Xiao Changqin took a deep breath – this couple was truly… cut from the same cloth!

They never showed humility when using others, nor gave those being used any chance to refuse.

Yet he truly couldn’t decline this matter. Xiao Huayong was almost certainly faking illness – no one in the world was more practiced at feigning sickness than he!

Who knew what schemes this couple was plotting against? Regardless, with Xiao Huayong ill and unable to work, and Xiao Changyan under punishment, he held the highest position. If he didn’t step forward now, he wouldn’t deserve his title as Prince.

“*cough* *cough* *cough*…” After a violent bout of coughing, Xiao Huayong spoke with apparent difficulty, “Fifth Brother…”

His brow twitching, the hesitant Xiao Changqin had no choice but to step forward: “Your Highness, I am here.”

“The disaster relief… *cough* *cough* *cough*… I trouble you to handle it!”

“I accept the command.” With the emperor far away, the Crown Prince was now sovereign, and they were all subjects who could only obey.

Xiao Changyan’s gaze swept between Shen Xihe and Xiao Changqin, a flash of gloom crossing his features.

“His Highness shouldn’t be disturbed. Since you’ve both visited, and there are many matters in the city requiring attention, you may withdraw,” Shen Xihe coldly dismissed them.

Xiao Changyan and Xiao Changqin had to take their leave together. As they left the courtyard and entered the covered walkway leading to the main gate, Xiao Changyan couldn’t help saying: “Fifth Brother, it’s been three years since Fifth Sister-in-law passed. Have you any plans?”

Xiao Changqin stopped in his tracks. He turned to look calmly at Xiao Changyan, not understanding why he suddenly cared about his matters. Despite his sensitive nature, he didn’t immediately guess that Xiao Changyan suspected him of having an affair with Shen Xihe.

Instead, he wondered if Xiao Changyan wanted to ally with him, planning to send him a beauty or arrange a marriage.

His expression turned cold: “Eighth Brother, Ninth Brother has been betrothed and will marry next year. You aren’t settled yet, how could I let you worry about me?”

He might as well have said directly: you haven’t even married yourself, yet you’re meddling in your elder brother’s affairs.

Hearing this, Xiao Changyan became more convinced that Xiao Changqin was evading the issue.

Yes, he had begun to suspect that Shen Xihe and Xiao Changqin shared a deep relationship – not necessarily romantic, but perhaps they had indeed allied.

His advisor had speculated this earlier. This time, after Shen Xihe took Xiao Huayong out, he returned with a severe cold. He didn’t care about taking on the hot potato of disaster relief, yet Shen Xihe smoothly passed it to Xiao Changqin.

He couldn’t help but think Shen Xihe deliberately took Xiao Huayong out to catch a cold, conveniently allowing her and Xiao Changqin to take control of the disaster relief. Shen Xihe surely had ways to obtain grain, and not wanting to give this merit to Xiao Huayong, gave it to Xiao Changqin instead.

If they didn’t share a close relationship, why would Shen Xihe go to such lengths to plan for Xiao Changqin?

This was simply a beautiful misunderstanding. One couldn’t blame Xiao Changyan for his misconception – he could never have guessed that Shen Xihe pushed it to Xiao Changqin because he knew their true nature. Since Xiao Changqin had no intention of turning against the couple, he would follow their lead. Having him involved meant he would essentially just be a figurehead.

She would be giving the orders, and Xiao Changqin would cooperate fully. If not for avoiding leaving evidence in arguing with Xiao Changyan, Shen Xihe wouldn’t have let Xiao Changqin be the figurehead.

After all, she was only the Crown Princess – if she gave orders directly and Xiao Changyan opposed them local officials would certainly support him. But Xiao Changqin was different – officials might look down on the Crown Princess, but not on Prince Xin.

“Your brother has overstepped.” Xiao Changyan cupped his hands and strode away.

Xiao Changqin watched the direction he disappeared in, frowning silently for a moment before turning toward his quarters.

“How is the Crown Prince’s condition? Why did you lose composure earlier?” Back at the county office, Xiao Changyan kept only his advisor, whose depth of character he knew well – he shouldn’t have shown such an expression.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince truly hasn’t long to live,” the advisor said, controlling his trembling voice.

Xiao Changyan stared at him suddenly, pressing his lips together in silence.

“Your Highness, when I was studying with my master, we once sailed and encountered storms, reaching a mysterious land beyond the Western Regions. There were many strange plants we’d never seen, mostly poisonous. Among them was an extremely insidious poison, like a gu worm – once in the body, it lies dormant, gradually torturing and consuming until the person withers away.”

Neither Shen Xihe nor Xiao Huayong could have imagined that Xiao Changyan’s advisor had encountered the poison affecting Xiao Huayong.

“You’re saying… the Crown Prince has been poisoned with this?” Xiao Changyan realized.

The advisor nodded: “This poison is not only insidious but dominant – once poisoned, no other poison can affect the person, but it is incurable.”

This poison made one immune to all others, yet had no cure. Once the toxin permeated the body, death was certain.

His master had been very interested in this poison, specifically bringing some back to study. After repeated research, he confirmed it was incurable.

“How long has the Crown Prince been poisoned?” Xiao Changyan briefly suspected Shen Xihe might have poisoned Xiao Huayong, aiming to eliminate him without a trace.

“I cannot determine. Though this poison has no cure, its progression is heavily influenced. Those with strong constitutions, or who receive regular treatment from skilled physicians to suppress the poison’s effects, can see some results,” the advisor shook his head. “I can only determine that the Crown Prince’s body is severely damaged. Even with maximum suppression, he has at most two years before treatment becomes futile.”

After a long silence, Xiao Changyan asked: “Truly no cure exists?”

At this moment, Xiao Changyan couldn’t describe his feelings. He had ambitions for the throne because he’d long known the Crown Prince would never claim it. He had always thought the Crown Prince was simply weak, but now discovered it wasn’t heaven’s will but human intervention.

He felt a melancholy as a fellow royal son, without much joy, because in his understanding, the Crown Prince was always destined for an early death. This outcome wasn’t unexpected, only the method differed.

“My master researched for over a decade without finding an antidote,” the advisor replied.

“Never mention this again, and pretend you don’t know about the Crown Prince’s poisoning,” Xiao Changyan composed himself and instructed, then continued, “The Crown Prince’s poisoning likely isn’t related to the Shen family, but Shen Xihe probably knows about this strange poison. She and Fifth Brother might truly be allies as you suggested.”

Since she already knew Xiao Huayong wouldn’t live long, she certainly needed to find the best backup plan.

Xiao Changyan never imagined that Shen Xihe planned to continue fighting them single-handedly even without Xiao Huayong.