Xiao Chonghua wore a white jade crown inlaid with treasures to bind his hair, and was dressed in a blue kesi silk python robe woven with cloud and dragon patterns. Over this, he wore a dark, mysterious jade-dew gauze cloak embroidered with the subtle pattern of five bats holding the character for longevity. His hands were tucked into the sleeves, presenting an image of immense nobility.
His handsome, lean face bore a faint smile, his eyes curved amiably, and his tone was friendly: “I hope we haven’t startled General Huo?”
Without waiting for Jiang Xingyan’s reply, he tilted his head slightly. His expression didn’t change, but the aura around him suddenly turned sharp: “Aren’t you going to apologize to General Huo?”
Thump!
The groveling attendant promptly knelt in the courtyard and began vigorously slapping his own face, left and right.
“This lowly one was overeager to achieve merit and failed to recognize Mount Tai! I thought spies from Beiluo were gathering here and have offended General Huo! This lowly one deserves death!”
Jiang Xingyan narrowed her eyes.
This Third Prince was far too deep and calculating.
To even suggest such a major operation as catching spies wouldn’t be done without prior investigation!
I mean, since when do spies hold meetings in broad daylight, in such an open and bright backyard?
He was clearly targeting them.
She didn’t even sheathe her sword, quietly watching as the attendant’s face swelled up from the slapping.
She absolutely did not hear a word to stop him.
Attendant: Wait, this isn’t how it was supposed to go…
“Oh? This shop belongs to my wife.”
“Just the other day at court, I presented the deed to His Majesty for verification. Perhaps His Majesty forgot to inform the Third Prince?”
So you have His Majesty’s decree? Well, so do I!
Go ahead and take it up with the Emperor if you dare, let’s see who’s in the right!
Xiao Chonghua inwardly clicked his tongue.
Huo Ci, worthy of becoming a general at fifteen, is truly not one to be easily fooled.
He smiled, replying, “This was Chonghua’s oversight. I should be punished.”
With one look from him, a young eunuch attending him hurried forward, respectfully holding out a jade box to Jiang Xingyan.
“Let matters of the jianghu be settled within the jianghu. Please accept this apology, General Huo, and be magnanimous.”
— Let’s just go through the motions, no need to make this messy.
The young eunuch opened the jade box. Sixteen night pearls, each the size of a chicken egg, were neatly arranged inside, emitting a soft, glowing light.
Shhhk!
Jiang Xingyan’s sword instantly slid back into its scabbard. She smiled and signaled Qiu Yan to take the jade box.
“Easily said, easily done. His Highness is merely acting on His Majesty’s orders to investigate. As officials, we should naturally cooperate.”
“However, next time, if you could perhaps give us a little heads-up, it might avoid any… unnecessary misunderstandings, wouldn’t it?”
— The gift is satisfactory. We’ll let it slide this time, but don’t let it happen again.
Xiao Chonghua’s faint smile stiffened for an instant.
Wasn’t it said that Huo Ci views money as dirt and never accepts gifts in official circles?
Why is he accepting it so readily today, without even a hint of polite refusal?!
He felt a pang of regret.
Those were high-quality ice-kind night pearls he had spent a fortune on, searching for a long time in Daxia to find them.
Sixteen perfectly round, uniformly sized pearls.
He had thought Huo Ci would politely decline, allowing him to reluctantly take the pearls back after some insistence.
But he actually accepted them?
How could this be?
Now, wanting them back was impossible.
But Xiao Chonghua refused to believe this was a dead end.
If he didn’t manage to get some advantage out of Huo Ci today, how could he return empty-handed?
He had been watching Huo Ci and Yun Chunfeng for days.
They were like fire and water at court, so why did Yun Chunfeng follow Huo Ci back to his residence in private?
Since ancient times, civil and military officials couldn’t associate too closely, lest they collude and threaten imperial power.
If Father Emperor found out these two were putting on an act in front of him, it would be the grave crime of deceiving the sovereign.
Xiao Chonghua turned slightly and caught sight of Yun Chunfeng sitting in his plain wheelchair, watching the scene with amusement.
Feigning surprise, he said, “Hmm? State Preceptor Chunfeng?”
“What are you two—”
Yun Chunfeng was well aware of Xiao Chonghua’s intention.
The corner of his mouth lifted in a slight smile as he responded, “His Majesty has ordered this unworthy one to discuss military affairs with General Huo.”
“Although today is a rest day, General Huo is still working hard on the matter of military funds.”
“Gathering the managers of all the shops here is also to have each shop bear a corresponding portion based on their revenue.”
“Pray tell, Your Highness, do you believe this unworthy one, as a military advisor, is unqualified to inquire about military funds?”
“Or are you dissatisfied with His Majesty’s divine will?”
“Whatever the reason, at tomorrow’s morning court, this unworthy one will faithfully report everything to His Majesty and specially request that His Agedness relieve me of my duties as an army consultant.”
“Lest Your Highness remain uneasy.”
Yun Chunfeng looked leisurely at Xiao Chonghua, who had visibly tensed up.
Xiao Chonghua deeply regretted not having turned and left immediately. Why had he provoked this prickly character?
This was the man who could stir up the entire court, finding new ways to impeach Huo Ci every day!
While inwardly chagrined, Xiao Chonghua’s face remained calm and unruffled.
“Look here, I merely asked a casual question, and it has drawn so many words from the State Preceptor.”
Yun Chunfeng adjusted the misty gauze covering his eyes and said seriously, “But this unworthy one did not answer casually.”
Xiao Chonghua’s hands, tucked in his sleeves, clenched tightly.
With a look from him, the young eunuch stepped forward holding a golden nanmu wood box and knelt before Yun Chunfeng.
“Lord State Preceptor, this is a jade belt sought by His Highness the Third Prince from the royal family of Daxia. It is warm in winter and cool in summer, a rare treasure in this world.”
Yun Chunfeng pretended not to understand: “Oh? What is the meaning of this?”
Xiao Chonghua, grinding his back teeth, said, “A gift for the State Preceptor. Let’s be friends.”
— That’s enough now.
Yun Chunfeng, knowing the wisdom of not pushing a dog to the brink, knew when to stop: “Then I must trouble General Huo to keep it for me.”
“After all, being blind, I have little use for such fine things.”
Xiao Chonghua nearly lost his composure from anger.
Fine, fine! So you’re banding together now?
A close attendant quickly stepped forward: “Since there is no issue here, and His Highness still needs to search for Beiluo spies far and wide, we take our leave, General Huo, State Preceptor Yun.”
“We respectfully see off His Highness the Third Prince!”
The attendant still slapping his own face: Wait! Is no one really concerned about whether I live or die?