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Xiao Changmin not only sent people to pursue and kill but also brought two Embroidered Uniform Envoys assigned to him by the Youning Emperor.
Although Zhao Zhenghao was not among them, it still couldn't escape Xiao Huayong's notice.
The eldest prince died young, making Xiao Changmin naturally the eldest among the adult princes. However, despite being both cultured and martial, he never stood out among his many outstanding younger brothers.
His maternal clan was not prominent and lacked exceptional figures. After reaching adulthood, he was hastily married to a wife from a mediocre, ordinary family background.
Whether in terms of personal qualifications or support from maternal and wife's clans, he had no advantages and naturally failed to gain the Emperor's reliance.
Finally entrusted with an important task by the Emperor, even after receiving Xiao Changgeng's affirmative response, with Xiao Changying interfering in the matter and Shen Shi controlling the overall situation throughout, intervening at this point would bring glory and boundless prestige if successful, but if failed...
Xiao Changmin didn't consider the cost of failure because he knew this time he must succeed at all costs!
Therefore, he immediately led his men personally, following the traces of his search to hunt down Bu Shulin.
With Yinshan dead, he lost his convenience, but the location of the incident and the already clear situation were guiding him toward Bu Shulin's escape direction. He would soon pinpoint the target.
As soon as Xiao Changmin left the capital, Xiao Huayong learned the news. He had been gradually transferring the forces he cultivated over the years to Shen Xihe, and these people were being pushed step by step to align with Shen Xihe. None of his commands could be hidden from Shen Xihe.
Xiao Huayong rarely forced himself to attend the small court assembly of the Three Departments and Six Ministries despite his "ill health." After hearing the news delivered by Tianyuan, Shen Xihe remained silent for a long time.
Pomegranate branches bloomed brightly, while lotus leaves connected across the summer pond.
The fiery red pomegranate flowers reflected in the emerald waves interwove with the lotus leaves emerging from the water. Occasionally, dragonflies would flutter their wings, skimming past and stirring ripples across the pond.
It was only upon seeing these gentle ripples that Tianyuan felt this windless midsummer hadn't frozen along with the Crown Princess's silent, expressionless depth, relieving some of the oppression in his heart.
He couldn't quite articulate where his sympathies lay. The Crown Prince's approach indeed lacked some human touch, but this had always been his style of conduct.
The Crown Prince had studied imperial governance since childhood, where ruler-subject relations came first. To be a qualified monarch, one couldn't show too much partiality or be bound by personal feelings, especially since Worldly Son Bu didn't share much personal connection with the Crown Prince.
Worldly Son Bu was deeply acquainted with the Crown Princess. The Crown Prince pushing Worldly Son Bu into such danger, causing the Crown Princess's anger, seemed quite reasonable. This indicated the Crown Princess was someone who valued loyalty.
Naturally, the Crown Prince wasn't unworthy of loyalty either, but Tianyuan felt it should be described differently: the Crown Prince was someone worthy of submission.
"I understand." While Tianyuan's thoughts raced anxiously, Shen Xihe's clear voice eventually reached his ears.
He looked up, cautiously observing Shen Xihe's expression, yet couldn't detect any emotion at all. Though he didn't know why the Crown Princess had remained silent for so long, he hadn't sensed any emotional fluctuations from her throughout his wait...
This was probably why the Crown Prince was so captivated by the Crown Princess. They were equally unfathomable people, despite having different temperaments and methods. At their core, they were the same kind."Does the Crown Princess have any instructions?" Tianyuan inquired respectfully.
Her obsidian-like eyes, both dazzling and aloof, lifted and fell upon the pomegranate tree. Suddenly, she said, "I have resided in the Eastern Palace for many years yet have never hosted a flower-viewing banquet. Relay my orders: tomorrow, we shall hold a flower banquet in the Hibiscus Garden."
"Ah? Oh! This subordinate will go and issue the instructions at once." Tianyuan was startled for a moment before quickly collecting himself.
Shen Xihe had always been of a cool and detached disposition. Before marrying into the Eastern Palace, she rarely attended grand banquets unless summoned by the palace.
After becoming mistress of the Eastern Palace, she had never engaged in such activities, nor used them to socialize with noblewomen.
At this rather inopportune moment, Shen Xihe actually wanted to host a flower banquet. Tianyuan was filled with confusion but dared not voice his questions. He could only wait until the Crown Prince returned and mention it briefly.
Xiao Huayong was initially taken aback upon hearing this, then nodded. "Just carry out your duties properly."
When news spread of Shen Xihe hosting a flower banquet at this time, everyone was baffled.
Though the next day was not a grand court assembly, it did not stop censors from submitting memorials condemning Shen Xihe for lacking compassion for the common people. While hundreds of innocent lives were lost in the Min River disaster, she was preoccupied with frivolous pleasures.
However, these critical memorials never reached the Emperor’s hands. Xiao Huayong openly intercepted them without concealing it from the Youning Emperor.
Yet even he did not understand Shen Xihe’s intentions. "Youyou, what sudden inspiration moved you to host a flower-viewing banquet?"
Shen Xihe changed into an elegant apricot-colored palace gown, her hair swept up high and adorned with golden hairpins on both sides. Delicate golden chains hung with thin Eucommia leaves dangled from the pins, reaching down to her earlobes.
The veins of the Eucommia leaves were clearly visible, much like her exquisitely refined makeup. "Your Highness and I are both politicians."
Xiao Huayong raised an eyebrow and took a step back, making way for Shen Xihe as she rose from her dressing table.
Shen Xihe, holding a translucent pale gold shawl sprinkled with floral patterns, moved forward with graceful steps. "Husband and wife are one. Since Your Highness has strategized this far, I must lend you my assistance."
Xiao Huayong watched his wife’s retreating figure, his dark eyes shimmering with amusement and full of anticipation. He even felt a shameless urge to follow Shen Xihe to the flower-viewing banquet.
However, since Shen Xihe had summoned noblewomen, he feared that his presence might arouse unnecessary suspicion from the Emperor and disrupt her plans, so he restrained himself.
Shen Xihe’s flower-viewing banquet today was actually aimed at Yu Sangning. But if she summoned Yu Sangning alone, the Emperor would surely grow suspicious.
By hosting the flower banquet, Shen Xihe created a diversion. She summoned every noblewoman of sufficient status for a brief audience, explaining that since taking charge of the Imperial Harem, she had never shown concern for these ladies and wished to take this opportunity to speak with them.
Her actions aligned precisely with this explanation, leaving everyone even more perplexed. Even as they departed, none could decipher what Shen Xihe was truly plotting.
Only Yu Sangning returned to her residence with a face as pale as a ghost. She had received a letter, and her hands trembled as she clutched it.
Inside the letter, Shen Xihe had meticulously detailed how she had eliminated the Kang Prince’s household.
Xiao Changmin had just left, and now Shen Xihe showed her this—it was a clear warning that the Zhao Wang’s household would be next!
She struggled to restrain herself and remain calm. She knew that Shen Xihe’s sudden revelation must have a purpose, and if she acted according to the intimidation…
If the Zhao Wang’s household was to be destroyed, and she knew in advance, what should she do? Naturally, she would choose to escape. Not only must she save herself, but she must also ensure the Yu family’s survival—otherwise, she would have no support left.
The Yu family…In an instant, Yu Sangning understood Shen Xihe's intention—her father was at the Min River!
This was Shen Xihe giving her a choice: stand with Prince Zhao's manor in life and death, and ignore this warning letter, or choose to let Shen Xihe settle accounts later, sparing her life, by persuading her father to stay out of the Min River, a battlefield about to ignite.
The Jiannan Governor, her father, and Jing Wang formed a three-sided encirclement, all trusted by His Majesty. Even if Jing Wang had ulterior motives, in this battle, he had to fight wholeheartedly for His Majesty.
Thus, they would be united against the enemy. If one side wavered at this critical moment, it would become a breach.
Shen Xihe was audacious—did she not fear that Yu Sangning might feign compliance, report to His Majesty, pretend to cooperate, and instead lure Shen Yungan into a trap?
These thoughts flashed through her mind in a split second before Yu Sangning slumped into a seat.
The Eastern Palace acted with such confidence because, even if they lost this round, it wouldn't cripple them.
Everyone claimed Shen Yungan had reached the Min River, and His Majesty had mobilized heavily for it. But what if Shen Yungan was truly there? What if His Majesty captured him? Shen Yueshan could deny it was Shen Yungan—as long as he could produce another "Shen Yungan," the court's attempt to convict the Northwest King or shake the Shen clan's foundation would be futile!
Just like the letter in her hands now—even if presented to His Majesty, it couldn't harm Shen Xihe in the slightest.
Before absolute power, even an emperor had to concede.
As long as the Shen clan endured, if she truly chose to pledge loyalty to His Majesty, Shen Xihe would ensure she died without a burial place!
This, she believed without a doubt.
So, she had no choice. She must persuade her father to avoid giving His Majesty any leverage while paving the way for Shen Yungan and the Shu Southern Royal Manor!
After this battle, if His Majesty failed, he would likely be throttled by the Eastern Palace.
Their Yu manor couldn't claim merit, but by acting prudently henceforth, they might survive in the narrow gap between the emperor and the Eastern Palace's power struggle.
"Youyou, you plan to use the Yu clan?" Xiao Huayong was somewhat surprised. "Can she sway Yu Xiang?"
"She can!" Shen Xihe believed in Yu Sangning's capability.
Yu Sangning was utterly selfish and valued her life above all. She faced only two paths: one of survival, one of death.
Shen Xihe wasn't threatening her idly. From the moment Xiao Changmin accepted His Majesty's order to lead the Embroidered Uniform Envoys to ambush Bu Shulin, Xiao Huayong would not let him live long!
Xiao Changmin advanced fiercely. Given Bu Shulin's current forces, it was a desperate battle with little chance of survival.
If Bu Shulin failed the trial and died in Tubo, Xiao Huayong would avenge her, slaying Xiao Changmin to win the hearts of the Shu Nan people.
If Bu Shulin escaped Xiao Changmin's pursuit alive, Xiao Huayong would still kill Xiao Changmin to reassure his newly recruited general.
Hence, Shen Xihe declared: They are all politicians!
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