"Zhaoning has come today, inspired by Princess Anling," Shen Xihe said with solemn expression. "Ever since Bian Dajia's incident, there have been people in the palace secretly harming Zhaoning. Changling Princess died under extremely suspicious circumstances, and Yangling Princess met the same fate. Zhaoning suspects these two princesses' deaths are also connected to that person, which has left me deeply unsettled. That's why I've come to seek Your Majesty and speak out. Zhaoning fears that since he has witnessed my conflict with Princess Anling, he might exploit her again.
Your Majesty has already lost two princesses. If both deaths were because of Zhaoning, I would truly be unable to live with my conscience."
Youning Emperor's eyes turned cold as he listened. He actually found Shen Xihe's reasoning quite plausible. Changling's death remained shrouded in mystery, and while Yangling's death appeared justified on surface, he always felt there was a manipulative hand behind it all.
However, his suspicion had been directed at Shen Xihe himself. Just before Shen Xihe's arrival, Youning Emperor had been discussing this very matter with Liu Sanzhi. Both Yangling and Changling had conflicts with Shen Xihe before their deaths. If Shen Xihe had absolutely no connection to these incidents, he wouldn't believe it.
He never expected to receive such news - that someone was using princesses to target her, and when their schemes were exposed, they silenced the princesses.
This made him think of Liang Zhaorong. Liang Zhaorong privately enjoyed watching dances and often summoned Bian Xianyi for entertainment, sometimes discussing dance for entire days. Since Princess Consort of Dai had borne no children for years, Liang Zhaorong had considered Bian Xianyi to help continue the Dai royal line.
If Bian Xianyi had indeed attempted to harm Shen Xihe back then, could she have been acting under Liang Zhaorong's orders? And was Liang Zhaorong, like Changling, silenced because the scheme was exposed?
To harm two princesses and one imperial consort - could there really be someone so audacious in his palace?
"Zhaoning, are you asking me to have someone watch Anling to uncover the mastermind you speak of?" Youning Emperor asked.
Shen Xihe hesitated briefly: "Your Majesty, Zhaoning wishes for Your Majesty to protect Princess Anling."
"Protect Anling?" Youning Emperor scrutinized Shen Xihe.
"Before their unfortunate deaths, both Changling Princess and Yangling Princess had conflicts with Zhaoning. This time with Yangling Princess, if not for the involvement of a Turkic prince, many would likely suspect Zhaoning already," Shen Xihe spoke softly, unable to conceal her helplessness. "If Princess Anling also meets misfortune after clashing with Zhaoning, I would undoubtedly be unable to defend myself."
Yes, if anything happened to Princess Anling, Shen Xihe would be unable to clear her name, even without evidence. If she couldn't prove her innocence, Youning Emperor would have to impose some punishment on her. This was precisely why Shen Xihe wouldn't move against Princess Anling herself.
Moreover, while others might be misled by Munuha, Youning Emperor would never easily believe such tales. His words to Xiao Huayong merely recounted the investigated sequence of events, not his personal convictions. Today, upon arriving, Shen Xihe had detected the Emperor's hidden suspicions toward her.
Now there was a permanent solution: use Princess Anling to lure out the person behind all this, making both the Emperor and Princess Anling clearly understand that Changling and Yangling's deaths had nothing to do with her. Only this could prevent Princess Anling from foolishly getting involved and forcing Shen Xihe's hand.
As for whether this person would definitely act?
Shen Xihe was confident he certainly would!Because he wanted her life, and the reason he hadn't succeeded so far—having to rely on others every time—was because the guards by her side were elite warriors from the northwest. They were agile and highly skilled, protecting her so thoroughly that not a drop of water could leak through.
If these people were removed, he would no longer need to depend on others or worry about cleaning up afterward; he could handle it himself.
How could he pass up such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
As long as his desire to kill her remained, he would inevitably take action!
"You are worried about Anling; I understand. I have it in mind," the Youning Emperor nodded. "I will order the Embroidered Uniform Envoys to protect Anling in secret."
Upon hearing this, Shen Xihe's expression relaxed, and she bowed to the Youning Emperor. "Zhaoning thanks Your Majesty."
With the serious matter concluded, Shen Xihe did not linger in the Hall of Bright Governance to waste the Youning Emperor's time. The emperor was very busy and permitted her to withdraw.
After she left, he turned to Liu Sanzhi and asked, "Do you find this matter interesting?"The person he suspected had openly come to him, laying out the fact that she was the most suspicious individual, and even bluntly stated that there was someone secretly plotting against her, while also expressing concern for Anling's safety."
"Your Majesty, the princess could not have staged this herself, seeking out a behind-the-scenes culprit to turn herself in, just to clear her suspicions," Liu Sanzhi said.
If Shen Xihe could guess that Your Majesty would suspect her, then her cunning would be terrifyingly profound. In that case, she would not take such a risky move to dispel Your Majesty's suspicions, or else she would be underestimating Your Majesty.
If Shen Xihe could not guess that Your Majesty suspected her, there would be no need for this extra step.
At this moment, Liu Sanzhi believed Shen Xihe's words—that there truly was such a person behind this.
"I believe it too," the Youning Emperor said. "I believe there is such a person, but whether this person was responsible for the deaths of Changling Princess and Yangling Princess cannot be determined for now."
Let's see what surprises this person will bring once lured out.
"Your Majesty...Liu Sanzhi suddenly remarked, "The princess is very intelligent."Shen Xihe's decision to seek out the Youning Emperor meant she believed the one secretly trying to kill her was not Your Majesty. After all, Your Majesty was also highly likely to want her dead.
"I have not lost all humanity to the point of sacrificing two daughters just to kill someone."
As the emperor, even if he feared Shen Yueshan and wanted to kill Shen Xihe, he had plenty of methods to make Shen Yueshan dare not protest. Why would he use his own daughters to deal with Shen Xihe?
That Shen Xihe did not suspect him only showed she was not foolish.
"Princess, is this method feasible?"" Zhenzhu accompanied Shen Xihe back to the Hall of Eternal Peace, feeling somewhat worried. After all, this matter had drawn in the emperor.
The Youning Emperor was not an easy person to control, and it was hard to predict how many variables would arise once he caught the person.
"Why do you think I sought the Crown Prince's assistance?" Shen Xihe replied. Wasn't it precisely because she feared the Youning Emperor's unpredictability?
She walked slowly along the broad corridor, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, as the slightly cool spring breeze stirred her hair and skirt. "This is a game between the monarch and the Crown Prince. I also want to see how far the Crown Prince can go under the emperor's watchful eye."
Regarding the deaths of Changling Princess and Yangling Princess, the Youning Emperor suspected her the most, as well as Xiao Huayong, who was determined to marry her—and rightly so.
If this matter was handled well, the emperor's suspicions toward them would be dispelled. In the future, he would not keep a close watch on them, and they could also uncover the enemy she had never been able to see.To repay Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe went early the next morning. She disliked owing favors, but when she proposed to paint for him, Xiao Huayong repeatedly declined. This went on for three consecutive days until news arrived from Yangdi that Munuha, who had been in hiding, had been sighted. Shen Xihe then said, "Your Highness, I must leave the palace tomorrow."
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