Xiao Ao shot a glance at “Huo Ci,” too annoyed to engage with him any further.
“Permission granted!
Now, go bother someone else!”
Nothing about this morning’s court session had gone smoothly.
Judging by the current situation, neither the eldest nor the third prince could be entrusted with any significant responsibility.
That left only the youngest, the fourth and fifth princes, as his remaining hope.
He waved his hand, signaling Su Sheng to announce the dismissal of the court.
Su Sheng paused for a moment, then leaned in and quietly reminded Xiao Ao, “Your Majesty, the Second Prince returned to the capital late last night and is still waiting to report to you.”
Only then did Xiao Ao remember he had a second son.
Xiao Zhenhuai was reliable enough in handling matters, but unfortunately, he was born of low status and was frail and weak.
How could such a person bear the weight of the entire Western Zhou Dynasty?
“Since the Second Prince has returned, let him briefly share with the court officials what happened during his trip to the border.”
It was then that Jiang Xingyan learned Xiao Zhenhuai was back in the capital.
He had been standing quietly in the corner of the front row all along, easily overlooked.
Xiao Zhenhuai lifted his gaze and didn’t miss the flicker of disappointment in Xiao Ao’s eyes.
He had long grown accustomed to this since childhood.
And yet, why did his heart still ache with lingering resentment, as if it were yearning for someone’s approval?
“Your Majesty, during this journey north, Your Son found no anomalies except in Qingzhou.
As for the battle at Qingzhou, it was thanks to General Huo’s fearless efforts and deep infiltration into enemy territory that we were able to reclaim the Kanhou Mountains without exhausting our forces.”
Before Xiao Ao could respond, Jiang Xingyan spoke up, cutting ahead of him.
“If not for the Second Prince’s meticulous planning and thorough preparations, relying solely on my own abilities, I would have likely perished on the battlefield, my body wrapped in horsehide.”
The civil and military officials listened, utterly bewildered.
This man truly had no fear of tempting fate.
Xiao Zhenhuai hadn’t expected Jiang Xingyan to praise him so openly in front of Xiao Ao. For a moment, he was stunned.
Xiao Ao looked at “Huo Ci” in disbelief.
The Huo family had always remained neutral. For one of its members to so blatantly praise a prince in court was unprecedented.
The civil officials’ thoughts began to waver as well.
Was the Huo family planning to support someone as fragile as a walking medicine jar?
Or perhaps they thought the Second Prince had no hope of ascending the throne, so they saw no need to be discreet?
No, it couldn’t be that simple.
What if “Huo Ci” intended to back the Second Prince’s succession, only to exploit his frail health later and seize power as a regent or something similar?
Xiao Ao had clearly considered this possibility as well, and his expression darkened considerably.
Xiao Zhenhuai’s heart sank.
He knew his father better than anyone.
The fear of losing military power was his obsession, and the grip on his imperial authority was his unyielding pride.
Now that “Huo Ci” was openly endorsing him, wouldn’t his father’s suspicions only deepen?
Jiang Xingyan hadn’t wanted to get entangled in the struggle for succession, but the situation left her no choice.
Outside the General’s residence, Xiao Chonghua’s spies lurked everywhere, waiting for her to make a mistake so they could use it against her.
Xiao Mingxu, on the other hand, was more direct.
He tried to use Li Yishu to control her.
Walking this tightrope over a precipice was precarious. It might be better to take an unexpected approach—choose someone she found agreeable to support.
At the very least, it would cut off their hopes.
Xiao Ao’s thoughts were in turmoil. He offered a few perfunctory words of praise to Xiao Zhenhuai.
“Good. Since the Second Prince has shown such capability, he can now serve as my right-hand man in the future.”
Su Sheng, ever perceptive, stepped forward and flicked his horsetail whisk, signaling the end of the morning court session.
“Tonight, envoys from the Great Xia arrive. Court is dismissed. Prepare for the welcoming banquet!”
——
Yun Chunfeng had requested the morning off and was waiting in the carriage with Xiao Ya in his arms.
He rarely attended court sessions anyway, only doing so more frequently for the sake of the eldest young lady.
Now that she had stabilized, his priority was to take good care of Xiao Ya.
“Ugh.”
Huo Ci, sitting nearby, suddenly let out a muffled groan.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Yun Chunfeng turned to see Huo Ci drenched in cold sweat, standing up as if enduring immense pain.
“Ah Yan… she’s been punished again.”
Huo Ci managed to force out the words through clenched teeth, nearly fainting from the pain.
Yun Chunfeng immediately understood and smirked, a look of schadenfreude crossing his face.
This was probably intentional on the eldest young lady’s part.
Before long, a bloodied Jiang Xingyan was carried out on a bench.
Even while lying there, she had the presence of mind to invite Xiao Zhenhuai to join her on the way to the Imperial Medical Bureau.
“Come on, Second Prince. Let’s go together and have Doctor Sun take a look at you as well.
Get your health in order, and you’ll be no worse than anyone else.”
Xiao Zhenhuai’s heart trembled.
A moment ago, he had been observing “Huo Ci’s” body, noticing that the transfer of injuries seemed different from last time.
Why did it seem like the wounds were on him, yet his soul didn’t feel the pain?
And now, he heard Jiang Xingyan’s encouraging words.
“They all look down on you, so you just have to be the most ambitious one.”
No one had ever spoken to him like that before.
From childhood, all he had ever heard was to be gentle, virtuous, respectful, and yielding—to accept his fate and be obedient.
No one had ever told him that he, too, could fight for something.
Su Mo, worried that his master might be overwhelmed by emotion, quickly poured out two pills for Xiao Zhenhuai to take.
Even with such timely care, he coughed for a long time before finally calming down.
The turmoil stirred in his heart by Jiang Xingyan’s words was abruptly sobered by the frailty of his own body.
What right did he have to fight?
A short-lived invalid.
Spending the rest of his life drowning in medicinal herbs would already be a blessing.
Did he really think he could become emperor, coughing endlessly in the great hall during morning court?
The thought was laughable.
“General Huo jokes. For someone like me, a sickly man, simply staying alive is enough.
Today, I am grateful for the General’s praise and defense in court.
But from now on, please refrain from saying such misleading things.”
Jiang Xingyan wanted to argue further, but by then, they had already reached their carriage.
Wang Qi exclaimed in shock, “Oh my god, oh my god!
General, your injuries from a few days ago haven’t even healed yet, and now you’ve been punished again?
Quick, get in the carriage! Straight to the Imperial Medical Bureau!”
Wang Qi and Su Mo worked together to lift Jiang Xingyan into the carriage.
Jiang Xingyan could have easily climbed in herself, but to avoid unnecessary complications, she played along with the act.
As the carriage curtain lifted, she caught sight of Huo Ci half-kneeling inside, startling her.
“Go sit back down!”
Huo Ci, tears streaming down his face, whimpered, “Ah Yan, it hurts—”
“Serves you right!
Try sneaking into my bed again tonight, and see what happens!”
Xiao Zhenhuai overheard and blushed deeply.
Startled, he looked up to bid farewell to “Huo Ci,” only to catch a glimpse of Jiang Xingyan’s physical form.
A single tear slid down, tracing the vermilion beauty mark at the corner of her eye.
Glistening, it resembled a delicate flower ornament painted in cinnabar—unique and alluring, making one long to brush it away.
Her phoenix eyes shimmered with radiant charm, and her fair, flawless face was perfectly proportioned.
Yet the soul within her was too rigid and brash, robbing “her” of much of her natural feminine grace.
If only her original lively and spirited soul were restored, how much more ethereal and enchanting she would be.
Yun Chunfeng turned his gaze and noticed Xiao Zhenhuai staring blankly at the eldest young lady’s body, utterly transfixed.
Yun Chunfeng: !
Are you asking for trouble?