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Shen Xihe slightly raised her brow. Xiao Wenxi had actually come to plead with her over a marriage matter.
How could she possibly make decisions for Xiao Wenxi? Princess Ruyang was still alive, and Xiao Wenxi was the Emperor’s niece—there was no reason for her to seek help from Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe maintained her composure and asked, “Is it that the person Miss Xiao admires requires my persuasion?”
Fortunately, her elder brother was already married; otherwise, Shen Xihe would have suspected Xiao Wenxi wanted to marry him. Could it be one of her cousins?
“Yes, only with the Crown Princess’s assistance. Only if the Crown Princess agrees can I achieve my wish.” Xiao Wenxi’s bright, limpid eyes were captivating, yet there was a flicker of something unusual in her gaze as she looked at Shen Xihe.
“Is he related to me?” Shen Xihe probed. “Miss Xiao, even if he is, I will not intervene. I do not wish for my dear ones to marry you merely out of obligation to spare my feelings. That would be unfair to both you and him.”
Xiao Wenxi had not expected Shen Xihe to misunderstand. She couldn’t help but laugh, then her expression turned somber as she studied Shen Xihe intently. “Your Highness, have you never considered that I might still harbor ambitions toward the Crown Prince?”
She had openly confessed her admiration for Xiao Huayong in front of Shen Xihe before. At that time, she could tell Shen Xihe was completely indifferent. But now, Shen Xihe was the Crown Princess, and the Crown Prince’s deep devotion to her was known throughout the capital. Could she still be entirely unmoved?
“What if Miss Xiao’s devotion remains unchanged?” Shen Xihe countered lightly. “Leaving aside that you share the same surname as Beichen, since you admire him, you must have some idea of what kind of person he is. If he were willing to take you in, you wouldn’t need to plead with me; if he were unwilling, your coming to me…”
“Is self-deception, right?” Xiao Wenxi finished with a self-mocking smile, though Shen Xihe left the words unspoken.
“No.” Shen Xihe’s bright eyes deepened, her pink lips parting. “It is courting death.”
She was certain that any woman who stirred trouble in Xiao Huayong’s name and brought it before her would be made to regret ever being born.
Xiao Wenxi shuddered. Her pupils contracted, and she seemed lost for a moment before she smiled bitterly. “I am no match for Your Highness… no match for Your Highness’s understanding of the Crown Prince.”
Perhaps she had only glimpsed a fleeting fragment of Xiao Huayong’s true nature, while Shen Xihe saw all of him—and he willingly laid it bare before her.
“If Miss Xiao has no other matters…”
“Aren’t you bothered?” Xiao Wenxi interrupted, something she had never done before, but she couldn’t help it. She had to ask, hoping that clarity might free her.
“Bothered?” Shen Xihe was momentarily puzzled by Xiao Wenxi’s meaning.
“Bothered that someone admires the Crown Prince,” Xiao Wenxi clarified.
How could anyone remain so unmoved by another woman’s affection for her husband? Could it be that Shen Xihe truly held no place for Xiao Huayong in her heart at all?
Knowing Xiao Huayong’s true nature, Xiao Wenxi had never believed the rumors that Shen Xihe saw him as a stepping stone or a pawn. How could Xiao Huayong be the incompetent fool those shortsighted people thought him?
Shen Xihe chuckled softly, shaking her head gently with a smile. “I am not bothered.”Not only was Xiao Wenxi stunned, even Xiao Huayong, who had just arrived at the doorway and raised his hand to stop Biyu from speaking, halted his steps and stood at the entrance with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Why don't you care?" Xiao Wenxi couldn't help raising her voice, her tone tinged with anger. The man she admired—the most unattainable person in this world, the one she devotedly loved—was clearly not valued by this woman.
What she treasured yet couldn't obtain, others discarded as worthless!
Facing Xiao Wenxi's questioning and the reproach in her eyes, Shen Xihe remained composed. "Why do you admire Beichen, Miss Xiao?"
Uncertain why Shen Xihe turned the question back to her, Xiao Wenxi didn't conceal her feelings. Her admiration for Xiao Huayong was nothing to be ashamed of, and she had never harmed anyone because of it. She answered frankly, "If the Crown Princess asks why I admire him, I cannot explain. Admiration is simply admiration. Perhaps it's... his noble conduct like a dragon roaming a lake; his elegance as fragrant as orchids, his dignified grace."
Though Xiao Wenxi used only twelve characters to describe Xiao Huayong, her praise overflowed from every word. Her yearning for him had reached an intoxicating level.
"Indeed, he is as you described—a person as radiant as the bright moon." Shen Xihe showed no displeasure at Xiao Wenxi's admiration or the infatuation in her eyes. "When the bright moon hangs in the sky, thousands gaze upon it. Some feel ashamed for daring to hope, while others foolishly dream of holding it in their arms. Yet the moon belongs only to one night sky—others cannot touch it. Since I already possess it, why should I care if distant admirers steal a few more glances?"
"If you must worry, there's only one way to find peace of mind."
"What way?" Xiao Wenxi asked.
"Shroud its pure radiance, dim its brilliant light, let the pearl gather dust and the bright moon grow dim. Then no one would covet it anymore."
Xiao Wenxi instinctively stood up, staring at Shen Xihe in disbelief.
Shen Xihe smoothed her sleeves and lifted her cup, taking a sip of peach blossom drink. "If you adore his magnificent brilliance, how can you resent him for being too radiant, for attracting others' admiration?"
Yes, she admired Xiao Huayong precisely because he shone like the bright moon, drawing all eyes. But if he could capture her gaze today, he could capture others' too. If she worried about such things, how could she ever live in peace?
"Miss Xiao, I don't mind those in this world who admire him as you do—not because he means nothing to me." Shen Xihe had always been straightforward and unpretentious, speaking her mind clearly. "But because I know I am worthy of him. No one in this world is more qualified to stand by his side than I am. I also trust him—amidst countless temptations and admirers swarming like carp crossing a river, no one can compare to me."
"If he were fickle and inconstant, he wouldn't be worth fighting other young ladies over."
Xiao Wenxi stood across the table from Shen Xihe, staring blankly at the woman seated calmly before her. Today Shen Xihe wore a light white silk skirt with a pale purple shawl draped over her shoulders. The skirt spread around her, the golden-thread embroidered Eucommia leaves appearing vivid and lifelike.
She herself was as resilient and composed as the Eucommia leaf—able to bloom in the harsh autumn, standing proud in the bitter winter. Her entire being exuded the steadiness of an unmovable mountain, carrying an ancient and mysterious aura.
People often said women were like delicate flowers, and she had indeed seen countless blossoms in every hue. But Shen Xihe was different from any young lady she had ever met. She was no delicate flower—the Eucommia leaf came from a tree, majestic and towering into the clouds, competing with men in grace and grandeur.At this moment, Xiao Wenxi finally understood why Xiao Huayong had been so captivated. The one who had won his heart possessed a breadth of mind and boldness of vision unparalleled among all women in this world.
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