The prince is more stable

Chapter 787 Former Brothers
After a long while, Wei Jie returned to Yin'an Palace, smiled at Zhao Xiaoqian, and his smile had a hint of flattery.

Zhao Xiaoqian looked on coldly, finding it strange that when he first met Wei Jie, he had the exact same smile and the same fawning attitude.

At that time, Zhao Xiaoqian still had some goodwill towards him. After all, as a subordinate, although his smile was a bit unpleasant, his attitude was flawless.

Even now, with that same ingratiating smile, Zhao Xiaoqian no longer has any goodwill towards him.

After more than half a year apart, Bianjing had changed beyond recognition, and so had Wei Jie.

Sitting with his legs crossed in the Yin'an Hall, Zhao Xiaoqian sipped his tea without even lifting his eyelids.

Wei Jie stood in the hall, feeling somewhat awkward, but still managed a forced smile.

After a long silence, Zhao Xiaoqian slowly said, "Wei Jie, you can go ahead and do your work. I have nothing more to do here."

The direct dismissal made Wei Jie's expression stiffen for a moment. He smiled wryly and said, "Your Highness, you used to call me 'Old Wei'..."

Zhao Xiaoqian said in surprise, "Really? I didn't pay much attention. The title is just a code name, it doesn't matter how you call me."

Wei Jie sighed, "It's different."

A title is not only a code, but also represents the closeness or distance between people.

The first word exchanged between people often reveals a great deal of information about their relationship.

Zhao Xiaoqian now clearly no longer considers Wei Jie one of his own.

"Your Highness, ...why did it turn out like this?" Wei Jie asked with a bitter expression.

Zhao Xiaoqian raised an eyebrow: "Has it changed? Isn't it still the same as before?"

Wei Jie lowered his head, gritted his teeth, and said, "This humble official knows that Your Highness is dissatisfied with me, but this humble official still wants Your Highness to give me a chance to explain."

Zhao Xiaoqian said indifferently, "You can speak, no one is stopping you."

Wei Jie smiled wryly and said, "I don't have much to explain, just one sentence... Your Highness, the Imperial City Guard is ultimately directly under the Emperor's command, and so am I."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "So, for the sake of the Emperor, you are willing to disregard your own family ties, let alone the years of camaraderie we've shared?"

Wei Jie opened his mouth, unsure how to answer.

Zhao Xiaoqian slowly said, "Even now, there are probably still quite a few spies from the Imperial City Guard inside and outside my Chu Prince's Mansion, right? You arranged all of these spies, didn't you?"

"Not only the Chu Prince's mansion, but also my residence in Zhen Ding City, and the area around the Yan Yun camp, you must have planted spies everywhere, right? Have you also bribed and won over the people around me?"

Wei Jie's face grew paler and paler, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

"The Emperor has complete control over my every move, all thanks to you. Even when I sent my mother, wife, and children from Mizhou Port to Japan, the Emperor knew all about it; he just didn't stop me..."

Zhao Xiaoqian's gaze sharpened as he stared at Wei Jie's pale face. He said, "My mother, wife, and children were able to escape because the Emperor was benevolent and couldn't bear to kill me. But Wei Jie, what role did you play in all of this?"

"If the Emperor truly has no intention of letting my mother, wife, and children escape, or even uses their lives to blackmail me, or simply kills them all, Wei Jie, then who will be my enemy then, the Emperor or you?"

Wei Jie turned pale and knelt down in front of Zhao Xiaoqian with a thud.

Zhao Xiaoqian calmed himself down and said, "The Imperial City Guard is directly under the Emperor's command. We are all his lackeys, including myself. Wei Jie, I understand and sympathize with your position, but I cannot accept it emotionally that you are siding with the Emperor to target me."

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed, "With so many spies planted, my whole family was under your watchful eye. Even if you had just given me a subtle and discreet look back then, out of consideration for our years of working together, I would still consider you a brother."

“Wei Jie, you were the one who turned your back on your family first, so don’t blame me for treating you like a stranger today… You were just carrying out the emperor’s orders, but the lives of my mother, wife and children were in someone else’s hands because of you, almost causing an irreparable disaster. I cannot forgive this.”

Looking at Wei Jie, whose body was trembling, Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "You have your duties, and you are loyal to the emperor to the point of sacrificing your life. I can understand that. However, you targeted my family. The fact that I didn't kill you is the last bit of mercy I'm giving you."

Wearily closing his eyes, Zhao Xiaoqian said, "In a few days, Zhen Qing will return to Bianjing to replace you. Then you should go to Shangjing in Liao Kingdom to lie low. After enjoying these years of leisure in Bianjing, it's time for Zhen Qing to take over."

Wei Jie lowered his head, tears streaming down his face, and said in a trembling voice, "Yes, Your Highness, I am so sorry..."

Zhao Xiaoqian stared at his face and said, "From now on, your promotion or demotion will depend entirely on yourself. If you can make great contributions in the capital, I will not deliberately suppress you. Rewards and punishments will be done according to the rules."

With a wave of his hand, Zhao Xiaoqian said indifferently, "I'm tired, you can go now."

After saying this, Zhao Xiaoqian got up and left Yin'an Hall.

Only Wei Jie remained in the hall, kneeling motionless, tears streaming down his face, his expression filled with deep remorse.

Old friends can change so easily.

Life is more than just about the difficulty of reconciling loyalty to one's parents.

…………

News of the fire at the Chu Prince's residence late at night quickly spread throughout the court and the public. After the initial surprise in the Bianjing court and among the common people, no one discussed it much; most simply considered it an accident and there was nothing more to say.

The Empress Dowager and Zhang Dun were more sensitive, after all, it was during the mourning period for the late Emperor, and it was rather coincidental that such an accident happened at the Prince of Chu's residence.

So the Empress Dowager and Zhang Dun both sent people to inquire, but Zhao Xiaoqian didn't want to explain or complain, so he just dismissed them.

However, we still need to investigate. Others are setting fires right on our heads, are we just going to pretend we didn't see it?
Let alone Zhao Xiaoqian's current extraordinary status, even when he was still the Crown Prince of Chu, Zhao Xiaoqian would not have been able to swallow this insult.

The Imperial City Guard was indeed very efficient. A day later, a subordinate from the Imperial City Guard came to report that the matter had been solved.

The investigation process was simple. Thanks to Wei Jie, the Chu Prince's Mansion was still under the surveillance of the Imperial City Guard's spies. When the mansion was set on fire that night, the spies lurking in the shadows had already discovered it.

The reason why Zhao Xiaoqian was not informed at the time was because these spies depended on Wei Jie's attitude, since they were the ones arranged by Wei Jie.

Yesterday, Zhao Xiaoqian simply laid his cards on the table with Wei Jie. Wei Jie naturally knew that after Zhao Xiaoqian returned to the capital, he would no longer be the head of the Imperial City Guard in Bianjing, but the returned king, Zhao Xiaoqian.

Given the severity and egregious nature of the matter, especially considering that Zhao Xiaoqian was the victim directly involved, how could Wei Jie dare to conceal it?

The Imperial City Guard immediately identified the arsonist and sent him to the Ice Well. Under Liu Dan's twisted smile and methods, the arsonist didn't even last half an hour before confessing readily.

The case proceeded exceptionally smoothly from beginning to end, without any twists or turns.

Ultimately, the vast majority of cases in the world are crimes committed in the heat of passion, without so many mysterious and complicated twists and turns. Otherwise, wouldn't government officials be working themselves to death?

The murderer readily confessed that he was acting on the orders of Prince Jian to set fire to the Chu Prince's residence in the middle of the night, and that the arsonist was actually a member of the Imperial Guard of Prince Jian's residence.

The method of arson was simple: people stood outside the palace walls and used a small, catapult-like device to launch leather bags filled with kerosene onto the roof of the palace's backyard. Finally, a rocket was launched, and the fire started.

As for why Prince Jian set the fire, why he did such a mindless thing, the murderer really didn't know. Prince Jian couldn't possibly explain the cause and effect to him; he was giving him face.

After signing his confession, Liu Dan eagerly delivered it to the Chu King's residence.

After confirming repeatedly that it was Prince Jian who had instructed him, Zhao Xiaoqian finally felt relieved.

When the incident occurred, Zhao Xiaoqian's first suspect was Prince Jian, but the fool really didn't give him any surprises and didn't disappoint him at all.

Patting Liu Dan on the shoulder, Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

Liu Dan puffed out his chest, his face filled with righteous indignation: "When I heard that someone actually dared to set fire to the Chu Prince's residence, I was furious..."

"When interrogating the murderer, I used every trick in the book to avenge Your Highness. Killing the murderer is nothing; it's too easy on him. I wanted to make him wish he were dead, otherwise how could I appease Your Highness's anger?"

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed. Although this guy was a pervert, he was a good person, at least in Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes.

“Bringing a confession in person, Chief Liu must have ulterior motives, right?” Zhao Xiaoqian squinted at him and smiled, “There are some important matters in the court recently, as you should know, so I can’t take care of you. Once this period is over and the court is less chaotic, I will help you with your promotion.”

Liu Dan's fair face flushed red, and he became unusually shy: "What are you saying, Your Highness? This servant did not come here for any reason other than to ask for a promotion. I am truly here to report the whole story of the arson case to Your Highness in person."

"Haha, okay, I'll pretend to believe you."

After seeing Liu Dan off, Zhao Xiaoqian's smile gradually turned cold and stern, his eyes filled with icy intent.

"Zhao Si, it's your business to give up and do whatever you want, but if you treat me like a broken pot, don't blame me for taking action," Zhao Xiaoqian muttered.

After a long silence, Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly shouted, "Chen Shou!"

Chen Shou rushed over, clasped his hands and bowed: "Your subordinate is here."

"Summon the Imperial Guards of the Prince's Palace, we've got a job."

Chen Shou was taken aback, then exclaimed with delight, "Whom does Your Highness wish to deal with? This humble general will take care of him for you!"

"No, I'll handle this personally!" Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes were filled with murderous intent.

"It's time to let the officials and people of Bianjing see for themselves that I, the border commander who killed more than 100,000 Liao soldiers, am humble and obedient in Bianjing because I am low-key and of high quality. But if others really think I'm a pushover, ha!"

In front of the Chu King's mansion, more than four hundred imperial guards stood in neat rows. Chen Shou, who was in armor, led the troops, and all the soldiers bowed and clasped their fists at Zhao Xiaoqian, who was standing outside the threshold.

Not far from the Prince's Mansion, countless passersby and commoners watched the huge commotion outside the Chu Prince's Mansion with astonishment and suspicion. The people couldn't help but get excited, and the Chinese people's nature of loving to watch a spectacle was on full display at this moment.

The people stood on tiptoe to watch and whispered among themselves. They didn't know what was happening, but judging from the scene in front of the Chu King's mansion, there was bound to be a big commotion.

Zhao Xiaoqian, still dressed in mourning clothes, looked around expressionlessly, then waved his hand.

"Let's go, to Prince Jian's Mansion!"

(End of this chapter)