“I know,” Shen Xihe nodded in acknowledgment.
Xiao Changying had been following her all along, keeping his distance while traveling. Whenever she checked into an inn, Xiao Changying would invariably stay at the same inn, on the same floor, watching her very closely.
However, at this point, Xiao Changying still hadn’t joined forces with Xiao Changfeng. Revealing her presence here to Xiao Changfeng truly left her puzzled – weren’t they both following her on His Majesty’s orders?
Bu Shulin tilted her head and looked at Shen Xihe for quite a while before breaking into a sly smile and leaving cheerfully.
She understood now – so Prince Lie was a romantic soul, escorting her for thousands of miles, possibly even leaving the capital without permission.
Tsk, the power of beauty was truly irresistible.
As for the possibility that Xiao Changying was following Shen Xihe on His Majesty’s orders, Bu Shulin wouldn’t think that way. Otherwise, when they were attacked on the boat, Shen Xihe would have been exposed then – why would she need to find ways to let Xiao Changfeng know now?
Given Shen Xihe’s interest-driven nature, especially as a married woman, even putting oneself in her shoes, an unfeeling woman wouldn’t believe Prince Lie would travel thousands of miles tirelessly for his sister-in-law.
Because Shen Xihe couldn’t understand what he sought to gain – he simply wanted to prevent her from getting hurt or meeting with accidents. For Shen Xihe, who valued reason over emotion, this was something she wouldn’t do herself, so naturally she wouldn’t think that way.
Bu Shulin’s smile was quite punch-worthy. Shen Xihe frowned at her look of enlightened yet subtle understanding of certain emotions but didn’t delve deeper. In Shen Xihe’s mind, Bu Shulin always had a neurotic appearance, so this wasn’t surprising.
As for Xiao Changying, Shen Xihe wanted to go greet him. She wondered why the jealous Xiao Huayong hadn’t led him away.
The jealous Crown Prince certainly wouldn’t lead him away – he’d let Xiao Changying stay to have his heart pierced by his wife.
Leading him away wouldn’t dispel Xiao Changying’s feelings, so why not let him experience Shen Xihe’s ruthlessness? Perhaps he’d let go then?
What joy could compare to watching your love rival being rejected by your wife?
Shen Xihe knocked on Xiao Changying’s door. Though curious about her intentions, he opened the door to let her in.
Without sitting down, Shen Xihe stood at the doorway and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear: “I’m going to make a move against His Majesty’s men and Prince Xun. If you wish to help them, feel free to act. If you have no desire to help, don’t let them discover anything.”
Subconsciously, Shen Xihe didn’t want to be enemies with Xiao Changying. Just for the fact that he hadn’t revealed her presence early on, it seemed Xiao Changying also didn’t want to break ties with her and Xiao Huayong.
“How do you plan to move against Prince Xun?” Xiao Changying asked urgently, thinking of how Shen Xihe never struck unless to kill.
Shen Xihe didn’t understand his meaning and replied coldly: “That’s my business, not yours.”
Xiao Changying’s eyes darkened. Seeing Shen Xihe about to leave, he stepped in front of her: “My cousin is highly skilled, and he’s the only bloodline of the Xun Prince’s line, plus His Majesty’s carefully nurtured talent. If anything happens to him, His Majesty will surely investigate thoroughly.”
Xiao Changfeng’s special status meant that any mishap would cause huge waves.
Understanding now that Xiao Changying thought she meant to kill Xiao Changfeng, Shen Xihe said: “Your Highness need not worry. I have no grudge against Prince Xun. Though we serve different masters, it’s far from a life-or-death situation. I won’t harm him.”
Had she been too extreme before? Both Xiao Huayong and Xiao Changying seemed to think she would kill whenever she acted.
What conflict did she have with Xiao Changfeng? He had neither hurt her nor posed a threat to her – how could she be someone who took lives without cause? If different standpoints meant taking lives, how many supporters did His Majesty have in court? Should she kill them all indiscriminately?
Having said this, Shen Xihe walked around Xiao Changying and returned to her room.
Xiao Changying watched her leave and enter her room, closing the door.
After brief contemplation, he decided to leave this place. If Shen Xihe specifically came to notify him, she must already be setting a trap for Xiao Changfeng. Xiao Changfeng would soon notice this place and discover his presence – that wouldn’t be good.
He wasn’t afraid of His Majesty discovering his unauthorized departure from the capital, but rather couldn’t let His Majesty know he’d left privately for Shen Xihe’s sake. In brotherly rivalry, even though Shen Xihe was now the Crown Princess, His Majesty would harbor more killing intent toward her.
Or His Majesty might use this to pit him against the Crown Prince, making him a pawn to deal with the Crown Prince. Neither scenario was what he wanted to see.
As for Shen Xihe dealing with Xiao Changfeng, he wasn’t worried about Shen Xihe at all – he was worried about Xiao Changfeng!
However, since Shen Xihe said she wouldn’t harm Xiao Changfeng, he set his mind at ease and decided to wait and see.
Shen Xihe quickly learned of Xiao Changying’s departure. She was quite satisfied with his choice – if Xiao Changying had truly interfered, dealing with him would inevitably involve Xiao Changqing, making the aftermath too troublesome to handle.
Meanwhile, not long after Bu Shulin entered the inn, Xiao Changfeng received the news. His men made inquiries at the inn but couldn’t discover the reason. However, Xiao Changfeng had more ways to investigate, such as going directly through official channels, and quickly obtaining information on all current guests at the inn.
Neither Shen Xihe nor Xiao Changying used their real names or travel documents. After Xiao Changying checked out, he didn’t attract Xiao Changfeng’s attention. Xiao Changfeng already had his suspicions, and verification came even more quickly. The next day, he knew Shen Xihe was in the inn.
“We act today,” Shen Xihe said to Moyu as she got up.
Moyu understood and found a lapel robe for Shen Xihe. After breakfast, the master and servant left the inn and headed towards the outskirts of the city. Initially, Xiao Changfeng followed alone, but seeing Shen Xihe and her party going further and further, he didn’t dare be careless and signaled to bring half his men, leaving the other half at the relay station guarding the “Crown Princess.”
He never acted rashly and always ensured a way out. These men were kept as a precaution – if he truly fell into Shen Xihe’s trap, they could come to his rescue.
What he didn’t know was that after he led half his forces to chase Shen Xihe and got lost in a grove, Xiao Huayong openly sent people to the relay station to kidnap the “Crown Princess,” while the other half of his men frantically searched for the Crown Princess’s whereabouts.
“Your Highness, are we caught in some sort of supernatural maze?” They had been trapped here for a long time, passing this marked tree for the third time, and Xiao Changfeng’s subordinates were growing anxious.
Shen Xihe stood on a high mountain, where a pavilion offered a perfect view of the tiny black dots moving below: “His Highness the Crown Prince’s expertise in the art of Nine Palaces is truly admirable.”