The Youning Emperor never expected that they would actually use Xue Heng, who was likely still unaware of being manipulated. Precisely because of this, the Youning Emperor trusted Xue Heng, and the Invincible Army led by Wang Zheng would also deeply trust him.
Once these people entered the Northwest King’s city, they were walking right into a trap. The outcome…
The Youning Emperor closed his eyes briefly, then suddenly erupted into another violent coughing fit. Liu Sanzhi offered a handkerchief, but the emperor did not take it. He quickly suppressed the cough, though his face, which had just regained some color, rapidly turned ashen again. Staring at the chessboard where his position was gradually deteriorating, he forced himself to place a piece. How similar the desperate struggle on the board was to the frail state of his own body!
“In terms of meticulous planning, I doubt anyone in this world can rival you,” the Youning Emperor slowly opened his eyes, his gaze settling on Shen Xihe. “Earlier, you told your mother that it was because the Yu family confirmed the person she placed in the northwest was from the Xue family. That statement was meant for my ears.”
The truth was, she had long confirmed that Xue Jinqiao was the Empress Dowager’s spy and had even deciphered Xue Jinqiao’s methods before she could relay the message to the Empress Dowager. In fact, Shen Xihe had instructed Xue Jinqiao to reveal Tan Shi’s secret to the Empress Dowager.
This was all to lure Xue Heng into the trap, forcing him to fully align with the emperor in order to protect Xue Jinqiao.
“As the contest between me and the Empress Dowager remains undecided, how could I dare reveal any clues in front of Your Majesty?” Shen Xihe did not deny it—the answer was obvious. “The northwest and the three northeastern regions are beyond Your Majesty’s reach. If Your Majesty had known earlier that I was the one behind all these schemes, the Invincible Army under Xun Wang would never have stormed the palace gates.”
Having come this far, how could she leave any loose ends?
If the emperor had known the truth earlier, he would have had time to alter his plans, ordering Xiao Changfeng to take the Invincible Army far from the capital, lurking somewhere to keep watch over her.
Shen Xihe had no intention of overthrowing the dynasty, so even if Xiao Changfeng fled with his troops, he would have to live in obscurity for the rest of his life. Perhaps influenced by Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe disliked the feeling of anything slipping beyond her control.
The Youning Emperor pondered: if Shen Xihe had revealed to the Empress Dowager earlier that she was the mastermind behind everything, what would his own choice have been? Perhaps he would still have risked everything, or perhaps, as Shen Xihe predicted, he would have ordered a timely retreat.
Since the overall situation was already decided and there was no way to stop Shen Xihe, why not leave a pair of eyes to keep watch over her at all times?
Yet Shen Xihe had even cut off that possibility, clean and decisive.
Setting aside his identity as emperor, Shen Xihe was a daughter of the Shen family. The Youning Emperor had to admit that, perhaps, if Shen Xihe were to rule, it might be a blessing for the people.
“So, does that mean Xun Wang has no chance of winning either? Who is it? A’Luo?” The Youning Emperor’s hand trembled slightly as he placed a piece on the board.
He felt the strength in his body slowly fading. His end was likely near.
Shen Xihe shook her head gently. “I have never been deceitful toward the Princess of Xun.”
She had always regarded Shen Yingluo as someone dispensable, so she would not, at a critical moment, use the pretext of blood ties to seek Shen Yingluo’s assistance. However, Shen Yingluo’s choices had left her with mixed feelings…
After Yu Sangning was rescued by the Empress Dowager, she was sent to drive a wedge between Shen Yingluo and Shen Xihe. If Shen Yingluo could come to resent Shen Xihe because of this, it might bring an unexpected advantage to the Empress Dowager.
Aside from Yu Sangning, the Empress Dowager had no one else to turn to.At this sensitive moment, with the imperial grandson's investiture imminent, Shen Yingluo remained wary of anyone connected to various factions in the capital, suspecting attempts to sow discord. Even if seeds of doubt were planted in her heart, she would never dig deeper before the overall situation became clear.
This sense of discretion Shen Yingluo possessed, and the Empress Dowager knew it well.
Yu Sangning was different. She had nothing left to rely on, and there was an added advantage: if anything happened to Yu Sangning and she was brought before His Majesty by Shen Yingluo, it would be difficult to trace it back to the Empress Dowager.
Just like when the matter of Yu Sangzi was exploited, the Empress Dowager had never appeared before Yu Sangning. To this day, Yu Sangning remained unaware of who had threatened her or rescued her through the secret passage.
Using anyone else would inevitably lead to complications.
After the prayer incident, the Empress Dowager likely sensed that His Majesty was subtly suspicious of her. She dared not act recklessly and seek others to take this step. Even though this move would draw suspicion toward Princess Ruyang—whether Shen Xihe had previously doubted her or not—once someone was rescued via the secret passage, the Empress Dowager had no choice but to proceed regardless.
His Majesty's Invincible Army was under Xiao Changfeng's command. If Yu Sangning could manipulate Shen Yingluo, she could not only use Shen Yingluo to deal with Shen Xihe but also leverage her against Xiao Changfeng. Killing two birds with one stone, the benefits outweighed the risks, prompting the Empress Dowager to take this step.
She even dispatched the practitioner of the Soul-seizing Art from her side. If persuasion failed, they would seize the opportunity to hypnotize Shen Yingluo.
But heaven had other plans.
On the day Yu Sangning sought out Shen Yingluo, Shen Yingluo had just been diagnosed as pregnant...
Expressionless, she listened to Yu Sangning's words. For the sake of the child in her womb, she struggled to steady her emotions. Earlier, due to the increasingly tense situation in the capital, she had been unable to see her elder sister. Knowing her sister did not welcome her and did not need her interference, she suppressed her own anxiety, which had led to signs of a miscarriage.
The doctor had just warned her to avoid agitation and anger.
Yu Sangning's vivid and emotional recounting of Tan Shi's involvement was met with Shen Yingluo's icy question: "Are you finished?"
Both Yu Sangning and the palace maid sent by the Empress Dowager were stunned.
Shen Yingluo showed no trace of the fury of being deceived and manipulated. Her calm demeanor was as if she were listening to someone else's pitiable story.
This left the two of them at a loss, unable to deploy their tactics. Moreover, since Shen Yingluo had just discovered her pregnancy, even though Yu Sangning claimed the matter concerned her birth mother, Xiao Shi, and that there were spies around her, Shen Yingluo refused to meet Yu Sangning and the other woman alone.
No matter how powerful the Soul-seizing Art was, it required a vulnerable moment to take effect and could not target two people at once. Standing beside Shen Yingluo was a tall, burly guard.
"Take these two into custody. Do not let word of my meeting them reach the Prince's ears!" After giving the order, Shen Yingluo stood up and left slowly.
Though she appeared unaffected step by step, her nails dug into her palms. One hand pressed against her lower abdomen as she continuously inhaled and exhaled, maintaining a facade of calm.
Back in her courtyard, Tan Shi brought her a bowl of miscarriage-prevention medicine she had prepared. A misty sheen veiled Shen Yingluo's eyes as she gazed quietly at Tan Shi.
This woman, who had warmed her, cared for her, counseled her, always stood by her, and given her everything a mother should, was her legal mother—the very person placed by her side from the start to monitor her.
Did she feel hatred? Anguish? Despair?Yes, they were all there, but for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to vent these emotions upon seeing her.
She was even pathetically afraid to expose the truth, unwilling to let her leave her side.
"Your Highness, what's wrong? Are you unwell? Please tell me at once," Tan Shi exclaimed, rushing forward with deep concern as she noticed Shen Yingluo's pale face and tear-filled eyes.
Shen Yingluo threw her arms around her: "Nanny, have you ever deceived me?"
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