How could Shen Xihe not understand these principles?

She had always thought she could remain calm in life-or-death games, accepting either survival or death, victory or defeat with equanimity.

But now, it wasn’t that she couldn’t accept it or was a sore loser – she simply couldn’t control her emotions. Just thinking about how even their final time together had been suddenly shortened made her want to tear the culprit into ten thousand pieces!

It turned out she was merely human after all, with the same seven emotions and six desires as everyone else.

“I must ensure he dies without a burial place!”

“All right, we’ll make sure he dies without a burial place.” Xiao Huayong agreed with Shen Xihe, taking her hand and gently rubbing it between his palms. “But Youyou, let me avenge my grudge myself.”

Shen Xihe looked at him. He wasn’t joking – there was only seriousness in his gentle tone.

She very much wanted to tear Xiao Changyan to pieces herself, but she knew this was just her way of venting. Comparatively, Xiao Huayong would find more satisfaction in avenging himself.

Just as she would prefer to avenge her grudges…

“All right.” Shen Xihe conceded.

“Just rest assured, Youyou. I will fulfill your wish.” A shallow smile rippled across Xiao Huayong’s tender gaze, though it didn’t reach his eyes.

Shen Xihe pressed her lips together: “Revenge is enough.”

Xiao Changyan was a prince. Even if someone ground his bones to dust outside, His Majesty would still build him a cenotaph. Even for Xiao Changtai who was stripped of his royal status, His Majesty didn’t prevent the Ye family from burying him with Ye Wantang.

For Xiao Changmin who was convicted of treason and given poisoned wine, though His Majesty didn’t bury him in the imperial tombs, he still ordered a place found to inter him.

How difficult it would be to make a royal noble die without burial – it was just words spoken in anger. Shen Xihe didn’t want to make things difficult for Xiao Huayong.

Xiao Huayong just smiled, his hand resting again on Shen Xihe’s abdomen, where their flesh and blood were growing.

Originally he thought he could at least see the child’s birth, but now he couldn’t even catch a glimpse, nor be by her side during delivery to shield her from the most dangerous storms.

Perhaps in this lifetime, he would never have the fate to see this child even once.

Thinking of this, Xiao Huayong felt that letting Xiao Changyan die without burial was too lenient!

Earlier, he had taken A’le to look at Xiao Changyan from afar. A’le confirmed he had met Xiao Changyan before, and Xiao Changyan himself admitted this was his doing.

Although they still couldn’t determine when and where he had used techniques on A’le, Xiao Huayong no longer had time to investigate these details.

Xiao Huayong took Shen Xihe back to the Eastern Palace. Xiao Changyan knew Shen Xihe wouldn’t let matters rest and remained constantly vigilant, but Shen Xihe seemed to have forgotten him, showing no signs of taking action.

In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince’s condition worsened daily. Even Emperor Youning, who had developed deep suspicions about the Crown Prince, began to waver in his doubts.

But somehow, rumors spread both inside and outside the palace that the imperial physicians had diagnosed Shen Xihe’s child as male – a legitimate imperial grandson.

Meanwhile, war broke out again in the Northwest. Mongol, Turkic, and Khitan forces formed a massive army, gathering a million troops to invade. Shen Yueshan personally led the army while Shen Yunnan guarded the rear.

This war came mysteriously – no one knew the reason. But the Northwest was essentially self-governing. After reporting to the court, they needed neither troops nor supplies from the capital. The Northwest King could engage the enemy with one wave of his hand.

Everyone thought this would be a prolonged war of at least half a year to a year, but victory reports kept arriving from the front.

With daily reports of victory, those in court had various thoughts. His Majesty’s show of joy became increasingly forced, until half a month later, news came that the Northwest King was wounded on the battlefield, making the atmosphere even more delicate.

“Don’t worry, this was planned between me and your father. Next, your brother will take the stage,” Xiao Huayong hurried to reassure Shen Xihe, somewhat helplessly.

Her father’s skills hadn’t diminished with age – he had achieved victories faster than they had anticipated before he could even inform Youyou.

“What exactly are you planning?” Shen Xihe stared at Xiao Huayong probingly.

These past two weeks, they had been virtually inseparable. Xiao Huayong had stopped attending court due to illness, spending each day speaking romantic nothings to her, as if he had suddenly lost all ambition, not caring about great endeavors at all.

“Let me keep this secret. In half a month, Youyou will naturally know.” Xiao Huayong smiled meaningfully, clearly intent on keeping Shen Xihe in suspense.

That roguish look, with eyes, curved as he gazed at Shen Xihe.

Shen Xihe gave him a blank look, let out a light snort, and turned away, ignoring him.

Xiao Huayong quickly grasped her shoulders: “Did he move for you today?”

Two days ago, when Xiao Huayong was chattering endlessly against Shen Xihe’s abdomen, perhaps the child inside found his father too talkative and moved once.

At that time, the wise and mighty Crown Prince was so shocked his lips parted and his already large eyes grew even wider, wearing an expression of utter amazement. Even now, Shen Xihe couldn’t help but smile at the memory.

Since then, Xiao Huayong had made this his joy, constantly pestering Shen Xihe to talk with the child in her womb, speaking for an hour or two at a time.

However, the child seemed to be proud – after moving that one time, it remained perfectly still, greatly disappointing Xiao Huayong.

Hearing his question, Shen Xihe knew he was about to start chattering again. She cooperatively found a place to sit, preparing herself and the child to listen to his lecture.

“My and Youyou’s little Junsu, in the future you must care deeply for your mother…”

“Junsu?” Before Xiao Huayong could continue his speech, Shen Xihe interrupted him with a questioning look.

Was it the characters she was thinking of?

Xiao Huayong nodded firmly: “The name I’ve chosen for our child.”

“Will His Majesty allow it?” Shen Xihe felt the Emperor wouldn’t agree.

Jun carried implications of state affairs, and Junsu together could suggest one who controls state matters.

Unless by the time she gave birth, His Majesty had already… otherwise, His Majesty had the right to bestow a name over their wishes.

“For our flesh and blood, only you and I have the right to name him.” Xiao Huayong smiled faintly.

His Majesty had no right!

“Trust me, His Majesty will agree to the name I’ve chosen for the child.”

Shen Xihe felt Xiao Huayong was planning something earth-shattering. She covered his hand on her abdomen: “Beichen, don’t be too hasty. I trust you can do what others cannot. Please also trust that I can accomplish what others cannot.”

“Of course I trust Youyou. This is just something done in passing, not forcing matters.” Xiao Huayong smiled at Shen Xihe, crouching before her. “Youyou, I’m just giving Little Eight a taste of his own medicine, and making use of His Majesty in passing.”

Shen Xihe was half-believing, half-doubting, but knew he was unwilling to say more. Further questioning would only make things difficult for him, so she stopped asking.

Their time together grew shorter by the day. She didn’t want to argue with him or waste time. Better to let him have his way.