“Your Highness, these appear to be Golden Tiger Guard patrols!” The Feather Guard soldiers realized this after the killing, reporting anxiously to Prince Jing on his tall horse.

“Xiao Changyan” remained expressionless: “This prince has received news that the assassins who infiltrated Furong Garden disguised themselves as Imperial Guards and Golden Tiger Guards. These men came so quickly, and as I observed, their expressions were flustered, eyes evasive – surely guilty consciences.”

The reporting general carefully recalled the Golden Tiger Guards’ reactions and, finding them matching “Xiao Changyan’s” description, felt much less uneasy.

Being a rough military man, he didn’t realize this small unit of Golden Tiger Guards had only been startled seeing Prince Jing approach with large numbers of Feather Guard troops, mistakenly believing the Prince was staging a rebellion.

Though military units competed secretly and often had friction, even coming to blows over small disputes, within the system, small matters could be hidden but major movements couldn’t go completely unnoticed.

When had the Feather Guard come under Prince Jing’s command? Moreover, the Feather Guard was stationed outside the capital – even if the signal was sent immediately, how could Prince Jing have gathered troops so quickly, even if he could teleport to the military camp?

And how could they have arrived here so rapidly?

Everything indicated Prince Jing knew about tonight’s assassination attempt beforehand and had slipped away during the wedding banquet to gather troops, enabling him to appear now with so many men.

Who could know of an assassination before it happened except the mastermind?

Emperor Youning had indeed given Xiao Changyan convenience, allowing him to freely bring troops through the city gates. He had truly left Furong Garden before the banquet ended, riding hard to gather the Feather Guard.

The Feather Guard commander had received secret orders and naturally cooperated fully, even preparing in advance.

Thus, bringing troops went extremely smoothly. However, just as they reached Furong Garden’s vicinity, they encountered patrolling Golden Tiger Guards. When questioned, “Xiao Changyan” cited the urgency of saving the emperor and ordered them to make way. The Golden Tiger Guards grew more suspicious and refused to yield…

The Golden Tiger Guards all but directly accused “Xiao Changyan” of plotting treason, while “Xiao Changyan” called them fake assassins, leading to conflict.

“Xiao Changyan’s” men killed the patrol unit of Golden Tiger Guards.

With a wave of his hand, “Xiao Changyan” quickly led his men forward, but as they approached Furong Garden’s main gate, no one expected another group would appear to block them.

“Eighth Brother, what are you trying to do?” Third Prince Xiao Changzhen confronted “Xiao Changyan” at the crossroads.

“Xiao Changyan” narrowed his eyes, glancing at those behind Xiao Changzhen: “Naturally, to save His Majesty.”

“I say you’re here to assassinate!” Xiao Changzhen raged.

Xiao Changzhen’s appearance here with large forces traced back to two days ago when Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong reviewed their entire plan.

“Furong Garden is near the city gate. Given His Majesty’s caution, Prince Jing bringing troops to Furong Garden might be faster than the Golden Tiger Guards and Five Cities Army,” Shen Xihe had said.

They wanted to cause the Golden Tiger Guards and Feather Guard to fight each other. To truly oppose His Majesty with military force, no one in the capital currently had such power.

His Majesty wasn’t a tyrant – on the contrary, he could be called an enlightened ruler. Trying to turn several military units against him was impossible!

This was also His Majesty’s confidence in moving against the Shen father and sons in the capital.

If they couldn’t prevent the Feather Guard and Golden Tiger Guards from joining forces to quell this “rebellion,” their people likely wouldn’t prevail. If His Majesty settled matters early, making him swallow this bitter pill wouldn’t be easy!

Xiao Huayong also fell into deep thought.

The military, especially the capital’s forces, was under His Majesty’s absolute control alone.

They couldn’t lose the public opinion battle. If they didn’t want the Shen family’s complete loyalty to be eternally defamed, they couldn’t directly confront His Majesty with real force.

“There is one person…”

“Not suitable.” The telepathy between husband and wife lets Xiao Huayong know who she means.

Prince Lie Xiao Changying – few princes in the capital could command troops. Each prince had a guard unit, but these were limited in number, similar to household guards, just higher-ranked for princes.

To truly gather large forces in the capital, besides His Majesty’s authorization, only military positions could do so. Among princes, there had been Xiao Changyan and Xiao Changying before; now only Xiao Changying remained.

Though Xiao Changying and Xiao Changqing had tacitly allied with them, involving Xiao Changying in this matter could drag him into trouble. Since they were all in the same boat, Shen Xihe had no reason to use their people when better options existed.

“Who does Youyou want to use?” Xiao Huayong asked.

“Wouldn’t the Third Prince be good?” Shen Xihe countered.

Xiao Huayong didn’t have a strong impression of this strict brother who never got involved in anything, daily performing his duties like a puppet, making no mistakes and seeking no glory.

However, Xiao Changzhen had served in the Imperial Guard. Though his position wasn’t high, his noble status and lack of scheming had won the military men’s approval. Though he rarely visited, these guards quite respected him.

“Third Brother never involves himself in matters, doesn’t form factions or seek private gain. He’s wholly loyal to His Majesty. Getting him involved without His Majesty knowing won’t be easy,” Xiao Huayong said.

“Third Sister-in-law will help us,” Shen Xihe smiled mysteriously.

That year when Li Yanyan sought alliance, Shen Xihe knew she was someone with sky-high ambitions but a paper-thin fate. She had ambition but not matching capability. Or perhaps she had no ambition, just couldn’t bear seeing His Majesty, her enemy, high above.

She might have feelings for Xiao Changzhen, yet tormented because he is the son of her country’s destroyer.

She might want to die loyally by suicide, yet knew those former officials depending on her survival had their honor resting on her alone.

She hated everything – she couldn’t even seek death!

“Third Princess Consort?” Xiao Huayong chuckled softly, “Youyou has a clever plan.”

“She wants the Third Prince to receive glory and important tasks from His Majesty like Prince Lie and the former Prince Jing, to better execute her schemes.”

However, Xiao Huatai and Li Yanyan’s previous plot had been thwarted by Xiao Huayong. Afterward, the Third Prince was stripped of his title, and the couple had stayed quiet these two years, only seen at family feasts, rarely otherwise.

But Shen Xihe deeply believed Li Yanyan’s restless heart wouldn’t stay peaceful.

Given the chance, she wouldn’t let it pass.

“We just need to inform her that Prince Jing will rebel and attempt assassination tomorrow, and everything will fall into place naturally,” Shen Xihe’s casual manner belied complete confidence. “The timing must be chosen well – send word to her tomorrow afternoon. She’ll surely tell the Third Prince. You should keep the Third Prince from seeing His Majesty at noon – that shouldn’t be difficult.”