Shen Yinhu: My little sister is meeting an outsider privately?

"A letter from Father!"

Shang Hongye, dressed in red and exuding a heroic aura, took the letter and began to read it.

Before long, her delicate brows furrowed, and a perplexed and bewildered expression appeared on her pretty face.

"Miss, what did the Prince write in the letter?"

Shang Hongye took a deep breath, her voice low as she murmured, "Uncle Huo, Father wants me to marry the Crown Prince."

"The Crown Prince?"

"Didn't the Elder Brother say you could choose whomever you liked, Hongye? Why the sudden change of heart?"

Huo Yunting's square face was filled with confusion. The contents of the letter were completely different from what they had discussed before leaving the Northern Border.

Shang Hongye nodded slightly, lost in thought for a moment.

"This matter truly is strange."

"Father isn't one to go back on his word."

"Furthermore, the Crown Prince is the absolute worst choice. No matter which prince he chose, it shouldn't have been the Crown Prince, unless..."

Shang Hongye didn't finish her sentence.

Unless...

Her father wanted to support the Crown Prince in a rebellion.

"Uncle Huo, where did this letter come from? Could it be a forgery?" Shang Hongye suddenly asked.

Huo Yunting immediately took the letter and examined it.

"The handwriting is indeed the Elder Brother's."

"The seal is also correct; it doesn't look fake."

"It's just the content of the letter that's truly unbelievable."

Huo Yunting turned the letter over and over, reading it several times, but couldn't find any trace of forgery.

"I'll write back to Father immediately to inquire about this."

"Uncle Huo, please make the trip yourself and make sure to get to the bottom of this."

"But... Miss, if I leave, your safety..."

Huo Yunting hesitated.

"Don't worry, Uncle Huo. I've already left the Northern Border now."

"His Majesty wants no harm to come to me more than anyone else."

"In that case, I'll make a trip back to the Northern Border. Please be careful on your journey, Miss."

"Also, the imperial physician has been clamoring to treat your illness, Miss."

"We've delayed for several days, and we can't keep delaying this forever."

"Tell the imperial physician I'm well. We'll depart tomorrow."

The next day.

Shang Hongye and her entourage set off again.

However, they traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping frequently. They claimed Shang Hongye wanted to admire the beautiful mountains and rivers of Great Qian, as it was her first time visiting.

The imperial physician didn't rush them after hearing Shang Hongye's excuse.

Neither Emperor Yuanchu nor Prince Zhenbei was someone a mere imperial physician could afford to offend.

If he could safely escort Shang Hongye to Yujing City, his mission would be complete.

Outside Yujing City.

The number of refugees grew steadily.

Shen Qiushui had been busy distributing porridge these past few days.

After using Fang Heng's method, those who tried to take advantage never returned.

This made Shen Qiushui even more curious about Fang Heng.

Such a seasoned tactic didn't seem like something a newly adult prince could employ.

Shen Qiushui sensed eyes watching her from the shadows.

She focused her gaze and spotted a sneaking figure.

"Second Brother, what are you doing?"

Seeing his actions exposed, Shen Yinhu had no choice but to reveal himself, clearing his throat.

"Cough, cough!"

"I was just passing by and thought I'd drop in to see you, little sister."

Shen Qiushui rolled her eyes.

Her second brother was such a terrible liar; it was far too easy to see through him.

He didn't even try to hide it.

Ever since she'd met the Ninth Prince that day, her second brother had been guarding her like a thief.

Every time she came out of the city to distribute gruel, he'd follow her the entire way.

It was as if he was terrified she'd be abducted.

Seeing Shen Qiushui's displeased expression, Shen Yinhu looked embarrassed and rubbed the back of his head.

"Little sister, I'll help you distribute the gruel."

"Here, you do it."

Shen Yinhu took the ladle from Shen Qiushui's hand.

He scooped up a spoonful of white gruel and, seeing that nearly half of it was mixed with sand, couldn't help but frown.

"Little sister, why is there sand in the gruel?"

"Second brother, you just don't understand!"

Shen Yinhu: ???

I don't understand?

Little sister, you've changed!

Before you met the Ninth Prince, you never would have said that to me.

"Little sister, did the Ninth Prince teach you this method?" Shen Yinhu asked.

Shen Qiushui nodded openly and honestly.

"Yes, the Ninth Prince taught me."

"His Highness is benevolent and highly skilled; he is truly a person of great kindness and righteousness."

Shen Yinhu's heart sank hearing Shen Qiushui's words.

Sure enough...

It really is the Ninth Prince!

If the Ninth Prince is highly skilled, then what am I?

An idiot?

Giving sand to the refugees – is that something a human would do?

How did that cunning little thief, the Ninth Prince, manage to fool my little sister?

Seeing that Shen Yinhu wasn't moving, Shen Qiushui raised an eyebrow, about to get angry.

"Second brother, don't just stand there. Don't you see how many people are lining up?"

"Oh, oh, oh—got it!"

Shen Yinhu continued distributing the gruel, pondering how he could make his little sister see the Ninth Prince's true colors.

Shen Qiushui walked into the gruel shop and rested for a moment.

Her personal maid, Qinyin, scurried into the gruel distribution area. Seeing Shen Qiushui beckon, she quietly approached.

"Qinyin, did you find out what I asked you to investigate?"

"Miss, you're truly a female Zhuge Liang."

"The gruel distribution point across the way belongs to the Ninth Prince's people."

Qinyin spoke excitedly, marveling at how clever her young mistress was.

With just one look, she had seen through the other party's identity.

Qinyin relayed all the information she had gathered to Shen Qiushui, detail by detail.

Hearing this, Shen Qiushui's eyes lit up.

"Just as I thought!"

"His Highness not only possesses the wisdom of Wenqu but also the compassion of the Heavenly Venerate of Salvation."

Seeing her young mistress praise the Ninth Prince so highly, Qinyin teased, "Miss, you haven't fallen for the Ninth Prince, have you?"

"You naughty girl, what nonsense are you spouting?"

"The Ninth Prince and I are merely kindred spirits."

"You mustn't speak such nonsense."

Shen Qiushui glared at Qinyin. Qinyin nodded repeatedly, saying she understood, but her eyes clearly showed she didn't believe it.

"Qinyin, my second brother is distributing congee. Can you cover for me?"

"Miss, where are you going?"

"To the Ninth Prince's residence. I have something important to ask the Ninth Prince."

Hearing that her young miss was going to the Ninth Prince's residence, to secretly meet the Ninth Prince, Qinyin was stunned.

She gasped in shock, quickly covering her mouth and nose with her hand.

"Miss, the Ninth Prince is an outsider."

"What 'outsider' are you talking about?"

"There are so many refugees here, aren't they all 'outsiders'?"

"Miss, you're just twisting words."

"If Father finds out you're secretly meeting the Ninth Prince..."

Before Qinyin could finish, Shen Qiushui interrupted her, speaking with a firm tone.

"As long as Father doesn't find out, isn't that good enough?"

"My second brother is distributing congee, remember not to let him notice."

Qinyin watched her young miss hurry away, her face full of bitterness.

What kind of situation was this?

Her young miss was secretly meeting an outsider and she had to cover for her.

Could it be!

Could it be!

Could it be!

That Miss truly liked the Ninth Prince?

The Ninth Prince had been sickly since childhood and didn't have much time left.

If Miss were to marry him, she would have to go as part of her dowry.

Wouldn't that mean she'd become a young widow at such a young age?