CH 25

Ch 25 “His ambition is bigger than anyone else, how can I not guard against him.”

Xie Chaoling did not stay lying down for too long. When it was dinner time and Xie Chaoyuan had once again returned, he called the servants to serve the meal and personally fed him.

“I’ll do it myself…”

Xie Chaoyuan sat on the side of the bed, tucked the quilt on Xie Chaoling’s lap, and a smile leaked from his lips: “Me feeding you is not good?”

Stared at by Xie Chaoyuan’s smiling eyes, he was deadlocked. After a while, Xie Chaoling opened his mouth.

After that, no one made a sound. One feeding, the other accepting, he quickly finished eating the bowl of porridge. Xie Chaoyuan picked up the handkerchief to help Xie Chaoling wipe the corners of his mouth: “Linlang was frightened today, the imperial doctor said to rest more, go to bed earlier.”

Xie Chaoling didn’t feel sleepy, and he didn’t speak to Xie Chaoyuan for more than half a word, he just closed his eyes and stopped talking. Xie Chaoyuan didn’t bother him, he took his hand and stroked it gently.

Xie Chaoling closed his eyes and didn’t move. He couldn’t understand what this kid Xie Chaoyuan was thinking. Even if they weren’t real brothers, it was true in name, yet he could still think of him that way. Calling this kid a little beast was already being polite.

However, he himself was confused before, coveting momentary pleasure, and did not refuse to the end.

It was really self-inflicted.

When the lights in the room were all dark, Xie Chaoyuan and Xie Chaoling laid down on the bed side by side. Xie Chaoling turned his back and was embraced by Xie Chaoyuan.

“Your Highness said it earlier, I was frightened today.” Xie Chaoling turned to look at him in the dark, with a smile that was not a smile, “Your Highness is not such a beast that he must do it today, right?”

Xie Chaoyuan was silent. Xie Chaoling heard his breathing. After that, the man came closer and kissed him on the forehead.

“Go to sleep.”

Imprisoned in Xie Chaoyuan’s arms, Xie Chaoling gave up struggling.

Anyway, in the past few months, he had already gotten used to it.

So he closed his eyes and fell into a dream.

Early the next morning, Xie Chaoyuan went to court. Xie Chaoling had just sat down after breakfast when a white pigeon flew down to the window sill.

The servants in the house had already been waved away by Xie Chaoling. He quickly wrote a reply letter to let Xie Fengzhen not to worry about him. He didn’t want to go back for the time being. If there was anything later, he would find a way to contact King Ding’s residence.

When releasing the white pidgeon, Xie Chaoling thought to himself that it would be too conspicuous to pass the letter by flying birds, after all, it would not be a long-term solution. He had to think of other ways.

At the court meeting, Emperor Qianming first asked someone to read the imperial decree. The commander of the Dongshan Ying had his home ransacked and his whole family exiled. Ministry of War, Ministry of Works, Jingwei army and all else relevant parties dropped two ranks and forfeited one year’s worth of salary.

This punishment was not considered heavy at all, it can even be said to be light. For Dongshan Ying, it was because the commander hung himself and took all the blame. It’s not like he could pull out his corpse to flog. As for the others, Emperor Qianming made it clear he didn’t want to pursue it any further.

So later, when the emperor mentioned that he wanted to transfer people from outside the capital to Dongshan Ying, the group of people under the steps did not object any more. Dongshan Ying was not investigated to the end, it was the emperor giving them face; this time no matter what they couldn’t stop the emperor from transferring people in from the outside. Rather than letting Emperor Qianming put his own people in, it would be better to transfer a commander with no foundation from outside the capital. Anyways, a commander with no one under him would be an impractical commander.

Emperor Qianming watched the courtiers in the palace with cold eyes, and was quite satisfied with their tactfulness. He changed the subject and talked about another matter: “This incident reminded me that there are many people in the outer city, crooks mixed with the honest folk., With one careless moment, there could be a big disturbance. The capital guards have limited manpower, and most of them are stationed in the inner city, so this time the fire in the outer city was not extinguished in time and caused a catastrophe. The inner city is governed separately, so the original people will stay in the inner city as usual, Chang Ke will be in charge. I will appoint another person to take over the defense of the outer city, and from now on, the inner and outer city guards will perform their duties, and there must be no slack.” 

His voice fell and there was an uproar.

The emperor took care of the Jingwei Army and the Ministry of War for this reason.

Chang Ke gritted his teeth, can he object? He couldn’t, he was demoted by two ranks, and he didn’t have the confidence to object at this time. However, some officials came out and wanted to raise objections, yet Emperor Qianming didn’t give them a chance: “Afterwards, the cabinet will discuss a definite charter and present it to me, we will discuss this matter later.”

After announcing this, he retired. Xie Chaoyuan glanced at the cold face of Xie Chaoqi, turned around and left.

After making such a big fuss, the matter passed easily, and in the end he even made a wedding dress for someone else. His Highness, King Huai, was probably so overwhelmed that he felt like vomiting blood.

That Xu Shan, who worked with Xie Chaohui for several years in the northwest border, even if he came to the capital without root and foundation and might be excluded if he entered the Dongshan Ying, for Xie Chaohui, at least it was a help, but Xie Chaoqi, he didn’t get any benefits.

Xie Chaoqi got out of the palace and got into the carriage, Song Shi was already waiting for him in the carriage, and handed over the hand warmer.

“Your Highness, don’t worry, things like this may not be bad. If His Majesty wants to support King Xing, let him do it. After that, you can avoid the vanguard and let King Xing deal with King Xun.” Song Shi comforted him in a low voice.

Xie Chaoqi looked at him. Jiang Shi was honest and sincere, but this kid was a ruthless character, he was the one who made the poor man set fire to himself and blow up the firearms storehouse.

Song Shi smiled calmly.

Xie Chaoqi was called into the palace by Emperor Qianming yesterday, and knelt in the emperor’s study for more than an hour. Emperor Qianming asked him to kneel without saying a word to him, but he didn’t make a sound, just knelt as instructed. He knew that his father was suspicious of him and wanted to test him. In the past, he might have given up because of his timidity, but now, he had nothing to be afraid of.

In the end, Emperor Qianming had nothing he could do with him, he just reminded him to remember his identity and allowed him to go back.

Xie Chaoqi closed his eyes and didn’t say any more.

Now it can only be like this, but fortunately, he was not without gain, at least their father had already started ordering people to check the account of the Ministry of Revenue.

In Xile Tang, Xie Chaoling was looking at the things he bought yesterday. Xie Chaoyuan had already eaten the candy figurines and snacks and did not hold back. The rest were small gadgets, and the comb was among them.

Xie Chaoling took out the comb, held it in his hand and played with it.

When Xie Chaoyuan entered the door, Xie Chaoling raised his head when he heard footsteps, and their eyes met. Xie Chaoyuan asked him: “There are combs everywhere in the palace, why did Linlang buy this?”

Xie Chaoling remembered what the vendor said at the time about giving the comb to his sweetheart, he coughed lightly and placed the comb aside: “It’s nothing, I just bought it when I saw it looked good.” 

Xie Chaoyuan paused, changed the subject, and took the initiative to talk about the decreee of Emperor Qianming at today’s court meeting. After Xie Chaoling listened quietly, he had already guessed the establishment of another city guard army in the outer city was Xie Fengzhen’s idea to his father.

Xie Chaoling mentioned this to Xie Fengzhen before, but what a crown prince was most afraid of was being involved with military power. Thus, he couldn’t even show any such thoughts and couldn’’t say it in front of Emperor Qianming, he could only let Xie Fengzhen tell it to his father at the right time. Now reminding the emperor of this right now was the perfect timing.

In this way, he can be regarded as helping his father to share his worries.

Xie Chaoling was thinking about what to say when a servant came in to report that King Ding had come.

Xie Chaoyuan looked at Xie Chaoling calmly, Xie Chaoling looked calm, and played with his comb again. Xie Chaoyuan didn’t say anything, ordered someone to bring some snacks for Xie Chaoling, and went to the front.

When the sound of footsteps went away, Xie Chaoling put down the comb and sighed inwardly. As expected, Royal Uncle was still worried about him.

Xie Fengzhen was drinking tea in the front hall, when he saw Xie Chaoyuan approaching. He put down the cup of tea and said with a smile, “I happened to pass by Sixth Nephew’s house when I was going out today, and came in to ask for a glass of water since I was thirsty. Sixth Nephew, don’t be annoyed.

“Royal Uncle is here, this nephew can’t even be happy sooner.”

Xie Chaoyuan sat down to greet him and Xie Fengzhen didn’t mention anything else, he just chatted about some homely gossip, but sat still, obviously not planning to leave.

Xie Chaoyuan patiently chatted with him. About half an hour later, someone from the Empress Dowager’s Palace called Xie Chaoyuan to enter the palace.

Xie Chaoyuan had no choice but to get up, Xie Fengzhen still had no intention of leaving. His King Ding’s Mansion was far away from here and it was almost noon, so Xie Chaoyuan had offered for him to stay in his mansion for lunch. Xie Chaoyuan said: “Royal Uncle please eat first. I’ll go and come back in the afternoon to play chess with Royal Uncle and have tea.”

Xie Fengzhen was not polite, and said with a smile: “Then I will wait to chat with my sixth nephew.”

Xie Fengzhen finished his lunch and drank another half cup of tea. Xie Chaoyuan still did not return, so he went to rest in the small garden building arranged by Xie Chaoyuan before he left.

Xie Chaoling put down the book in his hand, and the maidservant Lu Fu came forward to refill his tea. Xie Chaoling looked at her, and suddenly said: “Do me a favor.

First thing in the morning, he had personally went to see Wang Jin who couldn’t get up after receiving 1– sticks. At that time, Wang Jin kowtowed and told him that this Lu Fu was someone who could be used.

Lu Fu lowered her head and said nothing.

A quarter of an hour later, the maidservant Lu Fu went to pick flowers for Xie Chaoling in the back garden with a basket, and returned half an hour later.

After entering the door, she took off her cloak and hat, looked at Xie Chaoling, and softly said in a male voice: “Crown Prince.”

Xie Chaoling looked at Xie Fengzhen in front of him. Lu Fu was tall, but his uncle was not tall and burly among men, and his appearance was also outstanding, delicate and handsome. With rouge and powder, hair tied in a bun, changed clothes, covered with a hat, he couldn’t tell if he didn’t look carefully.

Xie Chaoling smiled: “At first I just wanted that maidservant to help deliver a message, but I didn’t expect Royal Uncle to come here in person dressed like this. It’s really surprising.”

Xie Fengzhen said helplessly: “I knew that the Empress Dowager will pass on a message to call Chaoyuan to the palace, thus I came here specially to King Ke’s mansion, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to come in here.”

“Royal Uncle, are your legs okay?” Xie Chaoling’s eyes fell on his standing legs.

“It has long gotten better, I just got used to it, and I’m too lazy to change it.” Xie Fengzhen didn’t explain much, and asked about his affairs, “What’s going on with you here?”

Xie Chaoling shook his head: “It’s hard to explain in one word.”

“You and Chaoyuan…”

“Don’t ask about this uncle, there is something that I need to trouble uncle to look into.” Xie Chaoling said.

“What’s the matter?”

“Sixth brother’s background, he may not be the son of the emperor. Royal Uncle, you have to find out if he has anything to do with the Xirong Kingdom.”

Xie Fengzhen frowned when he heard this: “What do you know?”

“It’s hard to say now. Whether it is true or not, I need Royal Uncle to confirm first.” Although Xie Chaoling already believed it in his heart, Xie Chaoyuan was most likely not his father’s son.

Xie Fengzhen agreed: “Okay, I will investigate.”

He asked Xie Chaoling again: “Also, why do you say you don’t want to go back for the time being?”

Xie Chaoling said calmly: “With the current situation in the court, it would be better if I don’t go back. As long as Royal Father saves me a place in the East Palace for a day, I won’t have to go back for a while, so let them fight and try to snatch it. In the end, they will lose a lot of resources and be damaged, saving me some time.”

Xie Fengzhen disagreed with this statement. Xie Chaoling was the East Palace Crown Prince, how could he stay in King Ke’s mansion all the time for no apparent reason.

“Have you really thought through it?”

“I have.”

“…Did the people you mentioned just now include Chaoyuan?”

Xie Chaoling nodded, “Of course. Royal Uncle, Sixth Brother, I’ve always looked down upon him before. However, his ambition is bigger than anyone else, how can I not guard against him?”