Many beautiful people entered the palace with nervous eagerness, hoping to be seen. Shen Yuheng seemed to accept being seen as naturally as the moon accepted water reflecting it. He did not shrink, did not flaunt, and did not appear grateful for other people’s astonishment.

He bowed to Empress Ji with perfect etiquette. “This spouse greets Imperial Mother.”

The title was proper after marriage. His voice was clear, neither overly intimate nor distant.

Empress Ji studied him. “Rise. Come closer.”

Shen Yuheng stepped forward. Xiao Jingyuan stood half a step behind and to his side, properly positioned, yet clearly unwilling to be far.

Empress Ji noticed. So did everyone else.

Consort De smiled. “Seventh Highness has only been married a few days, yet he guards Wangfei as if this palace might swallow him.”

Several people laughed lightly.

Xiao Jingyuan looked at her. “Consort Mother De speaks humorously.”

His tone was polite. His expression suggested he found nothing humorous.

The laughter thinned.

Shen Yuheng lowered his eyes for a moment, hiding the faint amusement in them.

Empress Ji said, “Seventh has always been like this. He spent too many years at the border. Sit, both of you.”

Tea was served. Shen Yuheng sat according to rank, and Xiao Jingyuan sat near him.

The formal greetings began. Each senior consort offered a few words. Some praised Shen Yuheng’s appearance, some praised his etiquette, some asked after his health, and others tested him subtly: whether he had adjusted to the seventh prince’s residence, whether border habits were difficult to accept, whether he missed the Shen family, and whether he knew how to manage a prince’s household.

Shen Yuheng answered calmly.

When asked whether he missed the Shen household, he said, “A child naturally remembers the household that raised him. But after marriage, one should also settle one’s heart in the husband’s residence and not cause elders worry.”

Proper. Filial. Impossible to criticize.

When asked whether Xiao Jingyuan’s residence was too austere, he said, “The residence is clean and disciplined. Luxury can be added if needed. Discipline, once lost, is harder to buy.”

Empress Ji’s eyes moved slightly.

When asked whether he knew how to manage military-linked servants, Shen Yuheng answered, “I do not dare claim knowledge of military affairs. I only know that accounts, supplies, people, and rules each have their proper place. If the place is correct, many things become simpler.”

Bai Ruoyao raised her eyes.

Accounts. Supplies. People. Rules.

Those were not the words of a sheltered ger taught only embroidery and poetry.

The Crown Prince Consort also looked at Shen Yuheng for a moment longer.

At the side, one of the second prince’s favored concubines smiled and said, “Wangfei speaks so steadily. No wonder Seventh Highness values you. But managing a household is tiring. Since Seventh Highness is a prince, perhaps in the future there will be sisters to help share your burdens.”

The room became subtly quieter.

This was not a direct attack. It was a needle wrapped in silk.

If Shen Yuheng answered jealously, he would seem narrow-minded. If he answered generously, his words might later be used to pressure Xiao Jingyuan into taking others. If he stayed silent, the topic would remain in the air.

Xiao Jingyuan’s gaze cooled.

Before he could speak, Shen Yuheng smiled faintly. The smile was beautiful, but distant.

“Each residence has its own rules. If Second Brother’s household finds more people helpful, then it is naturally suitable for Second Brother’s household. As for our residence, His Highness has few inner-courtyard matters and many outer-court affairs. I can still manage.”

The concubine’s smile stiffened.

Shen Yuheng continued gently, “If one day I cannot manage, I will ask His Highness for more stewards.”

Not sisters.

Stewards.

Several people lowered their cups to hide smiles.

Xiao Jingyuan turned his head slightly and looked at Shen Yuheng with unmistakable pride. Empress Ji saw it and found herself somewhat amused.

Good. Not easily provoked. Not falsely virtuous. Not foolish enough to invite knives into his own courtyard for the sake of appearing generous.

The imperial household had seen many new spouses. Some cried after being pricked, some fought too sharply and lost face, and some smiled and swallowed until the poison reached their bones.

Shen Yuheng did neither. He moved the battlefield elsewhere.

After tea, the younger spouses were invited to view winter plum blossoms in the side garden. This was also part of palace etiquette. Older consorts remained with Empress Ji, while the younger generation moved to a less formal space where conversation could become sharper without appearing so.

Xiao Jingyuan had to step away briefly when an imperial guard came with a message from the emperor. Before leaving, he glanced at Shen Yuheng.

Shen Yuheng said softly, “Go.”

Xiao Jingyuan frowned.

Shen Yuheng added, “I am not made of glass.”

Xiao Jingyuan lowered his voice. “No. Glass is less dangerous.”

Shen Yuheng’s lips curved.

Only then did Xiao Jingyuan leave.

He had not walked far before the system’s auxiliary alert sounded in his mind.

【Danger alert: low to moderate.】

Xiao Jingyuan stopped.

The imperial guard beside him froze. “Your Highness?”

Xiao Jingyuan’s gaze sharpened.

The system continued.

【Potential hazard detected near primary user. Category: consumable/environmental. Data incomplete due to distance and permission restriction. Recommended: return or send warning.】

Xiao Jingyuan turned immediately.

The imperial guard hurriedly said, “Your Highness, His Majesty—”

“Later.”

He strode back toward the side garden.

In the garden pavilion, several young spouses and concubines had gathered around a table of refreshments. Outside, the winter plum blossoms had just opened, red against snow-dusted branches. Inside, the pavilion was warm with brazier heat as palace maids poured tea and arranged pastries, while the younger members of the imperial household exchanged graceful words.

Shen Yuheng sat beside the Crown Prince Consort. Bai Ruoyao sat not far away, quiet but attentive.

A plate of delicate white pastries was placed before Shen Yuheng.

“Seventh Wangfei,” said the third prince’s side spouse with a smile, “this is snow-milk pastry from the palace kitchen. It is light and nourishing. You looked pale earlier. Please try some.”

Shen Yuheng looked at the pastry.

The system spoke in his mind.

【Consumable scan: abnormal component detected.】

【Not fatal. Contains herb that may conflict with current recovery medication and induce rash, dizziness, and temporary pulse irregularity.】

【Likely effect: public appearance of frailty or ritual impurity.】

Shen Yuheng’s eyes remained calm.

Not poison in the murderous sense, then. A small trap.

If he ate it and became dizzy, people could say his body was too weak to bear palace greetings. If a rash appeared, they could imply he had poor constitution, bad fortune, or had failed to observe some pre-marriage restriction. If his pulse became irregular and palace physicians were called, the story would travel faster than truth.

He lifted his eyes. The third prince’s side spouse still smiled.

Shen Yuheng smiled back. “Many thanks.”

He reached toward the pastry.

At that moment, footsteps sounded outside the pavilion. Xiao Jingyuan entered, and the cold air followed him in.

Everyone looked over in surprise.

“Seventh Highness?” Crown Prince Consort Liu asked. “Did you not just leave?”

Xiao Jingyuan walked directly to Shen Yuheng’s side. His gaze swept over the table.

The auxiliary system gave another prompt.

【Primary user proximity restored. Hazard source likely: white pastry, left-front plate.】

Xiao Jingyuan looked at the pastry Shen Yuheng had not yet eaten, and his expression turned cold. Shen Yuheng noticed and lowered his hand.

Their eyes met. No words were needed.

Xiao Jingyuan had received only a partial alert. He did not know the exact herb or the full plan. Shen Yuheng did. But in public, his return itself was enough to change the tempo.

Xiao Jingyuan said calmly, “This prince was suddenly reminded that Wangfei is still recovering and should not casually eat rich palace pastries.”

The third prince’s side spouse’s smile froze. “This is only snow-milk pastry. It is nourishing.”

Xiao Jingyuan looked at her. “Then you eat it.”

The pavilion fell silent. The side spouse’s face paled slightly.

She forced a laugh. “Seventh Highness jokes. This was offered to Wangfei—”

“Since it is nourishing,” Xiao Jingyuan said, “there is no harm in you eating first.”

The words were blunt, too blunt for palace conversation. However, bluntness, when backed by a prince’s rank and battlefield reputation, became pressure.

The third prince’s side spouse hesitated.

That hesitation was enough.

Shen Yuheng placed his hand lightly on Xiao Jingyuan’s sleeve. The small movement softened the edge of the scene before it became too ugly.

“Jingyuan,” he said gently, “do not frighten people.”

Xiao Jingyuan looked at him.

Shen Yuheng turned to the palace maid who had brought the pastry. “Which kitchen prepared this?”

The maid’s face turned white. “This servant… this servant only carried it from the side room. It was arranged by the serving eunuch.”

“Then summon the serving eunuch,” Shen Yuheng said. “Also, ask the palace physician to come. Since the pastry is said to be nourishing, it should withstand inspection.”

The Crown Prince Consort’s gaze sharpened. Bai Ruoyao lowered her eyes and slowly set down her cup.

The third prince’s side spouse said quickly, “Is this necessary? A small pastry—”

Shen Yuheng looked at her. His eyes were calm as deep water.

“It is precisely because it is small that it should be easy to clarify. If there is no issue, I will apologize for troubling everyone. If there is an issue, then this is Fengyi Palace’s side garden. Someone using a palace kitchen item to harm a prince’s principal spouse would be disrespecting not only me, but the empress.”

The word empress fell cleanly.

The matter was no longer Shen Yuheng being delicate. It was an insult to Fengyi Palace’s management.

No one dared dismiss it.

Xiao Jingyuan’s eyes showed clear pride. He had returned ready to draw a blade. Shen Yuheng had turned the blade into law.

Very soon, the palace physician arrived with a senior maid from Empress Ji’s side. The pastry was tested, and the physician’s expression changed. He knelt at once.

“Reporting to Your Highnesses, the pastry contains white frost vine powder. In ordinary bodies, the amount is minor and only causes slight discomfort. But if taken by someone recovering from toxin damage or using warming medicine, it may cause rash, dizziness, and pulse disorder.”

The pavilion became deathly silent.

Shen Yuheng lowered his eyes.

Xiao Jingyuan’s voice was cold. “Minor?”

The physician’s forehead touched the floor. “This official misspoke. Though not fatal, its intention is harmful.”