Xiao Changqing took a deep breath. This couple truly were... birds of a feather!
They never adopted a supplicant's attitude when seeking help from others, nor did they ever give the person they were using a chance to refuse.
Yet in this current situation, he truly couldn't shirk his responsibility. Xiao Huayong was almost certainly feigning illness—when it came to pretending to be sick, no one in this world was more adept than Xiao Huayong!
He had no idea what scheme this husband-and-wife pair was concocting now. Regardless, with Xiao Huayong bedridden and unable to handle affairs, and Xiao Changyan being a convicted criminal, he was now the highest-ranking person present. If he didn't step forward at this critical moment, he would be unworthy of his princely honors!
"Cough, cough, cough..." After a violent coughing fit, Xiao Huayong spoke with great effort, "Fifth Brother..."
His brow twitching, Xiao Changqing, who had been delaying his response, had no choice but to step forward: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, your servant is here."
"The disaster relief efforts... cough, cough... I must trouble you to take charge!"
"Your servant accepts the command." With the emperor far away in the capital, the Crown Prince here represented imperial authority. They were all his subjects and could only obey.
Xiao Changyan's gaze swept back and forth between Shen Xihe and Xiao Changqing, a shadow of gloom briefly flashing between his brows.
"His Highness should not be disturbed," Shen Xihe said coldly, issuing the dismissal. "Since you have all paid your respects, there are still many matters in the city requiring arrangements. You may withdraw."
Xiao Changyan and Xiao Changqing had no choice but to take their leave together. Once they exited the room, left the courtyard, and entered the covered corridor leading to the main gate, Xiao Changyan couldn't resist asking: "Fifth Brother, it has been three years since Fifth Sister-in-law passed away. Have you given any thought to remarrying?"
Xiao Changqing halted his steps. He turned and looked calmly at Xiao Changyan, unable to comprehend why his younger brother would suddenly show concern for his personal affairs. Despite his sensitive nature, it didn't immediately occur to him that Xiao Changyan suspected him of having an improper relationship with Shen Xihe.
Instead, he wondered if Xiao Changyan wanted to form an alliance with him, perhaps planning to gift him a beauty or arrange a marriage connection.
His expression turned frosty: "Eighth Brother, Ninth Brother has already been granted an imperial marriage and will wed next year. You yourself remain unattached. How could I, as your elder brother, let you worry about my affairs?"
He might as well have said directly: You haven't even found a wife yourself, yet you're meddling in your elder brother's business.
Xiao Changyan interpreted this response as further evidence that Xiao Changqing was evading the issue.
Yes, he had begun to suspect that Shen Xihe and Xiao Changqing shared an unusually close relationship.
Not necessarily an illicit affair, but perhaps they had genuinely formed an alliance.
His advisors had previously speculated along these lines. This time, Shen Xihe had taken Xiao Huayong out on some excursion, and immediately afterward Xiao Huayong contracted this severe cold. Though Xiao Changyan himself didn't mind taking on the troublesome disaster relief mission, Shen Xihe had smoothly handed it over to Xiao Changqing instead.
He couldn't help but suspect that Shen Xihe had deliberately taken Xiao Huayong out to catch a cold, creating the perfect excuse to hand the authority for disaster relief to Xiao Changqing. Shen Xihe undoubtedly had methods to procure grain supplies, and rather than letting Xiao Huayong claim this achievement, she had given the credit to Xiao Changqing.
If the two weren't exceptionally close, why would Shen Xihe go to such elaborate lengths to scheme on Xiao Changqing's behalf?
This could only be described as a fortunate misunderstanding. One couldn't blame Xiao Changyan for drawing the wrong conclusions—even if he racked his brains, he would never guess that Shen Xihe had pushed the responsibility onto Xiao Changqing because Xiao Changqing knew her and Xiao Huayong's true natures. As long as Xiao Changqing had no intention of turning against the couple, he would comply with their arrangements. Having Xiao Changqing involved in this matter essentially meant he would only lend his name to the endeavor.The one actually giving orders was herself, and Xiao Changqing would cooperate very well. If not for avoiding leaving any evidence and arguing vehemently with Xiao Changyan, Shen Xihe wouldn't have let Xiao Changqing take the credit.
After all, she was merely the Crown Princess. If she gave orders directly and Xiao Changyan opposed, the local officials would certainly support Xiao Changyan. But with Xiao Changqing it was different - while local officials might look down on the Crown Princess, they wouldn't dare disrespect Prince Xin.
"I have overstepped my bounds, elder brother." Xiao Changyan cupped his hands and strode away.
Xiao Changqing looked up at the direction where he disappeared, frowning in silence for a moment before turning back to his own courtyard.
"How is the Crown Prince's condition? Why did you lose your composure like that earlier?" Upon returning to the county office, Xiao Changyan dismissed everyone except his advisor. Knowing his advisor's usual composure well, he shouldn't have shown such an expression.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince truly doesn't have long to live." The advisor restrained his trembling voice.
Xiao Changyan stared at him intently, pressing his lips together without speaking.
"Your Highness, when I was studying under my master, we once set sail and accidentally encountered a storm. We reached a mysterious land beyond the Western Regions where there were many exotic flowers and herbs we had never seen before, mostly poisonous. Among them was one particularly insidious poison - it acts like a gu worm, lying dormant after entering the human body, gradually tormenting and consuming the victim until their life force is completely drained."
Neither Shen Xihe nor Xiao Huayong could have imagined that Xiao Changyan's advisor had seen the poison affecting Xiao Huayong before.
"You mean... the Crown Prince is afflicted with this Unique Poison?" Xiao Changyan suddenly understood.
The advisor nodded: "This poison is not only insidious but also domineering. Once infected, no other toxins can affect the body, yet it is itself an incurable poison."
This poison made one immune to all other toxins but had no antidote. Once the toxin fully permeated the body, death was inevitable.
His master had been very interested in this poison and specifically brought some back for research. After repeated study, he confirmed it was indeed incurable.
"How long has the Crown Prince been poisoned?" For a moment, Xiao Changyan suspected that Shen Xihe might have administered the poison to discreetly eliminate Xiao Huayong.
"I cannot determine that, Your Highness. Although this poison has no cure, the speed of its effects varies greatly. For those with strong constitutions, or those regularly treated and suppressed by Sacred Healers from the medical community, some delay can be achieved." The advisor shook his head. "I can only determine that the Crown Prince's physical deterioration is extremely severe. No matter how much it's suppressed, he has at most two years before becoming beyond treatment."
After a long silence, Xiao Changyan asked: "Truly beyond all medical help?"
At this moment, Xiao Changyan couldn't describe the feeling in his heart. His ambition for the throne stemmed from knowing early that the Crown Prince would never inherit it. He had always thought the Crown Prince was naturally frail, but now discovered it wasn't heaven's will but human design.
He felt the shared tragedy of being imperial descendants, without much joy in the discovery. In his perception, the Crown Prince had always been someone destined to die young - this outcome wasn't unexpected, only the method differed somewhat.
"My master researched for over a decade without finding an antidote." The advisor replied thus.
"Let's not speak of this matter again, and you should act as if you know nothing about the Crown Prince being poisoned." Xiao Changyan collected his emotions and instructed, then added, "The Crown Prince's poisoning likely has nothing to do with Shen Shi, but she probably knows about the Unique Poison affecting him. She and Fifth Brother might truly be in alliance, just as you suggested."Since she had long known that Xiao Huayong's life would be short, she was determined to secure the best retreat for herself.
Xiao Changyan never imagined that Shen Xihe intended to face them single-handedly in a contest of strength, even without Xiao Huayong.
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