Chapter 506: Everything Concerning You Is Paramount
Xiao Huayong stood up and walked behind Shen Xihe, placing one hand on the armrest of her chair and the other on her shoulder: "The variety of fragrant spices in Youyou's hands is truly endless and impossible to guard against."
Previously, Xiao Huayong hadn't fully grasped the dangers of incense, with his deepest impressions being of sleep-inducing and aphrodisiac incense. After meeting Shen Xihe, he learned about incense that could attract or repel venomous snakes and beasts. Now married, his horizons had broadened even further.
Shen Xihe tilted her head slightly, a glimmer of amusement shining in her dark, luminous eyes: "The fragrant spices in my possession also include lethal ones. Would Your Highness care to try one?"
"Oh? How are they lethal?" Xiao Huayong leaned in as if enchanted, their temples nearly touching.
Shen Xihe stood up, pushed him away, and walked behind the screen. From her luggage, she retrieved a palm-sized porcelain container for rouge and powder: "This is an improved version of an incense formula from the Western Regions that can trigger asthma. It smells refreshing, making those with weak lungs particularly drawn to it. Even ordinary people feeling anxious or worried would find it appealing. The incense contains a poison that spreads through breath to the lungs."
"At first, there are no symptoms, but over time it causes coughing and sore throat. With prolonged exposure, one coughs up blood and eventually dies without cure. It corrodes the lungs through breath, making it impossible even for the most skilled physicians to determine how the poison specifically damages the lungs."
Xiao Huayong approached, took the small porcelain container from her hand, and opened it. As he brought it close to take a light sniff, Shen Xihe snatched it away before he could smell it, meeting his gaze with an angry expression.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Shen Xihe scolded.
The corners of his lips lifting, Xiao Huayong couldn't help but ask: "This incense wasn't originally prepared for me, was it?"
After all, he already coughed severely. If he were to use such incense, coughing until he spat blood and died, no one would likely suspect anything?
"Is this how you see me in Your Highness's eyes?" Shen Xihe retorted with a hollow smile.
She admitted that initially, being with Xiao Huayong was because she counted on his short life, which would minimize the impact on her. Additionally, his status as the legitimate heir made him the most valuable marriage candidate.
That was because he was originally fated to die young. If she had intended to eliminate the father and keep the child, would Xiao Huayong even have been an option?
She never planned too far ahead because distant futures were impossible to calculate with the people involved. Some people had never actively harmed her, and unless it truly came to a life-or-death situation, she wouldn't harbor murderous intentions without reason. She wasn't a benevolent person, but neither was she bloodthirsty.
Without cause, why would she plot to kill her own husband?
If, before marriage, not knowing whether he would prove worthy, she had already prepared to assassinate him at any time, and if her husband later discovered and opposed her murderous plans, wouldn't she be bringing disaster upon herself? What right would she have to claim she had been wronged?
"That's not what I meant." Seeing that Shen Xihe had misunderstood, Xiao Huayong quickly explained, "I meant to ask, if after our marriage, you and I were not of one mind, would you treat me this way?"
Shen Xihe's expression softened slightly: "That would depend on how opposed we were. If we each had our own goals but he didn't hinder me, why would I resort to harsh measures? If he became my enemy, I naturally wouldn't show mercy."
Chuckling softly, Xiao Huayong said: "My Youyou is quite benevolent."While others he did not know, compared to him, Shen Xihe was far more benevolent and kind.
Shen Xihe glanced at him, putting away the fragrant balm, but Xiao Huayong stopped her: "Youyou, give it to me."
"Give it to you?" Shen Xihe scrutinized him.
Xiao Huayong smiled innocently: "I know its potency and will certainly not let it harm me."
They were husband and wife, and Xiao Huayong had always been considerate and protective of her. Since he rarely asked her for anything, Shen Xihe felt she could not refuse. However, recalling his past misdeeds, she leisurely remarked, "If I don't give it, will Your Highness take it without asking again?"
He had stolen her handkerchief before and taken the cloak she made for the divine envoy. Unfazed by the teasing, Xiao Huayong even pretended to ponder seriously for a moment before saying, "That depends on Youyou's mood. If Youyou is happy that day, I'll make my move."
Shen Xihe was both amused and exasperated by him. She directly shoved it into his hand: "Here, take it."
The porcelain dish seemed to retain the warmth from her fingertips. When he looked up, she had already walked away, the fluttering hem of her robe leaving a faint, elusive fragrance that made Xiao Huayong unconsciously close his eyes, smile, and take a deep breath.
After the morning meal, Shen Xihe put on her veil hat and left the inn. Xiao Huayong had arranged a courtyard here, but Shen Xihe did not stay there, instead sending Xiao Huayong off to reside there himself.
Her first step was to have Moyu send a message to Zhenzhu, instructing her to make the Shen Xihe at the relay station appear suspicious in front of Xiao Changfeng. Once Xiao Changfeng began to probe the people at the relay station, Shen Xihe would then let him know her actual whereabouts.
Matters had to be handled step by step; rushing would not do. After finishing her evening meal, Shen Xihe was about to read for a while before resting when Xiao Huayong, whom she had already sent away, showed up at her door again. It was late at night, and coupled with Xiao Huayong's unrestrained advances, Shen Xihe could not help but be wary. She instinctively warned, "Don't you dare misbehave!"
Xiao Huayong originally had business to discuss; otherwise, he would not have broken his promise to Shen Xihe not to disturb her. Seeing her defensive posture, some amorous thoughts flickered in his mind for a moment, but this time he had more important matters. He also knew well that if he acted recklessly again, she might truly resort to harsh measures against him.
Clearing his throat lightly, Xiao Huayong said, "Is there something you haven't told me?"
Shen Xihe glanced at him suspiciously, confirming that he was not just making conversation to distract her. Only then did she carefully think it over but truly could not recall anything she might have omitted telling him. "I don't know what you're referring to, and I don't like guessing. Just say it directly."
Xiao Huayong felt a slight disappointment in his heart. He had hoped she would take the initiative to tell him about the assassination attempt. Clearly, it was not that she did not hold him in regard, but rather that she did not consider the matter significant at all. To her, anything she could resolve on her own was not worth mentioning. He needed to change this habit of hers.
He did not want her to become dependent on him, but he hoped she would grow accustomed to sharing everything with him.
"About the assassination attempt, I know you've handled it thoroughly, but I still wish to hear it from you directly. That way, I won't overthink or worry that you might be injured and hiding it," he said. Since she preferred directness, he would be direct.
Shen Xihe indeed felt that since the matter was already resolved, there was no need to discuss it further: "Are these things so crucial to you?"Xiao Huayong nodded emphatically with great certainty: "Anything related to you is of utmost importance to me."
His solemn demeanor made Shen Xihe abandon her insistence: "Very well, I shall remember that."
After my rehabilitation session today, I slipped and hit my knee. While I can still extend and bend my leg without issue, the pain is quite severe. Given that there's a needle inside my shin bone - about the thickness of a chopstick - extending up to the knee area, I'm particularly concerned. I can't focus properly now. I'll go to the hospital tomorrow for an X-ray to check whether the bone is injured or if there's any issue with the needle inside the bone. Once I confirm everything is fine, I'll return to writing, working all day to make up for these past two days' missed chapters.
I believe it should be nothing serious - just need to settle my mind. Hoping everything is alright.
(End of Chapter)
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