Chapter 490: Seeing Through
Within half an hour, news of the Northwest King's ambush and disappearance, along with the Crown Princess fainting from shock upon hearing the news, spread throughout the palace and beyond.
Many gloated with schadenfreude, while others watched from a safe distance. Only Xiao Changying, upon hearing the news, grabbed his sword and headed out, only to have Xiao Changqing seize his sword-wielding hand: "Where are you going? To Liangzhou to search for him?"
Shen Yueshan had been ambushed and lost all trace after leaving the capital and entering Liangzhou.
"The Northwest King is said to have been ambushed by the Turks and gone missing. The Turks must have some scheme—I will seek Your Majesty's permission to investigate their intentions," Xiao Changying offered as his excuse.
Xiao Changqing listened and let out a soft, derisive snort. "Said to be ambushed by the Turks? The words 'said to be' are worth pondering."
"You suspect someone set a trap?" Xiao Changying turned around, looking puzzled at his brother.
"The Turkic court is unstable right now—they would never move against the Northwest King at this time." Xiao Changqing was fully aware of the Turks' movements. Ever since Rong Ce was outmaneuvered by Xiao Huayong over the Anxi Defense Map incident and became the Hexi Governor, Xiao Changqing had repeatedly ordered him to be cautious and avoid taking the lead in any matter. Even if former colleagues provoked him, he was to tolerate it magnanimously.
When he became Governor, Rong Ce had offended many people. Over the past year, he had faced numerous petty sabotages. If not for Rong Ce heeding his advice and enduring everything, he would never have gained a firm footing in Liangzhou.
This time, the Northwest King was ambushed in Liangzhou, allegedly by the Turks. Yet Rong Ce, as the Hexi Governor, had received no wind of it—a clear dereliction of duty.
"Precisely because Uncle failed in his duty, I must ask Your Majesty to send me to Liangzhou to atone for his failure through meritorious service," argued Xiao Changying.
Xiao Changqing shot him a sharp glance. "Although Uncle tends to crave grandeur and achievement, he is by no means an incompetent fool. If the Turks had ambushed the Northwest King and he remained completely unaware, I would never have let him stay in Liangzhou as Hexi Governor."
If virtue does not match position, it would only implicate the entire Rong family.
"Brother, are you saying the Northwest King wasn't ambushed by the Turks?" Xiao Changying trusted his brother deeply. Since his brother said so, he pondered further. "Someone impersonated the Turks to ambush the Northwest King? Who?"
How audacious! Was this a death feud?
"Under heaven, only one person would dare move against the Northwest King..." Xiao Changqing pinched the seal hanging at his side, twirling it gently between two fingers. "His Majesty would never act against the Northwest King at this time, much less impersonate the Turks."
"Not His Majesty?" Xiao Changying had actually suspected the Emperor first. His claim about seeking the Emperor's permission to go to Liangzhou was merely lip service—he planned to act first and report later, something he had done often. At worst, he would face the Emperor's reprimand upon return.
He had no aspirations for the throne. The Emperor's favor or disfavor mattered little to him. As long as he didn't commit grave errors, the Emperor would not deal with him harshly.
"The Jiachen Crown Prince is still at large. His Majesty has been avoiding escalation in all matters recently, precisely to prevent the Jiachen Crown Prince from colluding with officials." Xiao Changqing's dark pupils deepened with intensity. "Moving against the Northwest King now—given the Northwest King's martial prowess, a single successful strike would be no easy feat. Moreover, it would be hard to conceal. Doing so would undoubtedly push the Northwest King toward the Jiachen Crown Prince."
Back then, it was only because the Northwest King and others provided continuous protection that Qian Wang and the Emperor managed to force the Jiachen Crown Prince into opening the city gates and surrendering.Your Majesty would never commit such an unforgivable mistake at this moment. Therefore, Xiao Changqing concluded that it was not His Majesty who had sent someone to target the Northwest King.
"If not His Majesty, then who?" Xiao Changying could think of no one else.
Putting themselves in others' shoes, their generation held a sense of reverence for the Northwest King. This reverence would instill in them an unknown fear of Shen Yueshan. Since Shen Yueshan was not an enemy they absolutely had to eliminate, it was impossible for them to target him.
Xiao Changqing smiled: "Indeed, no one would dare to attack the brave and battle-hardened Northwest King, who could take on a hundred foes single-handedly. Yet, just before entering the northwest, he was ambushed. The assault came so swiftly and retreated so cleanly. Do you truly believe there exists someone in this world with such far-reaching power? How terrifying would that be?"
Xiao Changying met his elder brother’s gaze. His smile was somewhat eerie and suggestive. It was not due to any extraordinary understanding between them as brothers, but because after discussing many matters with his brother, he noticed that Xiao Changqing only wore such a meaningful expression when mentioning one person.
"Impossible!" Xiao Changying refused to believe it. "How could he? They have just married. Even if his affection for her was feigned, he must have had some ulterior motive. He would never turn against her so quickly."
How could it be the Crown Prince? The Crown Prince had just celebrated his wedding. Shen Yueshan had traveled to the capital to marry off his daughter. If he were ambushed by the Crown Prince on his return journey, how would Shen Xihe bear it? What could the Crown Prince possibly gain from such an act?
Xiao Changqing shook his head gently with a smile: "Little brother, that is the Northwest King, seasoned in countless battles. How could he be so easily ambushed without any ability to resist? Without even the chance to call for help? Would that still be the illustrious Northwest King, renowned throughout the land?"
Xiao Changqing acknowledged Xiao Huayong’s strategic prowess, but Shen Yueshan was no ordinary man. He had his trusted aides by his side. How could he so easily vanish without a trace, suffering such a devastating blow?
"Was there a traitor? A betrayal? Perhaps the Northwest King is unharmed and merely playing along?Xiao Changying guessed countless possibilities, but failed to consider that this might be a play orchestrated by them themselves—because he had heard the news of Shen Xihe fainting from shock.
In his heart, Shen Xihe was a contradictory existence: wise, resilient, proud, yet also the most straightforward and genuine.
Subconsciously, he believed that Shen Xihe was not the type to put on an act.
Xiao Changqing stared at his brother in speechless amazement for a long while. His brother was far from foolish. The answer was right there, yet he easily avoided it. This could only mean that the Crown Princess held a deeper place in his brother’s heart than he had imagined.
"The Crown Princess requires no concern from you, and the Northwest King needs no searching on your part. If you have the mind for it, spend more time visiting Mother." Xiao Changqing thought of another matter. "Persuade her to relinquish the palace authority peacefully. Otherwise, there will come a day when you will find yourself caught between a rock and a hard place."
Shen Xihe had long intended to marry into the Eastern Palace. The throne had long been regarded by her as the rightful possession of her husband or son. How could she not lay hands on the palace authority?
Yet Xiao Changqing understood his birth mother exceedingly well. She appeared dignified and graceful, seemingly unconcerned with contention, but in reality, she valued status and position deeply. Asking her to willingly surrender the palace authority she had held firmly for over a decade was nothing short of a fool’s dream.His mother, if facing any other woman, might not be without the ability to compete on equal footing, but Shen Xihe was different. Shen Xihe's methods were far from those of an ordinary woman. If they were to truly confront each other, his mother might not gain any advantage.
Just like in those years, she had never gained any advantage from Qingqing either.
(End of Chapter)
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