HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 548: The Crown Princess's Audacity

Chapter 548: The Crown Princess’s Audacity

“That’s still no justification for harming loyal subjects!” Xiao Changfeng said gravely.

“Harming loyal subjects?” Shen Xihe let out a soft laugh, her eyes full of mockery that seemed to ask ‘Why are you so naive?’ “Has Your Highness forgotten the imperial orders that you and Minister Pei carried?”

Xiao Changfeng’s body stiffened slightly.

Shen Xihe’s eyes were faint: “If Your Highness has forgotten, let me guess, just to refresh your memory. My father disappeared in Liangzhou, which borders the Northwest. If not for my father’s concession, Liangzhou should have belonged to the Northwest. A brave and battle-hardened general who spent his life-fighting in the Northwest was ambushed and disappeared in Liangzhou.

Your Highness didn’t believe it, and neither did His Majesty. His Majesty believed this was my father’s scheme, though the purpose remained unknown.

That’s why I was allowed to come search for my father, using me as bait. This could test whether my father was truly ambushed, and also see how capable the Crown Prince was in protecting his newly wedded wife.

Liangzhou was a good place, specifically chosen for me. His Majesty couldn’t let me proceed further. If I entered the Northwest and my father harbored rebellious thoughts or used this disappearance to plot something major against His Majesty and seize power, His Majesty would certainly be at a disadvantage. Acting against me in Liangzhou was the best strategy.

Naturally, I am His Majesty’s daughter-in-law. If possible, His Majesty would prefer to use me to force my father out. If my father refused to appear, or if your plans went awry and I died in Liangzhou, that would simply be my fate.”

Xiao Changfeng’s expression tightened.

Shen Xihe raised her chin and sneered: “If I died in Liangzhou because of my father, he couldn’t demand an explanation from the court. He could only blame himself for failing in his scheme. If my father truly was ambushed and couldn’t be lured out to save me, it would only prove his incompetence.

Your Highness asks how innocent Minister Pei was. Am I not innocent to His Majesty?

Because I am my father’s daughter, I can be used as a pawn, and if I die accidentally, it would be deserved. Pei Zhan is His Majesty’s man, carrying out His Majesty’s orders. If something happens to him as a pawn, it’s us harming loyal subjects?

So in Your Highness’s view, His Majesty’s methods are justified no matter who they harm – what a loyal subject indeed. Unfortunately, my father and I don’t possess such noble loyalty.”

Shen Xihe narrowed her eyes: “Your Highness, in this game, anyone can be either the player or a piece, including us both. When life and death are at stake, Your Highness wants me to be loyal to the emperor, but the emperor gives me no way to live. Your Highness wants me to pity loyal subjects, not knowing these loyal subjects are the knife His Majesty holds at my throat.”

Xiao Changfeng was speechless.

Shen Xihe continued: “In Liangzhou, Your Highness should be thankful for the traitor Geng Liangcheng, otherwise Your Highness would have lost your life long ago…”

If they hadn’t discovered Geng Liangcheng, Shen Yueshan wouldn’t have needed to lie low or fake his death to this extent. Despite Xiao Changfeng’s noble status, since he accepted His Majesty’s order to use her as bait to lure out Shen Yueshan, he was already her enemy. In the forest, she could have taken his life.

It would have given His Majesty reason to investigate thoroughly, and she could have stayed in the Northwest claiming shock or that the killer remained unknown.

However, because Geng Liangcheng was the primary threat, they didn’t escalate matters.

Xiao Changfeng’s heart trembled – so that day in the wilderness, Shen Xihe truly had killing intent towards him!

She truly dared – was there anyone in this world she wouldn’t dare to kill?

Seemingly noticing Xiao Changfeng’s shock and disbelief, Shen Xihe smiled faintly: “Prince, I’ve killed before.”

In over ten years, only one prince had died – Uncle Prince Kang.

He thought of how Prince Kang was caught privately manufacturing weapons, something even His Majesty couldn’t cover up when exposed to public view. So this had been Shen Xihe’s scheme!

“The Crown Princess is quite bold, telling me all this. Aren’t you afraid I’ll inform His Majesty?” Xiao Changfeng asked after taking a deep breath.

A slight laugh escaped her nose, her rosy lips blooming like a flower. Her beauty was unmatched – her usual faint smile made people feel her detachment and superiority, but with a slightly deeper smile, she was as stunning as peach blossoms: “In His Majesty’s eyes, taking my life is just a matter of time. Whether he knows these things or not won’t change his mind. Knowing will only anger him, but as long as my brother and father remain the kings of the Northwest, His Majesty can’t easily move against me. An opportunity like this time, where I voluntarily came to the Northwest seeking my father, His Majesty probably won’t be found again.

To make His Majesty hate me and gnash his teeth yet be unable to do anything about it – I should thank Your Highness for informing him.”

“You—”

Arrogant – Xiao Changfeng had heard of Shen Xihe’s audacity and pride, but this was his first time experiencing it firsthand.

Shen Xihe tilted her head slightly, her lips still holding that dazzlingly beautiful smile. Her fearless, completely unconcerned manner made Xiao Changfeng’s heart cold: “Aren’t you afraid that making His Majesty more wary is dangerous? Aren’t you afraid Prince Jing will learn of Minister Pei’s death and become your mortal enemy?”

The Pei family had few members left. If Pei Zhan lost his life in Tingzhou, Prince Jing would surely go mad. Prince Jing wasn’t like His Majesty – he didn’t sit on the throne and wouldn’t think as far ahead as His Majesty did.

“Hehehe…” Shen Xihe’s smile grew more unrestrained as she laughed softly. “Your Highness, feel free to tell Prince Jing, but what about evidence?”

Raising her eyebrows, Shen Xihe continued: “Just because Minister Pei died in the Northwest? But it wasn’t my father who invited Minister Pei to the Northwest. Prince Jing isn’t a fool. Your Highness serves His Majesty, and His Majesty is wary of us Shens. If Your Highness tells Prince Jing, imagine how Prince Jing will interpret it?”

How would he interpret it?

Most likely, he would think Xiao Changfeng was trying to sow discord, making Xiao Changyan confront the Shen family under His Majesty’s orders, using him as the vanguard.

It wouldn’t be the first time His Majesty had used his son – hadn’t Prince Xin met the same fate?

“No wonder, no wonder…” Xiao Changfeng understood. No wonder Shen Xihe spoke so freely, telling him everything.

Because whether it was Shen Xihe’s scheme or the Shen family killing Pei Zhan, he had no concrete evidence. His Majesty would believe his words, but it made no difference. As Shen Xihe said, His Majesty would take her life sooner or later.

It wouldn’t happen earlier or later because of one incident – it all depended on who won the game between His Majesty and Shen Yueshan.

Shen Xihe glanced at Xiao Changfeng once before turning to leave.

“Crown Princess, why tell Prince Xun these things?” Shen Xihe was never one to speak just for momentary satisfaction. Although she wasn’t afraid of Xiao Changfeng knowing, there was no need to tell him these things. Zhenzhu felt Shen Xihe must have another purpose.

“After Father returns, Beichen will be in danger,” Shen Xihe sighed softly.

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