Chapter 507: Deliberately Revealing a Flaw
Xiao Huayong felt helpless at Shen Xihe's lack of romantic sensibility, yet her willingness to change and consider his feelings filled his heart with inexplicable joy.
Though inwardly satisfied, Xiao Huayong dared not linger. Despite Shen Xihe's seemingly unguarded demeanor, as husband and wife, how could he not notice her peripheral gaze fixed on his every move?
When Xiao Huayong stepped forward, Shen Xihe swiftly retreated a step. He had merely wanted to draw closer for an intimate farewell, but her wary posture reminded him of that released fawn—equally endearing.
"Rest early. If you need me, just sound the bone whistle." Xiao Huayong chuckled softly before slipping silently out the window.
Shen Xihe exhaled in relief, hurriedly washed up, and before retiring, specifically instructed Moyu: "Even if the Crown Prince comes in the middle of the night, do not allow him entry without my permission."
"Acknowledged." Moyu bowed in assent.
Only then did Shen Xihe lie down peacefully, drifting into sweet dreams.
Meanwhile, at the posthouse, the Crown Princess suddenly fell ill. Zhenzhu, the medical maid attending the Crown Princess, knocked on the traveling physician's door to fetch some medicinal ingredients. When certain herbs proved unavailable, Xiao Changfeng—currently in charge of their safety—had to be notified. Xiao Changfeng dispatched people to purchase medicines from the city pharmacies and accompanied the physician to the Crown Princess's bedchamber, waiting outside the screen for the diagnosis results.
After the examination, Xiao Changfeng keenly noticed the physician's troubled expression and asked with concern, "How is Her Highness the Crown Princess?""
The physician's eyes flickered before he bowed. "Reporting to Your Highness, the Crown Princess suffers from deficiency-cold. This humble official has reviewed Miss Zhenzhu's prescription—the medication is perfectly targeted. With Miss Zhenzhu's care, this official would only be displaying amateurish skills. Her Highness will surely recover swiftly."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Changfeng's eyebrows rose slightly. He glanced at the hazy silhouette behind the screen, sensing something amiss yet unable to pinpoint it immediately. Moreover, it was inappropriate to linger in Shen Xihe's chamber late at night, given the compromising circumstances.
"It is well that the Crown Princess is unharmed." Xiao Changfeng replied respectfully. "This prince resides next door. Should Her Highness require anything, simply send someone to summon me."
"Thank you, Xun Wang." The Crown Princess's voice emerged hoarse and feeble.
After Xiao Changfeng departed, his retinue followed closely. When the physician reached the end of the corridor near Xiao Changfeng's temporary quarters and bowed to take leave, Xiao Changfeng seized his arm. "This prince feels unwell. Physician, why not enter and examine my pulse?"
Forced into Xiao Changfeng's room, the physician grew visibly uneasy. Xiao Changfeng leisurely seated himself at the table, poured a cup of hot water with deliberate slowness, then lifted his gaze to the anxious physician. "How is Her Highness the Crown Princess truly?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, the Crown Princess is indeed unharmed. With proper medication, she should be able to rise tomorrow." the physician answered.
"Oh?" Xiao Changfeng's tone carried meaningful skepticism. "If so, why did you appear flustered after examining Her Highness?"
"Your Highness, this official did not—"
"Think carefully before you speak. I detest being deceived," Xiao Changfeng interjected sternly.
The physician's heart sank, and he promptly knelt. "Your Highness, the Crown Princess's health is truly unimpaired, but..."
"But what?" Xiao Changfeng pressed."Your Highness, each individual possesses a unique pulse pattern that rarely undergoes significant changes within a short period. When I accompanied Your Highness to examine Her Highness the Crown Princess two days ago, I detected a pulse entirely different from tonight's reading. The strength and quality of one's pulse vary greatly depending on their physical condition."
The physician spoke with extreme caution, but Xiao Changfeng, being perceptive, grasped the underlying implication: "Are you suggesting that the Crown Princess's pulse readings over these past few days differ so drastically they seem to belong to different individuals?"
The physician lowered his head in silence, his lack of rebuttal amounting to tacit agreement.
Xiao Changfeng's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. The Crown Princess had been swapped right under his watch—but why stage such an obvious scene tonight? Shouldn't they have concealed it instead?
The courier station wasn't locked down. If Zhenzhu and the others needed medicine, they could have discreetly sent someone to purchase it. Why involve the physician and, by extension, alert him? Had they quietly obtained the medicine, he wouldn't have suspected anything even if he found out tomorrow. The Crown Princess's maids appeared shrewd enough to realize this. Their actions seemed deliberately designed to inform him—through the physician—that the Crown Princess had been replaced.
"Have you ever seen the Crown Princess's face?" Xiao Changfeng asked.
"Your Highness, how would a lowly official like myself dare to gaze upon her exalted countenance?" the physician murmured.
The Crown Princess had been bedridden with curtains drawn during both visits. As a subordinate, he wasn't permitted to look up while taking her pulse, so he never saw her features.
"Go rest. Keep this matter buried," Xiao Changfeng dismissed him with a wave.
The physician nearly scrambled away in his haste, bowing hastily before retreating.
Xiao Changfeng paid no mind to the physician's undignified flight. His thoughts were consumed by Shen Xihe's mysterious scheme.
Before the Emperor dispatched him, he'd confided his suspicion that Shen Yueshan's disappearance might be a ruse.
Xiao Changfeng had his own judgment. It wasn't personal against Shen Yueshan—anyone familiar with his illustrious military record would doubt he could be ambushed into vanishing without a trace. Liangzhou was already close to the northwest, terrain Shen Yueshan knew intimately. It seemed impossible no clues had emerged by now.
Then there was the large-scale assassination attempt on Shen Xihe's voyage to Lanzhou. The Emperor noted the attackers' origins were complex, involving at least three factions. All signs pointed to this being far from simple, so Xiao Changfeng remained extremely vigilant.
The next day, the Crown Princess indeed rose from bed. Xiao Changfeng found her sitting alone in the courier station's rear courtyard, pale and listless, without any attendants. He approached, and she lifted her gaze to him.
Xiao Changfeng clasped his hands in salute, swallowing the probing questions on his tongue. Instead, he said, "The wind is brisk outside. Your Highness has just recovered from serious illness and should take care not to catch cold. Why are you unattended?"
"I felt troubled... I dismissed them," the Crown Princess replied, her voice carrying a sickly hoarseness.
Though Xiao Changfeng had seen the Crown Princess a few times, they'd only properly spoken during Shen Yingluo's coming-of-age ceremony, when she intervened as host after Yu Sangning's civet cat was injured. Beyond that, they had no interactions. For now, he couldn't determine whether this woman was genuine or not.But with the deliberate act of having the physician inform him of the Crown Princess's identity earlier, followed by the coincidence of encountering her alone, Xiao Changfeng felt it was not simple.
(End of Chapter)
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