“A battle is inevitable,” Shen Xihe sighed softly.

She raised her gaze to the boundless blue sky, where drifting clouds reflected in her obsidian-like dark pupils as if seeing through thousands of miles to the lands of Liangzhou.

Since the assassination attempt in the capital, Bu Shulin had vanished. Forces from all sides had cast their nets wide, following traces only to find them disappearing midway as if the person had vanished into thin air.

By now, finding Bu Shulin was like searching for a needle in the vast ocean.

Three days later, someone finally discovered Bu Shulin’s trail, determining she was heading for Liangzhou. Outside Liangzhou city, they encountered His Majesty’s Brave Army’s encirclement. Fortunately, they had chosen to move at night, crossing mountains to enter Liangzhou. The two forces clashed in the silent, dark mountains without alerting officials, avoiding a pincer attack.

The high moon illuminated spraying blood, its scent attracting night predators whose roars terrified villagers at the mountain’s foot until dawn finally broke.

The village headman organized strong men to check the mountain, hoping to ease villagers’ fears about sleeping at night—people couldn’t stay awake indefinitely. If wild beasts were truly approaching, they could report to officials and prepare.

Instead, they found dismembered bodies, many faces unrecognizable, signs of fierce combat, and numerous beast tracks. The headman quickly led the villagers away and reported to officials.

The county magistrate under Liangzhou’s jurisdiction arrived quickly with his men. They found several tokens among the bloody remains belonging to the Shu South Prince’s Manor. Without delay, these were sent to the Prefecture Governor’s mansion, then rushed to the capital by swift horse.

“Outside Liangzhou city, they pieced together over thirty bodies. Based on their attire, at least four different forces were involved,” Xiao Huayong told Shen Xihe after morning court.

This Bu Shulin was naturally fake—he had arranged it, able to obtain as many Shu South Prince’s Manor tokens as needed.

Standing in Xiao Huayong’s study, Shen Xihe faced the map on the wall, her eyes deepening: “You want to lead them into the Jialing River.”

Xiao Huayong stood beside her, hands behind his back, his midnight-black eyes fixed on the Jialing River: “A land battle would give His Majesty too great an advantage. The Jialing River levels the playing field.”

Though he spoke of equal footing, the battlefield he’d prepared favored his traps.

“The Jialing River is good—it won’t disturb the common people,” Shen Xihe said quietly.

Xiao Huayong couldn’t help smiling: “Youyou truly care for the common folk.”

She always thought of the people first.

Shen Xihe glanced at him before asking: “Among the four forces in Liangzhou, besides His Majesty, were Prince Zhao and Prince Jing involved?”

“No,” Xiao Huayong replied, interest sparking in his eyes. “Second Brother didn’t move. It was Eighth Brother’s men and an unidentified group.”

“Unidentified?” Shen Xihe was surprised that even Xiao Huayong couldn’t determine their origin.

“For now, their background remains unclear,” Xiao Huayong nodded.

This was fascinating—the most impatient Xiao Changmin remained still, seemingly undeceived by Xiao Huayong. Though he’d sent men, he chose to observe from the sidelines, unlike his usual style.

More surprising to Xiao Huayong was the sudden appearance of this mysterious group. Unlike His Majesty and Xiao Changyan who wanted Bu Shulin dead, they aimed to capture her alive.

“Capture alive?” Shen Xihe’s fine brows furrowed. “What benefit would capturing Alin bring?”

With the Shu South Prince dead, capturing Bu Shulin couldn’t threaten Bu Tuohai. Surely they didn’t think they could make Bu Shulin defect? Without such benefits, what was the point?

“If Prince Bu opposed me, I would also capture her,” Xiao Huayong suggested another possibility. “Only with the real one in my custody could I install a fake to take over the Shu South princedom and military power.”

“Besides His Majesty and Prince Jing, who else wants Shu South’s military power?” Shen Xihe pondered deeply.

Only ambitious princes would dare covet military power. Currently, besides Prince Jing, only Xiao Changmin, Xiao Changzhen, and Xiao Changqing remain…

Xiao Changmin had sent men, so he wouldn’t deploy another group, and his men couldn’t likely escape Xiao Huayong’s notice.

Both Xiao Changzhen and Xiao Changqing were possibilities. Xiao Changzhen appeared uninvolved in power struggles, but his true thoughts remained unknown. His princess consort’s ambitions reached the heavens.

Since Li Yanyan had tried to recruit her two years ago and been rejected, she had followed rules strictly, causing no trouble and avoiding close associations. Shen Xihe didn’t believe she had given up or accepted her fate—she was merely waiting for an opportunity.

Xiao Changqing was even harder for Shen Xihe to judge. After Madam Gu’s death, he seemed to lose his drive, his desire for the throne shifting from certainty to indifference, making no further plans…

“We’ll see—foxes always show their tails,” Xiao Huayong wasn’t anxious to know this person’s purpose. His slender fingers tapped the table lightly. “Compared to that, I’m more curious why Second Brother changed his behavior.”

Shen Xihe’s eyebrows lifted slightly. She remained silent, knowing this couldn’t be Yu Sangning’s influence—she didn’t have such sway over Xiao Changmin. Unless he was trapped in dire straits, he would never heed a mere woman’s counsel.

At that moment in Prince Zhao’s mansion, Xiao Changmin had just received the news, his brows furrowing as he read.

“Your Highness, still no trace of Prince Heir Bu?” a confidant couldn’t help asking.

“The gu poison was placed on the guard near Prince Bu. My men followed the trail toward Qizhou, now heading to Minzhou. Could Prince Bu be seeking refuge in Tubo?” Xiao Changmin was puzzled. “They haven’t caught up yet.”

Bu Shulin didn’t know, and even Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe hadn’t anticipated, that Xiao Changmin had infected Bu Shulin’s trusted guard Yinshan with gu poison.

Bu Shulin frequented brothels owned by Xiao Changmin. Before the night of passion with Cui Jinbai, nothing had been revealed. Yinshan often accompanied Bu Shulin to the brothels and was secretly poisoned. If Bu Shulin hadn’t been the Shu South Prince Heir, requiring regular physician examinations, Xiao Changmin would have targeted Bu Shulin directly.

He settled for Yinshan instead. This gu didn’t harm people, merely living in their bodies. When people ate grains, their waste would carry a scent attracting certain insects that could be tracked.

His men sent to Liangzhou were merely a diversion to avoid suspicion.