Soon after, Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong received news that His Majesty intended to arrange a marriage between Xiao Changfeng and Shen Yingluo. These past few days, Shen Xihe had been casting subtle, appraising glances at Xiao Changfeng whenever she saw him.
Each time he encountered such a look from Shen Xihe, Xiao Changfeng couldn't help but feel uneasy, as if an ominous premonition were enveloping him.
Having followed Shen Xihe all this way, Xiao Changfeng had come to understand the Crown Princess quite well. He remained constantly vigilant, fearing she might make a move against him. In this world, there was likely nothing she wouldn't dare to do. The Crown Prince always deferred to her in everything, while the Northwest King and the Northwest heir apparent would gladly lay all the treasures of the world at her feet.
Such extreme pampering easily breeds willfulness, and Shen Xihe was indeed willful. Yet, whatever she did, she always managed to handle the consequences herself, never needing the Northwest King or the heir apparent to clean up after her. Even when it came to the Crown Prince, aside from occasionally making use of him, she never relied on his authority to get things done.
The more he observed this, the more Xiao Changfeng found himself growing inwardly apprehensive of Shen Xihe, though he couldn't pinpoint when it started.
"My Youyou, so beautiful, yet someone fears you. How unreasonable," Xiao Huayong remarked, watching as Xiao Changfeng averted his gaze from Shen Xihe and hurried away. Shedding his frail demeanor, he cupped Shen Xihe's face and couldn't resist planting a light kiss on her lips.
Shen Xihe pulled his hand away and shot him a sidelong glance. "His Majesty intends to betroth Huaiyang to him."
"A good thing," Xiao Huayong replied. He had received the news earlier than Shen Xihe but hadn't informed her, as the matter wasn't urgent enough for him to show off, and he knew she would learn of it soon enough.
He didn't know Shen Yingluo well, but if she were smart, she would wait for responses from her father, brother, and sister before making a decision. If she lacked even that much discernment, she wouldn't be worth their concern. They could simply regard her as His Majesty's pawn. The only difference would be that, if she followed the rules, they might show her some leniency when dealing with His Majesty and his followers.
Shen Xihe fixed her gaze back on Xiao Huayong. "A good thing?"
"This cousin of mine is different from his father. He knows better where his interests lie," Xiao Huayong explained with a smile.
"What do you mean by 'knows better'?" Shen Xihe didn't quite grasp his implication.
"It means that while he is loyal to His Majesty now, he won't offend any of the princes. Naturally, in the future, the last person he'd want to cross is you," Xiao Huayong said, the smile in his eyes deepening. "Even if we were to take up arms against His Majesty, he would still charge into battle for the Emperor but wouldn't resort to underhanded tactics against us. Each serves their own master. The victor becomes king, the defeated a bandit. If His Majesty wins, he remains a loyal warrior. If we win, it will depend on our magnanimity."
Shen Xihe understood. Xiao Changfeng was a man who knew how to leave himself a way out. As His Majesty's subject, he would devote himself entirely to his duties, follow orders faithfully, and remain unwaveringly loyal. When dynasties change, such men rely on luck. If they encounter a generous new ruler, they would serve him with the same loyalty as they did their former master.
"So, you think your sister will agree to this marriage?" Otherwise, why would she be scrutinizing Xiao Changfeng so closely?"The Shen family treats her with lukewarm indifference, yet she lacks the resolve to defy Your Majesty outright." Shen Xihe was certain Shen Yingluo would accept this marriage arrangement. "Moreover, she is clever enough to recognize the debt she owes for Your Majesty's years of care. She knows full well that Father, Brother, and I value loyalty deeply. She would never rashly turn against Your Majesty—even if she were to eventually break ties, she would first repay every ounce of kindness she received."
Shen Xihe had a sharp eye for character. The reason she had even disclosed matters about Shu Fei to Shen Yingluo was because she noticed the latter held an inexplicable reverence and admiration for Father, herself, and even Shen Yungan, with whom she had limited contact. Shen Yingluo viewed the three of them as almost saintly figures, driving her to strive relentlessly to become a true member of the Shen clan—someone worthy of the Shen name.
Whether in virtue or intellect, she pushed herself to improve.
Xiao Huayong had never paid attention to Shen Yingluo nor understood her, but upon hearing Shen Xihe's words, he revealed an indescribable expression. "Could it be due to Father-in-law's bloodline?"
While people might be born with inherent intelligence or foolishness, Xiao Huayong believed one's character was shaped by their upbringing and the people around them during formative years. Shen Yingluo had grown up in the capital, with a sharp-tongued, volatile birth mother at her side and an unfathomable maternal uncle nearby. How had she avoided becoming a paranoid, gloomy, and scheming young woman? Instead, she had developed into someone broad-minded, perceptive, and honorable.
She bore not a trace of resentment toward Shen Yueshan, who had abandoned her without a second thought, but instead regarded him with wholehearted admiration and respect.
Similarly, she held no hostility toward her elder sister, who had enjoyed their father's undivided affection since childhood, treating her with nothing but reverence.
"I don't know how to answer that question either," Shen Xihe admitted. She too had been curious, even suspecting at one point whether Shen Yingluo was merely hiding her true nature exceptionally well—because, according to Xiao Huayong's reasoning, that would have been her expected disposition.
People need guidance, especially when their minds are still immature; otherwise, they easily grow extreme or corrupt.
After observing Shen Yingluo, Shen Xihe concluded she was not concealing her true self but was genuinely kind-hearted—and inexplicably reverent toward their family of three.
For the first time, these two exceptionally astute individuals encountered something that defied logic yet undeniably existed. They exchanged a glance and couldn't help but share a knowing smile.
"How long have you two been married, yet you're still this lovey-dovey?" Shen Yungan happened to pass by and couldn't resist teasing his sister and brother-in-law. Though he acknowledged Xiao Huayong's merits, seeing his precious sister smile so sweetly at another man stirred a sour discomfort in him—a feeling entirely separate from his approval.
It wasn't just Xiao Huayong; even his own father had been subject to his childish jealousy since childhood.
He knew it was a flaw, but he had no desire to cure it—nor could he even if he tried.
Seeing her brother's sulky expression and recalling his past squabbles with their father, Shen Xihe had no wish for Shen Yungan to behave similarly toward Xiao Huayong. So she shared their earlier puzzlement with him.
She had intended to divert his attention, but instead, Shen Yungan's smile vanished abruptly. After a moment of silence, he said quietly, "The wet nurse by her side... was our mother's person."
Shen Xihe stared at him in shock, utterly astonished.
"I only learned of it last year..." Shen Yungan sighed softly.Shen Xihe had always harbored a lingering discomfort about Shen Yingluo's existence. After returning from the capital, he grew increasingly dissatisfied with her. When Shen Yueshan learned of this, he took the initiative to discuss the matter with him.
"Before Mother passed away, she had already arranged everything..." Shen Yungan spoke, his admiration for his mother deepening further.
Tao Shi was a woman of remarkable intelligence, no less brilliant than the present-day Shen Xihe. However, having been raised in a scholarly family and nurtured on the teachings of sages and virtuous texts, her wisdom differed from that of Shen Xihe—who had been raised by Shen Yungan and Shen Yueshan without the slightest constraint, daring to rival even the most accomplished young men.
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