“Youyou, we walk the path of imperial power,” Xiao Huayong spoke solemnly to Shen Xihe, showing his seriousness and resolve. “This path has no return and allows no rest or detours. Everyone by our side must be tempered through countless trials.

I know you feel for the child in Young Master Bu’s womb. But Youyou, have you considered – when your time comes, if I’m not here, will they show mercy for your unborn child and delay the battlefield until after your delivery?”

No, they wouldn’t.

Currently, her pregnancy remained hidden, and Bu Shulin’s situation had drawn all attention away, so no one moved against her. Once her pregnancy became public, these people would scheme to end both mother and child before delivery. Even if she avoided obvious attacks, the best time to strike would be during childbirth – how could they show mercy?

“This is different…” Shen Xihe objected. “They are enemies, Alin is our ally.”

“No, Youyou, Young Master Bu isn’t an ally,” Xiao Huayong corrected. “She is a subordinate!”

Everything changed from the moment Shen Xihe married into the Eastern Palace. Bu Shulin and Shen Xihe were no longer simply close friends, but ruler and subject. A ruler must care for their subjects but cannot be constrained by them at the cost of wise governance.

He wanted to wait until Shen Xihe safely delivered her child, but he couldn’t predict if he’d last until then. If he wasn’t there, Bu Shulin would be responsible for guarding a region, potentially leading troops north when needed – this was the command of tens of thousands of troops, crucial to her and her child’s fate, a vital step in her future success!

Xiao Huayong wouldn’t soften now. He’d revealed all about the path ahead, giving Bu Shulin the choice to accept it. Since she chose this path, her survival now rested with fate.

Shen Xihe’s heart tightened as the young Crown Prince before displayed the iron will and resolve of an emperor.

She took a deep breath, suppressing her unwelcome resistance. She knew he was right – it was Bu Shulin’s choice, the only path available. They could use personal feelings to protect Bu Shulin more, but then Xiao Huayong would never fully employ her.

He wouldn’t entrust Shen Xihe’s safety to Bu Shulin because she wouldn’t be worthy of his trust.

Seeing that hint of evasion on Shen Xihe’s face for the first time, Xiao Huayong sighed, carefully embracing her with some self-reproach: “Youyou, your heart… has softened.”

When she first entered the capital, how cold and rational was she? Weighing everything by gains and losses, disregarding sentiment. That was fitting for a ruler. Now, whether due to her friendship with Bu Shulin or becoming a mother, her edge had dulled.

If he could always protect her, and stand behind her, this softness would add warmth and vitality – he’d welcome it. But now he disliked this gentleness, preferring her former cold decisiveness.

“People aren’t plants or trees… even raising a cat can spark affection, let alone a close friend who shares one’s heart?” Shen Xihe’s gaze passed through the window lattice to Duanming leaping after butterflies in the courtyard.

She noticed her growing humanity – whether beneficial or detrimental, she couldn’t judge, but she didn’t reject it.

“Little Nine went after them, Little Eight sent Little Twelve, and I’ve sent people too. We’ve done what we can,” Xiao Huayong took Shen Xihe’s hand, slowly but firmly enveloping it. “Now we wait for the outcome.”

At this point, they could only await the results.

Shen Xihe just hoped Bu Shulin and her unborn child could safely return to Southern Shu.

“Your Highness, Young Master Bu has safely left the capital,” came Tianyuan’s report just then.

This somewhat eased Shen Xihe’s worried heart.

The Young Master Bu who returned to the Bu residence mounted up fully equipped. He escorted Xiao Wenxi back to the Princess Imperial’s residence, using Xiao Wenxi’s newly discovered pregnancy as a reason – even His Majesty couldn’t order Xiao Wenxi to depart with Bu Shulin.

If Xiao Wenxi traveled along, the danger would likely prevail. After Bu Shulin truly returned to the Southern Shu Prince’s mansion, bringing back Xiao Wenxi after her pregnancy stabilized would be legitimate – still in mourning period, a daughter-in-law accompanying in mourning, even His Majesty couldn’t prevent it.

As for whether to send Xiao Wenxi’s future child to the capital as a hostage, that would depend on whether it was male or female.

Before leaving the capital was safe – no one would dare act within the capital’s bounds, as it would frame and smear His Majesty.

If Xiao Huayong wasn’t testing Bu Shulin, he could arrange an assassination attempt in the capital using Xiao Juesong’s people. This would leave His Majesty without evidence but suspicious, guiding public opinion so His Majesty wouldn’t dare assassinate Bu Shulin and would even assign extra protection to silence rumors. If Xiao Huayong wished, with a little push, His Majesty would have to send Imperial Guards as escorts.

Then if His Majesty insisted on assassination, he’d have to sacrifice the Imperial Guards – either dying in battle or bearing the crime of failed protection. If Bu Shulin died, these escorts would have to die too to appease the Southern Shu army.

This was the smooth path Xiao Huayong could offer Bu Shulin. He’d asked Bu Shulin, and she chose her path.

Choosing this path, Bu Shulin might safely return to Southern Shu but would never gain Xiao Huayong’s full trust. Today’s friendship was exhausted, whether Xiao Huayong took the throne or Shen Xihe held power, they would deal with Southern Shu officially, gradually reducing its power inevitably.

Bu Shulin’s sense of duty led her to choose the second path despite her pregnancy – becoming someone Xiao Huayong could use and trust heavily.

Outside the capital, Young Master Bu’s forces encountered an ambush. Standing before the sand table, Xiao Huayong faced a wall with an enormous map. His greatest gain from traveling every inch of the land these years was these maps.

He’d drawn each part himself. Even from the Eastern Palace, he could see every inch of the realm, predicting where His Majesty’s people might ambush, and where others might interfere.

Meeting ambush right outside the capital, just before His Majesty’s people, the timing was crucial. When His Majesty’s people received news and rushed to take advantage, this seemingly fierce battle would be over, Young Master Bu already vanished.

“Your Highness, all eight body doubles have dispersed,” Tianyuan delivered news from the field. “His Majesty’s people have also split up to intercept.”

In the flickering lamplight, Xiao Huayong’s lips curved in a thrilling gleam: “First reveal Liangzhou then expose Lizhou, lead their people into the Southern Mountain Western Circuit.”

There, the former Crown Prince’s rebellious ministers His Majesty so yearned for awaited them.