The summer sun blazed like fire.
Dazzling light spilled over the lake surface, golden ripples stinging the eyes.
A fine layer of sweat also dampened Yu Sangning’s back, but it wasn’t from heat—it was from cold, a chill that pierced straight to the bone.
“I don’t know how I’ve offended the Crown Princess, that you would judge me so harshly?” Yu Sangning would rather die than admit it, instead shifting the accusation to Shen Xihe.
“Meow!”
Duanming, whom Shen Xihe had sent away earlier, returned once more. Having plucked a peony from somewhere, it held the stem in its mouth, its four short legs carrying it gracefully along the railing of the reclining bench, hips swaying elegantly.
Tilting its little head up, it offered the flower to Shen Xihe, who gently tapped its forehead before accepting the peony.
Her slender fingers twirled the stem slowly: “It matters not if you deny it. I never intended to use this against you anyway…”
With that, Shen Xihe turned to face the lake: “I only want you to understand that what you consider clever tricks are, in my eyes, nothing more than petty schemes unworthy of the stage.
If you know what’s good for you, do not stir up trouble for me. Playing your little games on my turf, as you did today, is nothing short of—seeking your own doom.”
This world teems with countless wicked people, yet Shen Xihe possesses no heart for upholding justice. She neither concerns herself with others’ evil deeds nor their good acts, caring only for her own affairs. But she would never permit anyone to act audaciously under her very nose.
Yu Sangning believed her scheme was exquisitely crafted—so much so that even if Shen Xihe personally intervened, she could only send Anling away full of grievances, thereby provoking the Lady of Lingwu Bo.
This meant Yu Sangning had included Shen Xihe in her own chessboard. But throughout her life, Shen Xihe had only ever been the player moving the pieces. Those who dared use her would pay a bitter price.
Only then did Yu Sangning understand why Shen Xihe had chosen to warn her. By causing trouble within the palace—where the Imperial Harem was Shen Xihe’s domain—she had crossed a line. Shen Xihe would never allow anyone to disrespect her in a place under her control.
Her domineering nature remained unchanged, just as when she once forced an official’s daughter to kneel on shattered porcelain during Princess Consort of Dai’s birthday banquet, showing no restraint even then.
As a young lady, she was Zhaoning County Princess, foremost among noble daughters.
After marriage, she remained the principal consort of the Eastern Palace, highest among titled women.
A woman like Shen Xihe seemed born to be lavished with admiration, destined to stand above others.
Some people are simply so fortunate that one dare not even feel envy toward them.
“I am a foolish person, nowhere near as wise as the Crown Princess, incapable of foreseeing distant consequences. If I have inadvertently caused Your Highness any displeasure, I beg for your forgiveness this once.” Yu Sangning could only lower her head and yield.
Against someone like Shen Xihe, she lacked the strength or ability to confront her directly. She had always been one who could bend or stretch as needed.
“You still haven’t grasped my meaning.” Shen Xihe’s fingertips loosened, letting the flower in her hand drift to the ground. She then stepped forward, treading over it without a second glance.
There was no deliberate crushing, nor was it meant to intimidate Yu Sangning. It was merely that the flower happened to fall where she intended to walk, and her step happened to be its ordinary stride—so she trod upon it casually.
This very carelessness, devoid of any display of ferocity, made Yu Sangning’s heart leap to her throat. Watching Shen Xihe approach step by step, her pupils involuntarily contracted. She struggled to restrain herself, barely preventing her feet from instinctively retreating.
Shen Xihe came to a halt before Yu Sangning: “Did you think I only knew of today’s affairs?”"Back at Xiangguo Temple, you used dripping water Guanyin to kill someone who admired you, stepping over his bones to save your grandmother, enabling your return to the Yu residence where you transformed into a young mistress of the household.
To secure your position, you deliberately drugged your legitimate elder sister, causing her to break out in rashes, thus creating the tale of two peerless sisters.
I need not elaborate on how you schemed against the Empress Dowager at the temporary palace, for I had already given you a stern warning you’d never forget.
You are quite capable, luring your admirer to take poison with you, fabricating the illusion that he committed suicide out of guilt.
And you are bold indeed, daring to incite others to harm Zhao Wang, allowing your dear sister to feign death by saving him, thereby paving your way.
Step by step, with meticulous calculation, you climbed to the position of principal consort to a prince."
This clear, icy voice pierced Yu Sangning’s heart like steel blades. She had believed each step was executed without a trace, with even those involved kept in the dark, yet it turned out someone had seen through everything long ago!
Now, Yu Sangning finally understood why she had always felt an inexplicable fear of Shen Xihe.
She had once been blinded, thinking it was due to Shen Xihe’s dominance, nobility, power, and authority.
But that wasn’t the case. Her fear of Shen Xihe was an innate instinct to dread the strong—like a fox in the forest encountering a tiger, yielding and avoiding out of natural impulse.
As Shen Xihe laid out each scheme one by one, Yu Sangning offered no rebuttal. She knew any excuse now would be meaningless. Her eyes filled with defense and terror, she stared fixedly at Shen Xihe.
"Your Highness, the person has been caned to death!" At that moment, Biyu came to report.
"Send the body back to His Highness Zhao Wang. Relay this message for me: if Zhao Wang’s residence cannot find capable servants, I will personally train a few and send them to serve by Princess Consort Zhao’s side," Shen Xihe instructed calmly.
"Acknowledged," Biyu replied before withdrawing.
Noticing Yu Sangning’s pale face and hesitant expression, Shen Xihe glanced at Zhenzhu, who had been standing by her side. "Go check on her."
Zhenzhu immediately stepped forward, taking Yu Sangning’s pulse. Then, she retrieved the silver needles she carried and administered acupuncture to Yu Sangning, who was overwhelmed by emotional turmoil.
Shen Xihe merely glanced at them before walking past. "Remember to personally escort Princess Consort Zhao back to the prince’s residence."
"Your Highness, Princess Consort Zhao is so ruthless. Now that you’ve exposed her, would she go to extremes and use the child in her womb to frame you?" Ziyu looked back at Zhenzhu and Yu Sangning, who were now far behind them.
A faint smile touched Shen Xihe’s lips. "She wouldn’t dare, nor would she be willing."
After this incident, Yu Sangning’s nature would make her even more fearful of Shen Xihe. The child in her womb was far too important to her—she would never risk it to harm others.
Thinking this, Shen Xihe added, "For someone like her, this child is second only to herself. Unless it’s for her own sake, anything else would be a losing trade."
When Shen Xihe returned to the Eastern Palace, Xiao Huayong was waiting for her at the entrance again. Beneath the lush maple tree, he stood tall and graceful, with fragmented sunlight filtering through the leaves and falling upon him, resembling a banished immortal.
"Why did you confront her again today?" Xiao Huayong asked.
In the past, Shen Xihe never involved herself in matters that didn’t concern her.
"She schemed against me as well," Shen Xihe replied.
"Truly? Is that all?" Xiao Huayong’s tone was meaningful.
Shen Xihe sighed softly with a smile. "I could never hide anything from you. The child is innocent."Shen Xihe had met Zhao Wang's eldest legitimate son a few times—he was a polite and quiet child who had addressed her as "aunt" on several occasions. Shen Xihe couldn't bear to see him lose his life like this. By lending a helping hand casually, she also intended to make Yu Sangning restrain himself somewhat, so that he would steer clear of her in future endeavors.
"My Youyou is the kindest of all."
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