Chapter 443: He Had Already Set the Trap
The Youning Emperor's purpose was to test Xiao Huayong—not to verify whether he was truly powerless and without influence, but to gauge his depth. The emperor was already convinced that Xiao Huayong was not as simple as he appeared.
At this moment, any unusual movement from Xiao Huayong would not escape the Youning Emperor's notice. Shen Xihe, however, was different. It was only natural for the Northwest King's estate to have a foundation, and it was reasonable for them to have covert operatives in the capital. As long as they did not cross the Youning Emperor's bottom line, even if exposed, it was nothing to fear.
"Your Highness, if we expose all our people this time to search for the Crown Prince, it will be even easier for His Majesty or others to harm you in the future," Zhenzhu whispered to Shen Xihe while Tianyuan was away arranging personnel.
These were all the covert agents Shen Yungan had handed over to Shen Xihe when he came to the capital last year—people who had been embedded in the capital for many years. No one had ever imagined that one day they would be exposed for the sake of the Crown Prince.
"Exigent circumstances call for expedient measures. People can be cultivated again," Shen Xihe said with a calm expression.
"I am not suggesting we leave the Crown Prince in danger without regard," Zhenzhu voiced her thoughts. "The Crown Prince is exceptionally strategic and has long known that His Majesty intends to harm him. He would not sit idly by and must have a countermeasure in place..."
Therefore, they did not need to go all out without reservation. She agreed with Shen Xihe's plan to mix the Crown Prince's men with their Northwest guards, led by Tianyuan, to rescue Xiao Huayong. However, she felt that Shen Xihe did not need to exhaust all her resources.
"I understand what you mean, but this is..." Shen Xihe recalled the roster Xiao Huayong had given her that day, which contained all his trusted agents. This time, the emperor had acted suddenly. Had Xiao Huayong anticipated it early on, or had the emperor caught him off guard? Shen Xihe could not be sure. "His Majesty is not only testing the Crown Prince this time."
He was testing her as well. She and Xiao Huayong had been inseparable, clearly showing their deep affection. If she remained unmoved or only pretended to take action now that Xiao Huayong was in trouble, it would arouse the emperor's suspicion. Once Xiao Huayong escaped, it would imply that she had been certain all along that he would be safe, inadvertently exposing Xiao Huayong's capabilities.
"He must have known this early on, which is why he compensated me in advance," Shen Xihe chuckled softly.
She realized that the emperor intended to kill two birds with one stone—to assess both their strengths before feeling secure enough to let them marry. She had no choice but to follow the situation and expose the Shen family's agents. In return, Xiao Huayong had given her a list of names that would not be compromised.
Zhenzhu had not considered such complexities. Regardless of whether Shen Xihe's speculations were accurate, she could sense Shen Xihe's determination to spare no effort in helping Xiao Huayong. Thus, she stopped persuading her: "Your Highness, should we send Mo Yuan out as well?"
"Yes," Shen Xihe nodded. She sat down and looked at the chessboard. The sealed game was still unfinished. She wanted to know how Xiao Huayong intended to break this deadlock.
The Crown Prince's abduction and the emperor's ambush were no small matters. Soon, all the guards in the temporary palace were alerted. The Youning Emperor swiftly dispatched nearby stationed troops to pursue along the route where Xiao Huayong had been taken.The surrounding mountains stretched endlessly, undulating in all directions. These people were adept at concealing their tracks, making it impossible for the army to determine their escape route upon arrival. Searching the mountains inch by inch was no different from fishing for a needle in the vast ocean. Moreover, with Xiao Huayong in their hands, every day of delay posed an additional day of danger.
Upon receiving the news, Shen Xihe furrowed her delicate brows.
"My lady, why not send Duanming to search?" Biyu suggested. The Crown Prince carried the Moonlit Cold Fragrance Shen Xihe had specially prepared. With Duanming on the trail, he would surely locate him within a day.
The Crown Prince was a living person. Even if he knew these were the Emperor's men and couldn't use force, he could still employ his wits to escape.
"Something's not right." Shen Xihe keenly detected an unusual undercurrent.
"What seems amiss?" Zhenzhu inquired.
"Where is Prince Lie?" Shen Xihe asked.
"Prince Lie has also gone missing..." Zhenzhu replied.
"Prince Lie possesses exceptional martial skills. In the past, when multiple factions joined forces to hunt him down, he fought them off for days and nights, repeatedly escaping while leaving markers behind. How could there be no trace at all this time?" Shen Xihe pressed further.
If he had engaged in combat with these men, signs of struggle would have been evident. The fact that all traces were meticulously concealed could only mean Xiao Changying had fallen into their hands early on.
Among all the imperial princes, Xiao Changying's martial prowess was second only to the unseen Prince Jing Xiao Changyan and perhaps Xiao Huayong himself. How could he be so easily subdued? Unless...
"Did the Crown Prince secretly strike against Prince Lie?" Zhenzhu, following Shen Xihe's reasoning, reached an astonishing conclusion.
"Why would the Crown Prince attack Prince Lie, who came to rescue him?" Biyu listened in bewilderment.
Shen Xihe lowered her gaze to the chessboard. The black and white pieces resembled two giant serpents—the black pieces, though surrounded layer upon layer, broke through to counter-encircle the white pieces, while the white pieces maintained their own lines of retreat. The two forces stood locked in stalemate, the outcome unpredictable.
"Because... he had long laid his plans. Prince Lie's intervention would disrupt his schemes. He intended to disappear along with these men." Shen Xihe reached this conclusion with additional evidence: Haidongqing had not appeared.
The moment Biyu suggested sending Duanming to find Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe thought of Haidongqing. While Haidongqing might not be able to track just anyone, it could certainly locate Xiao Huayong. Had she not seen Haidongqing at the temporary palace, she might have assumed the bird was too far away to help. But since she had spotted it there, that meant Haidongqing was nearby. For Xiao Huayong to be found would have been simple, yet he hadn't used Haidongqing.
"What exactly is the Crown Prince planning?" Biyu and the others grew even more perplexed. When faced with Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong, they truly couldn't fathom their masters' intricate minds.
Shen Xihe fell silent, pondering why Xiao Huayong would deliberately allow himself to be captured by the men sent by the Youning Emperor. She had a faint suspicion that these were likely members of the Invincible Army. If so, there would be no agents planted by Xiao Huayong among them. Falling into their hands was extremely dangerous, even if he was certain the Emperor wouldn't take his life.
For instance, they could poison him again, or injure an arm or a leg. Throughout history, a Crown Prince could be frail or die young, but he could not be physically disabled.Why did he make this move? It couldn't be to use this opportunity to investigate the Invincible Army—Xiao Huayong wouldn't be that naive. Even if His Majesty had indeed dispatched members of the Invincible Army, it would be at most a small squad of about a hundred men. His Majesty would never allow anyone to take Xiao Huayong to the hidden location of the Invincible Army.
If it wasn't for seizing an opportunity to gain advantages, then it must be solely to break the deadlock.
But if he couldn't be found, how would that help break the deadlock?
If she were facing such a situation, how would she go about breaking the deadlock?
Shen Xihe pondered, her eyes fixed intently on the chessboard.
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel