Chapter 742: One Should Not Court Death
However, Gu Qingshu's reminder had alerted Yu Sangning. Although Yu Sangning herself found it hard to believe that Xiao Changying would go to such lengths for Shen Xihe, who was now the Crown Princess, she had no choice but to accept that there were indeed lovesick fools like Xiao Changying in this world.
"Does Little Jiu fancy the Crown Princess?" Xiao Changmin couldn't help but laugh after saying this—a laugh filled with utter absurdity.
It wasn't that he disbelieved Xiao Changying's infatuation with Shen Xihe, but rather, judging others by his own standards, he could never go to such extremes for mere admiration.
To oppose His Majesty, even covertly, was an act of sheer audacity!
Was a woman—a woman married to another—worth it?
In Xiao Changmin's eyes, she absolutely was not.
With just one glance, Yu Sangning knew exactly what Xiao Changmin was thinking. She felt somewhat uncomfortable inside. While Yu Sangning looked down upon Xiao Changying's sentimentality over love, she wasn't jealous of Shen Xihe; she simply marveled at such unwavering devotion.
Xiao Changmin's disdain stemmed from his contempt for women. To him, women were mere accessories to be priced and traded!
Keeping her expression neutral, Yu Sangning said solemnly, "Whether Your Highness believes it or not, this is the truth.
The Crown Princess and the Shen family have laid a trap in Minjiang. This is a life-and-death battle. Since the Shen family has issued the challenge, they will come with overwhelming force and full preparation.
The Crown Princess was able to send Prince Lie back safely, which means she had people following Worldly Son Bu all along. All the men Your Highness sent earlier have been eliminated by the Crown Princess's people. Sending more would only be a futile sacrifice. Why must Your Highness involve yourself?"
Seeing Xiao Changmin's face darken with displeasure, Yu Sangning did not stop, though her tone softened slightly: "If Your Highness is wise, why not remain an observer this time?
The Shen family is confronting His Majesty, and Prince Jing has been dragged into it. I suspect Prince Xin will not stay out of it either. This is a heaven-sent opportunity for a stalemate where both sides suffer. Your Highness could easily reap the spoils."
Yu Sangning truly had no other choice. Telling Xiao Changmin outright that he stood no chance of seizing the throne would only provoke his anger. If she could secure her position as a princess consort and preserve her wealth and status, she would naturally exhaust all means to do so.
These words were somewhat more agreeable to Xiao Changmin. Had it not been for the tempting rewards dangled by His Majesty, Xiao Changmin might have actually heeded Yu Sangning's advice to stand by and watch, waiting for the right moment to act.
But now, he was no longer in control. His Majesty had already given him a secret decree. Having just accepted the order, how could he turn around and refuse? If he did, he could forget about ever gaining His Majesty's favor.
Didn't Xiao Changyan wish to extricate himself? To avoid being dragged into the muddy waters of Minjiang?
Of course he did. But with Xiao Changying's "assassination" as a precedent, unless he could replicate it, he had no other way to shirk this heavy responsibility. He could only grit his teeth and accept it, steeling himself to enter the battlefield.
This was likely one of the reasons the Crown Princess had arranged for Xiao Changying to be severely wounded.
"I will investigate thoroughly first." This time, Xiao Changmin did not outright reject Yu Sangning's suggestion, but gave an ambiguous, evasive response.
Yu Sangning wanted to say more, but Xiao Changmin had no patience to listen further. How could he possibly disclose His Majesty's orders to Yu Sangning?
Watching Xiao Changmin's retreating figure, Yu Sangning felt a sense of dejection. Everything had happened too quickly.Had all this occurred two or three years after her marriage to Xiao Changmin, she would have been confident in her ability to win him over, making him value her every word. However, her marriage to Xiao Changmin was still recent, and he was inherently a man who believed in the traditional division of roles—men managing external affairs and women domestic ones.
When it came to matters of state and family, he never considered it appropriate for women to interfere. Thus, even though he recognized her intelligence, he did not place much importance on her opinions.
Prompted by Yu Sangning’s reminder, Xiao Changmin did not act immediately. Instead, he sent a message to Xiao Changgeng. This time, it was Xiao Changgeng who led his men to intercept Bu Shulin. Having likely clashed with those protecting Bu Shulin, Xiao Changgeng would not have failed to recognize Xiao Changying.
By consulting Xiao Changgeng, Xiao Changmin inadvertently made it impossible to keep the matter from Xiao Huayong.
After reading the message, Xiao Huayong fell into thought and then passed the information brought by Xiao Changgeng to Shen Xihe.
The fact that Xiao Changying was escorting Bu Shulin remained known to very few, thanks to the cover provided by both Xiao Changqing and Xiao Huayong.
Even His Majesty was unaware. Xiao Changyan only knew because Xiao Huayong had deliberately allowed him to find out. It was impossible for Xiao Changmin to be more perceptive than His Majesty or Xiao Changyan.
"It must be Princess Consort Zhao," Shen Xihe deduced after a moment’s reflection, pinpointing the source of the issue. "Princess Consort Zhao is acquainted with Liyang County Princess."
Yu Sangning was exceptionally adept at social maneuvering. If she wished to ingratiate herself with someone, she could even turn enemies into friends—a prime example being her relationship with her legitimate elder sister, Yu Sangzi.
Perhaps the only person Yu Sangning had ever failed to win over in her life was Shen Xihe herself.
Since being ennobled as a County Princess, Gu Qingshu had maintained a low profile. Aside from hovering around Xiao Changqing, she rarely socialized with others. This was because those who had once turned their backs on her during the Gu family’s downfall were now among her peers. Gu Qingshu naturally did not dare to approach Shen Xihe, leaving Yu Sangning as her only option. With Yu Sangning deliberately cultivating their friendship, it was difficult for Gu Qingshu not to confide in her.
"Tianyuan, deliver this message to Fifth Brother," Xiao Huayong instructed, handing the scroll directly to Tianyuan.
It was the original, unaltered document, written in Xiao Changgeng’s hand. Xiao Huayong had no fear of Xiao Changqing learning that Xiao Changgeng was his man.
Xiao Changqing’s reaction to Xiao Huayong’s move against Xiao Changying had already demonstrated the brothers’ willingness to align themselves with the Eastern Palace.
Precisely for this reason, Xiao Huayong did not want Xiao Changqing to hesitate indecisively, only to suffer a major setback later due to his persistent soft-heartedness toward a liability.
By letting Xiao Changqing know that Xiao Changgeng was his man, Xiao Huayong aimed to make him aware of his own strength and to demonstrate the trust he placed in him.
Xiao Changqing was in the midst of analyzing the Min River affair with Xiao Changying when the message from the Eastern Palace arrived. His face instantly turned ashen.
Xiao Changying, who had just had his dressing changed and was half-reclining on the bed, craned his neck to look and immediately grew grim. "I’ve long said she was nothing but trouble—still harboring designs on you, Brother, and now betraying us from within!"
The letter only contained Xiao Changgeng’s inquiry about whether to inform Xiao Changmin that Xiao Changying was the one escorting Bu Shulin, with no mention of Gu Qingshu.
Yet even Xiao Changying, who was not particularly shrewd, could connect the dots. His brother had said that the attack in the capital had enraged His Majesty, and the subsequent investigation appeared genuine, which meant His Majesty had not discovered that Xiao Changying was involved in escorting Bu Shulin.Perhaps His Majesty had his suspicions, but Xiao Huayong's timely appearance in the capital two days after the massive interception dispelled those doubts. After all, even he would find it hard to believe the extent of Xiao Huayong's influence had he not witnessed it firsthand.
If even His Majesty harbored no suspicions, how could his second brother—who spent his days lost in delusions with little intellect—possibly suspect anything?
Then how did Xiao Changmin come to know? There could only be a traitor within their household, one who leaked information to Zhao Wang's residence!
The answer was self-evident.
"I will not keep her any longer," Xiao Changqing rose to his feet.
With the Eastern Palace's message delivered, he had to make his stance clear.
My release home was delayed by a day, but fortunately, I barely managed to resume updates on the ninth.
(End of Chapter)
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