In a courtyard of the Qi Prince's mansion, Xiao Chen looked at Yuwen Minke, who was dressed in a light red dress, and said calmly, "Did you design this today?"
Yuwen Minke lowered her head and said softly, "Princess Changning and Prince Yan don't take my Bei Yan seriously. Minke just wants to teach them a lesson."
Xiao Chen snorted coldly, "You're too clever for your own good. The manpower we gave you wasn't meant for this."
Meng He cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, the Princess hasn't revealed herself, so it shouldn't be a problem. Just be careful in the future." After all, they had shared intimate moments, so it wouldn't hurt to say a few words.
Xiao Chen looked at the two men and said in a deep voice, "Do you think Princess Changning and Prince Yan are fools? Clean up the mess. I don't want to lose manpower so quickly."
Yuwen Minke bit her lip, "Yes, Your Highness."
Xiao Chen looked at her coldly, "We'll be leaving Great Xia soon. You'd better take care of yourself."
Yuwen Minke respectfully responded.
In a pavilion in the Prince of Yan's residence, Bai Chuxiao propped her head up with her hand, "Xiao Chen left quite a few people for Yuwen Minke; his intentions are far from small."
The incense used by that woman from Bei Yan was indeed excellent, but how could she come to the Qi Prince's residence unprepared? Lan Xin had prepared various antidote pills in advance, and she carried them with her at all times.
Chu Tianze sneered, "Having a master of poison by Yuwen Minke's side isn't a good thing, unless she stays holed up in the Qi Prince's mansion." He had already sent people to keep an eye on her; they would kill her the moment she showed herself.
Bai Chuxiao nodded, then slowly said, "Xiao Chen will be leaving soon; it seems he hasn't had any contact with the Crown Prince at all."
The Second Princess is the Crown Prince's own sister; Xiao Chen and the Crown Prince should be much closer.
Chu Tianze said calmly, "Perhaps it's because everyone knows my elder brother, the Crown Prince, is so stupid."
Bai Chuxiao blinked. "Is that how you talk about your own brother?"
Chu Tianze glared at her irritably before slowly speaking, "The task of escorting the bride will most likely fall to the sixth brother this time."
Bai Chuxiao frowned slightly, "Doesn't this give Wei Junyan another reason to return to the North?"
"Father Emperor is most likely not," Chu Tianze shook his head slightly.
"You know the Prince of Xiang is going back to his fiefdom, right?" Bai Chuxiao said slowly, as if remembering something.
Chu Tianze's eyes flickered slightly. "A strategic retreat. My fifth brother's fiefdom is in Huzhou."
Because of the Right Chancellor, Prince Xiang had won over many civil officials. With the Right Chancellor maneuvering in the court, whether he was in the capital or not was not so important. What he lacked most was military power. Princess Xiang was a princess from the southern border, and Huzhou was a desirable place in the south, separated from Jiangnan only by a river.
Bai Chuxiao frowned, "Will the Prince of Xiang unite with the Southern Frontier...?"
Chu Tianze raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "If Xiaoxiao has already set her sights on it, what about Fifth Brother?"
She only had a slight idea about rebellion and didn't intend to put it into action. The Murong family was still very loyal. Bai Chuxiao coughed twice and looked at him suspiciously. She had an idea, but what about Chu Tianze?
"What are you pretending to be, all high and mighty?" Bai Chuxiao pinched him.
Chu Tianze gripped the hand that was pinching his waist tightly, his brows slightly raised, "Without a legitimate reason..."
Emperor Wenxuan was a powerful and shrewd ruler, and he currently had no ambitions. Even if the Prince of Xiang and the Prince of Qi fought amongst themselves, they wouldn't necessarily resort to rebellion. However, the future was uncertain…
Two days later, Xiao Chen requested to leave Great Xia and return to Northern Yan. As expected, the task of escorting the Second Princess to Northern Yan fell to Chu Tianling.
Before leaving, Chu Fengle made a special trip to the Bai family and talked with Bai Chuxiao for a long time in the Liuli Courtyard. What they talked about is unknown, but when Chu Fengle left the Bai family, his face was noticeably more relaxed.
On the day Bei Yan departed, red silk and flowers were hung from the Zhengyang Gate of the Imperial Palace all the way to the city gate. Princess Yongcheng's marriage to Bei Yan meant she would now represent the Great Xia Dynasty, and the proper pomp and circumstance was naturally indispensable.
After bidding farewell to Emperor Wenxuan and Empress Li in a bright red wedding gown characteristic of the Great Xia Dynasty, Princess Yongcheng boarded a large and luxurious bridal sedan chair. Behind her were Chu Fengle's maids, Great Xia envoys, and the escorting army. Prince Qi mounted his horse and stood side by side with Xiao Chen as the large procession slowly moved forward.
Outside Zhengyang Gate, civil and military officials announced in unison, "Respectfully bidding farewell to Princess Yongcheng!"
Emperor Wenxuan stood atop the city wall, watching the departing procession, and said in a deep voice to Empress Li beside him, "Let's go back."
Empress Li nodded, but there was still a hint of reluctance in her eyes.
In the imperial study, Emperor Wenxuan looked at his sons below with an inscrutable expression. "Fifth son, are you going back to Huzhou?"
The Prince of Xiang calmly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, adult princes should return to their fiefdoms. Your son should go back now."
Chu Tianyou looked at him with some suspicion. Wasn't this fifth brother someone you couldn't get rid of before? Why would he ask to return to his fiefdom now?
Emperor Wenxuan twirled the ring on his finger, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Yi'er, I'm pleased that you think this way. However, Seventh Prince's wedding is imminent, so perhaps you should leave later."
Chu Tianze, who was suddenly mentioned, remained expressionless and quietly observed the scene.
Prince Xiang looked up at Emperor Wenxuan and said with a faint smile, "Father, my seventh brother's wedding is still some time away, and it is not appropriate for me to stay in the capital for too long."
Emperor Wenxuan pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Very well. There are many troubles in the capital. Yi'er, you are calm and composed. Your father hopes that you will manage your fiefdom well, just like your elder brother and the others."
The Prince of Xiang quickly bowed and said, "Father, rest assured, I will definitely take my elder brother and the others as my role models."
Emperor Wenxuan nodded, hoping that his fifth son had truly seen the light and would henceforth be content to live a quiet and law-abiding life in his fiefdom.
The Prince of Xiang then walked over to Chu Tianze, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Seventh Brother, I won't be attending your wedding, but I've already prepared a gift."
Chu Tianze said calmly, "Thank you, Fifth Brother, have a safe journey!"
The Crown Prince quickly stepped forward, patted the Prince of Xiang on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Fifth Brother, Huzhou is a long way. Please be careful on your journey with your wife."
King Xiang nodded with a smile, and the three brothers suddenly appeared very close. Seeing this, Emperor Wenxuan nodded. He was old and genuinely hoped that his sons could get along harmoniously. The Crown Prince might lack ability, but he was not a bloodthirsty person. As long as the fifth son and the others were truly well-behaved, given the Crown Prince's character, he wouldn't be ruthless even if he ascended the throne. Aside from his status as the eldest son of the legitimate wife, this was also the reason he insisted on Chu Tianyou as the Crown Prince.
"Alright, since Yi'er is about to leave the capital, go see Consort Xian and spend some time with her."
The Prince of Xiang bowed and said, "Yes, Father. Your son will visit Mother Consort shortly."
The three brothers left the imperial study, exchanged a few glances, and then went their separate ways. Where was the brotherly affection they had displayed in the hall? Royal kinship? Brotherly harmony? Only Emperor Wenxuan, now old, would think this way. Otherwise, how could only Prince An and Princess Zhaoyang remain of the imperial family? Emperor Wenxuan had countless brothers and sisters in the past, all of whom have long since turned to dust…
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