You Wenjun couldn’t believe Xiao Changying failed to see the Crown Princess’s feelings, yet he remained deeply devoted to her despite everything.

Everyone said the Crown Prince was destined for an early death. Did he think the Crown Princess would accept him after the Crown Prince’s passing?

You Wenjun left Prince Li’s residence with a heart full of confusion and worry. The adjacent Prince Jing’s residence was also quiet.

Not only was Xiao Changyan there, but Prince Yan, Xiao Changgeng, was present as well.

“Eighth Brother, should we…” Xiao Changgeng began, his unfinished words perfectly understood by Xiao Changyan.

“Thunder from clear skies, surrounded by enemies on all sides…” Xiao Changyan rubbed the ring on his thumb. “This is quite the show – how could we miss it?”

If Emperor Youning was the one who most wanted to prevent Bu Shulin’s safe return to Southern Shu, then Xiao Changyan was second. After all, Southern Shu bordered Annan, and the largest military forces in both regions were under their command. Even if military control of Southern Shu returned to His Majesty’s hands, it would only benefit him. But in Bu Shulin’s hands, it would be a knife at his throat.

Bu Shulin was Shen Xihe’s person. An alliance between Bu Shulin and Shen Xihe was the best choice. They were both non-imperial princes. Just as he needed to keep one or two brothers alive to demonstrate benevolence and appease the current court officials who supported others, showing he wasn’t a cruel or narrow-minded ruler to secure his throne.

When Shen Xihe held power in the future, she would need to accommodate the Southern Shu Prince’s mansion to prevent those following the Shen family in the Northwest from feeling vulnerable. He and the Bu family were natural opponents.

“How will Eighth Brother handle this?” Xiao Changgeng asked again.

“I wouldn’t trust anyone else with this matter. Would Fourteenth Brother go personally?” Xiao Changyan’s gaze fell on Xiao Changgeng.

A prince leaving the capital unauthorized was a serious crime. Xiao Changyan would naturally cover for Xiao Changgeng in the capital, but if anything went wrong, the responsibility would fall entirely on Xiao Changgeng, with no connection to Xiao Changyan.

They weren’t born to the same mother, unlike the brotherhood between Xiao Changying and Xiao Changqin.

Xiao Changgeng didn’t hesitate for a moment, instead smiling calmly: “How could I disappoint Eighth Brother’s trust in me?”

Was it dangerous? Naturally.

But how could one catch a tiger without entering its den? Xiao Changyan sending him was a perfect opportunity to infiltrate his shadow guards. He also firmly believed this wasn’t a test – after all, he had saved Xiao Changyan’s life. If Xiao Changyan secretly killed him now, his path to the throne would be effectively ended. How could followers dare pledge complete loyalty?

Xiao Changgeng pondered that he might have to directly confront Ninth Brother.

If Xiao Changgeng could guess how Xiao Changying would go, how could Xiao Huayong not? Moreover, Xiao Changying had escorted Shen Xihe thousands of miles on her northwestern journey – this had happened right under his nose.

Therefore, before Xiao Changying even left the capital, he received news and after a moment’s silence, instructed Tianyuan: “Watch over him, ensure he returns alive.”

If Xiao Changying died, what he had done would be impossible to cover up.

Shen Xihe was extremely rational and detached. If Xiao Changying returned alive, even if she knew, she wouldn’t be moved at all. As she said herself, others’ kindness or unkindness toward her wasn’t what she sought – she would never be emotionally swayed by it.

However, if Xiao Changying died, Shen Xihe might remember it. How could he allow others to leave any mark in her heart? Even the faintest impression was unacceptable.

While he lived, her eyes and heart could only contain him!

“Yes!” Tianyuan responded, leaving the room only to see Shen Xihe standing at the door. His expression changed slightly, but he could only bow and quietly withdraw.

“Why send people to protect Prince Li?” Shen Xihe stepped inside and questioned directly.

Though her tone seemed even, Xiao Huayong knew she was angry because she had guessed.

He quickly strode forward, taking Shen Xihe’s hand: “I didn’t mean to hide this from you. This is a test Young Master Bu must undergo.”

Why send people to protect Xiao Changying? His martial skills were excellent, and even if he sneaked out of the capital alone, with Xiao Changqin’s influence, he would surely be well-protected. Under such circumstances, how could Xiao Changying be unsafe?

There was only one answer – because this journey was far more dangerous than Shen Xihe had estimated.

As clever as she was, Shen Xihe easily understood that Xiao Huayong had set up a lethal test for Bu Shulin.

Outside the capital, a thrilling assassination attempt would unfold. The assassins might be played by Xiao Juesong or others sent by Xiao Huayong. This was to prevent the revelation that it was an impostor if Bu Shulin was assassinated, which would clearly announce to the world that she was guarding against the emperor.

Some face-saving pretenses couldn’t be torn away, not just by the emperor but also by Bu Shulin. Otherwise, it would result in the emperor’s reckless abandon – since you’ve started being suspicious and distrusting the monarch, isn’t it reasonable for the monarch to suspect you of disloyalty?

Unless Bu Shulin could prove the assassins were sent by His Majesty, it would appear the subject was suspicious at first. In power struggles between those in high positions, having a legitimate cause was crucial.

So Xiao Huayong would strike first with an assassination attempt, disrupting His Majesty’s plans and others’ schemes, allowing “Bu Shulin” to escape first. Escaping while knowing about the pursuit, no matter how many decoys were dispersed, could only show Bu Shulin’s foresight, not suspicion of the monarch.

However, Shen Xihe hadn’t expected that from this point, Xiao Huayong wanted Bu Shulin to become bait, just as when Mu Nuha fled the capital years ago, running everywhere, exposing Xiao Huayong’s hidden pieces one by one to Fourth Prince Xiao Changtai’s eyes.

Xiao Huayong wanted Bu Shulin to gradually draw out His Majesty and all factions, letting him stand at the highest point to see all forces in the world – who were enemies, who were friends? Who were fence-sitters, who remained neutral?

“Alin is pregnant,” Shen Xihe said. She could accept Xiao Huayong testing Bu Shulin, after all, Bu Shulin would be entrusted with her life in the future. Both ability and loyalty needed to be demonstrated. She couldn’t blindly trust based on friendship, otherwise, those who had already joined Xiao Huayong and passed numerous tests would be dissatisfied.

She just hoped Xiao Huayong would choose a different time.

“This is the best timing.” Xiao Huayong gazed deeply at Shen Xihe. “Youyou, my time is short.”

He didn’t have much time left, otherwise he would have been willing to proceed slowly out of consideration for Shen Xihe and Bu Shulin’s relationship.

Whether Bu Shulin was qualified to help Shen Xihe control the southern military power after his departure – he had to determine this before he left.