“Your Highness, which part feels amiss?” The advisor pondered for a moment, carefully considering the whole sequence of events. Though he felt certain the Prince of Xin was behind it, Xiao Yangbian’s caution impressed him, prompting his question.
With slightly furrowed brows and deep eyes, Xiao Yangbian said confusedly, “Fifth Brother’s actions—what is his purpose? It puzzles me.”
If all this was Xiao Changqin’s doing, from leaking the Imperial Astronomer’s predicted rain date to everything that followed, what was his goal?
Was it merely to throw him into chaos, prevent him from completing His Majesty’s assigned task, and make him appear derelict in his duties?
This seemed far-fetched. After all, spreading rumors required placing many people here—such time and effort just to create minor obstacles? Besides, he didn’t consider himself incompetent, nor should Xiao Changqin view him as such. He should know these small tactics could be easily resolved.
Knowing he could resolve them, yet still expending so much manpower to achieve this—unless Xiao Changqin was a fool!
Xiao Changqin was no fool. So his leaking of the Imperial Astronomer’s rain date likely had another purpose, not targeting him at all.
Xiao Yangbian’s words startled the advisor. Previously, he hadn’t paid attention to these details, but thinking carefully now, he found Xiao Yangbian’s words quite reasonable and equally puzzling: “But leaking the Imperial Astronomer’s prediction was the Prince of Xin’s people.”
This point was indisputable—they had investigated secretly for a long time and verified it extremely carefully.
“News from Linqing Town reports that those following that couple seeking relatives were all silenced, killed using the Prince of Xin’s guards’ unique method,” the advisor added.
They had studied these weapons repeatedly during those years in Annam, yet still hadn’t discovered how they were made. They’d created many similar items, testing them on enemy forces and condemned prisoners, but the killing marks always differed.
Because they had studied this, the wound patterns were deeply memorable. The corpses had been brought to them, and after examination, they were certain this was the work of the Prince of Xin’s guards.
“If that couple were Fifth Brother’s people, why deliberately appear and draw our people’s attention? And why use the secret weapon without concealment?” Xiao Yangbian counter-questioned.
The advisor had his theory: “Your Highness, the Crown Prince is weak—in less than two years… Only Your Highness and the Prince of Xin have the power to compete for the throne. Perhaps the Prince of Xin acts deliberately, wanting to draw Your Highness’s shadow guards with his dark guards for a decisive battle!”
Though it seemed reasonable, Xiao Yangbian firmly rejected it: “No, though Fifth Brother has such courage and style of action, the timing is wrong.”
His Second Brother wasn’t disinterested, and his Third Brother seemed peaceful, though he had an unruly wife.
“Your Highness means the Prince of Zhao and Prince of Dai?” The advisor’s tone was dismissive. “These two aren’t worth worrying about. The Prince of Xin and Your Highness need only determine superiority, and the situation will be settled. The Prince of Xin choosing this Dengzhou natural disaster to strike—I think it’s a heaven-sent opportunity.”
After pondering briefly, meeting Xiao Yangbian’s gaze, the advisor continued: “His Majesty is in his prime, but the Crown Prince’s days are numbered. No one knows how long before the throne passes from His Majesty’s hands. Waiting until His Majesty’s decline for a power struggle would not only cause greater losses but also harm the victor’s reputation.”
Better to decide supremacy here now—deaths could be attributed to “natural disaster,” avoiding the stigma of the fratricidal struggle for the throne.
Eliminating Xiao Yangbian now would leave no rivals in court. After the Crown Prince’s death, early ascension to the Crown Prince position would allow preparation. Even if His Majesty lived long, being second only to one person above ten thousand was better than being a prince waiting endlessly without proper standing.
The advisor’s words weren’t unreasonable, but Xiao Yangbian remained concerned: “Uncle died in the Northwest, and the Crown Princess already holds palace power, openly challenging His Majesty—her momentum is fierce and cannot be taken lightly.”
Xiao Changmin and Xiao Changzhen didn’t take it seriously, nor was Xiao Changqin—the advisor wasn’t wrong about this. But regarding Shen Xihe, this seventh sister-in-law he hadn’t studied much, Xiao Yangbian had made a special visit to the Eastern Palace.
She sat elegantly beside Xiao Huayong, never stealing the conversation, seemingly no different from ordinary noble ladies who put their husbands first. Yet just sitting there quietly, he saw no hint of dependence in her.
To say she was a hen ruling the rooster, controlling the Eastern Palace, and oppressing the Crown Prince, didn’t seem right. But to say she couldn’t fully control the Eastern Palace, Xiao Yangbian didn’t believe that either. Thus, the Crown Prince couple gave him a complex impression he’d never seen in others.
Additionally, regarding Shen Xihe’s status, whoever ultimately sat on the throne couldn’t allow the Shen family to continue prospering in the Northwest. This time, the Shen family had greatly wronged the Turks yet deliberately didn’t destroy them, worried about the saying “When birds are gone, good bows are hidden.”
But the Turks no longer posed any threat to the Shen family—only to the Shen family. If the Shen clan were removed and replaced with others, even if he went personally, he might not be able to suppress the seemingly exhausted, struggling Turks. The Turks, who had been suffocated by the Shen family, might see hope, make one last effort, and turn the situation around.
This was why His Majesty dared not easily withdraw the Shen family’s military power.
For the Crown Princess to protect the Northwest, there was only one way—control the court and direct the empire.
He thought this must be why the Crown Princess chose to marry the sickly Crown Prince.
It was precise because Shen Xihe was so powerful, acting so methodically, not even regarding His Majesty highly, and her position allowing no retreat, that she resolutely chose to marry Xiao Huayong. That Xiao Huayong’s life was short made it even more convincing to Xiao Yangbian and Emperor Youning.
If not certain of Xiao Huayong’s short life, how would Shen Xihe dare to marry?
Xiao Changgeng had told Xiao Yangbian that Xiao Huayong was deeply infatuated with Shen Xihe. Xiao Yangbian scoffed at this. As a man, especially one with grand ambitions, he better understood where a man’s aspirations lay!
How could romance compare to ruling thousands of miles of territory?
No matter how much he might love a woman, he couldn’t tolerate his bedmate possessing such vast power that could leave him with nothing at any moment—it would be like sleeping beside a fierce tiger, playing with fire.
Since Shen Xihe was so deeply strategic, even openly opposing His Majesty, she must be determined to claim the throne. She couldn’t easily place her bets, naively thinking she could restrain Xiao Huayong with mere romance.
Thus concluded, Xiao Huayong was certainly not destined for longevity.
“I can see the Crown Princess’s ambition, and Fifth Brother must too, yet he ignores her and chooses to confront me now—it truly defies logic.”