The already intense battle situation became even more severe, though “Xiao Longyan” brought forces from all directions. While these forces remained wary of each other, it didn’t prevent them from temporarily uniting against their common enemy, and the skilled assassins were quickly suppressed.

“Xiao Longyan” advanced almost unimpeded to Emperor Youning’s side, turning to hold his sword horizontally in front of the emperor.

Before Emperor Youning could distinguish true from false, he began to ask, “Why did you arrive so late…”

“Your Majesty, be careful!”

Before Emperor Youning could finish speaking, he was suddenly pushed aside. When he turned around, he saw “Xiao Longyan,” who had been facing away from him, thrust his sword backward, piercing into Xiao Huayong’s body.

The two brothers maintained their back-to-back stance, the sword penetrating through Xiao Huayong’s back, its tip dripping with blood.

Had Xiao Huayong not pushed him away, that sword would have certainly pierced through his vital organs.

Emperor Youning was the first to react, stepping past Xiao Huayong to kick “Xiao Longyan” away.

This sudden turn of events caught everyone in the great hall off guard. As “Xiao Longyan” fell, he rolled toward the window and fled.

“Capture Prince Jing!” Shen Yueshan’s shout finally snapped everyone back to their senses. The assassins began retreating, and the palace guards rushed out to pursue “Xiao Longyan.”

“Seventh Brother!” Emperor Youning supported Xiao Huayong, his expression complex. “Imperial Physician!”

Though he had several suspects in mind, with Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe being the primary ones, now he was uncertain again.

The Imperial Physician-in-Chief and Deputy Imperial Physician stumbled forward, crawling to examine the Crown Prince’s pulse. Their hearts sank immediately, and both turned pale.

The Imperial Physician-in-Chief forced himself to speak: “Your Majesty… the sword… was poisoned. The poison is extremely potent, Your Highness…”

The physicians prostrated themselves, unable to finish their words, but everyone understood their meaning.

At this moment, Shen Xihe lost all her usual grace and dignity. She pushed past everyone to see Xiao Huayong lying in Emperor Youning’s arms.

Without sobbing or choking up, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

She nearly collapsed, but Mo Yu quickly caught her, supporting her and protecting her belly as she slowly knelt beside Xiao Huayong.

Xiao Huayong gripped her hand tightly, gazing at her longingly and deeply. His glass-like eyes remained gentle as spring water. After carefully studying her for a while, Xiao Huayong turned to Emperor Youning: “Your Majesty… for the child in Youyou’s womb… I wish to name them Junsu… would that be acceptable?”

Xiao Huayong had thought it through carefully. Once he departed, His Majesty could establish a new Crown Prince, so he had to block His Majesty’s path to appointing another heir!

What could be more appropriate than the Crown Prince dying to save His Majesty? His “death” before everyone’s eyes would also make it easier to slip away unnoticed.

This “death” would dispel all His Majesty’s suspicions about him. His Majesty would be indebted to Shen Xihe, to the Eastern Palace, and his offspring!

In the future, unless they could prove Shen Xihe’s treason, His Majesty couldn’t move against her without facing universal condemnation!

He had promised to pave all roads for her.

The name “Junsu” carried deep meaning. Had he suggested it under normal circumstances, the Censorate would likely have accused him of harboring treasonous thoughts.

But at this moment, no one could find fault – he was merely trying to protect a widow and orphan!

How difficult would life be for an Eastern Palace consort without her husband, for an Eastern Palace heir without a father?

Without the right to succession, they would inevitably become thorns in the new emperor’s side.

As a son, sacrificing himself to save his father in a moment of mortal danger showed great filial piety.

As a subject, giving his life to protect his sovereign in a critical moment demonstrated great righteousness.

As a husband and father, no one could criticize his desire to make final arrangements for his wife and child.

Emperor Youning turned to look at Shen Xihe, who wept silently with tears streaming down her face. At this moment, he wanted to see through this Shen woman completely, to understand what power she held that made his son willing to die to benefit her!

“Your Majesty… *cough* *cough*…” Xiao Huayong seemed to be holding on with his last breath, both pleading and stubborn, “I beg… Your Majesty… to grant this.”

These words seemed to drain Xiao Huayong of all his remaining strength, his entire being turning ashen.

Yet he struggled to look at His Majesty, the pleading in his eyes growing increasingly unfocused.

“Your Majesty, why do you still hesitate? Do you want Seventh Brother to die with regrets?” the Empress Dowager cried out.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has always been filial, brotherly, loyal, and trustworthy. He has never asked anything of Your Majesty before. Please grant the Crown Prince’s final wish!” Tao Zhuanxian was the first to support Xiao Huayong.

Others, whether seeing potential benefit or truly moved by Xiao Huayong’s actions, began to agree.

“Very well.” Emperor Youning agreed immediately, “Whether the Crown Prince Consort bears a son or daughter, the child shall be named Junsu.”

As if having achieved his wish and let go of his obsession, Xiao Huayong’s body went limp. He gently caressed Shen Xihe’s hand: “Youyou… I only hope… marrying me… brings no regrets.”

These were Xiao Huayong’s final words, and the worry that had long lingered in his heart.

Xiao Huayong, who could turn clouds with a wave of his hand and rain with another, was always confident, yet he gave all his uncertainty and anxiety to Shen Xihe.

Xiao Huayong, who could strategize behind the curtain and determine victory from thousands of miles away, was always wise, yet he gave all his foolishness and innocence to Shen Xihe.

Xiao Huayong, who was decisive in killing and unwavering in advance, was always resolute, yet he gave all his hesitation and contradiction to Shen Xihe.

He adored her, using every means possible to warm her cold heart, pulling her from her detachment to fall in love alongside him.

Yet he agonized that his inability to accompany her for long would selfishly give her happiness only to take it away, leaving her with heartbreak.

What he feared most was that in her twilight years, looking back on this life, she would regret their time together.

She had a long future ahead, and he feared she would spend a lifetime of solitude reminiscing about their brief happiness.

Shen Xihe’s trembling fingertips carefully caressed his face. Through her tears, she forced a smile, her voice hoarse and rough: “Marrying you this life, no regrets for eternity!”

In this world, no one would ever love and protect her like Xiao Huayong had, with single-minded devotion and eyes full of tenderness, without giving even the slightest bit to others – all of it was for her alone.

She had once said she didn’t believe in friendship like Pan and Yang’s, but now she scorned such friendship.

Because she had Xiao Huayong, everything he gave her had already surpassed all the love between men and women in this world.

Just as now, he could have avoided this sword wound, and had a thousand ways to fake his death, yet for her sake, for the Shen family she cherished, he took this risk.

Xiao Huayong closed his eyes with a satisfied smile in everyone’s sight.

In the sixth month of Emperor Youning’s twenty-third year, the Crown Prince died saving His Majesty from assassins, ultimately fulfilling the prophecy that he would not live past two cycles.