was addressing a Junzhu, he hadn't presumptuously chosen the meeting location himself.
"Considerate?" Shen Xihe neither agreed nor disagreed with Hongyu's assessment. She felt this gesture was far from a mere display of gentlemanly conduct.
Though she hadn't yet discerned Hua Fuhai's underlying motive, the letter bore his personal signature. Shen Xihe thought it disrespectful to have a servant draft the reply on her behalf.
So she picked up a brush, wrote a location—just five characters—and handed it to Hongyu to give to the waiting messenger.
"Junzhu, should we have someone follow the messenger?" This might be an excellent opportunity to uncover Hua Fuhai's identity.
"No need." Shen Xihe replied calmly. "In dealing with others, sincerity is paramount."
Having someone tail the messenger would only provoke anger if discovered.
Unbeknownst to Shen Xihe, the moment her letter reached Xiao Huayong, he stored it in a box, thoroughly pleased: "This way, it counts as private correspondence."
Tianyuan's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. A sudden wave of sorrow washed over him—his master had become a different person ever since encountering the Junzhu!
When Shen Xihe's carriage left the city, the gates were under strict inspection. The common folk of the capital faintly sensed that upon waking, the city seemed shrouded in a dark cloud, casting a heavy and oppressive atmosphere over the entire capital.
Once the carriage reached the outskirts, Shen Xihe let Yu Xiaodie, whom she had retrieved, disembark and handed her a bundle: "Inside are new identification documents and some traveling funds. From here on, you begin a new life."
Yu Xiaodie accepted it, kowtowed respectfully to Shen Xihe, then turned and left without hesitation.
Pleased with Yu Xiaodie's understanding, Shen Xihe instructed Biyu: "Have Mo Yuan send someone to escort her discreetly."The carriage moved forward, turning into an exquisitely built mountain estate. This was Shen Xihe's property. She had just arrived and not yet settled in when Hua Fuhai came calling.
Unlike his previous gold-glittering appearance, this time he wore luxurious deep purple robes adorned with countless ruby and sapphire accessories Shen Xihe couldn't even count—hardly different from a walking treasure vault, still equally eye-straining.
Amid the fresh and distant fragrance of Yihe incense, there remained a faint trace of Duojialuo, making Shen Xihe smile slightly.
Through the veil of her curtained hat, Xiao Huayong couldn't see Shen Xihe smiling, but he could sense it—just this inexplicable intuition that she was laughing at him, at how hard he was pretending.
"Hua Taoyi, I would like to ask for your assistance." Shen Xihe didn't expose him but spoke with complete seriousness.
"Your orders, County Princess." Shen Xihe hadn't concealed her identity in her message this time.
"Hua Taoyi has extensive connections and friends across the lands. I wish to request that you find a capable individual to help me inquire about a supreme-grade Tianshan Snow Lotus." Shen Xihe went straight to the point.
Xiao Huayong was taken aback. It was rare for him to be startled, and for a moment, his heart skipped a beat. But the emotion was fleeting, and he quickly regained his composure: "If I may ask, County Princess, are you seeking the Tianshan Snow Lotus for the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace?"
The Youning Emperor had posted imperial notices—everyone knew the bedridden Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace was relying on a supreme-grade Tianshan Snow Lotus to sustain his life.
"Yes." Shen Xihe admitted without hesitation.
Xiao Huayong's heart raced twice faster—an unprecedented loss of control. Fortunately, he hadn't forgotten his current identity. After feigning contemplation, he asked: "How does the County Princess propose we conduct this transaction?"
"I offer you the Northwest Trading Market." Shen Xihe said as calmly as discussing the weather.
The Northwest Trading Market controlled the economic lifeline of the northwest. Since it involved trade with formidable tribes like the Turks and Uighurs, only the Northwest Army could maintain order—this was a power firmly held by the Shen family.
"The County Princess can grant me the Northwest Trading Market?" Xiao Huayong expressed mild surprise.
"I don't make empty promises." Shen Xihe nodded.
If the real Hua Fuhai were sitting before Shen Xihe, who knows how excited he would have been. Over the years, his merchant houses had spread across the realm, including settlements in the northwest and southern Shu where ethnic tribes resided, but they never managed to take root—all because they lacked military support.
The horses of the northwest, the tea of southern Shu—these were trade routes they had long wanted to develop deeply, yet they had remained on the periphery all these years.
Naturally, the northwest offered more than just horses—cattle, sheep, Hetian jade, precious medicinal ingredients—all promised immense profits.
"In ancient times, some would spend thousands in gold for a beauty. The County Princess..."
"Spends millions in gold for a beauty?" Shen Xihe interrupted him.
Xiao Huayong choked slightly, forced to continue with a smile: "It seems the Crown Prince possesses exceptional looks."
Shen Xihe seriously considered this, then stated with all apparent sincerity: "Among all men in this world, none can surpass him in appearance."
For a moment, Xiao Huayong found himself both amused and exasperated. Though he knew Shen Xihe was deliberately changing the subject, he still felt pleased, an irrepressible delight rising in his heart.
"County Princess, what if I refuse?" Xiao Huayong asked provocatively.
Shen Xihe smiled faintly: "Are the Embroidered Uniform Envoys and the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review sufficient leverage?"
Xiao Huayong hadn't expected Shen Xihe to employ persuasion before force."Hua Taoyi, I have no evidence, but if rumors were to spread, His Majesty is suspicious by nature. He would rather err on the side of caution than risk negligence, and would surely purge the Embroidered Uniform Envoys. Cui Jinbai’s position as Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review would undoubtedly be lost, and he would never be trusted with important duties again. Oh, and that imperial examination candidate, Scholar Guo, would also find it hard to escape unscathed."
Shen Xihe smiled faintly: "I seldom collaborate with others, but when I wish to cooperate with someone, that person has no right to refuse."
OpenNovel