However... Xiao Changqing, being such a meticulous person, would know who was behind the ambush on Xiao Changtai.
Some trouble was inevitable.
Shen Xihe decided not to dwell on it and instructed Zhenzhu, who was on night watch, to monitor any messages. She then settled down to rest peacefully.
Early the next morning, as Zhenzhu helped her dress, she reported, "The target escaped."
The white signal flare meant the mission had failed. Shen Xihe nodded, proceeding with her usual washing and morning meal. Just as the food was laid out on the table, Xiao Huayong arrived, and the two shared the meal together.
After a sleepless night tossing and turning, Gu Qingshu went to find Xiao Changqing at daybreak. She hadn't overheard much—only Shen Xihe mentioning Xiao Changqing and recalling his previous visit when he asked if her elder sister knew Shen Xihe. This made her wary of Shen Xihe. Now, hearing Xiao Changqing's name from Shen Xihe again, even if Shen Xihe had used the distant form "Prince Xin," Gu Qingshu hesitated. Would speaking up give Xiao Changqing further misconceptions about Shen Xihe?
Shen Xihe was already betrothed to Xiao Huayong, but rumors said Xiao Huayong... was not long-lived. Was she trying to keep a foot in both boats?
In this dynasty, marriage restrictions were not overly strict. As long as the parties were not of the same surname, it was permissible for a brother to marry his brother's widow, a younger brother to marry his elder brother's widow, or even a father-in-law to marry his son's widow. Though such unions drew sideways glances and were not widely accepted, they did not violate the law.
"You've been distracted all morning. What troubles you?" Gu Qingshu's anxious state was too obvious for Xiao Changqing to ignore.
"Brother-in-law..." Gu Qingshu's gaze drifted uneasily.
"Does it concern Zhaoning County Princess?" Xiao Changqing asked. "Last night's incident has spread."
Although the guards hadn't been alerted, the courtyard housed more than just the three of them—Princess Anling and Princess Pingling were also there, along with their attending palace maids and eunuchs.
Gu Qingshu hadn't realized the matter was already widely known, so she spoke frankly: "Last night, while searching for my civet cat, I happened to hear the County Princess say she knew how you helped someone escape danger and had sent Mo Yuan..."
That was all she caught, and she hadn't even clearly heard Xiao Changtai's name.
Xiao Changqing fell silent for a moment upon hearing this. He understood Shen Xihe's implication but didn't believe she could truly know. Calmly, he reassured Gu Qingshu, "You must have misheard. I bear no grudge against Zhaoning County Princess."
As Gu Qingshu was about to say more, Xiao Changying arrived, and she fell silent. The fierce prince disliked her and held prejudices against her. With his vicious temperament, if provoked, he was capable of anything, never considering it beneath a man to bully a woman.
Midway through their morning meal, a guard rushed in, looking grim, and whispered something into Xiao Changqing's ear.
Xiao Changqing's hand, holding the chopsticks, froze mid-air. It took him a while to regain his composure. He ordered the guard to escort Gu Qingshu back before turning to Xiao Changying and saying, "Fourth Brother was ambushed on the lake."
"It wasn't me," Xiao Changying immediately stood up, distancing himself. "I set the ambush outside the capital, not on the lake..." At this, he urgently asked, "What about Fourth Brother?"
If the ambush had occurred on the lake, if Xiao Changtai had died, so be it. But if he survived, wouldn't he have inadvertently avoided Xiao Changying's trap?Xiao Changqing glanced at Xiao Changying: "He likely anticipated your ambush. According to reports, both he and Ye Shi jumped into the river when ambushed. Judging by their actions, they had long prepared this escape route."
This meant even without the ambush, Xiao Changtai would have jumped into the river to escape. Being an excellent swimmer, he had previously used waterways to evade capture. His confidence stemmed from having exceptionally skilled swimmers among his subordinates.
"Who could have known about the route Brother chose for his departure?" Xiao Changying exclaimed in surprise.
The path Xiao Changqing selected was extremely cunning. Had Xiao Changqing not informed him, Xiao Changying would never have imagined such a route existed. The uninhabited area beneath the high mountains concealed a fissure running through the rock underwater. Unless one had personally explored it like Xiao Changqing, even standing by the riverbank, ordinary people would never suspect the thick wall hid a bifurcated mountain base with a passage piercing through the heart of the mountain.
Xiao Changqing's mind conjured Shen Xihe's image, coupled with Gu Qingshu's earlier words. What he initially dismissed now demanded serious consideration. How could Shen Xihe know about this path?
She grew up in the northwest and had never visited that area since arriving in the capital. How did she come to know of it?
Moreover, her dispatch of Mo Yuan to intercept and assassinate was impulsive—meaning she had only recently learned of the route. To suddenly know and act with such conviction, immediately sending her trusted subordinate galloping back—it was baffling. What triggered this sudden realization and unwavering certainty?
There had been no prior indication. It was only after meeting him that she promptly sent Mo Yuan back to retrieve her forgotten belongings.
They had merely encountered each other at the courtyard gate, exchanged greetings without further conversation, and yet she instantly deduced such profound implications...
Xiao Changqing closed his eyes, meticulously recalling every detail of yesterday's encounter with Shen Xihe. His fingers unconsciously brushed against the seal on his wrist. Abruptly, his eyes snapped open, and he stared down at the token in his hand.
He had always maintained distance from Shen Xihe, so he couldn't be certain of her expression at the time. Now, a wild conjecture surfaced: Did Shen Xihe decipher the connection upon seeing this seal?
But how could that be?
This was Qingqing's belonging. How would Shen Xihe recognize it? Even if she did, how could a mere seal lead her to deduce that specific route?
He shot to his feet, pounding his forehead with a clenched fist. He felt he was going mad—how could he entertain such an implausible notion?
"Brother, what's wrong..." Xiao Changying began, but before he could finish, Xiao Changqing bolted out.
He charged straight toward Shen Xihe's courtyard. The eunuchs assumed he was there to see Gu Qingzhi, but he veered toward Shen Xihe's quarters, shoving past obstructing guards and bursting inside.
There, he found Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong, who had apparently heard the commotion and emerged side by side.
"Fifth Brother, what is the meaning of this? Barging into the ladies' quarters? Do you have a reason?" Xiao Huayong subtly positioned himself in front of Shen Xihe, disliking the probing, complex, and faintly frantic gaze Xiao Changqing fixed upon her.
"Who are you?" Xiao Changqing seemed not to hear Xiao Huayong's words. He strode toward Shen Xihe behind him. "Who are you!"
"Brother!" Xiao Changying rushed forward and restrained Xiao Changqing, narrowly avoiding a palm strike from Xiao Huayong.
"Tell me, who exactly are you?" Xiao Changqing struggled violently against Xiao Changying's hold, his eyes bloodshot and locked on Shen Xihe."Guards, Prince Xin has lost his mind. Escort him before His Majesty at once." Xiao Huayong's icy command rang out to the courtyard.
Palace guards rushed in and forcibly restrained Xiao Changqing upon the Crown Prince's order. Yet Xiao Changqing's gaze remained fixed upon Shen Xihe as he shouted hoarsely, "Who are you?"
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