His eyes shifted slightly, his peripheral vision wandering, as Xiao Huayong spoke carelessly: “What’s the rush? Why do you think His Majesty didn’t immediately execute me, his elder uncle?”

“Your Highness Prince Kang has served His Majesty for twenty years. You must have evidence of many matters you’ve handled for His Majesty,” Tianyuan replied softly.

“That’s just one reason.” Xiao Huayong raised his gaze, his eyes falling on the Pingzhong bonsai placed by the window. “The second reason is far more crucial. The crime of privately manufacturing weapons has been proven against Prince Kang, but what was his purpose? I know it was by His Majesty’s command, but others don’t know this and wouldn’t dare to make such speculation.

His Majesty needs to completely resolve this matter, to stop the ministers from pondering and investigating further, so he must provide an explanation.”

Three leaves had fallen on the flower table holding the bonsai. He stood up and walked over, picking up one leaf, his fingertips gently rubbing it: “Everyone wants to know who Prince Kang was working for. This is the perfect opportunity for people to show their hands. Little do they know His Majesty is merely using Prince Kang as bait. The more eagerly someone jumps now, the harder they’ll fall. His Majesty just needs a mastermind to end this matter.”

Tianyuan’s heart tightened, not having realized His Majesty had such deep intentions. He respectfully lowered his head in silence.

Xiao Huayong dropped the leaf: “This plant’s leaves are withering.”

After speaking, Xiao Huayong left the warm chamber. Outside were several Pingzhong bonsai. He carefully examined the condition of each tree’s branches – some had root burn, some were drought-stricken, some had rotting roots…

After making detailed records, he selected three that were growing exceptionally well and instructed Tianyuan: “Have the staff below record the fertilization and watering schedule for these three. After I leave the capital, inform Youyou about how to water them.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Tianyuan responded solemnly.

Having served the Crown Prince since childhood, he had never seen His Highness show such attentiveness to anyone. Currently, no one else cultivated Pingzhong bonsai. His Highness personally handled everything from selecting the flower pots, taking meticulous care to nurture them, and figuring out all the requirements for light, wind, fertilizer, and water bit by bit to keep the Pingzhong bonsai alive.

He was worried that if the Princess received them but couldn’t maintain them properly, they would wither and die, spoiling her mood. This realization shook Tianyuan to his core – so this was how thoroughly and meticulously the Crown Prince could care for someone when he wanted to.

Shen Xihe hadn’t expected the Youning Emperor to be so shameless as to set up his sons, waiting for one of them to take the fall so this matter could be completely resolved. Thus, she single-mindedly waited for ambitious people to rush forward, ready to completely tear off their disguises.

Xiao Huayong saw through the Youning Emperor’s calculations and therefore held back, waiting for a better opportunity. Yet he hadn’t anticipated that this matter would develop beyond his expectations.

“Fifth Brother, who was Prince Kang plotting for?” Xiao Changying came to Prince Xin’s mansion to discuss the day’s events.

“We shouldn’t get involved in this matter.” Xiao Changqing wore plain white clothes, having just finished reciting sutras, holding prayer beads in his hand.

“I…” Xiao Changying started to speak but held back.

Xiao Changqing glanced at him, his gaze gentle: “Now that Prince Kang has been convicted, it can’t be connected to the Northwestern Prince’s mansion. Princess Zhaoning and the Northwestern Prince’s heir are victims; there won’t be any more complications.”

“Fifth Brother, do you know who…” Xiao Changying had a vague guess.

Xiao Changqing lowered his eyes for a moment before looking at him: “If I tell you it was His Majesty, would you believe it?”

“How could it be!” Xiao Changying jumped up in shock, “How could it be His Majesty? Why would His Majesty need to privately manufacture weapons!”

The entire empire belonged to His Majesty – if he wanted to manufacture weapons, he could simply issue an imperial edict and do it openly!

“Pulling out the firewood from under the cauldron.” Xiao Changqing said softly, “Our dynasty gained the empire through military might. His Majesty became Emperor only with military support when his position was weak. His Majesty deeply understands the importance of military power. Now the empire’s military power is divided three ways: one part is in the Northwestern Prince’s hands; the second is held by various frontier commanders led by the Prince of Southern Shu; the third is in His Majesty’s hands in the capital region.

But this military power in the capital is divided among several families with military achievements, and each family has adult princes behind them. As the princes grow older, those originally loyal to His Majesty inevitably start making long-term calculations…”

His Majesty urgently needed an elite force loyal only to him, with no connections to any prince.

If this could be kept hidden until the force was fully established, that would be the time to move against the Northwest.

“At that point, they could be used for both offense and defense.” Xiao Changqing smiled faintly, “If victorious, they would become His Majesty’s sharp blade – who in court wouldn’t fear His Majesty’s might? If defeated, it wouldn’t matter – no one would know where these people came from, and His Majesty could simply praise the Northwestern Prince for suppressing bandits.”

Xiao Changying couldn’t help taking a step back, staring in shock at his elder brother standing against the light.

As a prince with a favored mother and wise elder brother, he knew their royal family was full of intrigue and deception. He never naively believed it was a worry-free, happy family, but he had genuine reverence and filial devotion for His Majesty. Yet today his brother had gradually revealed their imperial father’s true face.

“Little brother, you need to grow up.” Xiao Changqing sighed softly, “Whoever makes a move now will become His Majesty’s scapegoat.”

Xiao Changying stared at his brother’s cold and lonely figure, his tall slender shadow rippling on the water’s surface, watching his slightly swaying, indistinct form in a daze.

The Youning Emperor waited for a long time in Mingzheng Hall. His confidant reported that only the Second Prince, Prince Zhao, had visited Prince Kang at the Court of the Imperial Clan, and he had done so openly.

Since Prince Zhao had been fostered at Prince Kang’s mansion for a period in his childhood, visiting to bid farewell was understandable.

“Only Prince Zhao went to the Court of the Imperial Clan?” The Youning Emperor’s face darkened.

“Yes.” The subordinate prostrated himself.

The Youning Emperor swept the items off his imperial desk with his sleeve: “I truly underestimated them!”

There could only be two reasons for this situation: either his sons were all pure and harmless, without any ulterior motives, and truly brotherly.

Or they were all extremely calculating, not daring to stick their heads out, and possibly even knew that Prince Kang was working for him, their imperial father, and was therefore pretending ignorance while knowing the truth!

Just thinking it was the latter made the Youning Emperor furious.

“If no one else comes tonight, then…” The Youning Emperor hadn’t finished speaking when he waved his hand, “Never mind, you may withdraw.”

The person kneeling on the ground breathed a sigh of relief. He knew His Majesty’s unfinished words meant arranging evidence of Prince Kang’s mansion conspiring with Prince Zhao.

Since no other princes had made a move, they could only frame Prince Zhao, the only one who had visited Prince Kang. Moreover, his visit at this time might not have been purely out of childhood sentiment.

When Shen Xihe woke up, she had expected stormy developments but instead found everything peaceful and calm.

“The Imperial Censorate guards are watching the Court of the Imperial Clan. Apart from Prince Zhao’s visit, no one else has entered,” Shen Yunan, who had kept watch all night, showed some fatigue.

“I underestimated their shrewdness.” Shen Xihe had never thought the princes were foolish, but hadn’t expected them all to be so cautious, “Of course, they all have gradually grown their power bases and have strategists behind them…”

“Should we keep watching?” Shen Yunan asked.

“Yes, they might not go now, but they’ll go back!” Shen Xihe said with certainty, then showed concern for her brother, “Brother, just have someone else keep watch. It doesn’t matter if we catch them or not – if we miss this chance, I have many other methods.”

She had plenty of time to deal with him, and it would be boring if he was exposed too easily. Now her fighting spirit had been aroused.