Chapter 502: Ten Miles of Fragrance
"Following us?" Shen Xihe arched her delicate brows.
Her exchange with Xiao Huayong's agent had been extremely discreet. Xiao Huayong's operative had trailed her since she left the capital. At the relay station, that person had taken her place boarding the ship with the palace entourage, while she waited until evening to depart the station hidden in the carriage of another official who happened to stop there.
This official passing through the relay station had also been arranged by Xiao Huayong. They genuinely had business that coincidentally brought them through the station, making it withstand investigation. After leaving the station, Moyu had been following Shen Xihe the entire time. When Shen Xihe left the official's carriage, Moyu confirmed no one was around.
Yet these pursuers had caught up with them shortly after leaving the station, indicating that the diversion tactic she and Xiao Huayong employed had completely failed to deceive them. Alternatively, this person had long anticipated they would take this step, hence waiting at the relay station from sunrise to sunset.
Unless they were certain this would be their move, who would wait an entire day? Moreover, they accurately tracked her despite her leaving the station without showing her face.
The fact that this person still only followed without attempting any action confirmed they were at least not an enemy.
"Can you estimate how many people?" Shen Xihe asked.
"They're too far away. This maid can only speculate it might be one person," Moyu replied uncertainly.
Shen Xihe picked up her teacup, gazing into the distance with profound eyes. "Lure them out."
She took a light sip before setting the cup down with measured force, the porcelain emitting a low, dull sound against the wooden table. A faint smile touched Shen Xihe's lips.
After a good night's rest, Shen Xihe and Moyu hurried on their journey the next day. They were taking a detour around the Wei River—a much longer route—but couldn't afford to arrive much later than those traveling by boat.
After riding for about half an hour, Shen Xihe reined in her horse and glanced at Moyu. Moyu's expression remained impassive, but she gave Shen Xihe a confirming look.
Shen Xihe retrieved from her saddlebag what appeared to be a peace charm meant for tossing onto tree branches and threw it to Moyu.
Catching it, Moyu leaped up, one foot landing on the saddle as she propelled herself higher to hang the charm on an extremely high branch.
Shen Xihe glanced up at it before flicking her whip to continue forward. Moyu landed steadily on her horse and urged it to catch up with Shen Xihe.
They had barely been gone for fifteen minutes when a rider approached, stopping beneath the tree. Looking up at the object hanging high on the branch, he hesitated briefly before spring upward, light as a swallow, to retrieve the peace charm. After examining it repeatedly, he found it completely ordinary.
Detecting nothing unusual, he hung it back up and immediately rode after Shen Xihe and her companion.
By noon, as Shen Xihe was about to have some pastries, Moyu entered the room and reported, "Zhenzhu sent word—the ship was attacked."
Shen Xihe's long lashes lowered slightly, her expression unchanged. "Any casualties?"
"Over half of Your Majesty's forces were lost," Moyu replied.
Shen Xihe looked up. "How did this happen?"
The troops dispatched by the Youning Emperor were no mere decorations, and being on a ship, even if infiltrators managed to board, their numbers should have been limited. How could they so easily eliminate half of His Majesty's men?
"This letter came from His Highness," Moyu said instead of answering Shen Xihe's question, handing her a letter.Upon opening it, a strand of black hair immediately caught her eye—this was Xiao Huayong's unique habit when writing to her. Moreover, this strand of hair was now infused with a fragrance blended from Duojialuo and Eucommia Leaf. Ordinary people couldn't detect it, nor could Xiao Huayong himself, but Shen Xihe could easily catch this distinctive scent.
The two fragrances had their own characteristics when separated, but when combined, the aroma became somewhat peculiar. Shen Xihe didn't particularly like it, though she didn't despise it either. However, Xiao Huayong adored it, claiming that the fusion of Duojialuo and Eucommia Leaf symbolized their intertwined essences.
Shen Xihe couldn't stand his romantic notions but found herself unable to stop him. She eventually let him have his way. Nowadays, even his scented baths carried this fragrance, and he frequently asked Shen Xihe to prepare this blend for him.
Carefully picking up the strand of hair that had slipped onto the table, she placed it in the pouch she always carried—a pouch that held their intertwined locks as a token of their bond. Only then did Shen Xihe begin reading the letter.
It turned out he had long detected traces of Xiao Changtai's plot to ambush her. Not only Xiao Changtai, but he had also collaborated with others with the aim of kidnapping her. Xiao Huayong had taken the opportunity to plant his own agents. While there weren't many infiltrators on the ship itself, his people had been waiting on small islands along the maritime route. When the ship reached the midpoint of its journey, they pursued under cover of night and, with inside help from the ship, easily boarded.
They were determined to take Shen Xihe's life. Xiao Huayong had also stationed his men around the islands. When the attackers boarded the ship, his forces moved in and, aside from those close to Shen Xihe, eliminated both sides to create chaos.
The final outcome was that half of the men sent by the Youning Emperor were lost before they could even act against Shen Xihe, while Xiao Changtai's forces were completely wiped out. Xiao Huayong didn't mention how many of his own men were lost, but it was unlikely they emerged unscathed.
After discussing serious matters, Xiao Huayong devoted an entire page solely to expressions of longing, only adding as an afterthought at the end that Bu Shulin was safe.
Reading to the end, Shen Xihe couldn't help but shake her head with a wry smile.
"Xiao Changtai does have some skill, actually finding collaborators daring enough to conspire with him to assassinate the Crown Princess." Shen Xihe's mind quickly ran through the faces of the various princes.
Attempting to kill Shen Xihe at this time was undoubtedly framing the Youning Emperor as the scapegoat. Few would dare to openly implicate His Majesty.
However, since the Emperor had begun to suspect Xiao Huayong, the other princes must have started doubting him too. Whether Xiao Huayong was truly biding his time or not, their priority was to remove him from the position of Crown Prince. Inciting conflict between the Emperor and the Crown Prince was undoubtedly the best method.
Whoever was behind this must have ambitions for the throne.
Aside from the Twelfth Prince, Prince Yan Xiao Changgeng, everyone was suspect.
Given Xiao Changqing's way of doing things, he would disdain collaborating with Xiao Changtai. Xiao Changqing's attitude represented Xiao Changying's stance as well.
That left the Second Prince, Prince Zhao Xiao Changmin, and the Eighth Prince, Prince Jing Xiao Changyan as the most suspicious. Even Xiao Changtian, who had Li Yanyan behind him, couldn't be ruled out.
Among these three, both Xiao Changmin and Li Yanyan were capable of such deeds. As for Prince Jing... Shen Xihe knew little about him.
After pondering for a moment, Shen Xihe turned and asked, "Have we been in the shop for half an hour?"
Moyu nodded.Shen Xihe tucked away the letter and pushed the door open. She walked along the corridor, passing door after door, until she finally stopped before the room diagonally opposite hers—the farthest one across the elevated central hall. She gave Moyu a meaningful glance.
Stepping aside, she allowed Moyu to kick the door open and charge in with his sword drawn. Inside, a figure wearing a veiled hat engaged Moyu in combat.
Shen Xihe had smeared the protective talisman with Shilixiang—a fragrance blended from an exceptionally enduring floral scent that lingered persistently and could be tracked even from ten li away.
When Moyu knocked off the veiled hat, the person’s face was revealed—it was actually Xiao Changying!
(End of Chapter)
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