Xiao Changtai was the mastermind behind the tomb robbery case, with Li Yanyan as his accomplice—facts well known to the Youning Emperor.
It was precisely because of this knowledge that the Emperor understood a cunning and venomous man like Xiao Changtai would never rashly enter the capital unless compelled by dire circumstances. Clearly, Xiao Changtai had fallen into a trap, and the one who set it was the true possessor of His Majesty's birth details.
If not through supernatural means, then Xiao Huayong—who had attended upon the Empress Dowager for twelve years—was the most likely suspect.
Perhaps the Emperor had long harbored suspicions about Xiao Huayong, but his actions had never crossed the imperial bottom line—until now, with the appearance of the voodoo doll, an act utterly intolerable to any ruler.
"As long as my poison remains unresolved, he will continue playing the benevolent father." Xiao Huayong gave Shen Xihe this reassurance.
The Emperor was fully aware of the poison in his body. Why resort to drastic measures that would further strain his already tenuous maternal bond with the Empress Dowager, when nature could take its course?
Shen Xihe nodded. Though the Emperor might not know the specific symptoms of Xiao Huayong's poisoning, he certainly believed the Unique Poison remained active. "Why wouldn't the Princess Consort of Dai speak?"
Even if Li Yanyan failed to grasp what the Emperor wanted, his agents would have hinted at it. She could have easily complied by revealing Xiao Huayong's scheme against Xiao Changtai, yet she refused.
Not only did she withhold information, but her account of Ye Wantang's kidnapping—which she indeed orchestrated—was flawless. Even confronted with Ye Wantang's testimony, no discrepancies emerged.
Now Shen Xihe understood why Xiao Huayong hadn't abducted Ye Wantang personally, instead using Li Yanyan as proxy—this left no trace of his involvement.
"She hates the Emperor," Xiao Huayong explained. "Her kingdom fell, her family perished, and she became a pawn to control the Western Liang Li Clan. Were she to die by suicide, the Lis' resistance would lead to their extermination. Forced to live, she endures this torment.
All these years, the Third Prince has devoted himself to her. How could she, being human, remain unmoved? Yet he is also the son of her mortal enemy—intensifying her hatred toward the Emperor.
The emergence of someone who threatens the Emperor is exactly what she desires."
Li Yanyan desperately wished for someone to challenge the Youning Emperor. Had she not developed feelings for Xiao Changtian, she wouldn't have collaborated with Xiao Changtai. Instead, she would have fueled Xiao Changtian's ambitions, turning all princes against each other—wanting the Emperor to witness in his old age how the realm he protected crumbled under his sons' strife. Only this could satisfy her and ease her nation's demise.
So that was it. Shen Xihe had assumed Li Yanyan, being Xiao Changtai's collaborator, would resent Xiao Huayong for ruining their plans and rendering her years of scheming futile.
Perhaps she did despise Xiao Huayong for destroying her designs and reducing her to a prisoner. But with Xiao Huayong operating in shadows, he posed a greater threat to the Emperor. Weighing both, she preferred to conceal Xiao Huayong's involvement, awaiting the day the Emperor would stumble.
"How will His Majesty deal with her?" Shen Xihe asked again.
"Ten years on, the Western Liang Li Clan no longer poses a threat. The Emperor could execute her without hesitation in Western Liang," Xiao Huayong contemplated before adding, "but he won't take her life. His Majesty still maintains paternal affection for his princes."However, this bond of flesh and blood would prove utterly fragile when pitted against the greater scheme of things.
Xiao Changtian had only Li Yanyan in his heart, and for Xiao Changtian’s sake, the Emperor would never take Li Yanyan’s life.
Just as last year, he had spared Gu Shi’s life, also for the sake of Xiao Changqing.
Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong were discussing Li Yanyan, while Li Yanyan, at that very moment, was meeting with the Youning Emperor, who had personally come to the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs.
“This is the last time I ask you—think carefully,” said the Youning Emperor.
“Since Your Majesty does not believe my words, why ask further?” Li Yanyan, disheveled and grimy, sat cross-legged in her cell, twirling a piece of straw she had torn from her bed. “I did detain Ye Shi, but only because Xiao Changtai disregarded me. I wanted to teach him a lesson. Xiao Changtai came to the capital for Ye Shi’s sake. As for when we were discovered or who targeted us, I know nothing.”
The Youning Emperor watched Li Yanyan silently for a moment as she played with the straw, then ordered Liu Sanzhi, “Bring in the Third Prince.”
Xiao Changtian, haggard and pale, was brought in. “Your Majesty, I beg you to spare Yanyan.”
“You know full well what crimes she has committed. I give you two choices: either a cup of poisoned wine, or take another principal wife,” the Emperor said expressionlessly.
Li Yanyan had assisted Xiao Changtai in orchestrating that heinous tomb-raiding case. Xiao Changtian knew there was no way to argue his way out of it now, but he had never expected the Emperor to present him with two such impossible choices.
Li Yanyan was a princess—how could she become a concubine? Even as a secondary consort, it was unthinkable. To her, it would be more cruel than death.
“Xiao Changtian!” Li Yanyan glared at him coldly.
If Xiao Changtian truly chose to demote her to a concubine, she would hate him forever.
She was the hope of the Western Liang Li clan. If she died, she could well imagine what those people would do—undoubtedly, they would follow her in death. For the sake of her clansmen, she had to live, even if it meant enduring humiliation.
Xiao Changtian looked at Li Yanyan. He knew she would rather live as a secondary consort than die. She wanted the Li royal clan to abandon their rebellious ambitions, to live in peace and contentment. In ten years, when they had fully let go of their royal pride and accepted reality, even news of Li Yanyan’s death would not provoke extreme actions.
She had always valued the Li royal clan more than him. He had always known it, yet the knowledge still pierced his heart like a knife.
Turning away from Li Yanyan’s intense, warning gaze, he knelt with a thud. “Your Majesty, I beg for the poisoned wine.”
He had promised he would never betray her in this lifetime, that he would never take another wife. Whether she believed him or not, he would keep his word.
“Xiao Changtian—” Li Yanyan rushed forward, gripping the iron bars of the cell, her eyes filled with resentment and fury.
At the Emperor’s signal, Liu Sanzhi quickly brought a cup of poisoned wine.
“Your Majesty, allow me to administer the wine myself,” Xiao Changtian requested.
The Youning Emperor ordered the cell door opened. Li Yanyan retreated swiftly, pressing herself against the stone wall like a cornered young beast, wary of Xiao Changtian.
Xiao Changtian stepped closer, watching Li Yanyan as she braced herself against the wall with her hands behind her. Holding the cup of poisoned wine, he smiled. With a flick of his finger, a bead torn from his clothing struck Li Yanyan, causing her body to go limp as her limbs instantly grew numb and weak.Xiao Changtian knelt down, took her hand, and despite her feeble resistance, made her grasp the wine cup. Holding her hand firmly, he caused a slight spill of the wine as he said, "You once said you dreamed of killing me with your own hands..."
Before his words faded, he gave a sorrowful smile and guided her hand to bring the cup to his lowered lips, draining it in one gulp.
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