The intense battle on the chessboard, where each side encircled the other in ever-larger circles, made Shen Xihe’s eyes flash. She stood up abruptly: “Zhenzhu, strengthen our defenses. Tell the remaining guards to be especially vigilant at night.”

Zhenzhu didn’t understand why Shen Xihe suddenly gave such instructions, but noting her grave expression, she quickly responded: “Yes, Princess.”

As her gaze followed Zhenzhu’s figure disappearing into the pale daylight outside, Shen Xihe momentarily lost focus before breaking into a smile, her obsidian eyes filled with deep admiration.

Her entire body finally relaxed, and she instructed Ziyu to prepare some delicious dishes in her courtyard’s small kitchen.

In stark contrast to Shen Xihe’s leisurely state, Xiao Huayong was trapped in a deep cave in the mountains, tied back-to-back with Xiao Changying. The unconscious Xiao Changying gradually awakened to find them both bound tightly.

“Don’t move,” Xiao Huayong warned coldly, uncomfortable by Xiao Changying’s struggles.

Xiao Changying tried to look back but couldn’t see Xiao Huayong. His expression was extremely unpleasant: “What exactly are you planning?”

Xiao Changying was furious. He had rescued Xiao Huayong and, while they might not have broken through completely, they could have escaped partially. If he had drawn the pursuers away, Xiao Huayong might have saved himself. He never expected Xiao Huayong to trip him as they rolled down through the bushes. Just as he was about to stand, realizing Xiao Huayong’s intentional act, he felt a prick.

A thin needle entered his body, draining his strength, and creating the illusion that he had fallen and knocked himself unconscious on a rock.

Before losing consciousness, Xiao Changying had thought these people were Xiao Huayong’s men, perhaps part of his scheme. His foolish rescue attempt had only complicated matters, leading to this outcome. Now awake and in this state, Xiao Changying didn’t believe these well-trained men were Xiao Huayong’s.

“What’s it to you?” Xiao Huayong knew exactly why Xiao Changying had tried to rescue him. He felt no gratitude toward this brother who had only complicated matters, only anger at his coveting of his beloved.

The cave was empty, and their keen hearing told them the guards were some distance away at the entrance. They kept their voices low, ensuring their words wouldn’t carry.

Xiao Changying spoke without restraint: “Did you tell her this was all you’re doing?”

If Shen Xihe knew of Xiao Huayong’s disappearance, she would surely be very anxious.

“That’s none of your concern!” Xiao Huayong warned.

“You didn’t tell her. You’re always so calculating, and she’s not skilled at pretense. If you had told her, she wouldn’t show anxiety, and your act wouldn’t be effective.” Xiao Changying gritted his teeth. Thinking about how Xiao Huayong’s selfish schemes were causing her distress, he couldn’t help but twist his body, seemingly ready to fight.

Xiao Huayong let him struggle, then suddenly smiled: “Why are you angry? Because I kept it from her, or because she cares about me?”

The words hit their mark. Xiao Changying stopped moving, his face ashen.

If Shen Xihe didn’t care for Xiao Huayong, she wouldn’t worry or frantically search for him. If anyone else disappeared, she would remain indifferent, but Xiao Huayong’s disappearance affected her.

In a better mood now, Xiao Huayong raised his chin victoriously: “Put aside those inappropriate thoughts. Don’t anger me, or neither you nor your brother will come to a good end.”

Considering that Xiao Changying had come to save him, albeit with impure motives and only for Shen Xihe’s sake, Xiao Huayong gave this warning instead of taking direct action as he would with others.

“Isn’t the Crown Prince always calculating, planning victories from thousands of miles away, confident of success?” Xiao Changying calmed down and responded sarcastically. “What’s this? Afraid of others admiring her?”

Xiao Huayong shrugged his shoulders, forcefully jostling Xiao Changying behind him: “It disgusts me!”

What man could tolerate others coveting his woman?

“Heh.” Xiao Changying scoffed. “If the Crown Prince has such a narrow mind, you’ll never find peace. This humble brother doesn’t know how long he can maintain his feelings, but he knows that for a lady like her, even after she marries you and becomes the mother of the nation, there will always be those who admire her, just keeping it in their hearts. Moreover… Crown Prince, you still…”

The latter words were deeply meaningful, clearly hinting at his short life expectancy. Xiao Huayong’s eyes turned cold.

He knew these people were all waiting for his demise so they could marry his widow!

Without a doubt, he wouldn’t let himself succumb. Someone with such wolfish ambitions as Xiao Changying needed to be married off quickly!

Thinking this, he decided to urge the Empress Dowager to arrange a marriage for Xiao Changying as soon as this matter was settled, to keep him in line. He couldn’t be bothered to continue their war of words.

While Xiao Huayong fell silent, Xiao Changying didn’t feel he had won their verbal sparring. He sensed Xiao Huayong was secretly plotting something sinister against him. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed someone entering and reluctantly closed his mouth.

Two burly men entered clearly trained fighters. They wore black cloth over their heads, revealing only their eyes. One asked in a muffled voice: “Water?”

Xiao Huayong stared ahead expressionlessly, ignoring them.

Xiao Changying also paid them no attention.

The two men exchanged glances and left.

When they were far enough away, Xiao Changying asked: “Who are these people?”

He was confused. These people had kidnapped them – no, had kidnapped Xiao Huayong, who seemed willing. They showed concern for Xiao Huayong, unlike how one would treat a prisoner. Xiao Changying couldn’t sense any malice from them.

“His Majesty’s men,” Xiao Huayong answered truthfully.

Xiao Changying’s body suddenly stiffened. He hadn’t realized it before, but now he understood. If these were indeed men sent to deliberately kidnap Xiao Huayong as he claimed, it explained why Xiao Huayong continued his act even away from His Majesty’s sight, carefully concealing any trace of his martial abilities.

What he had thought was mere caution was full awareness of the situation.

In this light, he had been truly foolish to get involved in the contest between His Majesty and the Crown Prince.

When he saw Xiao Huayong being taken, instead of hoping for his demise or that he couldn’t be rescued, which might have given himself a chance, he had immediately given chase – afraid that she would be caught in an awkward and helpless situation upon learning of Xiao Huayong’s predicament.