The court had been stirred up by the conflict between Xiao Changqing and Xiao Changyan, which indeed granted Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong a period of leisure. Otherwise, they would not have had the spare time to watch the drama unfolding at the Pingyao Marquis residence.
The wedding of the Second Prince, Zhao Wang Xiao Changmin, was postponed. The capital's intense summer heat was truly unbearable, so His Majesty ordered the court to move to the temporary palace. Last year, the incident involving Xiao Juesong occurred in Linyou, so this year, the Emperor changed the location of the temporary palace.
In the past two years, His Majesty encountered a giant serpent during the autumn hunt and faced an assassination attempt at the temporary palace. This year, before departure, following the suggestion of the Imperial Astronomer, His Majesty decided to first visit the Guardian Temple to offer incense. He planned to bring the Empress Dowager and all the princes, publicly claiming it was to pray for the people's welfare.
"Offer incense?" Shen Xihe was in the midst of embroiding delicate Eucommia leaves onto Xiao Huayong's newly made garment when she heard the news.
Previously, Xiao Huayong's clothing had been handled by the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau. Since their marriage, however, all of Shen Xihe's maids except Moyu possessed excellent needlework skills. Thus, Xiao Huayong's everyday attire no longer required the bureau's attention, leaving them responsible only for ceremonial robes.
"Yes, merely to seek peace of mind." Xiao Huayong stood nearby, one hand clasped behind his back. His tall frame was accentuated by an exquisitely embroidered apricot-colored robe, his expression calm as he amused Baisui.
A couple of days prior, while Shen Xihe was away, Xiao Huayong had Haidongqing take Baisui out for a stroll. Since returning, Baisui had become much more obedient, saying whatever it was told without uttering those occasional exclamations even he himself had forgotten.
"Peace of mind? If I were to make His Majesty uneasy, would he still go to the temporary palace to escape the heat?" Shen Xihe paused her embroidery, her bright eyes glimmering with amusement as she looked at Xiao Huayong.
Xiao Huayong turned, intrigued. "How would Youyou make His Majesty uneasy?"
"Do you remember the grand 'gift' His Majesty tacitly permitted to be sent to me the day after our wedding?" Shen Xihe countered instead of answering.
To test whether Xiao Huayong knew about his own origins, the Youning Emperor had allowed Qian Wang's spirit tablet to be set on fire. Shen Xihe had been keeping account of that debt for His Majesty.
"I remember you stayed in the incense room for a long time that day, and for several days after as well." He made sure to remember everything about her, especially such memorable events.
Shen Xihe smiled faintly and signaled to Zhenzhu with her eyes. Understanding, Zhenzhu withdrew and soon returned with a box of incense. The incense appeared entirely ordinary, indistinguishable from common stick incense in both color and scent.
Xiao Huayong took it in his hand, examining it carefully. Whether it was because he had never paid close attention to other stick incense before, he couldn't detect any difference from others.
"Your Highness won't see the difference just by looking. Even a master incense maker might not discern it. But you could light one and try," Shen Xihe suggested.
Tianyuan promptly offered a fire starter. Soon, the incense was lit. Xiao Huayong held it; the scent was quite ordinary. Without deliberate scrutiny, one wouldn't notice anything unusual. Even upon closer inspection, one might sense a slight difference, but couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.
Just then, the incense unexpectedly sputtered and sparked, startling Tianyuan so much his face changed color, and he nearly lunged forward. Even Xiao Huayong was taken aback for a moment. Trust in Shen Xihe kept him from immediately discarding the incense. After a brief shower of sparks, the incense stopped burning. Xiao Huayong examined it left and right but couldn't figure out the cause.
"This..." His heart pounded rapidly.Don't underestimate this seemingly insignificant trick. If during His Majesty's prayer ceremony, after three bows, the incense in his hand were to exhibit such a situation—sparking and ultimately extinguishing—it would be no small matter.
When Shen Xihe performed ancestral rites that day and the ancestral tablet caught fire, many secretly spread rumors that Shen Xihe was not accepted by the Xiao ancestors. Such matters may appear trivial and are rarely pursued relentlessly.
However, on that day when Shen Xihe argued with others to the end, this became a major point of attack. A woman once rejected by the Xiao ancestors could not be considered legitimate. The court officials might acknowledge Shen Xihe's descendants but would never acknowledge Shen Xihe herself.
His Majesty had long planted this hidden danger to prevent Shen Xihe from becoming a second Empress Wu.
His Majesty was fully aware of his physical condition, which was precisely why, even if he suspected that Shen Xihe knew the truth of her origins, he was unwilling to break openly with her. Why provoke a confrontation with someone who would soon die? Waiting for her to perish quietly and unnoticed would draw no criticism from anyone. Thus, His Majesty had long suspected Shen Xihe's motives for marrying him and had casually created this inconspicuous flaw, one that could tear through iron walls at a critical moment.
"With His Majesty's prayers being rejected by heaven, my own rejection by the Xiao ancestors seems hardly worth mentioning." Shen Xihe had foreseen the future implications of this matter long ago.
Do not underestimate such a minor incident. If His Majesty manipulated it skillfully to prevent Shen Xihe from gaining power and the Xiao imperial family from becoming puppets of the Shen clan, he could, on his deathbed, entrust his heir to loyalists. By explaining the dangers posed by the Shen clan, he would ensure no shortage of royalists willing to die for their cause, demanding either Shen Xihe's burial with the deceased emperor or the surrender of her authority.
No matter how formidable Shen Xihe might be, if she watched these people die without blinking, the imperial power she held would crumble like scattered sand. The court would inevitably become divided and resentful toward her. She admitted to herself that she could not command the loyalty of every official in the court.
Throughout history, no one had ever achieved such a feat. Even if it were possible, a dynasty that achieved it would be nearing its decline. A court must harbor dissenting voices and maintain a balance of power to progress effectively.
"Youyou, give me the incense. I will handle it." Xiao Huayong wore an expression of eager anticipation to visit Xiangguo Temple.
He looked forward to witnessing the expression on His Majesty's face when such a mishap occurred during the mandatory prayer ceremony.
In truth, Shen Xihe could have discreetly mixed the incense herself and ensured His Majesty received the tampered sticks. However, since Xiao Huayong wished to participate, she handed the incense to him to deepen his enjoyment of the scheme.
Watching Xiao Huayong grasp the incense and depart with light, swift steps, his sleeves fluttering, Shen Xihe couldn't help but lower her head slightly and resume her needlework, completing the leaf she was embroidering.
"Crown Princess, Noble Consort Rong has sent someone to request your presence at Hanzhang Hall." Not long after Xiao Huayong left, Biyu entered to report.
Shen Xihe raised an eyebrow, then quickly made a few final stitches to finish her work before standing up. "Let's go see what tricks Her Ladyship has up her sleeve now."The last time Shen Xihe went to Hanzhang Hall, it could be considered a complete break with Noble Consort Rong. After that, Shen Xihe was busy preparing to go to the northwest with Xiao Huayong, so the matter of palace authority was not brought up. Recently, she had been contemplating choosing a day to remind Noble Consort Rong, but unexpectedly, Noble Consort Rong sought her out first.
Mi He Mi. Shen Xihe made a trip to Hanzhang Hall, where Noble Consort Rong had prepared exquisite pastries to entertain her, as if she had forgotten the previous unpleasantness.
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