Chapter 751: The Crown Princess's Strategy is the Best Strategy
Xiao Huayong decisively handed over all his personnel and arrangements along the Min River to Shen Xihe, who accepted them without hesitation.
After understanding Xiao Huayong's plans, Shen Xihe remained silent for a moment before sending a letter to Shen Yungan.
Upon receiving the letter, Shen Yungan smiled wryly and said to Qi Pei, "The Crown Princess has truly given me a difficult task."
When speaking with non-relatives, Shen Yungan never addressed Shen Xihe by her given name. His casual reference in front of Xiao Huayong wasn't due to carelessness, but rather a deliberate display of their close sibling relationship after learning of his sister's choice.
Unexpectedly, this allowed Xiao Huayong to learn Shen Xihe's given name, and he even fabricated one himself to match.
"What instructions has the Crown Princess given?" Qi Pei asked.
Both the Jiannan Governor and Yu Xiang, along with the recently arrived Xiao Changyan, had deployed their troops along the Min River. They surrounded the area from both flanks and downstream near the Shu Southern Royal Manor, creating an impenetrable encirclement.
Though they remained well-hidden and hadn't engaged in direct confrontation yet, Xiao Changyan and others were expanding their search under the pretext of hunting bandits. It was only a matter of time before they were discovered, as they couldn't remain hidden much longer.
Neither the Crown Prince nor the Crown Princess had given them any instructions, leaving them growing restless.
"The Crown Princess wants me to turn Yu Xiang against the Emperor," Shen Yungan revealed something he wouldn't have dared to consider.
Who was Yu Xiang? The former Pingyao Marquis. Unlike the Northwest King who repeatedly protected His Majesty in his humble beginnings, unlike Liu Sanzhi who risked death for His Majesty multiple times, and unlike the Old Xun Wang who pacified the northeast for His Majesty with great merit!
Yu Xiang was the one who recognized His Majesty's potential when Prince Qian was at the peak of his power and sweeping across the land. He subsequently followed His Majesty in campaigns north and south, establishing His Majesty's military foundation. It could be said that without Yu Xiang, His Majesty wouldn't have had the confidence to assassinate Prince Qian before storming the imperial city!
Although due to repeated interventions by Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong, Yu Xiang had been reprimanded by His Majesty multiple times and eventually lost his marquis title, creating a rift between ruler and subject.
However, the bond between this ruler and subject was no longer just about loyalty. Their interests were so intricately intertwined that it made it impossible for Yu Xiang to betray His Majesty!
Precisely because of this, neither Xiao Huayong nor Shen Yungan had considered this approach—it was an impassable road. Yet Shen Xihe insisted on creating a path where none existed, leaving Shen Yunnan both astonished and apprehensive.
Qi Pei was equally shocked. Having been with Shen Yungan all this time, he had heard extensively about the four adversaries they faced: the openly deployed Jiannan Governor, Yu Xiang, Prince Jing Xiao Changyan, and His Majesty lurking in the background!
He shared Shen Yungan's view that turning Yu Xiang was nothing short of wishful thinking!
However, since this was an order from the Crown Princess, the respectful and admiring Qi Pei didn't dare question it, only asking, "What does the Crown Prince say?"
"The Crown Prince's letter arrived earlier than the Crown Princess's, containing only one sentence: Follow the Crown Princess's orders." Shen Yungan had received Xiao Huayong's message yesterday and had been puzzled at the time, but now he understood.His brother-in-law had lost his authority as the husband, and the commander of this battle had become his sister. Fortunately, only he knew who the true commander was. Since he was here as the backbone, it wouldn’t affect the subordinates. Otherwise, such a frivolous last-minute change of command would have driven Shen Yunnan to sharpen his blades in defiance!
“Since even the Crown Prince trusts the Crown Princess, her strategy is bound to succeed.” As if reassured by a calming pill, Qi Pei no longer cared whether it was wishful thinking. At this moment, he felt that turning Yu Xiang was nothing extraordinary!
Shen Yunan couldn’t help but roll his eyes. Taking the silk pouch that came with the letter, he walked aside to carefully study Shen Xihe’s method for persuading Yu Xiang to defect.
His slightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and his eyes grew brighter. After reading the letter, he stood up excitedly and slammed a fist into his palm: “This can be done!”
“The Crown Princess’s strategy must be the best of the best!” Qi Pei hadn’t seen Shen Xihe’s plan but trusted her and Xiao Huayong wholeheartedly.
“Indeed, it is the best of the best.” Shen Yunan’s expression brimmed with pride and shared honor. “Tonight, we will head downstream and leave traces, waiting for Yu Xiang to seek us out.”
“Rest assured, Young Master. I will make all the necessary arrangements!” Without questioning why Yu Xiang would take the initiative to seek them out, Qi Pei agreed and then wheeled himself out through the hidden door.
Yu Sangning had long ago conveyed Shen Xihe’s threats, along with that letter, to Yu Xiang through her brother’s hands. The letter was naturally earnest in tone, laying out the stakes and hoping her father would prioritize his own safety.
The letter did stir ripples in Yu Xiang’s heart, but not because Yu Sangning had persuaded him. Yu Sangning was clever and had grasped the pros and cons, but she didn’t know that her biological father and His Majesty were already tightly bound on the same ship. Yu Xiang also couldn’t bring himself to trust Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong.
On the contrary, if he could eliminate the Shen siblings this time, it would be a great achievement, and the title of Pingyao Marquis might very well be restored!
He had been waiting for Shen Yunan to seek him out, but Shen Yunan seemed extremely cautious and was slow to come into contact with him. After waiting for several days, Yu Xiang was nearly out of patience when Shen Yunan finally gave him a hint!
Yu Xiang dismissed all his attendants and went alone to find the person. The first one he encountered was naturally not Shen Yunan but Shen Yunan’s trusted aide, Mo Yao.
Mo Yao, dressed in tight-fitting attire, had clearly been waiting for Yu Xiang for some time. He took out a black cloth: “General Yu, my apologies.”
Yu Xiang raised no objections and allowed Mo Yao to blindfold him. He was then led onto a carriage, which jolted along the way until they reached a deep, wild forest. Surrounded by trees that converged overhead, it was impossible to distinguish directions. Ahead stood Shen Yunan.
“General Yu, you have remarkable courage to come alone to see me,” Shen Yunan praised.
“Not as remarkable as you, Young Master, charging alone into the Min River,” Yu Xiang replied with a stern expression.
“You flatter me, General.” Shen Yunan took the sarcastic remark as a compliment. “Since the General has come, it seems there is still room for us to reconcile.”
“How dare I speak of reconciliation with the Young Master?” Yu Xiang said indifferently. “The Young Master is young and inexperienced, perhaps overly presumptuous. If it were the Northwest King, he would never entertain the thought of making me betray His Majesty.”
In the night, Shen Yunan’s wheat-colored skin gleamed. He casually curled his lips: “If the General lacks sincerity, you may leave on your own. I will not stop you.”Yu Xiang stared coldly at Shen Yungan. After a long while, he decisively turned away. But he had only taken two steps, his foot not yet touching the ground, when Shen Yungan's lazy voice came from behind.
"However, my younger sister has never been one to leave evidence in others' hands. Since the General already knows how the Kang Prince's residence was utterly destroyed, you'd best be prepared.
This will also allow me to see whether His Majesty, who failed to protect the loyal Kang Prince back then, can now protect General Yu who has devoted his entire being to the throne."
(End of Chapter)
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