Chapter 180: Repaying a Debt of Gratitude
The Crown Prince had always been a master of strategy, fond of misdirection. On the surface, he had "coincidentally" run into the Eighth Prince visiting a brothel and scared him limp. In reality, the moment he left the Baihua Pavilion, he spread the news that the Eighth Prince was frequenting brothels and wallowing in debauchery, not even returning to his own residence.
The Imperial Consort was actively arranging a marriage for the Eighth Prince. With this scandal dropping out of nowhere, the young ladies from high-ranking, prestigious families naturally recoiled. Never mind whether they'd be a widow in all but name if they married him; just based on the Eighth Prince's obsession with women and lack of political ambition, no ambitious high official dared to casually align their families through marriage!
This was truly killing two birds with one stone. Although the Imperial Consort actively sent out feelers, those prominent families had no reaction to her overtures. They played dumb if they could play dumb, and avoided if they could avoid.
Even several of the high-ranking consorts in the palace openly and secretly mocked the Imperial Consort a few times.
Because of this one small "brothel encounter," the Eighth Prince's popularity, both in court and outside, plummeted. The Crown Prince had finally gotten his revenge on the Eighth Prince for daring to make a move against his father-in-law.
As for the matter of the traitor Xiao He's descendant, it ended as a misunderstanding. Minister Sun returned to his residence unharmed. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince had the old case of Xiao He reopened for investigation, and before long, the verdict was overturned.
The court officials were stunned, but the iron-clad evidence was mountainous. The Crown Prince had found ample proof that the Xiao He case was not one of a general collaborating with the enemy. Rather, his military achievements were so numerous that wherever General Xiao He stood guard, the enemy could not breach a single city or pool. Thus, the foreign enemy colluded with a traitor within, deliberately setting up a scheme to sow discord, making the Emperor suspect Xiao He of treason and plotting rebellion.
Xiao He was framed by a villain, which is how he met the fate of having his entire clan executed.
The Crown Prince argued that a general who had shed his blood for the country should not suffer such humiliation and advised the Emperor to posthumously honor General Xiao He again.
A general who was already dead couldn't possibly climb out of his grave and stir up trouble. Thus, the Emperor followed the Crown Prince's advice, re-designating General Xiao He as a loyal minister and declaring a general amnesty.
With the case overturned, it meant that Xiao Zhan was the descendant of a loyal general.
The Emperor's original intention was to symbolically restore Xiao Zhan's status and have him inherit Xiao He's mantle to appease the military, especially since the border had been restless with frequent wars lately. But unexpectedly, that Xiao Zhan had no intention of joining the army. He refused again and again, stating that in this life, he only wished to be an ordinary guard and live out his days in peace.
Seeing that he truly didn't seem to want revenge and only wanted to be an ordinary person, the Emperor was reassured. He rewarded him with some gold and silver, said some useless platitudes, and hastily closed this old case.
Xiao Zhan-that is, Xiao Qi-the first thing he did after leaving the tense atmosphere of the court was to go to Sun Jiaojiao's and the Crown Prince's chambers to express his gratitude.
What identity he lived under was not important. What was important was that the Crown Prince had restored his father's reputation.
He, Xiao Zhan, was also the scion of a famed house. Vengeance could be set aside, but this debt of gratitude absolutely had to be repaid.
When Xiao Qi knelt at the Crown Prince's feet, baring his heart and declaring his intentions, stating that he would follow His Highness the Crown Prince for the rest of his life, and would not hesitate to climb a mountain of blades or plunge into a sea of fire, the Crown Prince unexpectedly made a move against him.
Xiao Qi instinctively tried to block, but he was no match for the Crown Prince's techniques. After just a few moves, he was defeated, his arm seized by the Crown Prince and pinned to the table.
"Your Highness..." Xiao Qi didn't understand. What did the Crown Prince mean by this?
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