Shen Xihe gazed at him quietly for a while before saying, “How about I paint a portrait for Your Highness another day?”

Having achieved his goal so easily, even the intelligent Xiao Huayong was stunned, unsure if he was hearing things: “Youyou, are you saying… you’ll paint for me?”

“Because I have a request,” Shen Xihe told Xiao Huayong directly. This wasn’t coaxing him, but a transaction.

His heart, which hadn’t had time to soar, immediately fell back to earth. Xiao Huayong’s smile stiffened briefly before returning to normal. This was more like Shen Xihe’s character. He was caught between laughing and crying: “Whatever Youyou need, just say it. I’ll help Youyou with her troubles, not seeking anything in return.”

“Not seeking anything?” Shen Xihe smiled lightly. “Isn’t everything Your Highness does aimed at gaining something from Zhaoning?”

Hearing this, Xiao Huayong laughed softly: “Yes, Youyou speak truly. I seek Youyou’s person and heart – that too is a scheme.”

Now he dared not say he sought nothing in return, and could only accept Shen Xihe’s offer to paint: “What matter requires my help?”

Given Shen Xihe’s abilities, Xiao Huayong was quite curious about what would make her seek his assistance.

“I’ve thought of a good way to possibly draw out the person behind Yanling,” Shen Xihe explained her plan. “Just now, I encountered Princess Anling in the garden and had some verbal conflict. The person who could use Princess Yanling must harbor deep hatred toward me and won’t give up until achieving their goal. Perhaps seeing my discord with Princess Anling, they might try to use her as well.”

“Anling?” Xiao Huayong’s first reaction matched Shen Xihe’s. “Anling isn’t clever.”

Yanling had some cunning and could navigate well among ordinary people, but compared to Shen Xihe, the difference was like that between clouds and mud. Yet in this world, those who could match Shen Xihe in wit and skill were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

“I thought so at first too,” Shen Xihe smiled. “But then I realized that Princess Changling had conflicts with me before her death, Princess Yanling had disagreements with me before her passing, and earlier I had some discord with Princess Anling.”

“If I find another opportunity to create a scene with Princess Anling, one that everyone knows about, do you think this person might kill Princess Anling to frame me?”

Xiao Huayong’s gaze focused as he thought it through carefully. The possibility was very high.

Princess Anling wasn’t as controllable as Yanling had been. She thought herself clever and believed Shen Xihe wouldn’t dare kill her, so she kept refusing to reveal the culprit. If Princess Anling fell into Shen Xihe’s hands, she would surely expose the mastermind.

Therefore, this person wouldn’t risk using Princess Anling against Shen Xihe, but with the precedent of both Princess Yanling and Princess Changling dying after conflicts with Shen Xihe, if Shen Xihe openly created another scene with Princess Anling…

If they then killed Princess Anling, leaving irrefutable evidence against Shen Xihe would be ideal. Even without evidence, Shen Xihe would face criticism. Killing three princesses would make it reasonable for His Majesty to take action against her.

Even if insufficient evidence prevented Shen Xihe’s execution, to appease public sentiment, her command of the border troops would have to be revoked.

This would clip Shen Xihe’s wings. Mo Yuan and others couldn’t openly protect her anymore and would have to retreat to the northwest. It would become much easier to move against her, and even the Princess’s mansion would no longer be safe.

“What an excellent way to draw out the snake,” Xiao Huayong praised.

In this world, only Shen Xihe could give him such brilliant surprises, making him fall deeper the more he understood her.

“No, this isn’t drawing out the snake – this is the thief crying ‘Catch the thief!'” Shen Xihe’s smile deepened. “Later, Zhaoning will go to His Majesty and tell him about today’s events, letting him know there’s such a person who killed Princess Changling and Princess Yanling to frame Zhaoning.”

This would completely clear both her and Xiao Huayong of suspicion.

Xiao Huayong was stunned, then couldn’t help but burst into a pleasant, clear laugh: “For those who offend Youyou, I must recite ‘Amitabha.'”

Tianyuan’s mouth twitched – wasn’t that his catchphrase?

But the Princess’s methods were truly hair-raising. Fortunately, he wasn’t His Highness’s enemy, otherwise, he felt that even as the first confidant, his life might have ended at the Princess’s hands.

“Since Princess Anling is in the palace, this person must act within the palace. I hope Your Highness will help then,” said Shen Xihe.

Xiao Huayong’s eyes filled with deep amusement: “To help Youyou is my fortune. Youyou has already approached His Majesty, you don’t need me.”

“Someone who can manipulate princesses must be of high status, likely having an extraordinary relationship with His Majesty,” Shen Xihe said tactfully.

She worried that Emperor Youning might, for the sake of royal face or other considerations, downplay the matter. More importantly, since Princess Changling died at Xiao Huayong’s hand and Princess Yanling by hers, to frame the other party for these crimes, they needed Xiao Huayong’s involvement.

“Since Youyou trust me so, I cannot disappoint you.” He was even more eager than Shen Xihe to discover who was secretly harming her.

After settling matters with Xiao Huayong, he made one request – that Shen Xihe paint him while looking at him, not from memory. Shen Xihe agreed before leaving the Eastern Palace.

Leaving the Eastern Palace, she went straight to Mingzheng Hall to seek an audience with Emperor Youning. The Emperor found Shen Xihe’s requests for audiences somewhat headache-inducing.

He had realized that besides regular palace visits to pay respects, Shen Xihe rarely sought him out, and when she did, it was never for small matters.

Yet he couldn’t refuse to see her without reason. He had Liu Sangzhi lead her in, and after the formal greetings, Emperor Youning said: “Has Zhaoning come to seek Us because you’ve suffered an injustice? Do you want Us to give you justice?”

The first few times weren’t just about seeking justice, the Emperor deliberately asked this way.

“Today I came because Zhaoning finds something extremely suspicious, and requests Your Majesty to dismiss the attendants,” Shen Xihe said solemnly.

Emperor Youning was somewhat surprised. He looked at Liu Sangzhi, who understood and waved his hand, dismissing all palace maids and eunuchs from the hall, leaving only Shen Xihe, Emperor Youning, and Liu Sangzhi.

Shen Xihe hadn’t asked Liu Sangzhi to leave as well. Liu Sangzhi was loyal to His Majesty, and since this matter didn’t involve His Majesty, it naturally didn’t involve Liu Sangzhi, who was also someone no one could bribe.

“Your Majesty, today Zhaoning encountered Princess Anling in the garden. Princess Anling, perhaps still resentful over previous matters, remembered Princess Yanling’s earlier slander against Zhaoning, and thus questioned whether Princess Yanling was harmed by Zhaoning,” Shen Xihe briefly explained. “She also said she would find evidence that Zhaoning secretly harmed Princess Yanling.”

Hearing this, Emperor Youning’s gaze became subtle: “Is this all Zhaoning came to tell Us?”

Just to report Princess Anling’s actions, was it necessary to dismiss all attendants?