The Demon Prince

Xiao Xingyue threw the question back at the emperor, intending to set a trap for him.

But the emperor didn't fall for the trap: "It's me, asking you a question!"

The entire Golden Palace was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; you could feel the emperor's anger.

Xiao Xingyue said with a worried tone, "Father, people outside are saying that you're not keeping your word!"

Upon hearing this, all the court officials froze in place.

"Is this ninth prince up to his old tricks again?"

"I don't know, maybe he doesn't want to live anymore."

Li Chengqian immediately frowned. "Insolence!"

Xiao Xingyue continued calmly, "That's not what I said, I heard it from someone else, but it's not entirely baseless."

Xiao Xingyue's face showed a look of reminiscence, and his voice grew louder and louder as he recounted: "My eight elder brothers sacrificed their lives for the country and died on the battlefield, leaving only me, Xiao Xingyue, behind."

Therefore, some rumors circulated among the people that the emperor wanted to take back the marriage agreement.

I didn't believe it at first either.

But today, Gu Linyuan came to the Ninth Princess before dawn, asking her to divorce me. This makes me wonder if someone is behind this, pushing for the marriage contract to become invalid, causing Father Emperor to lose face before the world!

As Xiao Xingyue spoke, his gaze swept over the assembled officials.

The hearts of all the officials in the court skipped a beat!

I am!

By bringing this matter up in public, isn't Xiao Xingyue forcing the emperor to continue fulfilling the marriage agreement?

Either you lose the trust of the world, or you have to pay for your daughter!

"Why are you looking at me like that? You arrogant brat!"

"Don't look at me, I would never allow His Majesty to break his promise..."

"Xiao Xingyue, there is no one in the world who can outwit me."

The emperor looked down at Xiao Xingyue with a deep gaze, "However, since you yourself are unwilling to admit it, then I will make it clear to you."

The Xiao family is now defunct in name only. I wish you to cancel the marriage agreement between the two families.

The eight princesses will no longer marry into the Xiao family, and the ninth princess will also divorce you starting tomorrow.

These words caused an uproar in the room.

Unexpectedly, the emperor did not break off the engagement himself, but instead forced Xiao Xingyue to cancel the engagement.

The courtiers all looked at Xiao Xingyue, waiting for him to make a fool of himself.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has already given you a way out. I hope you will take good care of yourself."

"Yes, it is wise to back down when faced with difficulties. After all, the young master is quite learned and should understand this principle."

"If the Xiao family cancels the engagement themselves, giving His Majesty face, His Majesty might grant them mercy and allow the plaque of the Prince of Zhen to hang for a few more days, so that the Xiao family doesn't decline too quickly."

"Yes, yes, your father and brothers are still on their way back to the capital. Don't make things too embarrassing, Your Highness, let's annul the engagement!"

Li Wangshu was so angry that he trembled all over.

First, the Emperor forced Xiao Xingyue to annul the engagement, so why did he still make him marry yesterday? Wasn't that hypocritical? Why didn't he do that earlier?

Secondly, in order to protect the royal family's reputation, she had already consummated her relationship with Xiao Xingyue yesterday, and even made it happen several times. Now that the engagement has been called off, how will she face herself?

"Father, I've already married into the royal family, so perhaps... I should stay there?"

Li Wangshu paused, then looked at Xiao Xingyue, "If the Xiao family were to dissolve the engagements with my eight elder sisters, could Father Emperor show leniency towards Xiao Xingyue?"

Xiao Xingyue was somewhat surprised that Li Wangshu actually spoke up for him.

I don't know if it was because of a pang of conscience, or because I was impressed by the bravery I displayed in my bloody battle last night?

He wasn't the only one surprised; even the emperor looked at his daughter with a puzzled expression.

"You are my daughter. Even if you have a previous marriage, no one in the world dares to care. Wangshu, you can find a better husband."

Just as Li Wangshu was about to speak, the emperor raised his hand to signal her to shut up, then stared coldly at Xiao Xingyue: "Xiao Xingyue, even after the Xiao family annulsed the engagement, I will still treat you well, and I hope you will not disappoint me."

Treat them kindly my ass!

At that time, you dog emperor will have no more scruples and will directly discard the donkey after it has served its purpose!

Then, they used another trick to falsely accuse my Xiao family of having nine pythons swallowing a dragon, implying that we were plotting a rebellion. That's how my infamy was sealed for all eternity.

What's the difference between breaking off the engagement now and committing suicide?

Do you really think I'm stupid?

Xiao Xingyue looked directly at the domineering emperor. "Father, I'm sorry to trouble you. This is a marriage arranged between you and my father. How dare I break off the engagement? Perhaps Your Majesty could speak to my father?"

A stone stirred up a thousand waves.

The assembled officials all stared at Xiao Xingyue as if he were a madman.

"Your Highness, please be careful what you say! The King of Zhen is already dead. How can His Majesty tell him?"

"Exactly! You're just being unreasonable!"

One of the officials even pointed at Xiao Xingyue's nose and angrily rebuked him: "Young Master, are you determined to have a toad eat a swan?"

Before he could finish speaking...

Snapped--

A crisp slap rang out.

Xiao Xingyue slapped the official across the face, sending him spinning 720 degrees on the spot.

Not only was the official in charge of criticism stunned by the beating.

The remaining officials were also completely dumbfounded: ? ? ?

Then, a barrage of accusations came crashing down.

"Xiao Xingyue! How dare you assault a court official in front of His Majesty!"

"We, the officials who dare to speak out, risk our lives to remonstrate! You have struck us; who will dare to speak the truth in this court in the future! Your Majesty! Xiao Xingyue is trying to disrupt the order of our court!"

The emperor didn't mind Xiao Xingyue's reckless actions.

The more outrageous he acts, the more it proves that he was right not to let his daughter marry into a lower social class.

Just as he was about to speak, Xiao Xingyue spoke first, questioning the entire room: "Who said my father is dead?"

The room fell silent instantly upon hearing this.

Even the emperor was stunned.

Immediately following was a burst of exclamations.

"What! The King of the Town isn't dead?"

"Could it be that the King of the town faked his death to deceive the enemy, making them underestimate him, and then suddenly resurrected to catch them off guard!"

"Possibly! Or perhaps it was to surprise the Ninth Prince, so it returned to the capital lying in the coffin, and then suddenly jumped out to help him celebrate his wedding?"

"Then...those eight war god princes, did they also survive?"

"hiss--"

As they filled in the blanks in their minds, everyone's attitudes completely reversed, and their expressions toward Xiao Xingyue were filled with goodwill.

"Your Highness, that was well done! Lord Zeng, relying on his position as an official responsible for remonstrance, spoke recklessly and should have been taught a lesson long ago!"

"Yes, yes, this slap wasn't wrong at all. It was clearly a warning from the Crown Prince, reminding us that officials must be careful with their words and actions!"

"Yes, yes! That must be it. The young master has put in a lot of effort for our own good. Anyone who blames him would be a sinner for all time!"

Even Lord Zeng, who had just been beaten, knelt down in front of Xiao Xingyue with a thud.

"Your Highness! I misspoke! I didn't mean that. I meant that you and the Ninth Princess are a perfect match, a match made in heaven!"

Lord Zeng was in tears, his face filled with fear. He wasn't afraid of Xiao Xingyue, but of the King of Zhen!

If the King of Zhen is truly not dead, then his entire clan will tremble.

"When the nine princesses marry into the Xiao family, they will be a powerful force, helping our Great Xia Dynasty to become even more prosperous! I will prepare generous gifts to celebrate the wedding of the Crown Prince and the Ninth Princess!"

……

Li Wangshu stared blankly at the group of people.

No wonder my mother told me to stay out of court affairs... It turns out that these civil and military officials can change their tune so quickly.

But she was also curious: was the King of Zhen really not dead?

Xiao Xingyue felt the kindness around him. Sure enough, when a person becomes powerful, everyone around them is a good person, but when they fall on hard times...

"What I mean is..." Xiao Xingyue coughed lightly, patted his heart, "My father isn't dead! He will live forever in my heart! In the hearts of the people of Great Xia!"

Some officials who were about to come up to curry favor with him suddenly stopped in their tracks.

Lord Zeng froze as soon as he stuffed the silver note into Xiao Xingyue's hand.

The hall fell silent once again.

Officials: ...

Li Wangshu: ...

emperor:……