Chapter 784: Imperial Grandson Named Balancing Pivot
How could Shen Xihe not understand these principles?
She had always believed that in life-and-death struggles, one should remain composed whether winning or losing. Life or death, victory or defeat - all should be accepted with equanimity.
At this moment, it wasn't that she couldn't accept it, nor that she couldn't handle defeat. She simply couldn't control her emotions. Whenever she thought about how their remaining time together had been abruptly shortened, Shen Xihe wished she could tear the culprit limb from limb!
So she too was merely mortal flesh, possessing the same seven emotions and six desires as everyone else.
"I must make him die without a burial place!"
"Alright, we'll make him die without a burial place." Xiao Huayong echoed Shen Xihe, taking her hand and gently rubbing it between his palms. "But Youyou, this is my own vengeance to exact."
Shen Xihe looked at him. He wasn't joking - his gentle tone held only seriousness.
She desperately wanted to tear Xiao Changyan apart with her own hands, but she knew this was just her venting. Comparatively, Xiao Huayong preferred to settle his own scores to feel truly satisfied.
Just as she too preferred to settle her own scores...
"Alright." Shen Xihe conceded.
"Youyou, rest assured, I will help you achieve your wish." Xiao Huayong's tender eyes rippled with faint smiles, though the amusement didn't reach their depths.
Shen Xihe pressed her lips together: "Exacting vengeance is enough."
Xiao Changyan was a prince. Even if he were pulverized to ashes outside, His Majesty would still erect a cenotaph for him. Even Xiao Changtai, who had been expelled from the clan - His Majesty hadn't prevented Ye Shi from burying him together with Ye Wantang.
As for Xiao Changmin, convicted of treason and given poisoned wine - though His Majesty didn't bury him in the imperial mausoleum, he still ordered a proper burial elsewhere.
Making a royal descendant die without a burial place was extremely difficult. It was merely venting words, and Shen Xihe didn't want to make things hard for Xiao Huayong.
Xiao Huayong simply smiled, his hand again resting on Shen Xihe's abdomen where their flesh and blood was growing.
Originally he thought he would at least live to see the child born. But now he couldn't even catch a glimpse, nor could he stay by her side during childbirth to shield her from the most dangerous storms.
Perhaps in this lifetime, he would never have the chance to meet this child.
Thinking of this, Xiao Huayong felt that making Xiao Changyan die without a burial place was still letting him off too lightly!
Earlier he had taken Aler to observe Xiao Changyan from afar. Aler confirmed having seen Xiao Changyan before, and Xiao Changyan himself admitted it was his doing.
Though they still couldn't determine when, where, or how Xiao Changyan had cast his spell on Aler, Xiao Huayong no longer had time to investigate these details.
Xiao Huayong brought Shen Xihe back to the Eastern Palace. Though Xiao Changyan knew Shen Xihe wouldn't let matters rest and remained constantly vigilant, Shen Xihe seemed to have forgotten him, showing no intention of making a move.
In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince's condition gradually worsened. Even the Youning Emperor, who had grown deeply suspicious of the Crown Prince, began to doubt his own suspicions.
But then rumors spread through the palace and beyond - physicians had diagnosed Shen Xihe as carrying a male child, a legitimate imperial grandson of pure lineage.
Meanwhile, war erupted again in the northwest. Mongols, Turks, Khitans and other foreign tribes formed a massive army, gathering a million troops to march forward. Shen Yueshan personally led the forces while Shen Yungan guarded the rear.This war came without rhyme or reason, with no one knowing its cause. Yet the Northwest operated autonomously, merely notifying the court while requiring no provisions of troops or supplies. With a wave of the Northwest King's hand, they could engage the enemy.
Everyone assumed it would be a protracted conflict lasting at least a year or more, but frequent victory reports arrived from the front lines.
Daily triumphs stirred varied sentiments among court officials. Your Majesty's delighted expression grew increasingly strained until, half a month later, news came of the Northwest King being wounded in battle, casting an even more delicate atmosphere over the court.
"Don't worry. This was arranged between Father-in-law and me. My brother will take over next." Xiao Huayong hurriedly reassured Shen Xihe, though with some helplessness.
Father-in-law remained formidable in his advanced years, advancing faster than they had anticipated—so swiftly that he hadn't even had time to inform Youyou.
"What exactly are you plotting?" Shen Xihe scrutinized Xiao Huayong intently.
Over the past fortnight, they had been nearly inseparable. Xiao Huayong had claimed illness to avoid court duties, spending his days immersed in romantic notions with her, as if suddenly losing all ambition and disregarding their grand plans entirely.
"Allow me to keep it a mystery. In another half month, Youyou will understand naturally." Xiao Huayong smiled playfully, clearly intent on keeping Shen Xihe in suspense.
His roguish expression, eyes curved as he gazed at her, prompted Shen Xihe to roll her eyes. She snorted lightly and turned away, ignoring him.
Xiao Huayong quickly grasped her shoulders. "Did he trouble you today?"
Two days earlier, while chattering incessantly with his ear pressed to Shen Xihe's abdomen, the fetus seemed to grow weary of his father's prattling and actually stirred.
The ever-composed Crown Prince had been so startled his lips parted slightly, his already large eyes widening further in sheer astonishment. The memory still brought an irrepressible smile to Shen Xihe's lips.
Since then, Xiao Huayong had made it his amusement, pestering Shen Xihe daily to speak to the unborn child—sometimes for one or two hours at a stretch.
Yet the baby seemed to possess a proud temperament, having moved only that one time before settling into quietude, much to Xiao Huayong's disappointment.
Hearing his question, Shen Xihe knew he was about to start rambling again. Playing along, she found a seat and settled in, adopting a posture as if preparing to listen to a lecture with their child.
"My little balancing pivot with Youyou, you must cherish your mother dearly in the future..."
"Balancing pivot?" Shen Xihe interrupted before Xiao Huayong could continue, casting him an inquiring look.
Were these the two characters she had in mind?
Xiao Huayong nodded emphatically. "The name I've chosen for our child."
"Will Your Majesty consent?" Shen Xihe doubted the Emperor would agree.
"Jun" carries connotations of state governance, and "Jun Shu" could subtly allude to one who holds the reins of government.
Unless the Emperor were to... by the time she gave birth, he retained the authority to override them and bestow a name upon their child.
"Our flesh and blood—only you and I have the right to name him." Xiao Huayong smiled faintly.
The Emperor was not qualified!
"Trust me. His Majesty will agree to the name I've chosen for our child."
Shen Xihe always felt Xiao Huayong was orchestrating something earth-shattering. She covered his hand where it rested on her abdomen. "Beichen, do not act too hastily. I believe in you—you can achieve what others cannot. But please believe in me too—I can accomplish what others dare not.""I do trust Youyou, it was just a casual act, not an attempt to show off." Xiao Huayong smiled warmly at Shen Xihe, crouching down before her. "Youyou, I was merely giving Little Eight a taste of his own medicine, and incidentally making use of His Majesty as well."
Shen Xihe remained half-convinced, yet she understood his reluctance to elaborate. Pressing further would only put him in an awkward position, so she simply let the matter drop.
Their days together were growing increasingly scarce, and she had no desire to waste them on arguments or trivialities. Better to follow his wishes and let things be.
The reason for adding phonetic notation to the character "钧" is because someone who read the draft told me that "钓 (diao) 枢" didn't sound pleasant.
My reaction at the time: ...
(End of Chapter)
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