She didn’t need to remember unimportant people – she had people for that. Zhenzhu and Biyu were responsible for these matters, one for remembering the noble sons of the capital, and the other for remembering the noble ladies.
“Wang Erlang, the eldest grandson of Vice Minister Wang from the Chancellery,” Zhenzhu replied.
“I understand.” Xiao Huayong was going to deal a deadly blow to Wang Zheng now. Earlier, Xiao Huayong hadn’t planned to move against Wang Zheng completely. Wang Zheng already had the stain of incompetence and couldn’t replace Xue Heng, so Xiao Huayong wouldn’t target Wang Zheng without reason.
After all, Wang Zheng was Emperor Youning’s confidant. Moving against him too early would arouse the Emperor’s suspicion.
Xiao Huayong wasn’t someone who would act so carelessly. If he was moving against Wang Zheng early, he must have a way to ensure that even if Wang Zheng was eliminated, Emperor Youning wouldn’t suspect him.
Unless…
“Wang Zheng moved against him first!” This was the only possibility. Wang Zheng had previous offenses, and Xiao Huayong was confident he could make Wang Zheng suffer in silence, unable to speak out, making Emperor Youning believe this wasn’t his scheme.
Emperor Youning, who had been about to leave, strode back, shouting, “Imperial Physicians! Summon the Imperial Physicians!”
What followed was chaos. Two major incidents occurred simultaneously: someone had witnessed the Turkic Prince committing murder, and when the Capital Prefecture Chief arrived with his men, they discovered the victim wasn’t an ordinary person – it was a current Imperial Princess.
The other incident was the Crown Prince being publicly attacked at the polo match, with poison powder hidden in the ball!
“How is the Crown Prince?” Emperor Youning waited anxiously for the results.
The Chief Imperial Physician exchanged glances with two Deputy Imperial Physicians. The Chief stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, fortunately, His Highness didn’t inhale or ingest it, otherwise… it would have been fatal.”
Emperor Youning’s face turned frighteningly dark upon hearing this.
“Although His Highness didn’t inhale it, the poison powder got into his eyes, and I’m afraid…” the Deputy Imperial Physician silently cursed the Chief’s cunning for leaving the most important and anger-inducing news to him, “His Highness may go blind.”
A murderous glint flashed in Emperor Youning’s eyes: “Liu Sanzhi, imprison them and torture them severely. I want to know who masterminded this!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Liu Sanzhi immediately withdrew to carry out the order.
Emperor Youning anxiously waited for a while, but Xiao Huayong didn’t wake. He could only leave people to guard him while he went to handle the other matter.
The princes and Shen Xihe were all outside. They saw His Majesty’s dark expression and unconcealed anger as he strode out, not even sparing them a glance before leaving.
Seeing His Majesty leave, Shen Xihe went in to check on Xiao Huayong – it was the right thing to do.
The other princes, seeing His Majesty leave, didn’t dare approach the precious Crown Prince. Looking at those who had tried to get close to the Crown Prince before, besides Shen Xihe, who had come to a good end?
The princes left successively, with Xiao Changqing and Xiao Changying remaining last. Xiao Changqing said to Xiao Changying, “Wang Zheng… is finished.”
“Brother, the Crown Prince… he moved against Wang Zheng directly!” Xiao Changying had previously only been wary and acknowledged Xiao Huayong, but now he was truly shocked.
That was His Majesty’s confidant! He dared to deal with him so openly, not even trying to avoid suspicion, involving himself directly – was he that confident His Majesty wouldn’t suspect him?
“That’s why he’s the Crown Prince,” Xiao Changqing smiled meaningfully and walked away.
He was thinking about how naive he had been, believing that with His Majesty’s nurturing, the throne would naturally be his.
Now he understood that the throne wouldn’t necessarily go to whoever His Majesty wanted to give it to.
When Shen Xihe entered, Emperor Youning had taken away two Deputy Imperial Physicians. The Chief Imperial Physician remained on guard. Seeing Shen Xihe, Tiangyuan, and the Chief Imperial Physician consciously withdrew. Zhenzhu accompanied Shen Xihe inside, and the unconscious Xiao Huayong suddenly opened his eyes, silver light gathering in his pupils, looking spirited.
“Your Highness is getting more skilled at fainting,” Shen Xihe said lightly.
“Now that Youyou is here, I’d wake up even if I were truly unconscious,” Xiao Huayong put his hands behind his head, still lying on the couch looking at Shen Xihe.
“What play is Your Highness acting out now?” Shen Xihe asked.
“I don’t believe Youyou doesn’t know,” Xiao Huayong said with a smile.
“Doing this, isn’t Your Highness worried about arousing His Majesty’s suspicion?” Shen Xihe found a place to sit, sitting sideways facing Xiao Huayong.
“His Majesty won’t suspect me,” Xiao Huayong said with certainty. “Because he’ll soon know that the poison powder has damaged my eyes, and I can’t distinguish colors.”
Shen Xihe’s gaze focused slightly.
How could the Crown Prince be disabled? Xiao Huayong being unable to distinguish colors was reason enough for dethronement.
How would His Majesty believe that Xiao Huayong would pay such a price to deal with Wang Zheng? If it couldn’t be cured for life, wouldn’t that mean losing the throne? Moreover, this weakness would be in Emperor Youning’s hands, allowing him to depose Xiao Huayong at any time.
“Your Highness’s methods are brilliant,” Shen Xihe couldn’t help but applaud.
In the current situation, His Majesty didn’t want to depose the Crown Prince and have court officials eyeing the Eastern Palace position early, causing division as they schemed. He still needed to deal with Southern Shu and the Northwest, so as long as Xiao Huayong was only color-blind and not blind, he wouldn’t depose him.
Just like when the Crown Prince was established years ago, His Majesty needed Xiao Huayong to be the Crown Prince now.
Secondly, this was Wang Zheng’s doing, and Emperor Youning wouldn’t follow the ministers’ wishes and let them climb over his head to make decisions.
Thirdly, by putting this weakness in Emperor Youning’s hands, any slight suspicion His Majesty had developed toward him would be completely dispelled.
Fourthly, His Majesty wouldn’t believe that Xiao Huayong would pay with his life or his eyesight just to frame Wang Zheng. He would deeply believe this was Wang Zheng’s doing, and once His Majesty confirmed that Xiao Huayong truly couldn’t see colors, he would no longer harbor any suspicion and wouldn’t believe this was self-orchestrated to frame Wang Zheng.
Fifthly…
“Your Highness must not be far from the day of recovery,” Shen Xihe observed Xiao Huayong.
Since discovering Xiao Huayong’s identity, Shen Xihe hadn’t asked about his condition through A Xi.
“When Your Highness recovers, if you later fall out with His Majesty and he tries to use this to depose the Crown Prince, he would be slapping his face and revealing an intolerant heart. It would make the court officials feel that His Majesty is losing his grip and declining, thus raising doubts and becoming suspicious of the Crown Prince’s strength.”
Shen Xihe’s smile widened: “Sowing discord between ruler and ministers, making them either waver, unsure whether to follow Your Highness or His Majesty or remain neutral, offending neither side.”
Xiao Huayong’s eyes were full of deep affection: “Only you, Youyou, could guess all my intentions.”
Even Xiao Changqing and others might not have thought of the fifth point, as it was too far-reaching.
“Your Highness overpraises me,” Shen Xihe’s expression remained calm. “If I didn’t think things through thoroughly, how would I dare to accompany Your Highness?”
A man with such deep thoughts was the most dangerous man in the world.
Because with just a flick of his finger, he could take anyone’s life.
“Youyou don’t need to be like this. My heart… has already fallen for you.”