Xiao Zhian tricks his wife

Post station.

Princess Pingyang's room was brightly lit.

Under the guise of patrolling and protecting the emperor, Shen Congyun repeatedly got up at night to patrol, just to see her silhouette cast through the window.

He knew that Princess Pingyang was studying hard.

The most important matters of state are sacrifice and war.

The Golden Register Grand Fast is the highest-level fasting ceremony in Taoism, which can harmonize Yin and Yang, eliminate disasters and avert harm, and aims to bring blessings to the emperor and protect the country's destiny.

Such a grand ceremony was being watched closely by all the officials. Princess Pingyang wanted to use this opportunity to enhance her prestige, so she could not afford to make the slightest mistake.

Time is tight, and there are too many rituals to learn and memorize.

Unlike Xiao Zhi'an, Princess Pingyang was the center of attention in all kinds of ceremonies from a young age. To seize opportunities, she had to work day and night.

Shen Congyun liked her like this, loved her vigorous and high-spirited fighting spirit.

Pingyang would get whatever she wanted herself. Although he couldn't see her in person, he would take care of everything for her. He believed in the tacit understanding between them.

Having failed in his assassination attempt yesterday and having his affair discovered by Xiao Zhian, Shen Congyun will not rashly visit Princess Pingyang anytime soon.

Now that things have happened so suddenly, and the Golden Register Fasting has been brought forward by three months, he is unsure of Xiao Zhian's intentions.

Perhaps because of the assassination attempt, they wanted to use Heming Mountain as a trap to lure out the assassin and then eliminate their own faction.

Or perhaps, Consort Hui's pressure was too intense, and he wanted to use the pretext of prayer and filial piety to cope with the pressure from the inner palace.

Xiao Zhian was known for his unpredictable thoughts, and Shen Congyun couldn't guess his intentions. However, he believed that Princess Pingyang would follow the plan and order the White Lotus Sect to go up the mountain.

So what he needs to do now is to coordinate the entire ceremony, grasp all the details, and at the same time appease Lin Huaiyin and use her to obtain the defense map of Heming Mountain. This can be done for Pingyang without meeting her.

Shen Congyun withdrew his gaze and joined the Imperial Guards on their night patrol.

Xiao Zhian's golden carriage slowly drove into the post station.

The golden light was dazzling, as if it had descended from the sky. Chen Congyun was startled and hurriedly stepped aside to make way, bowing and making his hands clasped in greeting.

When the imperial guards saw the emperor, they knelt on one knee to greet him.

"Welcome back to the capital, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

The golden carriage stopped, and guards lined up on both sides.

Du Yu's gaze swept across the room, and he noticed that Shen Congyun was also there. He narrowed his eyes secretly.

As the head of the Eastern Palace's military officers, and knowing that Zhao Changji died at the hands of Lin Huaiyin, Shen Congyun must be a very suspicious person. Otherwise, if the couple were of one mind, why would Miss Lin need to act secretly and mysteriously, and why would she make such a joke as murdering her husband?

Thinking of the lightning-struck jujube wood bow, Du Yu glanced at Shen Congyun's neck, turned sideways to open the car door, and waited on the ground.

Xiao Zhian carried Lin Huaiyin as they slowly got out of the car.

He saw Shen Congyun, but so what?

Shen Congyun, a mere nobody, didn't even have the right to look up in his presence.

The kitten was in his arms, her face buried in the crook of his neck. They were intimately close, and didn't separate all night. If she hadn't been sleeping so soundly, Xiao Zhian would have wanted to wake her up and invite her to admire the scenery in his arms.

Holding Lin Huaiyin in his arms, Xiao Zhian strode forward.

Shen Congyun didn't dare to raise her eyes, but when she inadvertently glanced at the human figure in his arms, her pupils dilated and she gripped the rhinoceros horn ring tightly.

A woman? Xiao Zhian has a woman in his arms?

He couldn't believe it, but upon closer inspection, it was indeed true—a woman with a graceful and shapely figure was quietly nestled in the arms of the Crown Prince.

In an instant, Shen Congyun's eyes turned bloodshot, and the knuckles of his thumb almost broke as he gripped the ring.

Princess Pingyang once said that she would never allow Xiao Zhian to have a woman, let alone have children. Apart from politics, Xiao Zhian could only devote his attention to her only younger sister.

If Xiao Zhian were to die, be injured, or become crippled, he would surely entrust the country and its people to her.

But now, right in front of Shen Congyun, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Xiao Zhian is openly appearing with a woman in his arms.

They stayed overnight.

How long has this been going on?

In case he is welcomed into the Eastern Palace.

In case a child is born.

What if Xiao Zhi'an's favor is divided among this woman, and he no longer grants Pingyang's every wish? What if Xiao Zhi'an has a legitimate heir...?

Xiao Zhian walked away step by step and entered the post station.

The chessboard in Shen Congyun's heart was struck as if by lightning, crumbling into a pile of loose sand.

He had to find out the woman's identity and kill her as soon as possible to eliminate any future trouble!

——

Inside the post station.

The guards cleared the way in front and behind.

Xiao Zhian escorted Lin Huaiyin back to her room.

Unexpectedly, just one turn away, they encountered Xuan Ge, who was sneaking around and coming to pay his respects.

"Your Highness, you're back."

Xuan Ge awkwardly clasped his hands in an attempt to explain.

Xiao Zhian let out a breath of stale air in annoyance.

It's too much of an eyesore.

Xiao Zhian was annoyed by Xuan Ge, annoyed that Lin Huaiyin remembered him, and even more annoyed that he lingered in front of Lin Huaiyin's room in the middle of the night. He was too lazy to care and just wanted to avoid seeing him.

"You return to the capital immediately and replace Mu Zhanjuan with him." He dismissed him abruptly.

Xuan Ge was even more embarrassed. He followed behind Xiao Zhian and forced himself to remind him, "Your Highness, have you forgotten? Mu Zhanjuan was ordered to leave the capital yesterday to take on an official business. He probably won't be back for several months."

"Ordered to leave the capital?" Xiao Zhian stopped in his tracks, puzzled. "What order?"

"This humble general is unaware; Mu Zhanjuan said he was acting according to your instructions."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhian was even more puzzled.

He never sent Mu Zhanjuan out of the capital on business, nor has he summoned him recently. What is going on?

Could it be that the White Lotus Sect has left the capital to investigate?

Xiao Zhian couldn't figure it out for a moment, but he didn't stop and still put Lin Huaiyin first.

Xuan Ge shrank back, while Du Yu stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"Knock knock".

Yu Li swiftly opened the door and handed out a bowl of tea.

"Please just have one bite. The young lady said we should thank her properly—"

Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Zhian's face came into Yu Li's view. She was startled, and when she saw Lin Huaiyin in his arms, she immediately put her left hand in her mouth and bit her fingers to keep from making a sound.

She's quite a clever girl.

Xiao Zhian thought Lin Huaiyin was a good person, so he pushed open the door, went straight in, and put her on the bed.

Yu Li closed the door and followed.

She was terribly worried, but seeing Xuan Ge following behind, she felt less afraid and mustered her courage to ask, "What happened to Miss?"

"It's nothing, she just fell asleep." Xiao Zhian tucked Lin Huaiyin in.

"Sleeping like this?" Yu Li looked surprised. "Miss hasn't slept so soundly in a long time."

"Hmm?" Xiao Zhian turned his head: "What do you mean?"

In the darkness, Yu Li met his gaze and suddenly felt an indescribable pressure. She immediately lowered her head, holding her breath and daring not to speak.

"Why can't she sleep well at night?" Xiao Zhian pressed.

Yu Li did not answer.

What is troubling her sleep?

Yu Li still did not answer.

"And how did she get the scar on her back?"

Yu Li remained silent.

"What is her connection with the woman in the white cloak and her family?" Xiao Zhian intended to get to the bottom of it all at once.

Yu Li buried her chin in her chest, remaining silent.

"Explain yourself clearly, and I will protect her." Unable to get to the bottom of things, Xiao Zhian had no choice but to adjust his strategy.

Upon hearing the word "Gu," Yu Li realized his identity, and a fire ignited within her. She retorted, "Then when you delivered the fragrant soup to Miss, were you also protecting her?"

This question startled Xuan Ge, who was standing outside the door, so much that his legs went weak.

Xiao Zhian immediately remembered that Xuan Ge had reported earlier that Shen Congyun had become enraged by Xiang Tang and dragged Lin Huaiyin, almost breaking the girl's leg. The two of them almost died at Shen Congyun's hands.

It was his fault.

Xiao Zhian was speechless.

"Miss was injured while saving you. How could you repay kindness with enmity and plot against her?"

Yu Li stood up tremblingly, her voice and shadow shaking together: "Miss's life is already hard enough, please don't cause her any trouble. You summoned her at noon, and she fell down and cried for a long time afterward. When I went out in the evening, I heard a lot of gossip. Your Highness, if you don't want to kill Miss, please stay away from her."

"It is not appropriate for you to be in Miss's bedroom at this time. Please leave."

Yu Li gripped the hem of her skirt, her voice trembling as she gave the order to leave.

Xiao Zhian slowly stood up.

Yu Li was scared, scared that he would hit her. She hunched her shoulders and her heart was in her throat.

But Xiao Zhian simply left in silence, slowly and without a word.

The door closed gently.

Yu Li slumped her shoulders, her legs went weak, and she sat on the edge of the bed, breathing heavily.

She didn't sleep all night, and now she's even more afraid to sleep.

Yu Li stayed by Lin Huaiyin's side until she opened her eyes in the morning and stretched contentedly before a smile appeared on her face.

During a break from breakfast, Xuan Ge knocked on the door.

The medicine and ointment were all given to Yu Li, who was also taught how to take care of Lin Huaiyin and her own foot injury.

Yu Li accepted everything without question. The master and servant exchanged medicines, boarded the carriage, and began a brand new day.

Xiao Zhian did not summon her again that day, and Lin Huaiyin's carriage returned to its original position in the caravan, traveling with Shen Zaiyuan.

The next three days were spent traveling, and apart from Xuan Ge delivering medicine regularly, nothing else happened.

Xiao Zhian's contact with Lin Huaiyin suddenly ended, and Shen Congyun wanted to find out who Xiao Zhian's woman was, but suddenly found himself at a loss.

Upon reaching the inn at the foot of Crane Cry Mountain, with only one last stretch of the mountain road remaining, Shen Congyun pulled Lin Cuiyue to find Lin Huaiyin.

"You've been working hard these past few days, and you're pregnant, so I'm afraid you won't be able to withstand the bumpy mountain roads."

Shen Congyun suggested, "Why don't we stay here for a day to rest and recuperate, and then go up the mountain tomorrow?"

As he said this, Lin Cuiyue chimed in, "Brother-in-law is right. You can rest for two days, and I'll send someone to escort you up the mountain. Actually, you don't have to go; the two princes won't blame you."

“It would be best to go up the mountain.” Shen Congyun looked at Lin Huaiyin gently and said, “The Golden Register Grand Fast is very rare. I also hope that Third Sister and the child in her womb can enjoy the grace of heaven and have a smooth life together.”

"In that case, it is indeed rare."

Lin Cuiyue laughed it off, not wanting to offend Shen Congyun, but secretly gave Lin Huaiyin a look, telling her not to worry and to just do as she pleased.

He will leave the Imperial Guards to protect her, and whether Third Sister wants to go or stay is up to her.

Lin Huaiyin accurately received her older brother's gaze.

However, she was even clearer about Shen Congyun's plans.

In her previous life, Lin Huaiyin was confined to the Shen Family Ancestral Hall after the Buddha's Birthday.

Later, at the Heming Mountain Grand Ceremony, Shen Congyun did not bring her along. Instead, he asked Chu Jiu to convey a message to her, saying that he had missed her very much after being separated for several months. He was mindful of Old Madam Shen and Shen Lanyan at home and could not visit her directly. He invited her to meet him at Heming Mountain.

So, in order to go up the mountain to see Shen Congyun, Lin Huaiyin went to find her father, Lin Zhenlie, and made a copy of the defense map of Heming Mountain.

She went through great hardships to reach Crane Cry Mountain, thinking she was keeping an appointment, or that she had simply stumbled upon the White Lotus Sect by accident.

It wasn't until the raging flames of the imperial prison that Shen Congyun revealed the truth—he didn't want to see her at all; he had only used her to guide the White Lotus rebels, leading them to bypass the blockade and fight their way up to the mountaintop.

Blood flowed like a river at Heming Mountain, Lin Cuiyue was convicted and imprisoned, and after this battle, the imperial court and the capital city completely fell into the hands of Princess Pingyang.

All these sins were committed by Shen Congyun, who used her to raise the butcher's knife, slaughter the loyal and brave, massacre the imperial guards, and frame Lin Cuiyue.

Lin Huaiyin originally thought that this life would be different. She had accompanied him all the way, and Shen Congyun should have no way to deal with her. She had not been on guard against his move. However, she did not expect that he would think of using the child in her womb to make a fuss.

Shen Congyun devoted himself wholeheartedly to Princess Pingyang, even unto death.

"Okay. I'll listen to my husband." Lin Huaiyin took Shen Congyun's hand, her eyes filled with affection, and said goodbye reluctantly: "You go first, I'll go up the mountain to meet you tomorrow. With my brother's men there, I definitely won't get lost."

With that, she stood up to see him off.

Lin Cuiyue patted her shoulder, implying that she shouldn't make things difficult for herself.

Shen Congyun released her hand and told her to be careful on the road.

Lin Huaiyin smiled and saw them off.

Lin Huaiyin closed the door and leaned against it, sneering.

"If you don't eat meat that's been offered to you, may you be struck by lightning."