These two naturally didn’t know that their meeting was possible only because Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong jointly provided protection, allowing them to make contact within the deep palace without others’ knowledge.

When the Yangling Princess saw Munuha, her face instantly turned pale, and she turned to leave.

She could ally with anyone, but that person had to be their countryman. No matter what, she was still a princess, His Majesty’s daughter – even if something went wrong, the punishment wouldn’t be death. However, a Tujue prince was different. If their scheme was exposed, regardless of their intentions, even though she was a princess, His Majesty couldn’t protect her!

“Princess, please wait,” Munuha spoke in fluent Han language.

The Yangling Princess was slightly startled and then found her path blocked by Munuha. She grew somewhat angry: “Prince, this is the palace! If I just raise my voice, do you know what will happen to you?”

Munuha stepped back and performed a sincere Tujue bow: “Princess, please forgive me. I mean no disrespect. I boldly invited you here today because we share a common enemy.”

“I don’t know what nonsense you’re talking about. We couldn’t possibly have a common enemy.” The Yangling Princess berated him in a low voice and strode past Munuha to leave.

Munuha turned to look at her retreating figure: “Princess, this is your only chance to eliminate Shen Xihe!”

The Yangling Princess’s steps faltered. She wrung the handkerchief in her hands, her eyes reddening as she suddenly turned back, gritting her teeth: “I hate her. I wish I could tear her into ten thousand pieces, but I won’t ally with foreigners against her – not because I’m noble, but because I don’t want to be beyond redemption.”

Allying with Munuha today – who knew if this wouldn’t become leverage for Munuha to threaten her? Once she boarded this ship, she might never be able to get off.

“Princess is cautious. Please don’t rush to refuse. Why not hear what I have to say before making a decision?” Munuha stepped forward. “Princess has wisdom and can judge whether I mean to harm you.”

The Yangling Princess was somewhat moved but didn’t speak, instead guardedly sizing up Munuha.

Seeing through the Yangling Princess’s thoughts, Munuha said: “I want to make the Northwest King’s beloved daughter my woman.”

The Yangling Princess’s eyes widened, and she even let out a cold laugh: “Are you mad? You want to start a war between our nations!”

“Don’t Han women consider chastity their life? Would she choose death to prove her integrity?” Munuha didn’t think this was so unbelievable. “I sincerely seek marriage, offering substantial benefits. I believe His Majesty will surely grant this.”

This was the best way to remove the Northwest King from the Northwest. He could convince his father to offer cities as betrothal gifts. As long as it wasn’t the Shen father and son guarding the northwest, they could first give up one or two cities to lure the enemy in, then stage a comeback…

The Yangling Princess thought that even if Shen Xihe and Munuha truly became husband and wife, the Northwest King wouldn’t accept it. The northwest was as solid as gold in his hands. Would he not preemptively spark warfare between the two nations, using the pretext of quelling rebellion to take revenge on Tujue?

But when Munuha said His Majesty would grant it, she suddenly thought of His Majesty’s wariness of the Northwest King. If His Majesty was pleased to see this happen, the Northwest King wouldn’t dare act rashly, otherwise falling into His Majesty’s hands would be tantamount to digging his own grave.

Her heart began to pound. She felt a glimmer of hope.

If this succeeded, Shen Xihe would either have to commit suicide to preserve the Northwest King’s military authority, or honestly marry into the Northwest.

This was truly her only way out. Shen Xihe’s killing intent toward her was already very clear. Shen Xihe had too many methods – Concubine Liang’s death remains a mystery to this day. She didn’t want to become the second Concubine Liang.

The Yangling Princess looked at Munuha, still somewhat uncertain: “Why do you seek to marry her? Do you admire her?”

“Hahahaha…” Munuha gave a soft laugh. “I’ve never even seen her. Whether she’s beautiful or ugly doesn’t matter, as long as she’s the Northwest King’s daughter.”

This statement undoubtedly told the Yangling Princess that Munuha’s target was the Northwest King, who happened to be His Majesty’s greatest worry.

As the Yangling Princess wavered, Munuha took out a small medicine bottle and placed it on the nearby stone table: “Princess, this is a secret drug from our court. After men and women’s pleasure, even the best physician cannot detect that someone was drugged.”

After putting down the bottle, Munuha left with a confident smile.

He couldn’t stay long in the palace. He had come through a small window under the pretense of using the restroom, having his subordinate imitate two people talking in the privy as cover. If he stayed too long, the ruse would be exposed.

The Yangling Princess stood alone, her gaze falling on the ordinary small medicine bottle on the table. The light of struggle flickered in her eyes for a long while before she finally gritted her teeth and took the bottle with her.

After getting the bottle, she didn’t immediately trust Munuha’s words. Instead, she secretly tested it on a newly assigned palace maid. Her previous maid had failed to protect her yesterday and had accused Shen Xihe; His Majesty had severely punished her and sent her to the Yeting Palace to demonstrate his stance.

Today’s new maid was somewhat arrogant and not of one heart with her, so naturally, she needed to get leverage first.

After catching the maid in an illicit affair with a guard, she invited a trusted imperial physician to check their pulses, confirming that the drug was just as Munuha had said – once used, it couldn’t be detected.

Having made up her mind, the Yangling Princess, despite still feeling weak, openly brought gifts to the Duke’s manor.

She naturally told the Duke’s wife about how Shen Xihe might have killed Concubine Liang, as the Duke wasn’t in the manor.

“Princess, do you have evidence for these words?” Li Yanyan stroked the ruby pomegranate gold hairpin in her hair, asking carelessly.

“I have no evidence. This is what Shen Xihe personally said yesterday.” The Yangling Princess looked at Li Yanyan frankly.

Li Yanyan leaned back languidly, propping her chin with one hand, her eyes full of charm: “Oh? Why would Princess Zhaoning tell you this?”

“I know my Third Sister-in-law doesn’t believe me, but every word is true.” The Yangling Princess said decisively. “To be honest with Third Sister-in-law, Fourth Sister’s hatred for Shen Xihe was indeed stirred up by me. I don’t know how she learned of this, but she’s determined to deal with me. Yesterday she arranged to meet me. I didn’t want to go, but she had her maid ask me ‘Do you know why Concubine Liang died?’ I went to see her out of fear.”

Li Yanyan’s fingers, which had been playing with the jeweled chains hanging from her hairpin, paused. She looked at the Yangling Princess thoughtfully: “Princess comes to tell me these things – what is your intention?”

“She and I have reached a point of no return. She’s deeply scheming, and I don’t want to be bullied by her anymore.” The Yangling Princess gritted her teeth. “Tomorrow I want to use my Third Sister-in-law’s birthday banquet to deal with her. I don’t ask for Third Sister-in-law’s help, just for you to give me convenience.”

“Tomorrow is my birthday banquet. Even if this matter doesn’t involve me, if something happens to her in my manor, how will I explain to your Third Brother?” Li Yanyan smiled lightly.

“Third Sister-in-law, don’t worry. Yangling guarantees this matter absolutely won’t implicate Third Brother and Sister-in-law.” The Yangling Princess vowed earnestly.