Only now did Xiao Changying understand why Xiao Huayong had let him return—to serve as a witness. When he learned this was Shen Xihe’s suggestion, he couldn’t help but look at her. At that moment, he felt she knew everything, that they had planned this together, coordinating to trample the Emperor’s face into the ground.

“Have you seen the Seventh Prince these past few days? What exactly transpired? Explain in detail,” Emperor Youning commanded.

Xiao Changying lowered his eyelids, suddenly feeling weary. He knew those men were all His Majesty’s, and His Majesty knew everything, yet still put on this show before him. He felt no resentment or disgust—he could understand something of an emperor’s helplessness and calculations, even though he’d never been one himself. With someone like Xiao Huayong, once suspicion arose, it was only natural to exhaust every means to test the truth.

He merely found it tragic that in an imperial family, the struggle between father and son could be more terrifying than that between mortal enemies. The feeling flashed by quickly.

Xiao Changying swiftly composed himself and bowed as he replied: “Your Majesty, I was captured alongside the Crown Prince. We were initially held in a mountain cave. Last night another group arrived—we thought they were coming to rescue us, but these men intended to kill us both. During the fierce battle between the two groups, the Crown Prince and I managed to break free. We fled to the reed thickets where I lost sight of His Highness, so I quickly made my escape…”

Xiao Changying described the general course of events, omitting Xiao Huayong’s role—he was telling almost the complete truth.

He wasn’t protecting or covering for Xiao Huayong. Rather, Xiao Huayong was simply too enigmatic and frightening. Since he’d openly allowed Xiao Changying to return, he must have made thorough preparations. Even if Xiao Changying exposed him, it might not bring any benefit—everything required evidence.

He recalled Xiao Huayong’s words in the cave: if he harmed the Crown Prince, he would become His Majesty’s scapegoat. Who knew if he revealed Xiao Huayong’s involvement now without proof, whether Xiao Huayong might return with strange evidence making him appear to be the mastermind?

If so, better to stay uninvolved from the start.

Moreover…

Xiao Changying glanced imperceptibly at Shen Xihe. He didn’t want to help Xiao Huayong, nor did he wish to be her enemy—they would be husband and wife after all.

Although he knew she neither needed his help nor would feel the slightest gratitude for his consideration.

“Of these two groups, which one captured you and the Crown Prince?” Emperor Youning asked again.

Xiao Changying naturally answered truthfully. His Majesty was questioning him while already knowing the answer. If he lied, His Majesty would suspect him first—this was the root of Xiao Huayong’s confidence.

Why would he lie? Cover for those who kidnapped him? Wouldn’t His Majesty suspect he knew these people’s origins? Would His Majesty want anyone to know about his private army? Of course not.

If Xiao Changying dared lie, he would surely be digging his own grave.

“So you’re saying the Crown Prince was taken by people of unknown origin? While… the Jichen Crown Prince’s men came to silence you?” After speaking, Shen Xihe asked further, “Did these people question Your Highness and the Crown Prince? Does Your Highness have any speculation about their background?”

Xiao Changying raised his eyes, looking deeply at Shen Xihe: “No.”

“Did they harm Your Highness or the Crown Prince?” Shen Xihe pressed.

“No.”

Shen Xihe returned Xiao Changying’s gaze with surprise and suspicion: “Your Highness means to say these people kidnapped you both, just kept you confined, without torture, without disrespect, without questioning… while providing food and drink?”

Xiao Changying: “Yes.”

As Shen Xihe questioned and Xiao Changying answered, the officials present began to discuss among themselves.

Shen Xihe decided to voice their doubts aloud: “What did these people intend by kidnapping both Your Highnesses?”

It wasn’t to deal with Xiao Huayong and Xiao Changying, nor to use them to threaten His Majesty—after all, in three full days, His Majesty hadn’t received any threatening messages. Could they have kidnapped the Crown Prince and Prince Lie merely for amusement?

Moreover, these people were well-trained and skilled, acting under orders. It was intriguing—someone had kidnapped the Crown Prince and Prince Lie, and just kept them confined without doing anything. What kind of person would undertake such a thankless task?

This question buried itself deep in everyone’s minds, though they hadn’t yet found the answer, as they hadn’t conceived of a shocking possibility. But there was no rush—once planted, the seeds of doubt would eventually be exposed.

While others looked confused, the Empress Dowager had already turned a profound gaze toward Emperor Youning, if only for a moment.

Just then, the Capital Prefecture Mayor arrived with several men carrying two corpses. These bodies wore identical clothing to those who had kidnapped Xiao Changying and Xiao Huayong. Anyone with sharp eyes could see their clothes’ fabric and shoes were the same—clearly from the same group.

“Your Majesty, these two were found in the temporary palace,” Prefecture Chief Zhang announced proudly, unaware of the earlier discussion.

Shen Xihe slowly lowered her head, fidgeting with the jade pendant at her waist.

“Found in the temporary palace?” The Minister of Justice immediately stepped forward to ask, “How could such people be in the temporary palace?”

Prefecture Chief Zhang explained: “People below reported seeing them pursue the rebels when they attacked.”

This statement made many people’s eyelids twitch, their gazes toward Prefecture Chief Zhang changing.

“Is that so?” Emperor Youning asked in a deep voice.

Prefecture Chief Zhang could sense the emperor’s poor mood. Looking at the corpses arranged nearby, as someone who had served as prefect for so long, he still had his wits about him and vaguely sensed this matter was unusual. Could these men be working with the rebels?

He quickly shifted responsibility: “Two ladies said these men saved them.”

“Which two?” Shen Xihe hurriedly asked, already having her suspicions.

“County Princess Liyang and Miss Yu,” Prefecture Chief Zhang replied.

It was Gu Qingshu and Yu Sangzi. Shen Xihe was somewhat surprised. If Xiao Huayong wanted two witnesses, Gu Qingshu and Yu Sangning would have been most appropriate. Something must have gone wrong, with Yu Sangning escaping the plan.

Emperor Youning summoned the two: “Do you recognize these two men?”

Gu Qingshu and Yu Sangzi had no idea what was happening. The Marquis of Pingyao wasn’t here, Xiao Changqin ignored Gu Qingshu, and Xiao Changqin had been sent by Emperor Youning to handle other matters. They had indeed been saved by two men in black during yesterday’s chaos.

They had already reported this to Prefecture Chief Zhang, and there was no possibility of retracting their statement now—that would be obstruction of justice and deceiving imperial officials. Gu Qingshu and Yu Sangzi carefully examined one man’s hand, which bore a scar.

“Your Majesty, these two men did indeed save this humble one and Miss Yu,” Gu Qingshu gathered her courage to speak truthfully.

“Why would they save you?” the Empress Dowager asked sternly.