Chapter 520: Becoming Better Versions of Each Other
"Father, human hearts are prone to change." Shen Xihe gently placed her hand on Shen Yueshan's shoulder.
Shen Xihe's remark about the fickleness of human hearts made Xiao Huayong pause momentarily.
Well, now there was another person who made her feel that nothing might last forever.
Look at Geng Liangcheng and Shen Yueshan - they had been together since before they could walk, grew up together, fought on battlefields together, protected civilians together, slain enemies together, and achieved fame together. Yet in the end, they turned against each other over power and influence.
His face fell, and when Shen Xihe noticed, she couldn't help but press her lips together in a faint smile.
Xiao Huayong lowered his gaze to drink his soup, sinking into resentment toward Geng Liangcheng, and didn't notice Shen Xihe's fleeting smile.
He couldn't refute Shen Xihe's point - there were too many affections that had turned from everlasting devotion to drawn swords, all because of interests and power.
"If Father-in-law remains hidden for a few more days, or..." Xiao Huayong wanted to eliminate this troublesome traitor as soon as possible, "if we stage a fake death, we could lure him out."
"Stage a fake death?" Shen Xihe looked at Xiao Huayong. "How would we do that?"
"Find a corpse and disguise it as Father-in-law," Xiao Huayong said.
"Where would we find a corpse?" Shen Xihe asked again.
Given Shen Yueshan's stature, it would be very difficult to find someone similar. It was hard enough to find a living person, let alone a corpse. And they couldn't steal a body from nearby, otherwise word might get out and make it hard to trap an old fox like Geng Liangcheng.
Xiao Huayong glanced at Shen Xihe. "That was an oversight on my part."
An oversight?
Shen Xihe never believed Xiao Huayong would make such an oversight. She knew he actually wanted to find someone with a similar build to Shen Yueshan, kill them, and then disguise the body as Shen Yueshan.
Such methods were considered pragmatic among people like them. Shen Xihe didn't deny that the survival of the fittest was the law of nature.
But she disliked such approaches, and disliked even more when people close to her employed them.
Xiao Huayong had proposed it, but after hearing her questioning, he realized she was different from those aloof nobles. She wasn't overly compassionate, but neither did she treat human life as worthless.
She wouldn't save a victim without reason, nor would she harm an innocent person without cause.
That was why he changed his response.
"Let me think about it." Shen Yueshan pondered for a moment before changing the subject. "Let's eat, let's eat."
Xiao Huayong sliced the roasted meat with a dagger and placed it in coarse porcelain bowls. They ate the roasted meat while drinking vegetable soup.
After the evening meal, the couple stayed with Shen Yueshan for some casual conversation. It wasn't until nightfall that they left together.
"Youyou..." Walking under the scattered moonlight toward their courtyard, Xiao Huayong couldn't help speaking up. "I..."
Shen Xihe turned her head, quietly watching him, but he seemed at a loss for words. Shen Xihe sighed softly. "Your Highness, we are two different people. Even when united in heart, our thoughts and considerations will differ. There are things I dislike, but that doesn't mean they're wrong. Just because I wouldn't do them doesn't mean I would despise others for doing them."
The matter with Geng Liangcheng already involved Shen Yueshan's life and the foundation of the Shen clan. While Shen Xihe disliked Xiao Huayong's proposal, she had to admit that from the perspective of the Shen family's interests and Shen Yueshan's current situation, it was an excellent method."Youyou, in the end, you and I are still different." Xiao Huayong had to admit he couldn't match Shen Xihe's benevolence and righteousness. "I was born as the Crown Prince, trained to see the bigger picture. In my view, if some sacrifices can bring greater stability, it is worthwhile."
"Your Highness, we have different perspectives and grew up under different circumstances. It's not about who is right or wrong. Those in our positions sometimes find extreme measures unavoidable." Shen Xihe looked at him seriously. "People like us are born unlikely to be kind and virtuous. I'm just luckier than Your Highness, never having been forced into a situation where I had to harm the innocent..."
She wouldn't sacrifice many lives to ensure her own survival, but she would kill one or two people to stay alive. So far, she hadn't faced such a dilemma, but who knew what the future held?
She simply strived to be someone without debts or dues. When life and death were at stake, wasn't everyone selfish?
Xiao Huayong liked Shen Xihe very, very much. She possessed a charm that put both mind and body at ease.
He took her hands: "I understand. I promise you that unless absolutely necessary, I will never lightly harm the innocent or the weak."
Xiao Huayong did have a compassionate heart, but he had learned the benevolence of an emperor—a benevolence focused on the greater good. At the same time, he studied the art of rulership. Those in high positions often viewed the weak with a degree of indifference, as if they were ants.
"I too have shortcomings and have learned much from Your Highness." Shen Xihe's obsidian-like eyes filled with warm smiles.
These words sweetened Xiao Huayong's heart. Shen Xihe wasn't one for sweet talk. Even when she said she would care for him, he knew it was because his status had changed—he was her husband, and a devoted one at that, which made her attentive.
Her saying she had learned much from him was neither politeness nor deception; precisely because of that, it delighted him more than any honeyed words.
"Would you... like to know the cause of Geng Zhongji's death?" Xiao Huayong recalled that when it was mentioned earlier, Shen Xihe had asked but didn't press further.
"Knowing or not knowing doesn't matter." Shen Xihe wasn't a particularly curious person.
She trusted her father's character. If Father said it was a grave crime, it must be a crime deserving no pardon.
"I'll look into this General Geng and make some inquiries. You should rest early." Xiao Huayong kissed Shen Xihe's forehead, then turned and strode away.
Shen Xihe wanted to stop him, but by the time she turned around, he had already left the courtyard. She watched his back disappear into the night.
She returned to her room, washed up, and went to bed. Half-asleep, she sensed Xiao Huayong's return. She used to be easily awakened, but since marrying him, she felt particularly at ease with him. Though he allowed her to notice his presence, he never disturbed her peaceful dreams.
When she woke in the morning, while combing her hair, Xiao Huayong returned from practicing sword outside. Shen Xihe casually asked, "Found out?"
Unexpectedly, Xiao Huayong's expression stiffened slightly. Shen Xihe noticed and turned to look at him: "You didn't find out?"
That shouldn't be. With Xiao Huayong's capabilities, even in the northwest, unless he chose not to investigate, it was impossible for him not to uncover anything.Xiao Huayong indeed uncovered the truth and understood why Shen Yueshan was unwilling to elaborate to Shen Xihe. Geng Zhongji had long been bullying men and harassing women, even causing deaths early on. However, Geng Liangcheng and his wife used money to smooth things over, and since the compensated parties ceased pursuing the matter, no one ever came forward to expose it.
This indulgence only fueled Geng Zhongji's wickedness. After growing tired of young women, he extended his evil hands toward little girls. An eight-year-old child was tortured to death by him...
I wrote one update at noon but found that a single chapter wouldn't make the plot coherent, so I postponed it to update together in the evening.
See you tomorrow.
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel