Xiao Huayong would certainly have to jump down – even if he didn’t, the suspension bridge wouldn’t last much longer. With the distance between the shores and no way to cross the river horizontally, this confrontation wouldn’t end easily. The only solution was to jump into the river.

However, the rapid current was extremely dangerous. There was no telling where they would be swept to after falling, or whether they would hit rocks in the river…

If not for so many uncertainties, Emperor Youning and Xiao Huayong would have already jumped into the water.

As Shen Xihe walked downstream, Xiao Changying’s gaze followed her almost imperceptibly for a moment. This was caught by Xiao Juesong, who was watching him intently. Xiao Juesong recalled the information passed up to him – when their people went to rescue along with Xiao Huayong, Xiao Changying had been with Xiao Huayong.

Was this Emperor Youning’s trap for Xiao Huayong? Had Xiao Huayong allowed himself to be captured while Xiao Changying pursued relentlessly?

Was their brotherly affection truly so deep?

Xiao Juesong’s gaze circled between Xiao Changqing and Xiao Changying – these were true blood brothers, while Xiao Huayong…

With this thought, he aimed his crossbow at Xiao Huayong. Xiao Changying’s pupils contracted as his grip on his bow unconsciously tightened. Xiao Juesong’s expression deepened slightly as he pulled the trigger. Xiao Changying quickly shot an arrow, but Xiao Juesong held back his bolt at the crucial moment.

This bolt wasn’t fired – instead, he turned to aim at Emperor Youning. Xiao Changying had no time to nock another arrow, and could only cry out in anguish: “Your Majesty—”

When Xiao Changying’s empty arrow flew past him, Xiao Huayong already knew Xiao Juesong’s intentions. Before Xiao Juesong could fire his bolt, Xiao Huayong released the rope and lunged from beneath the bridge toward Emperor Youning nearby, managing to grab the emperor’s dangling legs. The weight dragged Emperor Youning, who still had half his body on the bridge, down just as Xiao Juesong’s bolt grazed his shoulder, drawing a spray of blood.

If Xiao Huayong hadn’t pulled him down in time, that bolt would have pierced his chest.

Both men rolled into the river water. Huge splashes washed over them as murky water flooded their nose and mouth, quickly separating them. In just a few blinks, they disappeared into the surging waves.

With Emperor Youning and Xiao Huayong gone, the imperial forces were no longer constrained. People who were excellent swimmers and had been standing ready jumped into the river, while others quickly pursued along the shore. The remaining forces launched an ambush on Xiao Juesong.

Xiao Juesong immediately cut the bridge and they quickly retreated to the manor behind them. Emperor Youning had already secretly sent people to infiltrate from another direction, though the detour was quite long – it was uncertain whether they would intercept Xiao Juesong in time.

Shen Xihe was the first to head downstream. Halfway there, Zhenzhu caught up with her, driving a carriage and bringing a young civilian: “Princess, His Highness, and His Majesty have fallen into the river. Please get in the carriage quickly.”

Shen Xihe quickly boarded the carriage with Mo Yu. The carriage sped along the official road, raising dust all the way. After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, they reached a spot downstream where they were led to find the river had turned a bend. If lucky, people could be intercepted here; if unlucky, they would be swept further downstream.

Shen Xihe found neither Xiao Huayong nor Emperor Youning here. The water’s speed should have been faster than their travel, not slower. If Xiao Huayong wasn’t here, it meant both he and His Majesty had been swept further downstream. Even though the current here wasn’t as rapid as upstream, Shen Xihe was still extremely worried.

The civilian Zhenzhu brought did not know other locations, so Zhenzhu had Mo Yuan escort him back.

“Princess, don’t worry. His Highness must have been prepared,” Zhenzhu consoled Shen Xihe.

“He was wounded.” Such river water would worsen his injuries. In such surging rapids, there were too many uncontrollable factors. No matter how meticulous his preparations, what if something went wrong?

“Princess, don’t forget that you and His Highness first met in a river, and His Highness was unharmed then. This means His Highness must be an excellent swimmer,” Bi Yu quickly added.

Shen Xihe glanced at them both. Indeed, Xiao Huayong was a good swimmer, and his external injuries weren’t severe enough to prevent him from protecting himself. At worst, he still had his gyrfalcon – wherever he went, the bird could find him. Shen Xihe felt slightly reassured but didn’t give up searching, continuing down the road.

The carriage continued downstream and soon encountered Prince Zhao, Xiao Changwen, who was waiting with several boats. It seemed not only Xiao Huayong had made preparations, but Emperor Youning had also planned.

As Shen Xihe approached, she found Emperor Youning had already been rescued. She quickly asked: “Where is the Crown Prince?”

“Princess, His Highness the Crown Prince is over there,” Xiao Changwen pointed to another small boat.

Xiao Huayong was pale and unconscious, with imperial physicians surrounding him, while Emperor Youning remained conscious, sitting in the boat allowing physicians to treat his wound. “Zhenzhu!”

At Shen Xihe’s command, Zhenzhu immediately jumped onto the boat. The Imperial Medical Office was familiar with this medical woman from Princess Zhaoning’s household and didn’t stop her. After checking the pulse themselves, they made way for Zhenzhu.

Zhenzhu’s expression wasn’t good. She turned to tell Shen Xihe: “Princess, it seems His Highness has been poisoned again.”

Not only Shen Xihe, but even Emperor Youning’s expression changed as he looked over. He immediately turned to the physician checking his pulse. The physician hurriedly explained: “Your Majesty need not worry, you have not been poisoned.”

Emperor Youning’s expression eased slightly as he called over the physician who had examined Xiao Huayong: “The Crown Prince has been poisoned again?”

“In reply to Your Majesty,” the physician answered truthfully, “His Highness the Crown Prince was already… weak, and now being wounded by a poisoned arrow is truly misfortune upon misfortune.”

Emperor Youning ordered Liu Sanzhi: “Take the Crown Prince back to the palace immediately.”

In the ensuing chaos, most people escorted Xiao Huayong back to the temporary palace. Shen Xihe followed. Court Physician Sui Axi was also watching over him – he needed to continuously perform acupuncture on Xiao Huayong. He had come to the temporary palace directly with the Eastern Palace, counted among their staff.

Shen Xihe stood outside waiting anxiously. Soon after, the Empress Dowager rushed over.

She had no patience to comfort the anxious Empress Dowager, not knowing whether Xiao Huayong’s poisoning was accidental or his own doing. She was truly worried about his condition. About half an hour later, Emperor Youning returned to the temporary palace, and only then did the physicians and Sui Axi emerge.

“How is the Crown Prince?” the Empress Dowager asked urgently.

The physicians remained silent with lowered heads. Only when Sui Axi caught Shen Xihe’s gaze did he say: “Two deadly poisons are conflicting within the Crown Prince’s body. Whether he will wake is unknown.”

The Empress Dowager staggered backward, and Emperor Youning quickly moved to support her. When the Empress Dowager looked up to see it was Emperor Youning, she pushed him away, falling instead against her palace maid. She stared at Emperor Youning with a look of heart-wrenching grief: “Is Your Majesty satisfied?”