Bu Shulin's words made Shen Xihe lower her head with a smile: "So far, I have indeed been as you said, never wrongfully harming an innocent. But in the future..."
"You won't in the future either." Bu Shulin cut her off, looking at her with an appreciative gaze. "You're not as ruthless and fierce as you think you are—it's just that your gentleness is hard for others to perceive."
Just like when she killed Huang Zhongsi, it was only for the sake of the innocent young lady violated by the eunuch, while others thought she was merely asserting authority over the Youning Emperor or eliminating a future nuisance.
Just like when she spared Yu Xiaodie—though a dead person would have been safest, and she should have silenced the witness to prevent future troubles.
After all, Yu Xiaodie had betrayed Xiao Shi to save her own skin—who's to say she wouldn't turn against Shen Xihe later for the same reason?
Yu Xiaodie helped her, and she saved Yu Xiaodie's life—that made them even.
Rather than calling her cold and ruthless, it was more accurate to say she never wished to owe anyone anything.
"Haven't you suffered enough losses at my hands?" Shen Xihe asked with a meaningful half-smile.
Bu Shulin coughed uncomfortably. "If you truly intended to frame me, it would've been simple when you saw me that day—pinning the theft of evidence on me. That way you wouldn't have drawn the resentment of Prince Lie and Prince Xin."
"Though you did extract three thousand sets of Fine Armor from me, you also genuinely helped me avoid the trouble of being forced to marry the princess."
Aside from the loyal servants who grew up with her, no one had ever considered her a good person.
Bu Shulin's perspective felt refreshingly novel to her. "What about Chen Yi?"
"You can deal with him without reservations. The entire Xuanping Marquis household is rotten. Chen Yi may be highly skilled in martial arts and well-versed in military strategy," Bu Shulin said coldly, "but he's reckless for glory, cold-blooded and bloodthirsty. He deliberately sent people to brutally murder Tibetan merchants to provoke conflict and advance his career."
The cunning part was that he always eliminated everyone involved during battles, leaving no evidence behind.
Otherwise, her father would have court-martialed him long ago. The problem was he had merits in suppressing rebellions and killing enemies. If not for the Prince of Shunan keeping him in check, who knows what state Shunan would be in now.
"Two years ago, he even petitioned the Emperor, claiming my father was unfair in rewards and punishments, deliberately suppressing his achievements." Bu Shulin grew angry just thinking about it. "I suspect he was specifically sent by His Majesty to Shunan to cause trouble for my father."
In their eyes, the Youning Emperor had many flaws—cold and selfish, power-hungry, an unreliable scoundrel—but having maintained the throne for nearly twenty years, he was certainly no simple fool. His understanding of employing people was profound, and he couldn't possibly be unaware of Chen Yi's true nature.
"So it seems I'm helping your father eliminate a serious threat," Shen Xihe raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you gift me another two thousand sets of Fine Armor as gratitude?"
Bu Shulin: "..."
She was wrong, truly!
How could she have been so moved in the moment to pour her heart out to this young woman who had more schemes than a sieve has holes?
Knowing when she was outmatched, Bu Shulin immediately made her escape: "Urgent matters at my residence—I take my leave!"
Watching Bu Shulin vanish in a flash, Shen Xihe couldn't help but laugh with genuine pleasure.
"Ah, Sister Biyu, if only Worldly Son Bu were a real gentleman," Ziyu whispered to Biyu in the outer room after witnessing this. Since Linglong's betrayal, the princess has rarely been happy. The few times she has smiled recently were mostly because of Worldly Son Bu."Biyu glanced at Ziyu: "If Worldly Son Bu were a true gentleman, the Princess wouldn't be so familiar with her."
"That's true..." Ziyu hung her head dejectedly.
Shen Xihe pretended not to hear their murmuring and instead summoned Mo Yuan, giving instructions regarding arrangements for the Chen family.
A few days later, Mo Yuan reported to her: "Princess, someone is already setting a trap for Chen Yi."
"Someone?" Shen Xihe was both surprised and alert. "Who?"
"This subordinate is incompetent and couldn't trace their origins." Mo Yuan bowed his head in shame.
"At this time, why would anyone target the Marquis of Xuanping's household?" Shen Xihe was utterly perplexed.
Before taking action against someone, she always made sure to understand them thoroughly. From what she knew, aside from herself, the Marquis of Xuanping's household had no enemies—at least none who wanted them executed and their property confiscated.
While Shen Xihe was pondering who might be behind the plot against the Marquis of Xuanping's household, the mastermind Xiao Huayong happened to receive Tianyuan's report that everything was arranged. At that moment, he was observing a pot of Creeping Gold Moss transplanted into a porcelain container: "It shouldn't wither easily. Find an opportunity to send it to the Princess Manor, saying it's my congratulatory gift for her relocation."
"...Your Highness, you're still supposed to be unconscious..." Tianyuan reminded softly.
Xiao Huayong's hand paused slightly: "Is there still no news about the Tianshan Snow Lotus?"
"None yet." It had only been a few days—it would take time just to reach Tianshan from here.
"But I miss her..." Xiao Huayong, having not seen Shen Xihe for a long time, suddenly wanted to see her.
Tianyuan remained as quiet as a chicken, not responding to the remark.
After pondering for a while, Xiao Huayong said: "It would be normal for me to show improvement for a day."
Tianyuan's lips twitched. Despite this, the next day he had to personally carry a pot of Creeping Gold Moss to the Princess Manor to find Shen Xihe.
"Princess, His Highness ordered me to deliver this to you." Tianyuan resignedly conveyed Xiao Huayong's message. "His Highness woke last night and seemed somewhat improved this morning. Upon hearing of your move to the Princess Manor, he sends this to congratulate your relocation."
"The Crown Prince has awakened?" Shen Xihe was slightly surprised. The awakening seemed rather sudden.
"His Highness has been delirious in his sleep for the past few days. The physicians said his consciousness was clear during those episodes, and yesterday he fully woke up." Tianyuan helplessly covered for his master's lie. "His Highness also said that if it's convenient for you, he requests your presence in the palace today. He has some matters to discuss with you, and given his poor health, he doesn't know when he might fall unconscious again."
Shen Xihe: ...
To this day, she still hadn't obtained Xiao Huayong's pulse records. She knew nothing about his actual condition. But what did he mean by "doesn't know when he might fall unconscious again"?
This Highness had previously been outside the palace and had only recently returned, making it difficult to gather any information. Did this mean he frequently lost consciousness?
Since the Crown Prince was so anxious, worried he might fall unconscious again before telling her whatever he deemed important, Shen Xihe naturally couldn't delay. That very afternoon, she entered the palace, first paying respects to the Empress Dowager before proceeding to the Eastern Palace.
When she arrived, palace attendants were already waiting at the Eastern Palace. They guided her inside, and as they approached a small courtyard, they heard Tianyuan's worried persuasion: "Your Highness, please wait for the Princess in your bedchamber." She has already entered the palace and will arrive shortly. You mustn't expose yourself to the wind...""Cough, cough... It's... it's fine... cough, cough." Xiao Huayong's voice was extremely weak, punctuated by intermittent coughing. "The room... cough, cough... reeks of medicine... might choke her... cough, cough... She dislikes the smell of medicine..."
Since when did she dislike the smell of medicine? Could it be that last time she entered the bedchamber, the pungent medicinal odor had provoked too strong a reaction from her?
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