"Your Highness, do you find something amiss?" The advisor pondered for a moment, carefully reviewing the entire sequence of events. He was convinced Prince Xin was the mastermind, yet Xiao Changyan's caution impressed him, prompting this question.
With his sword-like eyebrows slightly furrowed and eyes darkening, Xiao Changyan expressed his confusion: "What is Fifth Brother's purpose in all this? It perplexes me."
If Xiao Changqing was indeed behind everything—from leaking the Imperial Observatory's predicted rainfall date to the subsequent events—what was his objective?
Merely to create chaos, prevent him from completing His Majesty's assigned task, and make him shoulder the blame for dereliction of duty?
That seemed far-fetched. Spreading rumors required deploying numerous agents here—such time and effort expended just to throw minor obstacles in his path? Moreover, he considered himself capable, and Xiao Changqing shouldn't view him as incompetent. Xiao Changqing ought to know these petty tricks could be easily resolved.
If aware of his ability to counter them, why expend so much manpower unless Xiao Changqing was a fool!
Clearly, Xiao Changqing was no fool. Thus, his leak of the Imperial Observatory's rainfall prediction likely served another purpose, not targeting him.
Xiao Changyan's words startled the advisor, who hadn't previously paid attention to these details. Upon reflection, he found Xiao Changyan's reasoning sound and grew equally puzzled: "Yet it was undoubtedly Prince Xin's people who leaked the Imperial Observatory's prediction."
This was beyond doubt; they had conducted secret investigations for a long time and verified it with extreme caution.
"Linqing Town sent word that all who followed the couple searching for relatives were silenced. The killing method is unique to Prince Xin's Hidden Guards," the advisor added.
They had studied this weapon repeatedly during their years in Annan but still hadn't discerned what it was made of. They had produced many similar items, testing them on enemy soldiers and death row inmates, yet the post-mortem traces always differed.
Because they had researched it, the wounds were deeply imprinted in their memory. The bodies had been brought to them, and upon examination, they were certain it was the work of Prince Xin's Hidden Guards.
"If that couple were Fifth Brother's people, why deliberately reveal themselves to attract our attention? And why use the concealed weapon without any attempt to hide it?" Xiao Changyan retorted.
The advisor had his own theory: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince is frail and unlikely to last two more years... Only you and Prince Xin are in contention for the throne. Prince Xin may have acted deliberately, intending to use his Hidden Guards to lure out Your Highness's Shadow Guards for a decisive showdown!"
Though it sounded plausible, Xiao Changyan firmly rejected it: "No, Fifth Brother does have such boldness and style. But the timing is wrong."
His Second Brother wasn't without ambition, and Third Brother appeared compliant but had a restless wife.
"Your Highness refers to Zhao Wang and Prince Dai?" The advisor's tone was dismissive. "Those two are not worth fearing. Once you and Prince Xin determine the victor, the empire will be settled. I believe Prince Xin choosing to strike now through Dengzhou's natural disaster is a heaven-sent opportunity."
After a moment's thought, the advisor met Xiao Changyan's gaze and continued: "His Majesty is in his prime, but the Crown Prince's days are numbered. No one knows how long it will be before the throne passes from His Majesty's hands. Waiting until His Majesty declines to engage in a fierce struggle would not only cause greater losses but also tarnish the winner's reputation."Why not settle the outcome here and now? If one dies, it would be attributed to a "natural disaster," without bearing the stigma of scheming for the throne at the cost of sibling lives.
If Xiao Changyan were eliminated now, there would be no more rivals in the court. Once the Crown Prince passes away, he could swiftly ascend to the Eastern Palace, biding his time. Even if the Emperor lives long, he would still stand above all but one, enjoying immense power. Why endure the indefinite wait as an illegitimate prince?
The advisor’s words were not without reason, but Xiao Changyan still had reservations: "My uncle died in the northwest. The Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace already holds palace authority and openly confronts His Majesty, aggressively challenging him. She cannot be taken lightly."
Xiao Changmin and Xiao Changtian were hardly worth his attention, and Xiao Changqing was no different—the advisor was right about that. But regarding Shen Xihe, this seventh sister-in-law he knew little about, Xiao Changyan had deliberately visited her once in the Eastern Palace.
She sat gracefully and elegantly beside Xiao Huayong, never interrupting or seizing the conversation. On the surface, she appeared no different from any ordinary woman of the inner chambers, deferring to her husband. Yet, as she sat there quietly, he detected no trace of subservience in her demeanor.
If one accused her of meddling in state affairs, dominating the Eastern Palace, and oppressing the Crown Prince, it didn’t seem accurate. But if one claimed she had no real authority in the Eastern Palace, Xiao Changyan wouldn’t believe that either. Thus, the Crown Prince and his consort left him with a complex impression, unlike anyone he had ever encountered.
Moreover, given Shen Xihe’s status, no matter who ultimately ascended the throne, they would never allow the Shen clan to remain prosperous in the northwest. This time, the Shen clan made a grave error with the Turks but deliberately refrained from annihilating them, fearing that "when the birds are gone, the bow is put away."
Although the Turks no longer posed any threat to the Shen clan, this was only true for them. If the Shen clan were replaced, even if he personally took charge, it might not be enough to suppress the Turks, who seemed on their last legs but were barely holding on. It was even possible that the Turks, long suppressed by the Shen clan, would see a glimmer of hope and turn the tide with a desperate effort.
This was why the Emperor dared not easily reclaim the Shen clan’s military authority.
For the Crown Princess to protect the northwest, there was only one way: to control the court and direct the affairs of the state.
He believed this was also why the Crown Princess chose to marry the ailing Crown Prince.
It was precisely because Shen Xihe was so formidable and methodical in her actions, even disregarding the Emperor, and because her position allowed no room for retreat, that she resolutely married Xiao Huayong. The fact that Xiao Huayong’s life was nearing its end made her choice all the more convincing to Xiao Changyan and even the Youning Emperor.
If she weren’t certain that Xiao Huayong would die young, how would Shen Xihe dare to marry him?
Xiao Changgeng once told Xiao Changyan that Xiao Huayong was deeply infatuated with Shen Xihe, but Xiao Changyan scoffed at this. As a man, especially one with grand ambitions, he understood where a man’s true aspirations lay.
How could romantic entanglements compare to the vastness of the empire?
Even if he were deeply enamored with a woman, he could never tolerate a partner who possessed the power to strip him of everything at any moment. It would be like sleeping next to a fierce tiger, constantly playing with fire.
Since Shen Xihe was so strategically astute and had already broken ties with the Emperor, she was undoubtedly determined to seize the throne. She would not recklessly gamble, naively believing that mere affection could bind Xiao Huayong.
From this, it could be inferred that Xiao Huayong was certainly not long for this world."I can see the Crown Princess's ambition, and so can Fifth Brother. Yet he turns a blind eye to her and instead chooses to confront me at this moment. It truly defies all reason."
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