Xiao Changfeng was completely unguarded against Shen Xihe, never imagining she would scheme against him at this moment, just when he learned he would soon become a father.

Outside, Lu Bing, who had been waiting and could delay no longer, came to the inner courtyard seeking Xiao Changfeng. He met Madam Tan instead: “Guard Lu, the Prince suddenly fainted. The Princess has already called for a physician to examine him.”

“Suddenly fainted?” Lu Bing’s eyes flickered slightly. He demanded to see Xiao Changfeng.

Neither Madam Tan nor Shen Xihe stopped him. They didn’t know how many were the Emperor’s men, and blocking them might backfire. Lu Bing successfully saw Xiao Changfeng lying on the bed. The physician, who had been warned by Shen Xihe, dared not speak freely and only said he couldn’t determine the cause of unconsciousness.

Lu Bing wasn’t the real Lu Bing – he was the first person who came out with Axi pushing bones. Over these years, he had become Xiao Changfeng’s trusted confidant. He could roughly guess why Xiao Changfeng lay here.

Shen Xihe didn’t want Xiao Changfeng involved, so she schemed against him. If Shen Xihe won, all would be well. If the Emperor won, Xiao Changfeng would scheme against rather than truly betray his ruler, so his punishment wouldn’t be fatal.

But if Xiao Changfeng got involved, regardless of who won or lost, he would either lose his life or divorce his wife. Ultimately, Shen Xihe developed feelings for Xiao Changfeng and wanted the best of both worlds.

Yet Shen Xihe didn’t understand some things were more important than life itself. If Xiao Changfeng didn’t go today, he would be betraying his ruler. He was a man with loyalty embedded in his bones, and this was also the family precept of Prince Xun’s mansion. Even if he escaped death, it would destroy Xiao Changfeng’s backbone. He would merely exist afterward, living in depression, and after death would have no face to meet the martyrs.

“Princess, the Prince ordered that as long as he has breath, I must take him from the mansion,” Lu Bing wouldn’t reveal his identity to Shen Xihe. Though Shen Xihe wholeheartedly supported the Shen family, her perspective was far inferior to the Crown Princess.

The more crucial the moment, the more cautious he needed to be.

“You dare!” Shen Xihe’s face darkened.

“Princess, why not think carefully about why the Prince gave such instructions to this servant?” Lu Bing reminded.

Why such instructions?

Shen Xihe froze, then her face paled. This meant Xiao Changfeng knew early on what choice she would make, that she would act against him, yet he still didn’t guard against it or respond, letting her succeed.

What was he thinking?

Was he holding onto a last hope that she wouldn’t act against him?

Or had he developed feelings for her and needed this to become disillusioned?

Shen Xihe’s reaction fell in Lu Bing’s eyes. He roughly confirmed these spouses had mutual feelings. These words weren’t Xiao Changfeng’s instructions. Xiao Changfeng probably knew what choice Shen Xihe would make but didn’t think he would fall victim to her scheme.

Never mind, after all, she was from the Shen family and wholeheartedly supported them. Lu Bing added fuel to the fire: “The Prince meant that if this journey has no return, the Princess need not feel guilty nor… worry in the future.”

After speaking, he went forward to support the unconscious Xiao Changfeng and left.

Shen Xihe didn’t stop them, seeming frozen in place as if under a spell.

No need for guilt because his death would have nothing to do with her – she had tried her best to protect him, and this path was his own choice.

No need to worry because when he trustingly turned his back on her, and she chose to scheme against him, there could be no more trust between them.

Hot tears burst forth.

Shen Xihe felt her heart aching intensely, empty and void.

She had always thought she had no feelings for him. They married by imperial decree. He was the Emperor’s loyal minister; she was a lady of the Shen family. Sooner or later, they would stand on opposing sides.

After marriage, she guarded against him constantly. Her meticulous care for him was just surface-level. Others saw them as an inseparable pair and thought they were deeply in love, but inside she never truly let down her guard.

Somehow, hearing Lu Bing’s words made her heart ache inch by inch.

Lu Bing took Xiao Changfeng away and naturally found a physician. Shen Xihe had no intent to harm, using only a sleeping drug. Dispelling its effects wasn’t complicated. Xiao Changfeng soon awakened and immediately asked: “What time is it?”

“Past the fourth watch,” Lu Bing hurriedly replied.

“Let’s go.” Despite still being somewhat dizzy and confused, Xiao Changfeng strode out of the medical hall. He and Lu Bing mounted horses and went to mobilize the ten thousand Divine Brave Army troops waiting outside the city.

Besides mobilization orders, there were secret orders. Only Xiao Changfeng appearing in person could move the troops – this was why Lu Bing had to wake him.

When the army entered the city gates and fought their way to the palace gates, they happened to meet Xiao Changgen and Xie Yunhuai.

The Gold Guards and Military Command stationed in the capital were also fighting each other. Xiao Changfeng couldn’t tell friends from foe. Those Xiao Changgen led included not only Xiao Changqin’s men but also those left by Xiao Changyan years ago. Those Xie Yunhuai led were mostly left by Xiao Huayong.

Each was fierce and valiant. For a time the battle was extremely intense, with the Gold Guards and Military Command forces being overwhelmed.

Xiao Changfeng needed to lead men into the imperial city to rescue the Emperor. Xiao Changgen and Xie Yunhuai knew the situation had changed. With Xiao Changqin in Qinzheng Hall, and Xiao Changqin’s men having fought their way back to the two of them to roughly explain things, Qinzheng Hall remained under Shen Xihe’s control. Naturally, they put all their effort into blocking Xiao Changfeng.

The Empress Dowager’s people ultimately couldn’t match those privately trained by Xiao Changqin, Xiao Changyan, and Xiao Huayong. They had already become ghosts under the blade. The palace gates had been taken from the Empress Dowager’s people by Xiao Changgen and Xie Yunhuai.

The various forces fought fiercely within the four gates, evenly matched.

Seeing that fighting this way would most likely result in mutual destruction-

“Prince, we’ve found a secret passage,” reported someone dressed like the Divine Brave Army at this time.

In the chaotic fighting, intense battle situation, and among people covered in blood – with ten thousand Divine Brave troops, Xiao Changfeng couldn’t remember every face. The person before him wasn’t truly Divine Brave – someone had changed into the uniform of a sacrificed Divine Brave soldier.

The secret passage was mentioned in a message the Emperor sent to Xiao Changfeng just two days ago. But the Emperor had known for too short a time, only knowing there was a secret passage in the palace but not yet finding where its entrance and exit were located.

Earlier when entering the city to gather the Divine Brave Army, this was a secret order passed via note to higher-ranking Divine Brave officers.

Xiao Changfeng had no doubts and withdrew with a small group. Seeing this and receiving Lu Bing’s secret signal, Xiao Changgen tried to break through to intercept.

After a bloody battle, Xiao Changfeng barely managed under the Divine Brave Army’s cover to charge toward the secret passage with Lu Bing, two trusted followers, and the person who reported finding it.

“I let Elder Sister-in-law tell Master Xue about the secret passage, then had Master Xue’s words passed to His Majesty, just to wait for this move.” Though Shen Xihe hadn’t seen the battle situation outside with her own eyes, she could predict each step precisely.