Shen Tinghe knew what he was referring to. After a moment of hesitation, she rose on her toes once more and pressed her soft lips to his.
The kiss was gentle at first, carrying the shyness of a young maiden.
But Xie Yanzhao was clearly not satisfied with this. He cupped the back of her head with one hand, deepening the kiss.
Only when Shen Tinghe was nearly breathless did he reluctantly release her. Gazing at her moist eyes and slightly swollen lips, his eyes were filled with amusement.
Xie Yanzhao carefully straightened her somewhat disheveled dress and tidied the stray hairs at her temples. Only then did he raise his voice and call out to the outside, “Enter.”
His voice had returned to its usual coolness and authority, as if the man who had just been lost in tender affection was merely an illusion.
Wang Xude then pushed the door open and entered.
Upon entering the study, he saw Crown Prince Xie Yanzhao seated upright in a large rosewood chair, calmly handling official documents on the desk.
Miss Shen stood quietly beside His Highness, holding an ink stick as she ground ink.
Only, the corners of her eyes and brows still seemed to carry a trace of lingering flush, as if she had been crying.
“What is it?” Xie Yanzhao lifted his gaze, his eyes falling on Wang Xude, his tone betraying neither joy nor anger.
Wang Xude glanced at Shen Tinghe beside him, seeming somewhat hesitant, and spoke hesitantly, “This…”
Xie Yanzhao said, “Speak.”
“Yes.” Wang Xude steadied himself and spoke in a low voice, “Your Highness, Prince Qi’s legitimate son raped and murdered a woman in Xingzhou. The woman’s father is a well-known honest official in the Xingzhou region. He has traveled all the way to the capital to seek justice, crying out his grievances. I am foolish and truly do not know how to adjudicate this matter. I have come specifically to seek Your Highness’s instructions.”
As the words “raped and murdered” were spoken, Shen Tinghe’s hand gripping the ink stick tightened abruptly, and the pressure she applied increased. Black ink rippled in circles within the inkstone.
Her brows furrowed tightly, and a flash of barely concealed anger and compassion passed through her eyes.
Xie Yanzhao took in her subtle reaction, held her hand, and conveyed a soothing strength through his palm.
He looked up at Wang Xude, his thin lips parting slightly, his voice cold as ice, “My imperial uncle has grown increasingly unrestrained these past two years.”
“Handle it according to the law. There is no need for restraint.”
This matter had already caused quite a stir. Handling it according to the law could both pacify public anger, increasing the Crown Prince’s prestige among the people, and take this opportunity to curb Prince Qi’s swelling arrogance.
He was not like Emperor Father, who had so much soft-hearted leniency.
“Who is the person who came to the capital to lodge the complaint?” Xie Yanzhao asked.
Wang Xude replied, “Sima of Xingzhou, Lin Qizhang.”
“Have him remain in the capital. There is no need for him to return.” Xie Yanzhao instructed calmly.
“Yes.”
Wang Xude understood clearly—this meant keeping Lin Qizhang in the capital to serve as an official.
This was both a small consolation and protection for him.
After all, if Lin Qizhang were to return to Xingzhou, given Prince Qi’s ruthlessness, he would likely not survive.
Having received his instructions, Wang Xude bowed and withdrew.
As soon as the study door closed, Shen Tinghe threw down the ink stick in her hand. It landed on the inkstone with a dull thud, splattering a few drops of ink.
“It’s so unfair!” She bit her lip, her voice carrying a hint of grievance and indignation.
Seeing this, Xie Yanzhao was not angry at all. Instead, he reached out and pulled her over, seating her on his lap.
With one arm around her waist and the other gently stroking her long hair, his tone held a touch of helplessness.
“Didn’t I already order the matter to be handled according to the law? Why are you still so upset?”
Shen Tinghe looked at him: “It was clearly the fault of Prince Qi’s son, yet because of his status, we had to seek your approval in the palace before he could be punished. If it weren’t for that desperate father risking everything for his daughter, the villain might have been let off.”
The implication: If Lin Qizhang hadn’t made such a fuss, Xie Yanzhao might have considered other factors and not dealt with it strictly according to the law.
Xie Yanzhao raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone neither light nor heavy: “How presumptuous.”
Shen Tinghe wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his neck: “Don’t scold me!”
Xie Yanzhao wasn’t really angry; this little girl had done far more outrageous things in front of him before.
He gently patted her back, patiently comforting and instructing her.
“Yuanyuan, in this world, there has never been absolute fairness. Those with power and influence can easily decide the fates of many. Their life and death, fortune and misfortune, often hang on a single word from us.”
“The higher the position, the more considerations one must weigh. The power in our hands does not allow us to act recklessly, nor does it permit us to show mercy on a whim. More often than not, we must prioritize the greater good.”
He lifted his hand to gently caress her face, his tone solemn yet tender: “My Jiaojiao is a kind-hearted girl, and that is good. But remember, kindness must have its edge, or it will only be taken advantage of. I promise you, I will ensure the villain receives the punishment he deserves, giving Lin Qizhang and that poor girl the justice they seek.”
Shen Tinghe knew he was right, but her heart still felt heavy.
Whenever she thought of the suffering endured by that girl she had never met, she felt a pang of heartache and anger.
Rape and murder—it was the cruelest, most detestable thing she could imagine.
Born into a noble family, though not entirely naive about the ways of the world, she had been well-protected by her family and had never felt so acutely the helplessness and despair of common people in the face of powerful authority.
“Brother, I just… I just feel so angry, so sad.”
She buried her face even deeper, drawing warmth and strength from him.
Xie Yanzhao held her, planting gentle kisses on her face and forehead over and over, silently comforting her.
He knew his Jiaojiao still needed to grow.
He would teach her slowly—teach her how to remain true to herself amidst the treacherous currents of the court, teach her how to become a Crown Princess who could stand by his side, a future Empress.
When Shen Tinghe returned to the mansion, she did not go to her own courtyard but instead headed toward the secluded Mingzhan Courtyard.
This was the residence of her grandfather, Prince Dingshan, Shen Jun.
Prince Dingshan lived a reclusive life, rarely seen except during major festivals and celebrations.
Shen Tinghe would visit from time to time to play chess with her grandfather.
Beneath the pavilion in the courtyard, a chessboard was laid out on a stone table.
Shen Tinghe held the white pieces, Shen Jun the black. Amidst the alternating black and white, a complex game had already taken shape.
Shen Tinghe held a smooth white piece between her fingertips, hovering it above the board, her brow slightly furrowed.
“A restless mind cannot play chess well.” Shen Jun’s voice was not loud, yet it carried a penetrating steadiness.
He held a black piece but did not place it, simply watching his granddaughter quietly.
Hearing this, Shen Tinghe gently set down the white piece and sighed.
She looked at her grandfather and told him about the incident involving Prince Qi’s son.
“Were it not for His Majesty’s indulgence over these years, Prince Qi… would not have grown so arrogant.”
Shen Jun picked up the celadon teacup from the stone table, took a slow, deliberate sip, and spoke in an even, unruffled tone: “A’Yuan, mind your words.”
Shen Tinghe: “I only dare speak like this in front of you, Grandfather.”
Shen Jun set down the teacup, offering a faint smile, yet his gaze drifted into the distance.