You Wenjun did not believe that Xiao Changying could fail to see the Crown Princess's intentions, yet he still turned a blind eye and remained deeply devoted to her.
Rumors were spreading that the Crown Prince was fated to die young. Did he truly think that after the Crown Prince's early demise, the Crown Princess would accept him?
Filled with confusion and anxiety, You Wenjun left the Lie Wang Manor. The Jing Wang Manor, situated opposite the Lie Wang Manor, was also enveloped in silence.
Not only was Xiao Changyan present, but Yan Wang Xiao Changgeng was there as well.
"Eighth Brother, should we…" Xiao Changgeng began, leaving his words unfinished, but Xiao Changyan understood his implication.
"A sudden thunderclap on calm ground, besieged on all sides, trapped from every direction…" Xiao Changyan rubbed the thumb ring on his finger. "This is a splendid drama. How could you and I miss it?"
If the Youning Emperor was the one who least wished for Bu Shulin to return safely to Shu Southern, then Xiao Changyan was the second least willing. This was because Shu Southern bordered An Nan, and the largest military forces in both regions were under their control. Even if the command of the Shunan Army were to return to His Majesty, it would only benefit him without any harm. However, if it fell into Bu Shulin's hands, it would strangle his throat.
Bu Shulin was clearly Shen Xihe's ally. An alliance between Bu Shulin and Shen Xihe was the best choice. They were both princes of different surnames, much like him and his brothers. Once in power, one must retain one or two to showcase benevolence and appease the court officials who had supported others, making it clear that he was neither cruel nor narrow-minded, thus securing the throne.
If Shen Xihe were to hold great power in the future, she would also have to show favor to the Shu Southern Royal Manor to prevent those in the northwest who followed the Shen family from feeling the chill of impending doom. He and the Bu family were naturally opposed.
"How does Eighth Brother plan to respond?" Xiao Changgeng asked again.
"I cannot entrust this matter to anyone else. Could Fourteenth Brother go personally?" Xiao Changyan's gaze fell upon Xiao Changgeng.
For a prince to leave the capital privately was a grave crime. Xiao Changyan would naturally cover for Xiao Changgeng in the capital, but if anything went wrong, the blame would fall entirely on Xiao Changgeng, with no connection to Xiao Changyan.
After all, the two of them were not born of the same mother, unlike Xiao Changying and Xiao Changqing, who were full brothers.
Without a moment's hesitation, Xiao Changgeng smiled calmly. "Eighth Brother trusts me so deeply. How could I let you down?"
Was it dangerous? Of course, it was dangerous.
But how could one catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger's lair? Xiao Changyan wanted him to go, and this was a perfect opportunity to infiltrate Xiao Changyan's Shadow Guard. He also firmly believed that this was not a test from Xiao Changyan. After all, he had once saved Xiao Changyan's life. If he were to be ambushed and killed by Xiao Changyan now, Xiao Changyan's path to the throne would be nearly severed. How could his followers dare to pledge their unwavering loyalty?
Xiao Changgeng pondered that he might soon confront his ninth brother directly.
If even Xiao Changgeng could guess that Xiao Changying would go, how could Xiao Huayong not foresee it? Moreover, Xiao Changying had escorted Shen Xihe thousands of miles during her journey to the northwest, an event that had unfolded right under his nose.
Thus, before Xiao Changying even left the capital, Xiao Huayong received the news. After a moment of silence, he instructed Tianyuan, "Keep an eye on him. Ensure he returns alive."
If Xiao Changying were to die, his actions could not be concealed.
Shen Xihe was an extremely rational and indifferent person. If Xiao Changying returned alive, even if she found out, she would not be moved in the slightest. As she herself had said, whether others treated her well or not was not something she sought, and she would never let it stir her emotions.However, if Xiao Changying were to die, Shen Xihe might very well carry the memory in her heart. How could he tolerate someone else leaving a mark in her heart? Even the faintest trace was unacceptable.
While he lived, her eyes and heart could only hold him!
“Understood!” Tianyuan responded, then withdrew from the room. As he stepped out, he saw Shen Xihe standing at the doorway. His expression shifted slightly, but he could only bow his head in salute before quietly retreating.
“Why did you send someone to protect Prince Lie?” Shen Xihe stepped inside and questioned immediately.
Her tone sounded even, but Xiao Huayong knew she was already angered—because she had guessed the truth.
He hurried forward in large strides and grasped Shen Xihe’s hand. “I did not mean to hide it from you. This is a trial that Worldly Son Bu must undergo.”
Why send someone to protect Xiao Changying? Xiao Changying possessed exceptional martial skills. Even if he slipped out of the capital alone, given Xiao Changqing’s influence, he would undoubtedly be heavily guarded. Under such circumstances, how could Xiao Changying be in any danger?
There was only one answer: the peril of this journey far exceeded Shen Xihe’s expectations.
As clever as Shen Xihe was, she easily deduced that Xiao Huayong had set a deadly trial for Bu Shulin.
Outside the capital, a heart-pounding ambush would unfold. The assassins might be sent by Xiao Juesong or played by others under Xiao Huayong’s orders. This was done to prevent the exposure of the imposter after Bu Shulin faced a real ambush, which would blatantly announce to the world that she was wary of the Emperor.
Some veils of decency must not be torn away—not only by the Emperor but also by Bu Shulin. Otherwise, it would provoke the Emperor to act recklessly: since you, as a subject, have begun to distrust and guard against the sovereign, isn’t it only reasonable for the sovereign to suspect you of disloyalty?
Unless Bu Shulin could prove that the assassins were sent by His Majesty, it would be the subject who first harbored suspicions. In the power struggles among those in high positions, having just cause is an extremely crucial element.
Thus, by having Xiao Huayong stage an ambush first, he disrupted the Emperor’s plans and others’ attempts to fish in troubled waters. Allowing “Bu Shulin” to escape beforehand, under the known threat of pursuit, no matter how many decoys were dispersed, it could only be said that Bu Shulin was foresighted, not that she doubted the Emperor.
However, Shen Xihe had not anticipated that, from this point onward, Xiao Huayong intended to turn Bu Shulin into bait—just as when Munuha fled the capital, darting about and exposing Xiao Huayong’s hidden pieces one by one to Fourth Prince Xiao Changtai’s eyes.
Xiao Huayong wanted Bu Shulin to gradually lure out His Majesty and all other factions, revealing them step by step under her guidance. This would allow him to stand at the highest vantage point, clearly discerning all the forces across the land: which were enemies, which were allies, which were fence-sitters, and which remained neutral.
“A Lin is pregnant.” Shen Xihe was not incapable of accepting Xiao Huayong testing Bu Shulin. After all, Bu Shulin would one day be entrusted with her life. Both her ability and loyalty needed to be demonstrated. She could not blindly entrust her based on affection alone, or else those who had already aligned with Xiao Huayong and passed numerous trials would feel unjustly treated.
She merely hoped Xiao Huayong could choose a different timing.
“This is the best timing.” Xiao Huayong gazed deeply at Shen Xihe. “Youyou, my time is running out.”
He did not have much time left. Otherwise, he too would have been willing to consider Shen Xihe’s bond with Bu Shulin and proceed gradually.Whether Bu Shulin was qualified to take command of the southern military forces for Shen Xihe after his departure had to be confirmed before he left.
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