The Demon Prince

Jinhua Palace is not close to the front hall.

The palace path leads to one floor after another, with towering red walls that seem to oppress one.

The gold bricks on the ground shone brightly under the blazing sun.

The young eunuch leading the way kept his head down the whole way, but his steps were quite light.

Xiao Xingyue followed behind, looking around as he walked.

The front hall was a scene of swords and spears, and the harem was no less dangerous.

Especially this Consort Shu.

To raise a princess with such a temperament under the emperor's care and to maintain a high position in the palace, one must have some skill.

After a cup of tea, Xiao Xingyue had just stepped into the gate of Jinhua Palace when he was greeted by a fragrant aroma.

The aroma is neither sweet nor cloying, but subtle and steady, deep and rich. Just by smelling it, you can tell that the people who live here lead a refined life.

Further inside, the hall was not sparsely furnished, yet everything was imposing.

The screen was embroidered with the colors of spring in the mountains and rivers, the jade vase on the table held newly picked flower branches, and even the soft carpet on the floor exuded an understated elegance.

Compared to this, the Prince's Palace in Zhenwang is practically a remote and impoverished place.

"Today I've somehow stumbled into the imperial palace..."

When Xiao Xingyue entered the main hall, the first thing he saw was the woman sitting at the head of the table.

The woman was around forty years old, but she was very well-maintained, with fair skin that subtly revealed the glow of her tender flesh, and her skin was so smooth and delicate it seemed like it could be broken with a touch.

She wore a dark gold palace dress with fine, layered folds that did not appear cluttered.

She wore only a few jade hairpins in her hair, without any jewels, yet her presence was more imposing than a head full of golden phoenix hairpins.

Her features were not sharp, but rather soft; Li Wangshu's eyebrows and eyes were somewhat inherited from hers.

But that gentleness is a quality that only those who have long held high positions possess.

Xiao Xingyue stood in front of her, not concerned with whether the woman was beautiful or not, but with what kind of trap was about to be set up!

"Greetings, Consort Shu..."

Consort Shu slowly raised her hand, and all the palace maids in the hall withdrew.

Only then did she look at Xiao Xingyue properly: "In the court, you kept calling him Your Majesty and Father, so why don't you change your address here with me? Sit down."

Xiao Xingyue didn't stand on ceremony and sat down in a very natural and generous manner.

Hot tea has been prepared on the table.

Xiao Xingyue took a sip. The aroma of the tea didn't develop quickly; it was bitter at first, then smooth. "Good tea."

Consort Shu looked at him with a faint smile on her lips: "I have heard about the poems in court today. The young master is very talented. I was wrong about him before."

When it comes to praising someone, it depends on who is praising them.

When someone like Consort Shu praises someone, it doesn't sound like praise at all; it's more like she's laying down a soft cushion for you first.

Beneath the surface, a sharp edge... Xiao Xingyue picked up his teacup and took another sip:

"Your Majesty flatters me."

"However, talent is one thing, but how to walk the path is another. You know better than anyone the current situation of the Xiao family."

Your father is no longer here.

Your eight elder brothers are also gone.

"Now you're the only one left in the King's Palace. Like a whale falling and countless others springing up, those outside are all waiting to be devoured!"

She speaks as if she's having a casual chat, but every word she utters cuts deep into your bones, like someone with chronic rheumatism—soft and weak, yet excruciatingly painful.

Xiao Xingyue did not respond and continued listening.

"The Crown Prince is exceptionally intelligent and should understand that having one more friend is always better than having one more enemy."

I still have some influence within the Hanlin Academy.

If I am willing to pave the way for you, bring you into the literary circle, and say a few words for you before His Majesty.

You'll have a much easier time in Kyoto from now on.

Xiao Xingyue calmly put down his teacup and smiled faintly.

"My mother-in-law is so good to me, so what are the conditions?"

At this point, Consort Shu's gentle words finally paused, and her gaze truly hardened:

"There's only one condition: you voluntarily break off your engagement with Wang Shu, be a good prince, and live your own quiet life."

Well done, Consort Shu!

First, offer incentives, provide a way out, offer connections, offer access to intellectual networks, and even offer a chance to end things gracefully.

If it were Xiao Xingyue from before yesterday, he might have actually agreed.

But not now.

He's already turned the tables; if he backs down now, he'll be doomed.

"What if I don't agree?"

"You won't agree? That just means you're not as smart as I thought."

Consort Shu changed her posture, leaning against the table with one hand, making her graceful figure even more alluring, and her words even colder.

"It is true that you have made a name for yourself today, but you should also know that no matter how great the world is, the imperial power is the greatest."

You've offended not just anyone, but His Majesty!

His Majesty, out of consideration for the entire court, has temporarily refrained from annulling the engagement with the Xiao family. However, his true intention is to ensure you embarrass yourself during the national ceremony, thus ensuring the Xiao family's utter ruin!

Consort Shu recounted her story in detail.

The steam rising from Xiao Xingyue's cup of tea only served to accentuate the chill in Consort Shu's words.

"Your father and brothers fought their whole lives, and in the end, you're the only heir left in the Xiao family. If you die an unjust death, tell me, is it worth it?"

After listening, Xiao Xingyue suddenly burst into laughter:

"Your Highness, if any of you had come to me to discuss annulment of the engagement before yesterday, I, Xiao Xingyue, would not have clung to your Li family."

But your royal family cares about its reputation and is afraid of losing the trust of the world.

So you went ahead with the wedding, and the bride still got married, but you don't want my Xiao family to have an easy time!

Xiao Xingyue looked at Consort Shu, his gaze unwavering:

So you'd rather destroy me!

If the Ninth Princess were to divorce me today, how would the court officials and the people of the world view me? How would they view the Xiao family?

A joke about being kicked out of the room on your wedding night and being disliked by your wife!

The Xiao family, a destitute family where a princess had just married into the family, only to have the engagement annulled the very next day.

At that time, the last vestiges of dignity of my Xiao family will probably fall into the mud and be trampled on by everyone!

You are not unaware of this outcome, but you do not care because of your own purposes.

Am I right?

The hall fell silent; Consort Shu remained silent.

Because what Xiao Xingyue said was true.

This was a plan she and Li Wangshu devised, and it was tacitly approved by the emperor.

The purpose was to break off the marriage agreement that the emperor had promised to the Xiao family in exchange for the throne!

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Not only was Gu Linyuan, this pawn, rendered useless, but Xiao Xingyue also made a name for himself as a genius in the court!

After a long pause, Consort Shu slowly said, "This matter is due to a breach of duty between me and the royal family."

Xiao Xingyue's serious expression suddenly turned into a smile. "Mother-in-law, you flatter me. The past is the past. From now on, we are family, so let's not talk like strangers."

Consort Shu's heart skipped a beat, knowing that Xiao Xingyue wasn't forgiving the royal family, but was determined to confront them head-on. "Offending the entire royal family, have you thought this through?"

Xiao Xingyue stood up and cupped his hands in greeting to her: "One month from now, I, Xiao Xingyue, will either become the son-in-law of the Li royal family, or I will suffer a terrible fate. Whatever the outcome, I will accept it. Your Highness, please wait patiently."

After saying this, he bowed.

"The laundry needs to be collected at home, so I must take my leave."

Xiao Xingyue turned around, and the wind blowing in from outside the palace door only lifted a corner of his robe.

She watched the figure step out of the palace gate, her face remained solemn for a long time, and then she suddenly smiled.

Li Wangshu slowly walked out from behind the Jinhua Palace.

"Mother! Why are you still laughing? That scoundrel said such infuriating things, aren't you angry?"

She sat down next to Consort Shu, her skirt swirling so violently that even her hairpins and breasts trembled. "That bastard talks so infuriatingly, aren't you angry? He even dares to challenge our entire royal family! Doesn't he have a death wish?!"

Seeing her daughter's expression, Consort Shu's smile deepened: "Shu'er, this ninth son of the Xiao family is more interesting than I imagined."

Upon hearing this, Li Wangshu's bright eyes widened: "Mother, why are you still speaking up for him?!"

Consort Shu raised her hand and tucked the stray strand of hair behind her ear back into place.

"I originally thought that among the nine sons of the Xiao family, he was the most useless. People outside also laughed at him for being good-for-nothing. Who would have thought that he was not only talented but also had courage, which is quite similar to your father when he was young."

Li Wangshu was stunned: "How can he be compared to Father Emperor!"

Consort Shu smiled and said, "You're still young. You haven't seen your father when he was young. He was a man who wouldn't give way to anyone. One moment he could be laughing and drinking with someone, and the next he could be killing them!"

"Your husband, today I saw a bit of his shadow in me."

Li Wangshu pursed her lips: "Really?... I don't care, he's still really annoying!"

Consort Shu smiled and patted her hand: "Whether he's annoying or not, let's put that aside for now. Whether he's good enough for you or not depends on what he does over the next month."

Li Wangshu pursed her red lips and remained silent.

The fire in my heart wasn't as pure as it had been before.

The image that kept flashing through her mind was still that person in the imperial court.

The poem surpasses Gu Linyuan's sharp edge.

His crazy rage in publicly confronting the emperor.

And there was that unyielding spirit she displayed in front of her mother just now.

This is so annoying. How did this person suddenly become like this?

Seeing her like this, Consort Shu smiled gently, already knowing what was going on.

This daughter probably changed her opinion of Xiao Xingyue overnight.

Consort Shu raised her eyes to look outside the palace, a faint smile playing on her lips. "A month from now, I'm very curious to see if Xiao Xingyue can turn the tide!"