Xiao Changying’s footsteps faltered, his body stiffening as though he hadn’t heard anything. He strode away quickly, soon disappearing into the wind-swaying reed thickets. Following Xiao Huayong’s directions, he made his way out of the mountain, encountering no fierce beasts along the way. Upon reaching the main road, he met the guards who had remained behind to search for them.

They rushed forward, and one asked, “Your Highness Prince Lie, where is His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Xiao Changying swept a cold glance at him and icily uttered two words: “Don’t know.”

The guards had no choice. Seeing Xiao Changying’s disheveled state, they could only dispatch several men to escort him back to the temporary palace while continuing their search.

The assassination attempt at the temporary palace quickly drew to a close. Prince Zhao Xiao Changmin and Prince Xin Xiao Changqing were ordered to escort the Empress Dowager back. Others naturally returned to their respective residences in the temporary palace, yet except for Shen Xihe, none could find sleep.

After experiencing such a major incident, they were terrified of the temporary palace, but without Emperor Youning’s order to leave, no one dared speak up.

When Shen Xihe woke from her two-hour rest, she heard news of Xiao Changying’s rescue. She merely responded coolly, “I see. Prepare breakfast.”

She ate her morning meal methodically while listening to Zhenzhu’s report. News had emerged about the assassins from the previous night. It involved the Crown Prince appointed by the previous emperor, who had favored his Noble Consort. However, since the Noble Consort was a remarried widow of low status, despite the previous emperor’s willfulness and having a primary wife, he couldn’t elevate her position. Instead, he banished the Empress Dowager and her three children to the northwest on fabricated charges.

At one point, he had wanted to depose the empress, causing great turmoil in court. The Empress Dowager’s maternal clan also faced repeated persecution. Eventually, the previous emperor failed to achieve his wish. Only on his deathbed did he establish the Noble Consort’s son as Crown Prince.

Unfortunately, this Crown Prince wasn’t accepted by the court officials. Before he could ascend to the throne after the previous emperor’s death, Prince Qian and Emperor Youning returned. He ultimately submitted a letter of surrender and disappeared within the palace. Many claimed Emperor Youning had him secretly executed.

Shen Xihe had never believed this. If Emperor Youning wanted to kill him, he had the perfect reason: the assassination attempt on Prince Qian.

However, she had never paid much attention to this matter or this person, yet she hadn’t expected him to possess such capabilities. The timing of displaying these capabilities was particularly intriguing.

Thinking of this, Shen Xihe couldn’t help but smile slightly. She was certain that the Jichen Crown Prince’s ability to infiltrate the temporary palace was inseparable from Xiao Huayong’s involvement. However, Xiao Huayong’s capabilities far exceeded her expectations. The Jichen Crown Prince, whom everyone believed dead, was alive.

Not only alive, but he had become a blade in Xiao Huayong’s hand, delivering a heavy blow to Emperor Youning at this crucial moment.

Her instincts told her this matter wasn’t over. Xiao Huayong would make Emperor Youning feel intense pain.

“The one who led the attack last night wasn’t the Jichen Crown Prince, but rather his servant, who took his own life after being captured,” Zhenzhu informed Shen Xihe of the circumstances now known to all.

Shen Xihe nodded, then lowered her head to continue eating methodically.

She had barely finished her meal when Mo Yuan hurriedly came to report: “Your Highness, the Crown Prince may have fallen into the Jichen Crown Prince’s hands.”

She was washing her hands in a basin of water that carried a tranquil, pleasing fragrance with several vibrant flower petals floating in it. Shen Xihe extended her hand from the basin, accepting a clean cloth from Biyu, and slowly dried her hands. “Oh?”

Mo Yuan couldn’t help but glance at Shen Xihe, seeing her composure undisturbed, he repeated: “The Crown Prince has fallen into the Jichen Crown Prince’s hands. The people who ambushed His Majesty and the Crown Prince that day were the Jichen Crown Prince’s men. After Prince Lie’s rescue, the guards searching the mountain discovered many corpses. Two groups had engaged in fierce combat. These bodies have all been brought back, with some wearing attire identical to those who invaded the temporary palace yesterday.”

“Is that so.” Shen Xihe remained unmoved upon hearing this. After drying her hands, she applied hand cream, then took a wrap and draped it over her shoulders. With one hand holding it in place, she left the courtyard, heading toward the Emperor’s chambers.

At this moment, many guards were posted, preventing ordinary people from entering. Shen Xihe showed her golden token and gained passage amid the envious looks of both civil and military officials and their wives.

With her keen sense of smell, Shen Xihe detected the heavy scent of blood and decay as soon as she stepped inside. She slightly furrowed her brow but maintained her composure as she walked around the courtyard to the open yard. Bodies were arranged in two sections. One side, notably fewer in number, wore black clothes with flame emblems embroidered on their chests.

The other side also wore black, some faces uncovered, others masked with only two round holes for eyes. This site had significantly more bodies – Shen Xihe roughly estimated two to three hundred.

Coroners and Imperial Physicians were examining the bodies. Emperor Youning stood at the front, his expression colder than Shen Xihe had ever seen.

“Quick, go back. How can a young lady like you witness such bloody scenes?” The Empress Dowager was also present, and upon seeing Shen Xihe, immediately urged her to leave.

Shen Xihe performed a respectful bow: “Zhaoning thanks the Empress Dowager for her concern. When Zhaoning was in the northwest during the Tujue invasion, I witnessed the deaths of fathers and brothers from the city walls. How could that compare to this?”

As she spoke, she maintained a calm expression while facing the courtyard full of corpses, her gaze steady.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager patted her hand: “The Seventh Prince needs a Crown Princess with such courage as yours.”

“Your Majesty, our investigation shows these are two separate groups. One from yesterday’s incident, the other of unknown origin. We cannot confirm which group abducted the Crown Prince first,” Cui Jinbai stepped forward to report the preliminary findings to Emperor Youning.

Emperor Youning’s gaze remained fixed on the nearly three hundred fallen elite soldiers. Last night, his men had engaged with Xiao Juezong’s forces, but how could Xiao Juezong’s men possess such skill to eliminate his troops, leaving none alive?

These soldiers had required immense effort and resources to train. They were elite warriors capable of fighting ten men each on the battlefield, yet they had died so silently.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is blessed by heaven. You need not worry,” Liu Sanzhi quickly raised his voice, noticing Emperor Youning’s distraction.

Emperor Youning finally snapped back to attention: “Investigate the origins of these men thoroughly.”

“Yes,” Cui Jinbai accepted the order. “Your Majesty, I request permission to examine the battlefield where the two forces clashed. Perhaps we can find clues to the Crown Prince’s whereabouts.”

Emperor Youning absently hummed in agreement.

Seeing this, Shen Xihe stepped forward: “To locate His Highness the Crown Prince, we must first clarify who has taken him. With two groups of forces present, if we misjudge, we might delay His Highness’s rescue. Since Prince Lie has returned, perhaps we should summon him for questioning.”

Emperor Youning seemed to notice Shen Xihe only now. Her suggestion was reasonable, and with so many people present, Emperor Youning had no choice but to agree: “Summon Prince Lie.”

Some matters needed no concealment. Emperor Youning showed no concern whatsoever.