Shen Xihe stared blankly in the direction where Xiao Huayong had disappeared. She remained dazed for quite some time, until her vision blurred in the pale sunlight, then slowly lowered her gaze and sat back down, looking utterly disheartened.
It had only been three months since her grand wedding with Xiao Huayong. Yet his actions during these three months made Shen Xihe acutely aware that she could no longer maintain the same aloofness and self-absorption she possessed before marrying him. She could no longer utter those cold, ruthless, yet clear-headed words like: "The kind of person I am was made clear to you before our marriage. Feeling aggrieved now would be no different from slapping your own face."
She recalled his recent words—that given some quiet time to himself, he could sort things out.
How much grievance was concealed within those words? It reminded Shen Xihe of a lone wolf on the grasslands, fighting single-handedly and alone, splattered with blood merely to survive. After being covered in wounds, it could only seek a deserted corner to lick its injuries in solitude.
It was the wolf king—even if battered and bruised, it would never bend its spine. At all times, it faced any living creature with majestic dignity. Yet it too had its vulnerabilities, moments when its wounds were too numerous to heal, all of which it buried deep within its heart.
What seemed impenetrable to swords and spears was actually boundless loneliness coalescing into a powerful force of self-healing.
With no one trustworthy, no one willing to offer redemption, it could only forcibly swallow all pain and suffering, growing increasingly numb to it all...
At this thought, Shen Xihe abruptly stood up and hurried after Xiao Huayong. Her moon-white sheer silk skirt fluttered in the wind, brushing past flowering branches and emerald leaves, like a wisp of faint cloud at the horizon—here one moment and gone the next, leaving no trace to be found.
When Shen Xihe caught up, Tianyuan, who had received his orders, had no choice but to steel himself and step forward, putting on a show of stopping her: "Crown Princess, His Highness has requested solitude and wishes not to be disturbed by anyone..."
Tianyuan inwardly scorned the Crown Prince. Wasn't His Highness afraid that if he overacted, the Crown Princess might actually turn away and leave in a huff? How would the Crown Prince handle that situation? Wouldn't he ultimately have to swallow his pride and return to coax the Crown Princess?
Tianyuan never believed the Crown Prince had any dignity when it came to the Crown Princess, yet he also felt that turning and leaving would be more in character for her.
However, he didn't know that Xiao Huayong was gambling on his position in Shen Xihe's heart. Her temperament was too elusive, leaving Xiao Huayong uncertain whether her current kindness toward him stemmed from gratitude, a principle of repaying respect with respect, or whether she truly felt differently about him now than before.
The typically confident and composed Xiao Huayong was always apprehensive around Shen Xihe. Lacking a sense of spiritual belonging, he could only cautiously probe bit by bit. If the results of his probing proved unsatisfactory, he didn't mind swallowing his pride to coax Shen Xihe—just as Tianyuan thought, in front of Shen Xihe, he possessed nothing and desired nothing.
Shen Xihe's indifferent gaze fell upon the arm blocking her path. She simply stared expressionlessly at this limb.
Suddenly, Tianyuan felt a chill run down his arm—his intuition warned him that if he didn't withdraw it immediately, he might lose it. But the Crown Prince had ordered him to put on a convincing act—how could he disobey? Oh, how difficult his position was!
"Tianyuan, I have some matters to discuss with you," Biyu quickly interjected, pulling Tianyuan aside.
Staggering from being yanked away, Tianyuan felt deeply moved inwardly: Wuwuwuwu, Biyu is the most understanding young woman in this world!Without Tianyuan's obstruction, Shen Xihe hurried forward into the depths of the forest. At the end, she saw dense bamboo groves arranged in an arc, with a layer of small pebbles on the ground forming a Taiji diagram. Xiao Huayong stood upon the two polarities, hands clasped behind his back, slightly tilting his head as he gazed at the row of bamboo ahead.
The emerald bamboos stood densely, piercing the sky like spears, their tops arching high and bending back as if forming an invisible cage that trapped his solitary figure.
Shen Xihe approached silently, wrapping her arms around him from behind and gently resting her cheek against his back. Feeling Xiao Huayong's spine instantly stiffen, Shen Xihe inexplicably felt her own chest tighten, swallowing the words that had reached her lips.
A clear breeze wound through the bamboo, while floral scents clung to the branches.
Xiao Huayong allowed Shen Xihe to hold and lean against him, both remaining silent for a long while.
After what seemed like an eternity, Shen Xihe finally spoke: "Beichen, my earlier words were careless and not what I truly meant. I don't know how to explain myself to ease your mind. In our initial marriage arrangement, you developed feelings while I had ulterior motives.
From the very beginning, our relationship was destined to be an unequal pursuit.
I was born emotionally detached, and as I grew older, my heart became increasingly still like stagnant water.
If you ask me whether you are important to me at this moment, I can tell you: yes.
But if you ask me how important, I cannot say.
I never imagined that my heart, which I believed was as solid as rock and impervious to others, would develop cracks because of you in just three short months..."
Shen Xihe was an honest person, never concealing her desires or flaws. She wouldn't refuse to face her stirred emotions now, just because six months earlier she had firmly claimed indifference toward Xiao Huayong.
She openly acknowledged her concern, care, and involuntary affection for Xiao Huayong.
These words were enough to make Xiao Huayong rejoice, yet not sufficient to satisfy him. But he understood the importance of moderation, grasping the hands encircling his waist without further words, simply enveloping her firmly with his warmth.
After this minor marital dispute, their feelings for each other deepened considerably.
As time passed, the drought in the Dengzhou region grew increasingly severe. This year was destined to be turbulent.
Several neighboring provinces were affected, though not as catastrophically as Dengzhou where complete crop failure was inevitable. Still, the forecasts were grim. With the court wholly focused on Dengzhou's severe drought, no one bothered to make trouble for Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong.
Shen Xihe had asked Shen Yueshan to find someone, and he had succeeded. This master of celestial predictions owed Shen Yueshan a favor. He forecasted that rain wouldn't come to Dengzhou until August.
With a full month remaining until the predicted date, Dengzhou's fields were already so parched that water had become more valuable than rice!
"Beichen, we need to find a way to alleviate Dengzhou's urgent crisis," Shen Xihe urgently sought out Xiao Huayong after obtaining the date.
Xiao Huayong had also received predictions from the Imperial Observatory, which likewise indicated rain in August, though their forecast differed by three to five days from Shen Xihe's.
Regardless of which was accurate, both suggested Dengzhou would have to wait at least a month for rain.
"Today, the Eighth Prince has requested permission to personally lead relief efforts in Dengzhou," Xiao Huayong set down two scrolls. "Last night, the Dengzhou magistrate's residence was set ablaze by a combined force of disaster victims and bandits. The news arrived this morning, and Your Majesty was furious, immediately granting the Eighth Prince's request.""Has it really reached the point of civil unrest after just two months of drought?" Shen Xihe found it somewhat peculiar.
"I've sent Little Twelve to accompany Little Eight. Once they enter Dengzhou, we'll naturally learn what's happening." Xiao Huayong's lips curved slightly, yet his eyes held no trace of a smile.
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