Chapter 445: Counter-Assassination
Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong had already been granted an imperial marriage decree. In such circumstances, Xiao Huayong meeting with misfortune before the wedding was entirely different from him dying after marriage. The former, to put it bluntly, might lead to rumors that she was ill-fated and had brought death upon Xiao Huayong.
How would His Majesty deal with Shen Xihe then? Would he have her marry Xiao Huayong posthumously and observe mourning before remarrying, or would the marriage be annulled? Regardless, Shen Xihe would have to wait three years before remarrying. Even if not strictly observing mourning, she couldn’t marry her deceased fiancé’s brother immediately after his death.
As someone once betrothed to the Crown Prince, no one but the imperial brothers would dare marry Shen Xihe. For three years, she would be held in the capital like a hostage, with even some of her freedoms restricted.
Three years was enough for winds and clouds to shift unpredictably. Who knew when His Majesty would move against the Shen family, or how this confrontation would end? At the time, he had only thought of sparing her from hardship and ensuring she remained untouched by the turmoil.
She was like a phoenix soaring through the heavens—meant to be free, revered, and overlooking the world.
“His Majesty is targeting you. Are you just going to hide your strength and drag this out with him?” In Xiao Changying’s mind, Xiao Huayong was cunning and proud—he would never allow himself to be manipulated so easily.
Xiao Huayong smiled faintly but did not answer. His gaze, fixed on the stone wall, was deep and unreadable.
“Speak!” Xiao Changying urged.
Xiao Huayong ignored him. Finally, irritated by the incessant nagging, he snapped impatiently, “Silence. Unless you wish never to leave this place.”
Xiao Changying gritted his teeth and fell silent. This was no empty threat—they had been captured by the Emperor’s men. If anything happened to him here, the Emperor couldn’t blame Xiao Huayong. His brother would likely deduce the Emperor’s involvement and grow even more resentful, perhaps even driven to treason.
Xiao Huayong had considered this too: “It might just compel your brother to exhaust all his resources to clear a path for me.”
If Xiao Changying came to harm in this affair, Xiao Changqing would surely lose his mind. There were few people Xiao Changqing cared about in this world. If they died one after another by the Emperor’s hand, he would likely run out of patience for careful plotting.
Xiao Changying snorted coldly. “Your Highness, do not fall into my hands either.”
If the Crown Prince could use this situation to assassinate him covertly, why couldn’t he do the same?
“If your brother were here, he would never utter such ignorant words,” Xiao Huayong mocked.
The death of the Crown Prince was a matter of state, unlike the death of a mere prince. If the Crown Prince died, the Emperor would have to answer to the realm. Not only would Xiao Changying be unable to harm him without leaving traces, but if any clues were uncovered, he would inevitably become the Emperor’s scapegoat. Even if Xiao Changying acted flawlessly, if the matter escalated, the Emperor might still pin the blame on him.
Closing his eyes, Xiao Huayong said lazily, “Conserve your strength. We’ll be imprisoned here for at least three to five days.”
Shen Xihe feared the Youning Emperor might poison him, and he shared that concern. Thus, he avoided all food and water brought by their captors. Going without sustenance for a few days wouldn’t kill him.
This game had been started by the Emperor, but its conclusion was no longer in His Majesty’s hands.Shen Xihe did not send Duanming to search for Xiao Huayong, and Tianyuan, who also knew of Duanming's prowess, seemed to have forgotten this detail as well. He continued diligently leading the people assigned by Shen Xihe to search for the Crown Prince's whereabouts, while Xiao Changqing was also sending men to look for Xiao Changying.
Just as Xiao Changying had anticipated, Xiao Changqing had already deduced who was targeting Xiao Huayong. Since it was the Emperor's doing, Xiao Changying was certainly not in mortal danger. Yet, he could not openly reveal that he had seen through the Emperor's scheme and had to feign ignorance, searching everywhere. Even with genuine effort, he failed to locate them.
Unaware of Duanming and Haidongqing, and ignorant of how easily Xiao Huayong could be found if he wished, she did not realize that Xiao Huayong had intentionally led Xiao Changying into the Emperor's trap. That night, when a group of assassins stormed the temporary palace, it was when the guards were at their weakest.
Most guards had been dispatched to search for the Crown Prince and Prince Lie. No one expected so many ruthless killers to attack the temporary palace—not even the Youning Emperor.
Startled from her sleep, Shen Xihe heard the clashing outside and felt her anxious heart settle. Indeed, everything unfolded as she had predicted.
The Youning Emperor had abducted Xiao Huayong to force him to reveal his hidden resources for self-rescue. As long as Xiao Huayong withheld them, the Emperor would keep him confined. Though the addition of Xiao Changying might slightly alter the plan, the overall strategy toward Xiao Huayong remained unchanged.
It was the Crown Prince who was missing, not the Emperor. State affairs continued under leadership, and though officials were anxious, there was no chaos without a ruler.
The Youning Emperor was determined to wage a war of attrition. Even if Xiao Huayong could endure, the Emperor surely had backup plans—such as targeting Shen Xihe to compel Xiao Huayong to resist.
Everyone had witnessed Xiao Huayong's devotion to Shen Xihe during this time. He never regretted publicly declaring his affection for her, confident in his ability to protect her.
Thus, in this contest with the Emperor, he never intended to prolong the stalemate and allow the conflict to endanger Shen Xihe.
However, any move he made would inevitably catch the Emperor's eye. Long ago, he had pondered how the Emperor might strike and how best to respond.
If neither resistance nor rescue would work, why not follow the Emperor's wishes and send assassins after himself? But targeting only himself was insufficient—the Emperor must also share the experience.
The assailants storming the temporary palace were not entirely his men. They were led by the Jiachen Crown Prince, the son of the late Emperor's most favored consort, who had nearly ascended the throne—the Youning Emperor's half-brother, appointed Crown Prince by the late Emperor.
Back when the Youning Emperor executed rebels at the city tower and staged an assassination to cover it up, the Jiachen Crown Prince recognized the Emperor's dual-purpose scheme. His surrender had been for self-preservation; Qian Wang and his mother dared not kill him with all officials watching. At worst, he could relinquish all power and live as a wealthy idler.
But when the Youning Emperor tried to pin the murders of Qian Wang and his family on him, how could he not flee?
With help from eunuchs preparing contingencies and the Princess of Ruyang and her consort Wei, who grew suspicious upon hearing of Qian Wang's death, the Jiachen Crown Prince escaped the palace amid the chaos.These individuals had remained completely inactive all along, and everyone including Xiao Huayong believed that Jiachen Crown Prince had already perished—otherwise, how could he have caused not a single ripple for over twenty years? Was he truly content with an ordinary life, living as a leisurely and wealthy old man?
It was only after Xiao Huayong obtained the Rouge Case list, exposed Consort Wei, and saved Princess Ruyang and Xiao Fuxing (mother and son) that he truly understood the underlying events. Thus, the evidence of the Rouge Case that Shen Xihe handed to him proved far more crucial than even she had realized.
(End of Chapter)
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