Chapter 112: Want Me to Support the Third Prince?

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Shen Nanyuan was frozen in place, startled by his intimate gesture. Feeling his hand brush—whether deliberately or accidentally—past her cheek, the spot he touched immediately grew warm. Her eyelashes trembled lightly as she stared blankly at Xiao Yan, whose gaze was lowered, and even her breathing became much softer.

Xiao Yan withdrew his hand. Seeing that she was staring at him in a daze without speaking, his brows knitted slightly and his tone deepened.

"Did you hear me?"

Shen Nanyuan snapped back to her senses abruptly and answered at a loss, her hands clenched tightly: "...I heard you."

She did not know what hour it was. Gust after gust of cold wind blew over, dispelling much of the restless heat on her face. "Alright, you should go back now. I'm very sleepy and want to rest."

Xiao Yan acknowledged with a soft sound, his dark, glossy eyes enveloping her. The hand he kept behind his back tightened slightly.

"I'm leaving."

Though somewhat reluctant, he still needed to settle the matters before him first—only then would he be able to see her every day in the future.

Shen Nanyuan nodded slightly. After watching him easily scale the wall and vanish into the night, she stood there for a long while before finally turning and going back inside.

A great deal of time had truly passed.

Back then, when she had climbed over the wall with him to leave the estate, they had needed a ladder. Now, they did not.

He had changed a great deal, and so had she.

—

Fortunately, aside from her and Old Li, no one knew that Xiao Yan had come.

Perhaps because Xiao Yan's return to the palace had made the Second Prince feel a growing sense of urgency, he had not come to the Duke of Zhenguo's manor since the palace banquet. Shen Nanyuan's days during that period were thus somewhat more comfortable.

But one matter had been weighing on her heart all along. After thinking it over for several days, she finally went to find Shen Sinian.

"Brother, we still haven't told Father about that matter."

Shen Yi did not wish to involve himself in the various disputes of the court. In the past, he had always remained neutral—no matter how fierce the struggles, they had nothing to do with him. Whoever was the sovereign, that was whom he would serve with loyalty.

But after such loyal devotion had aroused the Emperor's suspicion and led to an imperial bestowal of marriage, he had been forced outwardly to stand on the Second Prince's side.

Yet lately, no matter how one looked at it, he did not seem to be someone who supported the Second Prince.

He had not participated in the Second Prince's affairs in the slightest.

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Shen Yi disliked such matters, so persuading him to stand on Xiao Yan's side would be somewhat difficult.

Shen Nanyuan pursed her lips. "Why not today..."

"Then today it is," Shen Sinian said. "The sooner we tell Father, the sooner I can go find Xiao Yan."

Although Xiao Yan had wandered outside for many years, he was farsighted and deeply strategic. In recent days, he had shown his own insights in both military and political matters. Most importantly, he understood that the people must come first—exactly matching Shen Yi's original convictions.

He was indeed someone who had come out of the Duke of Zhenguo's manor.

Shen Sinian felt somewhat proud. Though he said nothing, he could still tell that Shen Yi rather admired Xiao Yan. That being the case, persuading him did not seem like a difficult matter.

When Shen Yi had nothing to do, he would stay in his study. Shen Nanyuan and Shen Sinian walked together to the study door. She paused and spoke softly: "Why don't you go in alone? I feel like it might not be appropriate for me to go in."

Her involvement in such court matters probably did not seem proper for someone of this era.

Here, women were required to observe the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, to help their husbands and raise their children. She disliked it, but this was how it was for most in this age. Alone, she could not bring about any change.

It was because Shen Yi doted on his daughter that she could do as she pleased, but the imperial decree still could not be defied.

Still, compared to other women, she was relatively fortunate.

Shen Sinian said, "What's inappropriate about it?"

He strode toward the study. "Come, come."

Shen Nanyuan: "..."

Shen Yi was leisurely practicing calligraphy. He did not raise his head. "What is it? I could hear the two of you from inside."

"Nothing much," Shen Sinian said with a smile. "It's just that Father seems to have been very busy lately, so I brought Yuan-yuan to see you."

"..." Shen Yi looked up and let out a cold snort. "You think I don't know you?"

He set down his brush. "Whatever it is, say it quickly!"

Shen Nanyuan smiled sheepishly as she stood behind Shen Sinian, poking her head out slightly. Just as she was about to speak, she silently stepped out to close the study door.

"..." Seeing the two of them like this, Shen Yi knew there was probably some major matter they wanted to discuss with him.

Shen Sinian's expression turned serious. "Father must have seen the Third Prince's actions recently. What do you think of him?"

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Shen Yi paused slightly at this, his gaze involuntarily lifting to fall on his son and daughter before him. His eyes narrowed a little. "What are you trying to say?"

Shen Sinian did not beat around the bush. Meeting Shen Yi's eyes squarely, he said calmly, "I believe that, compared to the Second Prince, the Third Prince is more suited to be the Crown Prince."

"Father, you must also see it," he continued. "The fact that even the Prime Minister now supports the Third Prince shows that even he recognizes the Third Prince's outstanding abilities and stands behind him. Although you and the Prime Minister have your differences, you must admit that the Prime Minister is devoted to the country."

"Even though our Duke of Zhenguo's manor has a marriage contract with the Second Prince, choosing the Crown Prince is no small matter—it concerns the people of the realm. I believe this ought to be handled with great prudence."

"Father, what do you think?"

Shen Yi lowered his gaze faintly, calm and indifferent, as if his son's words had not stirred the slightest ripple in him.

"You want me to support the Third Prince?"

His eyes were pitch-black, carrying an inexplicable air of authority. "I do not care for these matters. When the Second Prince and the Fifth Prince were contending before, I always kept my distance. Now, even with the marriage contract between the Second Prince and the Duke of Zhenguo's manor, I still have no intention of supporting him. I am a subject—whoever is the sovereign, that is whom I serve."

"But what if the Third Prince could dissolve the marriage contract between Yuan-yuan and the Second Prince?"

Shen Yi paused. "What do you mean?"

"Yuan-yuan does not like the Second Prince—Father knows this as well. The Third Prince has long worked in the Shaohua Courtyard and seems to hold some affection for this place. Perhaps in the future, he can help Yuan-yuan have this marriage annulled."

Shen Yi: "..."

He let out a sigh. "You yourself said that choosing the Crown Prince is no small matter. How can it be so rashly decided for such a reason?"

"It concerns the people of the realm and the safety of our dynasty—this matter cannot be decided lightly." He paused briefly. "But I do indeed need to observe the Third Prince further."

This was a chance?!

Shen Nanyuan's eyes immediately lit up.

She could not help but exchange a glance with Shen Sinian and broke into a smile. "Father, Xiao Yan will definitely not disappoint you!"

"He is the Third Prince," Shen Sinian hurriedly interjected before Shen Yi could scold her. "Mind your manners!"