"Your Highness..."
Tianyuan very much wanted to say that although they had provoked first, Zhaoning County Princess hadn't suffered any losses. On the contrary, they were the ones thoroughly tormented by the County Princess and punished by His Majesty.
The County Princess emerged completely unscathed, gaining both substantial benefits and reputation.
The words at the tip of his tongue were swallowed back as Tianyuan's gaze fell upon the black jade piece in His Highness's hand.
When it was first brought back from Old Man with White Hair in Luoyang, His Highness would only occasionally take it out to look at. But recently, he had reached the point where he couldn't put it down.
"The Chen family, the Hu family, the Wang family." Xiao Huayong lightly tapped the black piece in his fingers against the chessboard, each tap accompanying the mention of a name. The soft, clear sound of jade meeting wood echoed in the quiet Warm Pavilion.
"I recall that three years ago when Tibet came to pay tribute, it was Chen Zhong who received them?"
Chen Zhong was the Marquis of Xuanping. He had inherited the peerage, but was himself a jinshi graduate who now served as the Court of State Ceremonial.
"Yes." Tianyuan forced himself to answer, knowing that Chen Zhong was finished.
"He also accepted many rare treasures from the Tibetan prince." The corners of Xiao Huayong's mouth gradually straightened. "In recent years, Tibet has been testing our borders repeatedly, with several successful surprise attacks. Don't you think it's too much of a coincidence without someone leaking the border defense maps?"
"Your Highness..." Tianyuan's eyes widened. This accusation was enough to cost the Marquis of Xuanping his life.
"Chen Zhong won't let her off easily. Even if he doesn't know she was responsible for Xiao Shi's death, he'll still see her expulsion of Xiao Shi from the princely residence as the root cause.Xiao Huayong commanded, "The Court of State Ceremonial should have a new appointment anyway, which just happens to serve our purposes.""
"As you command." Tianyuan acknowledged.
"As for the Hu family..." Xiao Huayong pondered.
Tianyuan's heart began to race with anxiety. He hurriedly said, "Your Highness, the County Princess has just provoked these three families. If all three meet with misfortune in succession, I fear His Majesty might become suspicious of the County Princess."
It wasn't that he wanted to stop His Highness from seeking justice for the County Princess, but rather that His Highness's actions were too conspicuous, likely to be exposed under His Majesty's watchful eyes. When that happened, all those following His Highness would blame the County Princess.
Xiao Huayong glanced sideways at Tianyuan. "You're right. Let's deal with Chen Zhong first. The Hu family naturally won't escape during the spring imperial examinations next year. As for the Wang family..."
"Lord Wang is shrewd and calculating, and the Wang family's influence is deeply entrenched. Your Highness should proceed with caution." Tianyuan shrunk his neck and reminded in a low voice.
He wished he could switch places with Difang. Let Difang follow His Highness instead! His Highness was no longer the clear-minded ruler of before. Now he constantly risked his life remonstrating with His Highness, hoping to prevent him from becoming a tyrant!
"When did I say I would personally move against the Wang family?" Xiao Huayong raised an eyebrow. "Give all the evidence we have against the Wang family to Fifth Prince."
"Prince Xin?" Tianyuan was startled.
"The reason the Gu family was destroyed was because the great families weren't united. While the Fan family was indeed the main culprit, the Wang family certainly contributed to their downfall." Xiao Huayong's silver-bright eyes gazed out the window. "If not for Fifth Prince's consort using her life to set a trap and making her final move before death, Wang Zheng would be the Imperial Secretary today. Fifth Prince will settle this account with him clearly."
"If we present the evidence to Prince Xin, he'll know someone is trying to use him as a tool. Will he... proceed according to Your Highness's plan?" Tianyuan expressed concern.
He worried that Prince Xin might suspect the Crown Prince and bring counter-accusations against His Highness before His Majesty."Even knowing it's a trap, he would still proceed without hesitation." Xiao Huayong spoke with certainty. "Our Emperor is cold-hearted and unfeeling, yet all his sons are deeply sentimental. The Fifth Prince remains at Fahua Temple to this day, refusing to return despite repeated summons from His Majesty - this is his silent protest."
Only hatred could bring him back.
Shen Xihe knew nothing of Xiao Huayong's arrangements, nor was she aware that Xiao Huayong had summoned Xiao Changqing back from Fahua Temple with just a few letters.
Returning to the Princess Manor and leaving Bu Shulin behind, she began contemplating how to eliminate Chen Zhong.
The Chen family were maternal relatives of the Xiao clan. Previously affected by the rouge case, they had to keep a low profile. With Xiao Shi's sudden death, they had been too preoccupied to investigate. Recently, however, they had begun quietly inquiring about Xiao Shi's final days, clearly starting to suspect her.
"The Court of State Ceremonial is an ideal place," Shen Xihe murmured while gently stroking Duanming's back. "The perfect location to be charged with treason and collusion with the enemy."
"Meow!" Duanming inexplicably shivered.
Bu Shulin, who had been nibbling on noble consort cakes, froze with her mouth agape. Crumbs scattered down as she stiffly turned her neck, her wide eyes staring in horror at Shen Xihe, who continued calmly petting the cat.
Having been sent to the capital as a hostage since age six, Bu Shulin had survived among its shrewd inhabitants. She was no saint herself - blood stained her hands - but she had never initiated schemes that would lead to the extermination of entire families.
Though three years younger, Shen Xihe's ruthlessness and decisiveness far surpassed her own.
"What kind of person is Chen Yi?" Shen Xihe asked softly, as if unaware of Bu Shulin's terror.
Chen Yi was Chen Zhong's legitimate eldest son. The Chen family had risen through military achievements before gradually declining. It was only through the old marquis's contributions during Youning Emperor's ascension that they regained their noble title. Chen Yi had inherited his ancestors' bravery and joined the Shunan Army.
"If I told you he's loyal, brave, and upright, would you spare him?" Bu Shulin blinked, setting down her cake and asking seriously.
"No," Shen Xihe replied indifferently. "The Xuanping Marquis Household and I are irreconcilable. As a member of that household, he's destined to be my adversary. Since I'm moving against the Xuanping Marquis Household, I won't give enemies any chance to recover."
"Then why ask about his character?" Bu Shulin wondered.
"If he's cunning and treacherous, I'll use him as the entry point to dismantle the Xuanping Marquis Household," Shen Xihe explained. "If he's loyal and upright, I'll find another way to deal with Chen Zhong without targeting him directly. Whether he gets implicated is not my concern."
Bu Shulin sighed in relief, reassured that Shen Xihe wasn't completely unscrupulous.
Just then, Shen Xihe poured cold water on her optimism: "Don't overestimate my conscience. My conscience depends on the situation's urgency. When I have time to plan carefully, I naturally prefer not to harm the innocent. But if time is short..."
She left the rest unspoken. When the nest overturns, can any egg remain intact?
Among noble families, powerful clans, and official circles - where doesn't one move affect the whole?
They share common interests: prosperity and decline together, just like the complete extermination of the Gu family. At their peak, one's success brought honor to all; in their collapse, the entire household faced execution - such is the bloodshed during power transitions."Neither of us are saints. In this imperial city where blades clash like rain, we all fight bathed in blood merely to survive. Mercy toward any enemy is cruelty to oneself." Bu Shulin said with a solemn expression, "Though our acquaintance has been brief, I know you are not one who would willingly harm others."
Yet when Shen Xihe entered the city, the Marquis of Xuanping's estate had already sought to use the Marquis of Zhenbei's estate to take Shen Xihe's life.
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