Volume 1, Chapter 46: Lying Flat to Keep Wife Company

East Palace, Cheng’en Hall.

Li Xuan had just changed out of his elaborate court robes when Wang Fugui burst in excitedly, his weathered face blooming with a smile like a chrysanthemum.

“Your Highness! Such great joy! Truly great joy!” he stammered, barely able to contain his excitement. “I’ve just heard that His Majesty not only approved your resignation but also placed the Crown Prince under house arrest! Now, let’s see who dares to gossip behind your back!”

In his eyes, the Crown Prince’s strategy of retreating to advance was nothing short of masterful—winning the emperor’s favor while slapping his rival’s face, a double blessing indeed.

Li Xuan smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying, and took a sip of tea. He knew that while others might see this as a brilliant move, there was one person who certainly would not.

As expected, just as he set down his cup, Xiao Ningshuang entered.

She was dressed as always, in pure white robes as pristine as snow, a beauty surpassing even the celestial.

Yet on her usually serene and aloof face was written confusion and puzzlement.

She dismissed all the servants from the hall, including Wang Fugui, whose expression clearly said, “I understand, I’ll leave now.”

Once the doors closed, Xiao Ningshuang approached Li Xuan directly and bluntly asked, “Why?”

Her voice carried an urgency rarely seen by Li Xuan.

“Why?” Li Xuan feigned ignorance, raising an eyebrow. “My lady, what do you mean? Are you referring to my brilliance and valor at court today that has captivated you?”

“Li Xuan!” Xiao Ningshuang was somewhat annoyed. She felt this man always lacked seriousness at the most critical moments. “You know exactly what I mean! The Jinwu Guards! The Pacification Division! Those were powers you fought tooth and nail to obtain—why give them up so easily? Don’t you know that on the battlefield, soldiers who have fought and died to seize a position would never retreat an inch?”

Her accusation rang strong and resolute, bearing the tenacity and steadfastness of a general’s daughter.

In her straightforward military view, Li Xuan’s actions were akin to a victorious general who laid down his weapons before the enemy—a display of cowardice and folly.

Li Xuan looked at her flushed cheeks, reddened from her agitation. Instead of annoyance, he found amusement and warmth stirring within him.

He understood—she was worried about him.

He did not answer immediately but stood up, taking her wrist gently and led her outside into the courtyard.

“Look at that tree,” Li Xuan said, pointing to a towering, flourishing ancient locust tree in the yard.

Xiao Ningshuang followed his gaze, puzzled.

“This tree is tall and strong, right?” he asked.

She nodded.

“Now, if a fierce wind blows, which do you think is more likely to break—the strong tree or the supple willow nearby?”

Xiao Ningshuang furrowed her brow, seeming to grasp part of the lesson but not fully.

“A tree that stands out in the forest invites the wind to break it. One who walks above others invites the crowd’s criticism,” Li Xuan said, withdrawing his hand and folding his arms behind his back, his expression grave and profound like never before. “Ningshuang, you’re right that on the battlefield, not yielding an inch is the spirit of an army. But the court is no battlefield. Or rather, it is a more complex kind of battlefield.”

“Now, I am that tree standing out in the forest. Everyone’s gaze is fixed on me; all storms come at me. Every move I make is magnified infinitely. If I say one more word today, tomorrow it might be interpreted as a bid for the chancellor’s power; if I meet with one more general, the day after I could be accused of plotting a coup. If this continues, I will be exhausted and endangered.”

He turned to look directly into Xiao Ningshuang’s eyes, his deep gaze shining with wisdom.

“That’s why I choose to retreat. I’ve returned the Jinwu Guards and the Pacification Division—my most conspicuous ‘weapons’—to my father. This way, I transform from a towering tree inviting storms into a harmless-looking blade of grass. Those who want to target me will instantly lose their aim; their fists won’t know where to strike.”

“What will happen to them?” Xiao Ningshuang asked instinctively.

“They will go after others,” Li Xuan said, a cold smile curling at the corners of his mouth. “I retreat, the eldest brother is under house arrest. Now, who is the most ‘prominent’ at court? The second and third brothers. The emperor’s attention and the officials’ focus will shift to them. They will fight even more fiercely than before to seize the power vacuum I left. Meanwhile, I can sit here peacefully, drink tea, watch the drama, and occasionally ‘spar’ swordplay with my Crown Princess.”

Xiao Ningshuang was utterly stunned.

It was as if a whole new world had opened before her. The world she knew was two armies clashing, real swords and guns, a direct confrontation of power and courage.

What Li Xuan described was a form of warfare she had never encountered—silent, yet deadly with every move.

He had not put down his weapon; rather, he had become a world-class sword sheathed. Though the sword never left the scabbard, it was more intimidating than ever.

“But… you just watch them fight? What if one wins and grows stronger? Wouldn’t that be worse for you?” Xiao Ningshuang still worried.

“So what?” Li Xuan laughed confidently. “As long as I remain Crown Prince and my father trusts me, the fiercer they fight, the more unstable their foundations become, the more flaws they reveal. When they are both battered and bruised, or when one grows complacent in presumed victory…”

He didn’t finish, but the chill in his eyes made Xiao Ningshuang shudder.

She finally understood.

This man was not retreating but playing a far greater game.

He advanced by retreating, controlled movement with stillness, manipulating all his rivals like puppets in his palm.

“Besides,” Li Xuan’s tone suddenly lightened, he leaned close to Xiao Ningshuang, lowering his voice with a teasing note, “most importantly, training the Jinwu Guards is exhausting. Every day leaves me bedraggled. How could I find time to enjoy poetry and romance with my lady? From tomorrow on, I’ll be an idle Crown Prince. My daily work will be studying governance strategies, and the rest of the time…”

He deliberately drew out the words, winking ambiguously, “will all be spent with you. We have plenty of time to slowly ‘spar’ with that ‘tender and affectionate swordplay.’”

“You… scoundrel!” Xiao Ningshuang’s face flushed crimson, the color climbing all the way to her ears.

The admiration and shock she felt moments ago vanished instantly, replaced by embarrassment and irritation.

She shot Li Xuan a fierce glare and turned quickly back into the hall, her retreating figure tinged with a hint of flight.

Li Xuan watched her go, his smile growing even brighter.

He knew that the last corner of the iceberg named “Xiao Ningshuang” had quietly melted under the sunlight of this courtyard.

Between them, their bond had long surpassed the initial alliance and was moving toward an intimacy even he had never anticipated.