This letter could not be delivered to the Empress Dowager too early. It had to be presented only when Shen Xihe confirmed that Your Majesty's days were numbered and the Empress Dowager could no longer restrain herself. Delivering it too soon would give them too much time to scheme, failing to achieve the effect Shen Xihe desired.
However, during this period, Xue Jinqiao's unusual behavior had caught Xue Heng's attention. Earlier, he had noticed her despondency, but at that time, Xue Jinqiao was still willing to conceal it somewhat, even leading Xue Heng to mistakenly believe it was a marital quarrel between the couple.
Now, not only had Xue Jinqiao stopped hiding it, but she was also secretly engaging in activities behind the scenes. None of this escaped the notice of Xue Heng, her caring grandfather. When he discovered from subtle clues that Xue Jinqiao was stealing information about the northwest and transmitting it elsewhere, he immediately caught her red-handed.
Taking Xue Jinqiao to a private place where only the two of them were present, Xue Heng couldn't help but ask, "Qiao Qiao, what are you doing?"
Xue Jinqiao's face was full of panic and hesitation.
"When did this start? Who is forcing you? Is it Your Majesty?" Thinking that Your Majesty had already threatened him using the Xue clan, Xue Heng couldn't help but wonder if it was because he had delayed his response that Your Majesty, growing impatient, had threatened Xue Jinqiao instead.
But Xue Jinqiao clearly held no affection for the Xue clan—why would she betray Shen Yungan for them?
Her feelings for Shen Yungan were undoubtedly genuine!
From Xue Heng's question, Xue Jinqiao knew Shen Xihe's deduction was correct—Your Majesty had indeed approached her grandfather. Her eyes reddened as she said, "Grandfather, don't concern yourself with my affairs. Leave the northwest as soon as possible."
"How can I not concern myself? Do you even know what you're doing?" Xue Heng was frantic with worry. Fortunately, he had discovered it first. If the Shen father and son had found out, how would she face them? What would the Shen clan do to her?
"I..." Xue Jinqiao knew her grandfather genuinely cared for her. She didn't want to use him, but in this battle, there had to be a victor and a loser. Only by using her grandfather could the situation be resolved quickly and casualties reduced in the northwest—a land she had come to deeply love.
"What is troubling you? Tell me, and I will find a way to help you!" Xue Heng pressed urgently.
Xue Jinqiao lowered her eyes, afraid her grandfather would see the guilt in them. Her grandfather had not yet considered siding with Your Majesty; he didn't want to become a traitor to the Xue clan, but he also feared his actions would lead to the destruction of his family. To him, both sides were dear.
But it was clear that she, as the flesh of his palm, weighed heavier in her grandfather's heart than the many clansmen of the Xue clan. She was making herself the final straw that would break her grandfather's resolve.
Hesitantly, she pulled a diagram from her sleeve and handed it to Xue Heng. "Grandfather, I am not acting under Your Majesty's orders. I have long been controlled by the Empress Dowager..."
Xue Heng knew nothing of the Soul-seizing Art. He believed whatever Xue Jinqiao said about it because, in his eyes, she would never deceive her grandfather. When he heard that if she disobeyed, she would lose control and go mad as she did in childhood, his eyes widened in fury.
He recalled the pitiful, frenzied state Xue Jinqiao had been in as a child. "This is beyond intolerable!"
At that moment, Xue Heng felt deep hatred for the Empress Dowager and even the entire imperial family. He strode away, intending to seek out Shen Yueshan and reveal everything. Sensing his intention, Xue Jinqiao rushed forward and grabbed hold of him. "Grandfather, no! This evil art has already been passed to Manman. I may not care about life or death, but what about Manman?"Xue Heng froze, his face full of unvented ferocity.
Seeing this, Xue Jinqiao could only desperately apologize to her grandfather in her heart.
Shen Yungan had actually suggested that they could confide in Xue Heng and have him put on an act to deceive the Emperor's men, but that was too risky. If Xue Heng showed even the slightest flaw, he would likely be silenced by the Emperor's agents.
It was better to let Xue Heng, under her instigation, become a truly selfish man.
Only if Xue Heng sincerely sided with the Emperor would his every move convince the other party.
After all, the person sent by the Emperor to contact Xue Heng was Wang Zheng. Having interacted with her grandfather for many years, Wang Zheng should be able to discern whether her grandfather's surrender was genuine.
"Do you know what will happen to you if the Northwest falls and the Crown Princess loses power?" Xue Heng turned around, his expression pained and sorrowful.
Her eyes stung, and Xue Jinqiao's heart was filled with unease and guilt—though these feelings stemmed from her deception and exploitation of her grandfather. Large tears fell as she cried, "Grandfather... Grandfather, Qiao Qiao... Qiao Qiao can no longer turn back..."
Xue Heng assumed her heartbreak was due to her choice to betray Shen Xihe and Shen Yungan, which made him even more distressed.
"Grandfather... I... have long revealed all the Northwest affairs to the Empress Dowager..." Choking back sobs, Xue Jinqiao confessed all the wrongs she had done to the Shen family. To avoid arousing Xue Heng's suspicion, she attributed everything to having been under the Soul-seizing Art, completely unaware of her actions at the time.
Later, she gradually sensed something amiss and became more cautious. She managed to extract the truth about being under the spell from the person she was in contact with.
Xue Heng's mind was thrown into chaos. The Empress Dowager had hidden her intentions so deeply—if she succeeded, would she truly spare Xue Jinqiao?
Absolutely not!
He could not let the Empress Dowager succeed. But given all that Xue Jinqiao had done to the Northwest and the Shen family, if they went to confess now, would there still be a chance for redemption?
Xue Heng wavered between the Shen family and the Emperor, primarily because Xue Jinqiao had leaked too much about the Northwest.
In his heart, Xue Heng still leaned toward being honest with the Shen family. Given Shen Yungan and Shen Yueshan's character, even if their marital ties were severed, they would not take the lives of him and his granddaughter.
"Qiao Qiao, let us go seek the Prince and the Heir..."
"No, Grandfather, we cannot." Xue Jinqiao refused. "There are people from the Empress Dowager beside Anlang. They will immediately take Manman's life."
"You—" Xue Heng looked at her, resistant and fearful. He knew clearly that this was the wrong path, yet he could not bring himself to force her. That left only one way forward.
Xue Heng compromised with the Emperor. He immediately sent a message to the Emperor, exposing the Empress Dowager's true nature and what she had done to Xue Jinqiao. The Emperor had always been lenient toward those who recognized the times and did not cling to power.
Perhaps if the Emperor emerged victorious, he could protect Xue Jinqiao and Manman.
As for the Shen family, Xue Heng felt deeply ashamed.
The Empress Dowager received Xue Jinqiao's message on March 6th. Two days later, Yu Sangning was rescued.
The Youning Emperor received Xue Heng's message on March 10th. That very night, he coughed up blood. The letter contained too much information, including details about the Soul-seizing Art, which led to many dark suspicions. Ever since Shen Xihe's scheme involving the real Qilang, the Youning Emperor had begun to doubt the Empress Dowager. This letter allowed him to see her true nature more clearly, prompting him to feign death and ring the funeral bell, setting the stage for tonight's plan to hear the truth with his own ears.“Duke Xue has indeed sincerely pledged his allegiance to Your Majesty. It is precisely through these pieces of information that he has managed to convince Your Majesty of his genuine intentions.” Shen Xihe placed another piece on the board.
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