Chapter 133: Nowhere Left to Hide You

Having spent some time with her, Xiao Yan quickly sensed that she seemed to have something on her mind. He cast a faint, indifferent gaze toward Shen Nanyuan’s face and spoke calmly after a moment.

"Does the young lady have something she wishes to ask me?"

Shen Nanyuan subconsciously shook her head. "No."

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes. In that moment, he possessed an aura of chilling, effortless authority. He pondered for a brief second before his expression softened slightly.

"Are you wondering if I intentionally let myself get injured this time?"

Caught off guard by his perceptiveness, Shen Nanyuan looked up abruptly, meeting his obsidian eyes—which seemed capable of seeing through everything—and found herself momentarily speechless. The sharpness of Xiao Yan’s intuition truly unsettled her.

Seeing her reaction, Xiao Yan knew he had guessed correctly. A touch of nonchalance began to gather in his brows, yet he did not hide anything from her.

"Today’s incident was indeed intentional."

He was merely a prince who had just returned to the palace, yet he had managed to send the Prince of Rui’s son to prison; the Prince of Rui would certainly not let the matter rest.

"At the time, I knew he only meant to frighten me and had no intention of causing me real harm. But even so, who could say if his next attempt might be lethal?"

And so, he had played along with the man’s intent, shifting his body slightly to allow the arrow to pierce his shoulder. In truth, he and Shen Yi had already anticipated that the Prince of Rui might strike during the imperial hunt. By playing along, he could not only eliminate the Prince of Rui and remove a future threat but also implicate the Second Prince, planting a seed of suspicion in the Emperor’s mind.

Furthermore, because Shen Yi was currently viewed as an ally of the Second Prince, the Emperor would never suspect that Shen Yi had already sided with him. What he hadn't expected was the surprising ease with which it unfolded, as the Emperor had already been keeping a close watch on both the Second Prince and the Prince of Rui.

However, there was a deeper reason for all of these maneuvers—the very reason he had resorted to such a desperate ruse. At the time, Shen Yi’s gaze had been dark and heavy.

"The Northern Liang invasion was within my expectations," Shen Yi had said. "I have heard rumors that Northern Liang is on good terms with Sangluo. Not long after Northern Liang envoys visited Sangluo, Northern Liang suddenly invaded our borders with a massive army. They are likely conspiring with them."

"Both nations have long eyed our territory with greed, especially Northern Liang. We cannot afford to be careless."

"With Northern Liang pressing from the north, I will certainly lead the army to war. Sangluo may choose to attack from the south once I have departed. Chaos will ensue, and in the heat of the conflict, the Emperor will be forced to send someone to lead an army against Sangluo. This is your chance to distinguish yourself, Third Prince."

"However, everyone is aware of the Emperor’s current health. The Second Prince will certainly not let this opportunity slip by. Therefore, by sowing even a hint of suspicion in the Emperor’s mind regarding the Second Prince, you will be the one to secure the command."

"Sinian has been by my side since childhood, and he is highly skilled in martial arts; he will accompany you. Although you have not been back in the palace for long, you are a heaven-sent prodigy. I have observed your actions throughout this period, and I believe you will govern this land well. I trust you are the best candidate for the crown."

Shen Yi paused, his dark eyes lifting. "I am willing to support you, Highness, but I have one wish." He looked steadily at Xiao Yan. "Beyond governing the land and ensuring the peace and prosperity of the people, there is Nanyuan..."

As he spoke of Shen Nanyuan, his stern features softened. She was his greatest vulnerability. He had no other ambitions; he only wished for his daughter to break free from the shackles of her status and live as she pleased.

Xiao Yan looked at him and gave a slight nod. "The County Princess is the apple of General Shen’s eye. I will certainly treat her well."

On the surface, the words seemed harmless, but a closer listen revealed layers of hidden meaning. Shen Yi, however, was not one to dwell on such subtleties.

Xiao Yan’s gaze fell upon Shen Nanyuan’s delicate face. His eyes were as black as ink, veiled by a faint mist that made it impossible to discern his true thoughts. He would not tell her all of this. He had only told her that he was worried that leaving the Prince of Rui unchecked would invite future disaster.

Xiao Yan had expected her to be frightened by this side of him, but to his surprise, she nodded thoughtfully.

"You were right to do so. Otherwise, the next person to be ambushed would have been you."

Xiao Yan felt a flicker of surprise, but the corners of his lips curled up involuntarily, as if he were in high spirits.

A gust of wind whistled outside, and Shen Nanyuan suddenly remembered that her brother was still outside keeping watch. Almost at the same moment, Shen Sinian flashed in, his brows furrowed with anxiety and his voice hurried.

"The Second Prince is here."

Shen Nanyuan was startled. "Then we must leave quickly!"

"It’s too late. If we go out now, we will certainly be discovered," he hissed. "I’ve been coughing outside for ages; why didn't you come out?"

Shen Nanyuan looked blank. "You were coughing? I didn't hear a thing!"

Xiao Yan: "…I heard it. I thought Officer Shen had caught a cold."

Shen Nanyuan: "..."

A total failure. She looked around desperately, feeling there was nowhere to hide. "What do we do now? Why is the Second Prince coming to see you in the middle of the night? Doesn't he sleep? Is he sick?"

"Oh, for heaven's sake! If you had heard my signal, we would have been gone already!" Shen Sinian urged. "It’s so late; the Second Prince cannot see me here, or he will suspect the connection between the Duke’s Manor and the Third Prince."

Xiao Yan remained calm and composed, his face pale, which only made his eyes appear deeper and darker.

"Officer Shen, hide under the bed," he said. He then turned his gaze to Shen Nanyuan and patted the spot on the bed. "Come here."

His voice was languid and indifferent, yet it made Shen Nanyuan’s heart tremble. Her breath seemed to hitch. "…What?"

Shen Sinian had already agilely slid under the bed. Xiao Yan stared at her fixedly. "There is only room for one under the bed. There is nowhere else to hide you. Only here."

He added slowly, "If you don't come over now, the Second Prince will be here any second."

A sense of urgency and pressure washed over her. Shen Nanyuan could not suppress her hatred for the Second Prince. Gritting her teeth, she kicked off her shoes, tossed them aside, and scrambled up onto the bed.