Xiao Huayong was a man of insatiable desires, and they had never deliberately avoided intimacy. Though Shen Xihe no longer harbored her initial thoughts of hoping for Xiao Huayong's early demise to raise their child alone while contending with wolves, she still wished to have a child soon.
A child belonging to her and Xiao Huayong. If Xiao Huayong could safely overcome his tribulations, having an heir would bring stability to their future. If he failed to survive, at least in his final days, he would have experienced the joy of fatherhood, perhaps leaving fewer regrets.
Unexpectedly, Shen Yueshan misunderstood his daughter's meaning and couldn't help but blurt out: "Could it be that the Crown Prince is truly... incapable?"
Just outside the door, Tianyuan—who had struggled to support Xiao Huayong there upon hearing of his father-in-law's return—and the Crown Prince himself, about to knock, froze: ...
Shen Xihe was momentarily stunned before reacting with anger: "Father, what nonsense are you spouting!"
The northwest frontier had rugged customs where such remarks weren't as taboo as in the capital. Shen Xihe's fury stemmed from her father's baseless suspicion of Xiao Huayong's...
Never before shouted at by his daughter like this, Shen Yueshan felt somewhat aggrieved: "I... I just saw his delicate skin, pale as powdered jade..."
Before he could finish, he met his daughter's death glare and awkwardly fell silent.
Standing at the doorway, Xiao Huayong unconsciously touched his face, then lifted his sleeve to examine his skin, finding himself somewhat unable to refute his father-in-law's words.
He truly wanted to turn and leave, but knowing Shen Yueshan's sharp hearing would have already detected his arrival, departure would only make things worse. He could only signal Tianyuan, who finally knocked.
Mo Yuan, guarding the room, announced: "Your Highness, Crown Princess, the Crown Prince has arrived."
He too was apprehensive, having overheard the conversation inside. But since the Crown Prince wasn't an outsider, he had intended to announce his arrival only when he reached the door. Little did he expect the Prince would suddenly raise his voice with such a remark.
Shen Xihe was about to reprimand Shen Yueshan when the announcement made her cheeks burn. Even as Xiao Huayong entered supported by Tianyuan, she refused to meet his gaze.
Shen Yueshan remained completely unfazed by what he had said: "This time, we owe our success to your planning."
"It was merely my duty," Xiao Huayong replied humbly.
Neither showed any embarrassment, as if one had never spoken those words and the other had never heard them.
"How are your injuries?" Shen Yueshan inquired with concern.
Shen Yueshan already knew how Xiao Huayong had been wounded, including details of his martial arts skills—all vividly relayed by Mo Yuan's correspondence. This wasn't due to employing Mo Yuan as a spy, but rather his concern for the situation here. All of Mo Yuan's reports had been approved by Shen Xihe.
"Thank you for your concern, Father-in-law. I am not seriously injured," Xiao Huayong answered meekly. Noticing Shen Xihe's discomfort, he added to Shen Yueshan, "Youyou, I have some matters I wish to discuss privately with Father-in-law."
Already unsure how to face Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe promptly seized the opportunity to leave: "I shall check on the kitchen."
She felt no curiosity about what these two men needed to discuss behind her back. Men always had conversations unsuitable for women's ears. One was her biological father who treasured her like precious pearls, the other her husband who had entrusted her with his life—she would never suspect either of them.After Shen Xihe had left, Xiao Huayong spoke frankly to Shen Yueshan: "Father-in-law, please allow me to explain. Your son-in-law and Youyou will not have children for the next few years."
Though Shen Xihe was knowledgeable about fragrant spices, she had little understanding of medical principles. The contraceptive medicine Xiao Huayong obtained from Linghu Zheng was used on himself, so even Zhenzhu remained unaware of it.
"What do you mean by this?" Shen Yueshan asked.
"The palace is not safe. With the rumors of my short lifespan circulating, if Youyou were to bear my child, she would surely become the target of public criticism. Moreover, Master Linghu also stated that it cannot be confirmed whether the toxins in my body would be passed on to our offspring." Xiao Huayong spoke with some shame. There were too many uncertainties about his condition, and he truly should not have kept her by his side out of selfishness. He might not even be able to give her a healthy child, yet he couldn't bear to push her away, nor could he endure watching her marry someone else. This was his deep regret toward Shen Xihe.
"Are you saying that you truly carry a Unique Poison within you? And the rumors of your short life are not false?" Shen Yueshan's eyes instantly turned sharp.
"Yes." Xiao Huayong bowed his head.
"You—" Shen Yueshan was so enraged that he raised his hand, wanting to strike him and send him flying.
In the end, he did not act. Immediately, his mind fell into disarray. Despite his verbal criticisms of Xiao Huayong, he actually held him in high regard. After learning of Xiao Huayong's martial skills, he had naturally assumed these were part of his disguise and dismissed them as false information without verification. Now, discovering they were true, he was angry at Xiao Huayong but even more furious with himself!
How could he have been so negligent about his daughter's lifelong matter!
"Does Youyou know?" Shen Yueshan pressed.
"Your son-in-law has concealed nothing from Youyou," Xiao Huayong replied.
Shen Yueshan's anger deflated instantly. How could he not understand his own daughter? Shen Xihe knew everything yet still resolutely married Xiao Huayong. Perhaps initially, she had indeed valued the truth, but now, observing coldly, he realized his daughter's feelings for her husband were not merely the calculated motives she had claimed before marriage.
"Is there a cure for the poison in your body?" Whether initially or now, Shen Yueshan did not want his daughter to become a widow at a young age.
"Doctor Qi says there are some leads," Xiao Huayong answered.
Shen Yueshan had just personally experienced Xie Yunhuai's abilities and knew a bit about his character. Xie Yunhuai would not make such a statement without confidence, which gave Shen Yueshan some comfort.
"Enough. I can't control you young people," Shen Yueshan decided to set the matter aside and let them be.
He knew his daughter well—she was by no means a weak woman who could not endure life's separations or death. Moreover, the world was full of unexpected turns; even a perfectly healthy person might meet with sudden disaster tomorrow. Rather than worrying about what might happen three or five years from now, it was better to focus on the present.
"How long do you intend to have Yungan besiege the Turks?" Shen Yueshan shifted to serious matters, as Shen Yungan was still surrounding the Turks.
"That depends entirely on Brother-in-law's intentions," Xiao Huayong said. The duration of the siege was entirely up to Shen Yungan's discretion, as Xiao Huayong had made no arrangements.In truth, the Turks were already dealing with internal strife, but upon hearing the "news of Shen Yueshan’s death" and being incited by Xiao Changtai, they succumbed to his temptations and rashly launched an attack—essentially digging their own grave. Shen Yungan stirred up further unrest behind the scenes while besieging them head-on, leaving them utterly at his mercy.
However, completely annihilating them was impractical, as there were numerous political considerations at play.
Shen Yungan likely aimed to secure the greatest possible advantages, such as warhorses and tributes!
If you enjoy "When My Flower Blooms, All Others Wither," please bookmark it for updates.
OpenNovel