The Demon Prince

Li Lingxi blushed:

"I did not mean that."

Li Miaoqing looked at her suspiciously: "Sixth Sister, why are you blushing?"

Li Lingxi hugged the toolbox tightly: "It's hot."

Li Shunhua glanced at the white banners filling the sky:

"The wind is so cold today."

Li Lingxi was stubborn:

"That's wax applied when it's cold."

The four princesses stood in front of the mourning hall, looked at each other, and the atmosphere became strange.

Li Wangshu spoke first:

"Seventh Sister, aren't you the one who hates trouble the most? Why did you bring a doctor along?"

Li Miaoqing said calmly:

"A doctor's heart is compassionate, why can't I come?"

Li Shunhua crossed her arms:

"The doctor brought two boxes of tonics?"

Li Miaoqing retorted, "You're bringing a troop of soldiers to offer condolences?"

Li Lingxi muttered to herself, "I'm just giving away a lamp."

When all three looked at her, Li Lingxi immediately shut up.

Xiao Xingyue stood to the side, watching them chatter amongst themselves, and suddenly chuckled softly:

Li Wangshu snorted:

"What's so funny?"

Xiao Xingyue raised his eyes and looked at the mourning hall:

"If my dad were here, he'd probably say, 'You little brat, you're all talk and no action.'"

The princesses fell silent. Incense rose, its smoke curling upwards. The nine coffins sat quietly deep within the mourning hall, and no one spoke again.

In the evening, someone from the palace came.

The emperor summoned Xiao Xingyue to the palace.

In the imperial study, the candles were already lit, and the emperor sat upright and majestic, while his ministers were half-hidden in the shadows, their expressions obscured.

Qin Zhenyue was also there.

The old general wasn't wearing armor today, only his regular clothes, but the imposing aura he exuded was no less.

After Xiao Xingyue bowed, the emperor did not offer him a seat:

"The Spirit Pivot has entered the palace?"

"They've been taken in." Xiao Xingyue stood there, head bowed, as if carrying the nine coffins of his father and brothers on his shoulders, his expression heavy and solemn.

The emperor then asked, "How was the funeral?"

Xiao Xingyue raised an eyebrow and slowly lifted his eyes:

"It's a complete mess, and there's still no explanation."

The emperor showed no surprise.

"Cao Bi died, the position of Minister of War became vacant, and Lu Chengzhang also died."

I will publicly declare that Cao Bi, in an attempt to cover up his crimes, murdered the Minister of Rites and the ruler of a foreign country. This is a scandalous affair that must be completely suppressed.

Xiao Xingyue remained calm and collected. Cao Bi was tricked to death by him, and then tricked again by the emperor. Even after death, his corpse was still being whipped.

The emperor continued:

"Although the Ministry of Rites has not made any public changes, Lu Chengzhang is no longer in charge."

The Ministry of War, the Ministry of Rites... both ministries are empty, and all sides of the court are watching closely..."

He tossed a list onto the table:

"I want you to draft a temporary candidate."

Qin Zhenyue's brows furrowed suddenly:

"Your Majesty, is he capable?"

The emperor glanced at the old general indifferently:

"He did a good job in selecting civil and military officials. Since he can disrupt the situation, he should also learn to clean it up."

Qin Zhenyue's heart sank. This wasn't about cleaning up the situation; it was like slamming a red-hot iron pot onto Xiao Xingyue's head!

The Minister of War and the Minister of Rites, which one of them wasn't a high-ranking official in the court?

When the selection of officials was initially made, it was ultimately just a temporary fourth-rank post. This time it's different. Cao Bi's old faction will definitely want to protect the interests of the Ministry of War, the civil officials want to protect the face of the Ministry of Rites, Consort Shu and the Jiang family of Jiangnan will definitely be eyeing the Ministry of Rites, and there are also the gentry of Beitang...

Beitang Jimin may be too old to fight, but Beitang Yunjing is so intelligent that she wouldn't interfere with those tribute medicines and medical institutions under the Ministry of Rites.

Who gets promoted and who gets demoted—it's all about the face and lifeline of the important figures!

Xiao Xingyue made the wrong choice, offending one group; he made the right choice, but he still offended another. He was caught in the middle!

Qin Zhenyue glanced at Xiao Xingyue, and he suddenly felt a little sorry for this little rascal...

He had just brought his father and brothers home when the emperor threw him into a pit of fire.

"Xiao Xingyue," Qin Zhenyue said in a deep voice, reminding him.

"Have you thought this through? This is no small matter."

He hoped that Xiao Xingyue's cleverness and shamelessness would allow him to see through the trap and simply reject it.

But Xiao Xingyue picked up the roster:

"Your subject...accepts the decree."

Qin Zhenyue was stunned, and then said directly:

"Aren't you afraid of offending people?"

Xiao Xingyue held the roster in his arms and said earnestly:

"Afraid."

The emperor was taken aback. "You still dare to accept the decree?"

Qin Zhenyue was also puzzled.

Xiao Xingyue whispered:

"If the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War don't coordinate their affairs, my father and brother's funerals won't be able to take place, and even if they are, they won't be held in a grand manner."

His fingertips pressed tightly against the edge of the roster, creating a crease in the page—perhaps a ridge, or more like a trench in the windswept sands of the border:

"To die wrapped in a horse's hide deserves a grand funeral... I think..."

I want to! I want to make it a grand and spectacular event!

The imperial study fell silent.

The emperor leaned back, his entire upper body completely hidden in shadow. In the darkness, Xiao Xingyue's figure became clearer and more blurred, seemingly overlapping with the shadow of an old friend.

Back then, he was a scholar with lofty ideals, and Xiao Junlin was a rough and impetuous man. He wrote passionately, wanting to conquer the world. Xiao Junlin was bold and unrestrained, talking about expanding territory and taking in the scenery of the North!

But now, the Xiao family has fallen on hard times...

"The decline of the Xiao family is a fact." Xiao Xingyue had already raised his head, standing ramrod straight.

"But if I do nothing, anyone can come and kick me when I'm down."

Cao Bi dared to ask me to prove that the person lying in the coffin was my father; the next person will dare to ask me to prove whether the Xiao family had any merit at all!

He couldn't see the emperor's expression, but he could see:

"Your Majesty, I have already offended you. I cannot let this offense go unpunished."

The emperor chuckled:

"You're quite honest."

Xiao Xingyue was serious:

"Your subject has always been honest."

The emperor waved his hand:

"Go down and submit the list to me within three days."

Xiao Xingyue bowed and withdrew. The two remained silent in the room before bidding farewell to their ruler and subject.

Outside the Imperial Study, the night wind howled.

Xiao Xingyue carried the roster and walked towards the palace gate, where Zhao Yuanbao was waiting for him.

"Your Highness? His Majesty rewarded you?"

Xiao Xingyue handed him the roster:

"I'll reward you."

Zhao Yuanbao looked down and his face turned green:

"Isn't this going to kill you?"

Xiao Xingyue rubbed his neck:

"The emperor has taken my life, but I will destroy the emperor's heart."

Zhao Yuanbao was confused, but he saw four words in his young master's eyes:

There's nothing there.

Little did they know, Xiao Xingyue had already devised a plan, not something he had nothing at all, but something called "turning the tide of battle"!

Many flowers bloomed, each telling its own story. Meanwhile, on the back street of the Ministry of War, the restaurants were brightly lit, as if it were daytime.

The private rooms on the second floor were filled with military officers and officials from the Ministry of War.

After Cao Bi's death, the Ministry of War was leaderless. The old faction was the most anxious, fearing that the new Minister would first bring up the old grievances left by Cao Bi, so they had to put their own people in charge.

In the center of the table, a middle-aged military officer slammed his fist on the table:

"Although Lord Cao is dead, the Ministry of War must not be thrown into chaos."

Vice Envoy Zhou has served Lord Cao for many years and is familiar with the affairs of the Ministry of War. He is the most suitable person to temporarily assume the position of Minister.

Someone nearby immediately chimed in:

"That's right. If we let outsiders in to settle the accounts, it will be bad for everyone."

After a few rounds of drinks, the words became increasingly harsh.

Someone mentioned that the coffin of the Prince of Zhenguo was being brought to the capital today, and the private room fell silent for a moment.

Soon, someone scoffed:

"Go where? The Emperor's attitude is unclear, who dares to go?"

The other person lowered their voice:

"I've heard that Lord Cao's death is inextricably linked to Xiao Xingyue; that kid is quite strange."

The middle-aged military officer sneered:

"Strange? He's just a mischievous prince."

"Relying on the princess, relying on Qin Zhenyue, and relying on a few clever tricks, do you really think you can decide the selection of officials for the Ministry of War? What a joke!"

The atmosphere at the dinner table suddenly became much livelier.

"That's right. If he dares to interfere in the Ministry of War, I'll be the first to object."

"The Xiao family has fallen on hard times, so why are they still putting on airs like they're from a royal family?"

"He can just decide as he pleases? You'll see if I even acknowledge him."

As soon as he finished speaking, a soft sound came from outside the private room. The door was pushed open, and Li Shunhua stood in the doorway.

Behind her was Qin Zhenyue.

Everyone in the private room sobered up instantly.

The cup in the middle-aged military officer's hand clattered onto the table.

"Eighth, Eighth Princess."

Li Shunhua walked in, ignoring everyone else and focusing solely on the person who had just spoken:

"You just said the Xiao family has declined? Who gave you the audacity to say that?"