Shang Huai retorted, not to be outdone, "You should also thank yourself for being born into a good family."
"Otherwise, you wouldn't know how many times you would have died by my blade."
Shang Huai had already stained his sword with the blood of his enemies when he was twelve years old, so he was certainly not a kind person.
“We’ve made a pact: no matter what, we must not argue in front of Zhizhi.”
"As long as you don't provoke me, I'm too lazy to argue with you."
Xiao Chengci sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Shang Huai, be reasonable."
"Did I provoke you first, or did you anger me first?"
Seeing this, Shang Huai was about to speak again, but Xiao Chengci quickly waved his hand.
"Zhizhi doesn't remember anything now."
"If you don't want to annoy her with both of us, we'd better tone it down."
"Didn't you see the look of disgust in Pei Zhi's eyes when she left?"
Shang Huai retorted, "I'm not blind."
If he hadn't seen it, Shang Huai would have stayed by Pei Zhi's side no matter what.
He didn't want Pei Zhi out of his sight for even a moment.
"Therefore, if we continue arguing, we will only both suffer losses."
"OK."
Shang Huai didn't want to argue with Xiao Chengci either.
"Promise me you won't trick Pei Zhi into returning to the capital."
Xiao Chengci said, "Whether Pei Zhi goes back or not is her own choice."
Upon hearing this, Shang Huai was also willing to back down.
“If she wants to go back to the capital, then I want to go back too. You are not allowed to use the imperial edict to pressure me.”
"We both know perfectly well that the enemy generals on the border have been defeated by the Zhenbei Army and will not dare to invade for at least several years."
Xiao Chengci paused slightly, looking somewhat displeased.
According to Xiao Chengci's plan, Pei Minxue was used to bring Pei Zhi back to the capital.
In the capital, he focused on cultivating his relationship with Pei Zhi.
At that time, Shanghuai was located in the northern part of the city, far away and in the mountains.
Before long, Pei Zhi will forget about Shang Huai.
However, Shang Huai was clearly not a fool and naturally understood Xiao Chengci's plan.
Xiao Chengci remained silent, and Shang Huai waited patiently as well.
"Three months. You can only stay in the capital for three months."
In the end, Xiao Chengci made concessions.
Shang Huai snorted, "Xiao Chengci, are you trying to fob me off like a beggar?"
Shang Huai stood up angrily: "At worst, I'll just quit being this so-called General or Marquis."
"I am free from official duties and can go wherever I want. You can't control me."
"Are you trying to blackmail me?"
Shang Huai knew perfectly well that the Zhenbei Army would not submit to anyone other than Shang Huai.
If Shang Huai resigns from his post, the Zhenbei Army will be thrown into chaos.
Shang Huai scoffed, "Your Majesty, you misunderstand. I don't have that kind of guts."
Xiao Chengci was repeatedly provoked by Shang Huai.
Even before Xiao Chengci ascended the throne, let alone after his ascension, no one dared to provoke him like this.
Xiao Chengci narrowed his cold eyes slightly: "Shang Huai, if I can't behead you now, can't I at least punish you?"
"Your Majesty, you know you wouldn't dare to execute me, would you?"
Xiao Chengci's reasons were twofold: firstly, he considered the merchant's remarkable achievements over the years.
Shang Huai is the only child in the Shang family.
Secondly, there's the Empress Dowager's presence to consider.
Xiao Chengci has already ascended the throne, so the Empress Dowager doesn't need to feel sorry for him.
The Empress Dowager now only feels sorry for Shang Huai, who lost his mother at a young age.
If Xiao Chengci really beheads Shang Huai, the Empress Dowager will also die of depression in a few years.
"What a pity."
Shang Huai smiled leisurely: "Your Majesty must really want to behead me."
"Didn't His Majesty bring so many secret guards to the North City?"
"Why not let them kill me tonight, when the moon is dark and the wind is high?"
Shang Huai smiled broadly: "That way, no one will try to take Zhizhi from His Majesty, right?"
It must be said that Shang Huai had hit the nail on the head regarding Xiao Chengci's thoughts.
Xiao Chengci had genuinely considered it.
Shang Huai is dead. Xiao Chengci could say that Shang Huai was ambushed by the enemy general Yu Nie.
Anyway, he's the emperor, the whole world belongs to him, so whatever he says goes.
Xiao Chengci scoffed, "Shang Huai, do you dare swear that you never even considered killing me?"
Shang Huai paused, then nodded generously.
"right."
"I have considered making sure you can't leave the North City."
“I adopted a young child from the imperial clan and supported him to ascend the throne.”
"Anyway, His Majesty is the ruler of the world, so it's perfectly normal for him to be assassinated."
Xiao Chengci and Shang Huai are cousins, yet they secretly wish they could kill each other.
But both of them understood that if either of them died, the world would be thrown into turmoil.
With Shang Huai dead, there was no one in Beicheng worthy of being entrusted with its defense.
With Xiao Chengci dead, the world was without a ruler.
When Pei Minxue returned after ordering, she saw the two still locked in a stalemate: "What? Haven't you two finished arguing yet?"
Seeing that Pei Minxue had returned alone, both of them still looked tense.
"My lord, where is your fine wine stored? I'll go and fetch a jug. Today is a fine day, and we should have a drink."
Xiao Chengci quickly said, "I can't drink alcohol."
"I consulted the imperial physicians, and it seems that Pei Zhi suffered a severe head injury, which caused memory problems."
"It's best to drink less alcohol."
Pei Minxue nodded, "In that case, we won't drink it."
“You can keep arguing. In a few days, I will take Zhizhi back to find her husband.”
"etc!"
Xiao Chengci and Shang Huai asked in unison, "What husband?"
"Where did she get a husband?"
Pei Minxue feigned surprise and said, "No, it's okay if Zhizhi forgot."
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
