"The Deputy Protector-General of Northern Pacification was personally appointed by Your Majesty from the Golden Guard to fill the vacancy." Shen Yungan had easily uncovered this information, and in fact many others had investigated it too. There was no doubt this person was His Majesty's man.
"And then?" Shen Xihe gently stroked Duanming's soft fur, occasionally flattening its ears against its head until its face appeared earless, leaving only those prominent large eyes.
"Then?" Shen Yungan paused slightly, "Youyou, are you suggesting there's something wrong with His Majesty's appointee? That can't be."
This person was absolutely, undoubtedly His Majesty's trusted confidant. The current Protector-General of Northern Pacification was already aged, and His Majesty had long abolished the hereditary system for protector-general positions. By sending a confidant now, after three to five years he would naturally succeed as Protector-General and command regional military power.
"I meant, who filled the vacancy left in the Golden Guard?" Shen Xihe scratched Duanming's neck, her expression calm.
"Those selected for the Golden Guard are all people His Majesty trusts. Are you suggesting someone took the opportunity to plant their own person in the Golden Guard?" Shen Yungan found this unlikely. "The Golden Guard selection process is extremely strict. Unless someone could predict that His Majesty would transfer someone from the Golden Guard, how could they prepare in advance?"
His Majesty hadn't given anyone time to react - he transferred someone from the Golden Guard, immediately promoted from within to fill the position, and selected someone from the imperial clan to join the Golden Guard. All these decrees were issued simultaneously.
"Brother, give me the list of Golden Guard transfers." Shen Xihe lifted her head from the sunlight, which illuminated her flower-like face with noble radiance. "Brother, don't forget that someone managed to infiltrate His Majesty's Embroidered Uniform Envoys."
The Embroidered Uniform Envoys and the Golden Guard - one was His Majesty's blade, invincible wherever directed; the other was His Majesty's armor, impenetrable against all assaults.
If the former could be infiltrated, why not the latter?
"Are you suspecting this is also that person's doing behind the scenes?" Shen Yungan could sense his sister's wariness toward the person who had impersonated Hua Fuhai.
If such a person truly existed - someone who could remain completely hidden while quietly extending their influence into the Emperor's most rigorously guarded and secret forces - they would indeed be an extremely terrifying individual.
The Golden Guard transfers weren't secret, being public figures unlike the elusive Embroidered Uniform Envoys. Even now, few court officials knew exactly which thirteen individuals comprised the Embroidered Uniform Envoys.
The Embroidered Uniform Envoys rarely appeared, and when they did, it inevitably meant capital crimes. Thus most who had seen them were already on the path to the underworld. For the occasional crimes not warranting elimination, witnesses might have seen one or two envoys at most. Besides His Majesty, no one knew all thirteen members.
This was precisely why the noble families in the capital were particularly cautious - they never knew if an Embroidered Uniform Envoy might be among them.
Shen Yungan quickly compiled complete information on all Golden Guard transfers for Shen Xihe to investigate.
The Golden Guard was divided into left and right divisions, each with one Great General of the third rank, two Generals of the third deputy rank, one Central Lang General of the fourth rank, and Left and Right Lang Generals. The person transferred to Northern Pacification to replace Rong Ce was the Left Golden Guard Central Lang General. The Central Lang General position was then filled by his direct subordinate, the Left Lang General, with promotions cascading down through the ranks accordingly.Shen Xihe carefully examined this Left Colonel. He was a military examination graduate, a son of a humble family, robust and strong. He had once distinguished himself during a royal hunt, earning the emperor's favor and promotion. He was loyal, filial, frugal, and taciturn, having been overlooked in the Golden Guard for many years before gaining the opportunity to shine during the hunt.
However, he kept to himself and never socialized with colleagues.
"Such a clean individual, no wonder His Highness is willing to entrust him with important tasks." After reading, Shen Xihe smiled ambiguously. "Brother, I am going to the palace."
"To the palace?" Shen Yungan's first reaction was, "To deliver birthday gifts to the Empress Dowager?"
The Empress Dowager's birthday was in two days, and many imperial relatives and nobles had already begun sending their gifts in advance.
"To pay respects to the Empress Dowager and, incidentally, meet with the Crown Prince." Shen Xihe did not hide her intentions, fearing that her brother might feel uneasy if he found out later.
"I will go with you." Shen Yungan immediately stood up, unwilling to let his younger sister meet Xiao Huayong alone.
"Brother, there is a difference between me going alone and the two of us going together." Shen Xihe shook her head slightly.
If she went to see Xiao Huayong, it could be interpreted as a matter of personal affection. If Shen Yungan frequently met with Xiao Huayong, it might be seen as forming factions.
"Why do you want to see him?" Shen Yungan asked reluctantly.
"There are some matters I wish to verify." Shen Xihe smiled faintly, picking up Duanming and placing him in Shen Yungan's arms. "Brother, please keep an eye on him and don't let him go out to catch mice."
Shen Xihe detested mice, and Duanming had recently taken to darting outside, bringing back half-eaten mice in the middle of the night. For this, Shen Xihe had confined him for a long time.
"Meow!" Duanming, caught off guard by being placed in Shen Yungan's arms, immediately extended his claws and clung tightly to Shen Yungan's robe, afraid of falling.
Shen Yungan did not like cats, especially after it became fashionable for noble ladies to keep them. He disliked them even more, feeling that such wild and agile creatures had been rendered soft and timid by their owners, and he held a bias against all cats as a result.
However, Duanming was different. Perhaps because he was raised by his sister, he was admittedly a bit ugly, but he was fierce and brave!
Just like the young men of the northwest, who lacked the delicacy and refinement of those in the capital but were full of vigor and spirit—Duanming suited his taste!
When Shen Xihe entered the palace, the Empress Dowager was too busy, so she stayed only briefly before heading to the Eastern Palace.
This time, Xiao Huayong received her in a courtyard filled with fragrant ginkgo trees. Golden leaves and the faint glow of dawn surrounded him. He wore a black robe with a folded collar of noble purple, embroidered with exquisite and intricate patterns, and a heavy white cloak draped over his shoulders.
His elegant and majestic demeanor was fully displayed. Even with his slightly hunched back, he did not appear the least bit disheartened, though he looked exceedingly thin. Despite being a young man, he did not seem weak, yet he evoked a sense of pity in those who saw him.
On the table were fragrant hundred-flower cakes, translucent crystal cakes, and delicate, small seven-fold cakes...
"Youyou... Please take a seat, Princess." Xiao Huayong seemed somewhat delighted to see Shen Xihe. A gentle light shimmered in his eyes as he unconsciously called out her milk name, then quickly corrected himself upon realizing it was inappropriate.
After Shen Xihe sat down, he personally poured her a cup of calming tea and handed it to her. "My apologies for the earlier impropriety, Princess. I learned your milk name from the Prince and found it quite meaningful, so I remembered it."
"Meaningful?" Shen Xihe asked, puzzled.Xiao Huayong coughed lightly a few times before offering a gentle smile: "In my childhood, I also had a milk name—Luming. The deer symbolizes longevity; it was my grandmother's wish for me to live a healthy, long life."
Upon hearing this, a faint smile graced Shen Xihe's lips: "I had always associated the deer with lu—meaning abundant official emoluments and the highest status. For instance... contending for the throne across the Central Plains."
Xiao Huayong's brow twitched almost imperceptibly as he lowered his head to sip tea, concealing the amusement in his dark eyes.
It seemed she had come prepared today.
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