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The next day, the Lady of Lingwu Earl Manor submitted a name plaque requesting an audience. Shen Xihe hadn't expected that the nearly hollowed-out Lingwu Earl Manor still had someone clever enough to grasp this point.
In truth, many were pondering why Shen Xihe had personally overseen the flogging to death of Yu Sangning's maid the previous day. Most sensed there must be a deeper meaning, as Shen Xihe was not one to seek the limelight or assert authority. Yet, the majority remained baffled, unable to see the full picture.
However, with the Lady of Lingwu Earl Manor arriving so solemnly and bearing lavish gifts to express gratitude, anyone with a bit of sense could piece together the connection.
Yu Sangning's malicious intent was now laid bare.
Shen Xihe gladly received the Lady of Lingwu Earl Manor and Princess Anling, who had accompanied her. It wasn't that Shen Xihe intended to deliberately smear Yu Sangning—she wasn't that petty. But since the Lady of Lingwu Earl Manor had come seeking an audience, Shen Xihe couldn't very well turn her away.
"Although the Earl of Lingwu is neither accomplished in letters nor martial arts, he is a shrewd opportunist. His Majesty dislikes such people, but I feel that judging based on personal preferences has cost him a potentially useful man," Xiao Huayong remarked, emerging from the side after Princess Anling and her daughter-in-law had departed.
"Your Highness, are you suggesting I use this opportunity to win over Lingwu Earl Manor?" Shen Xihe probed.
Although neither of them brought up Xiao Huayong's limited lifespan anymore, he spent his days paving the way for her, never shying away from letting her see it.
"Why should you stoop to such efforts?" Xiao Huayong took Shen Xihe's hand. "When you ascend to the highest authority and claim the imperial throne, all wise individuals will naturally look to you as their leader and bow in submission."
Xiao Huayong didn't want Shen Xihe to have to win anyone over. She shouldn't have to lower herself for anything. She only needed to stand where she was; everything she desired, he would lay before her.
"Beichen, I have no ambition to be an empress regnant," Shen Xihe lifted her gaze, her obsidian eyes clearly reflecting Xiao Huayong's form. "As a daughter of the Shen family, I only wish to protect the Shen clan. Now, I am not only a daughter of Shen but also a wife of the Xiao lineage. I will not sever the imperial authority of the Xiao house. I will not allow my husband to bear even a single stain in the historical records."
No matter how heroic and capable Xiao Huayong was, if she were to overthrow the Xiao dynasty, centuries later, Xiao Huayong would be criticized—precisely because she, Shen Xihe, was his wife.
She had never harbored such ambitions. Everything she did was merely to protect those she wished to shield.
Her Father and Brother were the same. The cold Dragon Throne in the Hall of Diligent Governance could never bring them the joy and passion they found on the bumpy horseback rides in the Northwest.
Xiao Huayong raised her hand and gently pressed a kiss to its back. He lowered his head slightly, his gaze intense as he looked deeply at her. They were so close their noses nearly touched. "I know. I only hope you can live a little more lightly. Youyou, the situation changes in the blink of an eye. Sometimes, even if we harbor no excessive thoughts in our hearts, fate and circumstances force us onto such a path."
"I truly hope you never find yourself in such a passive and helpless position, but I want you to remember, should that day ever come, do not worry too much about such considerations."
He was a man who didn't even care if the imperial bloodline was continued by his own flesh and blood; how could he possibly care about those elusive posthumous reputations?
He didn't want Shen Xihe to place too much importance on this, lest it become a shackle holding her back at a critical moment, hindering her decisiveness.Shen Xihe opened her eyes and quietly met his gaze. In his eyes, there was earnest anticipation and boundless tenderness, like threads drawn from cotton, impossibly soft, making her heart soften along with it. She nodded gently, "Rest assured, I am not a rigid person."
Xiao Huayong's face blossomed into a smile, like ice and snow melting, bringing warmth back to the world.
Infected by his joy, Shen Xihe couldn't help but smile as well.
Lately, she seemed to have become more prone to laughter. It was as if after marrying him, her smiles had gradually increased.
In stark contrast to Shen Xihe's contentment and ease, Yu Sangning was living in dire straits. She had originally intended to eliminate the Lingwu Earl Manor and regain her natal family's support. Little did she know that she, who had always sailed smoothly, would encounter nothing but setbacks whenever she crossed paths with Shen Xihe.
This time, not only did she fail to succeed, but she also allowed many to become aware of her intentions. Now, everyone avoided her like the plague. Fortunately, she was pregnant and could use the excuse of nurturing her fetus to remain in her residence, quietly waiting for everyone to forget the matter. However, her father and brother grew increasingly wary of her, especially since the Lingwu Earl Manor went all out, finding fault with the Yu residence at every turn. Previously, the Yu residence held a higher noble rank than the Lingwu Earl Manor, but now, with the Yu residence stripped of its title and Yu Xiang demoted, they found themselves frequently constrained. Consequently, Yu Xiang and his son grew even more dissatisfied with Yu Sangning.
The only relief for Yu Sangning was Xiao Changmin's attitude. Perhaps because she had never pretended in front of him, Xiao Changmin had always known her true nature and thus did not treat her much differently. He merely separately arranged for palace matrons to care for their two children.
Five days later, on a early morning, a galloping steed charged from the city gates all the way to the palace entrance. The rider on the horse had a white cloth tied around his arm. He knelt at the palace gate and presented an obituary: "Your Majesty, the Prince of Shunan... has passed away!"
There were commoners at the palace gate, though they kept their distance. However, the galloping horse attracted many eyes, and people worried whether it was important military intelligence or if war was breaking out somewhere, so a crowd gathered.
The loud, grief-stricken shout of the soldier was heard by all: the Prince of Shunan had died.
At that moment, the court was in grand assembly at the Yuji Palace. When the news arrived, an uproar ensued.
The news was too sudden and caught everyone off guard. Except for Xiao Huayong, it seemed no one had any preparation, and all were stunned.
Xiao Huayong clearly saw the Youning Emperor's face twitch twice, evidently enraged to the extreme.
The news had been blatantly delivered to the palace gates, yet the covert scouts in Shunan were completely unaware. The messenger had traveled all the way from Shunan to the capital without anyone noticing anything amiss. How could the emperor not be furious?
But by the time the officials recovered from their shock and turned to look at the emperor, His Majesty had already adopted a sorrowful expression and immediately waved his hand to dismiss the court.
Bu Shulin wasted no time. She changed into plain clothes, tied a white cloth around her arm, and immediately entered the palace to beg the emperor for permission to return to Shunan to mourn her father.
The Youning Emperor had no excuse to delay or detain her. This dynasty governed with filial piety as its foundation, and mourning one's father took precedence over all else. He had no choice but to consent.
As planned, Bu Shulin came to the Eastern Palace to bid farewell. The one who departed was no longer Bu Shulin herself, but someone Xiao Huayong had arranged to be disguised in her place.
"Leave now," Shen Xihe personally tied a black cloth over Bu Shulin's eyes to blindfold her.
Xiao Huayong was going to take Bu Shulin away through the secret passage. It wasn't that he distrusted Bu Shulin, but knowing fewer secrets was also better for Bu Shulin herself.Everyone is now watching Bu Shulin, unaware that a switch had taken place in the Eastern Palace. The Worldly Son Bu returning to the mansion would depart overnight, while the real Bu Shulin, having left the palace through the secret passage, could gain several hours' head start and put a significant distance behind.
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