How could Xiao Changyan not know the emperor’s thoughts? How could he not know that if he took this task, victory might bring down the Eastern Palace and let him become the new Crown Prince through the merit of suppressing rebellion, while defeat would make him a criminal who harmed loyal subjects and attempted to disrupt court order?

One step to heaven, one step to hell.

Yet he would still choose to gamble once.

“Imperial power and the yellow springs indeed lead to the same destination,” Shen Yun’an had no ambition. Compared to schemes and plots, he preferred the straightforward battlefield, so he couldn’t understand these people willing to rush toward death for power.

Xiao Huayong smiled at this, then continued: “I’ll handle the Feather Guard. The Golden Tiger Guard will likely be given to Xie Ji that day, and someone will deal with him. Father and Brother need to watch out for the Imperial Guard…”

This trap was orchestrated by Xiao Huayong – how His Majesty would move was largely within his control. He explained everything in detail until the sunset was absorbed by the mountains before Shen Yueshan and his son took their leave.

“Brother, is Qiaoqiao well?” At the Eastern Palace gate, Shen Xihe couldn’t help asking.

When His Majesty dealt with Father years ago, his defeat came from never considering Lady Tao who was about to give birth. How similar was this time to last? Xue Jinqiao was also pregnant, already seven or eight months along – if anything happened, she might give birth early…

“Great-uncle is by her side. She’s not at the prince’s mansion now, but in a safe place awaiting birth,” Shen Yun’an winked at his sister.

How could he let their mother’s tragedy repeat with his wife?

Shen Xihe smiled brightly, watching her father and brother disappear into the deepening night behind the towering palace walls.

Everyone had made all necessary preparations, now waiting for the wedding on the twenty-eighth.

The day before the wedding, the bride-to-be Shen Yingruo came to see Shen Xihe at the Eastern Palace. Though surprised, Shen Xihe still received her.

Shen Yingruo had grown increasingly graceful, with a young woman’s delicate figure. In a goose-yellow gauze dress with a light blue shawl, standing in the colorful garden, she looked especially elegant among the flowers.

“You’re to be married tomorrow, why seek me today?” Shen Xihe raised her hand, indicating no need for formalities.

Shen Yingruo still bowed before standing. Her face showed none of a bride’s joy. She looked at Shen Xihe hesitantly for a while before saying: “Xiao Changfeng saved Prince Jing at Minjiang. Prince Jing returned to the capital to take revenge on His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness is… not well now, isn’t he?”

Shen Xihe raised an eyebrow: “How did you learn this?”

“Prince Jing often visits Prince Xun’s mansion to drink with Xiao Changfeng. I overheard by chance,” Shen Yingruo said.

Shen Xihe lowered her gaze to watch the lotus swaying in the wind: “You’ve forgotten titles, showing your great resentment toward Prince Xun. What? Do you think if he hadn’t saved Prince Jing, the Crown Prince wouldn’t be bedridden as he is now?”

Since Xiao Changyan’s sneak attack, Xiao Huayong had claimed illness, creating an illusion of being mortally ill – though it wasn’t entirely an illusion.

“Isn’t that so?” Shen Yingruo countered.

Shen Xihe shook her head gently: “No.”

Turning to face the incredulous Shen Yingruo, Shen Xihe said: “The Minjiang incident was a contest between me and His Majesty. Both Prince Jing and Prince Xun are subjects following orders – this is public duty.

Prince Jing’s defeat and revenge against us and the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince’s vulnerability to attack – these were our oversights. We can’t blame others. It has nothing to do with your marriage to Prince Xun.”

“How is it unrelated?” Shen Yingruo was angry. They were family, but she couldn’t say this, so she spoke without thinking: “Sister is truly self-controlled and wise, able to hold no grudge even with the Crown Prince so gravely ill. Sister’s magnanimity – I’m but a crude commoner, far beneath you.”

Shen Xihe didn’t mind her anger, knowing it was unintentional. She was just trying hard to be a Shen daughter, united against outsiders.

“The imperial marriage decree cannot be changed. As for revenge for the Crown Prince, we won’t let it rest,” Shen Xihe could only say this much to Shen Yingruo. “Go back now. Prince Xun is loyal to the emperor. If you don’t want to be caught between sides after marriage, just be a good Princess Xun and enjoy your prosperity.”

“I…” Shen Yingruo was speechless.

She knew Shen Xihe spoke for her benefit. Everyone thought her position looked glamorous, but she was just a pitiful creature. Yet whether father, brother, sister, or uncle, none wanted to involve her.

Marrying Prince Xun, she would be the prosperous Princess Xun regardless of which side won.

She also knew her father, brother, and sister didn’t need her help – staying quiet and out of their sight was her best way to repay them. She didn’t want to get close to them, but sometimes she couldn’t ignore certain things.

Indeed, she was always kept outside.

“I’ve disturbed Elder Sister,” Shen Yingruo bowed dejectedly to leave.

As she reached the gate, Shen Xihe suddenly said: “Tomorrow, bring more maids skilled in martial arts.”

Shen Yingruo’s steps faltered. She turned back joyfully but saw only Shen Xihe’s retreating figure. Her smile paused, then brightened again as she lifted her skirts and departed gracefully.

“Your Highness, Second Miss…” Zhenzhu didn’t know what to say about Shen Yingruo.

They hated the Xiao family but couldn’t bring themselves to dislike Shen Yingruo.

Shen Xihe shook her head, unwilling to say more.

She and Shen Yingruo were separated by the Xiao family – not because Shen Xihe couldn’t let go of prejudice or hated by association, but because the Xiaos’ fate was in her hands.

“What brought County Princess Huaiyang to the Eastern Palace?” Xiao Huayong asked when Shen Xihe returned inside.

“It’s quite curious,” Shen Xihe related everything to Xiao Huayong. “I wonder if the drunkenness was real or fake.”

That Shen Yingruo happened to overhear – given Xiao Changyan’s personality, how would he carelessly tell Xiao Changfeng such things?

“It seems tomorrow’s events have Little Eight worried,” Xiao Huayong smiled slightly.

This was a roundabout way to probe, trying to judge from their reaction whether they had noticed or known about tomorrow’s events all along.

But now, with the arrow drawn it must be released. Even if they told Xiao Changyan everything, what could he do? Besides being more careful, could he desert at this point? If he did, His Majesty would be the first to show no mercy!

“Tomorrow…” Shen Xihe didn’t want tomorrow to come. Her gaze moved to rest on Xiao Huayong with urgency and worry. “Tomorrow, you’ll be alright, won’t you?”

Xiao Huayong smiled without answering.

Shen Xihe’s heart sank to the depths.