Xiao Mingxu truly admired himself.
How could he have come up with such a brilliant idea under pressure?
Replacing ‘theft’ with ‘marriage’ resolved both dilemmas in one stroke.
Look, even Mr. Wu’s gaze was filled with astonishment.
Hmph, really.
Don’t underestimate this prince!
Jiang Xingyan pondered seriously for a moment, nodding repeatedly. “Excellent, excellent! Truly, only Your Highness, with your vast experience and thorough consideration, could come up with this. We are simply no match for you.”
Xiao Mingxu nearly laughed out loud, waving his hands in modest dismissal. “General Huo flatters me!”
Liu Suwu silently shifted a bit further away from Xiao Mingxu.
Well, although he didn’t know how Xiao Mingxu was going to meet his end, he just hoped no blood would splatter on his face when it happened.
Imperial Physician Sun was left speechless.
How could His Majesty, so brilliant and strategically gifted, have fathered such a fool?
Although none of them knew exactly what had transpired, they could all sense the playful mockery in “Huo Ci’s” tone.
It was like a skilled hunter, hidden in the shadows, quietly watching his prey walk right into the trap he had set.
The smile curling at his lips held three parts scorn, five parts indifference, and two parts nonchalance.
“Very well, very well! I never expected that gathering today would also help General Huo solve a major problem. What a delightful surprise! This prince will go tomorrow—”
” No rush, no rush,” Jiang Xingyan interrupted. “Shouldn’t I, Huo, return to my estate first to ask for my cousin’s opinion? What if she is unwilling to become a concubine? It would not do to force her. Coincidentally, it’s been two days since I returned to the capital from Qingzhou, and I haven’t been back to the estate yet. I don’t know how things are there. Your Highness, rest assured, I will not keep you waiting long. I’ll have my wife ask her as soon as I return, and give you a reply first thing tomorrow morning.”
Jiang Xingyan lowered his eyes and sighed, portraying the image of an elder brother genuinely concerned for his cousin with vivid authenticity.
Xiao Mingxu was stunned.
He suddenly remembered—he was the one who had ostentatiously sent Li Yishu back, even providing her with two maidservants.
At that time, he hadn’t known Li Yishu was Huo Ci’s cousin.
He hadn’t listened to a word she said in bed, his mind occupied solely with the ‘rites of Zhou Gong.’
Later, according to his servant’s report, the place she returned to was the Grand General’s estate.
The estate’s steward had a silver tongue, arguing him into a corner and stating they would wait for the Crown Prince to come in person to fetch her.
He hadn’t taken it seriously then. It wasn’t until Mr. Wu found out and berated him severely that the stakes were made clear to him.
How could he have forgotten this detail?!
Once Huo Ci returned to his estate, wouldn’t the whole charade be exposed?
Xiao Mingxu looked pitifully toward Mr. Wu.
Mr. Wu didn’t even glance at him. He abruptly stood up, turned, and walked away.
This is infuriating! This blockhead is not worth scheming with!
Jiang Xingyan feigned shock. “Is Your Highness’s servant really so rash?”
Xiao Mingxu forced a smile uglier than a grimace. “General Huo, actually… everything I just said was a joke.”
“What?!” Jiang Xingyan, as Huo Ci, slammed the table and stood up straight, his ‘wandering dragon’ eyebrows furrowing in anger, eyes wide with fury. “Your Highness, I, Huo, respect you as a prince. How dare you mock me? Although I am not of royal blood, a scholar can be killed but not humiliated! If you do not give me a proper explanation today, I will surely seek justice from His Majesty in court tomorrow!”
Xin Zhui also stood up angrily, moving as if to leave with Huo Ci.
Xiao Mingxu hurriedly blocked them desperately, scrambling to backtrack. “No, no, no! General Huo, please don’t be angry. It was me! It was I who fell in love with your cousin at first sight and wished to take her as a concubine! I was afraid General Huo would not agree, so I intended to sound you out first. Please forgive me, General!”
Once the words were spoken, everyone present was shocked.
Even Fan Qing’s snoring paused for a beat.
Xin Zhui sat back down with a look of astonishment.
He didn’t know what Ah Xing was really up to, but before coming, she had specifically told him: just eat and watch the show, and when she slams the table, pretend to be angry and prepare to leave with her.
He was just obediently following instructions.
Liu Suwu wiped cold sweat from his forehead: This is the true moment when the dagger is revealed from within the map scroll.
Imperial Physician Sun felt a deeper bitterness under his tongue: Huo Ci, you young rascal, you’ve brought me great trouble!
They were all old foxes of a thousand years; a sentence or two was enough to deduce what had happened.
If they were to believe that His Highness and General Huo’s cousin had no prior entanglement, they would be fools.
This special banquet for “Huo Ci” was clearly meant to prevent the matter from escalating.
Who would have thought that “Huo Ci” would be so ruthless!
He was toying with the Crown Prince like a dog.
Jiang Xingyan looked skeptical. “Is that truly the case?”
At this point, how could Xiao Mingxu dare say no? Swallowing his broken teeth, he nodded repeatedly. “Absolutely true! Otherwise, why would I have invited General Huo here today? It’s just that General Huo brought friends, making it awkward for me to speak openly. I had no choice but to be evasive.”
Liu Suwu and Imperial Physician Sun quickly offered congratulations. “Congratulations to Your Highness! Congratulations to General Huo!”
Jiang Xingyan remained silent for a long while, then finally sighed. “Very well! For my cousin, the daughter of a convicted official, to be able to marry Your Highness, even as a concubine, is surely her good fortune!”
Xiao Mingxu felt like crying.
Could we please stop bringing up that particular sore point?
“Good. Since Your Highness is so sincere, let the matter be settled thus. However, taking a concubine is hardly a glorious affair. Your Highness may select an auspicious day and send a small sedan chair to fetch her from the back gate of the General’s estate. It’s getting late. I, Huo, shall take my leave now.”
Jiang Xingyan clasped his fists in a salute, turned, and walked away.
He seemed afraid that if he left even a step slower, Xiao Mingxu might change his mind.
Xin Zhui followed closely behind.
Liu Suwu and Imperial Physician Sun didn’t dare stay any longer. Supporting Fan Qing between them, they hastily made their excuses and left as well.
Xiao Mingxu sat dazedly by the table. Suddenly, the ‘wisdom’ part of ‘great wisdom appearing as foolishness’ seemed to gain the upper hand. “Could it be… Huo Ci knew about this from the very beginning?”