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"Was Second Brother merely stripped of his princely title?" Xiao Huayong was deeply dissatisfied with Youning Emperor's punishment.
Not only had he not been thoroughly demoted like the fourth prince years ago, but he was even allowed to retain his commandery prince title.
Xiao Changmin's actions hadn't caused significant harm to Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong, but as Shen Xihe had pointed out, they had somewhat disturbed public sentiment. Just because Shen Xihe could control the situation didn't mean Xiao Changmin's actions weren't malicious.
Tianyuan kept his head lowered, knowing the report would explain everything clearly without his input.
Xiao Huayong continued reading and was surprised to find that Xiao Changmin had voluntarily confessed his crimes. Before the Emperor, he had sworn to heaven, tears streaming down his face, claiming he hadn't fabricated rumors. He merely drank with some ill-intentioned people and let slip certain matters, which led others to act presumptuously. Seeing that Xiao Changmin had even bruised his forehead from kowtowing, Youning Emperor had shown leniency.
"Second Brother actually confessed?" Xiao Huayong was somewhat astonished. Based on his understanding of Xiao Changmin, he shouldn't have anticipated Shen Xihe's counterattack in advance. He rubbed the black chess piece between his fingers, lightly tapping it twice on the board. "Send someone to investigate."
What had made Xiao Changmin unusually clever this time?
In reality, it wasn't that Xiao Changmin had become clever, but rather that Yu Sangning had accidentally learned that Xiao Changmin was using her uncle to spread rumors in Dengzhou. She immediately went to find Pingyao Marquis: "Father, something terrible has happened! Prince Zhao has spread Crown Prince's words about not deceiving the Emperor through Third Uncle to Dengzhou."
Pingyao Marquis didn't take it seriously after hearing this: "They're just some rumors. What's done is done."
Clearly, both Pingyao Marquis and his brother, the Dengzhou Prefect, hadn't taken these matters seriously. That's why, upon receiving Xiao Changmin's instructions and considering their impending marriage alliance, they had acted casually.
How many rumors spread throughout the land each day? The Emperor hadn't paid them any mind, and these words weren't fabricated by them or even Prince Zhao. Prince Zhao was merely passing them along.
"Father!" Yu Sangning grabbed Pingyao Marquis as he tried to walk away. "This isn't mere women's gossip. The Emperor hasn't expressed an opinion because he himself first believed in the heaven-sent strange stone and must maintain imperial dignity. No one dares speculate what he truly thinks."
"What you see as insignificant, Father, is like a sword hanging over Crown Prince's head. The Crown Princess would never ignore such a potential threat."
"Father, the Crown Princess is no ordinary woman. Think about how she obtained palace authority from the Noble Consort? How she easily dismissed the An family daughter who was determined to marry into the Eastern Palace? How she confronted the Emperor without losing ground? She even dared to scheme against the Emperor himself!"
Pingyao Marquis's expression began to turn grave. Setting other matters aside, he remembered clearly their Yu family's involvement in the An family incident.
"You mean to say your third uncle has left evidence in the Crown Princess's hands?" Pingyao Marquis's face turned stern.
Yu Sangning smiled bitterly. "Father, for someone like the Crown Princess, she doesn't need evidence. Once she determines who's responsible, she can make sure their guilt is proven beyond doubt!"When it came to Shen Xihe, Yu Sangning felt both envy and admiration. She had always prided herself on being clever—before meeting Shen Xihe, she believed herself to be the most intelligent young woman in the world. But after encountering Shen Xihe, she realized there existed a kind of woman who disdained competing with other women or even being compared to them. Her gaze was fixed on the vast world, looking down upon all rivals.
From the An family incident, it was clear that when Shen Xihe wanted someone to fall, she never needed to dig up past misdeeds as leverage. Instead, she could effortlessly ensnare them in a trap tailor-made for their demise, leaving no room for escape.
Moreover, Shen Xihe seldom took action, but when she did, her prey was left with no chance of recovery.
In this matter, unless Xiao Changmin could execute his plans flawlessly—not only leaving no evidence but also ensuring Shen Xihe would never suspect him—she would undoubtedly make him pay a severe price.
"Father, regarding the recent praises and accolades for His Majesty circulating in Jiangnan—do you truly believe the common people are spontaneously singing his praises out of genuine gratitude?" This was clearly the most effective method to dispel the rumors that the Crown Prince’s innate superiority surpassed that of His Majesty.
If this had nothing to do with Shen Xihe, Yu Sangning would not believe it for a moment. Shen Xihe had already begun to act. The fact that there was no whisper of her moving against Xiao Changmin did not mean she had forgotten, lacked courage, or was too preoccupied. It was merely the calm before the storm.
Shen Xihe was like the finest hunter in the jungle. Though she had long begun digging traps, she never alarmed her prey. Instead, she allowed them to walk step by step into her snare, completely unaware until it was too late to escape.
This was precisely why Yu Sangning feared Shen Xihe so deeply.
"You seem quite fearful of the Crown Princess," remarked Pingyao Marquis, noticing how his usually astute daughter grew tense and guarded at the mere mention of Shen Xihe.
"Father, a woman like the Crown Princess leaves no one untouched by fear," Yu Sangning admitted frankly. "I dare not cross her. Tell me, in all the world, how many would dare reveal their ambitions before His Majesty?"
No one—except Shen Xihe.
The imperial princes had to tread carefully in His Majesty’s presence, masking their true intentions. Court officials likewise flattered and submitted, playing the fool when necessary and shrewd when required.
Yet Shen Xihe alone dared to act against His Majesty and emerge unscathed. She openly revealed her ambition to one day ascend the throne through her position as Crown Princess, and yet His Majesty could not easily move against her.
Pondering this deeply, Pingyao Marquis could no longer take the matter lightly. "So, according to you, the Crown Princess has already begun targeting Zhao Wang?"
"Yes," Yu Sangning nodded with certainty. She had no concrete evidence—only intuition, born of her understanding of Shen Xihe. "Father, look around now. The entire realm sings His Majesty’s virtues. Who still remembers the talk of the Crown Prince’s blessings surpassing His Majesty’s?
In the face of natural disasters, some are praising His Majesty to stabilize the people’s hearts, while others spread rumors to stir chaos and drive a wedge between His Majesty and the Crown Prince. If these two scenarios were placed before His Majesty, what fate do you think the rumor-monger would face?"
The answer was self-evident. A chill ran down Pingyao Marquis’s spine. Truly, this was a blade that killed without a trace—seemingly unrelated, yet capable of effortlessly ending a life without ever being wielded, leaving not a drop of blood spilled."If that is the case, it is already too late to turn the tide." The Pingyao Marquis frowned.
Yu Sangning suppressed the irritation in her heart. Trying to turn the tide now? They would be fortunate just to survive Shen Xihe's hands: "The only plan now is to ask Father to persuade Prince Zhao to confess his crime before His Majesty loses his temper, then produce a mastermind behind it—sacrificing a pawn to save the king." For your convenience in future readings, you can click the "Bookmark" below to record this chapter (Chapter 663: Sacrificing a Pawn to Save the King). The next time you open your bookshelf, it will be visible!
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