Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong’s imperial marriage decree had already been issued. If Xiao Huayong met with misfortune before the wedding, it would be entirely different from if he died after marriage – the former could lead to whispers that she was cursed and had brought death to Xiao Huayong.
How would His Majesty treat Shen Xihe then? Would he make her marry Xiao Huayong and observe mourning before remarrying, or would the marriage be canceled altogether? Either way, Shen Xihe couldn’t remarry for three years, even if not officially in mourning – she couldn’t marry her betrothed’s brother right after his death.
Shen Xihe, who was once betrothed to the Crown Prince, could marry no one except the imperial brothers. For these three years, she would be like a hostage in the capital, with even her freedoms restricted.
In three years, much could change. Who knew when His Majesty would move against the Shen family, or how this confrontation would end? His only thought had been to keep her from trouble, to prevent her from being implicated at all.
She was like a phoenix soaring in the ninth heaven – she should be free, respected, looking down upon the world.
“His Majesty moves against you, and you just drag things out with him to hide your true strength?” In Xiao Changying’s mind, Xiao Huayong was cunning and proud – he would never submit to being someone’s pawn.
Xiao Huayong smiled faintly without answering, his gaze deep and quiet as he stared at the stone wall.
“Say something!” Xiao Changying urged.
Xiao Huayong ignored him until annoyed by Xiao Changying’s nagging, he said impatiently, “Be quiet, or I’ll ensure you never leave this place.”
Xiao Changying fell silent, gritting his teeth. Xiao Huayong wasn’t threatening idly – they were bound by His Majesty’s men. If something happened to Xiao Changying, His Majesty couldn’t blame Xiao Huayong. His brother probably guessed these were His Majesty’s men and would hate him more, likely contemplating treason.
Xiao Huayong had considered this: “I could let your brother clear a path for me with all his might.”
If anything happened to Xiao Changying in this incident, Xiao Changqing would surely go mad. There were few in this world that Xiao Changqing cared about, and if they died one by one at the emperor’s hands, he might lose patience for careful plotting.
Snorting coldly, Xiao Changying said, “Your Highness should also pray not to fall into my hands.”
If the Crown Prince could use this to assassinate him, couldn’t he do the same?
“If your brother were here, he wouldn’t speak such foolish words,” Xiao Huayong mocked.
The Crown Prince’s death would be different from a prince’s death – it would be a matter of state. His Majesty would need to answer to the realm. Not only would Xiao Changying be unable to move against him without leaving traces, but if even the slightest evidence were found, he would become His Majesty’s scapegoat. Even if Xiao Changying could act cleanly, if things escalated, His Majesty might still make him take the blame.
Closing his eyes, Xiao Huayong said lazily, “Conserve your strength – we’ll be imprisoned for at least three to five days.”
He worried about Emperor Youning poisoning him, so he wouldn’t touch any food or water their captors brought. One couldn’t die from not eating or drinking for three to five days.
His Majesty had started this game, but he wouldn’t let His Majesty decide its end.
Shen Xihe hadn’t sent Duanming to search for Xiao Huayong, and Tianyuan, who also knew Duanming’s capabilities, seemed to have forgotten this option. He still diligently led the search party Shen Xihe had assigned to find the Crown Prince, while Xiao Changqing had people searching for Xiao Changying.
As Xiao Changying had guessed, Xiao Changqing had figured out who moved against Xiao Huayong. Since His Majesty had acted, Xiao Changying’s life wasn’t in danger. But he couldn’t openly show he had seen through the emperor’s scheme, so he had to pretend ignorance and search everywhere, though even searching earnestly yielded no results.
She didn’t know about Duanming and the sea eagle and didn’t know how easily Xiao Huayong could be found if he wished. Thus, she didn’t realize Xiao Huayong had deliberately led Xiao Changying into His Majesty’s trap. That night, when a group of assassins stormed the temporary palace, it was when the guards were at their weakest.
Most people had been sent to search for the Crown Prince and Prince Lie, and no one, not even Emperor Youning, had expected so many assassins to attack the temporary palace.
Shen Xihe awoke from her sleep, hearing the sounds of fighting outside. Her anxious heart finally settled – everything was proceeding as she had anticipated.
Emperor Youning kidnaps Xiao Huayong to force him to reveal his true capabilities to save himself. Since Xiao Huayong wouldn’t show his hand, Emperor Youning kept him confined. Perhaps with Xiao Changying’s addition, the plan would change slightly, but the basic approach toward Xiao Huayong wouldn’t change.
It was the Crown Prince who was missing, not the emperor – someone could still handle state affairs. No matter how anxious the officials were, the country wouldn’t be leaderless.
Emperor Youning was determined to wage a prolonged battle. Even if Xiao Huayong could endure, he surely had another move planned, like targeting Shen Xihe to force Xiao Huayong to resist.
Everyone had seen how Xiao Huayong treated Shen Xihe lately. Xiao Huayong never regretted declaring his feelings for her to the world – he was confident he could protect her.
Therefore, in this game with His Majesty, he never intended to remain in a deadlock, letting the flames of war spread to Shen Xihe.
However, if he moved, he couldn’t escape His Majesty’s eyes. He had long wondered how His Majesty would move against him and how best to respond.
Since neither resistance nor rescue would work, why not follow His Majesty’s wishes and arrange his assassination? But assassinating him alone wouldn’t be enough – His Majesty needed to feel the same threat.
The attackers weren’t all his men – some were the son of the late emperor’s most beloved Noble Consort, who had nearly become emperor himself: His Majesty’s half-brother, the former Crown Prince Jiachen.
When Emperor Youning killed the assassins at the city tower that day and staged another assassination to cover it up, Crown Prince Jiachen realized Emperor Youning was killing two birds with one stone. He had surrendered to protect himself, believing Prince Qian and his family wouldn’t dare harm him with all the civil and military officials watching – at worst, he could surrender his power and live as a wealthy commoner.
But when Emperor Youning tried to pin the murder of Prince Qian and his family on him, how could he not flee?
With help from eunuchs hoping to hedge their bets and Princess Ruyang and Prince Consort Wei, who suspected foul play after hearing of Prince Qian’s death, Crown Prince Jiachen escaped the palace during the chaos.
These people have shown no movement since then. Everyone, including Xiao Huayong, thought Crown Prince Jiachen had perished – how else to explain twenty years without stirring up the slightest trouble? Had he truly accepted a quiet life as a wealthy commoner?
Only after Xiao Huayong obtained the Rouge Case list, exposed Prince Consort Wei, and saved Princess Ruyang and Xiao Fuxing’s mother and son did he truly understand the background. Thus, the Rouge Case evidence Shen Xihe gave him was far more important than she realized.