The prince is more stable

Chapter 789 Happy grudges
Most adults do things with a clear purpose.

I do act impulsively sometimes, but most of the time, the things I decide to do are usually driven by deeper meanings.

Walking down the street, being suddenly slapped in the buttocks by a stranger is something no normal adult would do. Someone who doesn't want anything in return and just wants to be slapped in the buttocks is either seriously ill or drunk.

On the surface, Zhao Xiaoqian's actions today are no different from those impulsive and troublesome playboys in Bianjing: smashing things, venting personal grievances, and seeking revenge.

However, the fact that Zhao Xiaoqian chose to cause trouble for the popular successor at the crucial moment when the two kings were vying for the throne is quite intriguing.

Of course, we should also thank Comrade Jianwang Zhao Si. Originally, Zhao Xiaoqian planned to deal with him in the end, but Comrade Zhao Si himself was too weak and offered up his reasons.

Now that he had the truth in his hands, Zhao Xiaoqian no longer needed to be polite. He slightly modified his plan, first removing Zhao Si from this chaotic situation to make the situation in Bianjing clearer.

At that moment, with Chen Shou's loud shout, four hundred Chu Prince's guards drew their swords in unison, staring at Jian Prince's guards with murderous intent.

The air around them suddenly froze, and a chilling atmosphere filled the air.

When the onlookers saw that His Highness Prince Cheng was serious, they were immediately terrified and fell silent, unconsciously taking a few steps back.

At this moment, the most difficult task was for the head of the Imperial Guards in front of Prince Jian's Mansion.

The Imperial Guards of Prince Jian's Mansion, who were used to eating grain during times of peace, had never seen such a scene before. As soon as Chen Shou and his men drew their swords, the Imperial Guards of Prince Jian's Mansion were so frightened that they took a few steps back, not even daring to hold their spears, and had an impulse to turn around and run away.

The constable, steeling himself, tried to plead for leniency: "General Chen, everything can be discussed. Why push things to the extreme? Allow me to invite His Highness Prince Jian out. Any misunderstandings can be resolved face to face..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Shou roared again, "Are you going to move or not? If you are still standing at the door in three breaths, I will consider you my enemies and kill you one by one!"

The captain and the imperial guards behind him were shocked. The Bianjing version of the "Laozi Shudao Mountain" was simply too much to handle; the pressure was too great...

Before the captain could react, Chen Shou shouted, "Form ranks—!"

The Chu King's guards behind him roared in unison and quickly formed an attack formation in front of the palace gate.

The constable was terrified. He now understood that things would not end well today. His Highness Prince Cheng was not just putting on a show to scare people, but really intended to come and cause trouble and make a big fuss.

As soon as the Chu King's Imperial Guards formed their ranks, Chen Shou roared, "One!"

The constable, drenched in cold sweat, gritted his teeth and shouted, "General Chen, everything must be done reasonably! You come here to bully us, aren't you afraid of anyone in the world..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Shou continued counting down: "Two!"

Behind them, the Chu Prince's Imperial Guards took a big step forward. Although they hadn't made a move yet, their chilling and fierce aura already made everyone tremble with fear.

The constable was almost in tears. Chen Shou and the others weren't pressuring Prince Jian, they were pressuring him!

What could he do? His duty was to protect the Prince Jian's residence. If he and his men retreated out of fear of trouble when outsiders came to cause trouble, he would be held accountable by the Palace Guard.

But if he doesn't move aside now, not only will he be punished by the Palace Guard, but he will die right now. The way Chen Shou and the others are putting on their show means they really intend to kill someone today.

Seeing Chen Shou's lips about to open, about to utter the last "three," the constable's mind raced, and he immediately made a decision.

"I'm sorry, General Chen, but I cannot let you in because of my duty. We are comrades-in-arms in the Palace Guard. If you really want to kill your comrades, then go ahead and do so. My brothers and I will not resist!"

After saying that, the captain threw the knife in his hand on the ground and put his hands behind his back, looking like he was ready to be slaughtered.

The imperial guards from Prince Jian's mansion behind him were shocked to see their captain pull off such a daring move. After a moment of hesitation, they all threw down their spears and broadswords, squatted down, and blocked the gate of Prince Jian's mansion.

It has to be said that this move stunned both Zhao Xiaoqian and Chen Shou.

There are still more clever people in the world, and this kind of shameless trickery might not be a bad way to deal with this situation.

It was only then that Zhao Xiaoqian looked at the constable properly for the first time, and he couldn't help but laugh.

"What 'comrades-in-arms' from the Imperial Guard, what 'kill if you want'? You're actually resorting to moral blackmail. Do you think I look like a moral person?"

"Chen Shou!"

"The general is here!"

Zhao Xiaoqian raised his chin and said indifferently, "Give them a good beating, tie them up and throw them aside. The main character hasn't shown up yet, let's hurry up."

Chen Shou clasped his hands in agreement, then waved his hand, and the Imperial Guards behind him rushed forward. They didn't kill anyone, but instead unleashed their fury on the Imperial Guards of Prince Jian's residence.

The captains and the imperial guards of Prince Jian's mansion who had thrown down their weapons probably never expected that even after they had morally blackmailed Chen Shou and his men, they would still dare to make a move.

These people were already looking like they were being slaughtered. They squatted on the ground and got into position. When Chen Shou and the others went forward to attack, they encountered no resistance. Before they could even react, a storm of punches and kicks rained down on them.

For a moment, screams and cries of agony filled the air in front of Prince Jian's mansion. An hour later, Chen Shou and the others stopped, panting heavily. The imperial guards of Prince Jian's mansion had been beaten beyond recognition, lying on the ground groaning in pain.

There was no suspense after that. Chen Shouyi waved his hand and shouted, "Charge in and drag Prince Jian, Zhao Si, out! My lord wants to see him."

The fierce and ruthless guards of the Chu Prince's Palace surged toward the gate, having set out with the intention of causing destruction and vandalism.

Instead of entering properly, a squad of imperial guards lined up and smashed the gate, again and again. Under the relentless bombardment, the gate of Prince Jian's mansion teetered on the brink of collapse, and finally, with a powerful blow, the gate collapsed with a crash.

The gates of the Prince's mansion were smashed open, which was even more serious than slapping Prince Jian in the face. Even so, Chen Shou was still not satisfied. Looking up at the plaque hanging high in front of Prince Jian's mansion, he shouted again, "Take down the plaque and smash it!"

The heavy and solemn plaque fell to the ground, and the imperial guards stepped forward and stomped on it, smashing it violently until the huge plaque of the Prince Jian's Mansion was shattered into pieces.

Chen Shou waved his hand: "Charge in and capture Prince Jian, Zhao Si, alive!"

The Chu King's guards responded in unison and surged into the palace like a tidal wave.

Seeing this, the head constable and the imperial guards of Prince Jian's mansion, who were lying on the ground, knew that the situation was serious and that it was beyond their ability to get involved. So they simply pretended to be seriously injured and lay on the ground motionless, pretending to be dead.

The onlookers grew increasingly excited. "They just rushed in like that? Don't they have any decency at all?"

It seems that His Highness Prince Cheng has truly been bullied terribly, otherwise he wouldn't have gone to such extremes. In the end, it's all because Prince Jian is tyrannical and has offended a powerful figure he shouldn't have.

This is Prince Cheng of the Great Song Dynasty! When ordinary people mention him, who doesn't respectfully bow and call him a "hero"? He is our great hero, whom we worship. How dare Prince Jian provoke him? No matter what fate Prince Jian suffers today, he deserves it.

The imperial guards who stormed into Prince Jian's residence showed no mercy and treated themselves as outsiders. After rushing in, they smashed and destroyed everything, whether valuable or not; anything intact was broken and smashed.

Amidst the screams and cries of the servants, eunuchs, and palace maids of the Prince's mansion, chaos erupted within the mansion, and perhaps some oblivious servants were even beaten.

Zhao Xiaoqian remained standing outside the door, too lazy to go in. He shouldn't have to do this kind of physically demanding work himself; Chen Shouhui would handle everything properly for him.

An hour later, Prince Jian, Zhao Si, was brought out bound hand and foot.

Zhao Si, who was brought out, had several bruises and wounds on his face, and his wrists were bleeding from the ropes, but he was still indignant, jumping up and down, struggling and cursing.

Chen Shou personally escorted him to Zhao Xiaoqian. Zhao Si looked up and gasped. Faced with Zhao Xiaoqian's murderous gaze, Zhao Si, no matter how arrogant he was, did not dare to utter a sound for some reason.

His long years of guarding the border and his experiences of life and death and mountains of corpses and seas of blood have subtly changed Zhao Xiaoqian's temperament.

Under his sharp, murderous gaze, Zhao Si, who had enjoyed a life of wealth and peace since childhood, dared not meet his eyes.

It was a gaze devoid of emotion, as if looking at a dead person. The moment Zhao Si met his eyes, she thought of death and rotting corpses.

Zhao Xiaoqian stared indifferently at Zhao Si, and after a long while, he slowly said, "Prince Jian, Zhao Si, was it you who ordered the fire in the backyard of my Chu Prince's residence the night before last?"

Zhao instinctively shook her head in denial: "No, it wasn't me!"

Zhao Xiaoqian sneered: "The thief has been captured by the Imperial City Guard. I also have the thief's signed confession here. What's the point of you denying it now?"

"Should I invite officials from the State Affairs Hall, the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate to come here so we can confront each other in court?"

Zhao opened his mouth, but couldn't refute it.

Seeing Zhao Si's expression, the onlookers immediately understood and became even more indignant.

No longer denying it means admitting it; it really was Prince Jian who did it. That villain is truly hateful!
Before Zhao Xiaoqian could speak, the people began to clamor, pointing at Zhao Si and cursing him. Many idlers in the crowd even egged on the King of Jian to kill him.

Zhao Si's face grew paler and paler. Only then did he feel some regret. The night before, he had ordered someone to set fire to the Chu Prince's residence. He had acted impulsively and had not expected the consequences to be so severe. He also had not expected Zhao Xiaoqian to be so intolerant and take this matter so seriously.

If I had known this would happen, I would have planned a meticulous assassination so that no one could testify against me, and killed Zhao Xiaoqian properly, thus ending the matter once and for all.

Zhao Xiaoqian stared into Zhao Si's eyes and slowly said, "We are both members of the imperial family. Perhaps His Highness Prince Jian doesn't quite understand me. I can accept anything, but I can't stand being taken advantage of. Originally, we had no enmity with each other, and I didn't intend to do anything to you..."

"But you insisted on provoking me. Now that you've made your move, if I don't respond, wouldn't I look too weak? I'd have no face to show in court. So, today I've come personally to demand justice from His Highness Prince Jian..."

"During the mourning period for the late Emperor, His Highness Prince Jian brazenly set fire to the residences of court officials and plotted to murder a high-ranking official. Your Highness, I would like to ask you one question: do you really think I, Zhao Xiaoqian, am a pushover?"

Zhao Xiaoqian grinned at Zhao Si, revealing his gleaming white teeth, like a ferocious tiger about to devour someone.

With his hands and feet bound, Zhao Si had given up struggling. He now knew that Zhao Xiaoqian was no pushover. He also understood that Zhao Xiaoqian's appointment as the Hebei Border Commander and the title of Prince in recent years was not due to the Emperor's brother's unreasonable favoritism. Zhao Xiaoqian was capable and influential.

Such a seasoned and experienced person is someone a spoiled prince like him can't afford to offend.

(End of this chapter)