A hush fell over the great hall, with fragrant wisps of smoke from the incense burner drifting past everyone’s nostrils as they each harbored their thoughts.

Emperor Youning found it difficult to make a judgment. While Xie Ji hadn’t stolen the imperial token, it had appeared in the Xie residence. Shen Xihe herself said she had temporarily given the token to Xie Yunhuai for protection, and since he was crucial to her survival, the Emperor couldn’t fault her for this.

Xie Ji admitted Xie Yunhuai had been to their home, but the token shouldn’t have been behind the ancestral tablet – that location suggested intentional concealment. It could also be argued that Xie Yunhuai had deliberately placed it there to frame them.

Between the two possibilities, the Emperor wasn’t showing favoritism, but he found the latter more likely. Xie Ji wouldn’t disrespect his ancestors by hiding the token there, and if he had found it, he should have brought it directly to the Emperor. This would have implicated both Xie Yunhuai and Shen Xihe – there was no need to keep the token and remain passive.

Shen Xihe kept her eyes lowered, waiting patiently. Whether Xie Ji would face consequences depended on Xiao Huayong’s timing.

“This matter has many suspicious points. We’ll make a final judgment after finding Ruogu.”

“Your Majesty.” Just as Emperor Youning finished speaking, a palace servant entered with a bow.

“What is it?” the Emperor asked.

“Your Majesty, the Capital Prefecture is requesting an audience.”

At this moment, Liu Sanzhi approached and whispered something in Emperor Youning’s ear. The Emperor’s expression turned cold: “Let them enter.”

Not only did the Capital Prefect enter, but also an ashen-faced Xie Yunhuai, looking quite haggard. As he passed by Shen Xihe, she caught a faint whiff of blood and couldn’t help but furrow her brow.

“This subject/commoner pays respects to Your Majesty,” they knelt together.

Xie Yunhuai’s movements were noticeably slow. Emperor Youning’s gaze grew complex as he sighed lightly: “Rise.”

After they stood, the Emperor asked: “Minister Zhang, what brings you here?”

The Capital Prefect bowed: “Your Majesty, Xie… young master Qi has come to report Duke Xie’s private detention of him.”

“Your Majesty…”

Before Xie Ji could speak further, Emperor Youning shot him a piercing look and asked Xie Yunhuai sternly: “Do you have evidence?”

“Your Majesty, I escaped from the Xie residence – many citizens can testify,” Xie Yunhuai replied with dignity.

“Your Majesty, I have verified that young master Qi indeed escaped from the Xie residence,” the Capital Prefect quickly confirmed.

“I was imprisoned in a secret room behind the Xie family shrine. When the Princess led people inside, I heard her conversation with Sir Liu,” Xie Yunhuai added, then repeated Shen Xihe and Liu Sanzhi’s words.

Liu Sanzhi secretly nodded to Emperor Youning.

The truth was revealed – Xie Ji had imprisoned Xie Yunhuai. This made Xie Ji’s crime much more serious.

Though Xie Yunhuai was his son, they had severed ties. By repeatedly denying it, Xie Ji had deceived the Emperor!

However, Xie Ji reacted swiftly, immediately kowtowing deeply: “I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness. I am approaching fifty without an heir and wish to repair relations with my son. But he stubbornly resents my remarriage and holds many prejudices against me. I did not imprison him – I only wanted to keep him at home to spend time together and resolve our differences.”

What clever words from Xie Ji. Upon seeing Xie Yunhuai, he knew the Prince of Xun must have been captured, but he wouldn’t mention this. The matter with Xie Yunhuai was just a family affair – if he insisted he knew nothing of other matters, the Emperor wouldn’t probe deeply.

If the Emperor learned he had harbored the Prince of Xun, disaster would befall the Xie household.

He dared not speak of it, and neither would Xie Yunhuai and the others. He understood now – their elaborate effort wasn’t just to rescue Xie Yunhuai and deal with him, but was aimed at the Prince of Xun!

Emperor Youning felt troubled after hearing this. Family matters were difficult to judge, and Xie Ji had always been extremely loyal. Though he had repeatedly lied today, it was understandable – approaching fifty without an heir, his only child viewing him as an enemy, his desperate actions didn’t warrant deep investigation.

The Emperor was traditionally lenient with loyal subjects: “The rift between father and son runs deep – one claims imprisonment, the other invitation. I cannot tell the truth from falsehood. Duke Xie, for failing to maintain proper household order, you are fined one year’s salary and stripped of your position as General of the Valiant Cavalry.”

The punishment was neither heavy nor light. At least Shen Xihe was satisfied – among the Emperor’s sixteen guards, the Left and Right Palace Guards were two, and the Left and Right Valiant Cavalry were another two. The General commanded both divisions, with each division led by its own Major General.

In other words, Duke Xie had controlled the military power of two guard divisions!

Shen Xihe showed no dissatisfaction. The Emperor was quite pleased and, after dismissing the others, admonished her as an elder: “In the future, even if you’re certain of the token’s location, you mustn’t act so rashly. Did you consider how you would have handled failure to find it?”

“I knew I would find it,” Shen Xihe remained firm.

Emperor Youning sighed deeply: “The rigid breaks easily.”

Without showing some hardness, without letting the Emperor see her weaknesses, how could he trust her?

Just like Bu Shulin’s regard, wasn’t Shen Xihe’s constant assertiveness and arrogance also crafting an image of herself for Emperor Youning?

“Zhaoning understands…”

While Emperor Youning was admonishing Shen Xihe, Xie Yunhuai was escorted from the palace. In his arranged carriage sat Xiao Huayong, his silver-bright eyes concealing deep radiance, deep as an ocean abyss, fixed steadily on Xie Yunhuai.

Xie Yunhuai bowed and sat beside him with lowered eyes, straight as a bamboo.

“Risking your life just to resolve her urgent need – Ruogu, you truly show deep feeling and righteousness,” Xiao Huayong’s voice was clear and cold as a river flowing over glaciers, chilling to the bone.

Shen Xihe didn’t know Xie Yunhuai had used himself as bait, entering the Xie residence after guessing he was treating the Prince of Xun – otherwise, how could Duke Xie have trapped him?

Duke Xie didn’t know the Prince was building a private army, thinking he had only faked his death. He owed the Prince a life debt, and today was repayment. Thus, though he knew Xie Yunhuai was treating Shen Xihe, he paid it no mind, believing Xie Yunhuai was the most suitable person.

Once Xie Yunhuai had treated him and the Prince left, Xie Yunhuai would have no proof and wouldn’t speak of it.

The Prince’s poison was truly troublesome. Duke Xie had used items left by the Qi family in exchange but never imagined the crucial element in between.

Everything had been within Xie Yunhuai’s expectations. If he disappeared, Shen Xihe would surely search for him, able to turn Duke Xie’s residence upside down while emerging unscathed.

This was Shen Xihe’s only chance to catch the Prince of Xun, and he wanted to help her.

“Your Highness gives too much praise. I cannot compare to Your Highness braving Tianshan, seeking the snow lotus without distinguishing colors,” Xie Yunhuai spoke without pride.

“Since you know this, you should know whom she will marry in the future!” Xiao Huayong said coldly.

Xie Yunhuai’s eyes were clear and bright as he replied unhurriedly: “Your Highness’s feelings for her differ from mine. I only wish for her happiness and well-being, without personal desires.”