Emperor Youning’s goal was to test Xiao Huayong – not to verify whether his lack of power was genuine, but to probe his true depths. He was already certain that Xiao Huayong wasn’t as simple as he appeared.

At this point, any unusual movement from Xiao Huayong wouldn’t escape Emperor Youning’s eye. Shen Xihe was different – it was natural for the Northwestern Prince’s Manor to have a foundation and maintain secret networks in the capital. As long as they didn’t cross His Majesty’s bottom line, even their exposure wouldn’t be too concerning.

“Princess, if we expose all our people to search for the Crown Prince, it will make it easier for His Majesty or others to harm you in the future,” Zhenzhu quietly reminded Shen Xihe after Tianyuan left to arrange the personnel.

These were the hidden pieces Shen Yunan had given to Shen Xihe when he came to the capital last year – people who had been buried in the capital for many years. No one had ever imagined that one day they would be exposed for the Crown Prince’s sake.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures. We can cultivate new people,” Shen Xihe replied with composed features.

“Your servant isn’t suggesting we abandon His Highness to danger,” Zhenzhu expressed her thoughts. “The Crown Prince is exceptionally strategic and knew His Majesty would move against him. He must have countermeasures…”

Therefore, they didn’t need to expend all their resources. She agreed with Shen Xihe’s plan to mix the Crown Prince’s people with their northwestern guards under Tianyuan’s leadership for the rescue but felt it unnecessary to commit everything they had.

“I understand your concerns. This is…” Shen Xihe thought of the registry Xiao Huayong had given her, filled with his people. Had he anticipated His Majesty’s sudden move, or had it caught him off guard? She couldn’t be certain. “His Majesty isn’t just testing the Crown Prince this time.”

He was testing her too. She and Xiao Huayong were always seen together, clearly very close. If she remained indifferent to his current predicament or only made a show of concern, it would raise His Majesty’s suspicions. If Xiao Huayong escaped unharmed, it would suggest she had been confident in his safety all along, inadvertently exposing him.

“He must have known this was coming, which is why he compensated me early,” Shen Xihe smiled softly.

Knowing His Majesty wanted to kill two birds with one stone by gauging both their strengths before allowing their marriage, he had given her a list of unexposed contacts in exchange for her having to expose the Shen family’s people.

Zhenzhu hadn’t thought that far ahead. Regardless of whether Shen Xihe’s assessment was accurate, she could sense her determination to help Xiao Huayong with all her might, so she stopped trying to dissuade her: “Princess, should we send out Mo Yuan as well?”

“Yes.” Shen Xihe nodded, sitting down to look at the chessboard. The sealed game remained unfinished. She wanted to know how Xiao Huayong would break out of this situation.

The Crown Prince’s kidnapping and the Emperor’s ambush were no small matters. Soon the entire temporary palace’s guard was alerted. Emperor Youning quickly summoned military guards stationed nearby to pursue along the route where Xiao Huayong had been taken.

But the surrounding mountains were endless, and these people were skilled at concealing their tracks. By the time the army arrived, they had no idea which direction the kidnappers had fled. Searching the mountains inch by inch would be like finding a needle in the sea, and every day Xiao Huayong remained in their hands increasing the danger.

Shen Xihe furrowed her brows upon receiving the news.

“Princess, why not let Short Life search?” Biyu suggested. The Crown Prince wore the Moon’s Cold Fragrance that Shen Xihe had prepared – Short Life could find him within a day.

Even if the Crown Prince knew these were His Majesty’s men and couldn’t fight back, he was still a living person who could use his wit to escape if he wanted to.

“Something’s not right,” Shen Xihe caught a whiff of something amiss.

“What’s wrong?” Zhenzhu asked.

“Where is Prince Lie?” Shen Xihe asked.

“Prince Lie is also missing…” Zhenzhu replied.

“Prince Lie is highly skilled in martial arts. When various forces united to hunt him down in the past, they fought for days and nights, yet he escaped several times, leaving marks behind. How could he leave no trace this time?” Shen Xihe questioned.

If he had fought these people, there would be signs of combat. The fact that all traces were perfectly concealed could only mean that Xiao Changying had also fallen into their hands early on.

Among the princes, Xiao Changying’s martial arts were second only to Xiao Huayong’s, apart from the unseen Prince Jing, Xiao Changyan. How could he be subdued so easily unless…

“Did the Crown Prince secretly move against Prince Lie?” Zhenzhu reached an incredible conclusion from Shen Xihe’s words.

“Why would His Highness move against Prince Lie who came to rescue him?” Biyu was completely confused.

Shen Xihe lowered her gaze to the chess board, where black and white pieces lay like two giant pythons. The black pieces were surrounded on several sides but had carved out an escape route, in turn surrounding the white pieces. Yet the white pieces weren’t without options. Both sides were deadlocked, the outcome uncertain.

“Because… he had already set the stage, and Prince Lie’s intervention would have ruined his plans. So he had to disappear along with these people,” Shen Xihe concluded, with another piece of evidence – the absence of the Gyrfalcon.

When Biyu mentioned using Short Life to find Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe thought of the Gyrfalcon. While it might not be able to find people in general, it could certainly find Xiao Huayong. If she hadn’t seen the Gyrfalcon at the temporary palace, she might have thought it was out of reach. But she had seen it nearby, meaning finding Xiao Huayong would have been extremely simple – yet he hadn’t used the Gyrfalcon.

“What exactly does His Highness plan to do?” Biyu and the others were even more confused. When it came to Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong, they truly couldn’t fathom their masters’ thoughts.

Shen Xihe remained silent, pondering why Xiao Huayong had deliberately allowed himself to be captured by Emperor Youning’s men. She had a strong feeling that His Majesty had likely sent members of the Divine Brave Army this time – people among whom Xiao Huayong couldn’t possibly have planted his pieces. Falling into their hands was extremely dangerous, even if His Majesty wouldn’t take his life.

They might poison him again, or injure an arm or leg. Throughout history, Crown Princes could be frail or die young, but they couldn’t be physically disabled.

Why would he make this move? It couldn’t be to investigate the Divine Brave Army – Xiao Huayong wasn’t that naive. Even if His Majesty had sent members of the Divine Brave Army, it would only be a small squad of a hundred or so men. His Majesty wouldn’t have them take Xiao Huayong to the army’s hidden location.

If it wasn’t to gain an advantage through scheming, then it must be to break the deadlock.

How would not being found help break the deadlock?

If she were facing this situation, how would she break it?

Shen Xihe pondered deeply, her eyes fixed on the chessboard.