Chapter 453

The bleak autumn wind blew through the latticed windows, carrying a faint Yuelin Fragrance that softly enveloped Zhao Hua.

That scent was usually soothing, yet at this moment, it dragged Zhao Hua's heart into a bottomless abyss.

Zhao Hua had always prided herself on her intelligence and believed she had a plan for every situation.

However, in recent years, whenever she found herself in dire straits, it was due to Xiao Jingheng's far more profound and far-reaching calculations than her own.

At this juncture, she could only display an expression of utter shock and exclaim:

"For Princess Dowager Jinggui to be so apprehensive, could it be that... Prince An is not the Former Emperor's true flesh and blood?"

Xiao Jingheng lowered his eyelids, his expression gradually growing ashen,

"Last night, I recalled from my youth that Prince Rui's birth mother, Princess Dowager Yu, kept many small animals in her palace and often invited the Princes and Princesses to play there. Of all us brothers, Jingyan was the only one who never entered Princess Dowager Yu's palace.

Thinking carefully, Princess Dowager Yu adored peach blossoms and planted many in her palace, which must have been the reason Jingyan avoided it. It wasn't that he didn't want to come, but that he dared not."

After a long sigh, he continued:

"The Former Emperor passed away many years ago. To investigate whether Prince An is of imperial lineage now would be difficult. However... if he truly is not of the Former Emperor's blood, then he cannot be considered my brother. Keeping such an outsider by my side would only lead to future troubles."

From Xiao Jingheng's tone and demeanor, Zhao Hua sensed profound helplessness,

A sense of powerlessness,

Like a brother who loved his sibling, only to suddenly discover that years of fraternal affection had been false, leaving him utterly shaken and dejected.

But in reality? Zhao Hua knew Xiao Jingheng all too well.

She knew that even if Xiao Jingyan's identity was unquestionable, Xiao Jingheng would never allow him to live.

Previously, when Xiao Jingheng was healthy, it didn't matter. But now, with his health declining, he undoubtedly needed to plan ahead for his realm.

Among the surviving princes, only Xiao Jingyan remained.

If Xiao Jingheng passed away and the young Cheng Yu ascended the throne, Xiao Jingyan would naturally become the regent.

And if the regent harbored ill intentions, he could wield the authority of the Emperor to command the feudal lords.

Would that not be akin to Xiao Jingheng handing over the realm he had painstakingly built over so many years?

From Xiao Jingheng's previous treatment of Xiao Jingyan, it was evident that he could not tolerate him, and this was not a recent development.

It just so happened that today's coincidence provided him with a plausible excuse to easily eliminate his "brother."

At this moment, Xiao Jingheng gazed deeply into Zhao Hua's eyes and sighed with feigned uncertainty:

"At this stage, I truly do not know what to do."

Zhao Hua understood that he was seeking a dignified path,

And as his principal wife, it was Zhao Hua's duty to provide him with that dignity.

After a brief contemplation, Zhao Hua solemnly declared:

"Whether Prince An is the Former Emperor's true flesh and blood is unverifiable, but based on the current situation, Princess Dowager Jinggui's baseless accusations only raise suspicions about Prince An's identity. Keeping someone of a different bloodline around is no different from harboring a tiger.

Your Majesty mentioned that Prince An avoided places with peach blossoms since childhood. Could it be that he knew the truth about his identity early on? If he has known all along that he is not of imperial blood, then his apparent dedication and loyalty over the years must have been false pretenses. In that case, what has he been plotting all this time?"

At this point, Zhao Hua gasped in horror,

"I dare not ponder such a scenario any further. If I may speak frankly, Your Majesty, rather than clinging to this false fraternal bond and nurturing a hidden threat, it would be better to..."

She paused and grasped Xiao Jingheng's hand tightly, lowering her voice as she enunciated each word: "Kill him, and eliminate the threat forever."

Upon hearing Zhao Hua's words, Xiao Jingheng gazed at her silently.

Her clear and logical analysis struck a chord with his own thoughts.

It also made Xiao Jingheng realize how different the present Zhao Hua was from the naive girl who had first entered the palace.

The former Zhao Hua was only known for her gentleness, while the current Zhao Hua could stand on the same ground as him and consider matters from the perspective of national interests.

This was excellent.

Xiao Jingheng nodded in response to Zhao Hua, then grasped her hand and feigned hesitation:

"I have considered this as well. But Jingyan and I have been like brothers for so many years, and we were very close..."

"Which is why Your Majesty can grant him a swift death."

Zhao Hua did not wish to hear Xiao Jingheng continue his act, and interrupted him, "This matter cannot be made public, or it will tarnish the imperial family's reputation. Your Majesty's Secret Agency specializes in handling sensitive matters discreetly. You can have them take care of Prince An swiftly."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingheng fell silent for a long while, his gaze gradually becoming distant.

The Secret Agency...

When the Secret Agency was first established, due to Xiao Jingheng's trust in Xiao Jingyan, many of the capable individuals within it were recruited from various regions at Xiao Jingyan's behest and on Xiao Jingheng's orders.

Now, if he were to order the Secret Agency to carry out this task, it was inevitable that some members would be reluctant to harm Xiao Jingyan and might spare his life.

As he pondered this, Zhao Hua secretly observed his expression, able to guess his thoughts. She then steered the conversation in another direction,

"There is another issue that I find unsettling. If Prince An is not of the Former Emperor's blood, how should he be buried? If he is interred in the Tombs of Prince next to the Former Emperor's mausoleum, would that not disturb the Former Emperor's eternal rest?"

Her words reminded the ailing Xiao Jingheng, who could no longer consider such comprehensive matters, of an important point.

Disturbing the Former Emperor's rest was not Xiao Jingheng's concern.

He was more concerned that since Prince An was not of the imperial lineage, burying him in the Tombs of Prince could potentially impact the entire imperial bloodline.

Therefore, he needed to carefully devise a comprehensive plan

That would not only silently eliminate Xiao Jingyan but also provide a legitimate justification for denying him burial in the Tombs of Prince.