The human heart is a peculiar thing – it can be as small as a needle’s eye or as vast as a bottomless pit.

Indeed, Li Jing’s case could transform him from a criminal to a meritorious person with just one word from her. It could be handled seamlessly without harming others, preserving the Li family’s face, and avoiding any resentment between Madame Li and the third cousin.

But if it were resolved so easily and Li Jing reformed, what if this led to even more reckless behavior?

In a family, the concern isn’t about having too little, but about inequality. If they could quietly erase this incident involving the third cousin’s brother-in-law – she and her young uncle erasing it – what about the first cousin, second cousin, and fourth cousin in the future? If their in-laws committed crimes, should those be erased too?

If not erased, how would their wives feel? And if all were protected, what would that make her?

She would become an enabler of these people’s lawless and contemptuous behavior!

When they easily escape small matters, they become bolder the next time. As incidents accumulate, who knows what catastrophic disaster they might cause one day.

Xiao Huayong propped up one side of his face, smiling with lips curved and eyes fixed intently on Shen Xihe.

“Why is Your Highness looking at me this way?” Shen Xihe felt puzzled.

“I’m wondering how the King of the Northwest raised Youyou to have such profound insight,” Xiao Huayong expressed his curiosity.

Shen Yueshan was a rough man full of heroic spirit, and Shen Yun’an didn’t appear to be refined or profound. Yet somehow, the young lady raised by these two men possessed such foresight.

Many people aren’t lacking in intelligence, nor are they unable to see far ahead. They’re simply bound by personal feelings and face, leaving them no capacity to consider matters deeply, as the involvement of their interests blinds their eyes.

Even he wasn’t exempt – when it involved people he cared about, justice, righteousness, and benevolence all became meaningless talk.

But Shen Xihe was different – she was someone who could truly maintain such a profound perspective without self-interest, both for herself and others.

Understanding Xiao Huayong’s words, Shen Xihe laughed softly: “Perhaps… it’s just that Li Jing’s significance isn’t enough?”

How could anyone be without self-interest?

Shen Xihe was also a living, breathing person. She too had her biases, but there weren’t many who could earn her partiality. Therefore, most of the time, she could treat every matter and person rationally and equally.

“I want…” Xiao Huayong’s eyes grew warmer with laughter, “to become someone favored by Youyou.”

Some people don’t fall in love easily, but once they do, they’re devoted heart and soul, just like him.

Some people don’t show favoritism easily, but once they do, it’s earth-shattering, just like her.

To gain her favor would surely make one the most fortunate person in the world.

“It’s getting late, Your Highness should go rest,” Shen Xihe didn’t want to pour cold water on Xiao Huayong. After all, he was her benefactor and her chosen marriage partner. She gave him a face by changing the subject.

“I’ll listen to Youyou.” Xiao Huayong smiled gently, his gaze shifting, “There are no inns around here, and my constitution is too delicate to sleep in the carriage…”

His hint was very strong – he wanted to rest here. The house had only two rooms, one occupied by Hong Yu, Mo Yu, and the others. They certainly couldn’t let the Crown Prince sleep in a room used by servant girls.

He wanted to sleep in the bed she had slept in.

If the winter daphne were to bloom tonight and they could leave tomorrow, Shen Xihe wouldn’t mind granting his wish. But since she wasn’t certain whether she would need the bed tomorrow, she naturally wouldn’t let him have his way: “I’ve already had Mo Yuan find a room. The bedding is newly changed, and warming incense has been lit. Please, Your Highness.”

Xiao Huayong deliberately heaved a heavy sigh, expressing his disappointment, before slowly rising and following the waiting Mo Yuan out the door.

“His Highness acts like a child begging for candy in front of the Princess,” Hong Yu couldn’t help but laugh.

Zhenzhu glanced at her. Though the words were somewhat inappropriate, Zhenzhu felt the same way.

She had often accompanied Hong Yu and Zi Yu in reading romance novels, listening to those passionate love stories, always thinking that love between men and women was just like those earth-shattering tales. Now, seeing the Crown Prince, Zhenzhu truly understood how a man regarded the person he admired.

In the Crown Prince’s eyes, there was a light that belonged only to the Princess – it would only brighten when she was in his sight.

That night, Shen Xihe went to watch over the winter daphne, and Xiao Huayong came along to join in. Shen Xihe prepared an incense burner for him to hold, and as they kept watch together, Xiao Huayong constantly conversed with Shen Xihe, first telling stories of his childhood, occasionally asking her a question.

At first, Shen Xihe didn’t realize, but after unconsciously revealing quite a few childhood experiences to Xiao Huayong, she finally understood – he was finding different ways to probe into her past, trying to learn more about her.

“How does Your Highness plan to handle the tomb-raiding case?” Shen Xihe didn’t want to discuss these matters with him and had to change the subject.

Xiao Huayong knew when to stop: “This matter has terrible implications and shouldn’t be publicized too widely. Once the masterminds are identified, they’ll be punished for equivalent crimes.”

According to confessions, what they had done over these three years, especially this year – if word got out about how many families’ tombs had been robbed, it might incite civil unrest. The matter was too infuriating, too unforgivable. People wouldn’t be satisfied merely seeing the criminals brought to justice.

It would severely damage faith in the imperial court’s security and local officials’ competence. Moreover, these people had mostly robbed the tombs of wealthy and prominent families, making the implications even greater. One wrong move could lead to government persecution and widespread uprising.

“I know this isn’t fair to those whose tombs were robbed, but there’s no other way,” Xiao Huayong added another explanation.

“Your Highness’s decision earns Zhao Ning’s respect,” Shen Xihe said sincerely.

What a perfect opportunity this would have been – an opportunity to strike at Emperor You Ning.

Such a heinous case with such a far-reaching impact occurring under His Majesty’s rule would be an indelible stain on his reign. Appeasing public anger would be simple – if His Majesty issued an edict of self-blame, everything could be resolved.

They might even be able to fan the flames and force His Majesty to abdicate.

“Whether His Majesty abdicates or issues a self-blame edict, it could indeed appease public anger. But when people’s hearts are hard to gather, once they become dissatisfied with the court, they’ll resist local officials. Discord between officials and common people is the beginning of disaster,” Xiao Huayong didn’t want to use such methods against His Majesty.

Though Xiao Huayong didn’t want to make a big deal of this matter, it didn’t mean others felt the same.

That very night, as he accompanied Shen Xihe watching over the winter daphne, the imperial tombs in the capital were rocked by explosions. Overnight, news of someone attempting to rob the imperial tombs by explosives spread throughout the capital. Emperor You Ning had no time to suppress it – like a spark carried by the wind, the news spread beyond the capital.

Xiao Changying ran angrily to Prince Xin’s mansion: “Brother, have you gone mad?! You blew up the imperial tombs!”

“If the Crown Prince can burn the ancestral temple, what’s wrong with me blowing up some imperial tombs?” Xiao Changqin remained completely unruffled.

Xiao Changying stared at him in angry shock: “The tomb-raiding case – was it orchestrated by you?!”

Somehow word had gotten out about a group of brazen tomb raiders who robbed everywhere, not even sparing the imperial tombs. Now everywhere was in chaos.

“I only blew up the imperial tombs,” Xiao Changqin’s lips curved upward, “I only oppose His Majesty.”