Chapter 738: Seeing Through the Crown Prince's Thoughts
The morning light was faint, and the breeze carried the fragrance of flowers.
Xiao Huayong turned his head to meet Shen Xihe's slightly dazed gaze. His wife was perfect in every way, except she was too detached from worldly affairs.
He believed that no matter when or where, she would always have the wisdom to extricate herself from danger and protect herself. Yet, her heart lacked a certain drive—she remained aloof from conflicts involving people or matters. If not for those she wished to protect, she would likely live with a heart as calm as still water.
It was precisely this rare temperament that also revealed its drawbacks.
She did not fear the Xiao Changqing brothers and knew that once Xiao Changqing harbored ambitions for the throne, they would inevitably engage in a life-and-death struggle.
However, as long as these two brothers did not cause trouble for her or become her true adversaries, she never wished to take the initiative to strike. It was not that she was content with her circumstances, but rather that she inherently lacked aggression and the desire to kill. If peaceful coexistence was possible, she had no intention of resorting to drastic measures.
Shen Xihe understood Xiao Huayong's meaning, but she merely smiled faintly and said, "Beichen, perhaps you are right, having been born into the imperial family. Yet, this is my nature. My way of doing things is deeply ingrained in my bones and cannot be changed overnight."
"No rush, as long as you are aware," Xiao Huayong replied with a gentle smile, his eyes shimmering softly.
She was someone who could adapt to her environment very quickly. At times, she simply failed to recognize the changes in her status and the shortcomings in her temperament when dealing with the imperial family.
Xiao Huayong had noticed this long ago, but he had never thought to remind her or force her to adapt or change anything. Because he bore all responsibilities, she only needed to remain true to her original intention as time passed.
But now, the days he could spend with her were limited, and he did not know if heaven would grant him the mercy of returning to her side. He had to make her see everything clearly, fearing that these overlooked aspects might become fatal weaknesses when he could no longer be by her side.
Her obsidian-like eyes were moist and gentle, and Shen Xihe was enveloped in a soft, water-like radiance. She curved her lips into a smile and said, "Mm."
In their exchanged smiles, the sky was clear, the air was fresh, and time seemed peaceful and serene.
In stark contrast, at Prince Xin's Residence, Xiao Changqing sat expressionlessly on the edge of the couch, his fingers rubbing the seal on his wrist. His gaze seemed to fall on Xiao Changying, who lay quietly on the couch, yet it also seemed unfocused, as if his thoughts had drifted elsewhere.
As the sun set and the moon rose, the daylight in the room quietly gave way to flickering candlelight. It was only then that Xiao Changying, who had been unconscious on the bed, slowly woke with a pained groan. A soft, muffled sound drew Xiao Changqing's focused gaze, and he slowly looked over. "Awake?"
After a quick survey of his surroundings, the familiar furnishings made Xiao Changying realize where he was. He pressed his lips together and lowered his head. "Brother, the people you assigned to me... all perished."
He felt deeply sorry, as these individuals were no ordinary men. It was clear that Xiao Changqing had invested considerable effort in training them.
"They were meant to protect your safety. Soldiers are trained for a thousand days to be used in one moment. There is no need for you to dwell on it," Xiao Changqing said calmly. "It was the Crown Prince's men who brought you back."
"Mm." Xiao Changying nodded, then smiled bitterly. "Our every move cannot be hidden from him. He must have sent someone to follow me all along. This person's martial skills were exceptionally high—I didn't notice a thing. The Crown Prince's men brought me back to the capital in just two days."The speed left Xiao Changying dumbfounded. He was still severely injured, yet at every stop along the way, someone was already waiting with a carriage. Traveling day and night, this alone demonstrated how many capable people the Crown Prince had under his command.
"Have you considered why you were injured?" Xiao Changqing asked.
"It was Eighth Brother's men." Mentioning this revived his spirits. "Brother, I encountered Qian Zong!"
Qian Zong had been considered dead long before this. Xiao Changyan had countless such people under his command who should have already 'died.' These individuals were not only highly useful but could also be completely disassociated from him regardless of what crimes they committed.
Moreover, these people had experienced numerous upheavals and harbored deep resentment in their hearts, making their actions ruthless and efficient. They felt even more gratitude and loyalty toward Xiao Changmin, who had pulled them out of the shadows, and even if captured alive, they would never betray him.
Xiao Changqing wasn't interested in whom Xiao Changyan had recruited. Seeing that his younger brother still hadn't grasped his meaning, he had to speak plainly: "It was the Crown Prince who led Qian Zong to your trail."
Xiao Changying was stunned: "Why... why?"
He didn't doubt his brother's words but couldn't understand why Xiao Huayong would do this.
Xiao Huayong could have stood by and done nothing—they couldn't fault him for that—but by leading others to ambush him, Xiao Huayong was declaring enmity.
"The Crown Prince's mind is unfathomable. I've only just begun to understand a fraction of it." Xiao Changqing had been pondering this question while watching over Xiao Changying. "The Northwest Prince Heir has gone to the Min River to assist the Prince of Shunan. His Majesty won't miss this opportunity."
"From beginning to end, this has been the Crown Prince's undisguised scheme. Anyone can see it's a life-and-death struggle. His Majesty naturally has some understanding of our respective forces and will never sit back while he and the Shen family fight like two tigers, allowing us to reap the benefits."
"Whether to eliminate future threats or preserve strength, His Majesty will drag us into this."
"Weighing both sides, I'm afraid His Majesty fears me more than Eighth Brother. Therefore, at the latest by tomorrow, His Majesty will create disturbances and incidents around the Min River, legitimately dispatching you to lead troops there."
Once Xiao Changying reached the Min River, he would inevitably clash with Shen Yungan, and Xiao Changqing would have to protect him.
In this battle, Xiao Changying couldn't afford to lose—that would mean severe punishment—nor could he deliberately lose, as that would imply collusion and rebellion.
"The Crown Prince doesn't want conflict with me and Brother." Xiao Changying felt relieved.
Xiao Changqing glanced at him: "The Crown Prince wants to establish the relationship between ruler and subject with us."
By not dragging them into this conflict, he was telling them he was willing to treat them as his own. By deliberately leading Xiao Changyan to attack Xiao Changying, he was also making clear who was the ruler and who were the subjects.
"Brother, what do you intend to do?" Xiao Changying asked cautiously.
In truth, his brother had never aspired to the throne. Whoever eventually gained the imperial throne, they would naturally be subjects—this wasn't difficult for Xiao Changying to accept.
What worried Xiao Changying was his brother. There was a time when his brother had ambitions, but those ambitions had caused him heart-wrenching pain. More than once, he had regretted not taking Fifth Sister-in-law to travel the world earlier, free from worldly affairs.
Had they done so, even if the Gu family fell, they could have avoided it, and perhaps Fifth Sister-in-law wouldn't have been so resolute in her despair."From the moment of our birth, the Crown Prince and us have been sovereign and subject." The Eastern Palace was the Crown Prince, a fact Xiao Changqing regarded with detachment. "I just have a vague feeling that His Highness the Crown Prince is being overly hasty this time."
Dragging Xiao Ba into this, with the ambitious aim of annihilating or crippling the two formidable forces of Your Majesty and Xiao Changyan in one stroke, while simultaneously winning over their brothers—this did not seem like impatience to ascend the throne. It felt more like... an urgent paving of the way and entrusting of an orphan.
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