In an attempt to salvage his utterly ruined reputation, Prince Lu began putting on a show again, applying for commendations from the Ministry of Rites for his three nephews, citing reasons such as their filial piety towards their father, their decision to give their family property to their younger brother, and their devotion to their stepmother.
The Ministry of Rites stated that the filial piety of imperial princes should be treated the same as that of ordinary people, and that they should be rewarded with imperial edicts as usual, which would encourage the imperial family.
The fact that he caused the death of his own son, yet applied for commendation for his nephew, makes Prince Lu's actions all the more reprehensible.
Lu Xingjian readily agreed to the Ministry of Rites' suggestion, and at the same time arranged for Wang Tai, the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to guard the southern part of Jiangxi and Ganzhou, thus keeping an eye on Prince Ning.
...
"Lord Xiao, the Tatars are attacking!" A guard rushed in.
Xiao Bin's expression was solemn as he said to the dark-skinned Doctor Qin in front of him, "Pack your things, we're going to the capital!"
Doctor Qin suddenly realized, "The patient you want to treat is in the capital?"
"yes."
"Lord Xiao is truly a man of great loyalty and righteousness, having gone to such great lengths to rescue me from the Tibetans. That patient must be someone of utmost importance to you."
Xiao Bin fell silent.
Lu Xingjian was not someone of great importance to him.
But he didn't want to break his promise to Wanwan about what she had entrusted to him.
The doctors who sent the drugs to the capital encountered many problems during the detoxification process, and several test subjects died.
He went to great lengths to find the renowned Northwest physician, Doctor Qin, who had fallen into the hands of the Tibetans.
"Lord Xiao, something terrible has happened! Fifty thousand Tatar cavalry have marched from Xinkoukou in Wanquan Right Guard of Xuanfu, passing through Huai'an and heading straight for Weizhou! If we don't leave now, it will be too late!"
Fifty thousand iron cavalry?!
Xiao Bin's expression immediately changed.
Such a large-scale invasion?!
He told people to pack their things immediately and prepare to set off.
Not long after they mounted their horses and set off, news arrived: "Thirty thousand Tatar cavalry are marching towards us from Datong Pinglu City!"
Fifty thousand plus thirty thousand, a total of fifty thousand cavalry—have the Tatars mobilized their entire force?!
"Run!"
Hearing the slight tremors beneath his feet, Xiao Bin narrowed his eyes: "It's too late, take cover first!"
The fact that it could cause ground tremors indicates that the enemy cavalry numbered quite high.
The people working in the fields also dropped their hoes and hurriedly fled from the pots of porridge they were cooking.
Doctor Qin stroked his beard. "I have a plan, please consider it, sir."
Xiao Bin followed his gaze to the food left behind by the people, immediately understood his intention, and nodded slightly.
Doctor Qin took out the powder from his medicine box and sprinkled it into the pot of porridge.
Only then did the group go into the mountains to find a hiding place.
Not long after, a group of about a hundred Tatar cavalrymen arrived.
The aroma of the food quickly attracted them.
They simply stopped to rest and casually ladled out porridge to drink.
After finishing their porridge, everyone mounted their horses to leave, but suddenly they all suffered from severe stomach pains, tumbled off their horses, and rolled on the ground in agony.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xiao Bin and his men attacked, wielding their blades and slaughtering everyone without leaving a single survivor.
...
"Your Majesty, Xiao Bin requests an audience."
Lu Xingjian paused, his hand holding the memorial to the throne pausing, and his brows furrowed slightly.
"Didn't he go back to Weizhou to serve? Why did he come back to Beijing?"
"This servant does not know. Xiao Bin said he has important business to discuss. If he cannot see the Emperor, he will request an audience with Your Highness."
"Then let's announce Xiao Bin."
Lu Xingjian didn't want Xiao Bin to see Wanwan.
My relationship with Wanwan is going well right now, and I don't want anyone else to appear and disrupt this peace.
He was even more bothered when he learned that Xiao Bin was also a member of the royal family and, in fact, his cousin.
If we truly followed the order of primogeniture, the throne should have belonged to Xiao Bin's father and Xiao Bin, not the late emperor and Lu Xingjian.
With so many princes eyeing the throne, he didn't believe Xiao Bin hadn't even considered it.
It's just that the opportunity was taken away from them from a young age, making it too difficult.
Xiao Bin never expected that the place where the emperor summoned him would be the Tiger House.
"If you hadn't spoken up in time, I would have been devoured by the tiger. In fact, I should thank you."
Lu Xingjian looked at the tiger in the cage, then glanced at Xiao Bin with a calm expression.
"If Your Majesty dies, Wanwan and Yan'er may not survive either. I am only doing this to protect them, so there is no need for thanks."
Xiao Bin retorted calmly and confidently.
Lu Xingjian gritted his teeth and smiled softly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
How about we try one more time?
"Your subject will accompany you."
This time, neither of them used weapons or wore protective suits; instead, they were both only wearing thin mid-range clothing.
Every move was a head-on collision, every punch landing hard.
This time, Su Wanwan was not present to watch the competition.
Xiao Bin fought without any restraint.
Having practiced martial arts for a long time and fought many battles, his moves were even more fierce than Lu Xingjian's.
Lu Xingjian's martial arts skills were quite good, but in recent years he had been poisoned and busy with paperwork and reviewing memorials, so his health was not as good as before.
The people he usually sparred with were lenient with him, so he hadn't really noticed it.
Now, when she fights with Xiao Bin, the difference in skill level becomes immediately apparent.
Lu Xingjian was holding his breath and refused to give up even though he was at a disadvantage.
The two fought back and forth, and Lu Xingjian sustained many injuries.
The fight finally ended when he could no longer get up.
Xiao Bin looked down at him and said, "You're so useless, you're so incompetent."
Lu Xingjian struggled to his feet, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he roared, "You're talking nonsense!"
"I can do it!"
"Who dares to say I can't do it?!"
Xiao Bin glanced at him disdainfully, "Then wait until you've cured the poison before you compete with me."
Lu Xingjian was furious.
A man's pride.
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