Xiao Changying was returned to the capital in just two days, with constant changes of carriages and travel day and night. After he was handed over to Xiao Changqin, Xiao Huayong confessed to Shen Xihe: “Little Nine is back, my men brought him back.”

Shen Xihe was making clothes for Xiao Huayong. Though the Crown Prince had an entire Imperial Wardrobe Bureau at his disposal, and Shen Xihe wasn’t the type of virtuous wife confined to domestic duties focused solely on supporting her husband and teaching children, Xiao Huayong never presumed to ask for such things. However, Shen Xihe had a habit of making four seasons’ worth of clothes annually for her father and brothers, and after marrying Xiao Huayong, she never showed favoritism.

Hearing this, her fair fingers holding the needle paused: “Is he injured?”

Though she asked, her tone was matter-of-fact. Since Xiao Changying had involved himself in this matter, he wouldn’t withdraw halfway, even if she tried to stop him. With Xiao Changying’s martial skills, unless Xiao Huayong went himself, it wouldn’t be easy to subdue and forcibly bring him back.

If Xiao Huayong’s men could bring him back and require his men’s escort, he must be injured, and quite seriously at that.

Speaking with intelligent people was particularly easy – they understood with just a hint.

Xiao Huayong’s gaze swept almost imperceptibly over Shen Xihe, seeing her continue her needlework, his lips curving slightly: “Seriously wounded by Eighth Brother’s men. His life isn’t in danger, but he’ll need a month or so to recover.”

Shen Xihe nodded slightly in acknowledgment, saying nothing more, clearly unconcerned with this matter.

However, Xiao Huayong didn’t end the topic there, and while teasing Baisui said: “I led Eighth Brother’s men to ambush him.”

“Terrible, terrible!”

Before Shen Xihe could react, Youyou’s voice rang out. Looking up, she saw Xiao Huayong holding a thin, smoothly polished wooden stick, scratching Baisui’s softest feathers under its belly, making it hop around its perch. However, with one foot chained, it couldn’t escape Xiao Huayong’s tormenting hand.

After watching silently for a while, Shen Xihe asked: “Why?”

She couldn’t immediately understand Xiao Huayong’s reasons for leading Xiao Changyan’s men to ambush Xiao Changying. Was it merely because Xiao Changying had risked his life for her sake?

If Xiao Huayong only minded this point, Xiao Changying wouldn’t have been able to leave the capital at all, let alone get involved in finding Bu Shulin. Xiao Huayong didn’t need Xiao Changying’s help at all – he could ensure Xiao Changying’s safety while also protecting Bu Shulin’s life.

There was also no question of betrayal after using him, waiting until after Xiao Changying helped Bu Shulin to turn on him.

After poking Baisui several more times, watching it flap its wings and cry out: “Youyou deer calls, youyou my heart…”

Once satisfied with its cries, Xiao Huayong put down the wooden stick with a mysterious and pleased smile. Instead of answering Shen Xihe’s question, he suddenly said: “After this battle at Minjiang, His Majesty will surely suspect either that your Shen family is in league with Imperial Uncle, or that I am biding my time.

Either way, it will leave him restless, but different outcomes require different countermeasures.

If it’s the former, he’ll naturally find ways to make your Shen clan seek its destruction as treasonous subjects. If it’s the latter…”

“As Crown Prince’s consort, my father, brothers, and I would all be accomplices in your rebellion,” Shen Xihe finished Xiao Huayong’s thought. “His Majesty wants to know whether you’re lying low or if we Shens have already turned traitor. Minjiang is destined for bloodshed.

However, you’ve already made it clear that Minjiang is a dragon’s pool and tiger’s den. My brother has gone to Minjiang, and His Majesty’s Divine Brave Army is precious – you’ve already cost them many lives. He won’t want to waste more lives needlessly; he needs someone to scout ahead.”

This scout, to discover their true intentions, couldn’t be incompetent. The Second Prince lacked this ability – sending him would be pure suicide, unable to make even a splash, not the result His Majesty wanted.

That left only Xiao Changqin and Xiao Changyan. Xiao Changqin and Xiao Changying were brothers; though Xiao Changqin excelled in both civil and military affairs when it came to leading troops in battle, Xiao Changying was naturally more valiant and unmatched. Together, they would be the best choice.

Xiao Huayong didn’t want Xiao Changqin to go, so he had Xiao Changyan’s men seriously wound Xiao Changying. First, with Xiao Changying seriously injured, His Majesty would favor Xiao Changyan for the battlefield. Second, since Xiao Changying was wounded by Xiao Changyan’s men, Xiao Changqin would certainly push Xiao Changyan to Minjiang with all his might, allowing him to strike hard in revenge for his brother.

“Prince Xin isn’t someone easily fooled.” That Xiao Changqin would so easily believe Xiao Changyan’s ambush of Xiao Changying had nothing to do with Xiao Huayong.

“What if he believes it? What if he doesn’t?” Xiao Huayong was completely unconcerned. “If he can see through my interference, he can understand why I interfered. Compared to becoming His Majesty’s pawn, carrying imperial orders to pacify Minjiang, having to use every means at his disposal, and losing who knows how many followers just to protect himself in Minjiang, Little Nine’s fall is the best choice. He should be grateful to me.”

Shen Xihe couldn’t help but stare at Xiao Huayong. She didn’t consider herself particularly upright and honest, but compared to Xiao Huayong’s shamelessness, she truly had to admit defeat.

“Beichen, no one likes being forced and threatened. Even if Prince Xin knows this benefits him more, he’ll still hate you for forcing him down your arranged path, and you’ve hurt his closest kin.”

If it were her, if Xiao Huayong dared to hurt Shen Yun’an like this, she wouldn’t let it rest. Even if circumstances forced her to endure it this time, she would eventually find an opportunity to make Xiao Huayong pay the price.

“Hahahahaha…” Xiao Huayong laughed heartily, spinning gracefully to sit against the beautiful rest, his posture both elegant and casual. “No matter. If he wants to vent this anger, let him come at me with all he’s got, as long as he can get the better of me.”

From their first meeting until marriage, Shen Xihe had only felt that Xiao Huayong was like his eyes – concentrated silver light, with hidden splendor. Behind the brilliant gleam lay endless darkness. After marriage, she discovered Xiao Huayong’s innate arrogance.

Not baseless overconfidence, but true imperial contempt for all under heaven.

He seemed to have divided her and everyone else in the world into two circles. Except for her, he didn’t take anyone else seriously, his methods domineering and forceful, completely unconcerned whether these people would harbor hatred.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t imagine their hatred – he simply didn’t care.

“Beichen, you had other methods…” She didn’t understand why, when he could have shown grace to Xiao Changqin, he insisted on using suppression.

“Youyou, between the strong and the weak, that’s called showing grace. Between the strong and strong, the other side sees it as assistance, and they’ll always find ways to repay the favor elsewhere. If you want to truly end their thoughts of resistance, it’s not about keeping clear of each other, but making them…”

Xiao Huayong’s smile faded as he forcefully pronounced two words: “Submit!”