Chapter 817: His Majesty Would Not Allow Me to Avoid It
Xiao Changqing disregarded propriety, staring directly at Shen Xihe, momentarily at a loss for words.
The path they walked was fraught with peril at every step, demanding careful consideration. While they couldn't guarantee absolute stability, they had to minimize the risk of catastrophic failure.
Yet today, Shen Xihe behaved like a desperate gambler staking everything on one throw—acting without evidence or reason, relying solely on intuition as she stubbornly and resolutely took a step that could lead to eternal damnation.
"Your Highness, have you truly considered this?" Xiao Changqing tightened his grip on the jade pendant. "No regrets?"
Shen Xihe lowered her gaze to her prominent belly. A tender smile graced her exquisite features as she gently stroked the active little one tumbling within. "No regrets."
Since Shen Xihe remained determined, Xiao Changqing offered no further counsel. He rose, bowed respectfully to her, and departed in silence.
The cool winds of late autumn stirred, sending apricot-yellow butterfly leaves dancing through the air.
A Eucommia Leaf resembling a butterfly drifted on the breeze. Shen Xihe reached out and caught it, her bright eyes distant and unfocused. "Another late autumn arrives, yet this year I have no companion to admire it with."
"Beichen, are you well?"
At that same moment, on a distant island thousands of miles away, Xiao Huayong also caught a ginkgo leaf, rubbing it gently between his fingers.
His complexion was pale, eyes heavy with exhaustion, lips nearly transparent.
"Your Highness, your medicine." Xie Yunhuai presented a bowl of herbal brew.
Xiao Huayong lacked even the strength to hold the bowl himself. Leaning against Xie Yunhuai's support, he slowly sipped the bitter liquid.
Three bowls of this medicine daily had robbed him of all taste sensation, his entire being saturated with the potent medicinal aroma.
"Ruogu, you should return," Xiao Huayong said after finishing the medicine, seeming to regain some vitality. "With Master Linghu here and my grasp of the local language established, he has full understanding of my condition. Return and guard her for me."
Xiao Huayong remained silent, uncertain how to respond.
In the half-year since their arrival, Xiao Huayong's health had steadily declined. Though the sword strike had been staged to avoid vital organs, it had penetrated deeply. The subsequent sea voyage through storms would have proven fatal without the Qu family's experienced sailors.
Between recovering from his wound, adapting to the new environment, and the urgent need to counteract the poison in the harsh, damp climate, Xie Yunhuai had multiple times believed Xiao Huayong wouldn't survive. Yet he persevered, constantly clutching the black Go piece fastened to his wrist with a Five-Colored Thread—what he called his faith.
Though still frail, Xiao Huayong's sword wound had healed. Old Master Linghu Zheng, who accompanied them, was a renowned Sacred Healer with comprehensive knowledge of the poison in Xiao Huayong's system.
"Your Highness, if I return, how should I address Her Highness the Crown Princess?" Xie Yunhuai asked.
He was willing to return, having unfinished business himself, and Xiao Huayong's situation no longer required his exclusive attention.
At this question, Xiao Huayong's weary gaze fell upon the Eucommia Leaf in his palm. His voice was soft yet certain: "She won't ask."
Xiao Yunhuai started slightly, then bowed his head. After a moment of silence, he offered a wordless bow in Shen Xihe's direction.
The next day, he set sail for the capital.The capital was unusually oppressive that day. The sky was overcast and gloomy, with chilly winds howling, yet no heavy rain fell.
The Youning Emperor's patience had run out. He ordered Liu Sanzhi to personally go to the imperial mausoleum and secretly open the coffin to verify whether Xiao Huayong was truly dead.
Just after Liu Sanzhi left the palace gates, he received news that traces of Xiao Juesong had been spotted. He immediately turned back to report.
Upon hearing this, the Youning Emperor remained silent.
Subconsciously, the Youning Emperor was unwilling to believe that Xiao Huayong had faked his death.
Some matters only appear obscured when doubt hasn't yet taken root. Once suspicion arises, everything becomes clear.
Xiao Huayong couldn't have faked his death. Because he had died in such a tragic manner before everyone's eyes, it would be impossible for him to return as the Crown Prince. This was completely different from when the Fourth Prince had set fire to the imperial mausoleum and used fake remains to deceive everyone.
The fire could be explained as coincidental, and the remains could be claimed as someone else's, mistakenly collected by those handling the burial.
But he had died saving the Emperor on the spot and was buried in the imperial mausoleum. There was no possibility of Crown Prince Xiao Huayong coming back to life.
To others, if he were truly ambitious for the throne, he wouldn't have taken such an irreversible step.
The Youning Emperor had once thought the same. However, after suspecting that Xiao Juesong might be a diversion created by Xiao Huayong, too many details became terrifying upon closer examination.
There was only one reason Xiao Huayong would do this - he must have learned about his true origins!
Since he knew his background, he no longer needed to return as the Crown Prince. He could completely operate from the shadows, throwing the entire imperial family and even the whole capital into chaos, then return as the son of Qian Wang!
By then, if the imperial family had no suitable heirs left, and Shen Xihe controlled the court, whether she bore sons or not wouldn't matter. Her husband would completely expose what happened back then. Without him as Emperor, his princes would be controlled by Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe.
With the Northwest Army, the lingering influence of his elder brother from back then, and the exposure of the regicide and usurpation, he could still legitimately ascend the throne.
As for deceiving the Emperor and faking his death, that would no longer be a stain but merely a tactic for avenging his father - even the Imperial Censors would have no grounds for criticism.
"Since he's here, let's observe first." After a long time, the Emperor's voice sounded hoarse as he spoke.
Let's observe first.
Over the next few days, under Xiao Changqing's arrangements, the last remnants of Xiao Juesong's followers became active outside the capital. They seemed to be trying every possible method to infiltrate the palace but couldn't find a way.
The Youning Emperor observed for five days. Only after Liu Sanzhi captured one of them and verified the mark on his chest did the Emperor say to Liu Sanzhi: "Go personally to Xiangguo Temple and find Master Xuqing..."
When Shen Xihe heard that Buddhist rites would be held in the palace, she smiled: "His Majesty has finally grown impatient."
"Your Highness, should we avoid this?" Tianyuan looked somewhat worried, as Shen Xihe was currently pregnant.
"Avoid it?" Shen Xihe's smile turned meaningful. "His Majesty won't allow me to avoid it."
He suspects Xiao Huayong and suspects me. He wants to use this to test me.
This is His Majesty's blessing ceremony. If I use an excuse to avoid it, someone might connect my hoping for His Majesty's early demise to the Northwest King having ulterior motives. These accusations would be annoying enough, not to mention I firmly believe that even if I claimed to be bedridden today - even if I actually made myself seriously ill and needed to stay in bed - the Youning Emperor would counter every move and force me to attend.
Why go through all that trouble and make myself look guilty?"But Your Highness..." Tianyuan fretted anxiously.
Shen Xihe, however, remained exceptionally composed. She retrieved a string of snow-bodhi beads and handed it to Tianyuan. "Deliver this to the local authorities and order them to personally visit Xiangguo Temple. This was gifted by Master Xuqing years ago."
(End of Chapter)
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