No right to refuse...
No...
Right...
Xiao Huayong had been appointed Crown Prince before he was even a month old. The overt favor shown to him by the Youning Emperor left him isolated and without support, yet no one dared to cross him. Never had anyone said he had no right to refuse.
But Shen Xihe was not speaking without reason. Her words held truth: if she were to spread rumors or make subtle moves, the vigilant emperor would launch a massive purge, destroying much of what he had painstakingly built.
"Junzhu, even if a deal falls through, goodwill remains. If you force a transaction, aren't you afraid of making enemies?" Xiao Huayong asked with a darkened gaze.
"There's a saying among the common folk: when debts pile high, worries fade. I already have many enemies—one more makes no difference." Shen Xihe spoke indifferently. "I gave Hua Taoyi a choice—to fight or to make peace—all hinging on Hua Taoyi's decision."
When she targeted Cui Jinbai last time, this man knew she had seen through him. Since he was already aware she held such a significant leverage over him, leaving it unspoken would only be more dangerous.
"Junzhu has set her heart on the Crown Prince, yet you seek to join forces with me without even asking my identity." Xiao Huayong smiled ambiguously. "What does this mean? Aren't you worried that if the Crown Prince finds out, it would be unfavorable for you?"
"When did I say I wanted to join forces with you?" Shen Xihe corrected him. "Cooperation is merely temporary mutual benefit. Whether we can continue to each get what we want depends on whether our interests clash in the future. When that time comes, victory or defeat will be determined by our own means."
Xiao Huayong fell silent for a moment, his feelings complex. "Junzhu is truly heartless—before we've even begun cooperating, you're already talking about future confrontations..."
"Not heartless, but sincere." Shen Xihe corrected him again. "I dislike dealing with clever people through pretense. If we make everything clear from the very beginning, there will be no resentment when we eventually draw swords against each other."
Xiao Huayong nodded as if enlightened. "Since Junzhu has considered the future, you must have guessed that there is also a high-ranking figure behind me..."
Pausing, he added meaningfully, "Or perhaps I am that figure myself. Why do you not favor me?"
"I've already answered you." Shen Xihe repeated, "I dislike dealing with clever people through pretense."
Xiao Huayong had long noticed that Shen Xihe was different from the typical gentle and virtuous young ladies. She was extremely strong-willed and would never submit to or obey any man. Thus, rather than being drawn to exceptional intelligence, she was more patient with those who were ordinary yet not mediocre—because she disliked anyone trying to control her.
Now that he had guessed correctly, Xiao Huayong felt a complicated mix of emotions. "So, does that mean the Crown Prince is a foolish person?"
Shen Xihe lifted her chin, her tone slightly cold. "Hua Taoyi, watch your words."
Through the layer of white gauze, Xiao Huayong couldn't clearly see the reaction of the naturally reserved Shen Xihe, but he could sense her displeasure.
Was she displeased because someone had slandered him?
Xiao Huayong felt a surge of delight. "My apologies for the indiscretion. I still wish to know what makes the Crown Prince worthy of Junzhu's such staunch defense? Perhaps... there is still a chance for me."
"He is different from all of you." Shen Xihe said lightly. "Hua Taoyi, I choose to cooperate with you now because I believe we need not confront each other too early, lest someone else profits from our conflict."
To infiltrate the Embroidered Uniform Envoys, the emperor's trusted confidants, and to be a pillar of talent relied upon by the emperor—these were not things ordinary people dared to do.The man before her was undoubtedly a prince, though she had never interacted with any of the princes before. While she had some understanding of their temperaments from their actions, she dared not hastily conclude his identity at this moment.
The only certainty was that he was definitely not Xiao Changqing.
Even the one from the Eastern Palace had not been entirely ruled out as a suspect in her mind.
Her proposal to cooperate with him at this time had several motives. First, as she had stated, she genuinely wished to avoid an early life-and-death struggle that would only benefit others.
Second, since he already knew she had seen through him, she needed a pretext to bring things into the open to prevent covert suspicions.
Third, increased contact would inevitably peel away his final layer of disguise.
Fourth, allowing his influence to infiltrate the Northwest would make it easier for her to gather more information about him.
Fifth, promoting Northwest trade would help improve the livelihoods of the local people.
The Tianshan Snow Lotus was merely an excuse. Even without it, she would have found another reason to take this action eventually.
"Young Mistress has been forthright with me, and I have no room to retreat. I shall rely on your guidance henceforth," Xiao Huayong raised his teacup in a toast to Shen Xihe from across the table.
Shen Xihe also lifted her cup with both hands, marking their agreement.
After taking a sip, Shen Xihe kept holding her teacup, lifting the lid with one hand while studying the patterns on the porcelain as if engrossed in their intricacies.
Well-versed in tea ceremony etiquette, Xiao Huayong immediately recognized this as the subtle signal for a guest to depart.
He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly - when it came to discarding the plank after crossing the bridge, no one was quicker than Shen Xihe.
Taking the hint gracefully, he rose to take his leave. Shen Xihe, who disliked empty pleasantries, offered no words of persuasion but nonetheless observed proper decorum by personally escorting him to the main gate.
"Your Highness, how did it go? What did the Young Mistress discuss with you?" Tianyuan, who had been waiting in the carriage at the foot of the mountain, asked eagerly. His master considered him lacking in talent and feared his frequent appearances before the Young Mistress might reveal their deception.
Ignoring Tianyuan's question, Xiao Huayong lifted the carriage curtain. Through the overlapping tree shadows from the mountain foot, he could still glimpse a corner of the manor. His eyes softened with tenderness: "She said I'm different from others."
"Eh?" Tianyuan looked bewildered.
Seeing his master's unusually gentle expression, Tianyuan wondered inwardly: Could it be... could it be that the Young Mistress has confessed her feelings to His Highness?
But upon second thought, that didn't make sense. The Young Mistress had arranged to meet Hua Fuhai, unaware that Hua Fuhai was actually his master in disguise.
After scrutinizing his master's current appearance as Hua Fuhai, Tianyuan shook his head like a rattle-drum - there was no way the Young Mistress would fancy this look.
As Xiao Huayong lowered the curtain and turned, he saw Tianyuan's eyes darting about while he shook his head. Picking up a folding fan nearby, he tapped Tianyuan's head: "She promised Hua Fuhai access to the Northwest Trading Market, asking him to find a rare Tianshan Snow Lotus for me."
"Your Highness is happy because of this?" Tianyuan found this somewhat hard to comprehend.
This premium Tianshan Snow Lotus was originally something His Highness had been seeking for the Young Mistress. Unaware of this, she mistakenly thought His Highness needed it. Although she had gone through considerable trouble, ultimately it was for her own benefit. Yet look how delighted their Highness was - since when had His Highness become so easily pleased?
"She cares for me so much that she's willing to deal with merchants on my behalf. Shouldn't I be happy?" Xiao Huayong expressed dissatisfaction with Tianyuan's reaction.
"Of course, of course, of course!" Tianyuan immediately put on an admiring smile. "The Young Mistress truly holds sincere devotion for Your Highness. Just the other day she heard you needed the Tianshan Snow Lotus to sustain your life, and she immediately rushed to find it for you. This shows how important Your Highness is in her heart."He could swear that if the princess didn't have other motives, she would never have sought out Hua Fuhai to find the Tianshan Snow Lotus. But since his exceptionally intelligent master had chosen to overlook this, what could he, as a subordinate, do? Naturally, he had to follow his master's wishes.
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