Just as Emperor Youning received Shen Xihe’s memorial denouncing Xiao Changmin’s crimes, before he could even send someone to summon Xiao Changmin, the latter had already come before the Emperor to confess and repent, while cleanly pushing the blame onto a mastermind.
He claimed he had merely drunk too much and spoken some drunken words. Who knew these people would be so audacious – while appearing to curry his favor, they were likely deliberately setting him up, trying to disrupt the brotherly affection between him and the Crown Prince.
True or false, Emperor Youning couldn’t be bothered to distinguish. Since Shen Xihe was the accuser, he naturally didn’t want to give her satisfaction. Since Xiao Changmin had already cleaned up his trail, he would just make it a case of thunder with little rain – a light punishment would suffice.
Nothing that happened in the capital could escape Xiao Huayong if he wanted to know about it. By dusk, he already knew who had persuaded Xiao Changmin to cut his losses in time.
Just then, Shen Xihe returned home. Xiao Huayong went to welcome her, eagerly offering hot tea. After she changed her clothes and came out, he spoke: “Second Brother escaped disaster.”
He told her about how Xiao Changmin had voluntarily confessed and pushed forward a scapegoat.
“He won because the Emperor dislikes me,” Shen Xihe responded lightly after listening.
Emperor Youning wanted nothing more than to deal with her immediately after she had shown her sharp claws and fangs. However, he couldn’t find any leverage against her, didn’t dare to easily set up a trap, and had to consider her father and brothers in the Northwest. Thus, he could only detest her while remaining helpless.
Xiao Huayong couldn’t deny this point. He could only speak of other matters: “The Marquis of Pingyao went to persuade Second Brother. I didn’t expect the Pingyao Marquis’s household to hide such a shrewd person – I misjudged.”
A face flashed through Shen Xihe’s mind, and she shook her head slightly: “It’s not that you misjudged – you never even considered looking at her.”
Having been married to Xiao Huayong for so long, she knew he didn’t look down on women, nor deliberately belittle them, and didn’t share the common view of most men who saw women as confined to the inner quarters, only able to serve their husbands and teach children.
But he rarely paid attention to women. Perhaps in all these years, she was the only woman he had truly bothered to notice.
“Your Yu family’s Second Young Lady,” Shen Xihe reminded him, and Xiao Huayong remembered.
Come to think of it, Shen Xihe had discussed this Yu family’s Second Young Lady with him once or twice, but he had dismissed her inner court tactics. This time was different though.
“She fears me. Anything connected to me makes her especially vigilant,” Shen Xihe explained to Xiao Huayong. It wasn’t that Yu Sangning had grown, but rather that she was too afraid of her.
“My Youyou, with your city-toppling beauty, to think someone would fear you so much – they must have poor eyesight,” Xiao Huayong rested his chin on one hand, quietly gazing at Shen Xihe without blinking.
Inexplicably, Shen Xihe couldn’t help but lift the corners of her lips, shaking her head with a gentle smile.
The fact that she didn’t give him her usual helpless look made Xiao Huayong feel as if he’d swallowed honey, sweetness reaching his heart, grinning foolishly.
Seeing this, Shen Xihe sighed lightly, shaking her head as if she had no way to deal with him: “It’s time to give the Yu family a warning.”
To save someone from her hands, one must pay a heavy price.
Xiao Huayong suddenly sat up straight, his black eyes twinkling like stars, face full of anticipation: “How may I serve Youyou?”
Causing trouble was his specialty.
Moreover, such tasks shouldn’t dirty his Youyou’s hands.
Flashing a toothy smile at Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe’s soft, delicate hand lightly rested on his shoulder: “Just keep playing your role as the weak Crown Prince. With Prince Xin and Prince Jing around, don’t show any flaws.”
Grasping Shen Xihe’s hand, Xiao Huayong looked at her pleadingly: “Youyou, I’ve been lying down so much my bones have gone soft.”
Hearing this, Shen Xihe squeezed his shoulder: “Not bad, you can lie down for a few more days.”
“How can I let Youyou handle teaching someone a lesson personally…” Xiao Huayong said dryly, trying to argue his case.
“Who said I would act personally?” Shen Xihe gave Xiao Huayong a mysterious smile. “I prefer to kill using another’s blade.”
The next day, Shen Xihe waited for Xiao Changyan at the county office: “Prince Jing, please wait.”
Xiao Changyan was somewhat surprised: “What instructions does Royal Sister-in-law have?”
“I wouldn’t dare give instructions,” Shen Xihe held an account book. “Currently, Wendeng County has abundant grain, with more being transported in an orderly manner. Although the surrounding counties don’t face the same flood threat as Wendeng County, and their rainfall isn’t as fierce, they are still affected by disasters. Since we have sufficient grain now, I’d like to distribute some to them.
Where is Prince Yan? I don’t know. I suppose it’s my fault – since the Crown Prince and I arrived, we’ve been caught up in various matters. I only asked Prince Jing on the first day, and haven’t had time to inquire since.”
Xiao Changyan’s eyes flickered slightly: “Twelfth Brother is in Rongcheng County.”
Shen Xihe nodded: “I’ll send some supplies to Rongcheng County right away. Prince Yan is so young to be supporting a country by himself – it’s quite remarkable. The Crown Prince and I, as his elder brother and sister-in-law, should encourage and console him.”
After speaking, Shen Xihe turned and left.
Xiao Changyan felt something wasn’t quite right. Shen Xihe was implying that he had maintained contact with Xiao Changgeng, which wasn’t wrong – they had come together, and he hadn’t publicized Xiao Changgeng’s disappearance.
If Shen Xihe sent people with items to Rongcheng County but didn’t find Xiao Changgeng, he couldn’t credibly claim ignorance anymore. If someone hadn’t contacted him for so long, he should have informed Xiao Huayong or reported to the Emperor earlier.
“Your Highness, the Twelfth Prince has been trying to escape, believing himself to be in the hands of bandits, with no one coming to rescue him,” the advisor reported Xiao Changgeng’s situation after hearing Xiao Changyan’s words.
“Do you think the Crown Princess is offering rescue?” Xiao Changyan asked unexpectedly.
“This…”
The advisor couldn’t say. Shen Xihe’s inquiry about Xiao Changgeng was reasonable, without any apparent ulterior motive.
“Your Highness, I believe Prince Yan isn’t the Crown Princess’s person,” the advisor boldly said. “Prince Yan has praised the Crown Princess unreservedly before Your Highness and has even revealed his feelings for her. Moreover, if the Crown Princess allied with Prince Yan, she couldn’t possibly choose Prince Xin instead.”
Xiao Changgeng was a better choice than Xiao Changqin. Xiao Changqin was hard to control, with uncertain outcomes against Shen Xihe, while Xiao Changgeng clearly wouldn’t be her match.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Changyan said: “Now I’m in a difficult position. Even if I return Twelfth Brother, how can I prevent him from revealing his days of disappearance?”
Should he appear personally and tell Xiao Changgeng this was a test?
The advisor thought of a solution: “Your Highness, matters in Wendeng County are now orderly. Why don’t you approach the Crown Princess about taking over the grain delivery to Rongcheng County, then personally go rescue Prince Yan, telling him you’ve been secretly investigating without spreading the word of his disappearance?”
This seemed to be the only option.
The next day, Xiao Changyan sought out Shen Xihe, who agreed after brief consideration.
However, he didn’t notice how meaningful Shen Xihe’s gaze was as she watched him leave the city.