Want to silence witnesses? Want to outmaneuver them? They’d have to see if Shen Xihe would allow it!
The guards in the southern mountains were all highly skilled fighters. Shen Xihe had Mo Yuan carefully monitor them for a long time before figuring out their shift patterns. They had intercepted two guards right after their rotation yesterday – these were the men whose bodies were brought to the great hall.
To avoid leaving traces, the men had been killed recently.
Since these two hadn’t yet switched shifts, no one knew they were missing.
With such guards present, a direct assault was impossible. They had also guessed that when this matter reached Emperor Youning, he would certainly protect Kong Wang and absolve him of guilt, leaving them vulnerable to counteraccusation.
Seeing his sister’s fleeting smile, Shen Yun’an finally relaxed, not just about Shen Xihe’s condition, but also knowing their entire plan was foolproof.
He recalled what Shen Xihe had told him days ago: “Brother, why would alarming Kong Wang necessarily provoke his murderous intent? He might inform the Emperor, given his favor with His Majesty!”
“No, he will take the risk,” Shen Xihe had stated confidently. “There are four reasons. First: telling the Emperor would mean admitting his own failure. The Emperor wouldn’t trust him again, but worried about how much he knows, might have him suddenly die.
Second: If it were someone long-established in the capital who discovered this, he might act cautiously. But it’s you and me who found out. He can see our limited influence in the capital. Killing us would be simple – we wouldn’t tell others, and we couldn’t possibly disturb the weapon forge.
Third: Even if everything is exposed, it’s just the worst outcome – the Emperor learning of his incompetence. Since it involves His Majesty’s interests and has broad implications, the Emperor would clean up after him despite his anger. Even if the Emperor grows to despise him, he won’t let him die unnaturally.”
Otherwise, it would be a tacit admission that something was amiss with Kong Wang’s weapon forging.
“Fourth: If he temporarily overcomes this hurdle and preserves his life, the Emperor still needs trusted confidants for various shadowy tasks. Though his ability is lacking, his loyalty is absolute. After the Emperor’s fury subsides, he’ll have a chance to atone through merit.”
Although Shen Yun’an already considered his sister the most intelligent person in the world, at that moment he was deeply shocked by her wisdom.
For an instant, he had the strange, absurd thought that this wasn’t his sister.
Then he mentally slapped himself – how could he doubt his blood sister whom he had protected since childhood?
How heartbroken would she be if she knew?
In the Northwest, she simply hadn’t had the opportunity to show her abilities and hadn’t wanted to worry him and their father, content to be a carefree young lady.
“Since you know the Emperor will protect him no matter what, even if we plan everything perfectly, how can we break through His Majesty’s defense?” Shen Yun’an felt they couldn’t overcome such powerful opposition.
The only person in the world who could turn black into white was the one sitting on the dragon throne, revered by all!
No wonder so many people pursued that position relentlessly, willing to wade through blood and bones.
At that time, Shen Xihe was again gently stroking Short-Life, her cat, from head to tail, slowly and tenderly.
Whenever she stroked Short-Life’s fur like this, the cat would kneel on all fours submissively, making pleasing sounds.
“Some things aren’t solely up to the Emperor’s whims,” Shen Xihe smiled. “If he wants to send people to silence witnesses, I’ll make sure his people have no choice but to be impartial!”
After sending away Yu Xiaodie, she had arranged for several people to join nearby village households, building goodwill and relationships with them.
As for the mysterious fire, it was simply a matter of finding another mountain range and launching a fireball with a catapult. A catapult-launched fireball would create quite a disturbance, and in the deep forest during late autumn with leaves everywhere, fires spread easily.
Though the settlements were far apart, with Shen Xihe’s people explaining the benefits and taking the lead, the villagers who had received their kindness would surely follow.
“I’ll time it perfectly, sending the signal for action after His Majesty’s people leave the city gates.”
It was perfectly timed with the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration when His Majesty had ordered nationwide festivities. Among all the fireworks, one or two more wouldn’t raise suspicion.
“If nothing goes wrong, the Imperial Censors will arrive just as the hundreds of commoners meet the mountain guards. I’d like to see if they dare massacre residents from over ten surrounding villages?”
Shen Xihe had calculated everything precisely, though she dared not bet on Emperor Youning’s benevolence, nor did she want so many commoners to die because of her.
She made one final preparation: among those mobilizing villagers to fight the fire, several village heads would jointly report to the authorities. The Capital Guard patrolling the city, the Capital Prefecture managing the metropolitan area, even the commanders guarding the city gates…
All would be notified. These forces would arrive at the scene moments before or after the Imperial Censors. Even if the Censors were heartless and disregarded civilian lives, could the Capital Guard, Prefecture officers, and gate guards all participate in the silencing?
Of course not!
Since they couldn’t silence witnesses, they could only complete their mission to search the mountain and arrest people.
How could these forge guards, no matter how strong, overpower the Imperial Censors?
“Let His Majesty taste the pain of his people killing each other, so he understands the grievance and hatred of those who die when he turns his blade on his loyal ministers.”
With Shen Xihe’s words still echoing in his ears, Shen Yun’an was in complete awe of his sister’s brilliance.
The outer hall was silent, everyone could see Emperor Youning’s dark expression.
Except for Wang Zheng who sat with closed eyes, and the thoughtful Xue Heng and Cui Zheng, most people assumed Emperor Youning was suppressing his anger at being deceived by Kong Wang, and they barely dared breathe.
This didn’t stop their minds from working – as Wang Zheng had said, unless Kong Wang had been kicked in the head by a donkey, how could he possibly commit such treasonous acts?
They didn’t suspect Emperor Youning, but instead wondered which prince Kong Wang was aligned with, who he was working for!
The tense atmosphere continued until the Imperial Censors had the corpse of the forge’s head guard delivered to the hall by palace servants, his sleeve torn to reveal an insignia matching those of the assassins who had targeted Shen Xihe and Shen Yun’an.
Emperor Youning could no longer contain himself. He kicked the trembling Kong Wang to the ground: “Imprison Kong Wang! Have the Imperial Censors search his residence before determining his punishment!”
With that, Emperor Youning stormed off.
The ministers quietly dispersed, and Shen Yun’an carried the unconscious Shen Xihe to a carriage and left Furong Garden.
“Brother, make sure to arrange people at the Court of the Imperial Clan to see who visits Kong Wang!” Shen Xihe opened her eyes, their depths clear yet unfathomable. “Let me see whether our suspect is His Highness the Crown Prince or His Highness Prince Jing.”
Emperor Youning wasn’t certain what evidence Kong Wang might have kept, so he wouldn’t kill him yet.
She believed that person would try to pry open Kong Wang’s mouth and obtain something damaging to His Majesty!
This was the final layer of her scheme’s purpose.