After being removed from the royal family, Xiao Changtai lost any chance of ascending to the throne. Some of his followers would naturally waver, but since they hadn’t actively left him or sought better prospects, he couldn’t move against them directly if he wanted to maintain the loyalty of those who remained.

However, these people couldn’t stay by his side forever. Once their hearts firmly turned to betrayal, they would influence others. Finding a way to remove these disloyal followers without disheartening his loyal supporters was likely one reason Xiao Changtai sought out Ye Wantang.

If these people hadn’t shown signs of wavering, even with his deep feelings for Ye Wantang, he wouldn’t have come to take her while injured. He would have waited until he was settled, then found an opportunity to secretly return—both to take Ye Wantang and accomplish other goals.

“I hadn’t thought of this angle,” Shen Xihe laughed softly. A prince’s thoughts were truly unfathomable.

“That’s because Youyou is upright and underestimated his baseness,” Xiao Huayong wasn’t merely flattering her—he truly believed Shen Xihe would never set up such an abandonment scheme against those who had devoted their lives to her.

Xiao Changtai had anticipated the dangers of entering the capital. Whether from him, the Xiao Changqing brothers he’d sought help from, or others, everyone wanted him dead. Even if they hadn’t acted, he would have orchestrated it himself, letting those followers who thought they were simply providing ordinary protection die gloriously, fulfilling their final master-servant relationship.

“This achieves three benefits,” Xiao Huayong analyzed for Shen Xihe. “First, he eliminates followers with divided loyalties. Second, such heroic sacrifices will strengthen the resolve of those who never considered betrayal, stabilizing morale at a critical time. Third…”

He let out a light laugh with a touch of mockery: “His great sacrifice for the Ye family will appear as deep love and loyalty in their eyes, dissolving any previous barriers.”

Shen Xihe nodded in agreement, then looked at Xiao Huayong with a meaningful smile: “Your Highness, see how tragic and terrifying it is when a lady falls for someone so deeply calculating and impure of heart?”

Was Xiao Changtai not sincere toward Ye Wantang?

Of course, he was sincere, but knowing what she feared, he still chose to constrain her while pursuing his ambitions, using love as an excuse to trap her.

Priceless treasures are easier to find than true love.

In this world, men who are single-minded and devoted to one woman for life are extremely rare. Ye Wantang found such love, so even knowing this deep affection was like grabbing embers, she still couldn’t let go and chose to fly into the flames.

“It is tragic and terrifying,” Xiao Huayong nodded. “Youyou must have noticed that I’m the same type of person as Xiao Changtai—I want both the world and the beauty. The difference is that Lady Ye and Youyou are not the same type of person.”

Lady Ye sought peace and tranquility, pursuing conjugal bliss—a typical modest woman. If she had met someone like Xiao Changyu, they would have had a harmonious marriage, and she would certainly have been a virtuous wife and mother.

Shen Xihe was different. She had no ambition to pursue power, but she didn’t fear its pursuit either. She was forced onto this path of contention, with no choice but to remain ordinary.

As long as he didn’t betray or harm her, in this life, whether in success or failure, she would neither complain nor be hurt.

In success, she would accompany him as he ruled the world; in failure, she would follow him to the yellow springs.

Looking at all the brothers: the Second Brother’s primary wife died early, and he later loved but couldn’t obtain; the Third Brother married his beloved but was destined never to share true love; the Fourth Brother got what he wanted, but their desires differed.

Fifth Brother loved but couldn’t have, now torturing himself into a neither-living-nor-dead state.

Sixth Brother’s union came at a huge price, hidden from light, without even a proper wedding ceremony.

Though he hadn’t yet won Shen Xihe’s heart, their efforts aligned. With Shen Xihe’s nature, as long as he remained faithful, they would share life and death.

How fortunate was he to meet a companion who captured his heart so completely?

“Therefore, between men and women, mutual affection alone isn’t enough for a lifelong partnership,” Shen Xihe smiled slightly. “Sentiment and love aren’t important.”

“They are important,” Xiao Huayong quickly replied. “For me, meeting you is a fortune; staying with you is grace; growing old with you is a blessing; being loved by you would be perfection.”

Fortune, grace, blessing, perfection.

He had piled all of life’s most beautiful words upon her. She couldn’t help but lower her head and smile: “Thank you for your deep affection, Your Highness.”

Yet no one’s life is perfect, and Shen Xihe never made promises about things too far in the future.

He understood her nature thoroughly. Her heartfelt smile showed she was pleased. Expecting words of devotion from her would be asking too much. Xiao Huayong was already satisfied: “How did Youyou know about the route Fifth Brother used to help Xiao Changtai escape?”

Shen Xihe was silent for a moment before raising her obsidian eyes, clear and lustrous: “I don’t want to say.”

I don’t want to deceive you, but I also don’t want to tell you the truth, so I choose not to speak.

Xiao Huayong was slightly startled, his eyes momentarily dark like nightfall, lonely and dim. But he quickly understood her meaning, and a smile gradually spread across his lips and into his eyes, as if injected with vitality, making his eyes suddenly gather silvery light, more dazzling than stars.

“May there never be deceit between Youyou and me in the future.” She could choose not to speak, but should not lie.

Everyone should have their secrets, just like his background—he had deliberated for a long time, only finding the courage to tell her because his background could bring them closer.

Tenderness suddenly welled up in Shen Xihe’s eyes, her ethereally beautiful face becoming gentle: “This promise, I can agree to.”

Never deceiving each other—this was their pre-marriage sincerity to each other.

Although Xiao Huayong had no reservations about Shen Xihe before these words were spoken, afterward, they seemed to grow closer. This intimacy wasn’t in words or actions, but in spirit—an indescribable, invisible drawing together.

The palace was extremely lively. If the spring banquet was for princes to meet potential matches, the summer retreat at the palace essentially concluded the selection of consorts. The noble ladies were very active. The dynasty’s women were traditionally frank—reserve wasn’t their style. Thus, the princes received various tokens of affection almost daily, and even Xiao Huayong wasn’t exempt.

The Crown Prince had his primary consort, but no secondary consorts yet. Moreover, Xiao Huayong’s tenderness and attentiveness toward Shen Xihe since their betrothal had made many ladies envious.