Chapter 84: Plotting against the Crown Prince
"Everything should be done on a first-come, first-served basis. My nephew has finally gotten this job and has put in a lot of effort. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for my aunt to snatch it away?" Xiao Chengming had a tense face and couldn't even smile.
"Besides, these refugees are not obedient and are always shouting for war and killing. I am a woman and I am afraid of disturbing you."
"Don't worry about that, Your Highness. When Rongyang and the imperial aunt were fighting the enemy in the northern border, you were still an infant," Ji Wenchuan said with a smile. "How could these unarmed Daliang people possibly disturb Rongyang?"
Ji Wenchuan was born into a civil service family. He spoke politely and had a smile on his face, but Xiao Chengming just felt uncomfortable listening to him.
Xiao Chengming looked at the imperial guards who were well prepared to take over the refugees. His eyes darkened and a look of unwillingness appeared on his face.
It's not easy to get such a lucrative job, but it was snatched away by someone else.
He turned his head and looked at Princess Rongyang in a gloomy manner. He opened his mouth to argue for himself, but was interrupted by the princess without mercy.
"You and I both know exactly how the Crown Prince plans to deal with these refugees. I've given you face by not exposing you in front of my brother."
"But if I don't say it, it doesn't mean others won't say it. Does the prince really think that these refugees are rebelling because they are disobedient?"
Stared at by Princess Rongyang's sharp gaze, Xiao Chengming fell silent.
The sudden change had left him no time to recover, and he had only instinctively ordered the arrest of the refugees leading the riot. But after Princess Rongyang's reminder, he slowly came to his senses.
His gloomy eyes swept over the men who were captured and detained by the imperial guards. Their faces were rosy and full of energy. Upon closer inspection, they did not look like refugees who had been wandering for many days.
Xiao Chengming clenched his palms quietly.
Great! Someone actually dared to plot against him. Which of his good brothers did it?
The third brother is far away in Yuzhou, and is overwhelmed by the things he got involved in. He probably doesn't have the ability to do this, so the second and fourth brothers are the ones who can do it.
Xiao Chengming narrowed his eyes, then smiled in a moment. He respectfully bowed to Princess Rongyang and apologized, "Thank you for your advice, aunt. I was reckless just now."
He could no longer keep this job, so he might as well go back and think about how to deal with the attack from his father and several of his brothers in the court tomorrow.
"Come here, take them back." Xiao Chengming waved his hand and was about to take away those who were leading the trouble.
"Wait." The eldest princess spoke again to stop him.
Xiao Chengming forced himself to curl the corners of his lips. "Since these people were bribed to frame my nephew, I will naturally take them back and interrogate them thoroughly so that I can have an explanation before my father."
Princess Rongyang glanced at him sideways and said in a cold voice, "I have no control over the quarrels between you princes, and I don't want to, but you can't take these people with you."
Xiao Chengming couldn't keep the smile on his face any longer, and he felt a little agitated.
He'd already made such a big concession, letting these refugees go and promising not to bother with them anymore, but he wasn't going to let go of these few untouchables who were leading the riot and trying to kill him?!
"Your Highness, please be patient. These refugees already distrust you because of what happened today and fear you'll murder them. If you take the leaders away now, these refugees will truly be out of control," Ji Wenchuan explained gently. "The best plan now is for you to release these people and then comfort the frightened people."
"Some of these people are infected with the plague!" Xiao Chengming retorted subconsciously, but Princess Rongyang stared at him as he finished speaking. He quickly said, "I am the crown prince. If I come into contact with these refugees and affect the health of my father, I will be uneasy."
Princess Rongyang sneered and looked away.
Xiao Chengming was embarrassed, but Ji Wenchuan spoke to comfort him, "The Crown Prince's concerns are not unreasonable. Since the Crown Prince cannot come forward to appease these people, why not send them some supplies? This will let these people know that the Crown Prince has no intention of harming them."
Xiao Chengming didn't expect that the trip he thought would be lucrative turned out to be a disaster, but he didn't get any profit at all. Now he not only lost his wife but also his soldiers, and had to pay money out of his own pocket to help these refugees.
He responded with a grim expression, "Your Highness is right. I will have someone send the silver over when I get back."
Upon hearing this, Ji Wenchuan couldn't help but sigh, "The Crown Prince is truly kind-hearted and worthy of being the Crown Prince of Daliang."
Xiao Chengming left in a hurry.
After seeing the man leave, Princess Rongyang couldn't help but sneer and glanced at Ji Wenchuan, "Your ability to tell lies to different people is getting better and better."
Ji Wenchuan quickly lowered himself to help her, and extended his hand to support her. "No, it's all because of the princess's good training."
Princess Rongyang pinched his ear and said angrily, "Stop talking nonsense."
Chen Shuwei was untied by the imperial guards. He saw the two flirting from afar and tactfully did not go forward.
At this time, a young imperial guard handed a water bag to Shen Shuwei, scratching his head embarrassedly, "I have never drunk from this water bag. If Miss Shen doesn't mind, drink some water to calm your nerves."
Shen Shuwei looked at him with some curiosity.
The man was stared at by Shen Shuwei, and a blush quickly spread across his face. He quickly explained: "General Shen and I know each other. Since Miss Shen is General Shen's sister, I should take good care of her."
As soon as he finished speaking, a few voices of Noh Yu jokingly rang out from the side, "Wang Shan, you kid, don't be interested in General Shen's sister, are you?"
"General Shen is not easy to fool. If he knew that you were secretly courting his sister behind his back, he would break your legs." Someone laughed.
Wang Shan's face became redder and redder, and he stammered and could not say anything.
Chen Shu smiled and refused his water, "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm not thirsty now."
Chen Shuwei walked towards Princess Rongyang. The two of them had already adjusted their expressions. Ji Wenchuan went to comfort the refugees, while Princess Rongyang gave instructions on related matters with a cold face.
Seeing Shen Shuwei coming over, Princess Rongyang waved to her, and Shen Shuwei understood and stood beside her.
"Were you scared just now?" asked Princess Rongyang.
Shen Shuwei shook his head.
After she learned that the prince would take action against the refugees, she asked Yunling to go and inform the princess. Since she knew that Princess Rongyang would come forward to rescue her, she had nothing to be afraid of.
Princess Rongyang looked at her with admiration in her eyes and couldn't help but sigh, "You've done me a great favor today. His Majesty will definitely mention this matter at the morning court tomorrow. Is there any reward you would like?"
In his early years, the emperor used her to win over the General's Mansion, but her status in the capital was very awkward for a time after she got married. After all, the General's Mansion controlled a large army, so how could the emperor not be wary of it?
In order to reassure the emperor, she and the people in the General's Mansion had not left Luojing for decades. Their every move was monitored under the emperor's nose, and even the only child she and her husband had was not raised properly.
The title of Prince Kangping may seem like an honor, but what's the use of an empty title? All the young children of prominent families in Luojing, who are as young as the wind, are now serving as officials in the court or gaining experience in the army.
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