"Your Majesty, it is my duty to share your burdens and I seek no reward for it." Xiao Changgeng bowed with clasped hands.
"I am aware of your loyalty. I reward merits and punish faults—those with accomplishments must be rewarded." Youning Emperor's tone softened. "Since I am unfamiliar with your preferences, why not choose a reward that would please you?"
Xiao Changgeng seemed to ponder for a moment. "I've heard snake gallbladders make excellent medicinal wine. If Your Majesty would grant me this serpent's gallbladder—just as hunters keep tiger skins and wolf teeth—I shall keep the gallbladder as a memento."
"This serpent died from poisoning. The gallbladder might retain toxins..." The Emperor had originally intended to discard the entire snake, both because it died from poison and uncertainty regarding its venomous nature.
"I shall have the Imperial Hospital examine it. If it proves toxic and useless, I shall forgo it," Xiao Changgeng added.
"This reward of yours..." The Emperor chuckled suddenly, then asked, "Are you settling in well at Qilang's residence?"
Xiao Changgeng replied, "The Crown Prince resides in the Eastern Palace—elegant and spacious. With His Highness treating others with generosity, how could I not settle in comfortably?"
After observing him briefly, the Emperor said, "Remain with Qilang for two more months. After Consort Liang passes her third month, I shall have you move into the princely residence."
"Your servant thanks Your Majesty for this grace." Xiao Changgeng suppressed his delight.
The Emperor could tell he yearned to move out—at the very least, it indicated his stay with Qilang wasn't pleasant.
The Emperor ordered the giant serpent disposed of, keeping only the gallbladder for Xiao Changgeng. When Xiao Changgeng brought it to Doctor Chen for examination, the verdict was the gallbladder had been contaminated by poison and was unusable.
Xiao Changgeng still delivered the gallbladder to Xiao Huayong, truthfully reporting the physician's conclusion: "The gallbladder is no longer usable."
Xiao Huayong glanced at the jade box containing the gallbladder, closed it, and handed it to Tianyuan. Smiling at Xiao Changgeng, he said, "I haven't yet congratulated Twelfth Brother on soon moving into the princely residence."
Xiao Changgeng's heart tightened. He had requested the gallbladder, but it was likely useless—making the reward nominal. In the Emperor's eyes, this might appear as Xiao Changgeng's humility, prompting compensatory measures like granting him the princely residence in three months.
This served both as tangible compensation and a test of his relationship with Xiao Huayong.
Only the Emperor, himself, and Liu Sanzhi had been present then. Liu Sanzhi would never betray the Emperor, nor would the Emperor disclose this to Xiao Huayong—yet Xiao Huayong knew.
"Are you wondering how I knew?" Xiao Huayong smiled faintly. "A guess."
Xiao Changgeng lowered his gaze. Xiao Huayong was demonstrating his complete understanding of the Emperor's intentions. "If Seventh Brother has no further instructions, Twelfth Brother takes his leave."
"Mm." Xiao Huayong responded indifferently.
Shen Xihe soon learned everything that had transpired during her absence. After hearing it all, she bowed her head in silence.
How could Changling Princess suddenly go mad and leap into the pond on horseback? Knowing there was a giant serpent below, who else but Xiao Huayong could intervene so decisively and cleanly on her behalf?
He had killed his own half-sister for her. Though Shen Xihe would have ended Changling's life upon her return, the implications were entirely different.
Shen Xihe felt torn—unsure whether to appreciate his profound devotion or fear his cold-blooded ruthlessness.
She reflected that she would never secretly harm Shen Yingluo for an outsider's sake, unless Shen Yingluo had wronged her first.Such a man must be the type who cherishes those he loves and destroys those he hates. If one day she incurred his displeasure, the consequences would be...
It seemed she had provoked an extremely dangerous man.
"Your Highness, Worldly Son Bu has gone missing." Just as Shen Xihe was lost in thought, Biyu hurried in to report.
Shen Xihe abruptly stood up. "How could he disappear?"
"Worldly Son Bu and Lady Xue Qiniang have been searching for Your Highness all day and night. This morning, Worldly Son Bu returned to ask if we had found you. Not knowing the full situation, we dared not reveal anything and could only say not yet. So Worldly Son Bu went out again to continue searching..."
He still hadn't returned since then. Shen Xihe's expression changed. "What about Cui Shaoqing?"
As she asked, she started walking out but was stopped by Biyu. "Cui Shaoqing was sent by His Majesty last night to command the Godly Crossbow Unit."
"Sending Cui Shaoqing?" Shen Xihe's eyes darkened. "This is bad..."
His Majesty had developed murderous intentions toward Bu Shulin. What better way to silence the Prince of Shunan than having Bu Shulin die in an accident this time?
Bu Shulin had gone out searching for Shen Xihe. If she met with misfortune, it would be her own fault. His Majesty, busy with slaying the serpent and negligent in his care, couldn't be blamed by the Prince of Shunan. The blame could only fall on Bu Shulin for not heeding warnings and insisting on searching for Shen Xihe.
If Bu Shulin truly died, not only would the Bu family have no one to Inherit Peerage, but with Bu Tuohai aged, the Youning Emperor could appoint someone to take control of the troops under the Shu Southern Royal Manor's jurisdiction. Moreover, Bu Tuohai and Shen Yueshan would inevitably develop estrangement, eliminating concerns about their united front.
What a brilliant scheme to kill three birds with one stone!
"Summon Mo Yuan immediately. Prevent anyone from reporting Bu Shulin's disappearance to His Majesty!" Shen Xihe ordered promptly.
They couldn't give His Majesty any reason to send people to search for Bu Shulin. Otherwise, his men would infiltrate in large numbers. Even if Bu Shulin hadn't died, if found by His Majesty's men first, she would be doomed.
"A Xi, Moyu, you two take Duanming to search for her." Shen Xihe turned back to retrieve a box of incense she had blended for Bu Shulin and handed it to A Xi. "If Duanming loses the trail, let him smell this incense."
Since Duanming started following her, she had been training his sensitivity to scents. His sense of smell was no worse than a dog's, though he lacked a dog's tracking ability. But under Shen Xihe's guidance, he had become particularly keen to fragrances.
After giving instructions, Shen Xihe took Biyu to find Xiao Huayong.
When she arrived, Xiao Huayong had just sent Xiao Changgeng away. She encountered Xiao Changgeng head-on, hurriedly gave a cursory bow without waiting for his return courtesy, and strode inside.
Xiao Changgeng stood outside the courtyard, watching Shen Xihe pass unimpeded without needing announcement or encountering any obstruction—clearly, Xiao Huayong had given specific orders.
"Youyou, what brings you to me?" Seeing Shen Xihe's grave expression, Xiao Huayong urgently inquired.
She glanced back, confirming Xiao Changgeng was no longer at the door, then said, "His Majesty intends to kill Worldly Son Bu. She went missing while searching for me. I cannot let her lose her life because of this."
Although she hadn't asked Bu Shulin to search for her, Bu Shulin's intentions were sincere and heartfelt. Shen Xihe wasn't someone without conscience—how could she stand by and do nothing? She firmly believed Duanming could track the scent to find Bu Shulin, but she still feared they might be too late.
When it came to connections and influence, she couldn't compare to Xiao Huayong. She had no choice but to seek his help."Tianyuan!" Xiao Huayong immediately summoned Tianyuan inside. "Issue the order to spare no effort in searching for Worldly Son Bu's whereabouts."
Bu Shulin was a maiden, and Xiao Huayong would not permit her to die, only to be remembered by Shen Xihe for a lifetime!
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