HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 678: Taking Full Responsibility

Chapter 678: Taking Full Responsibility

He knew but pretended not to know. He neither confronted Xiao Changyan with the truth nor joined Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong in their counterattack. Even though Xiao Changqing surely noticed the overt and covert struggles between them and Xiao Changyan, he focused solely on disaster relief, seemingly intentionally avoiding their affairs to remain uninvolved.

“Just because he isn’t our enemy, does that mean I can’t capture his people to study them?” Xiao Huayong felt there was no contradiction – he was purely curious. Was it not acceptable to try to figure out Xiao Changqing’s trump cards?

“Is that the kind of person you are?” Shen Xihe glanced at him.

Xiao Huayong had never been someone who liked causing trouble, nor was he restless by nature. If someone wasn’t going to be an enemy, why deliberately provoke them? She didn’t believe his given reason at all.

“I dislike having anything in this world outside my control.” His dark, bright eyes seemed to gather a silver light as he spoke seriously.

Though they weren’t enemies now, that didn’t mean they wouldn’t be in the future. As long as a threat existed, whether enemy or not, one had to understand them thoroughly to be prepared for any situation.

Shen Xihe nodded. “Your concerns are valid.”

“The matters here are almost concluded. I’ll return to Wendeng County first to wait for you. Come back soon. Once the flood crisis is resolved, we can return to the capital early.” Xiao Huayong lovingly smoothed her long hair.

“Mm, be careful,” Shen Xihe acknowledged.

After gazing deeply at Shen Xihe several times, Xiao Huayong turned and disappeared behind the screen. He quickly left the room, arriving and departing without a sound. Shen Xihe resumed her work.

After daybreak, Shen Xihe finished checking all the accounts and gave the approved documents to the County Magistrate, instructing him to work with local military guards to quickly implement the distribution of grain and supplies.

The County Magistrate was Xiao Changyan’s man. With Xiao Changyan now unconscious, and faced with the formidable Crown Princess whom even Jun Wang and Yan Wang didn’t dare to cross, he could only comply efficiently with her orders. Thus, what Xiao Changyan couldn’t accomplish in several days, Shen Xihe completed in just one. The common people received what they were due, and smiles appeared on their faces.

Rongcheng County was surrounded by sea on three sides. The rainfall wasn’t as heavy as in neighboring counties, and there were fewer hillsides. Apart from crop damage, there weren’t many casualties. With the court’s distributions, they wouldn’t have to worry about surviving the year.

By noon, Xiao Changyan’s recurring high fever finally broke completely. Shen Xihe had just finished her evening meal when Xiao Changyan regained consciousness. By the time Shen Xihe went to check on him, he had already eaten and was reclining pale-faced on the couch, having apparently passed through the danger period and only needing gradual recovery.

Shen Xihe consulted the physician and received the same assessment. Then she spoke frankly: “Prince Jing, can you tell me why you made contact with the traitors?”

Xiao Changzheng had told Xiao Changyan what he needed to know, so he was prepared: “I won’t deceive Imperial Sister-in-law. Previously, Twelfth Brother was also injured by Imperial Uncle, so I sought out physicians to save him. Following some clues led to an investigation, though I wasn’t certain it was Imperial Uncle, so I hadn’t yet reported to the Crown Prince and Emperor.”

Shen Xihe turned to Xiao Changzheng: “Prince Yan, is what Prince Jing says true?”

Xiao Changzheng clasped his hands: “In response to Imperial Sister-in-law, every word of Eighth Brother’s statement is true.”

“When did Prince Yan encounter the assassination attempt?” Shen Xihe asked again.

Xiao Changzheng answered without hesitation: “It was five days ago…”

“Was it five days ago?” Shen Xihe interrupted coldly.

Xiao Changzheng still didn’t pause: “Yes, it was five days ago, when Eighth Brother came.”

“Prince Jing says the same?” Shen Xihe asked again.

Xiao Changyan closed his eyes and softly made a sound of agreement.

Shen Xihe’s gaze swept between the submissive Xiao Changzheng and the seemingly exhausted, pain-enduring Xiao Changyan. Withdrawing her gaze, Shen Xihe commanded coldly: “Bring him in.”

Xiao Changyan, Xiao Changzheng, and even the observing Xiao Changfeng all had an ominous feeling. Sure enough, Mo Yuan quickly brought in someone – none other than Xiao Changzheng’s attendant. This was the attendant who supposedly died falling down the hillside during Xiao Changzheng’s ambush encounter with Xiao Changyan. Xiao Changyan had even sent people to handle the funeral and clear the body, yet unexpectedly he had fallen into Shen Xihe’s hands!

“Does Prince Yan recognize this person?” Shen Xihe asked.

Xiao Changzheng’s throat seemed blocked; he couldn’t speak.

“Your Highness, Your Highness, this servant can finally see you again…” The little eunuch, however, was extremely excited, rushing forward to kneel before Xiao Changzheng, hugging his legs and crying emotionally.

“I’m… fine,” Xiao Changzheng was also somewhat happy that this eunuch who had followed him for so long wasn’t dead.

“Prince Yan, according to Fu Gui’s account, you encountered the ambush last month, and Prince Yan had been missing for over a month, disappearing before the Crown Prince and I entered Dengzhou,” Shen Xihe said coldly. “So is it Prince Yan and Prince Jing who are being untruthful, or is this attendant lying and slandering his master?”

Even Xiao Changfeng, an outsider, knew it couldn’t be the attendant lying. This meant Xiao Changzheng had indeed been missing for over a month, and Xiao Changyan had concealed it. This…

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

“This matter is my…”

“Imperial Sister-in-law, please allow me to explain. I asked Eighth Brother to conceal it,” Xiao Changzheng interrupted just as Xiao Changyan began speaking. “Eighth Brother and I discovered Imperial Uncle’s traces early on. Because we couldn’t be certain but couldn’t be careless either, we devised a plan using myself as bait. I would draw out Imperial Uncle, and to ensure he wouldn’t be cautious, we didn’t alert the Emperor or Crown Prince.”

Xiao Changzheng took full responsibility, smoothing over Xiao Changyan’s massive lie. Everyone’s eyes fell on Xiao Changzheng.

After a pause, Xiao Changzheng continued: “Eighth Brother rescued me, and I didn’t want to implicate him, so I falsely claimed to have encountered Imperial Uncle that day.”

Shen Xihe slowly shifted her gaze from Xiao Changzheng to Xiao Changyan: “Prince Jing, are the facts as Prince Yan states?”

Xiao Changyan opened his mouth, and after a moment of struggle said: “The truth is…”

“Eighth Brother need not protect this younger brother. It was this brother’s glory-seeking that endangered Eighth Brother. Upon returning to the capital, I will certainly request punishment from the Emperor.” Xiao Changzheng’s clear, sincere gaze fixed directly on Xiao Changyan.

Xiao Changyan’s chest felt tight as he struggled to look away: “I failed to look after Twelfth Brother.”

This was a tactful agreement with Xiao Changzheng’s words.

Shen Xihe gave a cold laugh: “So, you knew the traitor’s whereabouts early on, recklessly sought glory, and refused to report it, leading to the prison break and the losses among the Imperial Guards the Crown Prince brought from the palace?”

Xiao Changzheng bowed his head: “It was my fault. I will certainly submit a memorial to the Emperor explaining and accepting punishment.”

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