Though Gu Qingshu reminded Yu Sangning, even if Yu Sangning didn’t believe Xiao Changying could go to such lengths for Shen Xihe who was already the Crown Prince’s consort, she had to acknowledge that in this world there were those as love-struck as Xiao Changying.

“Ninth Brother is in love with the Crown Prince’s consort?” Xiao Changwen couldn’t help but laugh after speaking, a laugh that suggested he found it utterly absurd.

It wasn’t that he didn’t believe Xiao Changying admired Shen Xihe, but rather, judging by his standards, he couldn’t imagine going to such lengths for mere admiration.

To oppose His Majesty, even secretly, was incredibly audacious!

For a woman, a woman married to another – was it worth it?

In Xiao Changwen’s view, it wasn’t.

With just one glance, Yu Sangning knew what Xiao Changwen was thinking. She felt somewhat uncomfortable. While Yu Sangning looked down on Xiao Changying’s romantic nature, she didn’t envy Shen Xihe but purely admired this unwavering devotion.

Xiao Changwen’s disdain stemmed from his low regard for women. To him, women were merely commodities to be traded!

Maintaining a neutral expression, Yu Sangning said gravely: “Whether Your Highness believes it or not, this is the truth.

The Crown Prince’s consort and the Shen family have laid an inescapable trap at Min River. This is a battle of life and death. Since the Shen family has issued this challenge, they will certainly come with overwhelming force, fully prepared.

The Crown Prince’s consort’s ability to send the Fierce Prince back means she had people following Young Master Bu the whole way. All the men Your Highness sent earlier perished at the hands of the Crown Prince’s consort’s people. Sending more would only result in pointless deaths. Why should Your Highness get involved?”

Seeing Xiao Changwen’s expression turned ugly, Yu Sangning didn’t stop, though she softened her tone somewhat: “If Your Highness is interested, why not remain a spectator this time?

With the Shen family confronting His Majesty, and the Jing Prince involved, the Xin Prince likely won’t stay uninvolved either. This is a heaven-sent opportunity where the snipe and the clam fight each other. Your Highness could benefit as the fisherman.”

Yu Sangning truly had no choice. Telling Xiao Changwen he had no chance of seizing the throne would only antagonize him. If she could peacefully remain a prince’s consort, she naturally wanted to do everything possible to preserve their wealth and status.

These words were somewhat pleasing to Xiao Changwen. If His Majesty hadn’t dangled that sweet promise earlier, Xiao Changwen might have followed Yu Sangning’s suggestion to watch from the sidelines and wait for an opportunity.

However, now he no longer had that choice. His Majesty had given him secret orders. Having just received this command, if he immediately tried to shirk it, he would never gain His Majesty’s favor in this lifetime.

Didn’t Xiao Changyan want to withdraw? To avoid getting involved in the muddy waters of Min River?

Of course, he did, but with Xiao Changying’s “assassination attempt” as precedent, he couldn’t use the same excuse. There was no other way to push aside this heavy burden, so he could only accept it and charge headlong into battle.

This was probably one of the reasons why the Crown Prince’s consort had Xiao Changying severely wounded.

“I will investigate first.” This time, Xiao Changwen didn’t directly reject Yu Sangning’s suggestion, only responding vaguely.

Yu Sangning wanted to say more, but Xiao Changwen had no patience to listen further. How could he tell Yu Sangning about His Majesty’s instructions to him?

Watching Xiao Changwen’s retreating figure, Yu Sangning felt somewhat dejected. Everything had happened too quickly.

If all this had occurred two or three years after her marriage to Xiao Changwen, she would have been confident in her ability to influence him and make him value her every word. However, she and Xiao Changwen hadn’t been married long, and he fundamentally believed men should handle external affairs while women managed internal ones!

Regarding these matters of state, he never thought women should be involved. Thus, even knowing she was clever, he wouldn’t seriously consider her opinions.

With Yu Sangning’s warning, Xiao Changwen didn’t take immediate action. He sent a message to Xiao Changgeng. This time it was Xiao Changgeng who had led his men to intercept Bu Shulin, and they must have clashed with those protecting Bu Shulin. Xiao Changgeng wouldn’t fail to recognize Xiao Changying.

When Xiao Changwen questioned Xiao Changgeng, this matter naturally couldn’t be kept from Xiao Huayong.

Xiao Huayong appeared thoughtful after reading it and sent Xiao Changgeng’s message to Shen Xihe.

Due to both Xiao Changqing and Xiao Huayong’s cover-up, very few people knew about Xiao Changying escorting Bu Shulin.

Even His Majesty didn’t know. Xiao Changyan only knew because Xiao Huayong deliberately let him know. Xiao Changwen couldn’t possibly be more perceptive than His Majesty and Xiao Changyan.

“It was the Zhao Prince’s consort,” Shen Xihe only needed to think briefly to identify the source. “The Zhao Prince’s consort and the Liyang County Lady are close friends.”

Yu Sangning was extremely good at social maneuvering. When she wanted to curry favor with someone, she could turn even enemies into friends – the most typical example being her elder sister Yu Sangzi.

Perhaps in Yu Sangning’s entire life, there was only one person whose favor she failed to win: herself.

Since being granted the title of County Lady, Gu Qingshu had maintained a low profile, rarely socializing except for circling Xiao Changqing. Because all these people had turned their backs on her when the Gu family fell from grace, Yu Sangning was the only peer who hadn’t witnessed the Gu family’s fall from glory to ruin.

Gu Qingshu naturally didn’t dare associate with her, leaving only Yu Sangning. With Yu Sangning deliberately cultivating the friendship, it was hard not to become close confidantes.

“Tianyuan, take this message to Fifth Brother.” Xiao Huayong immediately handed the scroll to Tianyuan.

It was the original document, bearing Xiao Changgeng’s handwriting. He wasn’t afraid of letting Xiao Changqing know that Xiao Changgeng was his man.

He had moved against Xiao Changying, and Xiao Changqing’s reaction had already shown that the brothers were willing to follow the Crown Prince’s lead.

Precisely because of this, Xiao Huayong didn’t want Xiao Changqing to be indecisive, potentially suffering a major setback in the future because of this constantly soft-hearted troublemaker.

Letting him know that Xiao Changgeng was his man served two purposes: first, to make him aware of his strength, and second, to show him the trust he was being given.

Xiao Changqing was analyzing the Min River situation with Xiao Changying when the Eastern Palace’s message arrived, instantly making his face ashen.

Xiao Changying, who had just had his wounds dressed and was half-reclining on the bed, couldn’t help but crane his neck to look, immediately turning pale as well: “I always said she was trouble, still harboring designs on Brother while being a traitor!”

The message only showed Xiao Changgeng asking whether to inform Xiao Changwen that Xiao Changying was the one who had escorted Bu Shulin, without mentioning Gu Qingshu.

But even Xiao Changying, who wasn’t particularly shrewd, could connect the dots. Brother had said he was attacked in the capital, and His Majesty’s furious investigation seemed genuine, proving His Majesty hadn’t realized he was the one escorting Bu Shulin.

Perhaps His Majesty had suspected, but conveniently, two days after the major ambush, he had appeared in the capital, dispelling His Majesty’s doubts. After all, if he hadn’t personally experienced it, he would have found it hard to believe Xiao Huayong’s influence was so vast.

Since even His Majesty hadn’t grown suspicious, how could his second brother, who spent his days in foolish fantasies with little intelligence, harbor doubts?

So how did Xiao Changwen know? There could only be a traitor in their household, a traitor passing information to the Zhao Prince’s manor!

The answer was obvious.

“I won’t keep her anymore.” Xiao Changqing stood up.

With the Eastern Palace’s message delivered, he had to take a stance.