After everyone had dispersed, Shen Yun’an pulled Shen Twenty-seven aside to discuss plans.

Bu Shulin certainly wouldn’t be returning anytime soon, and Xiao Wenxi was in the capital nurturing her pregnancy. As she was the daughter of Princess Imperial Ruyang, once Shen Twenty-seven safely returned to the Shu South Prince’s manor, Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong would arrange for Xiao Wenxi to reach Shu South safely.

Shen Xihe intended that once Shen Twenty-seven returned to Shu South, he should use mourning as an excuse to live in seclusion. No matter what major events occurred in Shu or the surrounding areas, he shouldn’t get involved. Everything would be planned by her and the Crown Prince.

“We’ll depart in three days. Find a way to secretly travel east with me. Remember to keep it hidden from others, making them believe you’ve truly boarded the westbound ship,” Shen Yun’an instructed.

“But Young Master just now…” Shen Twenty-seven was surprised. Wasn’t this the plan told to Yu Xiang? Would there be no problems if they followed the Young Master while so openly telling Yu Xiang?

“What was said earlier, true and false, was meant for those who needed to hear it,” Shen Yun’an’s smile was mysterious. “Mo Yao by my side has already become Prince Jing’s ears, and your people were in Prince Jing’s hands yesterday and last night. For safety’s sake, he might use the same trick again.”

Therefore, none of Shen Twenty-seven’s people could be trusted anymore… Shen Yun’an wouldn’t entrust him to the protection of his people. Even if these people couldn’t communicate with Xiao Changyan anymore, they might still lose their senses at a crucial moment and turn their blades on Shen Twenty-seven!

Only by following him could Shen Twenty-seven be safe!

Of course, there was also the possibility that Shen Twenty-seven had been manipulated, but from now on, he wouldn’t leave Shen Yun’an’s sight, leaving no chance for Xiao Changyan’s people to make him lose his senses!

“But if I travel with the Young Master, and Prince Jing believes the news Yu Xiang delivered, wouldn’t we be walking into a trap?” Shen Twenty-seven expressed some concern.

Traveling east was already unobstructed. If they went west, they could use the terrain to their advantage and perhaps have a chance to escape. Going east, if Prince Jing blocked their path with his troops, they wouldn’t even have a chance to fight their way out with their backs against the wall.

“That’s precisely why Prince Jing won’t go east,” Shen Yun’an stated with absolute certainty. “Not to mention that Prince Jing has Mo Yao by his side, whom he firmly trusts without realizing I’m aware of it. Even if he doesn’t completely trust Mo Yao, he won’t believe I would brazenly walk toward my death.

This is what the Crown Princess meant by ‘too clever for one’s good.'”

When dealing with someone as suspicious and clever as Xiao Changyan, one shouldn’t take the ordinary path, but rather the path he wouldn’t believe in!

Before they even rescued them, Shen Yun’an had privately told Mo Yao that he would share the plan with everyone. The real plan wasn’t meant for Yu Xiang, nor was it to deceive Yu Xiang – it was a third option: he would follow Young Master Bu westward.

If they could deceive the enemy this way, excellent; if not, they could still use the terrain to escape. However, this was told to Mo Yao to be passed on to Xiao Changyan, fitting the crafty image Xiao Changyan had of him. He deliberately delayed for two days under the pretense of making arrangements, actually giving Xiao Changyan time to investigate the reef.

To further convince Xiao Changyan, he made him believe he would follow Young Master Bu westward. No one would expect that he would “trust” Yu Xiang so completely – the real plan was for Shen Twenty-seven to travel east with him!

The western route was Shen Yun’an’s gift to Xiao Changyan – a death trap for his entire army, and it wasn’t just about the reef!

Everything happened as Shen Yun’an predicted. His plan was immediately given to Yu Xiang, who took it straight to Xiao Changyan. After reading it, Xiao Changyan’s expression was unreadable: “What does General Yu think?”

Given the gravity of the situation, Yu Xiang didn’t dare be too presumptuous and chose his words carefully: “Your Highness, Young Master Shen has rescued Young Master Bu.”

The successful rescue was because he had provided reliable information in advance. Yu Xiang subtly expressed that Shen Yun’an trusted him greatly, so the letter was credible.

Xiao Changyan did not comment, carefully folding the letter along its original creases and placing it back in the envelope: “Has General Yu considered what would happen if Young Master Shen is using you to create a false front while doing the opposite?”

Shen Yun’an had told Yu Xiang that he would take Bu Shulin east, asking Yu Xiang to request permission to intercept them from the east, opening a convenient path for him.

However, the information Xiao Changyan received from Mo Yao was different – this was just Shen Yun’an using Yu Xiang, aiming to trick him into intercepting from the east.

Yes, the East!

Both Shen Yun’an and Xiao Changyan knew that his primary target was never Bu Shulin, but Shen Yun’an!

That’s why Shen Yun’an so casually said he would cover Bu Shulin’s eastward journey.

Their real plan was for Bu Shulin to head west, with Shen Yun’an following behind. Even if he didn’t fall for it and still pursued them to the west, they could use the geographical advantage to shake him off. Once they entered Shu territory and Bu Shulin revealed his identity, no matter what tactics he had, he would have to give up.

“This…” Yu Xiang was uneasy. He had experienced Shen Yun’an’s craftiness firsthand, and couldn’t be certain whether Shen Yun’an trusted him or not. “Your Highness, whether it’s true or false, I can only request Your Highness’s wise judgment. This humble servant will follow your commands.”

Yu Xiang wasn’t shirking responsibility; he simply couldn’t and wasn’t qualified to bear it.

Yu Xiang’s cautious attitude didn’t anger Xiao Changyan. He waved his hand: “You may withdraw. Let me think this through carefully.”

Yu Xiang obeyed and left. Xiao Changyan stood at the ship’s bow, gazing at the rippling river, lost in thought. After an unknown time, a small boat arrived, and his advisor Tiban jumped onto the large ship, striding toward Xiao Changyan. After paying his respects, he said: “Your Highness, shall this subordinate take some men to scout the western route first?”

He had already gathered information from fishermen and merchants who had traveled this route. Most said there were no reefs, while a few were ambiguous.

Since Shen Yun’an planned to move at night and needed time to prepare, they had time to investigate.

Xiao Changyan fingered his ring, and after a moment said: “Be careful.”

The advisor bowed again and immediately selected men to accompany him on the investigation.

Xiao Changyan watched Shen Yun’an’s every move, who was indeed busy preparing for nighttime travel.

A day later, the advisor returned: “Your Highness, there are indeed reefs, very hidden. If we hadn’t known to look for them, this subordinate might not have found them!”

Xiao Changyan’s gaze fixed: “Order Yu Xiang to take two hundred men to intercept from the east. The rest will follow me west!”