Because of Pei Minxue's shameless remarks, he was placed in a guest room.
Aside from not being allowed to enter or leave the Zhenbei Marquis's residence, all his requests within the residence would be fulfilled.
Even Pei Minxue's request to visit Xiao Chengci in the dungeon was granted.
Pei Minxue brought Xiao Chengci a pot of hot tea. "Your Highness, what should we do about this situation?"
Xiao Chengci took a sip of hot tea, and his face, which had turned pale from the cold, finally felt much better.
"What are you worried about? You've already admitted that you're Shang Huai's brother-in-law, he won't do anything to you."
Pei Minxue was truly speechless. "Your Highness, don't you understand my good intentions?"
Why would he have the audacity to say these things?
"Alright, alright." Xiao Chengci was too lazy to listen to Pei Minxue's ramblings.
"What are you worried about? Anyway, whether Shang Huai's rebellion succeeds or not, you'll be fine."
Even if he fails, Xiao Chengci won't do anything to Pei Minxue.
Even if Shang Huai succeeds, he won't do anything to Pei Minxue, his "brother-in-law".
"Your Highness," Pei Minxue raised his voice.
Xiao Chengci stopped mocking Pei Minxue. "Shang Huai will at most keep me locked up here. He won't dare to kill me before the rebellion succeeds."
"I have been imprisoned, and Father will receive the news soon."
Pei Minxue pressed further: "So what if His Majesty finds out? Is he going to send a large army to the border?"
"Not all of the Zhenbei Army soldiers are willing to follow Shang Huai in rebellion."
"As long as Father Emperor spreads the word that Shang Huai harbors wolfish ambitions and has detained me, Shang Huai is in the wrong first."
"Furthermore, I have already written to my father, saying that the General of the Northern Garrison has been executed by Shang Huai for disagreeing with his rebellion."
Pei Minxue gasped.
Xiao Chengci scoffed, "So what if Shang Huai went to the battlefield from a young age and lived and ate with the Zhenbei Army?"
"If the Zhenbei Army knew that Shang Huai would even kill his own father in order to rebel, would they really be willing to follow Shang Huai in rebellion?"
In truth, the Zhenbei Army was cultivated by the Zhenbei General himself.
They pledged allegiance to Shang Huai because he was the only son of the General Who Guards the North.
Pei Minxue had no choice but to applaud, "At that time, whether it's to quell public anger or for other reasons, Shang Huai will have no choice but to ask the General of the North to come out of seclusion."
If the General Who Guards the North were to come out of seclusion, he would certainly not agree to a rebellion.
Pei Minxue couldn't help but ask again, "What if the General Who Guards the North agrees to a rebellion?"
"What if the General of the North sides with Shang Huai? Shang Huai is his only son."
If things really develop to that point, and the General of the Northern Garrison doesn't support Shang Huai, Shang Huai will definitely die.
Supporting Shanghuai might give it a chance to survive.
“I remember my father telling me this when I was young.”
"When the General of the North was young, the Xiongnu launched a surprise attack. It was the General of the North's elder brother who led the men to defend the city to the death, but they were held hostage by the enemy in front of the city."
Xiao Chengci recalled: "They would send someone to knock on the door. If the door didn't open after each knock, they would cut off a piece of flesh."
"Throughout the entire process, Uncle Shang didn't utter a single groan."
Pei Minxue was still young at the time, so he had never heard of these things.
“Apart from Uncle Shang, all of General Zhenbei’s other brothers and sisters died on the battlefield.”
Xiao Chengci firmly stated, "I do not believe that the General of the North would rebel."
After saying that, Xiao Chengci spread his hands, "Of course, if I lose the bet, I will not lose unjustly."
Pei Minxue gave Xiao Chengci a thumbs up.
"Has Your Highness considered the possibility that Shang Huai might become enraged and kill you first?"
If Shang Huai sees that his rebellion is unsuccessful, it's not impossible that he might try to drag someone down with him even in death.
Xiao Chengci said calmly, "Then let it come. I will accept my fate."
Pei Minxue was stunned. He thought that His Highness, being so intelligent, should have made arrangements for his own life.
The way he's talking sounds like he's waiting to die.
Pei Minxue suddenly remembered what Shang Huai had said. Could it be that it had influenced Xiao Chengci?
"Your Highness, don't listen to Shang Huai. Zhizhi's illness really has nothing to do with you."
Xiao Chengci retorted, "You are not her, how do you know it has nothing to do with me?"
“I have threatened her many times, and she must have been dissatisfied with me for a long time. That’s why she agreed to marry Shang Huai in public out of spite.”
"Afterwards, she must have been worried that I would come after her, so she fell ill."
Xiao Chengci lowered his head, "Later, he discovered he was imprisoned in the Eastern Palace by Gu You, which deepened his inner turmoil, and that's why..."
Xiao Chengci shook his head self-deprecatingly, "I even went to burn down temples and kill the imperial physicians. It turns out, I'm the one who deserves to die the most."
"If I really die," Xiao Chengci looked at Pei Minxue, "then it will be my way of apologizing to her."
Pei Minxue didn't know what to say.
Even if Xiao Chengci dies, he can't atone for his sins to Pei Zhi.
Pei Zhi is still alive and well, so what kind of apology is Xiao Chengci offering?
Pei Minxue dared not reveal that Pei Zhi was still alive.
"Your Highness, let me go and bring you some quilts. I don't want you to freeze to death before the General of the North comes out."
Xiao Chengci did not refuse; the dungeon was indeed cold.
When Pei Minxue returned to her room, she bumped right into Shang Huai.
"Brother Minxue, you came from the dungeon?"
Pei Minxue felt somewhat embarrassed and could only nod and remain silent.
Shang Huai patted Pei Minxue on the shoulder, "That's good. Go see him more often, you might not see him again."
Pei Minxue asked, "Shang Huai, do you really intend to kill Xiao Chengci?"
"He's still your cousin, and you don't have any deep-seated hatred for him, so why..."
Pei Minxue couldn't understand, "Is it really because of Zhizhi that you...?"
Is it possible that Shang Huaizhen only harbored rebellious intentions because Pei Zhi died, which is why he hated Xiao Chengci and Emperor Xiao?
Yes and no.
"I didn't go to the capital. I've always thought that life in the northern part of the city is pretty good."
"When I went to the capital, I met a girl I liked, but I couldn't keep her. That's when I started to wonder, what was the point of fighting in the north for so many years?"
"When the person I love is forced to death and I am powerless to do anything about it, and even uttering a curse is a sin, I realize that power is truly a wonderful thing."
Pei Minxue realized that Shang Huai did not rebel because of Pei Zhi's death.
Pei Zhi's death made Shang Huai realize just how important power is.
If it wasn't Pei Zhi, there might be something else.
Pei Minxue tentatively asked, "What if Pei Zhi hadn't died? Would you still have rebelled?"
Shang Huai's eyes sharpened. "Brother Minxue, I respect you only because you are Pei Zhi's brother."
Shang Huai warned, "But if you continue to use Pei Zhi's death to joke with me, I can bring myself to kill you."
Shang Huai was a man who had actually fought on the battlefield, and his imposing presence intimidated Pei Minxue so much that she broke out in a cold sweat even in the dead of winter.
Before Pei Minxue could say anything more, Shang Huai gave him a look, and the guards "escorted" Pei Minxue back to his room.
They gave Pei Minxue absolutely no room to resist.
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