HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 549: The Crown Prince Is Easy to Appease

Chapter 549: The Crown Prince Is Easy to Appease

“His Highness is in danger?” What danger could the Crown Prince be in?

Shen Xihe stood in the courtyard, looking toward Tingzhou: “When Father was gravely ill, Prince Xun invited physicians from across the city. Not one failed to declare Father’s life was hanging by a thread. This succeeded in deceiving Prince Xun, who then sent word to His Majesty about the situation. When Father returns, His Majesty will surely realize there is someone of extraordinary medical skill by my side.

Whether these people are mine or belong to Beichen will cause His Majesty to speculate. If they are Beichen’s people, then what of his illness these years, and the deadly poison in his body – has it been cured? If so, why conceal this from His Majesty? It will only convince His Majesty that he knows about his origins.”

Xiao Huayong had said that Emperor Youning was a peculiar man who cared only for his achievements. Regarding matters after his death, he thought only of how his reputation and accomplishments would be passed down through the ages. As for who would inherit the throne, although he deliberately cultivated successors, he still adhered to the principle that the victor becomes king – perhaps because this was how he had obtained the throne, and thus he didn’t mind if brothers killed each other.

Therefore, His Majesty wasn’t concerned about whether Xiao Huayong had cured the poison, but rather why Xiao Huayong would conceal it if he had.

Emperor Youning absolutely could not allow Xiao Huayong to know his true origins.

“After what I said today when Pei Zhan dies in Tingzhou, Prince Xun will certainly report to His Majesty. The capital only became chaotic after my arrival, including Prince Kang’s death. His Majesty will be most wary of me.”

Shen Xihe was deliberately placing herself between Xiao Huayong and Emperor Youning.

Knowing that Shen Xihe was such a capable and calculating woman, her choice of Xiao Huayong surely wasn’t out of love but must have other motives. His Majesty would easily guess her true intentions in marrying Xiao Huayong.

It was essential to prove that this person of extraordinary medical skill was by her side. The more this was emphasized, the more it would prove that Xiao Huayong’s life was short and that Shen Xihe’s goal was to raise the eldest grandson and resolve the Shen family’s crisis.

“Crown Princess, if His Highness knows…” Zhenzhu expressed some concern.

Shen Xihe had revealed such intentions early on, but the Crown Prince wouldn’t allow it. They had even quarreled over it. As a close servant, Zhenzhu couldn’t help but overhear, being just a wall away while guarding the door.

“It’s fine. When he finds out, I can convince him with just one sentence,” Shen Xihe smiled slightly.

Zhenzhu thought about it and realized that the Crown Prince did seem unusually easy to appease when it came to the Crown Princess.

At this moment, Xiao Huayong, who had already rushed to Tingzhou, couldn’t help but sneeze. Folk wisdom said this happened when someone was thinking of you. The Crown Prince knew only the Crown Princess would be thinking of him, and his heart felt as sweet as if it had been spread with honey.

However, after sneezing, he collapsed, fortunately caught quickly by Tianyuan. The Crown Prince had fainted from exhaustion after the long journey, and they immediately took him to the Tingzhou Protectorate mansion.

By this time, Geng Liangcheng had made his decision. Seeing Xiao Changtai again, he called out, “Fourth Young Master!”

Since Xiao Changtai had been stripped of his clan status, calling him Fourth Prince would have been inappropriate. To let Xiao Changtai know he was aware of his identity, in his urgency he could only address him this way.

Xiao Changtai stopped and looked down at the badly wounded Geng Liangcheng as he slowly removed his mask. “How did you recognize me?”

“A master pointed it out,” Geng Liangcheng said straightforwardly.

This caused Xiao Changtai’s eyes to grow cold. Either Geng Liangcheng had deliberately allowed himself to be captured, but if so, he should have called out to him yesterday. Calling out today meant he had only learned his identity last night or this morning, which meant spies had infiltrated the Turkic military camp!

“I was ordered to facilitate a deal between the Fourth Young Master and the master,” Geng Liangcheng said.

“Ordered?” Xiao Changtai savored these words thoughtfully.

“Yes, acting under orders.”

“Whose orders?”

“Fourth Young Master, I must speak with you privately,” Geng Liangcheng looked around.

Xiao Changtai also glanced at their surroundings and commanded, “Bring him to my tent.”

Although Xiao Changtai was an honored guest among the Turks, he didn’t have the authority to take prisoners. In the end, Xiao Changtai had to personally seek out the Turkic Khan to take custody of the man.

“Speak,” Xiao Changtai said from his elevated position, looking at Geng Liangcheng collapsed on the ground.

“Does Fourth Young Master know who was behind the Prince’s death?” Geng Liangcheng built up suspense.

Xiao Changtai’s narrow eyes narrowed further.

“It was Crown Prince Jiachen,” Geng Liangcheng quickly said.

Xiao Changtai, who had been casual until now, immediately sat up straight. “Who did you say?”

“Crown Prince Jiachen. I’ve met him. He wanted me to…” Geng Liangcheng explained the whole situation to Xiao Changtai.

After listening, Xiao Changtai fell into deep thought. Everything seemed logical, perhaps too logical. The name Crown Prince Jiachen was now known to all – someone who could attack His Majesty’s traveling palace and escape unscathed must have extraordinary abilities.

“When did the Crown Prince arrive in the Northwest?” Xiao Changtai asked.

Geng Liangcheng was somewhat bewildered, wondering why Xiao Changtai suddenly asked about the Crown Prince who coughed incessantly at the slightest breeze and fainted after kneeling for an hour, so sickly: “Seven days ago.”

“Tell me in detail what has happened since the Crown Prince arrived in the Northwest,” Xiao Changtai continued.

“In four words: the day after His Highness arrived, this humble official led troops to reinforce Tingzhou,” Geng Liangcheng said.

“When did you meet Crown Prince Jiachen?” Xiao Changtai asked again.

Though Geng Liangcheng didn’t understand the purpose of these questions, he answered them all truthfully.

After asking many more questions and hearing Geng Liangcheng’s answers, Xiao Changtai only said, “Let me think about this…”

At this moment, Xiao Juesong arrived. Xiao Juesong wanting to cooperate with him was like being handed a pillow while drowsy.

Xiao Changtai never believed in such coincidences. One thing was particularly suspicious: lately, no one could infiltrate the Turkic Khan’s tent. Xiao Juesong’s people must have infiltrated early on, and if they had, they should have known of his arrival. Why wait until after Geng Liangcheng was captured to use him as a bridge?

“Master, the Mistress wishes to see you,” a subordinate reported while Xiao Changtai was pondering.

Xiao Changtai’s heart skipped a beat. Having maintained his disguise all this time, he had arranged for Ye Wantang to stay outside Tingzhou, away from harm. Each day he came to the Khan’s tent under the pretense of gathering intelligence about the battle situation. Ye Wantang wouldn’t seek him out without reason.

With a bad feeling in his heart, Xiao Changtai returned to their village lodgings to find Ye Wantang doing her makeup before a mirror. She wore an extremely simple cotton dress, her hair pinned with thorns, no longer as luxurious as in previous years. Yet as she sat there, her elegance remained undiminished.

“Wanwan, you were looking for me?” Xiao Changtai had changed into ordinary men’s robes.

Ye Wantang’s hand paused as she lowered her eyes while brushing her hair, but she didn’t speak.

Xiao Changtai stepped forward, naturally putting his arm around her. “What did you want to see me about?”

Ye Wantang gently brushed his hand away, her eyes cold: “The Turkic attack on Tingzhou was your doing.”

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