The Demon Prince

The two palms collided, and the remaining sparks around them were extinguished in an instant. Xiao Xingyue took three steps back, and with each step he took back, cracks appeared on the stone slab.

Lu Chengzhang also took two steps back. He steadied himself, immediately tucked his right hand into his sleeve, and then put it behind his back.

My finger bones were so painful and numb, and my whole arm was trembling.

Lu Chengzhang's expression remained unchanged, but his back teeth clenched, showing considerable surprise.

Where did this kid get such strong skills?!

Below the fifth rank, no one can rival him!

Xiao Xingyue shook his hand, somewhat surprised. When did he become so fierce?

right!

The incident with Li Miaoqing in the basement just now absorbed her national fortune, and I haven't had a chance to fully review it yet.

Beitang Jimin's gaze also fell on Xiao Xingyue, filled with surprise.

He had clearly seen that Lu Chengzhang was a fifth-rank official, and that full-force palm strike would either kill or cripple an ordinary person.

Xiao Xingyue actually took a palm strike head-on, knocked Lu Chengzhang back, and was still alive and kicking?

Has this kid been hiding his true strength all along?

In addition, he has a good talent for medicine... Beitang Jimin stroked his beard, the coldness in his eyes softening. In this light, he is indeed a good match for my granddaughter.

Qin Zhenyue couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. Xiao Xingyue's palm strike just now made him vaguely see the shadow of his father, Xiao Junlin, when he was young. No wonder he had the talent of an old friend. It turned out that he was the son of an old friend.

While Xie Yuheng was still entangled with the crowd, he tried to run away again, but Beitang Jimin sent out a silver needle from his sleeve.

With a hiss, the silver needle pierced Xie Yuheng's knee, causing his legs to buckle and him to fall to the ground with a thud.

"Ah!" he screamed, clutching his leg.

Lu Chengzhang's face darkened, and he was about to speak when Qin Zhenyue appeared in front of him. "Lu Chengzhang, you still want to fight? I'll fight you."

Lu Chengzhang immediately broke out in a cold sweat and cupped his hands, saying, "General Qin is joking. Just now, I also wanted to take down Xie Yuheng, but I was stopped by the young master."

"Then it is indeed the young master who is being nosy. Alright, someone come here."

Just as the guards were about to step forward to arrest the man, the sound of horses' hooves came from the street corner, and a group of palace eunuchs came galloping over.

The head eunuch dismounted, holding the imperial edict in his hands:

"His Majesty has decreed." The eunuch unfolded the imperial edict:

"Summon Qin Zhenyue, the Seventh Princess, Xiao Xingyue, Beitang Jimin, Lu Chengzhang, Cui Daoyuan, and Xie Yuheng to the palace immediately to meet the Emperor. There shall be no delay."

Everyone stopped. Qin Zhenyue frowned, and Beitang Jimin narrowed his eyes.

Imperial edict?

How long has it been?

The old site caught fire, and the conflict had barely begun when an imperial edict arrived from the palace, with precise knowledge of everyone present.

This damned emperor really has a lot of eyes and ears, his spies are everywhere... Xiao Xingyue thought to himself.

Xie Yuheng breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that he was to enter the palace. Once he was in the hall, he could follow the rules, which were what civil officials were best at.

……

The Imperial Palace, Council Hall.

It was already night, and the main hall was brightly lit.

Emperor Li Chengqian sat on the dragon throne, his crown still on, reigning supreme over the world.

Cui Daoyuan knelt down, beads of sweat sliding down his cheeks and rolling into his beard.

Lu Chengzhang bowed respectfully, while Qin Zhenyue simply clasped his hands in greeting.

Beitang Jimin and Li Miaoqing entered side by side, their faces still grim.

Xie Yuheng slammed his knees to the ground with a thud, looking both aggrieved and stubborn. He had already prepared his words along the way and was quickly gathering his emotions to speak.

"Father!"

Suddenly, a shout came from the gate behind him, which threw Xie Yuheng into disarray, disrupting the speech he had been rehearsing all the way.

The emperor's brow twitched. This scene seemed familiar.

not good!

Xiao Xingyue is up to his old tricks again!

But in the blink of an eye, Xiao Xingyue rushed into the hall. Before anyone could react, he ran to the dragon throne, grabbed the emperor's waist, and cried out in a hoarse voice, "Your subject almost didn't see Father Emperor again!"

Even Xie Yuheng was dumbfounded by this scene. Good heavens, you pulled this trick? What am I supposed to say? Should I also call His Majesty Father?

There was a moment of silence in the hall. Li Chengqian quickly gestured for someone to stop, "Alright, alright! Let's get down to business!"

Xiao Xingyue's face was covered in ash, which he had wiped off casually, and his eyes were red-rimmed, from the smoke, but also from his heartfelt anger.

"The thought of almost being burned to death, and not even being able to see Father Emperor one last time before I die, breaks my heart..."

Li Miaoqing's red lips trembled. She wanted to say, shouldn't she be the one to say these words?

Qin Zhenyue spoke in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty, the old site of the academy is covered in kerosene, the entrance is sealed, and the flue is blocked. The Crown Prince and the Seventh Princess are trapped underground and have narrowly escaped death in the fire."

Beitang Jimin then cupped his hands in clasping: "I can also testify that Qing'er's lungs are affected by the fire poison, damaging her qi and blood!"

The emperor looked at Li Miaoqing with heartache in his eyes, "Qing'er, speak."

Li Miaoqing stepped forward. Usually proud and arrogant, she looked disheveled today, with bandages wrapped around her shoulders and cigarette ash in her hair.

"Father, I am indeed trapped underground; the fire started burning in from the outside..."

If it weren't for Xiao Xingyue protecting me, I might really...

They're not coming back!

Xie Yuheng suddenly looked up:

"Your Majesty, I am innocent. The old site was to be repaired and demolished. The servants were carrying kerosene to clear out the old wood."

Who could have predicted that the Crown Prince and the Seventh Princess would secretly enter the underground chamber?

Cui Daoyuan quickly kowtowed as well:

"Your Majesty, please understand! I was merely ordered to inventory the documents at the old site; the fire was due to my negligence!"

Lu Chengzhang cupped his hands in greeting:

"Your Majesty, there are indeed documents regarding the repair of the former site of the Hanlin Academy. I failed to oversee this matter and I am willing to accept punishment."

But... if this is convicted of treason, I fear it will chill the hearts of all civil officials in the land.

Li Chengqian looked down at Xie Yuheng and Cui Daoyuan: "I don't care whether you renovated the old site or not, but you almost injured the Seventh Princess. Xie Yuheng, you will be fined three years' salary and confined to your home to reflect on your mistakes. Cui Daoyuan, you will be fined five years' salary and demoted by half a rank but allowed to remain in service."

Xie Yuheng pressed his forehead to the ground: "Your subject obeys the decree."

Cui Daoyuan quickly kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness."

Xiao Xingyue clicked his tongue inwardly, then gave Li Miaoqing a look that was three parts aggrieved and seven parts threatening: You don't want your father to know what we did in the basement, do you?

Li Miaoqing understood... This bastard dared to threaten her!

But if word gets out about what happened in the basement, will she even survive?

But if she doesn't speak up, Xiao Xingyue might actually say it right there, after all, he's shameless!

Li Miaoqing took a breath: "Father, Xiao Xingyue protected me underground. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be able to see you today. I believe that Xie and Cui should be punished, and the Crown Prince should also be rewarded. Otherwise, who will dare to protect the royal bloodline in times of crisis in the future?"

The emperor's gaze was deep and unfathomable as he admired Xiao Xingyue.

understood!

Before the voting ceremony, try to be as fair to him as possible. When all nine of my daughters refuse to marry him, the Xiao family will truly be disgraced!

Miaoqing was the most thoughtful.

But what if Xiao Xingyue were given a powerful official position?

It's impossible!

If I give too little, it will seem that my daughter is worthless, and that I, as the emperor, am not treasuring my loyal ministers enough... The emperor pondered for a moment and then said, "I heard that the elegant official who dealt with the literary contest in Gou Li Kingdom was recommended to Consort Shu by you."

The Gou Li delegation is about to enter the capital. There should be civil officials and military personnel to deal with them.

Since you are good at judging people, you can also choose the military officers.

"This is a crucial task I have entrusted to you; do not disappoint me."

Should I choose the military officer?

Xiao Xingyue felt a chill run down his spine.

This job sounds like a great deal of power, but it's actually just a pot!

If the emperor makes a good choice, it shows he is good at using people; if he makes a bad choice, he will lose face in front of the country and will have to take the blame for bringing shame to the country!

Xie Yuheng lowered his head, almost bursting out laughing.

Cui Daoyuan also breathed a sigh of relief.

What's the point of this job?

Without military power or official seal, after selecting the candidates, they still had to offend a bunch of military nobles who weren't chosen.

Xie Yuheng feigned congratulations: "It is truly a cause for celebration that the Crown Prince has gained His Majesty's favor... However, the Crown Prince must choose his successors carefully, lest he disgrace our great Xia Dynasty!"

Choi Do-won sighed as well:

"Young people taking on heavy responsibilities are bound to be flustered. If Your Highness has any questions, you can ask the senior officials in the court."

"Alright, these are trivial matters. Discuss them yourselves and don't disturb me." The emperor waved his sleeve. "You may all leave."

The group was about to bow and take their leave.

Xiao Xingyue's tone became more composed and cold: "Father, the small matter is resolved, now it's time to deal with the big matter."

The wind blew in from outside the palace gate, causing the rows of lamps to sway.

Everyone was taken aback.

The emperor frowned: "Is there anything else?"

Xiao Xingyue pointed at Xie Yuheng: "In the name of the Heir Apparent, I hereby report that there was cheating in this year's imperial examination. The top scholar, Xie Yuheng, got in through connections!"