The news that the Prince of the Northwest had been ambushed and gone missing, causing the Crown Princess to faint from shock, spread throughout and beyond the palace within half an hour.

While many gloated and others watched from afar, only Xiao Changying grabbed his sword and prepared to leave when he heard the news, but was stopped by Xiao Changqin who caught his sword hand: “Where are you going first? To search in Liangzhou?”

Shen Yueshan had disappeared after being ambushed while entering Liangzhou after leaving the capital.

“The Prince of the Northwest was reportedly ambushed by Tujue raiders and vanished. Tujue must have a plan. I’ll request His Majesty’s permission to investigate their intentions,” Xiao Changying found an excuse for himself.

Hearing this, Xiao Changqin gave a light sneer: “Reportedly ambushed by Tujue? The word ‘reportedly’ deserves careful consideration.”

“You suspect someone set this up?” Xiao Changying turned around, looking puzzled at his elder brother.

“The Tujue court is unstable right now. They wouldn’t move against the Prince of the Northwest at this time.” Xiao Changqin was well-versed in the Tujue movements. Ever since Rong Ce had been outmaneuvered by Xiao Huayong over the Anxi defense maps and became the Military Commissioner of Hexi, Xiao Changqin had repeatedly instructed him to be cautious and keep a low profile, even tolerating provocations from former colleagues.

Initially becoming Military Commissioner had offended many people, and he’d faced numerous obstacles over the past year. If Rong Ce hadn’t heeded his advice to exercise patience repeatedly, he couldn’t have established his position in Liangzhou.

This time, with the Prince of the Northwest allegedly ambushed by Tujue in Liangzhou, yet Rong Ce as Military Commissioner of Hexi had received no word of it – this was a dereliction of duty.

“It’s precisely because Uncle has failed in his duty that I must request His Majesty let me go to Liangzhou to make amends,” said Xiao Changying.

Xiao Changqin cast him a glance: “Though Uncle can be ambitious, he’s no fool. If Tujue had truly ambushed the Prince of the Northwest and he knew nothing of it, I wouldn’t let him remain as Military Commissioner of Hexi.”

Being unworthy of one’s position would only implicate the entire Rong family.

“Brother means the attackers weren’t Tujue?” Xiao Changying trusted his brother deeply. Since his brother said so, he thought further, “Someone impersonated Tujue to ambush the Prince of the Northwest? Who would dare?”

Such boldness – was this a mortal enemy?

“In all the world, only one person would dare move against the Prince of the Northwest…” Xiao Changqin fingered the seal hanging from his hand, turning it gently between his fingers. “His Majesty wouldn’t move against the Prince of the Northwest now, much less impersonate Tujue.”

“Not His Majesty?” His Majesty had been Xiao Changying’s first suspect. His talk of seeking imperial permission to go to Liangzhou was just talk – he’d planned to act first and report later, something he’d done often. At worst, he’d face punishment upon return.

He didn’t aspire to inherit the throne anyway, so His Majesty’s favor or displeasure mattered little. As long as he committed no major offense, His Majesty wouldn’t deal with him too harshly.

“With Crown Prince Jiachen at large, His Majesty has been placating everyone lately, hoping to prevent Jiachen from conspiring with officials.” Xiao Changqin’s dark eyes were deep and collected. “Moving against the Prince of the Northwest now – he’s a warrior, not easily struck down. And it couldn’t be easily concealed. This would undoubtedly push him toward Crown Prince Jiachen.”

Back then, it was because the Prince of the Northwest and others had protected them that Prince Qian and His Majesty were able to force Crown Prince Jiachen to surrender the city.

His Majesty would never commit such an unforgivable error at this time. Thus, Xiao Changqin concluded it wasn’t His Majesty who had sent people after the Prince of the Northwest.

“If not His Majesty, then who?” Xiao Changying couldn’t think of anyone else.

Putting himself in others’ shoes, their generation held a reverence for the Prince of the Northwest. This reverence created an inexplicable fear of Shen Yueshan, and he wasn’t their mortal enemy – they would never move against him.

Xiao Changqin smiled: “Indeed, no one would dare move against the valiant Prince of the Northwest, who could fight a hundred men alone. Yet he happens to be ambushed just before entering the Northwest, with the attack coming so swiftly and retreating so cleanly. Tell me, could there truly be someone so capable in this world? Wouldn’t that be terrifying?”

Xiao Changying met his brother’s gaze, noticing his smile was both strange and suggestive. It wasn’t that the brothers shared some special understanding, but rather that his brother only showed such meaningful expressions when discussing one particular person.

“Impossible!” Xiao Changying didn’t believe it. “How could he? They just married – even if his feelings for her were false with ulterior motives, he wouldn’t turn against her so quickly.”

How could it be the Crown Prince? He’d just married, and Shen Yueshan had come to the capital to give away his daughter. To be ambushed by the Crown Prince right after returning – how could Shen Xihe bear it? What could the Crown Prince gain from this?

Xiao Changqin smiled and shook his head gently: “Brother, this is the battle-hardened Prince of the Northwest we’re talking about. How could he be so easily ambushed without any chance to defend himself or call for help? Would that still be the renowned Prince of the Northwest whose military achievements shake the world?”

Xiao Changqin acknowledged Xiao Huayong’s strategic brilliance, but Shen Yueshan was no ordinary person. With his confidants by his side, how could he so easily vanish without a trace, suffering such a devastating blow?

“Were there spies? A betrayal? Is the Prince of the Northwest fine, just playing along with some scheme?” Xiao Changying guessed countless possibilities but never suspected this was all their performance – because he’d heard about Shen Xihe fainting from shock.

In his heart, Shen Xihe was a contradictory existence – wise, strong, and proud, yet also utterly straightforward and genuine.

His subconscious believed Shen Xihe wasn’t someone who would act.

Xiao Changqin looked at his brother speechlessly for a long while. His brother was certainly not foolish – the answer was obvious, yet he could easily avoid seeing it. This only showed that the Crown Princess held an even deeper place in his brother’s heart than he’d imagined.

“You need not worry about the Crown Princess, nor search for the Prince of the Northwest. With such concern, you should visit Mother more,” Xiao Changqin thought of another matter. “Persuade her to peacefully relinquish control of palace affairs, or else you’ll eventually be caught in a difficult position.”

Shen Xihe had long intended to marry into the Eastern Palace, viewing the throne as something that belonged to her husband or son. How could she not involve herself in palace affairs?

Yet Xiao Changqin also thoroughly understood his birth mother. Though she appeared graceful and uncontentious, she valued her status and position extremely highly. Expecting her to willingly give up the palace authority she’d held for over ten years was like a fool’s dream.

His mother might have been able to contend with other women, but Shen Xihe was different. Her methods were far from ordinary, and in a real confrontation, Mother might not fare well.

Just as she had never gained the upper hand against Qingqing in all those years.