“Your Highness has an iron will, unafraid of severe torture. My petty tricks are useless against such a battle-hardened man,” Shen Xihe genuinely admired Prince Xun’s resilience—those who could withstand Xiao Huayong’s torture were probably few and far between in the world.

“We must seek another method. To be frank with Your Highness, I am skilled in crafting fragrances, including one that can bewilder the mind and confuse memories,” Shen Xihe spoke softly. “If we reshape someone’s bones to look like Your Highness, then muddle their memories, even your brilliant son would find it difficult to discern the truth from someone who truly believes themselves to be you.”

“Why tell me all this?” Prince Xun asked coldly.

“If there were a quicker solution, why would I take such a roundabout approach?” Shen Xihe said lightly, exchanging a glance with Xiao Huayong as she turned.

A different kind of smile touched Xiao Huayong’s lips. “Uncle, you’re merely planning for the Prince Xun Manor’s future. Ten years ago, His Majesty was in his prime, but after ten years, Uncle should consider this carefully—my brothers and I have all come of age. Have you thought about what might happen to Cousin if I were to ascend the throne?”

Prince Xun’s body trembled. The reason he hadn’t immediately taken his own life to thwart Xiao Huayong’s plans wasn’t because he harbored any hope of rescue, but because he didn’t know Xiao Huayong’s identity or capabilities and wanted to assess them personally.

Facing this extraordinarily handsome nephew, whose eyes gleamed like moonlight on deep waters, unfathomable and bottomless, he should have guessed his hidden concerns earlier. Yet Xiao Huayong hadn’t struck at this point immediately, choosing instead to demonstrate the full extent of his abilities and methods.

He had delayed until this final, decisive blow, eliminating any chance for negotiation.

“His Majesty has many sons, each accomplished in both civil and military affairs. Your Highness’s methods are impressive, but perhaps you’re too confident,” Prince Xun still wouldn’t yield easily.

“Of course I’m confident—I am the legitimate heir,” Xiao Huayong revealed his identity at the perfect moment.

Prince Xun’s pupils contracted, his purple-tinged lips trembling slightly. He had considered every possible identity for Xiao Huayong except Crown Prince!

The Crown Prince, His Majesty’s heir—everyone knew such a person existed, yet no one had ever taken him seriously.

He was like an invisible man, impossible to connect to any event. What terrifying ability was required to achieve such a feat?

“Today, I’ll give Uncle a choice: either you take the lead in having Cousin and the Prince Xun Manor pledge allegiance to me, or you can gamble on whether I’ll be the one who fails, and if the Prince Xun Manor can survive,” Xiao Huayong’s voice was soft in the narrow underground chamber.

There wasn’t a hint of threat in his tone. He spoke casually, yet with an inherent imperial authority.

Shen Xihe’s gaze passed through the flickering candlelight to rest on the tall, imposing figure before her.

Someone had once told her that certain people were born rulers—impossible to describe precisely, but you would understand when you met one. Their every movement would be effortless yet command heaven and earth, controlling the winds and clouds, determining life and death.

With a choice between loyalty to His Majesty or secretly supporting Xiao Huayong—Prince Xun found himself in an impossible dilemma.

Seeing Prince Xun waver, Shen Xihe said, “Your Highness, if your son pledges to His Highness, who is known for his tolerance toward subordinates, he won’t immediately move against the divine army. Your son won’t face His Majesty’s suspicion or disdain. Before His Highness ascends the throne, your son will remain His Majesty’s confidant, and after the ascension, your son will have the merit of supporting the new emperor.”

“Heh heh heh ha ha ha ha ha…” Prince Xun suddenly burst into laughter, his voice rising from low to high, laughing until he seemed to exhaust himself before containing his mirth. “Crown Prince, was the destruction of the Prince Kang Manor your doing?”

“No,” Shen Xihe stepped forward. “I orchestrated the Prince Kang Manor’s downfall.”

Prince Xun’s bloodshot eyes locked onto Shen Xihe, suddenly growing dark and scrutinizing.

Shen Xihe spoke frankly: “I believe Your Highness already knows who I am, and why the Prince Kang Manor and I couldn’t coexist. You also know why you asked that question—you wanted to know if His Highness would eliminate rivals without regard for family ties.

I can answer on His Highness’s behalf: throughout history, how many emperors haven’t ascended the throne by stepping over their siblings’ blood?”

“Is this truly how Your Highness thinks?” Prince Xun ignored Shen Xihe, staring directly at Xiao Huayong.

Xiao Huayong’s gentle gaze moved from Shen Xihe: “Uncle, would you believe me if I said no? What’s the point of asking such things now? I need not deceive you—the Prince Kang Manor fell to Youyou’s hand, but even if she hadn’t acted, I wouldn’t have spared them.”

“Why? Why didn’t you accept Prince Kang’s allegiance?” Prince Xun asked.

“Prince Kang was different from you, Uncle. I had no respect for him,” Xiao Huayong answered plainly.

Prince Xun nodded in sudden understanding. He suddenly raised his head, letting out a deep sigh: “Thank you for your favor, Your Highness. Please spare the Prince Xun Manor…”

Prince Xun lowered his eyes, slowly bowing his head. A faint smell of blood reached Shen Xihe’s nose, and her expression changed drastically: “No!”

Xiao Huayong darted forward, but was still a step too late—Prince Xun had bitten his tongue to commit suicide.

Confusion flashed in Shen Xihe’s eyes. Prince Xun had shown signs of yielding, yet chose this moment to take his life: “Why?”

Xiao Huayong sighed softly, “I was careless.”

Shen Xihe started slightly: “What do you mean?”

“With Prince Xun’s exposure, His Majesty must have already sent people to relocate the divine army. Prince Xun surely knew this, and perhaps the divine army isn’t controlled by Prince Xun alone as we assumed.” Even if he revealed one location, it would be empty, and there might even be an ambush waiting.

Prince Xun hadn’t revealed the location because he didn’t want Xiao Huayong walking into a trap, so he used this as a bargaining chip, hoping Xiao Huayong would spare Prince Xun Manor.

If Xiao Huayong hadn’t demonstrated his absolute power to Prince Xun today, Prince Xun would have sent him to his death.

“His Majesty’s thoughts run deep,” Shen Xihe worried. “Could His Majesty have already known Prince Xun was hiding in Duke Xie’s mansion?”

If so, hadn’t she and Xiao Huayong exposed themselves?

“No,” Xiao Huayong took Shen Xihe’s hand. “If there was a way to live, Prince Xun wouldn’t have chosen death. Xie Ji must have been his only hope for survival, but that path was blocked by… Xie Yunhuai.”

Shen Xihe looked at Xiao Huayong in surprise, wondering if she had imagined it, but his tone seemed odd when speaking Xie Yunhuai’s name.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Xiao Huayong raised his hand to block her gaze. “I’m simply jealous. I know you have no romantic feelings for Xie Yunhuai and his feelings for you… probably aren’t romantic either, but I’m still jealous. I know you probably don’t like me being this way, finding it unreasonable and sentimental. I don’t like myself being this way either, but I can’t help it.

I’m not trying to blame you, I just want to say it out loud, even if you… remain unmoved or even annoyed, I need to express it.”