Shen Xihe thought that Xiao Changqing, being such a meticulous person, would surely figure out who had intercepted Xiao Changtai. It would inevitably cause some trouble.

She decided not to dwell on it further and instructed Zhenzhu, who was on night duty, to watch for any messages while she rested peacefully.

The next morning, as Zhenzhu helped her dress, she reported, “The person escaped.”

The white signal meant they had failed to capture the target. Shen Xihe nodded and went about her morning routine as usual. Just as her morning meal was being served, Xiao Huayong arrived, and they dined together.

Gu Qingshu, who had tossed and turned all night, went to find Xiao Changqing as soon as dawn broke. She hadn’t heard much, only that Shen Xihe had mentioned Xiao Changqing. This reminded her of when Xiao Changqing had come asking whether her sister knew Shen Xihe.

She had grown wary of Shen Xihe, and now hearing Xiao Changqing’s name from her lips—even though Shen Xihe had formally referred to him as Prince Xin—made Gu Qingshu hesitate. Would speaking up cause Xiao Changqing to think differently about Shen Xihe?

Though Shen Xihe was betrothed to Xiao Huayong, she had heard that he wouldn’t live long. Was Shen Xihe trying to keep her options open?

The current dynasty wasn’t particularly strict about marriages. As long as it wasn’t between people of the same surname, brothers marrying their brothers’ widows, or fathers marrying their sons’ widows, it was legally permissible. While such arrangements might draw strange looks, they didn’t violate any laws.

“You’ve been distracted all morning. What’s troubling you?” Xiao Changqing couldn’t help but notice Gu Qingshu’s obvious preoccupation.

“Brother-in-law…” Gu Qingshu’s gaze wavered.

“Is it about Princess Zhaoning?” Xiao Changqing asked. “Last night’s events have spread.”

Though the guards hadn’t been alerted, there were others besides the three of them in the courtyard—the Princesses of Anling and Pingling, along with their maids and eunuchs.

Surprised that the matter was already known, Gu Qingshu spoke directly: “Last night, while looking for Li’er, I happened to hear the Princess mention knowing how you helped someone escape, and that she sent Mo Yuan…”

That was all she had heard, not even catching Xiao Changtai’s name.

Xiao Changqing fell silent for a moment. He understood Shen Xihe’s meaning but didn’t believe she could know. He calmly reassured Gu Qingshu: “You must have misheard. Princess Zhaoning and I have no grievances.”

As Gu Qingshu was about to say more, Xiao Changying arrived. She held her tongue, knowing the Prince of Lie disliked her and held prejudices against her. His volatile nature meant he could do anything, never considering it beneath him to bully women.

Halfway through the meal, a guard rushed in and whispered something to Xiao Changqing with a troubled expression.

Xiao Changqing’s hand froze mid-air holding his chopsticks. After a moment, he regained his composure and instructed the guard to escort Gu Qingshu back. Then he told Xiao Changying, “Fourth Brother was ambushed at the lake.”

“It wasn’t me,” Xiao Changying immediately stood up to deny. “I set up my ambush outside the capital, not at the lake…” He suddenly asked, “Where is Fourth Brother now?”

If the ambush was at the lake, and if Xiao Changtai died, that would be that, but if he survived, wouldn’t he have accidentally avoided Xiao Changying’s trap?

Xiao Changqing gave Xiao Changying a look: “He probably anticipated your ambush. The men reported that either he or the Ye family jumped into the river when ambushed. From their behavior, it seems they had prepared for this.”

This meant that even without encountering the ambush, Xiao Changtai would have escaped via the river. He was an excellent swimmer, having escaped by the river before. He must have extremely capable swimmers among his men to be so confident.

“Who could have known the escape route Brother arranged?” Xiao Changying asked in surprise.

The route Xiao Changqing had chosen was incredibly intricate. If he hadn’t told Xiao Changying himself, he would never have thought of such a path. That uninhabited area below the mountain had a gap through the mountain underwater. Unless someone had personally swum there like Xiao Changqing had, they wouldn’t know that beneath the thick walls, the mountain roots split into two with a path cutting through the mountain.

Shen Xihe’s image floated in Xiao Changqing’s mind, and he recalled Gu Qingshu’s words. Though he had dismissed it earlier, now he had to take it seriously. How could Shen Xihe know of such a route?

She had grown up in the Northwest and hadn’t even visited that place since coming to the capital. How did she know?

Moreover, sending Mo Yuan back for the interception seemed spontaneous, as if she had just learned of the route. How could she suddenly know and be so certain that she immediately dispatched her trusted aide to rush back?

There had been no indication before, yet after seeing him, she quickly sent Mo Yuan back to retrieve what she had supposedly left behind.

They had merely exchanged greetings at the courtyard entrance without further conversation, yet she had immediately thought so far ahead…

Xiao Changqing closed his eyes, carefully recalling every detail of yesterday’s encounter with Shen Xihe. He unconsciously touched the seal on his wrist, then suddenly opened his eyes and looked down at it.

He had always maintained distance from Shen Xihe, so he hadn’t paid attention to her expression at the time. Now he had a wild thought—had Shen Xihe figured it out after seeing this seal?

How could that be possible?

This belonged to Qingqing. How could Shen Xihe recognize it? Even if she did, how could a mere seal lead her to know about that route?

He abruptly stood up, his clenched fist at his forehead. He felt he was going mad—how could he have such an unrealistic notion?

“Brother, what are you—”

Before Xiao Changying could finish, Xiao Changqing had rushed out. He ran straight to Shen Xihe’s courtyard. The eunuchs thought he was looking for Gu Qingchi, but he turned toward Shen Xihe’s quarters, pushing past the guards to burst inside.

He found Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong approaching together, apparently having heard the commotion.

“Fifth Brother, what are you doing? Barging into the women’s quarters? What’s your reason?” Xiao Huayong subtly positioned himself in front of Shen Xihe, disliking the complex, searching, almost manic look in Xiao Changqing’s eyes as he stared at her.

“Who are you?” Xiao Changqing seemed not to hear Xiao Huayong’s words and strode toward Shen Xihe behind him. “Who are you!”

“Brother!” Xiao Changying rushed up to restrain Xiao Changqing, narrowly avoiding a strike from Xiao Huayong.

“Tell me, who are you?” Xiao Changqing struggled to break free from Xiao Changying, his eyes red as he continued staring at Shen Xihe.

“Guards! Prince Xin has lost his mind. Take him before His Majesty,” Xiao Huayong called out coldly.

As the palace guards rushed in and forcefully seized Xiao Changqing according to the Crown Prince’s orders, he kept his eyes fixed on Shen Xihe, shouting: “Who are you!”