Shen Xihe listened to him finish speaking, her obsidian-like eyes appearing faintly indifferent: "I neither dislike it nor feel annoyed."
Her reaction made Xiao Huayong feel as if he had punched cotton—utterly powerless, unsure how to describe his current state of mind. He both feared she truly disliked him and resented her apparent indifference.
Lowering his eyelids, he said softly, "As long as Youyou doesn't mind."
Shen Xihe was extremely sensitive to others' emotional shifts. Xiao Huayong's words carried a subtle sarcasm no matter how she interpreted them. She had no intention of probing why he was like this, as it wasn't important: "Do you truly intend to have someone dissect Xun Wang's body?"
With proper manipulation, they could certainly drive a wedge between the current Xun Wang, Xiao Changfeng, and His Majesty.
Xiao Huayong looked at Xun Wang's remains: "My uncle devoted his entire life to the Northeast. Though we now serve different masters, his contributions cannot be erased. He shouldn't suffer the humiliation of having his body desecrated after death."
While he could carry out everything he'd said to Xun Wang earlier, some things were beyond his principles—this was the respect due to a general who had protected the nation.
A slow smile spread across Shen Xihe's lips. Xiao Huayong's respect for Xun Wang made her appreciate his character even more: "Shall we deliver it to Xun Wang's residence?"
As fallen leaves return to their roots, the dead long to enter ancestral graves and receive offerings from descendants. Since they were showing respect, they might as well see it through completely.
Xiao Huayong pondered for a moment before nodding: "I'll have someone lead Xiao Changfeng to discover my uncle's remains."
Shen Xihe nodded without further comment. Xiao Huayong's arrangements would be thorough. She turned and left the secret chamber, with Xiao Huayong following closely behind.
Exiting the courtyard, Xiao Huayong looked up at the moon shifting westward. He desperately wanted to invite Shen Xihe for a night excursion—sailing down the river under brilliant lanterns, brewing tea, engaging in heartfelt conversation. Such a beautiful scene by the river under the moonlight would surely become unforgettable.
Alas, Shen Xihe hadn't fully recovered her health, and lack of sleep would greatly harm her constitution. Xiao Huayong sighed inwardly.
"Your Highness, are you contemplating matters regarding the Invincible Army?" Shen Xihe turned her head, catching a fleeting melancholy in Xiao Huayong's eyes under the moonlight.
Xiao Huayong:
He truly didn't dare let her know that his mind had been filled with romantic notions just moments ago, so he vaguely responded: "Mmh."
"Xun Wang was forced to reveal himself by Your Highness less than ten days ago." Shen Xihe didn't board the carriage. Instead, she put on the curtained hat handed to her by Moyu and walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Xiao Huayong, advancing slowly under the moonlight. "Ten days—many places cannot be reached within that time, but that's assuming departure from the capital. If His Majesty sent messages to commanders stationed not far from where the Invincible Army is garrisoned, that would be a different matter."
Xiao Huayong wanted to remind Shen Xihe to return and rest early, but he cherished this moment of walking with her through the quiet, deserted alley in the deep night. After hesitating briefly, watching the narrow bluestone path ahead, he replied: "When His Majesty left the hunting grounds, he dispatched six Embroidered Uniform Envoys from the capital. My people lost track of three of them."
Zhao Zhenghao was still serving punishment through self-reflection due to previous incidents and happened to miss this event—such is fate. Xiao Huayong couldn't help but sigh.
Upon hearing this, Shen Xihe slightly started. Her suspicion that Xiao Huayong was the mastermind behind Hua Fuhai's impersonator had never dissipated, even though Xiao Fuxing's earlier appearance had drawn greater suspicion away from him.Shen Xihe was certain that Xiao Fuxing was impersonated by Hua Fuhai, but whether Xiao Fuxing served Xiao Huayong or Prince Jing Xiao Changyan remained unclear. Until Shen Xihe lifted the final veil of deception, she would not dismiss any suspect.
Hearing Xiao Huayong's words now, her suspicion of him lessened slightly. Xiao Fuxing had once impersonated Zhao Zhenghao, who was an Embroidered Uniform Envoy. There were only about a dozen such envoys, and six had been dispatched this time to create confusion.
Even if Zhao Zhenghao wasn't among them, as fellow Embroidered Uniform Envoys, he ought to have provided his master with useful clues. Xiao Huayong wouldn't have cast such a wide net that he lost track of the four targets.
The Embroidered Uniform Envoys were an extremely secretive group. Neither civil nor military officials knew their identities—even the Duke of Zhao was unaware that Zhao Zhenghao was one. Dong Biquan only learned of the Youning Emperor's activation of Zhao Zhenghao because Dong himself was a trusted confidant of His Majesty.
Thus, when an Embroidered Uniform Envoy was punished, only a handful knew the details.
Shen Xihe had no access to the Youning Emperor's inner circle, so she didn't know Zhao Zhenghao was currently under house arrest for reflection. This led Xiao Huayong to miss a prime opportunity, shifting Shen Xihe's suspicion toward Prince Jing Xiao Changyan. It wasn't that Shen Xihe hadn't considered asking Xiao Huayong directly, but though they intended to marry, the union wasn't yet finalized. Until then, variables remained. One shouldn't interfere in affairs outside their purview, and she currently lacked the standing to question Xiao Huayong on such matters.
Collecting her thoughts, Shen Xihe said, "Your Highness, I was thinking—even if His Majesty sent orders to his confidants to mobilize the Invincible Army, how could such a large force, not mere hundreds, suddenly withdraw without attracting attention?"
Soldiers were highly trained professionals. Their posture, demeanor, and physique made them stand out in a crowd. One or two might pass as escorts or wandering martial artists, but how could a large group avoid detection?
"There are three methods," Xiao Huayong replied, having clearly pondered this before. "First, move from one mountain to another. That way, no one would be alerted."
"Too risky," Shen Xihe judged, believing the shrewd Emperor wouldn't act so recklessly.
Xiao Huayong nodded in agreement. "If stationed near rivers or seas, moving by boat at night wouldn't alert local officials."
This was the best method Shen Xihe had considered, and she shared the view.
If so, they could map out the approximate range reachable within the timeframe and identify nearby riverine or coastal areas suitable for hiding troops. Water transport wouldn't require just one or two boats—the movement would be substantial. Had any locals witnessed large fleets departing?
Though such investigation would be time-consuming and laborious, it might still yield a direction.
"There's a third option," Xiao Huayong said, a faint smile glinting in his eyes. "His Majesty didn't station the Invincible Army in one location."
Shen Xihe frowned. As a daughter of a military family, she had overheard Shen Yueshan and Shen Yungan discuss tactics and historical battles without restraint. "If the Invincible Army trains separately, how will they coordinate later? On the battlefield, without tacit understanding, wouldn't they be like scattered sand?"
The Emperor had invested immense effort and drained the treasury to assemble the Invincible Army—he would never permit such an outcome.“To make them aware they are one entity does not require them to eat and sleep together every day. It only requires gathering them together initially, then separating them, and having them compete in martial contests every six months or every season, followed by a few days of joint training.” Xiao Huayong understood Your Majesty better than Shen Xihe did.
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