Xiao Changying reacted with lightning speed. As the sword fell, he immediately kicked it, sending it spinning back into the air. Just as he leaped to retrieve it, Munuha’s blade spun like lightning in his palm, closing in on Xiao Changying’s abdomen.
Twisting his waist mid-air, Xiao Changying swiftly flipped away, snatching the falling sword as he moved. Munuha paused his steps, spun around, and thrust his blade back toward Xiao Changying. Landing on the ground, Xiao Changying executed a series of backward flips, his sword spinning along with him.
After several rotations, Xiao Changying finally seized the hilt of his sword. Pivoting on his feet, he dodged a sweeping slash, then twirled his blade and thrust it behind him—almost simultaneously, Munuha’s blade swung back as well.
Xiao Changying stood tall, the tip of his sword a mere inch from Munuha’s throat. Munuha leaned forward like an eagle spreading its wings, his curved blade also an inch away from slicing Xiao Changying in half at the waist.
The two had fought to a draw. The Youning Emperor was the first to applaud. "Prince Munuha, your martial skills are exceptional."
"Prince Lie’s swordsmanship is divine," Munuha praised sincerely.
Few had ever matched him in combat. After a brief pause, he added, "Since the age of fifteen, Munuha has been undefeated across the grasslands. I admire Prince Lie, who can fight me to a standstill. Yet, I still wish to find the one who once bested me."
As he spoke, his deep blue eyes swept over Xiao Huayong. The heavily implied gaze did not escape the notice of the Youning Emperor and the other princes.
Xiao Huayong remained composed as ever. Xiao Changqing and Xiao Changying appeared calm, Xiao Changgeng showed no reaction, Xiao Changmin seemed lost in thought, and Xiao Changtian acted as if it were none of his concern.
"This emperor also wishes to find that person," declared the Youning Emperor.
Xiao Huayong coughed lightly twice but offered no comment.
With all the princes present, the Youning Emperor was in high spirits and hosted a banquet. The evening meal proceeded harmoniously between host and guests. Upon returning to the Eastern Palace, Xiao Huayong instructed, "Remain vigilant in the coming days."
"Shall we…" Tianyuan began, but Xiao Huayong raised a hand to cut him off.
"No need. His Majesty may not believe him."
As a Turkic prince, the Emperor was more suspicious of Munuha’s intentions—whether he was attempting to sow discord. Since Munuha dared not specify when and where he had seen Xiao Huayong, it would be difficult to gain the Emperor’s trust. Nevertheless, the Emperor was cautious and would rather err on the side of belief than disbelief.
He would surely find an opportunity to test Xiao Huayong before setting his mind at ease.
Tianyuan’s suggestion was to take the initiative and frame Munuha for having ulterior motives.
But acting too hastily would only deepen the Emperor’s suspicions. For now, it was best to remain open and unperturbed, treating the matter as insignificant.
"Inform Youyou of this matter. Tell her that His Majesty suspects me," Xiao Huayong instructed.
Tianyuan’s face showed confusion: ???
"Why inform the princess of this?" Would His Majesty use her to test you?"
Xiao Huayong gave Tianyuan a look that said, "You are beyond teaching." "Why does His Majesty suspect me?"
"Because Prince Munuha accused…" Tianyuan suddenly understood. "This subordinate will deliver the message at once."
His Highness was under suspicion because of Prince Munuha, and the reason His Highness had encountered Prince Munuha was to rescue the Northwest King.
The princess, being so intelligent, would surely grasp this connection. She would then feel somewhat apologetic toward His Highness and become more tolerant of him…
His Highness never missed an opportunity to win the princess’s sympathy and patience.
Step by step, each move carefully calculated, had led to the current situation where the princess, despite disliking his glib tongue, still endured his presence.Tianyuan thought he still felt quite sympathetic towards the Crown Prince, but before he had even left the main hall, he could hear the Crown Prince already humming a cheerful tune.
Tianyuan: "..."
They thought the Crown Prince was pitiful, but perhaps the Crown Prince considered them pathetic—unable to understand the taste of love.
By now, he was probably already imagining what benefits he could extract from the Princess this time.
Early the next morning, Tianyuan delivered a food box to Shen Xihe and relayed a message: "Princess, before the Lantern Festival, please do not enter the palace to visit the Crown Prince. His Majesty is currently looking for an opportunity to test the Crown Prince."
Shen Xihe took this seriously and asked, "Why is His Majesty testing the Crown Prince?"
She was worried that the Crown Prince had slipped up somewhere. If he were exposed too early, the Youning Emperor would certainly not tolerate him. The conflict between them would erupt prematurely, and the Emperor might not grant them marriage, disrupting many of her plans. Tianyuan looked troubled and hesitated for a long moment before saying, "It's because of Prince Munuha."
"The Turkic Prince?" Shen Xihe had made some inquiries about the visiting envoys.
Seeing Shen Xihe's questioning gaze, Tianyuan explained, "It was this Prince who ambushed the Prince Consort that day."
Shen Xihe suddenly understood—this was someone who had seen Xiao Huayong's true face. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes.
Tianyuan felt an inexplicable chill in his heart. He sensed that things might not be unfolding as the Crown Prince had anticipated, but he dared not say more. If he did, someone as perceptive as the Princess would surely detect the Crown Prince's ulterior motives, and that would backfire.
After Tianyuan left, Shen Xihe immediately ordered Mo Yuan, "Go and investigate that Turkic Prince thoroughly."
Shen Xihe did indeed think of Xiao Huayong's role in this, but she felt little remorse. Instead, she had already added Munuha to her death list.
If she could eliminate this man, wouldn't many problems be easily resolved?
He had ambushed her father and now threatened her fiancé. He was like the God of Longevity eating arsenic—tired of living.
"Princess, the Turkic Prince is an envoy. If anything were to happen to him in the capital..." Zhenzhu could already sense the killing intent emanating from Shen Xihe and felt compelled to remind her, "This matter is of great significance."
She wasn't trying to stop Shen Xihe; as a servant, it was her duty to remind her mistress, whether she had considered it or not.
"Should we wait until he returns to Turkic territory and then assassinate him?" Ziyu proposed simply.
Hongyu and Biyu rolled their eyes in unison. Zhenzhu chuckled wryly, "He ambushed the Prince Consort because half of the border region belongs to the Turks, and the soldiers there obey his orders. Not only would they not stop him, but they would even provide support if necessary."
That was why Shen Yueshan and Xiao Huayong had not pursued him relentlessly to capture him alive.
But if they were to ambush Munuha, how could they bypass the soldiers on their side of the border?
Ziyu stuck out her tongue.
Shen Xihe lowered her head and stroked Duanming's back. Duanming instinctively bristled, as if sensing a deadly danger and fear.
Seeing this, Shen Xihe smiled. "If we are to kill him, it must be done in the capital. We cannot assassinate him secretly, nor can we do it openly and risk starting a war, with His Majesty launching a thorough investigation. We need a way to make His Majesty stand on our side."
"Make His Majesty stand on our side?" Hongyu and the others exchanged glances.
"Has Yangling Princess been acting unusually lately?" Shen Xihe suddenly asked.
Zhenzhu silently recited "Amitabha" for Yangling Princess. "No, she hasn't.""If the Turkic prince were to kill Yangling Princess, could he return unscathed?" Shen Xihe murmured softly.
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