Chapter 102 The Crown Prince's Consort's Questioning
Anzhou, Prince Qi's Palace.
"Haha, what a joke."
Inside the hall, a tall, middle-aged man in a purple python robe tore the document in his hand in two and threw it on the ground.
Lin Kui, who was standing at the bottom, was so frightened that he quickly bent down to pick up the document.
"Your Majesty, this is His Majesty's decree..."
Our prince is too fierce. He even dares to tear up the imperial edict of Emperor Yongde.
The middle-aged man raised his sword-like eyebrows and said coldly: "This king knows, so I tore it apart."
He was Prince Xiao Ming of Qi. Though already middle-aged, he had the slender build of a young man, and his brows still shone with the handsome grace of his youth.
Twenty-one years ago, while he was tackling floods in the south, news of the emperor's death reached Kyoto. He rushed back, but was still a step too late. He prioritized the empire above all else and pledged his loyalty to Emperor Yongde. Unexpectedly, Emperor Yongde took advantage of his position and summoned his beloved, Pei Jingyun, to the palace as his empress.
These accounts hadn't been settled yet, and now Emperor Yongde had actually ordered him to send troops to attack the Northern Di. Although the imperial court would provide food and fodder along the way, war would result in casualties. This was clearly intended to weaken his military strength.
"Does he really think that I am a soft persimmon that can be squeezed whenever he wants?"
Seeing the King of Qi angry, Lin Kui quickly said, "Your Majesty, this was not His Majesty's intention. His Majesty has previously sent generals to lead an army to suppress the enemy, but they were defeated. Now the Northern Di have begun to attack the border, burning, killing, and looting nearby villages and towns. His Majesty is helpless..."
"Then why doesn't he go find Prince Jing?"
"Prince Jing and the King of Xiliang are not on good terms to begin with. The two families are like water and fire. If Prince Jing were to send his troops eastward, with the King of Xiliang's concerns behind him, I believe he would absolutely refuse. Besides, Jingzhou is too far from the Northern Di..."
Xiao Ming laughed heartily, pulled a chair over and sat down at the table. "Lin Kui, you've been following Bei Heng these days, and you've really studied the minds of the various princes very deeply."
"This humble servant is just making a wild guess, not one ten-thousandth as good as the prince and the crown prince."
Xiao Ming picked up the teacup on the table and blew on it. "So, in your opinion, should I send troops?"
"Your Majesty is so wise and powerful, he must have reached a conclusion long ago," Lin Kui bowed and placed the document back on the table. "How dare I show off my tricks in front of Your Majesty?"
Lin Kui believed that the King of Qi put the overall interests first and there was really no need for him to remind him.
"Haha, it's true that I hate Emperor Yongde, and I know what he is thinking. But the people of Dayan are innocent. Someone, come here." The King of Qi put down his teacup and stood up.
A general came in and said, "Your Majesty."
"Give orders to raise an army of 150,000 in three days. I will personally lead the army and sweep away the Northern Di people according to your orders."
"Understood!"
As the general was leaving, he happened to pass by Xiao Beiheng who was walking in. The general gave him a hasty salute and left quickly.
Xiao Beiheng walked to the hall, lifted his clothes and knelt down: "I pay my respects to my father."
"Get up." Xiao Ming sat back in his chair. "You rushed here. It seems you also know that Emperor Yongde ordered your father to send troops?"
Xiao Beiheng stood up and said, "Father, I'm afraid Emperor Yongde has other intentions behind this move."
Xiao Ming shook his head and said, "Of course I understand. However, if the Northern Di break through the city walls, the people of Dayan will suffer. I will personally lead the troops to annihilate these barbarians and restore peace to the people."
"In this case, I am willing to be the pioneer."
Xiao Ming smiled and said, "You just came back not long ago, are you so anxious to leave the Crown Prince's Consort?"
"A true man should make a name for himself in the world, not dwell on romantic relationships."
Xiao Ming took a sip of tea and said, "It's just the Northern Di. Why should you and I go together? You're putting too much stock in them. I'll go. You have something more important to do."
"There's something else..." Xiao Beiheng frowned, "Is it related to Xiao Zhuo?"
"Lin Kui has found Xiao Zhuo's whereabouts," Xiao Ming nodded. "Outside the northwest border, near the fiefdom of the King of Xiliang. It's in a place called Xiaogang Village."
Xiao Beiheng looked at Lin Kui, who nodded.
"Father, do you still want to continue hunting down Xiao Zhuo?"
"Of course. Emperor Yongde killed the Empress, so I, as a father, will kill his son." Xiao Ming slammed his teacup on the table. "I will give you 50,000 Dingbei troops. When the army reaches the border, you will lead them westward. General Zhao will supply food and fodder along the way. He is my best friend..."
Lin Kui, who was listening nearby, was both surprised and delighted.
I didn't expect the King of Qi to be so generous as to directly give the Crown Prince 50,000 Dingbei troops. The Dingbei troops were the elite troops under the King of Qi's command. Wasn't it too much to mobilize 50,000 troops just for Xiao Zhuo?
Could it be that the King of Qi has other intentions?
Xiao Beiheng raised his hand, made a cutting motion on his neck, and said, "Father, Xiao Zhuo is a small matter. Do you want me to kill the King of Xiliang..."
"The King of Xiliang is currently under attack from the Western Rong and has already lost two cities. If the King of Jing in the west remains restless, I'm afraid the King of Xiliang's territory will be annexed by him," Xiao Ming said slowly, closing his eyes. "So you must... act according to circumstances. This time, I'm entrusting you with 50,000 troops. Don't let me down."
Xiao Beiheng bowed and said, "I will definitely fulfill your mission."
Lin Kui left the palace with Xiao Beiheng, got on a carriage, and was surrounded by guards as they headed to the prince's palace.
"Your Highness, it seems the prince is also concerned about the situation in the west..." Lin Kui glanced at Xiao Beiheng's knee, "Does your knee still hurt? Would you like me to prescribe you another blood-dissolving prescription?"
He had also heard from the maid at the Prince's residence that yesterday, on Mid-Autumn Festival, His Royal Highness and His Royal Highness's Consort had celebrated the festival with the Prince and his wife at the Prince's residence. They had been enjoying themselves, but something had happened on the way home, and the Princess had gotten angry.
The result was that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince knelt until late at night in order to appease the Crown Princess.
Xiao Beiheng glanced at him, knocked his knee with his fist and said, "These are all trivial matters. However, the injury from Xiao Zhuo's palm has been completely healed thanks to Mr. Lai's medicine."
"Listen, when we get to the Crown Prince's Mansion," Xiao Beiheng whispered, "Don't mention the war to the Crown Prince's Consort. She's worried about my safety and will definitely go with me. Just say we're going out for some sightseeing."
"I know." Lin Kui also responded in a low voice.
His Highness was notorious for being afraid of the Crown Princess. Even after being slapped so hard by Xiao Zhuo, he lied to the Crown Princess and said he had caught a cold. He was forced to drink the cold-repelling medicine until now.
"Your Highness, if the Crown Princess asks where to go for a trip, we have to tell her a place first, so that we don't get confused later. But where would be suitable?"
"We just came back from Liangzhou. It would be unreal to say we're going there again... Let's just say we're going to the south."
The two were about to discuss the details when the carriage suddenly stopped.
A guard said outside the carriage: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince's Consort is here."
Xiao Beiheng and Lin Kui exchanged a look of bewilderment. Before they could speak, the carriage door opened, and a young woman in a white dress as white as snow and a black cloak boarded.
The girl has skin as white as cream, eyes as clear as autumn water, and a graceful figure. She exudes an ethereal and otherworldly temperament, giving people a sense of tranquility.
Crown Princess Su Mo, sixteen years old. She had been married to Xiao Beiheng for just one year and was the daughter of the Anzhou governor. It was common knowledge that Emperor Yongde and the Prince of Qi were not on good terms, and anyone with the courage to marry off their daughter was quite courageous.
"Beiheng, are you going to send troops?" Su Mo asked the first question when she came up.
"That's not true." Xiao Beiheng and Lin Kui said in unison. Xiao Beiheng quickly added, "Lin Kui and I have agreed to go to Jiangnan for a trip."
Su Mo closed the door and said, "A general who was delivering a message for my father happened to pass by, so I stopped him and asked him. But you two both said no, which shows that you are lying."
Xiao Beiheng and Lin Kui were speechless for a moment, huddled in front of her and winked at each other. Su Mo saw this and smiled slightly, saying:
"Well, now I'll give you a chance to prove that you are right."
"What should we do?" Xiao Beiheng asked, holding his forehead.
"I'll give you two a piece of paper and a pen. Stand back to back and write down what you discussed."
"Well……"
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