Every endeavor requires someone to take the lead; only then will those who follow maintain proper order.

“This is the worst-case scenario, and I hope we won’t need to use it,” Shen Xihe gazed through the window at the golden lotus swaying in the sunlit pond, a trace of melancholy crossing her eyes as she hoped the heavy rains in Dengzhou would cease soon.

Xiao Huayong nodded in agreement. A heavy atmosphere settled between husband and wife as they both worried about the situation in Dengzhou.

However, it seemed as though the heavens were determined to torment Dengzhou. The downpour continued for seven days. The water level observers sent out never returned, and the court’s messengers dispatched to communicate with Dengzhou gradually lost contact. The submitted reports became increasingly delayed, indicating the situation had reached a critical point requiring immediate attention.

“Little Twelve has gone missing,” Xiao Huayong’s brows furrowed slightly.

Compared to the court’s reliance on human messengers, Xiao Huayong had hawks and gyrfalcons at his disposal, as well as his people who had stayed behind in Dengzhou to monitor Xiao Changqin. His intelligence continued to arrive unimpeded by wind or rain; perhaps even the suffering citizens of Dengzhou didn’t understand the situation as well as he did.

The previous drought had been so severe that even after ten consecutive days of rain, the flooding hadn’t reached catastrophic levels. Moreover, the Minister of Works and Official Tao had safely arrived in Dengzhou to personally oversee the situation, working alongside local officials and laborers to implement preventive measures. The situation hadn’t yet spiraled out of control.

The interruption in court communications was primarily due to the previously severe drought causing massive surface cracks in many mountain ranges. The sudden continuous rainfall had softened the soil, leading to landslides that blocked several messenger routes.

“Has he met with danger?” Shen Xihe asked with concern.

To some extent, Xiao Changgeng was Xiao Huayong’s man, though by forced choice. Shen Xihe’s assessment of Xiao Changgeng was that he knew when to adapt and when to retreat, capable of both yielding and asserting himself.

Such a person couldn’t be simply classified as good or bad. If someone could thoroughly dominate him, he would become an unstoppable sword. But if the person couldn’t fully control him, even if they forced his submission before his wings were fully grown, they would inevitably face his retaliation.

Regarding controlling Xiao Changgeng, both Xiao Huayong and she were confident in their ability, which was why they had included him within their sphere of influence.

“Something’s suspicious,” Xiao Huayong furrowed his brows, his gaze falling somewhere between reality and contemplation. “Just last night I received his message saying he had safely withdrawn from the dangerous area and was at the county office. By this morning, he had vanished.

The news came from my people, saying he encountered a landslide on his return journey and his whereabouts are now unknown.”

“Could he have had an urgent matter and left the county office in the night?” Shen Xihe said though she felt it unlikely even as she spoke.

With Dengzhou in such dire straits, now that Xiao Changgeng had withdrawn to safety, he wouldn’t risk putting himself in danger, nor would local officials dare let him do so. When princes traveled, they were accompanied by numerous guards. Aside from the strain on manpower, even the slightest mishap would result in unforgivable crimes.

Just as with Xiao Changgeng’s current disappearance, everyone from the County Magistrate to the Prefecture Governor to the Provincial Governor would be alerted. The endless rain had already stretched local officials thin; how could they allow such an incident to occur?

Xiao Changgeng’s withdrawal had been precisely to avoid burdening local officials. Given this, it was impossible that once safely arrived, they would still need to trouble him.

“The county office uniformly claims Little Twelve never arrived there, saying he encountered danger during his withdrawal,” Xiao Huayong raised his eyes to look at Shen Xihe.

Shen Xihe’s eyes darkened. Xiao Changgeng wouldn’t dare deceive Xiao Huayong, which meant he had indeed reached the county office. The officials were lying, intending to harm Xiao Changgeng while avoiding responsibility. They must have been watching him and hadn’t expected him to be able to send word of his safety through Xiao Huayong’s trained hawks at this time.

Without this letter, once Xiao Changgeng met with misfortune and the roads in Dengzhou cleared, any investigation into the circumstances of his demise would have been buried beneath the great rains.

“Did the local officials act on their own, or were they following someone’s orders?” Shen Xihe asked.

Xiao Changgeng, ranked twelfth, had only recently entered politics. Though he had handled several matters admirably, he wasn’t particularly prominent, and could even be considered the least noticeable in terms of seniority and achievement.

With Xiao Huayong legitimately established as Crown Prince, followed by the exceptionally capable and highly favored Prince Xin Xiao Changqin, the meritorious and influential Prince Jing Xiao Changyan, and the firstborn Prince Zhao Xiao Changmin all still alive and well.

None of these would have reason to move against him, and given Xiao Changgeng’s diplomatic nature, he had never made enemies with any deeply rooted noble families.

If local officials had acted, it could only mean Xiao Changgeng had obtained some devastating evidence against them, and their survival depended on his death. Given the current natural disaster, this possibility was significant.

If someone had ordered the attack, Prince Jing Xiao Changyan would be the prime suspect.

Previously, Xiao Changgeng had actively sought to get close to Xiao Changyan. As a military man forged in battle, Xiao Changyan either distrusted people entirely or trusted them completely. If he was behind this, it would be a profound test of Xiao Changgeng’s loyalty. Only by passing this trial could Xiao Changgeng truly earn his trust.

Between these possibilities, Shen Xihe hoped for the latter. If Xiao Changgeng remained steady, Xiao Changyan wouldn’t have taken his life. But if it was the former scenario, the situation would be dire indeed.

“Little Twelve is in Mouping County. I’ve checked, and none of the current or former officials there have any connection to Little Eight,” Xiao Huayong habitually touched the five-colored thread on his wrist.

“You don’t think Prince Jing is behind this?” Shen Xihe frowned. “I think it’s him.”

“Oh?” Xiao Huayong smiled with interest at Shen Xihe. “I’m eager to hear Youyou’s insights.”

Shen Xihe glanced at him, choosing not to take issue with his teasing: “Whether it’s Zhao Zhenghao or Hua Fuhai, anyone investigating would find no connection to you, yet they still follow your orders, don’t they?”

If Xiao Huayong had such capability, why couldn’t Xiao Changyan?

His smile deepening, Xiao Huayong nodded: “Indeed, that’s logical.”

“The most convincing evidence is Prince Yan’s safety message to you,” Shen Xihe added.

Hearing this, Xiao Huayong couldn’t help but laugh softly: “My wife’s attention to detail is remarkable. I am truly impressed.”

This was the pleasure of being with an intelligent person – everything felt effortless and natural.

Since Xiao Changgeng had been chosen by Xiao Huayong, he couldn’t be an ordinary person. If he couldn’t even detect ill intentions from local officials, he wouldn’t be worthy of Xiao Huayong’s attention.

If a mere county magistrate could trap him, it would be a poor reflection of the capabilities he had developed growing up alone in the deep palace.