Xiao Huayong was indeed treated as an honored guest by Xiao Juesong, provided with the finest food and accommodation. Though only a few years older than Emperor Youning, who as emperor was busy managing countless affairs of state, Xiao Juesong’s temples were already streaked with gray, his frame gaunt – all due to a grave illness that left him with little time to live.

If not for this, he wouldn’t have aligned with Xiao Huayong so readily, becoming his blade to break the deadlock. He had no time left, and this was his only chance before death to cause trouble for Emperor Youning. Moreover, Xiao Huayong had promised that if he ascended the throne, he would ensure Xiao Juesong was buried in the imperial tombs, honored by the Xiao family’s offerings.

Returning like a fallen leaf to its roots – nothing could have moved his heart more than this.

“Kha kha kha…” Xiao Juesong broke into violent coughing, unsurprisingly coughing blood onto his handkerchief. His voice was weak: “Have you made up your mind?”

“Would Uncle allow it if I refused?” Xiao Huayong calmly countered.

After his coughing fit, Xiao Juesong laughed softly, his coarse laughter sounding eerily disturbing: “Of course… not.”

“In that case, I have no choice, do I?” Xiao Huayong smiled wryly.

“You would… find a way… if you wanted to,” Xiao Juesong’s clouded eyes looked at Xiao Huayong with admiration.

Even now, his brother sitting on the throne remained under this nephew’s control. If he wanted to break free from Xiao Juesong’s grasp, he surely wouldn’t lack methods.

“What would be the point?” Xiao Huayong said casually. “Uncle and I are collaborating just this once in our lives – why turn against each other at the end? Uncle need only proceed according to your plan; your nephew has his ways of self-preservation.”

“You’re like your father,” Xiao Juesong praised, thinking of his brother who had been the same age as him.

In their youth in the palace, their father had treated them worlds apart. He could humiliate and bully Prince Qian at any time, but Prince Qian was a man of countless schemes. He always managed to escape Xiao Juesong’s traps, then used every advantage and person he could to exact revenge.

Never fearing that this would only make things worse, Prince Qian never compromised, never submitted, never bowed. He was proud yet confident. Xiao Juesong had hated him, taking great pleasure in hearing of his exile to the Northwest.

But he had been young then – if he had grown a few years older, he would never have allowed the mother and her three children to hide in the Northwest.

Xiao Huayong didn’t respond. He had no desire to inquire about the father he had never met. He had his image of his father in his heart; he didn’t need to learn about him from others.

Xiao Huayong’s restraint made Xiao Juesong think even more highly of him. A true ruler would never easily be swayed by others’ desires or follow others’ thoughts. A ruler was always the one in control.

Word spread that the Crown Prince had been kidnapped by Xiao Juesong’s men. A day had passed, and during this time, something unfortunate had occurred – many villagers’ unharvested wheat fields had been set ablaze, causing the common people to wail in despair. This was their year’s labor, their year’s harvest – without it, all hope for the year was lost.

They angrily reported it to the authorities, but before the officials could handle it, someone left a message: to learn who burned the wheat, come to Banhe tomorrow.

Meanwhile, someone delivered an invitation to Xiao Changying at the temporary palace. Upon reading it, his expression changed dramatically, and he immediately presented it to Emperor Youning. The handwriting was unmistakably Xiao Juesong’s.

It demanded Emperor Youning meet at Banhe, or else Xiao Huayong would be thrown into the river.

This news couldn’t be suppressed, as Emperor Youning had to attend personally. If anything happened to Xiao Huayong, the Empress Dowager would never let it rest. So they informed the court officials, who all tried to dissuade Emperor Youning from risking himself, but to no avail.

When Shen Xihe heard the news, she sought out His Majesty, pleading to accompany him.

Xiao Juesong hadn’t specified that the emperor must come alone, nor had he limited how many people could accompany him.

Therefore, Emperor Youning agreed to Shen Xihe’s request.

Having obtained what she wanted, Shen Xihe went to find the Empress Dowager, who was already heading their way. Shen Xihe supported her to a shaded pavilion: “Empress Dowager, Zhaoning will accompany His Majesty. Please wait for our return at the temporary palace.”

“You think I’m just old bones that would burden you,” the Empress Dowager wanted to go along and was unwilling to be persuaded.

“Empress Dowager, the sun is harsh. If you come with us, His Highness will feel guilty and worried seeing you like this, which might distract him,” Shen Xihe gently persuaded. “His Highness often says you’re his closest family. He couldn’t bear to see you suffering on his account. Surely you wouldn’t want him to blame himself for this?”

The Empress Dowager looked at Shen Xihe: “You’ve said all there is to say, both good and bad. If I insist on going, I would be in the wrong.”

She worried about Xiao Huayong but knew her presence wouldn’t help matters. If fighting broke out, she would become a burden. She clasped Shen Xihe’s hands in both of hers: “Zhaoning, you must bring Seventh Brother back safely.”

Despite knowing Xiao Huayong could protect himself, the Empress Dowager didn’t know what role he played in all this, hence her endless worry.

“Please rest assured, Empress Dowager. Zhaoning will return safely with the Crown Prince,” Shen Xihe solemnly promised.

After comforting the Empress Dowager and escorting her back to the palace, Shen Xihe returned to her quarters to prepare some things. She instructed Biyu and the others to stay and protect the Empress Dowager, taking only Zhenzhu and Moyu with her.

News from outside the temporary palace hadn’t reached inside. The local officials knew of the Crown Prince’s disappearance and the recent assassination attempt on His Majesty. Everyone in the temporary palace was walking on eggshells. Moreover, the burned wheat fields weren’t a life-threatening emergency, so they wanted to solve the case before reporting it to the temporary palace, hoping to make up for their previous failures.

The meeting time was set by Xiao Juesong, with Emperor Youning’s appointment slightly earlier than the commoners’. The villagers were strictly warned that if they came early, they wouldn’t receive any compensation, but if they came at the appointed time, they would be compensated for their losses.

Money being crucial, the villagers watched each other carefully, fearing someone might break the rules and cost them their compensation.

Banhe was a river not far from the temporary palace, its surface wide, flowing into the Yellow River with swift, turbulent, yellowish waters.

At the meeting place Xiao Juesong had chosen stood a rickety suspension bridge. On the opposite bank was a small mountain town that rarely interacted with outsiders. The neglected bridge, showing signs of age and disrepair, swayed precariously over the river like a swing, making people uneasy.

Emperor Youning hadn’t brought many people – his main forces were hidden in the trees behind them. He brought the Xiao Changqin brothers and Shen Xihe who had insisted on coming, along with their attendants, making a group of about ten standing at one end of the bridge.

As soon as they took their positions, figures appeared at the other end: Xiao Huayong bound in ropes, and Xiao Juesong surrounded and supported by his men. The brothers, separated for twenty years, gazed at each other from a distance, sharp gleams in both their eyes.