Xiao Changying reacted with lightning speed. As the sword fell from his hand, he immediately kicked upward, sending the sword spinning back into the air. As he leaped to catch it, Munuha’s blade whirled like lightning toward his palm, threatening Xiao Changying’s waist.

Xiao Changying twisted his body in mid-air and quickly rolled away, reaching up to snatch the falling sword. Munuha paused his steps, spun around, and thrust his blade back. Xiao Changying landed and continued rolling backward, his sword spinning with him in the movement.

After several rotations, Xiao Changying finally managed to grasp his sword’s hilt. He pivoted on his feet, dodging a horizontal slash, twirled his sword in a flourish, and thrust it behind him. Almost simultaneously, Munuha’s blade edge whirled back.

Xiao Changying stood tall, his sword tip just an inch from piercing Munuha’s neck. Munuha leaned forward like a spreading eagle, his curved blade just an inch from severing Xiao Changying’s waist.

The two had fought to a draw. The Youning Emperor was the first to applaud: “Prince Munuha, your martial skills are extraordinary.”

“Prince Lie’s swordsmanship is divine,” Munuha sincerely praised.

Very few could match him in combat. After a pause, he continued: “Since the age of fifteen, Munuha has been undefeated across the steppes. I admire Prince Lie who can match Munuha, but Munuha still wishes to find the person who defeated him that day.”

As he spoke, his deep blue eyes swept over Xiao Huayong, this strongly suggestive gaze falling into the eyes of the Youning Emperor and the princes.

Xiao Huayong remained composed, Xiao Changqing and Xiao Changying maintained perfectly calm expressions, Xiao Changgeng showed no ripples of emotion, Xiao Changmin appeared thoughtful, and Xiao Zhen remained indifferent.

“We too must find this person,” the Youning Emperor said.

Xiao Huayong coughed lightly twice, saying nothing.

With all the princes present, the Youning Emperor was in high spirits and hosted a banquet. The evening meal proceeded harmoniously between host and guests. After returning to the Eastern Palace, Xiao Huayong instructed: “Be more vigilant these days.”

“Should we…”

Before Tianyuan could finish, Xiao Huayong raised his hand to interrupt: “No need. His Majesty may not believe him.”

A Turkish prince—His Majesty was more suspicious of Munuha’s intentions, wondering if this was meant to sow discord. Since Munuha dared not say when and where he had seen him, it was difficult to convince His Majesty. However, His Majesty was cautious—some things were better believed than doubted.

He would surely find an opportunity to test him to set his mind at ease.

Tianyuan had meant to suggest they take the initiative and attribute ill intentions to Munuha.

Such haste would only make His Majesty more suspicious. For now, he only needed to remain composed and not dwell on the matter.

“Inform Youyou of this, saying His Majesty suspects me,” Xiao Huayong instructed.

Tianyuan’s face showed: ???

“Why must we inform the Princess of this? Could His Majesty use the Princess to test Your Highness?”

Xiao Huayong regarded Tianyuan with a look that suggested he was beyond hope: “Why does His Majesty suspect me?”

“Prince Munuha’s accusation…” Tianyuan understood and hurriedly said, “This servant will deliver the message at once.”

His Highness was suspected by His Majesty because of Prince Munuha, and His Highness’s encounter with Prince Munuha was due to saving the Northwestern Prince.

The Princess was so intelligent, that she would surely realize this connection and feel somewhat indebted to His Highness, making her more tolerant of him…

His Highness never missed any opportunity to gain the Princess’s tolerance and patience.

Each step was taken steadily, resulting in the current situation where the Princess, though disliking his glib tongue, still had to endure it.

Tianyuan felt quite sympathetic toward the Crown Prince, but before he could leave the hall, he heard the Crown Prince already humming a little tune.

Tianyuan: …

While they thought the Crown Prince pitiful, perhaps the Crown Prince found them pathetic for not understanding matters of the heart.

He was probably already imagining what favors he could gain from the Princess through this.

Early the next morning, Tianyuan delivered a food box to Shen Xihe with a message: “Princess, please do not visit the Crown Prince in the palace before the Lantern Festival. His Majesty is seeking opportunities to test the Crown Prince these days.”

Shen Xihe asked with great concern: “Why is His Majesty testing the Crown Prince?”

She worried that the Crown Prince had somehow revealed himself. If he exposed himself too early, the Youning Emperor would surely not tolerate him. The struggle between them would erupt prematurely, and the Youning Emperor might not arrange their marriage, disrupting many of her plans.

Tianyuan showed difficulty, and after a long while said: “It’s because of Prince Munuha.”

“The Turkish prince?” Shen Xihe had briefly learned about the congratulatory envoys.

Seeing Shen Xihe’s questioning gaze, Tianyuan said: “The one who ambushed the Prince that day was this prince.”

Shen Xihe suddenly understood—this was someone who had seen Xiao Huayong’s true face. A sharp light flashed in her eyes.

Tianyuan inexplicably felt his heart tighten. He felt things weren’t developing as His Highness had predicted, but he dared not say more, lest the clever Princess detect His Highness’s schemes and spoil the effect.

After Tianyuan left, Shen Xihe immediately instructed Mo Yuan: “Investigate that Turkish prince more thoroughly.”

Shen Xihe indeed thought of Xiao Huayong’s merit because of this, but she didn’t feel much guilt, as she had already added Munuha to her death list.

If they eliminated this person, wouldn’t many problems be resolved?

Ambushing her father and threatening her betrothed—he was like a longevity star eating arsenic—tired of living.

“Princess, the Turkish prince is an envoy. If anything were to happen to him in the capital…” Zhenzhu had already sensed the killing intent from Shen Xihe and felt compelled to remind her, “This is a grave matter.”

She wasn’t trying to stop Shen Xihe, but as a servant, she had to remind her mistress whether she had thought of it or not—this was her duty.

“Why don’t we wait until he’s back in Turkish territory to assassinate him?” Ziyu thought simply.

Hongyu and Biyu both rolled their eyes, while Zhenzhu said amusedly: “He ambushed the Prince because the border region was half Turkish territory, and the Turkish border troops all obeyed his orders. They not only wouldn’t interfere but would also provide support if needed.”

This was why Shen Yueshan and Xiao Huayong hadn’t pursued and captured him relentlessly that day.

But if they were to ambush Munuha, how could they get past the soldiers on their side of the border?

Ziyu stuck out her tongue.

Shen Xihe lowered her head and stroked Duanming’s back. Duanming’s fur instinctively bristled, as if sensing deadly danger and fear.

Seeing this, Shen Xihe smiled: “To kill him, it must be done in the capital. We can’t assassinate him, nor kill him openly, which would lead to war between the two countries and His Majesty’s thorough investigation. We need a way to make His Majesty stand on our side.”

“Make His Majesty stand on our side?” Hongyu and the others exchanged glances.

“Has Princess Yanling shown any unusual movements lately?” Shen Xihe suddenly asked.

Zhenzhu silently said a prayer for Princess Yanling: “None.”

“Tell me, if the Turkish prince were to kill Princess Yanling, could he return home unscathed?” Shen Xihe asked softly.