"The people of Dengzhou..." Xiao Huayong murmured softly before letting out an ambiguous chuckle.
Xiao Huayong did intend to use the Dengzhou disaster as cover—making deaths appear as natural calamities would conveniently erase traces—but he had never planned to involve Dengzhou's common folk. It was merely a matter of seizing the opportunity.
He refused to believe that Shen Xihe, with her understanding of him, wouldn't have realized this. Yet she still used the welfare of Dengzhou's people as her reason, unable to voice that it was simply her concern for him. Perhaps this was her disguise, or perhaps it was an excuse even she hadn't consciously recognized.
Regardless, his actions had startled her. Xiao Huayong decided to rein in his plans and temporarily halt further moves.
With Xiao Huayong's promise to stand down, Shen Xihe breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly recalling her uncharacteristic vulnerability earlier, she felt somewhat unsettled. For a moment, husband and wife harbored separate thoughts, both falling silent under the weight of their grave discussion.
The carriage continued its steady advance. Shortly after entering Dengzhou territory, a drizzling rain began sweeping across the sky. Thick clouds densely intertwined, blocking all sunlight, while the muddy ground below grew increasingly treacherous, making travel arduous.
"The carriage cannot proceed ahead. Could the Crown Prince ride on horseback?" They paused at a relay station where Xiao Changqing personally led guards to scout the path.
They had been traveling along official roads, but even these wound through mountain ranges. Knowing Xiao Huayong was heading to Dengzhou—where the appearance of the Strange Stone had become the last desperate hope for the suffering locals—officials had risked emergency repairs. Many civilians voluntarily joined the effort, barely clearing a path leading directly to Wendeng County.
However, with continuous rain persisting for days, no one could guarantee the safety of this cleared route. As the escort, Xiao Changqing prioritized Xiao Huayong's security above all.
"How far is the next relay station from here?" Shen Xihe asked before Xiao Huayong could respond.
Xiao Changqing had already gathered all details: "The next station is a hundred li away. We could detour through mountain paths to rest in villages, but the trails are slippery and require extreme caution."
"Thank you, Fifth Brother. Please prepare the horses," Xiao Huayong replied gently.
Xiao Changqing acknowledged briskly and went to make arrangements.
"What does Prince Xin intend?" Shen Xihe finally lifted her gaze to Xiao Huayong after Xiao Changqing departed.
Since she was traveling with Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe hadn't bothered with elaborate preparations—such as deploying scouts or intelligence gathering along the way. Trusting that Xiao Huayong would leave no gaps, she saw no need to expend her own resources. Moreover, unaware of his full plans, she worried that rashly deploying her people might expose traces and disrupt his arrangements. Thus, she remained completely uninformed about their surroundings.
Xiao Changqing's earlier words clearly carried implied meanings. Though they had entered Dengzhou where drizzles indeed softened roads into muddy quagmires, Xiao Changqing knew Xiao Huayong's illness was feigned and wouldn't truly treat him as an invalid. His attitude indicated he possessed certain knowledge, discreetly warning Xiao Huayong.
"Eighth Brother's welcoming gift for us," Xiao Huayong's lips curved slightly. "Just minor mischief—nothing worth dwelling on."
So Xiao Huayong already knew. Seeing his utter confidence, Shen Xihe asked no further questions.Once Xiao Changqing had everything prepared, and both Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe had donned straw raincoats and bamboo hats, Xiao Huayong mounted his horse only to break into a series of coughs. He tilted his head toward Shen Xihe, who was about to mount her own horse, and said, "I suddenly feel fatigued and fear I cannot endure long hours on horseback. Might Youyou give me a ride?"
Shen Xihe: …
Not only was Shen Xihe speechless, but even Tianyuan and the others were stunned by the Crown Prince’s effortlessly fabricated lie.
Xiao Changqing kept his eyes downcast and remained expressionless.
Thinking of the "welcoming gift" awaiting them later, Shen Xihe said nothing more and decisively abandoned her own horse, walking over to Xiao Huayong’s side.
Xiao Huayong held the reins with one hand and slowly extended the other.
Shen Xihe looked at his palm, already damp from the brief exposure to rain, placed her hand in his icy grip, and used his support to mount the horse, settling in front of him. His seemingly slender frame encircled her as he held her close.
She snatched the reins from his hand. "Hold on tight."
His long arm locked around her waist, embracing her firmly.
Shen Xihe glanced down at the slender fingers interlaced over her abdomen, pressed her lips together, and with a flick of the whip, urged the horse forward. Tianyuan, Zhenzhu, and the others hurried to follow, while Xiao Changqing led the guards galloping ahead, overtaking the two and taking the lead.
The fine rain pattered on leaves and branches, its rustling mingling with the clatter of hooves like the harsh hiss of a serpent disturbing dreams in the night, carrying an unsettling chill.
As they pressed on through the wind and rain, occasionally dashing past branches stretching over the road, the wind flung cold droplets into their faces. Many were soon drenched and disheveled, but Shen Xihe handled the horse with exceptional skill—maintaining a brisk pace while deftly avoiding such obstacles.
"Youyou’s horsemanship grows ever more refined," Xiao Huayong couldn’t help but praise.
"Where have they set the ambush?" Shen Xihe was more concerned with this.
Xiao Huayong lifted his gaze to the narrow bend ahead, flanked by a steep mountain on one side and a sheer cliff on the other. A faint glint flickered in his eyes. "A mile ahead."
Shen Xihe’s grip on the reins tightened. Just then, the cry of eagles echoed overhead. She looked up to see three or five eagles spreading their wings, momentarily blocking much of the rain above. She shouted to the guards about to round the bend, "The path narrows ahead—stay alert!"
Before her words faded, her pupils contracted. She spotted rocks tumbling down the slope near the bend and immediately tugged the reins, pulling them taut. The horse reared, nearly standing upright, almost throwing Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong off its back. It took a moment to steady the animal.
Then, boulders crashed down one after another, accompanied by masses of sliding mud and even uprooted trees, resembling an ordinary landslide.
Soon, entire sections of the mountainside cascaded down as if an invisible giant axe had cleaved a portion away. The slope detached from the mountain and plummeted mercilessly. Shen Xihe was about to retreat.
But Xiao Huayong, behind her, acted first—grasping her hand that held the reins, he slapped the horse, driving it forward.
Under his control, the horse seemed to read his mind, leaping when needed, swerving sharply at turns, and charging ahead like a gust of wind when speed was required.The mud and stones sliding down were all precisely avoided by him. Occasionally, when dirt and gravel splattered toward them, he simply raised his hand and used his cloak to shield Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe tilted her head to look at his cold, sharp eyes, keen as a blade's edge. By the time she regained her senses, they had already rounded the bend, narrowly escaping a thrilling "natural disaster."
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