His sharp-eyed gaze slowly shifted toward the bedside. The Youning Emperor’s eyes locked onto Shen Xihe. "Is the Crown Prince still alive?"
Shen Xihe’s long lashes lowered slightly, her expression unchanged. "If Your Majesty has no intention of reinstating a Crown Prince, then there is no Crown Prince in this world."
Under the flickering candlelight, the Emperor’s eyelids trembled faintly. He looked at Shen Xihe, his gaze as deep and unfathomable as a cold pool, yet shimmering with a chilling light. "When did he learn of his origins?"
His tone was resolute, convinced that Xiao Huayong had long known the truth of his birth.
It seemed that over these past few months, the Youning Emperor had pondered many matters. Some things, when viewed from outside his own position, revealed traces easily overlooked before.
Shen Xihe remained silent for a moment before responding without evasion, "Actually, another person would be more suited to answer Your Majesty’s question, would he not?"
"So you knew all along." Understanding dawned in the Emperor’s eyes. "You have immense audacity. Did you calculate that I would inevitably follow the path of your design?"
"No, Your Majesty has ruled for over twenty years. The journey you undertook with Qian Wang, conquering lands north and south to ascend the supreme throne, was never achieved by mere luck." Shen Xihe’s voice was soft and measured. "Your Majesty possesses foresight, resolve, courage, and the wisdom of an emperor. How could I possibly predict Your Majesty’s every word and action? All I could rely on was Your Majesty’s benevolence."
"Benevolence?" The Emperor laughed, a chill seeping into his laughter like the evening breeze. "I thought in your eyes, I was nothing but a tyrant who would not hesitate to kill his own brother for power, eliminate loyal ministers, and distrust capable generals."
Her clear, bright eyes met the Emperor’s gaze directly. Setting aside hierarchy, Shen Xihe spoke calmly, "Your Majesty and I stand on opposing ends of power, irreconcilable as we are. Yet in my heart, I believe you have been a worthy sovereign."
In Shen Xihe’s view, the Youning Emperor was a competent ruler—not given to lust, not tyrannical, not debauched, and not one to bring chaos to the court.
"You say this only because I have not yet moved against the Shen family," the Emperor remarked dismissively.
Shen Xihe shook her head slightly. "Even if the Shen family were to fall, I would still hold this view. Your Majesty has been blameless before the people—a rare and enlightened ruler."
"An enlightened ruler?" The Emperor murmured the words, momentarily lost in thought.
Many believed he cared deeply about his reputation, that he aspired to be an unparalleled monarch praised by all, placing great importance on imperial achievements. Yet who truly understood? His path to the throne had been fraught with difficulty. In the early years of his reign, capable ministers and generals, at the slightest dissatisfaction, would speak of his elder brother’s literary and military prowess, imagining how different things would have been had his brother ascended instead.
He strove to be a good emperor, to prove himself worthy of the throne. He brought stability to the seas and peace to the nation, restoring a realm left crumbling and depleted by the previous emperor’s excesses. What he sought was not glory, nor the praise of posterity, nor eternal fame—only a clear conscience.
Many things that had once been shrouded in mist were now clear to Shen Xihe. Gazing at the Emperor, her eyes held genuine respect. "Your Majesty, had Qian Wang ascended the throne back then, the empire might not be what it is today."
The Emperor’s eyes snapped open, fixed intently on Shen Xihe. His gaze sharp as a blade, as though trying to pierce through her and discern the truth of her words. "What did you say?""Prince Qian values sentiment more than Your Majesty." Shen Xihe neither avoided nor dodged the issue. "Most of the founding ministers followed Prince Qian back then. Had he ascended the throne, he would have been constrained by gratitude and loyalty - this is not the foundation for building a strong nation."
From Shen Yueshan's perspective, he had once told Shen Xihe that the Emperor was someone who could only share prosperity but not adversity. Hadn't His Majesty relied heavily on Chancellor Gu after ascending the throne? Yet within a few years of eliminating the eunuchs, the Gu family was executed to the last member - what was this if not cold-hearted and merciless?
Setting aside her identity as Prince Qian's daughter-in-law and viewing things from the Emperor's perspective, Shen Xihe felt His Majesty hadn't been entirely wrong.
The struggle with the Gu family and the confrontation with the Shen clan were both battles for survival from different positions. The emperor needed to survive, and so did the great families.
There was no right or wrong, only victory or defeat.
Having studied Prince Qian's deeds during this time, Shen Xihe had to admit that Prince Qian was a good elder brother, a good son, a good husband, and an excellent commander. But such a magnanimous, informal man who valued loyalty and righteousness might not necessarily make an enlightened ruler.
Especially an enlightened ruler in Youning Emperor's circumstances. Not everyone could be like Chancellor Gu and Shen Yueshan, indifferent to power and unmoved by wealth.
After ascending the throne, His Majesty could thoroughly reorganize the internal affairs. As for those ministers who had followed Prince Qian, the Emperor burned bridges after crossing the river, leaving them with nothing but complaints about their misfortune that Prince Qian hadn't become emperor. But if Prince Qian had been the one to turn cold-hearted, it would have provoked resentment about shared fate. These people could have been easily won over by the powerful eunuchs, delaying the court's purification and prolonging the people's suffering.
Youning Emperor's gaze became somewhat distant as he looked at the young woman standing before him. Vaguely, she seemed to overlap with someone - that childhood playmate, confidant, mentor, later his right arm, support, and capable minister.
"You are the second person to tell me this."
As for who the first was, Shen Xihe didn't ask, but she thought she could guess.
From afar, Shen Xihe heard an eagle's cry - the proud call of Haidongqing. She lowered her eyes: "The doubts in Your Majesty's heart will soon be answered."
After giving Shen Xihe a deep look, he slowly closed his eyes. Liu Sanzhi, catching the hint, immediately rushed forward and wailed loudly: "Your Majesty—"
A mournful, desperate cry echoed through the Hall of Diligent Governance, followed by the tolling of the death bell. Ministers who had rushed over but hadn't yet reached the hall knelt where they stood, their faces showing grief.
"Your Highness the Crown Princess, this is His Majesty's final edict." Liu Sanzhi presented the edict from his sleeve to Shen Xihe with both hands.
Before Shen Xihe could reach for it, the tightly closed doors were pushed open. The Empress Dowager rushed in with Shu Fei and others. The consorts all knelt on the floor, tears instantly streaming down their faces.
Only Shu Fei threw herself over, leaning on Youning Emperor's body, weeping mournfully. After a while, she turned tearfully and stared at Shen Xihe with grief and indignation: "Crown Princess! You murdered the emperor and forged an edict!"
"Consort Shu, this is His Majesty's personal..."
"Treacherous slave! Despite His Majesty treating you like family, you dared to collude with the Crown Princess to murder the emperor!" Before Liu Sanzhi could finish, Shu Fei waved her hand, her water sleeves fluttering as she slapped Liu Sanzhi hard.
"Murdered the emperor and forged an edict?" Shen Xihe showed an amused smile, her gaze falling on the Empress Dowager leaning on her dragon-headed cane. "Does Grandmother think so too?""Whether it's a forged decree, I shall know once I see it." The Empress Dowager extended her hand.
But Shen Xihe snatched it first from Liu Sanzhi's grasp.
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