Chapter 158: The Stratagem of Alienation

Seeing you looking so absent-minded right now, anyone who didn't know better would think your wife had run away," Shen Hezhi said, unable to resist a teasing remark since Jiang Canxing had remained in such low spirits, hoping to cheer him up.

Jiang Canxing naturally understood what the Prince of Qi meant, but this matter was not something he could let go of overnight.

Jiang Canxing said to Shen Hezhi, "Your Highness, I still have some matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now. If there is anything, just send a message to the Hua residence."

Shen Hezhi nodded, and Jiang Canxing did not linger, leaving right away.

Watching his receding figure, Shen Hezhi shook his head helplessly, let out a sigh, and then turned back toward the secondary consort's courtyard. After all, some loose ends still needed to be tied up; no matter what, they had to be resolved.

The two of them were still waiting in that courtyard without leaving. When the Prince of Qi arrived, he saw them talking together, presumably discussing a countermeasure for the situation.

Yet no matter how they discussed it, there was simply no alternative, for the ultimate control of the matter rested entirely in the hands of the Prince of Qi.

As long as the Prince of Qi refused to relent, there was no way they could ever obtain what they desired.

"The two of you seem to be discussing a strategy. Having been away for quite a while, I wonder if you've come up with any good methods?" Shen Hezhi said as he walked straight over and sat down opposite them.

After the Prince of Qi and Jiang Canxing had left, Cen Changxiao and his sister had taken seats in the pavilion to talk. Thus, when the Prince of Qi returned, walking directly into the pavilion and sitting across from them felt completely natural.

Seeing the Prince of Qi arrive, the siblings felt a brief surge of panic, but remembering the plan they had just concocted, they forced themselves to calm down.

It was Cen Changjing who spoke first, saying to Shen Hezhi, "Your Highness, we were indeed discussing a strategy just now, but not how to deal with you. We were merely considering how we might depart amicably.

Yet, Your Highness, you must also consider this: no matter what, I am an innocent woman who became your secondary consort, only to be spurned by you and driven out of the manor.

If I were to leave just like this, I fear no one else would ever be willing to marry me for the rest of my life. Even if the Prince of Qi has no desire to give me one hundred thousand taels of gold, shouldn't you at least offer some compensation for this ordeal?"

Cen Changjing spoke with reason and logic, cleverly refraining from aggressively demanding the one hundred thousand taels of gold again.

The Prince of Qi truly had not expected the siblings to break through from such a logical angle. But even presented this way, did they really think the Prince of Qi would be intimidated by them?

So what if their words were reasonable? This was the Prince of Qi's manor, and its master was the Prince of Qi. If the Prince of Qi chose to be unreasonable, who could possibly stop him?

Even so, hearing them tackle the issue this way piqued Shen Hezhi's interest. He asked, "What is it you want, then? I will not keep you in the manor as my secondary consort—aside from that, what kind of compensation do you want? Don't tell me you're asking for those one hundred thousand taels of gold again.

If that remains your demand, then we truly have no further need to talk. You should just pack up and leave this place immediately."

"No! One hundred thousand taels of gold is indeed an astronomical sum, so we have decided to ask for just one tael of gold. Surely, that is an amount you can easily afford," Cen Changjing hurriedly replied.

One tael?

Shen Hezhi felt a flicker of doubt. Why had they plummeted from one hundred thousand taels all the way down to a single tael? The disparity between the two was truly worlds apart.

These two must be plotting something else entirely.

Watching him sit there in deep thought, the siblings exchanged glances, each seeing the flash of a triumphant smile in the other's eyes.

This was precisely their goal. The Prince of Qi was a naturally suspicious man, and faced with such a bizarre turn of events, he could not help but overthink. First demanding one hundred thousand taels, and then demanding a mere single tael—no matter how one looked at it, it was bound to breed suspicion.

And as long as the Prince of Qi grew suspicious, their subsequent plans would become much easier to execute.

Seeing that the Prince of Qi still remained silent with a deeply contemplative expression, Cen Changjing quickly pressed on, "In truth, I ask for so little only out of regard for the past affection between Your Highness and myself.

Beyond this, I will also tell Your Highness a secret, provided you hand over the gold immediately."

Shen Hezhi locked gazes with Cen Changjing for a moment before finally reaching into his robe, pulling out a single tael of gold, and placing it on the table. "This is what you wanted. Now, tell me what you came to say."

Without hesitation, Cen Changjing picked up the tael of gold from the table, tucked it into her tunic, and replied, "Actually, I simply wanted to tell Your Highness that perhaps the person closest to you is not worthy of your trust—much like the two of us.

And why would I tell Your Highness such a thing? Because I am consumed by jealousy toward that person. We both surrendered our hearts to Your Highness, yet she alone receives your pampering and affection.

Surely, someone as brilliant as Your Highness already knows who I am speaking of by now. So, the rest depends entirely on whether Your Highness is willing to trust this person, and whether you are willing to confront her."

Having said all this, Cen Changjing prepared to take her single tael of gold and leave with her brother, but Shen Hezhi called out, "Wait."

Hearing the Prince of Qi tell them to halt, the siblings exchanged another fleeting, triumphant smile while making sure no one noticed.

Cen Changxiao remained standing in place, while Cen Changjing turned back around. "Is there anything else, Your Highness?"

Shen Hezhi stood up, fixing a cold gaze on Cen Changjing. In a sudden flash, he closed the distance, grabbed her by the throat, and glared at her with eyes full of killing intent.

In a harsh tone, Shen Hezhi said, "Don't think I am unaware of the schemes brewing in you siblings' minds. If you are trying to drive a wedge between the Princess Consort and me, you are merely daydreaming.

Cen Changjing, Cen Changxiao, I can let the two of you leave this place today, but remember this: never let me set eyes on you again, and do not provoke me further.

As for anything concerning me, you would do best to stay as far away as possible.

Cen Changxiao, we wasted all these years calling each other brothers; I never expected you to blindly take sides without regard for right or wrong. It truly chills my heart."

With that, Shen Hezhi released his grip.