Shen Xihe had never thought there was anything special about that chess piece – it was left behind from her game with Hua Fuhai at Xinglin Garden.

Chess pieces only came in three materials: wooden ones commonly used by ordinary people, black and white pebbles found in gentry study halls, and jade pieces used by noble families. That day at Xinglin Garden, which wasn’t owned by the white-haired elder but rather maintained for him by a wealthy patron, they had used the finest materials – jade pieces. Though Shen Xihe was skilled at chess, she wasn’t particularly fond of the game, so naturally, she hadn’t paid much attention to it. The pieces were all similar in size, so she hadn’t given it a second thought.

She had only brought up the topic to avoid getting entangled with Xiao Huayong about matters concerning her maternal grandfather’s family.

“Why is this still here?” Xiao Huayong asked coldly.

Tian Yuan’s mind raced as he bowed apologetically: “It must have been an oversight by the servants. This subordinate will remove it right away.”

Xiao Huayong glanced at him. “Mm.”

Tian Yuan carefully picked up the chess piece. Though it was light as a feather in his palm, the jade piece felt as heavy as a thousand jin. He was terrified that his trembling hands might damage the Crown Prince’s treasure – if he were to chip it, he’d likely join the ranks of those sent to dive for pearls in the Far Eastern seas.

Only after Tian Yuan had withdrawn did Xiao Huayong’s expression soften, and he explained gently to Shen Xihe: “The chess set sent from the Imperial Household Department had some flaws. Before you arrived, I was addressing this oversight – the servants hadn’t cleared everything away.”

For a moment, Xiao Huayong had considered being completely honest and telling Shen Xihe everything. However, that instant of fear, worry, and hesitation led him to conceal the truth instead.

Since returning from the hunting grounds, Xiao Huayong hadn’t hidden anything from Shen Xihe, nor had he tried to mislead her into suspecting others. He had only wanted everything to unfold naturally, revealing itself in due course.

He didn’t know how she would react upon learning the whole truth. He never acted without absolute certainty, and he knew that the longer he concealed things, the more inappropriate it became. He was also aware that Shen Xihe already harbored suspicions about him, though she wasn’t yet completely certain.

Yet, he was ultimately just an ordinary mortal, plagued by worries and fears born of love.

His heart was filled with regret, relief, and hidden anxiety – regret for not seizing the opportunity, to be honest, relief that she remained unaware and he didn’t have to face those unknown fears, and anxiety knowing that this truth would eventually come to light, making his current deception nothing more than self-delusion.

Everyone has dangerous avoidance tendencies, and he was no exception. In this world, perhaps the only things he sought to avoid were matters concerning her.

He could bear losing everything else, but he couldn’t bear returning to that initial distance between them.

Shen Xihe, not suspecting anything, changed the subject: “What does Your Highness think about Yu Zao’s confession regarding the Prince of Dai?”

“What are your thoughts, Youyou?” Xiao Huayong returned her question.

“To be honest with Your Highness, before Zhaoning entered the capital, my father had mentioned all the princes to me. After arriving in the capital, I also paid close attention – the Prince of Dai seems uninvolved in court affairs.”

Unlike the Fourth Prince of Ding who feigned indifference to fame and fortune, the Prince of Dai neither traveled for pleasure nor distanced himself from court. He diligently performed his duties as a prince, focusing solely on these responsibilities.

He never took the lead in matters meant to ease the Emperor’s burden; when important positions became vacant, while others fought openly and schemed in secret, he remained silent; whenever major issues arose, while the other princes eagerly involved themselves – either fishing in troubled waters or making them more turbulent – he alone remained unmoved.

Openly and secretly, he was truly the one who remained solitary, forming no factions, avoiding private dealings with court officials, accepting no bribes, and cultivating no hidden power base.

“Youyou has keen insight. Old Third is a sensible person. Since marrying Lady Li, he was destined to have no chance at the throne.” Otherwise, the gradually accepting Western Liang would grow restless again, and His Majesty would certainly not tolerate their marriage. “Though this means he cannot reach the highest position, regardless of who wins the throne, he will always have his place.”

Especially if the prince who ascends the throne does so by stepping over his brothers’ blood – to appease the court officials and demonstrate tolerance, to pacify the common people and show benevolence, they would need to spare one or two brothers to prove they aren’t heartless tyrants who disregard family bonds.

“So it truly wasn’t the Prince of Dai,” Shen Xihe had only suspected before. The matter was too sensitive, with both the Emperor and court officials watching closely, so she hadn’t been able to investigate properly. Only now had she found the final answer from Xiao Huayong.

If not the Prince of Dai, then who could fully represent him and convince Yu Zao so completely?

It could only be the Princess Consort of Dai – Li Yanyan.

She ultimately couldn’t let go of her national and family grudges. Shen Xihe felt some regret – didn’t she realize that once exposed, the Emperor would have reason to eliminate the remaining Western Liang royal family?

“This matter was meticulously planned. The Princess Consort of Dai concealed her true nature well.” Xiao Huayong had never paid attention to any woman besides Shen Xihe. “I’ve investigated thoroughly. If you hadn’t stumbled upon this matter, and if Young Master Bu hadn’t pursued the investigation to the Court of Justice, they might have succeeded in their deception.”

The arrested individuals had confessed – they had planned to make their final big move this year and completely cease operations by year’s end.

Before the new year, local government offices would be overwhelmed with various matters and wouldn’t immediately investigate reports of disturbed graves. They had also planned to create several murder cases in different locations to divert attention. By the time investigations resumed after the new year, they would have long vanished.

It was Bu Shulin’s persistence that had led Shen Xihe to visit the silver shop, and now the Doujin Silver Shop had been sealed.

Xiao Huayong had advocated for local officials to issue notices stating that anyone who had purchased items could bring them to the authorities. The government would witness the original owners buying them back at half price, considering it an act of charity. Moreover, since these items came from graves, many people were unwilling to keep them, and destroying them risked being seen as an accomplice to grave robbing. Getting back half their losses seemed fair.

Many who had purchased stolen goods brought them to the authorities, who would inquire about where they were bought, thus helping to catch as many involved parties as possible.

“Does Your Highness also believe it was the Princess Consort of Dai’s doing?” Shen Xihe was somewhat surprised.

“It couldn’t have been the Princess Consort alone,” Xiao Huayong said. “She must have conspired with others to execute this so thoroughly.”

The Emperor and court officials hadn’t suspected Lady Li, not because they lacked wisdom or strategy, but because they couldn’t believe that Lady Li – who appeared impulsive, quick to anger, and wore her hatred for the royal family plainly on her face – could be someone of such deep scheming.

Lady Li’s years of pretense had fooled everyone. There was also another factor: Shen Xihe and Xiao Langmin had handled the matter of Yu Zao’s impersonation so perfectly that the officials and even the Emperor had no reason to doubt, thus leading them to be misguided into thinking Yu Zao was making false accusations even on his deathbed.

Especially the Emperor – he should know the Prince of Dai best, and he would never believe this was his doing. Only Shen Xihe, Xiao Langmin, and Xiao Huayong were certain that Yu Zao had not lied.