Xiao Changyan presented such evidence brazenly before Xiao Changgeng. Anyone with slightly weaker resolve would find it hard to maintain composure, especially since this was real evidence. After Xiao Changgeng captured the remaining people and obtained another portion of evidence, it became ironclad proof.

This was Dengzhou, not Mizhou – not Pei family territory. Someone slightly more reckless might have taken risks. Xiao Changgeng lost his mother at a young age, and after the Ninth Prince, two more princes died in succession. His survival as the Twelfth Prince came from his cleverness and vigilance. These people reaching him was itself due to the Pei family and Xiao Changyan allowing it.

These people were the Pei family’s true enemies – defeated dogs who had lost in their struggle against the Peis. They had likely already fallen into Pei’s hands, and the Peis conveniently released them to test him. Now that he had killed the people and seen the evidence, he could be considered somewhat complicit with them.

Xiao Changgeng wasn’t naive either, nor did he intend to play the role of an innocent, unworldly brother before Xiao Changyan. Otherwise, he would never gain Xiao Changyan’s trust and important responsibilities.

After “helping” the Pei family dispose of these people and destroy evidence unfavorable to them, Xiao Changgeng acted as if nothing had happened, not mentioning a word to Xiao Changyan.

His composure impressed Xiao Changyan, who then took the initiative to seek him out with good wine brought from Annan City. After several rounds of drinking, he asked, “I heard the Twelfth Brother briefly stayed in the Eastern Palace before establishing his household?”

Xiao Changgeng gave a bitter smile: “Yes.”

“It seems the Twelfth Brother was highly favored by Crown Prince Brother. Besides the Crown Prince, no other prince has ever resided in the Eastern Palace.” Xiao Changyan sighed lightly, appearing casual.

Lowering his eyelids, Xiao Changgeng remained silent, showing no eagerness to explain this matter.

Xiao Changyan, who thought Xiao Changgeng was just putting on airs, waited for quite a while without receiving a response. He then realized Xiao Changgeng truly intended to leave this matter ambiguous, unafraid of being suspected of having close ties with the Crown Prince.

“From Twelfth Brother’s manner, it seems there are things difficult to speak of?” Xiao Changyan probed further.

With a cup of wine paused at his lips, Xiao Changgeng hesitated for several breaths before suddenly throwing his head back and draining it in one gulp. Whether gathering courage or emboldened by wine, he exhaled a long breath: “I’m not afraid of Eighth Brother’s contempt. At that time, my situation was difficult. His Majesty delayed allowing me to participate in government and establish my household. In my urgency, I thought to use the then-prominent Shen family to attract His Majesty’s attention…”

He left the rest unsaid. Since Xiao Changyan had investigated everything, he should know how dazzlingly impossible to ignore Shen Xihe was then, with everyone in the capital avoiding her sharp edge. Shen Xihe was certain to marry into the royal family, and he wasn’t the only one with designs.

This was the truth – mixing truth and fiction was how to confound clever people, just as Xiao Changyan had used real enemies and real evidence to test him.

Xiao Changyan had a revelation, his deep eyes inconspicuously scanning Xiao Changgeng. So Xiao Changgeng also wasn’t content with mediocrity – no prince content with mediocrity would dare set their sights on Shen Xihe.

Shen Xihe was like a double-edged sword. The benefits of marrying her were visible and immensely rich, but the fatal aspects were equally clear. Marrying Shen Xihe meant engaging in a game of chess with His Majesty.

“Crown Prince Brother certainly dotes heavily on the Crown Princess.” Just because Xiao Changgeng had designs on Shen Xihe, Xiao Huayong had brought him into the Eastern Palace. Who knew what Xiao Huayong had done to Xiao Changgeng during that time?

However, judging by his standards, if someone had designs on the woman he fancied, Xiao Changyan wouldn’t show them mercy. Even if he didn’t silence them, he certainly wouldn’t associate with them.

Xiao Changyan naturally didn’t know that Xiao Changgeng’s interest in Shen Xihe had been mostly calculation from the start. Just when he was about to speak of sentiments, probably that fleeting moment of youthful romantic yearning – after all, Shen Xihe was such an admirable lady – but this budding affection had been mercilessly crushed by Xiao Huayong.

Xiao Huayong didn’t even consider him worthy as a rival in love but found him quite useful and manageable, which forced him onto this path of no return.

“Dotes?” Xiao Changgeng smiled lightly. “Following her to the Northwest while ill – is that merely doing?”

Xiao Changyan’s gaze sharpened: “Crown Prince Brother’s health truly…”

“Crown Prince Brother’s illness is real, and it’s likely no falsehood that he’ll struggle to live another two years.” Xiao Changgeng said solemnly. “When Eighth Brother has more interaction with the Crown Princess in the future, you’ll understand she’s no ordinary lady. Her methods, intelligence, and strategic thinking are no less than yours or mine. Her purpose in marrying Crown Prince Brother…”

Xiao Changgeng left a meaningful smile.

Being clever people, how could they not understand the implications? Wasn’t this saying the Crown Princess married into the Eastern Palace for the status of being the legitimate wife?

Thinking carefully, the Shen family’s choice was bold yet commanded respect.

If she hadn’t chosen the Crown Prince but any other prince, no matter how united they were initially, she would inevitably have to guard against her husband and cross swords with him in the end. Choosing the Crown Prince eliminated this concern.

Because the Crown Prince was destined to die young, she only needed to bear a legitimate eldest son – His Majesty’s eldest grandson – before the Crown Prince’s death. With her son, she would still have the right to compete for the throne, with advantages no less than theirs. A son would always be more reliable than a husband.

A child with Shen’s blood would be the greatest protection for the Shen family, thus completely resolving their crisis in one move. If the Western King and Shen Xihe could gradually relinquish power during the child’s reign, it would be a true complete withdrawal.

This method was more effective than any other.

“Previously I had only heard, but at Xiangguo Temple I truly witnessed it.” Just Shen Xihe daring to choose Xiao Huayong, planning to fight them with a legitimate eldest son, was enough to show her vision and ambition exceeded ordinary ladies.

The Xiangguo Temple incident was strange throughout, but the biggest beneficiary was undoubtedly Shen Xihe, who seized palace power in one move. Noble Consort Rong – no, now Honored Consort Rong – who had cultivated palace power for over twenty years, probably never dreamed that in just one confrontation, she would be left with no chance of recovery by Shen Xihe.

Not only had Honored Consort Rong not anticipated this, but neither had they – after all, their mothers had all been defeated by Honored Consort Rong.

“Eighth Brother will witness more in the future.” Xiao Changgeng’s lips curved upward.

Xiao Changyan’s heroic, resolute eyebrows raised: “Twelfth Brother seems… quite appreciative of the Crown Princess.”

As if not hearing Xiao Changyan’s deeper meaning, Xiao Changgeng’s clear eyes met his gaze frankly: “The Crown Princess… she’s a lady who can’t help but command young men’s admiration.”

Xiao Changgeng’s words contained only pure praise and appreciation for Shen Xihe, without any ambiguity or romantic inclination.

Precisely because he heard the true meaning, Xiao Changyan’s curiosity about Shen Xihe reached unprecedented heights.