"Youyou..."
A sigh, laden with unspoken sorrows.
Xiao Huayong's expression was desolate and wistful. Even someone as silver-tongued as him found himself at a loss for words, uncertain how to begin.
No matter how capable they were of stirring storms and shrouding the skies, when faced with life's partings and death's inevitability, they could only stand by helpless.
Some words were like scars—both knew where they lay, carefully avoiding them, yet that didn't mean they didn't exist or fester.
At this moment, Xiao Huayong truly wished Shen Xihe weren't so perceptive and intelligent. Perhaps then he could have kept the truth from her a little longer. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than he couldn't help but mock himself—wasn't it precisely her calm composure and profound wisdom that had captivated him, drawing him deeper into this abyss?
The melancholy was fleeting, swiftly reined in by Xiao Huayong's formidable self-control. His countenance regained its composure as he lifted his wrist, revealing a five-colored longevity thread entwined with a black chess piece: "I have never underestimated your capabilities, nor do I believe that as a man and your husband, I must confine you to the inner chambers, shielding you from everything.
I simply wish to treat you better.
To give you all I have, wishing you smooth sailing."
He couldn't help but want to ease her burdens, to anticipate her thoughts and even those she hadn't yet conceived.
He acted instinctively, driven by the knowledge that these were her desires.
He knew that even without him, whatever she sought, she would surely attain.
Yet he couldn't resist offering everything he had, laying it before her, hoping she might find a little more freedom and ease.
Her long, dense lashes cast shadows as she lowered her gaze. No one knew what Shen Xihe was thinking—not even Xiao Huayong, who held her in his embrace, could decipher her thoughts.
Her silence, her restrained emotions, set his heart pounding like a drum, stirring a faint unease within him. Though he didn't believe he was at fault and knew she wasn't one to rage unreasonably, he couldn't suppress his worry.
Such is the anxiety born of love.
After what felt like an eternity, just as Xiao Huayong was about to speak, Shen Xihe lifted her head. Her obsidian-dark eyes were clear, lucid, and resolute: "Beichen, it has been nearly five years since we first met. I have received countless kindnesses from you, yet I have never sincerely thanked you..."
"Youyou..."
"Let me finish." As Xiao Huayong urgently tried to interject, Shen Xihe pressed her fingertip to his lips. "I want to thank you.
Thank you for descending from the heavens into my world.
Thank you for your persistence, for breaking through my defenses.
Thank you for your honesty—I never knew a love like Pan and Yang's could be so intoxicating.
Thank you for giving your heart so fully. Because of you, my life is without regret."
Her faint smile was pure yet distant, piercing his eyes deeply. Xiao Huayong had always believed himself immune to weakness, but at this moment, he couldn't hold back the redness in his eyes. He pulled Shen Xihe tightly into his embrace, the tremors in his chest matching the slight shudder of his body, betraying his loss of emotional control.
A thousand words swirled within him, yet he couldn't utter a single one.
She had acknowledged it—she had finally acknowledged him, acknowledged his love.
This was what he had dreamed of, yet now that it had arrived, his joy was mingled with sorrow. Sweetness and a dull ache flooded his heart, clogging his throat and rendering him momentarily speechless.
But Shen Xihe slowly curved her lips, raising her hands to clasp his shoulders, nestling into his embrace.The stealthy rays of sunlight crept in, casting the tightly entwined figures onto the screen like an eternally hazy painting, tender and beautiful.
All joys and sorrows needed no elaboration.
The affairs of the capital could not affect the battlefield at the Min River.
Xiao Changyan, being the highest-ranking official, was appointed by His Majesty as the chief investigator of the "river bandits' village massacre," assisted by the Jiannan Governor and Yu Xiang.
With the authority to issue commands, Xiao Changyan devised a strategy of gradually tightening encirclements to search for Shen Yungan's traces. Meanwhile, he had received word from Xiao Changgeng that Bu Shulin had escaped their pursuit.
Thus, Shen Yungan must be here to rendezvous with Bu Shulin. He would come from Minzhou, and Xiao Changyan stationed personnel along all routes approaching the Min River to block Bu Shulin and Shen Yungan from meeting.
As for Xiao Changmin's firm belief that Bu Shulin was a woman, for unknown reasons, he had not informed Xiao Changyan.
This led to Xiao Changyan misjudging many situations—something Xiao Changmin was unaware of, and even if he knew, he would not care. Their alliance was merely temporary, based on shared enemies and non-conflicting interests!
After several days of searching along the Min River, every inch had been scoured, yet there was no trace of Shen Yungan. Just as Xiao Changyan began to doubt whether Shen Yungan had truly come here, clues finally emerged.
However, following the trail proved difficult; Shen Yunnan slipped away multiple times. But as long as he was here, Xiao Changyan remained patient, determined to capture him.
One day, upon learning of Shen Yunnan's whereabouts, Xiao Changyan personally gave chase. Though he lost track of Shen Yunnan again, as he rushed through a patch of reeds, he spotted Yu Xiang!
Yu Xiang, who had just parted ways with Shen Yunnan, turned to see Xiao Changyan standing at the bow of a boat, hands clasped behind his back, his dark eyes fixed intently on him as the wind swept past.
As the boat drew closer, Xiao Changyan asked, "General Yu, would you care to explain why, while pursuing a suspicious figure, I ended up finding you here?"
Thoughts racing, Yu Xiang instinctively considered fabricating a lie. But under Xiao Changyan's stormy, oppressive gaze, he decided to confess: "Your Highness, may we speak in private?"
Xiao Changyan reined in his intimidating aura and gestured. He boarded Yu Xiang's boat, and Yu Xiang personally rowed it farther away. After stopping, Yu Xiang lowered his voice and said, "Your Highness, I encountered the Northwest Prince Heir two days ago. It all started when the Crown Princess sent a letter to my daughter..."
Yu Xiang held nothing back. He revealed everything: receiving Yu Sangning's letter—even producing the letter he carried with him for Xiao Changyan to inspect—his own plans, how Shen Yunnan had been probing him for deployment details over the past few days, and that Shen Yunnan had left someone by his side. He disclosed it all.
Finally, he did not forget to pledge his loyalty: "Your Highness, please understand—I am merely using myself as bait to lure the Northwest Prince Heir. If we can capture the Crown Princess in one move, it will resolve everything permanently."
After reading the letter, Xiao Changyan fell into deep thought. So, this was how Shen Xihe had used the Emperor's own blade to eliminate Prince Kang—cutting off the Emperor's right-hand man while deceiving him into offering consolation!
The cunning of this woman was enough to terrify any man! No wonder she dared to marry into the Eastern Palace, aiming to contend with them as the mother of the legitimate imperial grandson!
He handed the letter back to Yu Xiang—keeping it served no purpose, as it could not be used as evidence to sanction Shen Xihe.Xiao Changyan said, "I believe in General Yu's loyalty. You have suffered greatly by feigning cooperation with the Northwest Prince Heir. Once we capture the treacherous rebels, I will personally testify to ensure your innocence."
Though Xiao Changyan spoke these words, inwardly he felt Yu Xiang was not the self-proclaimed bait, but rather the fish itself!
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