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Xiao Changgeng set aside his dismissiveness. If it were merely an incompetent Yu Fifth who caused more trouble than he was worth, it wouldn't warrant Xiao Juesong's rescue attempt. But if it was to reassure his followers and bolster his authority, making those he had planted more loyal, then it would be worthwhile. "Eighth Brother's concern is quite reasonable.
But Yu Fifth is to be executed tomorrow, and we are too far away to intervene. Moreover, since we can think of this, Fifth Brother and the Crown Princess must have considered it too, and they will surely make preparations..."
As he spoke, Xiao Changgeng paused, lost in thought for a moment before continuing, "Eighth Brother, perhaps the Crown Princess deliberately leaked this information."
"Oh? What makes you say that?" Xiao Changyan asked.
"The Crown Princess might have anticipated, just as we did, that Imperial Uncle would likely attempt to rescue him from the execution ground. By intentionally revealing this, if Imperial Uncle becomes aware of it, he would probably abandon the rescue plan. This way, Yu Fifth can be easily brought to justice, and public anxiety can be avoided."
Xiao Changyan quietly observed Xiao Changgeng for a moment. Just as the pensive Xiao Changgeng looked up, Xiao Changyan concealed his expression and revealed an enlightened smile. "So that's it. I understand now. Since the Crown Princess has everything under control, it seems I was overthinking. Let's rest well, as we have much to attend to tomorrow."
Patting Xiao Changgeng on the shoulder, Xiao Changyan clasped his hands behind his back and strode away.
Xiao Changgeng escorted him to the door and stood under the eaves, watching Xiao Changyan depart. The cold wind swayed the lanterns hanging from the eaves, their flickering light casting a silvery frost-like glow on Xiao Changgeng's boyish face, giving it a chilling aura.
Xiao Changyan did not know Shen Xihe well, which was why he had gone to test Xiao Changgeng. So this was Shen Xihe's intention—she truly believed Yu Fifth was in league with Xiao Juesong. What seemed like protection was actually a move to seal Yu Fifth's fate?
Why would Shen Xihe do this? If she truly held a grudge against Yu Gong, she should have taken action against him directly.
He had deliberately chosen Yu Fifth instead of Yu Gong to gauge Shen Xihe's reaction—whether she would act hastily. Yet her response was entirely unexpected. Had he underestimated Shen Xihe, or was his suspicion misplaced? Could it be that this matter had nothing to do with her?
Both Xiao Changgeng and Shen Xihe believed Yu Fifth was one of Xiao Juesong's men, which was why they thought Xiao Juesong would attempt a rescue at the execution ground.
Could it be that he had not wronged Yu Fifth after all? What if Yu Fifth truly was Xiao Juesong's man? Then Xiao Juesong would indeed attempt the rescue.
"Your Highness, perhaps we should send people to the execution ground to act as the situation demands," suggested an advisor, seeing Xiao Changyan's hesitation. "Whether anyone shows up or not, we should keep watch. We must not act rashly and fall into a trap."
After some thought, Xiao Changyan agreed. He ground ink, wrote a letter, and sent it back.
Almost simultaneously, messages from both Xiao Changyan and Xiao Changgeng were dispatched. However, Xiao Changgeng's eagle messenger was noticeably faster than Xiao Changyan's pigeon post. Xiao Huayong received the news as soon as he opened his eyes in the morning—it had actually arrived an hour earlier, but Tianyuan had not dared to wake him and only presented it now.
"Little Eighth will undoubtedly set an ambush at the execution ground today." Everything was unfolding step by step according to their plan.The goal was precisely to have Xiao Changyan send his men, then witness Xiao Juesong's followers storm the execution ground firsthand, followed by tracking Xiao Juesong to uncover his whereabouts...
"Our enemy is your elusive 'Imperial Uncle'—he won't send ordinary men. It's highly likely he'll dispatch his Shadow Guards." Shen Xihe rose and dressed. "Even if we capture them, we can't prove they're his people."
Xiao Changyan was cunning. His scheme against the Yu residence aimed to shift blame for his actions toward Xiao Changgeng onto the Yus. Yet he first used an unrelated method to condemn Fifth Young Master Yu to death before exposing Fifth Young Master Yu's crimes against Xiao Changgeng. This created a dead-end with no living witness, minimizing traces of his involvement.
Simultaneously, it ensured Yu Gong would never suspect he was the one who set the trap for Fifth Young Master Yu.
"No matter. If he wants to play mind games, I'll accompany him in this play." Xiao Huayong reached out to free a strand of Shen Xihe's hair trapped by her garments, then kissed her forehead. "Wait for your husband to settle this for you."
Having taken his liberties, Xiao Huayong cheerfully went to wash up.
Shen Xihe took a towel to wipe her forehead—this man hadn't even washed his face yet before kissing her! He was becoming increasingly unrestrained.
Yet even as her hands moved in apparent disgust, her heart held no trace of rejection or irritation.
Xiao Huayong changed his disguise in front of Shen Xihe. After nearly an hour of transformation, he became a different person. Though not her first time witnessing this, Shen Xihe still marveled at the spectacle. He arranged for a double to feign illness in his quarters, then slipped away unnoticed after Shen Xihe and Xiao Changqing departed for the county magistrate's office.
For Fifth Young Master Yu's execution, Shen Xihe refrained from cruelty by not assigning Yu Gong as overseer, instead entrusting it to the county magistrate. Still, Yu Gong secured a position at a food stall outside the execution ground, intently observing every movement.
A steady rain fell from the sky, yet numerous commoners braved the downpour to witness the execution. Their faces burned with hatred—they knew that had Fifth Young Master Yu succeeded, they might not be standing there alive.
Just as the execution time arrived, before the magistrate could cast the command token, a frenzied horse came galloping through the crowd. Panicked spectators scrambled aside. Only when the maddened steed charged into the execution ground did everyone see a black-clad figure emerge from beneath the horse's belly, brandishing a blade toward the executioner.
Fortunately, the executioner was robust and armed with a steel sword, narrowly evading the attack. Then, from among the crowd, figures who'd somehow masked their faces leapt forth, soaring toward the execution platform.
Watching from afar, Yu Gong turned deathly pale. The spectacle made even this biological father wonder whether his son truly was a minion of traitors.
His mind buzzed with a single thought: "It's over, it's over..."
Now the Yu residence could never clear its name even if they plunged into the Yellow River. Disregarding all else, he waved his hand and immediately deployed the men he'd summoned, determined to prevent these intruders from rescuing his son!
As long as his son wasn't taken, there might still be room for maneuver. But once abducted, no defense would be believable.
Xiao Changyan's sent operatives remained coldly observant. Whether this was a trap or not, so long as they didn't intervene, they couldn't be implicated.The people sent by Xiao Huayong were indeed those who had served under Xiao Juesong before his death. These individuals had been entrusted to him by Xiao Juesong on his deathbed, and Xiao Huayong accepted them without hesitation, as they would be of great use to him.
Especially significant were the unique marks on these people, which had been inscribed using Xiao Juesong’s secret method. That day at the temporary palace, these marks had already been presented before the Youning Emperor. For your convenience in future readings, you can click the "Bookmark" below to save this chapter (Chapter 672: Setting the Trap Step by Step). The next time you open your bookshelf, you’ll see it!
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