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Chapter 778: Leave the Rest to Me
Originally, this matter had reached a point where it could be considered settled and brought to a close.
However, no one expected that after the Emperor had that person imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court, His Majesty personally went to the Imperial Clan Court that night. Upon returning to the palace, he secretly summoned the imperial physician.
"Beichen, you are forcing His Majesty's hand," Shen Xihe said after hearing the news, turning her head and fixing her piercing gaze on Xiao Huayong.
Despite the scorching summer heat, he was draped in a light fur cloak, sitting by the brazier. The fragrant charcoal glowed red, casting a light on his pale, almost translucent face, making him appear even more ethereal. Shen Xihe felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest and averted her eyes.
"I promised the Grand Princess that I would safely return the Princess of Shunan to her residence," Xiao Huayong caught Shen Xihe's gaze and curled his fingers slightly, as if wanting to move away from the fire. He subconsciously made a gesture that seemed to cover up his intentions.
Shen Xihe stared intently, her gaze fixed on his face. At this moment, the Emperor's assassination attempt was definitely not just to create chaos and distract His Majesty from Xiao Wenxi's departure to Shunan. He was planning something far more profound but had not been honest with her...
As if ignoring the persistence in Shen Xihe's eyes to get to the bottom of things, Xiao Huayong smiled and said, "Regarding the matter of the Second Prince, His Majesty will inevitably suspect you. Tomorrow, we will summon the imperial physician to check your pulse."
This was to announce Shen Xihe's pregnancy to the public. She was already three months pregnant, past the most dangerous period, and it was time to make it known. Keeping it hidden any longer would only make it easier for others to detect and use it against her.
In setting up the trap for Xiao Changmin, it was impossible to leave no traces. Xiao Huayong simply decided to let everyone know clearly that there was indeed someone behind the scenes controlling the overall situation. This did not hinder the fact that Xiao Changmin's crimes were unforgivable.
However, whether through concealment or such open acknowledgment that there was someone behind the scenes, the Emperor's suspicion would only fall on the Eastern Palace—either Shen Xihe alone or both Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong. Suspecting Shen Xihe was inevitable.
After all, there were very few who could achieve this and had a reason to target Xiao Changmin. The Eastern Palace was one, Xiao Changqing was another. Xiao Changyan was still in Min River, his fate unknown. Xiao Changtian never took the lead in anything, and his somewhat ambitious consort was not as resourceful as Shen Xihe.
The only other possibility was Xiao Changgeng, but if Xiao Changgeng intended to harm Xiao Changmin, Xiao Changmin would not have returned alive. There would be no need to bring him back just to cause trouble, unless the goal was to kill multiple birds with one stone—harming Xiao Changmin and framing the Eastern Palace.
This possibility was not entirely absent, but the Youning Emperor would not readily believe it.
Shen Xihe said, "Even though I am pregnant, His Majesty will not act lightly, but he will not let it go either."With her pregnancy, the Emperor would not engage in minor conflicts or tests and light punishments." This was forcing His Majesty into a decisive battle with them.
"Min River cost the Emperor thousands of soldiers from the Invincible Army—if not all, at least more than half. Now, the Emperor has been assassinated and poisoned. His Majesty will no longer engage in pretense with us." The Emperor's anger had reached its peak. A sleeping tiger disturbed repeatedly in its rest would not let the matter pass lightly."Poisoned!" Shen Xihe knew that the person whose bones had been reshaped to resemble His Majesty was someone who harbored hatred toward the Emperor. She also knew that Xiao Huayong had given him an opportunity to get close to His Majesty—whether he succeeded or not depended on his own abilities—but she never expected he would manage to bring a poisoned weapon near the Emperor!
Xiao Huayong's smile deepened slightly.
Such a person would undoubtedly leave His Majesty at a loss on how to handle him, especially since there was clearly someone else behind the scheme. With no leads from either Xiao Changmin or Yu Sangning, the only option was to start with this man—he might know who had moved him from the brothel to the estate.
Of course, the Youning Emperor didn't need to personally conduct the interrogation. However, this man not only looked identical to His Majesty but also knew some of His Majesty's secret past affairs. If he started babbling them incoherently and word reached the Emperor, His Majesty would certainly go to see him.
In the end, His Majesty had not escaped the trap of emotions. Just a little news about his beloved who had married far away to Tibet was enough to lower His Majesty's guard, giving the assailant the chance to strike.
"His Majesty's injury isn't serious," Xiao Huayong added.
No matter how careless the Youning Emperor might be, he was always surrounded by experts, with the Embroidered Uniform Envoys' commander shadowing him closely. He only suffered minor external injuries, but those minor injuries were enough.
Xiao Huayong hadn't used a lethal poison that would kill instantly. The fine, poisoned needle hidden in the man's mouth—if it had been a deadly toxin, the man would have died before His Majesty arrived. This poison, while not immediately fatal, was extremely difficult to antidote. It worsened the condition of His Majesty's body, already eroded by the fragrant ink.
People never know how desperate they might become until they are truly cornered.
Xiao Huayong had never pondered this deeply before, but as his body grew colder and more fearful of the cold recently, he had started making the worst preparations and thinking more ahead.
His Majesty had a thorn in his heart—Shen Yueshan, the Northwest King. This thorn would have to be removed sooner or later. Xiao Huayong didn't want it to happen after he was gone. Regardless of whether Shen Xihe could handle it or not, he didn't want her to face it alone.
Since it was like a fishbone stuck in the throat, why not make the decision for His Majesty earlier? Either spit it out or swallow it down!
"Beichen..."
"Focus on resting well during your pregnancy. Leave everything else to me." Xiao Huayong interrupted Shen Xihe with an exceptionally gentle smile.
She knew he was doing all this for her sake, but Shen Xihe's heart ached for him. How she wished they could disregard everything and, in his final days, be free from turmoil, enjoying only the warmth and comfort of their family of three.
Yet, trapped in this whirlpool, such a wish was nothing but a fantasy. Some things couldn't be halted just because they wanted to—others wouldn't stop to give them time.
Shen Xihe didn't want to argue with him anymore. Arguing would only sour their time together and change nothing in the end.
The Youning Emperor returned to the Hall of Diligent Governance. The Chief Imperial Physician diagnosed that he had been poisoned and that the toxin had corroded his body. Not only was the poison difficult to antidote, but the damage it inflicted on his health was also hard to repair.
He immediately ordered the execution of that man, but before the decree could be delivered, the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs reported that the man was already dead.
At the same time, a cup of poisoned wine was sent to the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, ending Xiao Changmin's life.
Xiao Changmin had kept a "double" of the Emperor, and the affair had become widely known. His Majesty couldn't cover it up even if he wanted to—especially with irrefutable evidence and no room for doubt. If the Youning Emperor didn't deal with Xiao Changmin that night, the Censorate would submit a joint memorial the next day.And those who were waiting for Xiao Changmin to never return, ready to divide everything that originally belonged to him, would not remain indifferent.
How many shady dealings were involved in the operation of the brothel? How many people suspected that Xiao Changmin had obtained their secrets through the brothel? All these people would rise up against him. If this matter was not dealt with now, by tomorrow it would no longer be a situation that could be resolved with just Xiao Changmin's death alone.
(End of Chapter)
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