Chapter 737: Making Them Submit
Xiao Changying was escorted back to the capital in just two days, with constant carriage changes and non-stop travel day and night. After handing him over to Xiao Changqing, Xiao Huayong confessed to Shen Xihe: "Ninth Brother has returned. My men brought him back."
Shen Xihe was sewing clothes for Xiao Huayong. The Crown Prince had an entire Imperial Wardrobe Bureau at his disposal, and Shen Xihe was not the type of woman confined to the inner quarters, wholly devoted to serving her husband and raising children. Xiao Huayong never made such demands, but Shen Xihe had a habit of making seasonal clothes for her father and brothers. After marrying Xiao Huayong, she never showed favoritism.
Hearing this, her fair fingertips holding the needle paused: "Is he injured?"
Though phrased as a question, her tone was flat and matter-of-fact. Since Xiao Changying had intervened in this matter, he wouldn't withdraw halfway—even if she personally tried to stop him, it might not work. With Xiao Changying's martial skills, unless Xiao Huayong went himself, it would be difficult to subdue and forcibly bring him back.
For him to be escorted back by Xiao Huayong's men, and requiring their protection, he must have been injured—and seriously at that.
Speaking with someone perceptive was particularly effortless; a hint was all it took.
Xiao Huayong's gaze drifted vaguely over Shen Xihe. Seeing her resume her swift needlework, the corners of his lips lifted slightly: "He was severely wounded by Eighth Brother's men. His life isn't in danger, but he'll need a month or so to recover."
Shen Xihe nodded lightly in acknowledgment but said no more, clearly uninterested in the matter.
Xiao Huayong, however, didn't drop the topic. Teasing Baisui, he added: "I led Eighth Brother's men to ambush him."
"Utterly wicked, utterly wicked!"
Before Shen Xihe could react, the eight-year-old's voice reached her ears. She looked up to see Xiao Huayong holding a slender, polished wooden stick, scratching the softest feathers under Baisui's belly. The bird hopped frantically on its perch, but with one leg chained, it couldn't escape Xiao Huayong's torment.
After watching silently for a moment, Shen Xihe asked: "Why?"
She couldn't immediately grasp Xiao Huayong's motive for leading Xiao Changyan's men to ambush Xiao Changying. Was it merely because Xiao Changying's risk-taking was for her sake?
If Xiao Huayong only minded that, Xiao Changying wouldn't have been able to leave the capital in the first place, nor could he have intervened to find Bu Shulin. Xiao Huayong didn't need Xiao Changying's help at all—he could ensure Xiao Changying's safety while still protecting Bu Shulin's life.
Thus, there was no "killing the donkey after it finished grinding"—waiting for Xiao Changying to help Bu Shulin before burning the bridge.
Poking Baisui a few more times and watching it flap its wings while squawking, "Youyou deer cry, Youyou my heart…"—only when the cries satisfied him did Xiao Huayong put down the stick with a mysterious, pleased smile. Instead of answering Shen Xihe's question, he suddenly said: "After this battle in Minjiang, Your Majesty will surely suspect that either your Shen family is colluding with the Imperial Uncle, or I am biding my time.
Whichever it is, it will trouble his sleep. But different outcomes require different strategies.
If it's the former, he'll naturally find ways to make your Shen family dig its own grave as traitors. If it's the latter…""The Crown Prince is plotting a rebellion. As the Crown Princess, my father, brother, and I are all accomplices assisting you." Shen Xihe continued Xiao Huayong's line of thought. "His Majesty wants to know whether you are lying low or our Shen family has already betrayed him. The Min River is destined to become a bloody battleground.
However, you've made it clear that the Min River is a dragon's den and tiger's lair. With my brother already dispatched there, and His Majesty's precious Invincible Army having suffered significant losses under your command, he cannot afford to sacrifice them needlessly. Someone must scout the path."
This scout needed sufficient capability to probe their defenses—no incompetent fool would suffice. The Second Prince lacked such ability and would merely die without making any impact, which wasn't the outcome His Majesty desired.
That left only Xiao Changqing and Xiao Changyan. Though Xiao Changqing excelled in both civil and military arts, Xiao Changying remained unparalleled in leading troops into battle. Their combined forces would make the ideal choice.
Unwilling to send Xiao Changqing, Xiao Huayong had Xiao Changyan's men severely injure Xiao Changying. This served two purposes: first, with Xiao Changying wounded and unfit for battle, Youning Emperor would favor sending Xiao Changyan; second, since Xiao Changying was harmed by Xiao Changyan's men, Xiao Changqing would spare no effort to force Xiao Changyan to the Min River, enabling him to take ruthless revenge for his brother.
"Prince Xin is not someone easily deceived." Shen Xihe remarked, "Would Xiao Changqing truly believe Xiao Changyan's blockade of Xiao Changying had nothing to do with you?"
"What does it matter whether he believes it or not?" Xiao Huayong dismissed carelessly. "If he can deduce my interference, he'll understand my motives. Compared to becoming His Majesty's pawn, bearing imperial orders to suppress the rebellion at Min River while exhausting all resources and sacrificing unknown numbers of retainers merely for self-preservation—Little Nine's incapacitation is the optimal choice. He should be grateful to me."
Shen Xihe couldn't help staring at Xiao Huayong. Though she never considered herself particularly honorable, his level of shamelessness made her acknowledge defeat.
"Beichen, no one enjoys being coerced or threatened. Even if Prince Xin recognizes the greater benefits, he'll still resent being forced onto your predetermined path—especially when you've harmed his beloved kin."
Were their positions reversed, should Xiao Huayong dare harm Shen Yungan like this, she would never let it rest. Even if compelled to endure temporarily due to circumstances, she would inevitably find opportunity to make him pay.
"Ha ha ha ha..." Xiao Huayong laughed heartily, spinning gracefully to lean against the decorative railing as he sat, his posture both elegant and unrestrained. "No matter. If he wishes to vent his anger, let him come at me—provided he can gain any advantage against me."
From their first meeting until their wedding, Shen Xihe had thought Xiao Huayong's character mirrored his eyes—silver radiance coalesced, brilliant light deeply concealed. Behind the dazzling brilliance lay boundless darkness. Only after marriage did she witness the arrogance inherent in his bones.
Not baseless conceit, but true monarchal disdain for the world.
He seemed to divide her and all other people into separate spheres. Except toward her, he regarded no one with genuine attention—his methods domineering and forceful, wholly indifferent to whether others nurtured resentment toward him.
Not that he failed to anticipate their hatred—he simply didn't care.
"Beichen, you clearly had alternative approaches..." She couldn't comprehend why he insisted on suppression when he could have earned Xiao Changqing's gratitude instead."Youyou, only when it's between the strong and the weak can it be called granting favors. Between the strong and the strong, it's seen as mutual support in the other's eyes—they always find ways to repay this kindness elsewhere. If you truly want to cut off their aspirations, it's not about staying clear of each other like well water not interfering with river water, but about making them..."
Xiao Huayong suppressed his smile and uttered two resounding words: "Submit!"
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