Qi Xun’s face turned deathly pale.
Looking at Shen Xiyue’s wretched appearance now, he felt a wave of dizziness.
At first, his father and aunt had only asked him to marry Shen Xiyue to secure the Shen family’s military power.
But he already had Zhilan by then. It was Zhilan who had come up with this plan to kill two birds with one stone—to bypass the elders and directly seek out Prince Yao.
This way, they could quickly bring down the Crown Prince, ruin Shen Xiyue, and completely control the Shen family.
Prince Yao had agreed immediately, even promising that once the matter was settled, he would ensure no further obstacles stood between Qi Xun and Gu Zhilan.
Qi Xun still remembered that in his memory, Shen Xiyue had always believed whatever he said. He never expected her to have kept a backup plan for something like this.
Qi Xun’s utterly guilty expression left no room for doubt in the eyes of everyone present.
He was clearly guilty of fraudulent marriage!
Shen Xiyue pressed him: “Heir Qi, why don’t you explain why you deceived me from the start? Or is it that you weren’t interested in me, but in the Shen family’s…”
She deliberately paused, glancing subtly at Emperor You’an, whose expression grew increasingly icy—the emperor knew better than anyone what the Shen family possessed.
Then she looked at Prince Yao, who also appeared slightly nervous, no longer the detached and indifferent observer he had been moments before.
Knowing when to stop, she realized that matters like the Struggle for the Succession were not suitable to be discussed openly. So she shifted her tone: “…Eyeing the Shen family’s only daughter, hoping to consume the household?”
Emperor You’an’s face turned completely cold.
He had initially thought this was merely the foolish Qi Xun’s attempt to kill for the sake of a woman. But now, it seemed the elaborate scheme laid out over the past year was actually for the Shen family’s military power?
Who else would the Qi family be trying to win over military power for?
None other than the eldest and fourth sons born to Noble Consort Qi!
Emperor You’an turned directly to Marquis Qi: “Qi Yijun, so your Qi family harbors such ambitions?”
One after another, they treated him, the emperor, as what? He was still alive and well, and they were already scheming for his throne!
And… did they really think the Crown Prince he had appointed was just for show?
Marquis Qi trembled as he knelt on the ground. How could he not understand the emperor’s words?
He did have such ambitions, but how dare he voice them openly?!
Now, he didn’t even dare to raise his head, repeatedly denying:
“Your Majesty, this humble subject dares not harbor such thoughts. The Qi family would never covet a daughter-in-law’s dowry, much less the Shen family’s wealth. It is all the fault of this unfilial son, Qi Xun. Please see clearly, Your Majesty…”
Seeing him play dumb and noticing the eldest prince’s panicked and tense expression, Emperor You’an felt his anger surge even more:
“Daughter-in-law? Is your Qi family even worthy? Today, I revoke my decree. From now on, the Shen and Qi families are severed. Weddings and funerals, they shall have nothing to do with each other!”
Shen Xiyue let out a long sigh of relief: “Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.”
But Qi Xun’s face drained of all color: “Your Majesty!”
“Silence!”
Emperor You’an’s face was filled with disgust, his anger making him incoherent:
“You truly think you’re capable? What do you take my imperial decree for? Huh? What? You even dare to use me? Who gave you the courage? How many heads do you have for me to chop off?”
Qi Xun trembled in fear. The emperor was truly furious. What should he do?
Instinctively, he wanted to turn to Shen Xiyue for help, but she only looked at him with a mocking expression, showing no intention of speaking up for him.
He looked again at Prince Yao, but Prince Yao also wore an expression of being overwhelmed and fearful of being implicated.
He felt utterly hopeless—was he going to die here today?
Qi Xun’s heart pounded wildly as he prostrated himself on the ground, tears and snot streaming down his face. "Your Majesty, spare my life! Your Majesty, spare my life!"
At that moment, a low-ranking minister from the Ministry of Works stepped forward at just the right time, trembling as he reminded:
"Your Majesty… Your Majesty… please spare Heir Qi’s life… A great flood has struck Jiangnan, and Heir Qi has just been assigned the task of disaster relief. The flood situation is urgent and cannot be delayed…"
As soon as Shen Xiyue heard this, she knew it had been arranged in advance by Murong Xuan.
But Qi Xun was both shocked and overjoyed—at such a time, he never expected someone would plead for him!
He always knew there were still good people in the world.
He hurriedly followed the minister’s words: "…Yes, Your Majesty, the flood situation is urgent and cannot be delayed. After I return from Jiangnan, I will submit myself to Your Majesty’s punishment…"
Emperor You’an sneered coldly. "If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten—this task is still in Qi Xun’s hands! You can’t even manage your own household affairs properly, yet you still want to serve me? You need not go to Jiangnan!"
Qi Xun felt this was his last chance. His voice trembling, he pleaded tearfully, "Your Majesty, I have already made all the arrangements… If someone else is assigned now, it will take considerable time for them to familiarize themselves with the handover. Any delay will only cause more suffering for the people! Your Majesty…"
Hearing this, Emperor You’an hesitated slightly.
What Qi Xun said was not entirely unreasonable…
"I also wish to go to Jiangnan to address the flood situation," a gentle male voice suddenly came from the doorway, followed by two barely suppressed light coughs.
Immediately afterward, a slender figure walked in.
All the civil and military officials turned to look.
The newcomer wore a jade crown, his hair neatly tied, and was dressed in a black robe woven with gold, embroidered with a vivid five-clawed golden dragon on the chest. Despite his pale complexion and slender frame, his extraordinary beauty remained undiminished. His phoenix-like eyes were as clear as water, exuding an air of kindness and sincerity.
It was actually Crown Prince Murong Xuan.
The princes standing at the front instinctively exchanged glances, each with their own thoughts…
Qi Xun was stunned. How was the Crown Prince still alive? Could it be… that he had saved Shen Xiyue?!
Emperor You’an was slightly taken aback, looking at Murong Xuan with some surprise, the murderous intent in his eyes fading slightly.
In the entire hall, only Shen Xiyue lowered her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. He had arrived just in time.
Murong Xuan slowly bowed to Emperor You’an before speaking. "Father, I also wish to share your burdens. Please grant me this opportunity. For the Jiangnan flood disaster, I am willing to contribute my efforts for Your Majesty."
His voice carried a hint of breathlessness, as if speaking required effort, yet each word was clear and distinct.
"You wish to go?"
Emperor You’an’s eyes were filled with unconcealed surprise as he looked Murong Xuan up and down before adding, "This is utter nonsense! Your health has been frail since childhood. Jiangnan is a long journey—how could you endure it?"
Murong Xuan was his only legitimate son, yet he held no deep affection for this child.
After all, he had not raised him from a young age, and the thunder and fire that descended upon Kunning Palace at his birth were hardly auspicious signs.
Appointing him as Crown Prince was merely to avoid violating ancestral traditions.
Moreover, his frail health was difficult to treat, and no one knew how long he could last… Thus, he had never been allowed to handle state affairs.
Murong Xuan had always been sensible and never raised any objections.
But today…
Why did he suddenly volunteer?
Murong Xuan said:
"Father, rest assured. Over the years, Doctor Mu has been helping me recuperate, and I am already much better.
Moreover, matters like floods are something local officials have experience with. I won’t need to exert much effort—just go there to oversee things. It won’t tire me out."
He paused, then spoke again with a smile on his face: "Besides, the climate in Jiangnan is pleasant now. Going out for a walk will be good for my health… cough cough."
Emperor You'an raised his hand: "Grant him a seat."