Chapter 795: Cunning Yet Lacking Wisdom
Li Yanyan was a pampered woman with petty cunning but no true wisdom. Upon receiving this news, her first instinct wouldn't be to have Xiao Changtian assist Xiao Changyan. Despite her deep hatred for His Majesty, she wasn't naive enough to believe the Emperor would easily allow Jing Wang to succeed.
Rather than foolishly conspiring with Jing Wang and ultimately being implicated as an accomplice, it was better to seize the merit of rescuing the Emperor.
Over recent years, His Majesty's sons had fallen one by one—some dead, others deposed. Even Jing Wang had reached a dead end with no chance of recovery, driven to desperation to usurp the throne. Wasn't this the heaven-sent opportunity for Xiao Changtian's resurgence?
The Crown Prince had reported illness for two months, and during a distant glimpse earlier, he appeared to be at death's door.
Once the Crown Prince passed, His Majesty was still in his prime—couldn't he establish a new Eastern Palace?
But who would it be?
The still-young Xiao Changgeng? Xiao Changqing, whom His Majesty regarded with suspicion and who seized every opportunity to oppose him? Neither was possible!
That left only Xiao Changtian and Xiao Changying!
As long as Xiao Changtian gained the merit of rescuing the Emperor, his chances would surpass Xiao Changying's. Thus, Li Yanyan unhesitatingly chose to rescue the Emperor. To secure this merit, she would also prevent Xiao Changtian from informing His Majesty too early—what if Xiao Changyan's rebellion didn't occur?
This was Li Yanyan's petty cunning!
Yet Li Yanyan forgot she was a descendant of the Liang Kingdom. By marrying her, Xiao Changtian was disqualified from becoming Emperor unless all of His Majesty's sons and imperial grandsons perished.
Therefore, after receiving the news, without even questioning its authenticity, she fervently hoped it was true, channeling all her passion and effort to push Xiao Changtian toward their desired outcome!
This was Li Yanyan's lack of true wisdom!
Events unfolded exactly as Shen Xihe had anticipated. Her insight into human nature even earned Xiao Huayong's admiration.
Xiao Changfeng and Shen Yingruo's grand wedding was a lavish feast decreed by His Majesty, so Li Yanyan naturally attended. Hibiscus Garden was less strictly guarded than the imperial palace, and His Majesty had tampered with its guards himself, creating convenient opportunities for Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong.
Delivering the message to Li Yanyan required no complex measures—it could be done undetected.
Li Yanyan clutched the note from an unknown source, trembling with excitement. The paper bore only a brief message: "Jing Wang assassinates the Emperor tonight."
She sprang to her feet, her first thought to find Xiao Changtian. After a few hurried steps, she halted, restraining herself. She endured what felt like an eternity—two hours—until sunset, then feigned illness, sending word to the front courtyard for Xiao Changtian before returning to the residence first.
Worried about her, Xiao Changtian excused himself after some social niceties, personally apologized to the groom Xiao Changfeng, and hurried home.
Entering their bedchamber, he found Li Yanyan seated calmly, having consumed a bowl of bird's nest soup, her cheeks flushed and a hint of joy lingering between her brows—hardly the picture of illness.
"What are you up to now?" Xiao Changtian was displeased that she had used her health as a pretext.
His tone was harsh, clearly angry, but Li Yanyan, preoccupied with her scheme, ignored his irritation. "Look at this—I just received it."
Xiao Changtian examined the note. The handwriting was merely neat, the paper ordinary, clearly intended to avoid detection and leave no traces.
His sword-like brows furrowed. "Who would dare spread such rumors?""Eighth Brother left before 3 PM today without showing up. I sent someone to investigate - he's left the city!" Li Yanyan firmly believed Xiao Changyan was plotting rebellion tonight. "He's always been close with Xun Wang. Today is Xun Wang's wedding day, yet he left without reason. Isn't that suspicious?"
Xiao Changtian gazed deeply into Li Yanyan's sparkling eyes. How well he understood her - perhaps even better than she knew herself. He could clearly discern what was brewing in her mind, feeling a slight sting in his heart. "Didn't we agree to live peacefully?"
Last time, he drank the "fake" poisoned wine bestowed by Your Majesty on her behalf. When he suffered unbearable abdominal pain and truly thought his life was ending, she too seemed to realize she might lose him, which finally allowed them to understand each other's hearts.
Afterward, he was stripped of his title and position. These past two years, they had withdrawn from worldly affairs, focusing solely on their leisurely life together. He thought they could grow old together like this forever!
Only now did he realize how naive he had been! He was merely her choice when she had no other options. She had chosen this peaceful life with him, but ultimately, resentment and hatred still lurked in her heart. Given any opportunity, she would never let it slip away.
Even outsiders could see clearly that the hatred in her heart couldn't withstand the slightest provocation. Otherwise, why would this information be specifically delivered to her? Yet he had been deceiving himself all along!
Xiao Changtian couldn't help but curl his lips in self-mockery: "Have you ever wondered why this information was delivered specifically to you?"
Li Yanyan's expression froze momentarily. She might have known but didn't want to delve deeper, or perhaps she truly didn't know. She avoided the main issue: "Regardless of the reason, can you just sit back and watch Your Majesty be assassinated?"
"I can!" Xiao Changtian answered with unusual certainty.
He held respect and admiration for Your Majesty, but after all these years caught between his parents, his country, and his wife, Xiao Changtian was truly weary. In reality, he had always chosen Li Yanyan, but her feelings toward him were too complex - love intertwined with hatred.
She loved him yet couldn't forget he was from the Xiao imperial family. She hated him yet kept him in her heart...
This was how they loved each other, yet couldn't truly connect due to all the barriers between them.
He wouldn't commit acts of disobedience or treason, but he could take his characteristic indifference to the extreme.
He could pretend not to know about the impending assassination attempt on Your Majesty or his brother's rebellion. He could choose to do nothing, wanting only to be Li Yanyan's husband. It was just too bad she wouldn't give him this chance.
"The Crown Prince doesn't have long to live. Have you thought about our future?" Li Yanyan asked coldly.
Xiao Changtian closed his eyes, suppressing the turbulent emotions in his heart. He couldn't distinguish whether disappointment or pain ran deeper - perhaps there was also a deeply buried despair. "Our future can have everything except the throne!"
"Why can't we have it?" Li Yanyan screamed.
Once again, husband and wife faced each other with blazing eyes - Xiao Changtian's filled with deep sorrow and desolation, Li Yanyan's brimming with stubbornness and defiance.
Neither willing to yield, they remained deadlocked for a long time before Xiao Changtian finally spoke with dimmed eyes: "You insist on dragging me into these troubles?"
Li Yanyan's heart clenched, but she said: "I only hope for a better future for us."
"A better future... heh heh heh..." Xiao Changtian laughed softly, his laughter bleak and despairing. After a long while, he raised his eyes, the corners still tinged with red, but his gaze so cold it felt unfamiliar to Li Yanyan. "Fine. As you wish."After speaking, Xiao Changtian still wore a heartbreaking smile on his lips as he retreated backward. He gazed deeply at Li Yanyan until his heels touched the doorframe, pausing briefly to stare intently at her for a long moment before resolutely turning around and striding away.
(End of Chapter)
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