Chapter 43: with translation of chapter title

She immediately placed her finger on her lips, signaling Ah Heng to be silent.

Seeing Ah Heng cover her mouth and nod, Shen Shuangning then focused and continued to peek.

From her angle, she could only see the man's straight back, but even if he turned to ashes she would recognize him—it was Xiao Jingyuan.

And the man sitting opposite him was actually the Eastern Palace crown prince!

The man had a face like polished jade, sword-browed starry eyes, skin lustrous like warm jade, his gaze held dignity yet bore a touch of gentleness, fully displaying the noble bearing of an heir apparent.

This man was none other than the current crown prince, Di Yu.

The crown prince left the capital after marrying the crown princess last June to attend to affairs elsewhere; knowing little about this heir, Shen Shuangning pondered briefly and thought the prince was likely returning to the capital around this time.

She never expected that after returning to the capital, the crown prince would secretly summon Xiao Jingyuan.

At that moment, the two sat facing each other; beside the hole in the opposite wall stood what appeared to be a wooden frame, with an openwork jade disc placed before it, almost blending into the wall's aperture.

Unless one looked closely, it would be extremely hard to notice.

After recognizing who sat opposite her, Shen Shuangning shifted her posture and pressed her ear to the wall.

The person opposite had no idea there was a listener behind the wall.

Not long after the crown prince sat down, he exchanged a few pleasantries with Xiao Jingyuan, then dismissed the attendants; when only the two remained, he drew a letter from his sleeve and pushed it toward Xiao Jingyuan.

"This secret letter was intercepted by my people in Liangzhou fourteen years ago; it mentions the former commandant of the Embroidered Uniform Guard—your maternal uncle."

Xiao Jingyuan immediately opened it, glanced at the contents, and his eyes darkened at once.

The letter contained only two brief lines—an imperial secret order directing the Embroidered Uniform Guard to thoroughly investigate the case of the sunken grain ships, and not to let Yuan Zhenfeng live to reach Yangzhou.

Xiao Jingyuan's fingertips whitened from the force with which he gripped the paper.

The edges of the paper had darkened and curled with age.

The crown prince said calmly, "This secret letter was sent from Changzhou, and fourteen years ago, Senior Grand Secretary Song was there overseeing flood control."

Xiao Jingyuan lifted his gaze to the crown prince, as if lost in thought.

The faction of Senior Grand Secretary Song in the court had long been opposed to the Eastern Palace.

He knew clearly that the Song family did not support the crown prince, and even hoped to see him deposed.

After a long while, Xiao Jingyuan spoke in a low voice: "This handwriting is not Song Zhang's own."

The crown prince leaned forward slightly, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, and said, "You don't know that Song Zhang can write with both hands."

Xiao Jingyuan's pupils contracted sharply.

"Song Zhang is extremely cautious; I have investigated him covertly for years, sacrificing countless agents, before uncovering this secret."

The crown prince leaned back against the chair, his smile faint, and said, "Moreover, I won't hide it from you—this person has deep ties to the Heavenly Saint Sect; it was he who ordered the elimination of Yuan Zhenfeng back then. As for the reason..."

The crown prince took a sip of tea, then lifted his eyes to look at Xiao Jingyuan and said, "It's merely because he feared the Embroidered Uniform Guard would discover his collusion with the Heavenly Saint Sect."

At that time, Song Zhang had not yet entered the cabinet as a minister, but he was already highly trusted by the emperor, and he was aware of every movement in the court.

Behind the wall, Shen Shuangning learned of this earth-shattering secret, and was shocked beyond measure.

In her previous life, she only knew that the Song household had been implicated in an old case, which involved many parties, yet the crime did not warrant extermination of nine kin.

Only now did she learn that the true reason was actually Senior Grand Secretary Song's covert collusion with the Heavenly Saint Sect!

In her previous life, before the edict confiscating the Song household's property was issued, there was not a whisper in the capital; even the day before the raid, the mansion was bustling with preparations for Song Xizhi's birthday banquet, and the Prince of Yan's household was ready to come that day to propose marriage.

What should have been a doubly auspicious day turned into a sudden calamity that befell the entire household—all the men were slaughtered, the women were all exiled and conscripted, and no one had time to react.

The affair of the Song family shocked the court and the populace.

By the time Shen Shuangning found out, the Song mansion had already been plastered with seals, and the fortunate survivors of the Song family were already on the road to exile...

Emperor Xuanwen had zero tolerance for the Heavenly Saint Sect; anyone daring to collude with it, regardless of rank, would be punished as a traitor.

It appears that in her previous life, the Song family suffered so terribly because someone handed the evidence of Song Zhang's collusion with the Heavenly Saint Sect to Emperor Xuanwen, and it was ironclad proof.

That person was the crown prince.

Shen Shuangning speculated that the Prince of Yan's household had also been unaware of this beforehand; otherwise the princess would never have dared to discuss a marriage alliance with the Song family, and this matter likely only Xiao Jingyuan knew.

And Xiao Jingyuan, for the sake of Song Xizhi, was willing to risk bringing disaster upon the Prince of Yan's household in order to marry her, so that when Song Zhang's secret was exposed, he could protect his beloved.

But Xiao Jingyuan never imagined that events would unfold so quickly.

All of the above are Shen Shuangning's conjectures, and the crown prince's present purpose in seeking Xiao Jingyuan is also not hard to guess.

One, to warn; two, to win over.

Song Zhang originally did not support the crown prince; if the Song family and the Prince of Yan's household became allied by marriage, that would be a powerful union, and the crown prince still has three brothers eyeing him covetously—such power falling into any prince's hands would be extremely disadvantageous to him.

And while the crown prince wanted to deal with the Song family, he did not wish to make an enemy of the Prince of Yan's household; thus he gave Xiao Jingyuan an early warning, urging him to quickly sever ties with the Song family, which could also be seen as granting the Prince of Yan's household a favor.

Otherwise, the crown prince could simply say nothing, and later, however Emperor Xuanwen might suspect the Prince of Yan's household, that would be the household's own headache.

One simply does not know what Xiao Jingyuan is thinking now.

It's a pity we cannot see his expression.

Shen Shuangning felt a bit curious and pressed her ear even closer to the wall.

Xiao Jingyuan stared at the crown prince's face.

"I know you are skilled at reading faces; you must realize I am not deceiving you." The crown prince did not evade or flinch, but met his gaze directly.

Xiao Jingyuan's thin lips parted slightly: "Your Highness, what do you intend?"

The crown prince gave a faint smile: "The Song family—I will certainly act against them. I know the heir apparent's beloved is a woman of the Song household; if you, Young Master Xiao, are willing to stand with me wholeheartedly, I can guarantee that the women of the Song family will be spared, and even if you wish to protect the daughter of a condemned official, I will turn a blind eye."

"How?"

Xiao Jingyuan did not hesitate for long.

All that could be seen was him putting away that secret letter and saying, "As long as Your Highness the crown prince does not in the future commit any act that harms the state, the Prince of Yan's household will not be your enemy."

That is not meant as an agreement to join forces.

The crown prince sprang to his feet: "You......"

Xiao Jingyuan cut him off coldly: "The Prince of Yan's household will never become any faction's lackey, nor will we submit to threats."

Hearing that Xiao Jingyuan actually refused the Crown Prince, Shen Shuangning couldn't help but a flash of surprise cross her eyes.

At this moment the Crown Prince stood while Xiao Jingyuan sat.

Yet in terms of presence, the Crown Prince was somewhat weaker.

The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes at him, seeming a little annoyed: "Don't you care about Song Xizhi's life or death? She's your childhood sweetheart!"

Apart from the moment when he learned of Song Zhang's collusion with the Holy Heaven Sect and his emotions briefly showed, his expression had now returned to normal, revealing no joy or anger.

"Song Zhang colluding with the Holy Heaven Sect is unforgivable; the Crown Prince moving against the Song family is doing good for the court, and I will certainly not stand in his way. As for Song Xizhi... since she bears the Song name, she must share the family's honor and disgrace; whatever comes, let it come."

The Crown Prince concealed his sharpness, suddenly laughed, sat down and said: "You really are impartial and strict; if Miss Song heard these words, I don't know how heartbroken she'd be. How could she have fallen for you?"

Xiao Jingyuan remained silent.

Shen Shuangning couldn't see Xiao Jingyuan's expression, but she could clearly see a hint of worry on the Crown Prince's face.

She suddenly recalled something she had overlooked: the Crown Prince actually also liked Song Xizhi.

Had Song Xizhi not insisted on waiting for Xiao Jingyuan, she would long ago have become the Crown Prince's consort.

In her previous life the Song family incurred guilt, Song Xizhi was implicated, her fate was miserable, and in the end she had to marry Prince Chen.

That Prince Chen was the younger brother of Emperor Xuanwen; after Emperor Xuanwen ascended the throne, of the six princes only Prince Chen's life was spared, and he was early sent to his fief to show the ruler's mercy.

Prince Chen is a pervert who enjoys tormenting young women; if Song Xizhi married him, how could she have a good life?

Who knows whether in her previous life Song Xizhi regretted choosing Xiao Jingyuan; if she had married the Crown Prince early, perhaps the Song family would not have met such a miserable end.

Shen Shuangning's feelings were complex; for the first time she felt pity toward her former romantic rival.

Any woman who falls for Xiao Jingyuan will not have a good ending.

The Crown Prince failed to smoothly bring the Yan Prince's mansion into his camp, leaving him somewhat disappointed.

But he was not angry, for he had obtained Xiao Jingyuan's promise.

As long as the Yan Prince's mansion did not fall into the hands of the other three princes, the Crown Prince felt at ease.

The two spoke no more, and the dishes on the table remained untouched.

After the Crown Prince left, Xiao Jingyuan also departed.

Shen Shuangning carefully restored the opening, slowly exhaled a breath, and patted her chest.

Only when she turned her head did she notice that A Heng's little face had turned deathly pale from fright.

This news was still too shocking for a little maid.

Shen Shuangning said sternly: "Forget what just happened; pretend we never came here, heard nothing, saw nothing. Understand?"

A Heng came to her senses, nodding repeatedly without asking further.

Shen Shuangning hadn't eaten her fill, so she sat back down, picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a lotus slice, and took a bite.

That magnolia painting still hung quietly in its original place.

Seeing her still able to enjoy the food with peace of mind, A Heng's heart gradually calmed.

Those matters on either side had nothing to do with the Duke of Rongguo's mansion; they were not her concern.

Shen Shuangning merely appeared calm on the surface, but inside she was not at peace at all.

If she left now she might run into Xiao Jingyuan; better to avoid trouble, so she might as well sit down, eat her fill, then leave.

Moreover, she still hadn't met that "Pei Sanlang"!

Shen Shuangning lifted her eyes to look at that spring magnolia painting, falling into contemplation.

The other party deliberately used that painting as bait to draw her attention, enabling her to witness Xiao Jingyuan and the Crown Prince's secret talk and learn of this great secret—but what was their purpose?

Not long after, footsteps sounded outside, finally stopping at the door.

Shen Shuangning lifted her gaze, wondering: "Are you finally willing to show yourself?"