Shen Xihe wasn’t one to speak carelessly. Since this matter involved whether her plans would succeed and if the Shen clan would have the last laugh, Xiao Changqing didn’t doubt her.

“His Majesty might have been ambushed,” Xiao Changqing had another consideration. “Right now, neither of us can reach into Qinzheng Hall, making His Majesty’s news extremely difficult to obtain.”

“If Prince Xin didn’t have definitive information, how would you know to inform me about the coming change?” Shen Xihe asked.

Xiao Changqing fell silent. When it came to his forces, even though he and Shen Xihe were currently aligned, he wouldn’t reveal everything, just as Shen Xihe wouldn’t tell him that Xiao Huayong had confidants among His Majesty’s trusted Embroidered Guards.

While the Embroidered Guards took turns guarding His Majesty at night from the shadows, it hadn’t yet been Zhao Zhenghao’s turn, leaving Shen Xihe unclear about the situation in Qinzheng Hall.

“Prince Xin was once highly trusted by His Majesty, surely you’ve cultivated many informants,” Shen Xihe could guess – it was simply that some of His Majesty’s confidants had become his people. “Who knows if these informants weren’t placed by His Majesty himself?”

It wasn’t that Shen Xihe underestimated Xiao Changqing’s abilities. Before losing his wife, his filial devotion to His Majesty had been profound. His rapid rise above other princes, even leaving them far behind, naturally related to his capabilities, but one couldn’t deny the deliberate nurturing and convenience provided by His Majesty.

His Majesty appeared tolerant but was very deep. Otherwise, why would someone as brilliant as Xiao Huayong need to wait for the right moment to truly strike at His Majesty?

He had even kept a low profile for many years.

“The Crown Princess makes sense,” Xiao Changqing didn’t deny this possibility existed. “If His Majesty was faking his collapse, he could have chosen a court assembly. There was no need to faint at Princess Pingling’s wedding, which seems deliberate.”

“I just realized why His Majesty didn’t choose a court assembly but the princess’s wedding…” Shen Xihe’s eyes deepened, and she didn’t keep him guessing. “His Majesty wants to provoke our unusual movements, true, but he also wants to draw out another person’s hand.”

Given Xiao Changqing’s intelligence, though he hadn’t thought of this angle before, he immediately understood when Shen Xihe mentioned it: “Imperial Uncle!”

Xiao Juezong was Emperor Youning’s greatest hidden threat!

Emperor Youning didn’t know Xiao Juezong had already died and handed all his people to Xiao Huayong. Xiao Huayong had done many things under Xiao Juezong’s name, sometimes deliberately leaving traces to frame him.

Whether it was Xiao Changyan’s matter, Xiao Changmin’s situation, or even Li Yanyan being manipulated by Yu Sangning earlier, there was someone pulling strings. His Majesty, after much thought, believed only Xiao Juezong could have such capability and motivation!

Fainting during court assembly – Xiao Juezong’s people probably couldn’t infiltrate those qualified to attend court. Otherwise, there’d be no need for such secrecy, and it might not convince Xiao Juezong.

Since Xiao Juezong was watching his every move, his attendance at his daughter’s wedding would surely draw Xiao Juezong’s attention, looking for an opportunity.

It might not completely fool Xiao Juezong, but it was more convincing than fainting during court!

“This makes sense now,” Xiao Changqing leaned toward Shen Xihe’s speculation. So the person who gave him information was indeed a defector sent by His Majesty.

Internally scoffing, Xiao Changqing didn’t mention this but said to Shen Xihe: “Your Highness, even if we know His Majesty’s thoughts, we still can’t truly remain motionless.”

Black obsidian-like eyes looked at Xiao Changqing.

“Why can’t His Majesty wait any longer to draw out Imperial Uncle?” Xiao Changqing asked indirectly.

“Though His Majesty won’t die immediately, his days are truly numbered,” Shen Xihe said honestly.

Xiao Huayong had given His Majesty only so much time – at most until she gave birth at full term, less than two months away.

Calculating this way, it was less than half a year!

As for her father, Shen Xihe didn’t know His Majesty’s plans, whether he had already decided to give up…

Wait – if Xiao Juezong were truly still alive and His Majesty drew him out and captured him, then used him to implicate a secret alliance with Shen Yueshan, he could move against the Shen family!

The more Shen Xihe thought about it, the more possible it seemed!

However, Xiao Changqing hadn’t guessed Shen Xihe’s far-reaching thoughts because he didn’t know Xiao Juezong was dead and his people were in Xiao Huayong’s hands. He only vaguely sensed the intricate connections between the Eastern Palace and Xiao Juezong.

“His Majesty’s days are numbered,” Xiao Changqing nodded. “Therefore, besides his urgent desire for revenge, His Majesty most likely wants the antidote.”

Shen Xihe’s gaze froze – among her careful planning, she had overlooked this point!

Yes, His Majesty believed everything was Xiao Juezong’s doing. The poison His Majesty ingested, that imposter truly being Xiao Juezong’s man, those old incidents that led to His Majesty being ambushed – all this knowledge would naturally be attributed to Xiao Juezong. His Majesty likely had three purposes in drawing out Xiao Juezong.

First, eliminate Xiao Juezong; second, implicate Shen Yueshan; third, obtain the antidote.

If they showed no reaction at all, wouldn’t that expose their certainty that His Majesty was faking his critical condition?

Who could be so certain His Majesty was faking? Naturally, the poisoner!

This was a life-and-death game. Even if one suspected His Majesty was faking his illness, one should operate on the principle of “better safe than sorry” and prepare for a desperate battle.

Because if even the slightest possibility were true, having no preparation could result in destruction.

No wonder Xiao Changqing wanted to see her – this warning was necessary.

“His Majesty’s thoughts run so deep!” Shen Xihe sighed softly.

Extrapolating further, Shen Xihe completely understood His Majesty’s intentions with this move.

His Majesty would achieve certain goals no matter what.

Poisoners like Shen Xihe would either remain completely unmoved through carelessness, exposing themselves as the poisoner or realize the situation and have to pretend they weren’t the poisoner. This would require them to start plotting, mobilizing available forces, preparing meticulously just in case, fighting to the end.

This way, all movements would fall under His Majesty’s secretly watching eyes, revealing their forces in advance.

There was even another possibility – His Majesty was trying to force her into early labor before she was ready!

To birth a weak imperial grandson with no claim to the throne!

Think about it – if she weren’t the one controlling His Majesty’s health, faced with today’s situation, she would risk inducing labor.

Having understood this, Shen Xihe’s expression remained calm: “Your Highnesses should just make preparations.”

She still wouldn’t make any moves. Shen Xihe wasn’t afraid of appropriately exposing the forces at her disposal, but making her induce labor early was impossible.

This was her and Beichen’s only blood descendant – no one could harm him!

If His Majesty wanted to frame an alliance between the Shen clan and Xiao Juezong, why not let him believe it was true?

Regardless, His Majesty would fabricate evidence without proof, just like the trap set for the Shen clan at Furong Garden!

Since that was the case, why should she bother hiding anymore?