Chapter 10

The aloof crown prince's nemesis (chapter 10)

With the turmoil at the palace banquet settled, the guards swiftly dragged away the maid who had deliberately tried to frame her.

The wind whispered sharply. The imperial garden, so lively and noisy moments before, was now quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Everyone held their breath, afraid to lift their heads and look directly at the crown prince, whose icy presence shrouded the seat of honor.

The empress sat above them, having witnessed everything. Her gaze deepened slightly, but she did not interrupt.

She could tell that her crown prince, who had always been indifferent to romance and cold in both heart and feeling, had truly become invested.

Xiao Heng withdrew his chilling gaze, completely ignoring Su Wan, who sat beside him, pale and restless.

He turned slightly and took a clean, plain silk handkerchief from inside his robe. With natural tenderness, he reached out and gently wiped the lingering wine stains from Shen Zhiwei's skirt.

His fingers were long, his knuckles distinct. Those hands, which normally wielded a sword, reviewed memorials, and held the reins of the realm, now worked with utmost care to smooth away her disarray.

The noblewomen around them stared, dumbstruck, their hearts filled with shock and bitter envy.

Who could have imagined that the crown prince of the Eastern Palace, untouched by worldly desires, would stoop so low as to personally tend to an orphan girl's skirt?

Shen Zhiwei stiffened, her cheeks burning, and instinctively tried to retreat. "Your Highness, I can do it myself."

"Don't move."

Xiao Heng did not even raise his head. His voice was low, tender, and lingering. "The wine smell isn't pleasant."

Such simple words, yet their tenderness struck straight at the heart.

Only after carefully cleaning the stains from her skirt did he put away the handkerchief and look up at her, his eyes holding an indulgence no one else had ever seen. "Were you frightened?"

Shen Zhiwei gently shook her head, though her eyes reddened slightly. "With Your Highness here, I'm not afraid."

Before, she had guarded every step, living as though she were treading on thin ice. Only after meeting him had she first understood what it meant to have someone at her back, to be someone's favored charge.

As Xiao Heng looked into her moist eyes, something stirred in his heart, and his throat tightened slightly.

He raised his hand and very gently rubbed the top of her head, the gesture utterly doting.

Silence engulfed the gathering.

Su Wan remained in her seat, her fingertips digging so fiercely into the rosewood armrest that they turned white, her nails nearly snapping.

Stroking her hair, shielding her faults, openly favoring her...

All the tenderness the crown prince had never granted Su Wan in the slightest was now bestowed on Shen Zhiwei!

Towering flames of jealousy scorched her insides. Darkness clouded her eyes, and hatred sank deep into her heart.

At today's palace banquet, she had not only failed to ruin Shen Zhiwei, but had instead brought the two of them closer, letting every powerful figure in the capital witness the crown prince's special treatment of her!

No!

Absolutely not!

She could never allow Shen Zhiwei to steal everything that belonged to her, step by step!

Throughout the second half of the banquet, the atmosphere remained heavy and stagnant. No one dared to chat or joke anymore, much less utter a word against Shen Zhiwei.

As the banquet drew to a close, the empress spoke mildly, easing the earlier awkwardness. "It's getting late. You may all leave."

Everyone offered their farewells and dispersed.

The carriage traveled smoothly on the return journey, shutting out every prying gaze beyond the palace.

Inside, warmth enveloped them, and wisps of agarwood incense curled through the air.

Shen Zhiwei sat in a corner, still recalling the scenes at the banquet, the fluttering in her heart yet to subside.

Xiao Heng suddenly spoke, his voice low and earnest. "You suffered an injustice today."

Shen Zhiwei looked up and gently shook her head. "I don't feel wronged. I only regret involving Your Highness and making others criticize you for shielding me."

"I did so willingly."

Xiao Heng gazed steadily at her, his eyes deep and earnest, every word clear. "What others say doesn't matter. I only want to keep you safe. Zhiwei, from now on, you needn't yield in everything."

Once, he had been cold and unfeeling, believing he could face everything in the world with indifference. But since she appeared, he had gained a vulnerable spot-and one person he alone wished to protect.

Warmth surged through Shen Zhiwei's heart, and her nose stung slightly as she murmured, "Mm."

The carriage jolted gently. She swayed, her head tilting unwittingly until it rested against Xiao Heng's shoulder.

Her soft hair brushed his brocade robe, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance.

They both froze.

The cramped carriage instantly fell still, leaving only their clearly audible heartbeats.

Xiao Heng's body tensed. He lowered his gaze to the young woman nestled meekly against his shoulder, emotions surging in his eyes, restrained and suppressed, yet scorching and fierce.

He did not push her away. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, indulging her as she leaned against him.

The journey passed without a word, the moments soft and tender.

By the time they returned to the Eastern Palace, dusk had deepened, and the sunset had painted half the sky red.

Xiao Heng stepped down first, then bent and reached out, taking her wrist securely to help her out of the carriage.

Their fingertips touched, warm against each other.

Shen Zhiwei's heartbeat lost its rhythm again, and she lowered her eyes, not daring to look at him.

They had only just entered the Eastern Palace gates when the supervising eunuch hurried forward and reported quietly, "Your Highness, we questioned that maid. She insisted that she had acted recklessly out of greed, that no one had instructed her, and took all the blame herself."

At this, Shen Zhiwei frowned slightly.

She knew perfectly well that the person behind the maid had to be Su Wan.

But Su Wan had acted cautiously, severing every lead in advance and leaving nothing anyone could use against her.

An icy gleam flashed through Xiao Heng's eyes.

How could he not know that Su Wan was behind it?

But Su Wan came from an influential family, and her father and brothers held military power at court. Without conclusive evidence, taking rash action against her would only shake the political balance and throw the court into turmoil.

His restraint for now did not mean he would let the matter pass.

"Keep her under strict guard and question her thoroughly." Xiao Heng's tone was indifferent. "Also, pass down my orders. From now on, anyone in the Eastern Palace who dares disrespect Miss Shen or make trouble for her in secret is to be beaten and expelled immediately. There is no need to report it to me."

"Yes, Your Highness!" The eunuch bowed and accepted the order.

With a single declaration, Shen Zhiwei's position in the Eastern Palace was secured: no one would dare bully her.

Shen Zhiwei lifted her eyes to him, deeply moved.

The evening breeze brushed through the darkness, lifting the loose strands beside her temples. The crabapple jade hairpin in her hair swayed gently, lending her a tender charm.

Xiao Heng gazed at her delicate, gentle features, his voice slightly husky. "You must be tired after today. Go back to your room and rest early."

"You should too, Your Highness."

Shen Zhiwei bent her knees in a curtsy, then turned and returned to her bedroom in the side hall.

But no one knew that deep in the darkness, beneath the shadow of a corridor pillar, a figure stood silently.

Su Wan stood in the shadows, having heard every word of their conversation.

Watching Shen Zhiwei walk away unharmed, she curled her lips into an utterly cold smile.

Their inability to find evidence was her protective talisman.

Since framing her for theft had failed, she would use another method.

Tenderness could not keep the crown prince, and scheming could not destroy Shen Zhiwei.

Then she would-pull the firewood from beneath the cauldron.

Su Wan slowly raised her hand and summoned her personal maid. Murderous intent flashed in her eyes as she said coldly under her breath:

"Go. Send word outside the palace. It's time to dig up the Shen Family's old case."

Shen Zhiwei's only support was her clean, unblemished background.

But if her family's old crimes were brought to light and she bore the title of a disgraced official's daughter, even the crown prince's favoritism would not be enough to protect her!

The night within the palace was faintly chilly, and a storm was brewing.

A monstrous conspiracy against Shen Zhiwei had only just begun to unfold.