Chapter 111: Court Affairs
Xiao Yuancheng's hands couldn't help but tremble, and the silver spoon was completely put into the bowl.
"This child... is it really like this?"
He couldn't help but turn his head to look at Bai De'an, and said with a look of anger and regret, "Didn't I ask you to send a reward a few days ago to tell him that I still care about him? Is it because he is so depressed?"
He couldn't drink the medicine at all. Xiao Yuancheng stood up and paced back and forth, frowning tightly.
"That kid... is he really so disheartened?" He murmured to himself, a rare hint of anxiety appearing between his brows.
Bai De'an stood respectfully with his head bowed, and said cautiously, "Your Majesty, perhaps the Sixth Young Master is just... relaxing? The spies just mentioned that he was gesturing towards the fields, seemingly planning how to plant the land near the palace."
"Relaxing?" Xiao Yuancheng sneered. "With that leg of his, he can barely walk, yet he insists on going to the river? And farming? He used to only enjoy studying literature and martial arts, never even tending a single flower. I think he's clearly thinking of committing suicide!"
The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. The image of Xiao Ji reading in front of his knees when he was a child appeared in his mind, and he also remembered his eyes that were as still as dead water after his leg was broken.
He just didn't want his son to covet his throne, but he didn't want his son to die.
"Forget it!" Xiao Yuancheng slammed the table, shaking the soup bowl slightly. "Let him do whatever he wants, farm... then give it to him!"
Bai De'an was stunned: "Your Majesty means..."
"Send a eunuch to convey my decree, granting all the land deeds within ten miles around the palace to Xiao Ji, placing them in his name and allowing him to dispose of them as he pleases."
Xiao Yuancheng said in a deep voice, "Send the oral order to the county magistrate of that land. Let Xiao Ji do whatever he wants. Don't stop him."
Bai De'an was slightly stunned: "This... Your Majesty, this is tantamount to rewarding a fiefdom... I'm afraid the court officials will have objections..."
"How can there be a village fiefdom?" Xiao Yuancheng sneered and said lightly, "It's just for Xue Nu to play with."
If anything went wrong, he would inevitably be branded as someone who forced his son to death. Now that Xue Nu's legs were broken, what good would it do to him if he was given a piece of land to mess with?
The next morning at court, the imperial edict was announced, and the court was in an uproar.
With rewards in front and fiefdoms in the back, His Majesty had indeed not forgotten the deposed Crown Prince. The court officials could not help but murmur in private, but they did not take it too seriously. After all, he was the legitimate son of the Empress, and his legs were crippled, so he had no hope of becoming the crown prince. When His Majesty's anger subsided, he might even be granted the title of king.
Only King Wen had a rather strange look on his face, and he couldn't help but think of what he said last night. However, the strangeness only lasted for a moment, and he became alert, as there were more important things to do at the court this morning.
The Minister of War stepped forward, a report in hand, and solemnly stepped out of the line. He announced loudly, "Your Majesty, urgent news from the northern border! Bandits are rampant on the border, burning, killing, and looting. Three villages have already been attacked, resulting in hundreds of casualties. According to border troops' investigations, these bandits are cunning and skilled in cavalry and shooting. I'm afraid these are not ordinary banditry, but rather Xiongnu disguised as invading forces, testing our strength!"
There was an uproar in the court.
Xiao Yuancheng's eyes darkened, and he tapped the dragon table with his knuckles: "What do you think, my Lords, should be done with this matter?"
The last time the Huns invaded the border was seven or eight years ago. Unexpectedly, they came again now. However, Xiao Yuancheng didn't take it too seriously. He had hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses in Dayu. How could he be afraid of the Huns?
King Wen's eyes moved slightly, and he glanced at his confidant behind him calmly.
A trusted aide immediately stepped forward and shouted, "Your Majesty, the northern border is the nation's defense. If we allow the bandits to wreak havoc, it will lead to disaster! I believe we should immediately dispatch troops to suppress them and deter the Xiongnu!"
Xiao Yuancheng nodded slightly. "My dear minister, what you said is absolutely right. Then, in your opinion, who should be sent to lead the army?"
The corners of King Wen's lips curled up slightly, imperceptibly. King Wu, standing beside him, saw the smile on his face and his heart sank instantly.
Sure enough, the next moment, the Minister of War stepped forward and said in a loud voice, "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Wu is a brave and skilled warrior. He once fought under the old Marquis Dingbei in the northern desert and is familiar with the terrain of the northern border. If His Royal Highness takes command, he will surely be able to crush the bandits in one fell swoop!"
As soon as these words were spoken, King Wu's expression suddenly changed, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.
What a good trick to lure the tiger away from the mountain!
In the past, he would have been overjoyed. Going to Mobei to quell the rebellion and gaining military merits would have certainly increased his influence in the army.
But now the crown prince has been deposed, and the struggle for the throne is surging. If he leaves Beijing at this time, his other brothers will surely take the opportunity to make arrangements in the court. He will not be able to return for at least half a year, and by the time he returns to Beijing, it will be too late!
He immediately stepped out and said in a deep voice, "Father, my old injury has recurred recently, and I'm afraid I can't handle this heavy responsibility. Besides, while the bandits in the north are rampant, I don't necessarily need to personally lead the charge. The border commanders are more than capable of handling them!"
King Wen smiled faintly and said with feigned concern, "Brother, why are you being so modest? You became famous in the battle of Mobei and have won numerous military exploits. If you were in charge, you would surely be able to intimidate the villains. As for your old injury..."
He paused and said meaningfully, "How come I heard that my elder brother took in a beautiful concubine the day before yesterday?"
King Wu's expression froze, and he sneered, "Second brother, you're concerned about my backyard. There's no need to bring up matters concerning my private residence. I just feel that if it's just a rebellion by bandits, and I'm asked to go out to fight, I'm afraid it would tarnish the reputation of Dayu and make people think we're afraid."
It's ridiculous that the two people who had joined forces to plot against Xiao Ji some time ago are now competing against each other so quickly.
King Wen chuckled softly upon hearing this, and leisurely adjusted his sleeves. "Brother, you are mistaken. The Xiongnu are cunning. If they really are disguising themselves to enter the country, how can we underestimate them? Brother, are you making excuses like this?..."
He deliberately dragged out his voice, causing all the civil and military officials in the court to prick up their ears.
"Are you scared?"
King Wu was furious. He rolled up the sleeves of his court robe, revealing the hideous scars on his arms. "I have eight scars on my body. Which one wasn't inflicted on me on the battlefield? But you, my second brother—"
He sneered repeatedly, "You spend all day in the capital reciting poetry and writing prose, but have you ever seen a real battlefield? Why don't you join the army and see what real war is like!"
King Wen's face darkened, and he was about to retort when the Minister of Revenue suddenly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I believe this matter requires further consideration. The military reports from the northern border have not yet been verified. Sending troops rashly would be costly and cumbersome..."
"Ridiculous!" the Minister of War interrupted sharply, "Do we have to wait until the Xiongnu reach the capital before sending troops?"
The court erupted in an uproar. King Wen's followers insisted that King Wu go to war, while King Wu's followers insisted that this was an exaggeration.
The two factions exchanged sharp words and spit everywhere. Some generals even rolled up their sleeves and were about to start fighting in the Golden Palace.
“That’s enough!”
Xiao Yuancheng slammed the dragon table, causing the teacups to clink. His face gloomily scanned the courtiers, his gaze finally settling on his two sons. "Ask the Ministry of War to investigate further into the northern border situation. Court is dismissed!"
King Wen opened his mouth unwillingly, but the emperor glared back at him. King Wu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but when he turned around, he met King Wen's eyes, both of them with a cold glint in their eyes.
After the ministers left, Xiao Yuancheng sat alone on the dragon throne, rubbing his brows wearily. Bai De'an approached cautiously: "Your Majesty, would you like to summon the imperial physician?"
"No need." The emperor sneered, "Of these two good sons of mine, one wants to lure the tiger away from the mountain, and the other is greedy for power... But Xue Nu..."
"He has mentioned to me many times that he wants to go to the border for training..."
Thinking of Xiao Ji, who was once full of expectations and wanted to join the army for training, and then comparing it with his two sons who had just been blaming each other, Xiao Yuancheng sighed heavily.
It's fate that makes people...
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