HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 717: The Crown Princess's Frightening Wisdom

Chapter 717: The Crown Princess’s Frightening Wisdom

Shen Xihe believed Princess Anling’s words, but Anling had no proof. She had Biyu question the servants on both sides, but they each defended their masters, making their testimonies unreliable. She then had Biyu investigate whether anyone else had witnessed the incident, but no one could testify.

Finally, Shen Xihe had to say: “In this matter, the Princess acted first by pushing, so the Princess should apologize to the Prince of Zhao’s wife.”

Princess Anling bit her lip after hearing this, her face full of indignation. However, not daring to disrespect the Crown Princess, she could only perform a deep curtsy: “Anling was rash and startled Second Sister-in-law. Please forgive me.”

Yu Sangning quickly waved her hand in a gesture of support: “The Princess simply misunderstood. I’m unharmed. I should be the one asking the Princess not to take it to heart that she was injured.”

“While the Princess’s actions were indeed improper, the behavior of the Prince of Zhao’s maid showed even less regard for rank,” Shen Xihe changed her tone. “Those who serve nobles can be zealous in protecting their masters, but they cannot see only their own master. This palace has no shortage of masters – today she dares to knock down a princess, tomorrow she might dare to knock down me, the Crown Prince, or even His Majesty.

Protecting one’s master has never conflicted with following proper rules. Biyu, tell her – if this had happened to me today, what would you have done?”

Biyu performed a bow and addressed the maid with grace: “If it had been the Crown Princess today, regardless of whether the Princess’s actions were intentional or not, I should have protected the Crown Princess behind me while blocking the Princess, but never causing the Princess to fall!”

Princess Anling couldn’t help but think of her fifth sister – hadn’t Yangling been thrown into an icy lake by this sister-in-law in the dead of winter? She was convinced that if it had been the Crown Princess today, she wouldn’t have gotten away with just a scraped palm…

Of course, she was also convinced that the Crown Princess would never be as dark and cunning as Yu Sangning, picking fights with her for no reason!

“Please spare me, Crown Princess! My skills are inadequate – how dare I compare myself to the Crown Princess’s attendants? I only managed to protect the Prince of Zhao’s wife and the little prince,” seeing the situation turning dire, the maid showed some courage, kowtowing repeatedly with loud thuds.

“If your skills are inadequate, why did you dare take on the responsibility when the Prince of Zhao assigned you to protect his wife and the little prince? You don’t prioritize the safety of the princess and the little prince – you only want to show off your abilities. Servants like you who are overeager for merit and don’t put their masters first deserve death!” Biyu scolded harshly.

The maid was terrified, her face turning pale as she turned to beg Yu Sangning: “Please forgive me, Your Highness. I was too ambitious, wanting to serve close to the master without thinking things through. Please spare my life.”

She was a clever maid, immediately transferring the power over her life to Yu Sangning.

Shen Xihe lazily withdrew her gaze. When she wanted someone dead, that person had no chance of survival: “Your ambition has endangered not just the Prince of Zhao’s wife’s safety, but the safety of the royal heir in her womb. Do you dare to be so presumptuous with royal blood at stake? Even if the Prince of Zhao’s wife is kind enough to spare you, I cannot!”

Glancing at Yu Sangning who seemed about to speak, Shen Xihe’s lips curved in a barely perceptible smile: “Biyu, beat her to death!”

“Crown Princess!” Yu Sangning cried out, then composed herself. “This maid is indeed unforgivable, but my child is still small. Please, Crown Princess, for the sake of the child, don’t let it bear the burden of a life before it’s even born. Spare this maid just this once.”

“The Prince of Zhao’s wife worries too much. I ordered her beaten to death, so the sin falls on me, not on your unborn child.” Shen Xihe never believed in such things. In this brief moment, she had already guessed Yu Sangning’s thoughts and calculations and was just waiting to verify them.

Turning to Princess Anling, who now looked triumphant and free of her earlier gloom, she said: “It’s getting late. You should return to your princess manor early.”

Princess Anling wanted to stay and witness this maid being beaten to death to satisfy her anger. What she hadn’t mentioned earlier was her belief that the maid had deliberately used force to knock her down, but without proof, saying so would only make her seem unreasonable.

Though Shen Xihe stood before her with elegant grace and a calm expression, showing no obvious pressure, Princess Anling didn’t dare object and obediently bowed: “Yes, Anling takes her leave.”

Princess Anling snorted coldly at Yu Sangning before turning to leave.

Cloud Moving Palace was a garden, but built magnificent and imposing, with clouds and pheasant-tail eaves.

Two lakeside pavilions were connected by a bridge lying low over the water. Across the still lake drifted the muffled sounds of beating and the gagged whimpers and groans.

These sounds wove together, floating across the bridge one by one, falling into the other lakeside pavilion where Yu Sangning sat restlessly, trying to maintain her composure as she faced Shen Xihe, who stood by the lake. The wind blew, making her robes and silk sashes flutter as if she might fly away with the breeze.

Shen Xihe gently stroked the back of Short Life, who had appeared from nowhere, scratching its neck before shooing away the cat that was rubbing its head against her in satisfaction.

Feeling she had left Yu Sangning hanging long enough, she finally spoke softly: “If I hadn’t had your maid beaten to death today, the Lingwu Baron’s wife certainly wouldn’t have swallowed this insult. She would think you went too far and seek revenge when the opportunity arose.”

The person before her was always so cool and detached. Though she never acted superior, she always made people feel humble in her presence without even trying.

Shen Xihe’s words made Yu Sangning’s heart pound uncontrollably. She took a deep breath: “Thank you, Crown Princess.”

“Thanking me?” Shen Xihe’s lips curved in amusement.

“The Crown Princess has arranged everything perfectly for me, not wanting the two houses to start feuding again. The Crown Princess’s foresight is beyond what I could aspire to.” That inexplicable panic grew deeper as Yu Sangning struggled to control it.

“Heh!” Shen Xihe gave a light laugh. She turned around, her gaze calm yet fixed directly on Yu Sangning. “The Yu family and the Lingwu Baron’s family have old grievances. You deliberately provoked Anling today. When Anling returns home and tells the Lingwu Baron’s wife, given her impulsive nature, she will surely rush to take revenge on you. Someone as clever as you must have known this?”

“I don’t understand what the Crown Princess means?” Yu Sangning avoided Shen Xihe’s gaze.

“No, you do understand!” Shen Xihe smiled faintly. “This was all within your calculations. You’re pregnant, and the Crown Prince’s eldest son is your biggest obstacle. You’re not impatient – rather, the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to act.

Now that you’re newly pregnant, if anything happens to this child, everyone will think you did it. The Lingwu Baron’s wife will think the same, so her best method of revenge would be to target this child.

Given the Lingwu Baron’s wife’s mindset, she naturally wouldn’t try to kill the child. But what she doesn’t know is that regardless of whether she intends to kill or not, from the moment she makes her move, you won’t let the child live. When everyone mistakenly believes you were responsible, you’ll then reveal the evidence of the Lingwu Baron’s wife’s actions.

By then, you’ll have won everyone’s sympathy, eliminated your greatest worry while preserving your reputation, avoided alienating the Prince of Zhao, and pinned the crime of endangering a royal heir on the Lingwu Baron’s family. You’ll have removed a thorn in the Yu family’s side, and the knot in your father’s heart from losing his General position because you can finally unravel.

You’ll get everything you want – a clear path forward, a loving husband, and support from your maternal family!”

A chill crept up from Yu Sangning’s feet, filling her entire spine!

She had always known Shen Xihe was forceful and domineering, always understood she was bold and daring, always knew she acted without restraint, but this was the first time she experienced Shen Xihe’s piercing insight!

Such carefully hidden thoughts, yet Shen Xihe could expose them so easily!

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