When Dangyu Tuoya followed the palace attendant leading the way into the hall, she saw hazy figures behind the screen. The Crown Prince seemed to be holding the Crown Princess in his arms, speaking softly to her about something.
She did not dare look closely and immediately lowered her head in salute.
“Dangyu Tuoya pays her respects to His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess.”
“There is no need for such formality, Princess.” Shen Tinghe’s voice came from behind the screen, carrying a hint of laziness.
Xie Yanzhao’s thoughts, however, were entirely focused on feeding her medicine.
He scooped up a spoonful, carefully blew on it until it was warm enough, and brought it to Shen Tinghe’s lips.
Shen Tinghe reluctantly took a sip, then looked up in surprise.
Although the medicine tasted bitter at first, there was a faint sweetness lingering afterward.
“I had the Imperial Physician add some locust blossom honey,” Xie Yanzhao said softly, his fingertip brushing across the corner of her lips.
“But too much honey may reduce the medicine’s efficacy, so you’ll have to take a few more doses.” He did not deliberately lower his voice, and Dangyu Tuoya outside the screen heard every word clearly.
Her heart trembled slightly.
This gentle, patient tone was completely different from the cold and imposing Crown Prince who had stood in the main hall during the Qianqiu Banquet, the man whose every word could determine the fate of others.
It was as if they were two entirely different people.
There had long been rumors that the Crown Prince cherished the Crown Princess deeply. Now that she had witnessed these small details with her own eyes, she realized that the rumors were not only true they might even have understated the extent of his affection.
“May I ask why the Princess has come at this hour?” Shen Tinghe asked after swallowing the medicine.
Dangyu Tuoya was momentarily speechless.
Her original intention had been to request a private meeting with the Crown Princess and gradually win her over through the bond between women. She had never expected the Crown Prince to be there as well, much less to see how intimate the two of them were.
Even with the screen between them, the invisible pressure and icy scrutiny emanating from him still made her spine turn cold. The speech she had carefully prepared suddenly seemed impossible to say.
“The day before yesterday, I was deeply grateful for the kite the Crown Princess so generously gave me. It was exquisitely made, and I like it very much.”
She composed herself and chose the safest topic to begin with.
“I have specially prepared some clothing and jewelry characteristic of Yuanxia. They are not particularly valuable, but they represent a token of my sincerity. I hope Your Highness will not find them beneath her notice.”
Shen Tinghe felt that this was not the real reason for her visit, but it would be inappropriate to press her. She merely replied politely, “The Princess is very thoughtful, but it was only a small trinket. There is no need to take it to heart.”
“Good girl, just a few more sips.”
Xie Yanzhao’s attention was clearly still on feeding her medicine, his voice gentle and soft.
Listening to the faint clinking of the bowl and spoon and the tender words coming from behind the screen, Dangyu Tuoya found herself in an awkward position, unsure whether to stay or leave.
“The gifts have already been delivered, so I shall take my leave first…”
Xie Yanzhao fed her the final mouthful of medicine and placed the empty bowl on the small table beside him. He took out a silk handkerchief and gently wiped the corner of Shen Tinghe’s lips.
Only then did he raise his eyes.
His gaze seemed to pierce straight through the screen and land on Dangyu Tuoya.
“If the Princess has something important to discuss, you may as well speak frankly.”
His voice had returned to its usual calmness, but there was an incisiveness to it that seemed capable of seeing through everything.
What sort of person was Xie Yanzhao?
His unwavering will, profound calculations, and sharp insight were known throughout the entire court.
The matter concerning the Yuanxia delegation had been his arrangement from the beginning, and he had long since learned everything about the backgrounds and personalities of the core members of every foreign delegation.
This Yuanxia Princess had managed to survive despite being deliberately suppressed by the Queen and wantonly bullied by her elder brother. She was meticulous and knew how to endure and bide her time.
She was certainly not as simple and fragile as she appeared on the surface.
Shen Tinghe, nestled in his arms, lightly bit his chin, seemingly reproaching him for being too direct.
A faint smile flashed through Xie Yanzhao’s eyes. He lowered his head and lightly kissed her lips.
He was doing all this for whom, after all?
Since the princess had already come, she might as well say everything she had to say. He certainly did not want this so-called princess coming back to disturb his Yuanyuan again.
Under that gaze, Dangyu Tuoya felt as though there was nowhere she could hide.
She knew that any attempt at evasion or concealment would be futile in front of this man.
She suddenly dropped to her knees and, without further hesitation, revealed her boldest plan in its entirety.
“I beg Your Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess to lend me your assistance! If one day I am able to take control of Yuanxia, I will have the Yuanxia royal family submit to Dazhao, pay tribute year after year, and never betray Dazhao! Yuanxia is a great power in the Southern Seas. At that time, all the nations of the Southern Seas will surely follow Dazhao’s lead!”
Xie Yanzhao’s expression did not change.
He merely said indifferently, “The nations of the Southern Seas already submit to Dazhao and pay tribute. What additional benefit would your proposal bring to me?”
Dangyu Tuoya took a deep breath before revealing an even more deeply guarded secret.
“Your Highness sees through everything. It is precisely because of the natural barrier of the Nantian River that my father has developed rebellious intentions in recent years. In truth, he has long been harboring thoughts of ending the tribute system and establishing Yuanxia as an independent power.”
The vast and turbulent Nantian River lay between Dazhao and the Southern Seas, its waters complicated and treacherous.
Although Dazhao’s navy was powerful, launching a long-distance expedition was by no means easy.
How could Xie Yanzhao possibly be unaware of this?
The spies Dazhao had infiltrated into Yuanxia had already reported the Yuanxia King’s intentions. It was only because of the geographical difficulties and the lack of a suitable opportunity that Dazhao had yet to take significant action.
Xie Yanzhao’s gaze once again swept over the kneeling figure beneath the screen. His fingers unconsciously stroked Shen Tinghe’s loose hair.
This was indeed an opportunity.
Shen Tinghe quietly leaned close to his ear. Her breath was fragrant, and she whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear.
“Brother, help her…”
A woman becoming a queen how rare was that?
Besides, she simply disliked that Dangyu Chaoge the moment she saw him.
Remembering his sticky, lecherous gaze, she could not help frowning.
Xie Yanzhao patted her back, signaling that he understood.
Shen Tinghe knew him well.
That meant he had agreed, but he would unLady Doubtedly have much deeper calculations in mind.
He never made a losing bargain.
“I can help you,” Xie Yanzhao’s voice came clearly from behind the screen, “but I have one condition.”
Dangyu Tuoya’s heart tightened.
“Please state your condition, Your Highness. I will obey without exception.”
“All black-sand mines within Yuanxia must yield seventy percent of their annual output to Dazhao.”
Black sand!
Dangyu Tuoya’s pupils contracted slightly.
When added during the smelting process, this material could make blades and swords extraordinarily hard and sharp. It was a crucial military resource.
Such mines were scarce within Dazhao, while Yuanxia possessed abundant reserves.
However, only Dazhao knew the technology required to smelt it. Possessing the black sand without knowing how to process it was useless.
Moreover, Yuanxia was far inferior to Dazhao in both territory and military strength. In many aspects, Yuanxia lagged far behind Dazhao.
Her father was foolish, caring only about immediate gains. In truth, only by following Dazhao and learning its technologies could Yuanxia become more prosperous.
She thought for only a moment before bowing deeply until her forehead touched the ground.
“I agree!”
This was an opportunity for Yuanxia.
And even more so, it was an opportunity for her.
“Very good.”
Xie Yanzhao’s tone remained indifferent, but he called out a name.
“Qi Lu.”
Qi Lu, who had been standing silently in the shadows, stepped forward at once. He held a small ebony box in his hands and walked up to Dangyu Tuoya before opening the lid.
Inside lay a pill the size of a longan, dark and lustrous in color.
Dangyu Tuoya’s face paled slightly.
She immediately understood.
Unless she swallowed this token of “sincerity,” the Crown Prince would never truly trust her.
“As long as you take the antidote on time, this medicine will cause no harm to your body.”
There was no emotion in Xie Yanzhao’s voice.
“But if you fail to take the antidote on time, your meridians will reverse, and you will die with blood flowing from your seven orifices.”
Dangyu Tuoya stared at the pill.
She barely hesitated before reaching out, taking it, tilting her head back, and swallowing it.
A faintly metallic bitterness slid down her throat.
Being under the control of the Crown Prince of Dazhao was still better than living in the royal palace where her life could be threatened at any moment, where she could be treated as someone else’s plaything.
Besides, she had no rebellious intentions toward Dazhao. As far as she was concerned, taking this medicine was of little consequence.
Shen Tinghe quietly nestled against Xie Yanzhao’s chest, saying nothing about these political schemes and plans.