Originally this matter had reached its conclusion and could be considered settled. Yet no one expected that His Majesty would imprison that person in the Court of Imperial Clan. That night, His Majesty personally visited the Court, and upon returning to the palace, secretly summoned the Imperial Physician.
“Beichen, you’re forcing His Majesty’s hand,” Shen Xihe said after hearing the news, turning to fix her gaze intently on Xiao Huayong.
Despite the scorching summer heat, he wore a light fur robe while sitting beside the brazier. The fragrant charcoal glowed red, reflecting on his face that had grown so pale it seemed almost transparent. Shen Xihe felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest and turned away.
“I promised the Princess Imperial that I would safely return the Princess Consort of Shunan to her residence,” Xiao Huayong said, catching Shen Xihe’s gaze. He curled his fingers slightly as if wanting to move away from the fire, unconsciously making a gesture that only drew more attention to what he was trying to hide.
Shen Xihe’s eyes remained fixed on his face. The assassination attempt on His Majesty at this time wasn’t simply about creating chaos to prevent him from interfering with Xiao Wenxi’s departure for Shunan. He was planning something more far-reaching, yet hadn’t been honest with her about it…
As if not noticing the determined look of wanting to get to the bottom of things in Shen Xihe’s eyes, Xiao Huayong said with a smile: “Regarding Second Brother’s matter, His Majesty will inevitably harbor suspicions about you. Tomorrow we shall summon the Imperial Physician to check your pulse.”
This meant announcing Shen Xihe’s pregnancy to everyone. She was already three months along, past the most dangerous period. It was time to announce it – continuing to hide it might give others grounds to cause trouble once they discovered it.
Setting up Xiao Changmin would inevitably leave traces no matter what, so Xiao Huayong simply decided to make it clear to everyone that someone was indeed controlling things from behind the scenes. This wouldn’t diminish Xiao Changmin’s unforgivable crimes.
Whether they tried to conceal it or openly showed someone was pulling strings from behind, His Majesty would only suspect the Eastern Palace – perhaps Shen Xihe, or perhaps both Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong. Suspicion of Shen Xihe was unavoidable.
This was because there were few left who could and would move against Xiao Changmin: the Eastern Palace was one, Xiao Changqin another. Xiao Changyan’s fate remained uncertain in Minjiang, Xiao Changzhen never showed his hand, and his slightly disloyal Princess Consort didn’t have Shen Xihe’s vast connections.
The only other possibility was Xiao Changgeng, but if he had wanted to harm Xiao Changmin, the latter wouldn’t have returned alive. There was no need to bring him back just to create trouble unless the plan was to kill multiple birds with one stone by harming Xiao Changmin and framing the Eastern Palace.
While this possibility existed, Emperor Youning wouldn’t readily believe it.
“Even though my pregnancy prevents His Majesty from acting rashly, he won’t let this go,” Shen Xihe said.
Her pregnancy meant His Majesty wouldn’t make minor moves or attempt small tests or punishments. This was forcing His Majesty into a final confrontation with them.
“Minjiang claimed thousands of His Majesty’s Divine Warrior Army, at least half of them. Now His Majesty has been assassinated and poisoned. He won’t play games with us anymore.” The emperor’s rage had reached its peak – a sleeping tiger repeatedly disturbed from its slumber wouldn’t easily let things pass.
“Poisoned!” Shen Xihe knew the Emperor’s impersonator harbored hatred for him, and that Xiao Huayong had given him a chance to get close to His Majesty. Success depended on the man himself, but she hadn’t expected him to be able to carry poison so close to His Majesty!
Xiao Huayong’s smile deepened.
At this moment, His Majesty likely didn’t know how to handle such a person, who had someone plotting behind him. With no clues from investigating Xiao Changmin and Yu Sangning, they could only work on this man, who might know who moved him from the pleasure house to the estate.
Of course, Emperor Youning needn’t personally conduct the interrogation, but this man not only looked identical to His Majesty but also knew some of His Majesty’s secret past. As long as he rambled about these things in his deranged state and word reached His Majesty’s ears, His Majesty would surely go to see him.
His Majesty had ultimately not escaped matters of the heart. Just some news about a loved one who had been married off to Tibet had caused His Majesty to lower his guard, giving the other party their chance.
“His Majesty’s injuries aren’t severe,” Xiao Huayong added.
No matter how careless Emperor Youning might be, he was surrounded by experts, with the Embroidered Uniform Guard commander following like a shadow. It was only a superficial wound, but that was enough.
Xiao Huayong hadn’t used instantly lethal poison. The tiny poisoned needle hidden in the man’s mouth – if it had been lethal poison, the man would have died before His Majesty arrived. Though this poison wouldn’t kill immediately, it was extremely difficult to cure, and would only worsen His Majesty’s condition already compromised by the ink poison.
People never know what desperate acts they’re capable of until pushed to the brink.
Xiao Huayong had never thought deeply about it before, but as his body grew increasingly cold and fearful of chills, after preparing for the worst, he began to think more.
His Majesty had a thorn in his heart – the Northwestern King Shen Yueshan. This thorn would have to be removed sooner or later. He didn’t want His Majesty to act while he wasn’t present, and regardless of whether Shen Xihe could handle it, he didn’t want her to face it alone.
Since it was like a fishbone stuck in the throat, better to help His Majesty deal with it early – either spit it out or swallow it down!
“Beichen…”
“You focus on taking care of the pregnancy. Leave the rest to me,” Xiao Huayong interrupted Shen Xihe’s words with a smile of utmost gentleness.
She knew he was doing everything for her sake, but Shen Xihe’s heart ached for him. How she wished they could stop concerning themselves with everything else and spend his final days free from turmoil, enjoying peaceful moments just the three of them.
But caught in this whirlpool, that was undoubtedly wishful thinking. Some things wouldn’t stop just because they wanted to call a halt to give themselves time.
Shen Xihe didn’t want to argue with him further. Some arguments would only spoil the atmosphere and time they had together while changing nothing in the end.
Emperor Youning returned to the Hall of Diligent Government. The Imperial Physician diagnosed that he had been poisoned, and the poison had infiltrated his body. Not only was the poison difficult to cure, but the damage to his body would also be hard to repair.
He immediately issued an order to execute that man, but before the decree could be delivered, the Court of the Imperial Clan reported that the man had already died.
At the same time, a cup of poisoned wine was delivered to the Court of the Imperial Clan, sending Xiao Changmin to his death.
Xiao Changmin had raised an “Emperor” – everyone knew about it. His Majesty couldn’t protect him even if he wanted to. Especially with conclusive evidence leaving no room for doubt, if Emperor Youning didn’t deal with Xiao Changmin tonight, the Censorate would submit a joint memorial tomorrow.
Moreover, those waiting for Xiao Changmin’s permanent departure to divide up everything that had belonged to him wouldn’t remain idle.
How many dark secrets were involved in running the pleasure house? How many people suspected Xiao Changmin of using the pleasure house to gather leverage against them? These people would all rise in attack. If he wasn’t dealt with now, by tomorrow it wouldn’t end with just Xiao Changmin’s death.