Chapter 425 [The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind]

Sheng Yin slumped in the armchair, letting the maid rub her shoulders and back, feeling quite relieved that she had survived a disaster.

"I never thought that my crazy third brother would suddenly become so courageous and wipe out Sheng Wei's camp near Haikui City overnight."

Sheng Yin spoke nonchalantly, but her eyes were full of fear and suspicion.

"Anyway, Third Brother has done me a big favor in disguise. When I meet him someday, I will show him mercy and spare his life."

Sheng Yin's counselors in the tent felt that this matter was not simple.

"Princess, the eldest prince didn't just use the sheep we stole as an excuse to start a war. He also said we sent people to seize his medicinal herb warehouse. Judging from his furious attitude, it doesn't seem fake."

"But how could we possibly rob his medicinal herb warehouse near Haihui City? Could it be that the Third Prince did this and is trying to frame us?"

The counselors discussed the matter one by one, analyzing it in detail.

"You still have to be careful and wary of the Third Prince. Although he has always been a low-profile figure, he has been very quiet recently."

Sheng Yin felt a headache listening to what they said. She narrowed her flamboyant eyes and said, "Maybe he's been practicing some kind of fasting and starved himself to death?"

"It's surprising that Third Brother is able to hold back and fight against Big Brother with his strength. How could he have the time to split himself up and come out to deal with us?"

As soon as Sheng Yin said this, there were many voices of support.

One of Sheng Yin's most trusted aides stepped forward and said, "The Third Prince can only mobilize a limited number of troops in a short period of time. If we want to defend the camp outside Hai Kui City, we will have to face the attack of the First Prince's reinforcements."

"The First and Third Princes will see that Sea Anemone City is a piece of lucrative meat, and they will definitely fight each other for the control of Sea Anemone City."

"Because if one of them attacks Anemone City first and fights with us, even if they win, they'll still suffer a lot. Then, it will be an advantage for the opponent, who will reap the benefits."

What this person said received a lot of approval.

"We are currently the weaker party and pose no threat to Sheng Wei and Sheng Qingyun."

"Even if they both attack and suffer losses, or one side narrowly wins, we won't be able to take advantage of their weakness to threaten them."

"So the best option for the First and Third Princes should be to fight each other first and determine the winner. Attacking us first is the worst option. This will give us time to catch our breath and recover."

After listening to the counselors' analysis, Sheng Yin felt relieved. "We can finally take a breather now. Let's see who can defeat the other, Big Brother or Third Brother."

She turned around and asked the last lieutenant who had entered the tent, "Are there any movements with the ships we sent to Xiushui Island?"

The deputy general replied respectfully, "Your Highness, Lord Xu, who is in charge of logistics, has received a carrier pigeon. In less than an hour, a ship from Xiushui Island will deliver the supplies."

Sheng Yin breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this exciting news.

The deputy general pressed the issue, "Princess, we've suffered heavy casualties this time. Should we send reinforcements from the other five cities?"

"But if that happens, the defenses of the other five cities will be weak, and there's no guarantee they won't be attacked by the Third Prince."

Sheng Yin thought for a moment and made a decision: "Pass the order down, each city will send 500 people over."

Even if the eldest prince or the third prince chose to take over his Sea Anemone City, she would be able to escape unscathed and flee by sea.

Sheng Yin and all her subordinates were only aware of the two enemies, the eldest prince and the third prince. Little did they know that the two ships carrying supplies from Xiushui Island to the port of Haikui City had been completely replaced with a new crew.

Sheng Yin yawned, looking tired, and picked up the bronze mirror on the table. There was a haggard face in the mirror.

Ever since the incident where all the soldiers in the Haikui City military camp suffered from vomiting and diarrhea, Sheng Yin hadn't had a good rest for a long time. "How is the situation at the Princess's Mansion?"

She really wanted to go back home to rest, bathe in flowers and smoke some incense to relieve all the fatigue in her body.

A general immediately replied, "Your Highness, the Princess's Palace hasn't sent anyone to deliver the news yet. I guess the eldest prince just withdrew his troops, so he can't move so quickly."

"Just half a quarter of an hour ago, the soldiers on lookout saw the signal fireworks used by the palace guards to announce safety. The princess's palace is still safe."

The deputy general beside Sheng Yin saw that Sheng Yin looked tired and said, "Your Highness, since the situation has been temporarily stabilized, why don't you return to your residence and rest?"

The princess's mansion is not far from the Haikui City military camp, and it only takes a quarter of an hour to get back by carriage.

"That's fine. I'll feel at ease if I go back and have a look."

Sheng Yin nodded. She finally had some free time, and thinking of the cats in the cat room in the mansion, she wanted to go back and check on them. Just as she was about to get up, a counselor immediately spoke up to stop her.

"Princess, absolutely not. You said last time that the underground vault in the mansion was looted, and the reason has not been investigated yet. You can't go back rashly now."

"Thinking carefully, the situation you described of the private storehouse being looted seems to be similar to the situation of the eldest prince's medicine warehouse being completely looted!

The other party was able to sneak into your heavily-trap underground vault without anyone noticing. This is truly too dangerous!"

"Yes! If you are worried about the situation at home, why not have the housekeeper and guards come and report to you?

If you are concerned about the cats in your house, why not ask the housekeeper to bring over a few of the ones you most want to see?"

Sheng Yin listened to the counselors' suggestions and calmed down. "Then do as you say. Summon Housekeeper Liu and the palace guards. Have Manager Jiang from the cat room bring the orange cat with the word 'king' on its head and Wuyun Taxue."

"Oh, right." Sheng Yin had chosen a new male favorite but never had the chance to favor him. Su Rui's shadow kept lingering in her mind. "Summon Su Rui and Young Master Su to me."

"I have something to ask him."

"yes!"

The general in charge of arranging personnel received Sheng Yin's order and retreated.

A quarter of an hour later, the leader of the palace guards and Steward Liu arrived.

Sheng Yin saw that there was no one else following behind the two of them, and her brows furrowed.

"What's going on? Where are Manager Jiang and the cat?"

"Where's Su Rui?"

The leader of the palace guards and Butler Liu both turned pale upon hearing this, especially Butler Liu, whose body was shaking like a sieve.

The palace guard leader replied stiffly, "After hearing that Hai Kui City had been breached, the palace's male favorites and servants tried to flee, but were stopped by my men."

"but……"

"But what?"

Sheng Yin's face was terribly gloomy.

The leader of the palace guards, beads of sweat oozing from his forehead, replied, "The new male favorite in the backyard, Su Rui, and the manager of the cat room, Jiang Lihua and Xin Da, have disappeared along with all the cats in the cat room."