Xiao Changqin’s expression suddenly turned desolate. One glance and Xiao Changying knew why his brother was like this. He called softly, “Brother…”

His brother and sister-in-law were destined for a bad ending, not because of personality, nor because his brother was too young to cherish their relationship, but because of the opposing positions of the Gu family and the imperial family.

If his sister-in-law hadn’t been from the Gu family – even if she were from the Xue, Wang, Cui, or even Fan families – any other noble family might have had a chance of survival.

But it had to be the Gu family, the leader of the noble houses. To make an example and show authority, only taking down the Gu family could achieve the desired deterrent effect.

“Brother, His Majesty…”

Xiao Changying wanted to say something, but meeting Xiao Changqin’s calm gaze, he couldn’t continue.

He wanted to say it was understandable that Father couldn’t spare the Gu family. If the Gu family wasn’t destroyed, even in retirement they would still represent the enduring power of noble houses. With one call, they could potentially rally scholarly commoners across the realm. The centuries-old myth of noble families’ invincibility had become deeply ingrained – their influence could only be shattered by bringing down a great house.

But Brother hated Father not for destroying the Gu family, but for giving false hope and causing him to make wrong choices. If Father hadn’t given Brother hope, perhaps Brother and Sister-in-law’s brief time together would have been different.

Xiao Changying didn’t speak. After a moment, Xiao Changqin guessed his thoughts but didn’t pursue them. Instead, he composed himself and said, “Fourth Brother seeking me out won’t escape the Crown Prince’s notice. To evade his attention, I’ll need an inconspicuous reason to leave the capital before I can arrange everything properly.”

“Leave the capital?” And inconspicuously? Xiao Changying thought it nearly impossible now.

Because of the Ye case, any prince leaving the capital now would look suspicious to others.

“If we can’t go against the trend, we’ll go with it.” Xiao Changqin smiled confidently. “I’m not easily coerced. The Crown Prince is under His Majesty’s watch and must be cautious. Besides leaving the capital, I need to create confusion with Second Brother. Don’t worry about my matters. Fourth Brother is cunning – if you want to ambush him, prepare early.”

In the following days, the capital remained peaceful. Everyone waited in the heat for the resolution of the Ye case. Though officials had complaints about His Majesty sending the young Prince Yan to Jiangzhe, they agreed Xiao Changgeng was most suitable.

Other adult princes had established their households for years and could potentially be behind it all.

“Ye Qi has been frequently leaving his residence lately.” Due to the Ye case, the summer retreat to the temporary palace had been delayed. Xiao Huayong’s daily visits to Princess Zhaoning’s residence had become a sight in the imperial city.

Everyone in the capital knew about it. The other day, someone even dared to wait outside the Princess’s residence to petition the Crown Prince about a wealthy landowner bribing county officials to bully others.

Xiao Huayong intervened in this corruption case, earning much praise from the common people.

Shen Xihe worried others would follow suit, though some people’s sense of injustice was purely subjective, as they weren’t beneficiaries under the law.

Whatever Xiao Huayong did, no similar incidents followed.

“Is there anything unusual with others in the Ye residence?” Shen Xihe asked, placing a piece.

“Nothing unusual,” Xiao Huayong also placed a piece, “but I believe Xiao Changta has found help and is secretly planning to leave the capital.”

“Who does Your Highness suspect?” Shen Xihe asked.

After hearing this, Xiao Huayong fingered his chess piece, his smile growing meaningful: “I suspect Fifth Brother most.”

Shen Xihe paused: “Prince Xin is the most capable and reliable, but also the hardest to control.”

Making the Xiao Changqin compromise was extremely difficult. When Xiao Huayong captured Gu Qingwan, Xiao Changqin dared to openly protect her. His decisiveness and strength made him almost impossible to coerce.

“I’m also wondering how Xiao Changta could succeed in getting Fifth Brother’s help,” Xiao Huayong agreed with Shen Xihe. “Whether he could succeed at all.”

If he could succeed, they should watch Xiao Changqin. If not, he would have sought others instead. In that case, watching Xiao Changqin would be futile.

If not for His Majesty’s surveillance, he wouldn’t worry about lacking manpower to cast a wide net. It wasn’t fear of confronting His Majesty, but that he hadn’t yet married Shen Xihe. Confronting His Majesty would complicate their marriage.

Xiao Huayong didn’t want their marriage to face obstacles or erode Shen Xihe’s confidence in their union, so he temporarily retreated.

“Why doesn’t Your Highness consider how Prince Xin would help him escape if Xiao Changta truly could make him compromise,” Shen Xihe suggested.

“What does Youyou think Fifth Brother would do?” Xiao Huayong asked in return.

Shen Xihe fell silent at the question. A cool breeze carried fragrance through the air. After a long while, she said: “Prince Xin can also see through people’s hearts. If Your Highness wants to stay ahead, you must consider how many moves he can anticipate and how he might mislead you.”

Xiao Changqin was no ordinary opponent. Dealing with an equal adversary was more challenging, yet also more exciting.

Xiao Huayong smiled gently: “Youyou just said Fifth Brother is hard to control. I was hesitant, unsure if he would compromise with Fourth Brother. We can think of this, and so can Fifth Brother. If I were him and truly wanted to help Fourth Brother this time, facing an opponent like myself…”

Xiao Huayong looked down at the board, placing a piece with a clear sound. Looking up with complete composure: “The first step would be making me think Xiao Changta found someone else.”

Shen Xihe looked down and saw Xiao Huayong had blocked her intended move. He had anticipated her strategy and set up an ambush. If she hadn’t noticed and continued with her original plan, she would have fallen into his trap.

Her soft lips curved slightly. She could see from the board that everything was under his control. She changed position to avoid his trap, placed her piece, and looked up: “Your Highness, clever people can adapt. Prince Xin is also skilled at adapting. Your Highness mustn’t be careless.”

Black eyes twinkling with silvery light, Xiao Huayong surveyed the board and calmly placed another piece: “The game board is ever-changing, but within its square boundary, rules constrain us. Whoever controls the rules wins in the end.”

Looking deeply at the rapidly changing board, Xiao Huayong had used the rules to create a repeated killing pattern with her. By the rules, she had to move elsewhere before continuing the exchange.

This forced retreat was the key to victory.

Shen Xihe gracefully conceded: “I look forward to the match between Your Highness and Prince Xin.”