Shen Xihe did not take the two Female Historians, Sun and Qian, to heart. If they were obedient, she would not make things difficult for them; if they did not understand the rules, she would personally teach them.
She was pondering Bian Xianyi's death—there were too many inconsistencies, yet she could not piece together a clue.
What Shen Xihe did not know was that two days later, atop the Tianshan snow peaks, a snow-white Haidongqing circled overhead, letting out a piercing cry. Xiao Huayong stood at the summit.
Bathed in the golden rays of the sun, his black cloak stood out starkly against the vast, desolate landscape. Hearing the cry, he looked up at the sky as Haidongqing dove straight toward him, its massive frame enveloping him.
Yet Xiao Huayong remained unmoved, his expression cold as he watched it charge. When it was still several hundred meters away, it veered sharply and attacked a snow leopard that was charging from another direction.
Xiao Huayong stood with his hands behind his back, watching as the snow leopard skidded to a halt in the snow to evade Haidongqing, only to be relentlessly pursued.
After several clashes, Haidongqing's sharp claws scratched the leopard's forehead, splattering a few drops of blood onto the pristine white ground. The snow leopard roared a few times before retreating.
The large, agile Haidongqing swept toward Xiao Huayong, who extended his arm to let it perch. He patted its wings before retrieving a small bamboo tube from it.
Shen Xihe did not know why his messages arrived faster than the swiftest couriers—it was because he had specially trained several eagles. This falcon recognized only him and could cover a thousand li in half an hour.
Though the other messenger eagles were not as fast as this one, they were still several times quicker than horses.
After reading the contents of the scroll, Xiao Huayong's face instantly darkened, startling Haidongqing so much that it dared not stay close and immediately took flight.
He drew out a portrait from behind him—it depicted Xiao Changyu. He had brought it specifically to confirm whether his elder brother, just a few months older than him, had truly come here. If not, he could still track him down and cause more trouble.
Unrolling the scroll, he commanded in a low voice, "Find him."
Haidongqing, trained to be highly perceptive, did not need to understand words—it grasped his intent and soared into the sky immediately.
Xiao Changyu was indeed in the Tianshan mountains, diligently searching for the Tianshan Snow Lotus, though he avoided the more dangerous areas.
Following Haidongqing, Xiao Huayong soon found Xiao Changyu. Compared to Xiao Huayong, who was impeccably dressed with only his boots slightly soiled, Xiao Changyu appeared disheveled.
When the fierce and sharp-eyed Haidongqing began circling above him, Xiao Changyu assumed he was being targeted by another bird of prey. He had faced many dangers in Tianshan, but to his surprise, Haidongqing did not attack him—instead, it seemed to be pinning him down, preventing him from leaving easily.
He waited for a long time before spotting a tall, slender figure treading softly on the snow, approaching step by step from a distance.
His posture was upright, his silhouette elongated by the sunlight, casting a sharp, sword-like shadow on the snow.
Xiao Changyu watched him draw nearer until his face became clearly visible in the biting wind. Xiao Changyu's pupils contracted.
For this younger brother, whom he had been forced to avoid since birth, Xiao Changyu had never felt admiration or envy—only deep wariness and profound fear.
Just like now, as Xiao Huayong advanced step by step, his steady gait seemed to tread on Xiao Changyu's heart. With each step closer, Xiao Changyu found it harder to breathe.
"It seems you know a great deal," Xiao Changyu said upon seeing him, showing no surprise—only vigilance and defensiveness.Xiao Changyu gave a bitter smile: "I do not wish to know."
"You already know." Xiao Huayong stopped walking, standing less than three steps away from Xiao Changyu.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Changyu asked: "Does Seventh Brother intend to kill me?"
"In consideration of our blood ties, I grant you the opportunity to end your own life." Xiao Huayong's gaze was indifferent.
Without even lifting his chin, merely looking levelly at Xiao Changyu, he exuded an overwhelming aura of superiority.
"Why?" Xiao Changyu couldn't understand. If Xiao Huayong didn't want him to know his secret, he could simply have avoided appearing before him.
Xiao Huayong had come specifically to kill him. What had he done to provoke such lethal intent from him?
"Bian Xianyi is dead." Xiao Huayong watched Xiao Changyu, noting his slight startle. "No grief? No surprise?"
Xiao Changyu finally reacted, involuntarily retreating two steps.
Xiao Huayong then stepped forward, slowly closing the distance by two steps: "Something planned all along—why would there be grief or surprise?"
Xiao Changyu's face turned pale.
"The two of you share deep affection. Wasn't your initial scheme against her meant to lure me into dealing with you?" Xiao Huayong's tone remained calm. "Step by step, you came here. She died in the palace, and you meet with an accident here. From then on, you could live together as a pair. Who would suspect two dead people are still alive?"
"You—" Xiao Changyu's heart raced with fear.
Xiao Changyu had long known that this Seventh Brother, who had always feigned illness, was the most terrifying person in the entire imperial family—no, in the entire world. Once targeted by him, one would live or die at his whim, and if he wished for one to suffer a fate worse than death, there would be no escape!
He had never harbored ambitions for the crown prince's position, not because he lacked ambition or favor, but because he had seen this man's true nature as early as age twelve!
As long as Xiao Huayong existed, unless he himself relinquished it, no one could take the empire from his grasp.
Now, with Xiao Huayong exposing their entire plan in just a few words, Xiao Changyu was terrified.
Yes, Bian Xianyi's death was faked. Once he received the news, he would also fake his death at Tianshan. This way, they could abandon everything, seek seclusion in remote mountains, and live an ordinary life of peace, with the man farming and the woman weaving.
Originally, he and Bian Xianyi could have been together. Once she came of age, he could have sought to marry her. But the Bian family met with misfortune before her coming-of-age ceremony. The Minister of Works neglected his duties, causing a river embankment to collapse and displacing countless commoners. She was consigned to the Imperial Prison for Women.
He didn't want to marry anyone else, but he couldn't marry her. Even if he were willing, Your Majesty would not permit it, nor would the rites and laws allow it!
He had reached the age of capping this year. Your Majesty had inquired several times about his marriage. At most, by next year, if he didn't consent himself, Your Majesty would arrange a marriage for him, as he could not be allowed to obstruct the Crown Prince's wedding.
Left with no choice, he and Bian Xianyi devised a plan to escape their circumstances. But how could two people die in a way that would deceive everyone?
Their original plan was to use the autumn hunt. He would fake his death first, settle outside, and Bian Xianyi would follow a year or so later, thus avoiding suspicion.
But his punishment and assignment to Tianshan was an unexpected boon. It would be easier for him to fake his death here, though it would also attract more suspicion.
He wasn't here to search for the Tianshan Snow Lotus at all, but to find the right timing and location.
"You are willing to abandon wealth and honor—I respect your devotion. But the two of you should never, under any circumstances, have endangered her life in your attempt to escape."Xiao Huayong's expression was several degrees colder than the snow beneath his feet: "Didn't you want to 'die'? Today I shall make your pretense a reality, letting your beloved woman taste the bitterness of losing her dearest love."
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