Shen Xihe stood before the Empress’s tomb, wrapped in a thick, warm cloak against the cold wind.

As a daughter-in-law, visiting the Imperial Tomb meant she should first pay respects to the Empress, her mother-in-law. After offering incense, Shen Xihe lingered before proceeding to the Crown Prince’s tomb. Though she knew well who was truly buried there, she maintained the complete charade.

After offering incense, she reached out from her cloak to gently touch the tombstone, her gaze distant as she stared at Xiao Huayong’s name carved into the stone.

Regardless of who lay buried here, Crown Prince Xiao Huayong was truly dead. By choosing this method, he could never return to his identity.

In this power struggle, he had withdrawn early for her sake, leaving himself no path of return.

Otherwise, with his abilities, even if forced to leave, he could have found other ways to save His Majesty – arranging a cliff fall or ocean plunge that would allow for his return.

Even if His Majesty couldn’t wait for his return and passed the throne to another brother, Shen Xihe believed he could have seized it back if he wished.

Everything about him, previously unremarkable, now flooded her memories as she gazed at his name.

Shen Xihe couldn’t help but smile at the memories.

She suddenly realized that since meeting him, all he had left her were beautiful memories.

Lost in reminiscence, Shen Xihe didn’t notice her hand growing red from the cold as she touched the tombstone. The female official sent by the Empress Dowager stepped forward, covering her fingers with the cloak: “Your Highness, mind the chill.”

Coming back to herself, Shen Xihe finally felt the cold and withdrew her hand, holding it within her cloak: “Mm.”

Finding her legs stiff, she needed Biyu and the female official’s support to move slowly. When they turned to leave, she couldn’t help looking back once more at the name on the tombstone.

The offering of incense took only an hour, but Shen Xihe naturally couldn’t return immediately. Unable to endure such exertion, she would rest overnight at the Imperial Tomb’s royal quarters before returning to the palace tomorrow.

Shen Xihe’s journey there and back was surprisingly smooth and peaceful, contrary to everyone’s expectations.

Given the timing – over seven months pregnant and His Majesty’s continued claimed illness – many suspected her sudden desire to visit Xiao Huayong’s tomb was a pretext for inducing labor.

Giving birth on the road would facilitate any deception, and if not a male child, it would be the best time for a swap. Many had expected news of the Crown Princess returning with a royal grandson, but Shen Xihe disappointed them by returning quietly.

Her belly was still intact as if she had truly just visited the Crown Prince’s tomb.

“Nothing unusual at the Imperial Tomb?” Even Emperor Youning was skeptical.

“Your Majesty, the Embroidered Guard followed secretly, and the Divine Warrior Army was hidden at the tomb. The Crown Princess only offered incense to the Empress and Crown Prince, with no other movements. Her entourage didn’t speak with the tomb guards.”

The tomb wasn’t guarded only by assigned guards, but also by exiled royal clan members.

“She truly only went to pay respects?” Emperor Youning didn’t believe it.

If she was truly troubled as claimed, why journey to the Imperial Tomb? Why not hold a ceremony at Xiangguo Temple instead?

Shen Xihe’s thoughts ran deep. Emperor Youning had met many clever women, but few with such profound depths as her.

He had suspected she was preparing for childbirth, worried about his prolonged illness, to strengthen her position.

“She certainly keeps her composure,” Emperor Youning said meaningfully.

Why was Shen Xihe so composed? To say she had no desire for the throne, that she was pure and upright – Emperor Youning didn’t believe this himself.

Given her obvious ambition, wasn’t her lack of reaction to the Emperor’s prolonged unconsciousness too strange?

Even if she suspected his pretense, shouldn’t she make some preparations?

Too quiet…

“What of Fifth Prince and Twelfth Prince?” Emperor Youning asked.

“Prince Xin has shown movement, mobilizing over half his forces. Prince Yan frequently inquires about Your Majesty’s condition at the Imperial Medical Office and has privately moved the men Eighth Prince left him,” Liu Sanzhi replied, “but neither plans to storm the palace.”

They were merely taking precautions.

“So only the Eastern Palace remains as steady as a mountain?” Emperor Youning concluded, “And Xiao Juesong shows no reaction at all?”

This trap was set for Xiao Juesong – he had even collapsed the tomb of Xiao Juesong’s birth mother to draw him out, yet Xiao Juesong hadn’t appeared. Emperor Youning found this increasingly suspicious.

Xiao Juesong was filial and not a coward lacking in spirit. He should have emerged by now, even with no chance of victory, to fight to the death.

“No anomalies near the capital,” Liu Sanzhi reported honestly.

“Wait two more days…” To see if Xiao Juesong was thousands of miles from the capital, yet to return, or simply unable to appear.

If Xiao Juesong couldn’t appear, perhaps the person at the Summer Palace years ago wasn’t real.

Who benefited most from Xiao Juesong’s appearance that day?

Then, suspecting the Crown Prince of deception, he had arrested him to test him, when Xiao Juesong’s sudden appearance disrupted everything.

If Xiao Juesong was fake from the start, it was the Crown Prince’s most brilliant move to break his probe, and all subsequent events involving Xiao Juesong could only be linked to the Crown Prince.

If so…

Emperor Youning’s gaze turned sharp: “If no one appears in two days, have the tomb guards secretly open the Crown Prince’s coffin!”

Opening the Crown Prince’s coffin, no matter how discreet, would likely not go unnoticed, so caution was needed. Emperor Youning didn’t want to take this step unless necessary.

Shen Xihe didn’t know she had only two days, but she knew Emperor Youning’s patience was limited.

After returning from the Imperial Tomb, she began moving pieces, subtly arranging matters in the rear palace and mobilizing her guards, discreetly revealing some of the Crown Prince’s privately cultivated forces – all inconsequential ones.

Emperor Youning would likely not believe the Crown Prince had cultivated no forces at all.

These matters required only her words; Tianyuan and Difang would handle them appropriately while she focused on investigating past events.

The gyrfalcon had returned before she reached the palace, bringing Shen Yueshan’s letter detailing all he could recall about Prince Qian and his wife’s murder and His Majesty’s fratricidal ascension.

Opening the thick letter, Shen Xihe couldn’t help but smile – dictated by him, with his elder brother pressed into service as a scribe.

Twenty-four years ago, on that windy night, the scenes gradually became clear in Shen Xihe’s mind through Shen Yueshan’s description of what he had seen and heard.