Chapter 397: The Curse of Witchcraft
This matter had nothing to do with him. It was the Crown Prince targeting the Fourth Prince. Since the Crown Prince was engaged to Shen Xihe, to restrain both Shen Xihe and the Crown Prince, and knowing of his affection for Shen Yingluo, they kidnapped Shen Yingluo to secure his protection.
Shen Yingluo's complexion improved slightly. She properly curtsied to Xiao Changmin and prepared to leave.
Xiao Changmin instinctively reached out and grabbed her arm. Shen Yingluo quickly broke free and stepped back several paces.
Her attitude of avoiding him like the plague made Xiao Changmin's breath catch, and he couldn't help but feel rising anger: "Because I saved you, because I was the first person you saw, you suspect your suffering was caused by me. When the Crown Prince involves you, you don't care at all?
What? Is the Eastern Palace's threshold higher than my Zhao Wang residence? Do you still want to share a husband with your sister?"
Shen Yingluo clenched her fists. She almost raised her hand to slap the man before her, but reason restrained her. This was a prince before her; there were distinctions of rank. She had no capital to defy superiors in his presence.
Her small face flushed red with anger, Shen Yingluo sneered: "Your Highness, Huaiyang curtsied to you not to thank you for saving my life, but merely as etiquette between ranks. Was Huaiyang truly implicated by the Crown Prince? If Your Highness hadn't made your improper thoughts about me known to everyone, how could I have encountered today's misfortune?
If the Fourth Prince didn't believe he could gain Your Highness's assistance by using me, would he truly use an unfavored concubine-born daughter of the Shen family like me to restrain the Crown Prince?"
Of course not. Xiao Changtai's main purpose in kidnapping her was precisely to borrow Xiao Changmin's influence.
Xiao Changmin's eyes reddened with anger at her questioning: "Shen Yingluo, do you have no heart? For you, I was forced to my residence? For you, I exposed the Hidden Guards I've painstakingly cultivated for years, losing over twenty of them! And you actually say your suffering is all because of me?"
"Isn't it?" Shen Yingluo didn't yield an inch. "Not just this time. That day when I was pushed into the frozen lake in the palace, if you hadn't had improper thoughts about me, why would others scheme against us, trying to pair us together to cut off the Crown Prince's path to marrying my elder sister?"
Xiao Changmin felt blood rushing to his head, directly sensing a bloody sweetness rising in his throat.
What kind of logic was this? So his liking for her, his care for her, had all become wrong. Clearly she was implicated because of Shen Xihe, yet she didn't harbor the slightest hatred towards Shen Xihe!
"For Huaiyang's safety in the future, I beg Your Highness to treat Huaiyang as a stranger from today onward. If someone kidnaps Huaiyang again in the future, even with a knife at Huaiyang's throat, please don't glance at Huaiyang again. Your Highness's deep affection is more fortune than Huaiyang deserves!" After speaking these heartless words, Shen Yingluo turned and strode away.
Xiao Changmin was so angry he didn't want to look at her anymore, afraid that if he glanced again, he would vomit blood!
Just as Shen Yingluo reached the main gate of Zhao Wang residence, Xiao Changying stood at the entrance. Their eyes met, and Shen Yingluo stepped forward to curtsey.
"This prince will escort County Lord Huaiyang back to the Shen residence," Xiao Changying offered proactively.
Shen Yingluo had thought Xiao Changying came to find Xiao Changmin, and was taken aback by his words, immediately becoming wary.
"County Lord Huaiyang needn't overthink. This prince wouldn't kidnap you in broad daylight right at Second Brother's residence gate," Xiao Changying said impatiently. This prince is merely concerned that if something improper happens to you after leaving the royal residence, it might implicate the princess to run around for you again."During these days, Shen Xihe had dispatched all her people to search for Shen Yingluo. If anyone intended to harm the Princess Manor at this time, he would be worried sick about Shen Xihe. However, knowing that Shen Xihe did not need his concern, he could only sit on the rooftop of a neighboring house every night, watching every move around the Princess Manor from afar.
So he was devoted...
Shen Yingluo understood implicitly and did not refuse Xiao Changying's kindness: "Thank you, Prince Lie."
"Troublesome," Xiao Changying tossed out two words before striding ahead.
These women were utterly irritating—hesitant in their actions, dragging things out without resolution, completely unlike Shen Xihe's clean and decisive manner.
Xiao Changying prepared the carriage. Shen Yingluo pretended not to hear his remarks and boarded the carriage.
He escorted her to the main road, where Mo Yuan and Tan Shi arrived with their entourage to receive her. They had received the news a step later than those residing in the royal residence. Xiao Changying handed her over to Mo Yuan and Tan Shi, then turned his horse around and left.
"Nanny, should I... go to the Princess Manor?" Shen Yingluo asked after changing carriages. "I've caused trouble for Elder Sister."
"County Lord, you were abducted because of the Crown Prince and the Princess. Instead of resenting the Princess, you feel you've burdened her?" Tan Shi inquired.
Shen Yingluo looked at Tan Shi in confusion: "Nanny, you taught me since childhood that honor and disgrace are shared. When complaining about being implicated, one must consider the blessings received—they far outweigh the troubles. I bear the surname Shen, and all my wealth and status come from it. I should not only think of myself. In the future... more people will target me to get to them."
Tan Shi smiled with both relief and affection, reaching out to stroke Shen Yingluo's head: "The County Lord speaks wisely. You were implicated because you are a Shen; likewise, the Princess worries about you and sent people to search for you because you are a Shen. Therefore, you need neither resent nor blame yourself."
Shen Yingluo thought it over and agreed. Since that was the case, she would not go to the Princess Manor. She did not particularly wish to see Shen Xihe, and Shen Xihe likely felt the same about her. Mo Yuan was Shen Xihe's personal guard; once he safely returned her to the residence, Shen Xihe would naturally be informed.
Upon arriving at the Shen residence, Mo Yuan left six people behind: "County Lord, the Princess ordered them to remain here for protection."
The Shen residence belonged to the Shen family. Shen Xihe had greater authority over it than Shen Yingluo herself. By informing her, Shen Xihe was being transparent.
It meant these guards would only patrol outside, neither monitoring her nor reporting her activities. Additionally, if she wished to avoid them, she could conduct her affairs discreetly.
"I understand," Shen Yingluo nodded.
Mo Yuan relayed the message back to the Princess Manor. Shen Xihe merely responded with a faint "Hmm."
She should have stationed people at the Shen residence long ago. Previously, she hesitated, fearing Shen Yingluo might misinterpret it as her controlling the Shen residence while living in the Princess Manor, thereby embarrassing Shen Yingluo. Harmony in the family leads to prosperity in all endeavors. With numerous external threats to handle, she had no desire to entangle in conflicts with Shen Yingluo, which was why she had not posted guards earlier.
Just then, Zhenzhu hurried over, her expression grave as she reported to Shen Xihe: "Princess, news from the palace—the Fourth Prince committed self-immolation."
"Self-immolation?" Shen Xihe was stunned. How could it suddenly turn into self-immolation?"It was self-immolation. The combined investigation by the Dali Temple, the Imperial Clan Court, and the local county magistrate concluded that the Fourth Prince died by self-immolation." Zhenzhu's eyes held a veiled light, hesitating for a moment before continuing, "The Fourth Prince was discovered by the tomb guards practicing witchcraft against Your Majesty. He killed the guards, but unbeknownst to him, they had already relayed the message. In the end, he chose to self-immolate."
Witchcraft!
Shen Xihe never expected Xiao Huayong to be this ruthless. During the Han dynasty, the witchcraft controversy had led to the deaths of Empress Wei and the Crown Prince's faction. In this dynasty, witchcraft was explicitly listed in the legal codes as a grave crime!
(End of Chapter)
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