Chapter 385: The Crown Prince's Profound Thoughts
"How does Youyou wish to deal with him?" Xiao Huayong asked.
Shen Xihe gently rested her hands on her knees and looked up at Xiao Huayong with a faint smile. "Can I truly handle him however I wish?"
"What if we leave his corpse exposed at the city gate?" Shen Xihe threaded a new needle with embroidery thread.
"That would be somewhat difficult, but not impossible." Xiao Huayong pondered seriously.
Shen Xihe suddenly lifted her head. "Your Highness, do you understand the implications?"
Munuha is a prince of the Turks. Exposing the corpse of a Turkish prince at the capital's gate would be enough to provoke war between the two nations.
"Your words hold no hidden meaning for me. I only wish to fulfill your desires. As for the consequences or whom it may involve—leave that to me. You need not worry." His voice was gentle, like camellia blossoms peeking over a wall, unfurling delicate stamens swaying in the breeze, their subtle fragrance drifting in the air.
"As long as I am here, you may live as recklessly as you please, following your heart's contentment."
Who doesn't enjoy hearing sweet words? Shen Xihe had gradually grown accustomed to Xiao Huayong's effortless expressions of affection. While she found them comforting and felt no aversion, her rationality remained unshaken by honeyed phrases. "Your Highness, no one in this world is invincible. Just as dynasties peak and then decline, have you considered what would happen if one day our willful actions lead to chaos we cannot control?"
"What is there to fear?" Xiao Huayong laughed carefreely. "Neither of us are the type to cling to life miserably. If that day truly comes, I would gladly join you in the afterlife.
Who can escape death? To live freely and die without regrets—that is a life worth living."
Perhaps only someone like him, who had long known he might die young, could view life and death with such detachment.
"Your Highness, some say if the Conqueror had crossed the river, the mighty Han dynasty might never have risen," Shen Xihe murmured softly. "Sometimes, retreating and biding one's time allows for a triumphant return."
"Everyone has their own way of living," Xiao Huayong replied with a smile. "The King of Wu endured humiliation to achieve greatness; the Conqueror's suicide at the Wu River was equally heroic."
After a moment's thought, Shen Xihe nodded in agreement. "I leave Munuha to Your Highness. Exposing his corpse at the gate was merely a jest."
It truly was just a jest. Initially, she had urged her father and brother to prepare for war against the Turks, hoping to pressure His Majesty. But someone interfered, allowing Munuha to escape, and the plan failed. Three months had passed since then, and the northwest no longer had the advantage of a preemptive strike. It would be best if Munuha died quietly and unnoticed.
As for why she had tested Xiao Huayong with such words, it was merely to gauge his perspective. Yet he had not even considered the implications, simply indulging her whims, leaving Shen Xihe both amused and exasperated.
Understanding her true intent, Xiao Huayong nodded. "Very well."
"Munuha won't talk. Does Your Highness suspect anyone?" Shen Xihe pressed.
Xiao Huayong took a sip of the Eucommia Leaf tea Shen Xihe had specially brewed for him, setting the cup down gracefully. "It's actually quite simple to deduce."
Her bright eyes shifting, Shen Xihe turned her gaze to him, assuming an attentive posture.
"This person's goal is to test me—to use Munuha to expose me," Xiao Huayong explained leisurely. "Thus, they suspect me. Although Munuha hinted as much before His Majesty, few truly doubt me."I have no need to test the Fifth Prince, Ninth Prince, or Twelfth Prince—I’ve already revealed myself completely in front of them.
The Second Prince has been busy scheming for the positions of Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and Censor-in-Chief lately, leaving him no time to spare.
The Third Prince is someone who prioritizes self-preservation; even if he suspects something, he remains indifferent.
The Eighth Prince is far away in Annam City. Although he has people in the capital, they are incapable of executing something so flawlessly."
Xiao Huayong mentioned everyone except the Fourth Prince, Xiao Changtai, who had gone to the imperial mausoleum, leaving Shen Xihe with a meaningful smile.
After a moment of thought, Shen Xihe understood: "On the Lantern Festival, the Fourth Prince secretly returned to meet privately with the Princess Consort of Dai. It must have been at the East Tower. He saw you, and perhaps even followed you. Maybe he saw more than the Golden Guard that Wang Zheng led there."
Having witnessed Xiao Huayong’s skills and learned about what Munuha had told the Youning Emperor, his fear of Xiao Huayong reached its peak.
He understood clearly that with Xiao Huayong around, all his schemes would come to nothing. While he had to lurk in the shadows to grow his power covertly, Xiao Huayong could expand openly under everyone’s watchful eyes. This disparity left him deeply unsettled.
Yet, without evidence, rashly exposing Xiao Huayong would only reveal his suspicions and lead to a fate similar to Munuha’s. That was why he used Munuha instead.
He first released Munuha and, before anyone could react, sent him out of the capital. His intention was not to help Munuha but to ensure that once Munuha escaped, Xiao Huayong would never allow him to live and would inevitably pursue him.
By hiding in the shadows and watching Xiao Huayong’s men chase Munuha, he could intervene when necessary to help Munuha escape. Along the way, he thoroughly observed Xiao Huayong’s power, and the more he saw, the more terrified he became.
Yes, the Fourth Prince, Xiao Changtai, was the most suspicious and the most capable of pulling off such a scheme.
Realizing this, Shen Xihe suddenly uncovered an astonishing design: "The sweet dumplings..."
Xiao Huayong’s eyes shimmered with a silvery glow, sparkling with amusement. "The sweet dumplings were specifically prepared for the Third Prince."
Regarding the sweet dumpling shooting, since all the brothers participated, it naturally followed the order of seniority. Xiao Huayong knew the Second Prince’s abilities well—there was a ninety percent chance he would miss. Even if by some fluke the Second Prince succeeded, Xiao Huayong could ensure he never ingested it.
The Third Prince had always been skilled at shooting sweet dumplings and had often demonstrated this in previous years. Though he had no desire to compete for fame, he would not deliberately show weakness to avoid being underestimated. As long as he did not hold back, the chance of him missing was almost zero. If even heaven did not favor this plan, Xiao Huayong would have no recourse.
If Dai Prince Xiao Changtian shot and ate a poisoned sweet dumpling, and the Princess Consort of Dai was in cahoots with the Fourth Prince, she would surely have some knowledge of the Fourth Prince’s collaboration with Munuha. Upon learning that her husband had been poisoned with a herb unique to the Turks, she would realize that the Fourth Prince, Xiao Changtai, had joined forces with Munuha to target Xiao Huayong, inadvertently harming her husband in the process.
The Princess Consort of Dai cared deeply for her husband. If this incident was indeed a plot by the Fourth Prince and Munuha, she would undoubtedly arrange to confront Xiao Changtai.
Though Xiao Huayong was certain this was Xiao Changtai’s doing, he, like Shen Xihe, would not act solely on suspicion.
Once the Princess Consort of Dai sought out the Fourth Prince, it would unequivocally prove that Xiao Changtai was the one who conspired with Munuha.Xiao Huayong must have already sent someone to keep an eye on Li Yanyan.
"Has Princess Consort of Dai made a move?" Shen Xihe asked softly.
(End of Chapter)
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