Chapter 76: The Fake Princess and His God of War Prince (33)
Besides Xiao Yu, there were quite a few others who felt that Xiao Ji was inextricably linked to everything that had transpired.
However, aside from Xiao Yu, the only person who dared to come directly to the door to question him was the Empress.
The Empress summoned Xiao Ji to Fengqi Palace for a private discussion. The two of them sat staring at each other for nearly two hours. Xiao Ji hadn’t even shifted his posture, let alone opened up to the Empress about his feelings.
“I gave birth to you. We are connected by blood and bone. No matter what, I would never harm you. You don’t need to be so guarded against me.”
The Empress had a headache. She had known early on that this youngest son of hers had a deep and unfathomable mind.
In his childhood, he had been somewhat close to her, but after a trip to the Northern Border, he had returned so estranged that they had reached this state.
Xiao Ji spoke bluntly, “This son has nothing to say.”
The Empress rubbed her forehead. “Don’t tell me you know absolutely nothing about the recent events in the palace.”
Xiao Ji thought for a moment. “This son thought that after returning from the Northern Border, Muho would first care about whether I was well.”
The Empress was stunned. “Are you blaming Bengong?”
Xiao Ji replied indifferently, “This son dares not.”
The Empress locked eyes with Xiao Ji for a long time before letting out a long sigh. “Fine. If you don’t wish to tell me, then don’t. There is only one thing: no matter what happens, do not oppose your Imperial Brother.”
Xiao Ji looked at the Empress. “Whether I succeed or the Crown Prince succeeds, you will be the undisputed Empress Dowager regardless.”
The Empress frowned. “Little Ninth, you should know that it is different. Your Imperial Brother is the eldest legitimate son of Great Yue. He is the undisputed Crown Prince!”
Xiao Ji didn’t understand why some people, despite clearly having ulterior motives, always refused to admit them, coating the truth in high-sounding excuses.
He said directly, “It is different. If I succeed to the throne, you will be stripped of real power because you know you cannot control me. But the Crown Prince is different. He is stupid. If he succeeds, you will have the chance to rule from behind the curtain and manipulate the court.”
The Empress was furious, slamming her hand on the table. “Impudent! Listen to the nonsense you are spouting!”
Seeing that the Empress didn’t like hearing the truth, Xiao Ji shut his mouth again and remained silent.
It wasn’t until the Empress looked at him with physical and mental exhaustion and waved her hand for him to get out that he stood up and left Fengqi Palace.
Seven days later, Xiang Yinnian, having waited too long for the Emperor’s explanation, finally led his grand army out of the seventeen cities of the Northern Border.
He threatened that if the Emperor dragged things out any longer, he would personally lead his men to the Imperial City to demand an answer.
To appease Xiang Yinnian, the Emperor pushed the Seventh Prince out as the scapegoat.
He announced to the world that the “expert” who had deceived him with the nation’s fate back then was a malicious actor working for the Seventh Prince’s maternal family for their own selfish gains.
Great Yue, the Emperor, and Xiao Ji were all innocent victims.
Since the Seventh Prince and his maternal family had a history of using such “enlightened expert” tricks—the incident with the Tenth Prince serving as a precedent—the story had high credibility.
Xiang Yinnian sent a letter stating that unless he saw the culprit executed, the hatred in his heart could not be quelled. He hoped the Emperor would allow him to enter the capital; he would bring only a hundred personal guards.
Although this request was pushing his luck and highly improper, the Emperor was in the wrong first. Moreover, he could weigh the difference between hundreds of thousands of troops marching on the Central Plains versus a mere hundred guards coming to the Imperial City to watch an execution.
After leaving Xiang Yinnian hanging for a few days, the Emperor, out of frustration and necessity, granted Xiang Yinnian’s request to enter the capital.
On the day Xiang Yinnian entered the capital, Xiao Ji did not show his face.
However, the hundreds of birds circling above the Imperial City let Xiang Yinnian know that Xiao Ji was welcoming him.
He had come this time to watch the execution, not to offer congratulations, so he did not enter the palace. He stayed at the Imperial City relay station. He would wait three days until the Seventh Prince was executed before entering the palace to meet the old Emperor.
If nothing unexpected happened, he would not need to return to the Northern Border after this trip.
Xiao Ji sat in the rear courtyard of Mingyue Hall for the entire day. Others couldn’t tell, but he knew very well that he was in a good mood today.
Before going to sleep that night, he opened the window and dismissed all the servants.
Sure enough, halfway through the Zi hour (11 PM – 1 AM), a noise came from outside the window.
Xiao Ji lay on the couch with his eyes closed and spoke indifferently, “Hiding there is useless; if someone comes to search, you won’t be able to escape. A visitor is a guest—why not come out and chat with me about what you’ve been doing? Perhaps if I’m in a good mood, I’ll give you a hand.”
The time Xiao Ji and Xiang Yinnian had been apart wasn’t terribly long, but to say it was short… this scene of their reunion had already appeared in Xiang Yinnian’s dreams thousands of times.
Xiang Yinnian stepped around the screen, walked to Xiao Ji’s bedside, stripped off his clothes, lifted the bed curtains, and burrowed into Xiao Ji’s blankets. He hugged Xiao Ji’s waist from behind, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
“I didn’t know… Ninth Highness was so charitable, possessing the heart of a Bodhisattva.”
Xiao Ji turned over. His pitch-black eyes scrutinized Xiang Yinnian carefully in the moonlight. After a long while, he touched Xiang Yinnian’s cheek and whispered:
“My Ah-Nian, why have you become so thin?”
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my ah-nian!!?? AHHHHH
THANK YOU FOR THE CHAPTER!