Tianyuan knew all too well that their Highness loved nothing more than stirring up trouble. Whenever the palace or court grew too peaceful, he would grow restless, finding life dull and monotonous, always needing to whip up some storm.
“No other matters?” Xiao Huayong asked.
“The Princess and the Heir brought back a bag of Eucommia leaves from Xiangguo Temple,” Tianyuan quickly reported, having already sent someone to investigate. “They said it’s for making pillows.”
“Hmm.” Xiao Huayong acknowledged and rose, stepping out of the main hall. His own courtyard also had Eucommia trees.
Gazing at the four trees whose leaves shimmered like golden butterflies at rest, Xiao Huayong said, “Have some leaves picked and send a portion to the Princess Manor.”
“To request a pillow?” Tianyuan tentatively asked.
Xiao Huayong shot him a glance. “Simply inquire about how to sew the pillow.”
For now, he lacked the standing to request something as intimate as a pillow from her.
Catching a drifting Eucommia leaf in his palm, Xiao Huayong’s eyes crinkled with a smile, the dark mole at the corner hinting at hidden affection. “Sooner or later, it will happen.”
Thus, the next day, Shen Xihe once again saw Tianyuan—this time not delivering a food box, but a crate of Eucommia leaves.
“Your Highness, His Highness heard of your fondness for Eucommia leaves. Since the Eastern Palace also has these trees and the fallen leaves would otherwise go to waste, he sent this humble servant to deliver some,” Tianyuan said eagerly.
“Please convey my gratitude to His Highness.” Shen Xihe instructed Biyu to accept them.
“Might I ask what use the Princess has for the Eucommia leaves?” Tianyuan inquired shyly.
“They will be sewn into medicinal pillows,” Shen Xihe replied without concealment. “To aid sleep.”
“Truly?” Tianyuan’s eyes lit up. “His Highness often struggles to sleep at night. Would the Princess be willing to share the method with this servant?”
“Hongyu, explain it carefully to Guard Cao.” Shen Xihe treated it as a reciprocal gesture.
After Hongyu provided a detailed explanation, Tianyuan did not linger and departed cheerfully.
“Ambitious wolf,” Shen Yungan grumbled discontentedly.
“Brother.” Shen Xihe was somewhat amused and exasperated.
“Youyou, the Crown Prince is deeply cunning,” Shen Yungan cautioned his sister. “Look at him—either feigning pitifulness to make you reluctant to refuse, or catering to your preferences with inexpensive gifts, leaving you no grounds for rejection.”
“Brother, since we intend to marry, why create distance? I don’t need to be inseparable from him, but I do wish for mutual respect.” Treating each other like family, as long as Xiao Huayong did not harm the Northwest or infringe upon her interests, mutual respect would make their interactions more comfortable.
“I doubt he’ll be satisfied with mere mutual respect.” In Shen Yungan’s eyes, Xiao Huayong was nothing but a pitch-black, cunning wolf cub.
Yet there was little he could do. His sister had set her heart on him, and among the adult princes: the Second Prince, Zhao Wang, already had legitimate heirs; the Third Prince, Dai Wang, and the Fourth Prince, Ding Wang, were both married; the Fifth Prince, Prince Xin, had recently lost his wife and remained deeply devoted to her memory; the Sixth Prince had his heart set on another.
As for the Ninth Prince, Lie Wang, his sister had no interest. Soon, only the Seventh Prince—Crown Prince Xiao Huayong—remained.
Could he really stand in their way?
“It matters not whether he is satisfied. My stance has always been clear.” Shen Xihe could not control how others acted.
Just as in the past, when Xiao Changqing showered Gu Qingzhi with ardent affection, Gu Qingzhi had made her indifferent attitude plain from beginning to end."I'm afraid..." Shen Yungan understood men better. "Youyou, the reason your brother doesn't wish to marry is because he's grown accustomed to doting on you. Every young lady is a treasure in her parents' hearts. Since your brother cannot change himself, he doesn't want to force any young lady to accept what would be an unfair situation for her, nor create another resentful couple."
Shen Yungan explained it differently to Shen Xihe: "If someone pours all their affection into another but receives no response over time, love can easily turn into hatred."
"Brother is afraid that if the Crown Prince truly develops romantic feelings for me, he might grow resentful of his unrequited love and end up hurting me when he cannot have me." Shen Xihe understood. "Brother needn't worry. The only person in this world who can hurt me is myself."
If I don't wish to be hurt, no one can hurt me.
Looking at his supremely confident younger sister, Shen Yunnan felt countless words stuck in his throat but didn't know how to voice them.
No matter how much one says, those who haven't experienced something firsthand can always speak with certainty. Even if he talked until his lips wore out, she wouldn't truly understand until she experienced it herself.
"Alright, brother, you should trust Youyou for once." Shen Xihe softened her tone, carrying a hint of coquettishness.
Shen Yunnan remained unfazed even when arrows fell like rain, yet he was utterly helpless against Shen Xihe. Feeling somewhat jealous, he muttered: "Already taking his side..."
"Brother, search your conscience - have I really been taking his side?" Shen Xihe pulled a long face.
Shen Yunnan immediately shut his mouth, not daring to say more for fear of upsetting his sister.
Just then, Mo Yao returned with information about Xue Jinqiao. The events from eight years ago were true.
Xue Jinqiao had nearly been buried alive.
Eight years ago, when His Majesty had just consolidated his power, he employed eunuchs to weaken the noble families' influence. The Chief Military Commissioner at that time was Youning Emperor's right-hand man. Xue Jinqiao's cousin had beaten to death the son whom Youning Emperor had arranged for this eunuch to adopt from clan relatives to continue his family line.
The eunuch refused to let the matter rest. The Xue family was at fault for the killing, and Xue Jinqiao's uncle had died early, leaving only this sole heir in the main branch.
Youning Emperor hoped both sides wouldn't make the situation too ugly. The Chief Military Commissioner insisted that reconciliation was only possible if the Xue family's legitimate daughter performed a spirit marriage with his deceased son. At that time, Xue Jinqiao's biological parents were serving in provincial posts.
The Xue family had only two legitimate daughters - one from the second branch with both parents present, and Xue Jinqiao. The Xue family bullied this orphaned girl whose parents weren't around, thinking a spirit marriage merely meant sending her to be raised in another household, especially since the other party promised not to publicly disclose the spirit marriage.
Intending to bring Xue Jinqiao back after overthrowing the eunuch, they never expected this eunuch to be so deranged that he secretly nailed Xue Jinqiao alive into a coffin without the Xue family's knowledge. Inside the coffin, Xue Jinqiao scratched countless bloody marks with her nails.
Heaven showed mercy - a thunderbolt split open the coffin, allowing her to crawl out barely alive.
Because of this incident, the Xue family felt deeply ashamed toward the third branch. Using the heavenly thunder as warning, they overthrew the eunuch, but the third branch of the Xue family could never hold their heads high again. Xue Hui was recalled to the capital and subsequently rose rapidly through the ranks.
Yet Xue Jinqiao treated all members of the Xue family, including her own biological parents, with cold indifference.
"She..."
Even Shen Xihe, who considered herself cold-hearted and unfeeling, felt uncomfortable reading about this.
No wonder she always felt Xue Jinqiao was somewhat obsessive, dark, and eccentric, which made her repeatedly keep Xue Jinqiao at arm's length.
Having experienced such a horrific event at six years old, how strong must one's mind and will be to not go mad?
"This is what the great noble families who pride themselves on being pure and upright are like." Even Shen Yunnan felt contemptuous after reading this.Shen Xihe fell silent. If not for internal corruption, how could the noble families have declined to such an extent?
Both were in a somber mood, yet Xiao Huayong in the Eastern Palace was quite cheerful. Following the method Tianyuan had provided, he immediately made a pillow.
Even in broad daylight, Xiao Huayong closed his eyes and lay down. Indeed, a faint, delicate fragrance wafted to his nostrils, and an indescribable sense of contentment enveloped his heart.
"This humble one can now be considered as sharing a pillow in slumber, with breaths entwined."
Tianyuan: ...
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