This small interlude finally made even the thick-skinned Crown Prince refrain from pestering Shen Xihe further. Soon, they arrived at a residence where Xun Wang was being held.
The residence appeared extremely ordinary—it was even a commoner’s dwelling in the capital. Only then did Shen Xihe recall that the carriage they had used was also quite plain. Once inside, Shen Xihe, who had some knowledge of the esoteric arts of Qimen Dunjia, could discern that the courtyard was arranged with a formation.
"Remember my footsteps, Junzhu," Xiao Huayong reminded her.
Moyu and Zhenzhu waited just inside the entrance. In the flickering candlelight of the courtyard, Shen Xihe watched intently as she followed Xiao Huayong inside. They entered a bedroom, opened a secret chamber, and descended into it. Inside stood a young man holding a treasured sword, standing as straight as a terracotta figurine.
Shen Xihe finally laid eyes on Xun Wang, who was as renowned as her father. He was shackled with heavy leg irons, his hands bound by thick iron chains. His hair was slightly disheveled, but his clothes were clean and tidy. However, his face was extremely pale, and his lips had taken on a frightening shade of purple.
"Uncle," Xiao Huayong called softly, his tone carrying a hint of respect.
From the moment Xiao Huayong appeared, Xun Wang had been staring at him. Having been "dead" for over a decade, Xun Wang could no longer recall the faces of His Majesty’s sons clearly. Moreover, children change so quickly with age that he couldn’t immediately identify who Xiao Huayong was.
"Your Highness has surpassed your predecessors—truly remarkable," Xun Wang’s voice was weak and strained, yet it revealed no trace of vulnerability.
Xun Wang then glanced at Shen Xihe. Despite her breathtaking beauty, he merely looked at her briefly before turning away, not a flicker of admiration in his eyes. At his age, he regarded physical allure as illusory.
"Uncle must know why your nephew has brought you here," Xiao Huayong said without revealing his identity.
Xun Wang chuckled lightly. "Your Highness need not trouble yourself. I will not utter a single word about what you wish to know."
"Uncle will not even hear what your nephew offers in return?" Xiao Huayong showed no trace of anger.
Xun Wang replied, "No matter what, you will not allow me to leave this place alive."
"Your nephew thought Uncle was not a naive man," Xiao Huayong’s gaze was indifferent. "Since Uncle has seen my face, how could there be any possibility of you leaving alive?"
"If that is the case, why say more?"
Xun Wang remained silent.
Xun Wang: "Then why say more?"
Xun Wang: "Then why say more?"
Xiao Huayong: "Why did Uncle risk coming to the capital?"
Xun Wang, who had been unmoved until now, flickered his eyes slightly.
"Your grandmother has only a few days left. Your nephew can allow Uncle to accompany her on her final journey and fulfill your filial duties," Xiao Huayong said.
Xun Wang’s expression remained blank for a moment before a faint, mocking smile appeared on his face. "Your Highness, I have already seen my mother and bid her farewell. There is no need for you to waste your efforts. If you value the bond of blood between us, grant me a swift end. That would not be in vain, given that you have called me 'Uncle.'"
"Why must Uncle be so stubborn?" Xiao Huayong tilted his head to look at him.
Xun Wang simply lowered his head and said nothing more.
"Is Your Highness worried about Xun Wang’s estate?" Shen Xihe suddenly spoke. Xun Wang lifted his head, his gaze sharp as he stared at her.
Shen Xihe remained calm. "Your Highness fears that if your private army is discovered by us, any unusual movement will alert His Majesty. If it is revealed that you leaked the information, it will surely bring harm to Xun Wang’s estate."
"Who are you?" Xun Wang asked."Me? There's no need for Your Highness to know who I am." Shen Xihe smiled faintly. "Does Your Highness believe that since you've fallen into our hands today, we wouldn't act against Xiao Changfeng if we don't get satisfactory answers from you?"
Xun Wang narrowed his eyes, his gaze turning dangerous.
Shen Xihe paid no heed: "Your Highness went so far as to fake your death to scheme for His Majesty, not only because you wanted to battle the Northwest Army, but more importantly to secure the long-term future of Xun Manor.
When His Majesty informed you of this matter back then, even if you had chosen death to preserve your pride, His Majesty couldn't openly harm Xun Manor. Yet Xun Manor would exist in name only - His Majesty wouldn't reuse Xun Manor, and even without deliberate suppression, others would surely take cues to make things difficult.
Therefore, Your Highness had no choice but to endure humiliation and fake your death to establish an Invincible Army for His Majesty. But an army personally trained by Your Highness would be difficult for others to command effectively. If you were to die and Xiao Changfeng took over, it would serve everyone's interests.
His Majesty gains the Invincible Army, Xiao Changfeng gains military power, and Xun Manor maintains its prestige."
Xun Wang studied Shen Xihe carefully for a moment before suddenly chuckling softly: "The capital truly nurtures remarkable people. Having been away from the capital for ten years, I never imagined the young ladies of the capital could be so perceptive."
This was an admission. Having admitted it, Xun Wang continued: "Having fallen into your hands, I dare not underestimate your capabilities. But Changfeng is different from me - he has already Inherited Peerage and is a first-rank prince. If you want to move against him, you'll have to see if His Majesty permits it.
Any rash action would expose yourselves before His Majesty."
After a pause, he added: "If Changfeng is defeated by you, then it's because his skills are inferior. As his Father, I've paved every possible path for him. How he fares hereafter depends entirely on his own abilities."
Xun Wang was even more unyielding than they had anticipated, truly worthy of being a battle-hardened prince who had weathered the storms of war. Judging by his demeanor, Xiao Huayong had likely exhausted all possible methods against him - he remained utterly impenetrable and unyielding.
Shen Xihe glanced at Xiao Huayong. Faced with such an obstinate character like Xun Wang, even she was at a loss.
"If Uncle refuses to speak, it matters not. This nephew will simply have you and your guards examined through dissection." Xiao Huayong's voice remained gentle. "When people live in one region for extended periods, their diet and climate leave distinct traces in their bodies."
Xun Wang remained unmoved, his expression placid.
"If nothing can be determined, that's fine too." Xiao Huayong continued: "This nephew will have to use Uncle's corpse to drive a wedge between His Majesty and cousin Changfeng. I wonder if His Majesty would still trust cousin Changfeng then, or if cousin Changfeng would suspect Uncle's death was related to His Majesty."
Hearing this, Shen Xihe smiled: "Your Highness, I actually have an idea."
"Oh? Do tell." Xiao Huayong showed interest.
"Why not imprison His Highness here permanently, regardless of whether he lives or dies." Shen Xihe's eyes shifted thoughtfully. "I have a subordinate skilled in bone restructuring. We can find someone with a similar build to His Highness, reshape them to resemble him, then have the current Xun Wang coincidentally encounter this amnesiac Father. Once he gains cousin's trust, our great undertaking will surely succeed."
"Bone restructuring technique?" Xiao Huayong had heard of it. The person who taught him disguise techniques had mentioned that while disguises could be convincing, they were easily exposed. Bone restructuring was the most undetectable form of disguise.
Once someone's bones were reshaped according to a model, they would permanently resemble that person exactly."You all..." Xun Wang's expression finally darkened. He listened to them discussing how to deal with Xun Wang Manor, how to deal with the legitimate eldest son he had personally nurtured. He could distinguish which threats were mere bluffs and which held genuine capability.
Their joint scheme was absolutely no attempt to deceive him!
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