The Demon Prince

Cao Bi was so angry that his beard trembled: "Using a dragon robe as an imperial edict? Absurd!"

"If you're not convinced, go ask His Majesty yourself."

Xiao Xingyue looked at the hundred former Northern Territory soldiers:

"My father and brothers are about to return to the capital. You, come with me."

The veterans were taken aback.

Xiao Xingyue pointed to the old armor they were wearing:

"Return to the palace, take a bath, change your nails, eat, and then prepare for the funeral."

The veterans' expressions changed.

The word "funeral" carries immense weight.

The bodies of Xiao Junlin and his eight sons will be returned to the capital. The Prince of Zhenguo's Mansion needs people, people who are truly willing to wear mourning clothes for the Xiao family.

The veteran with the leg injury instantly had tears in his eyes and knelt on one knee.

"This old soldier obeys."

One hundred former Northern soldiers knelt down in unison:

"I am willing to return to the manor with the young general."

Cao Bi was displeased and stared intently at Xiao Xingyue.

But Qin Zhenyue stood there, and he ultimately didn't stop him.

Pan Yungong was being supported by someone; his face was covered in dirt.

Cao Bi turned to look at him, his eyes filled with rage: "Useless trash."

Pan Yungong bowed his head: "Master."

Cao Bi whispered:

"Securing the military officer position is the most important thing. If you dare to cause any more trouble, I'll cripple you first."

Pan Yungong's shoulders trembled.

Xiao Xingyue had already led the veterans out of the camp, and no one laughed along the way.

……

When they returned to the Prince's Mansion in Zhenguo, Chen Manfu and Zhao Yuanbao were waiting at the entrance.

Xiao Xingyue raised his hand and pointed:

"Manfu, boil water, prepare clean clothes, and bring out all the usable armor from the storeroom."

Chen Manfu's eyes welled up with tears as he looked at the veterans.

"This old servant will go right away."

Xiao Xingyue then instructed Zhao Yuanbao:

"Go buy meat and wine, and tidy up the front yard of the Prince's Mansion."

Zhao Yuanbao nodded: "Okay."

Xiao Xingyue stood inside the gate, watching the group of veterans enter the palace one after another.

Some people touched the threshold, some looked at the four characters "Zhenwangguofu" and their eyes turned red, some lowered their heads to wipe their faces, but the more they wiped, the dirtier they became.

Xiao Xingyue didn't urge them; he waited until they were all inside before turning around.

"Eat your fill first, then go to sleep."

The front yard was steaming, with large pots boiling water and white steam rising from the rims.

The former northern troops washed away the dust and mud from their bodies and put on armor found in the royal storeroom.

The armor wasn't new, but it was much better than the tattered clothes they wore in the military camp.

An old soldier with a missing finger clutched his breastplate, reluctant to put it on for a long time, while Zhao Yuanbao stood beside him, jumping up and down in frustration.

"Brother, put it on! Will holding it protect you from a knife?"

The veteran lowered his head and said, "It's been many years since I've worn proper armor."

Zhao Yuanbao remained silent, glanced at the heir apparent, and personally fastened the breastplate on the veteran.

Xiao Xingyue felt relieved to have brought these people back. At this moment, the palace eunuchs entered and bowed to Xiao Xingyue.

"Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine requests your presence."

Xiao Xingyue looked closer and asked, "Are you... one of Consort Qin's people?"

Consort Qin Liangyue, daughter of Qin Zhenyue and mother of Li Shunhua, was once a formidable woman with a great figure and a fiery personality.

The eunuch bowed his head and looked submissive.

"It is indeed Consort Qin. She says that the young master is requested to enter the palace immediately."

Xiao Xingyue gave a few instructions before following the eunuch into the palace.

……

Qin Liangyue lived in Zhaowu Palace. There weren't many flowers and plants outside the palace gate. The stone steps were clean, and a few old bows hung under the eaves.

Unlike the luxurious and fragrant palaces of concubines elsewhere, this place is filled with the atmosphere of war.

When Xiao Xingyue entered the hall, Qin Liangyue was sitting in the main seat.

She was about thirty years old, wearing a dark red palace dress and a gold belt around her waist. Her figure was graceful and exquisite, with beautiful curves.

That face was beautiful, with slightly high brow bones and pale lips. When she wasn't smiling, she looked like a sword sheathed in its sheath.

Li Shunhua's coldness is at least seven-tenths like hers.

Qin Liangyue sized up Xiao Xingyue:

"Xiao Xingyue, why does Shunhua owe you money?"

Xiao Xingyue was about to bow when his movement froze in mid-air. Good heavens, the door opened to reveal a debt dispute.

This woman has a bold and straightforward personality, quite different from Consort Shu's shrewdness.

Xiao Xingyue laughed and said, "Your Majesty's information comes very quickly."

Qin Liangyue tapped the armrest with her fingertips:

"She came back to the palace today to borrow money from me. I asked her a few questions, but she was evasive and only said that she owed you."

She wouldn't utter a single word about how she owed it.

Qin Liangyue slammed her hand on the table, unleashing a powerful surge of inner energy towards Xiao Xingyue, causing the tables and chairs in the room to tremble. "I will not allow you to bully my daughter!"

Good heavens, seventh rank… Xiao Xingyue coughed:

"I understand Your Majesty's maternal love is as vast as a mountain, but isn't it reasonable to repay debts?"

Qin Liangyue's face turned cold:

"Even though Shunhua is a princess, she has always been frugal. How could she possibly owe you money for no reason?"

On the contrary, it's you who shouldn't try to outsmart me. You've been too prominent lately, causing trouble at the Ministry of Justice and now at the garrison.

Your father and brother's bodies are about to be returned to the capital, yet you continue to cause trouble everywhere.

She stood up, her skirt sweeping over the floor tiles, and an imposing aura emanated from her.

Even His Majesty blames you.

"Xiao Xingyue, are you trying to completely disgrace the Xiao family?"

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly turned cold, and all the palace maids around lowered their heads.

Xiao Xingyue remained unmoved, then uttered a startling statement:

"It seems that Your Highness is not fit to be a mother."

Qin Liangyue's eyes sharpened instantly:

"What did you say?"

"I'll speak," Xiao Xingyue said, enunciating each word clearly.

"You don't deserve to be a mother!"

Qin Liangyue's phoenix eyes flashed with murderous intent:

"How dare you! How I raise my daughter is none of your business!"

Xiao Xingyue sat up straight:

Why did the Eighth Princess work so hard? Because she was a woman.

They both practiced martial arts and both wanted to go to the border, but others could simply call her "Princess" and send her back to the palace.

Qin Liangyue's face tightened.

Xiao Xingyue continued:

"A military representative is what she wants most right now."

She had to deal with Gou Liguo, and she had to prove herself in front of the court. Only by bringing glory to the Great Xia could she be qualified to get rid of those women's prejudices and have the opportunity to go to the border.

That's why she practiced her skills so diligently.

And coincidentally, I have some elixirs that are suitable for her.

Qin Liangyue's chest heaved, her anger still burning, but the look in her eyes as she gazed at Xiao Xingyue held something else:

"She could have just gone to Miaoqing to get it; why would she need to come to you?"

Xiao Xingyue smiled:

"Then Your Majesty should reflect even more."

Why didn't she ask you family members for help, but instead came to me, an outsider?

The hall fell silent.

Qin Liangyue's cold and hard demeanor, similar to Li Shunhua's, was shattered by these words.

Shunhua was stubborn from a young age. She never complained when she was hurt or wronged, and she always fought for what she wanted.

As her mother, she only thought that her daughter was born strong-willed, but even strong-willed people... have times when they can't hold on.

Qin Liangyue sat back in her chair, her back still straight, but her hands trembled slightly, revealing the turmoil in her heart.

"How much money does she owe you?"

Xiao Xingyue immediately took out the IOU from his pocket:

"This was written by the Eighth Princess herself."

Qin Liangyue took it and glanced at it, her eyes twitching:

"Fifty thousand taels per pill? What kind of pill is so expensive?"

Xiao Xingyue's face was serious:

"Your Highness, are elixirs just elixirs? They are the Eighth Princess's wings, allowing her to break through worldly prejudices!"

Qin Liangyue said irritably:

Speak like a human.

"Medicine is expensive."

"..."

Qin Liangyue had a palace maid bring over silver notes, and a thick stack of them was placed on the table.

Xiao Xingyue collected them very quickly, so quickly that Qin Liangyue felt increasingly cheated.

"Are those pills really worth the price?"

Xiao Xingyue carefully put away the silver notes:

"A mother's love is priceless."