“Youyou!” When the soup splashed onto Shen Xihe’s hand, Xiao Huayong hastily dropped his bowl and grabbed her hand, immediately using his sleeve to wipe it clean.

Fortunately, the soup wasn’t too hot and hadn’t caused injury, though due to her delicate skin, it still turned somewhat red. Xiao Huayong looked at it with concern and led her to a side chamber, retrieving burn medicine to apply to her hand.

Shen Xihe allowed him to tend to her without saying a word. She just stared at him with blank eyes, as if in a trance, never looking away.

After finishing with the medicine, Xiao Huayong looked up and suddenly met her empty, soul-lost gaze. His heart seized, and he opened his arms to embrace her.

With his cheek against her hair, he murmured: “I’m sorry, Youyou. I’ve wronged you.”

Shen Xihe remained motionless like a wooden doll for a moment before coming to her senses. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately couldn’t utter a single word.

She only burrowed deeper into his embrace, pressing closer to feel his breath and warmth…

In the soundless silence, every breath made Xiao Huayong’s heart tremble with fear. He didn’t know what he should say to her at this moment.

After a very long time, Shen Xihe finally spoke, her voice hoarse and bitter: “Who was it?”

Who had plotted against him?

Who had forcibly torn him away from her side for half a year!

She didn’t speak through gritted teeth or with hatred. It seemed like she had asked “Who was it” in a calm and flat tone, but Xiao Huayong, holding her, could feel her entire body tense up, like a wild beast preparing to pounce and tear apart its mortal enemy.

“The evidence points to Little Eight, but I have my doubts…” Xiao Huayong shared his suspicions.

Even with such anger in her heart, Shen Xihe maintained her rationality. She felt Xiao Huayong’s doubts were correct: “Why would he betray his former master? Unless his true master was never Xiao Changyan!”

“This point has been thoroughly investigated by both local authorities and the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry has its methods of interrogation – even the Emperor’s elite troops would confess under their questioning,” Xiao Huayong acknowledged his subordinates’ capabilities. “Almost no one can lie while in the Ministry’s hands.”

If the Ministry of Justice presented it, it must be verified as truth. So Xiao Changyan’s advisor hadn’t lied – perhaps they were overthinking things?

“Maybe Little Eight did use A’le to harm me. He now hates us both deeply. According to his advisor’s confession, he should be able to recognize A’le if he sees him, since he knew early on that I had been poisoned,” Xiao Huayong wasn’t certain about the situation anymore.

“Xiao Changyan is our enemy, but I won’t wrongly accuse him. I absolutely won’t let the person who harmed you roam free, nor will I wrongly blame an innocent person!” Shen Xihe’s usually calm and composed eyes filled with ruthlessness. “Since we’re not certain if it was his doing, why not ask him directly!”

Instead of probing or guessing, Shen Xihe directly arranged to meet with Xiao Changyan.

It happened that Shen Yingruo and Xiao Changfeng’s wedding was approaching. Xiao Changyan owed Xiao Changfeng for saving his life twice, and now that he held no official position, he often visited Xiao Changfeng’s mansion. Shen Xihe arranged to meet Xiao Changyan at the Shen residence.

Xiao Changyan accepted the invitation and came. Seeing Shen Xihe waiting alone in the pavilion with all the attendants dismissed, he was somewhat surprised: “The Crown Princess has invited this prince here and dismissed all others. What private matters could there be to discuss between us?”

His current situation was all thanks to Shen Yunnan, who had acted on Shen Xihe’s orders. They were now mortal enemies.

Shen Xihe looked at Xiao Changyan coldly, neither inviting him to sit nor ordering tea and refreshments. Though there was no obvious hostility, their civility came from their cultivation and composure, not from any need for pleasantries.

“Prince Jing, revenge should be directed at its proper target. If Your Highness seeks revenge, come at me – the Minjiang incident had nothing to do with the Crown Prince,” Shen Xihe got straight to the point.

Xiao Changyan fingered his ring, letting out a light laugh: “Everyone says the Crown Princess is deep and calculating, that she married into the Eastern Palace with grand schemes. How could mere romance constrain a woman who only cares for power and ambition? So, it turns out the Crown Princess cares for the Crown Prince?”

Having seemingly mocked Shen Xihe, Xiao Changyan’s expression lightened considerably: “The Crown Prince and Princess are one. Without the Crown Prince, what foundation would the Crown Princess have for her schemes? What right would she have to compete with us dragons and phoenixes?

From the moment you became Crown Princess, the Crown Prince was already drawn into your game. Life and death are fated, winners become kings and losers become outlaws – no one else can be blamed!

I wouldn’t have thought a woman of your capability would naively suggest anyone could stay uninvolved!”

Xiao Changyan’s words weren’t wrong. Xiao Huayong was already involved. Even if he had truly been nothing but Shen Xihe’s stepping stone from beginning to end, he couldn’t be called innocent. Shen Xihe just wanted to confirm if he was the one who had harmed Xiao Huayong!

“So you’re saying that after the Minjiang campaign, Prince Jing lost troops and suffered disgrace! You hated me intensely but had no way to take revenge, so you vented your hatred on the Crown Prince instead.

You knew the Crown Prince was poisoned, so you targeted those treating him, making them secretly harm the Crown Prince!” Shen Xihe’s cold gaze contained killing intent!

But Xiao Changyan showed no fear. Instead, he sat down casually, watching Shen Xihe’s anger with satisfaction, feeling somewhat pleased: “Why is the Crown Princess so angry? When I returned to the capital from Minjiang like a stray dog, did I bare my teeth at the Crown Princess?

Victory and defeat are common in warfare. You can’t only allow the Crown Princess to calculate against others, leaving them with nothing or destroying their families completely, while not allowing others to strike back at the Crown Princess?

Wait until the Crown Princess achieves her desires and controls the world before being so dictatorial and domineering.”

Shen Xihe had no desire to argue with Xiao Changyan. She stared at him steadily: “I’ll ask one more time – did you use soul-controlling techniques to order those treating the Crown Prince to poison his medicine?”

Xiao Changyan’s smile faded, and he stared back at Shen Xihe expressionlessly: “It seems it was successful. The Crown Prince, who was already not long for this world, appears to have even fewer days left.”

Shen Xihe suddenly stood up, looking down at Xiao Changyan coldly: “It’s good that Prince Jing admits it!”

Leaving these words behind, Shen Xihe turned and left. She didn’t want to look at Xiao Changyan anymore, afraid she might lose control and do something unwise.

She was carrying a child – she couldn’t be impulsive or get angry!

“Youyou, he’s not worth getting angry over!” Xiao Huayong strode forward to meet the returning Shen Xihe.

Seeing her dark expression, forcefully suppressing her anger, he comforted her with concern: “In life-and-death struggles, falling for traps simply means being outmatched – we should accept the stakes we agreed to.”