Chapter 1560: Reaching the End of the Road

Ever since Emperor Yuanding ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, Xiao Xiao Changsheng had foreseen his own fate — it certainly wouldn't end well. To die a quick death would already be a stroke of great luck.

Taking advantage of the Emperor being busy and having no time for him, he had long since dismissed the servants in the household — what could be sold was sold, what could be given away was given away. Any ties that needed severing were severed early.

Noble Consort Xiao left the palace and moved into Wang Fu.

Upon learning that Xiao Xiao Changsheng had scattered his entire fortune, she was instantly alarmed.

She summoned him before her. "What are you doing? It hasn't come to that yet — what are you afraid of? Even if that little brat wants to deal with you, I have the late Emperor's final edict in hand. It can save your life."

"No! My dear sister, the late Emperor's edict must be used where it counts most — never waste it on me. Each use diminishes it; each use cuts its effectiveness in half. If one day the Prince of Ning runs into trouble, what will you use to save him? Don't forget — you have three sons, and all of them must be protected."

Noble Consort Xiao immediately burst into wailing sobs.

Despite her years, she was still beautiful when she cried — her charm undimmed. A born beauty.

The brother and sister had both been blessed with fine looks, and in this life had reaped every reward that beauty could bring.

Now that Emperor Jian Shi was gone, those beauty dividends had run their course.

Noble Consort Xiao sobbed on. "How can things be this hard! The late Emperor has only been gone a few days, and that little brat is already forcing you to scatter your entire fortune. We siblings are cursed with bitter fates!"

"I'm only preparing for a rainy day — perhaps I'm overthinking it. My dear sister, please stop crying. If you keep on like this, the Prince of Ning will blame me."

"How dare he! You're his own maternal uncle. If he won't even help you, how could he blame you?"

"He has his own difficulties!" Xiao Xiao Changsheng shook his head and sighed. Who could blame the Prince of Ning for not being born the legitimate son — one wrong move in the game, and the whole board is lost.

Status is fixed — there's no overturning the board!

Now, they had all become lambs awaiting the slaughter.

Noble Consort Xiao racked her brain for ideas. "Why not go to Prime Minister Xie? Last time at the Hall of Ancestral Worship, it was Prime Minister Xie who saved the Fifth."

"Prime Minister Xie will protect three nephews, but he will absolutely not protect me. Sister, stop coming up with useless ideas."

"How can you call it a useless idea? You won't know it won't work unless you try."

"No need to try — I already know it won't work."

Xiao Xiao Changsheng soothed her for a while, then ran out of patience and took his leave.

Halfway there, he ran into the Prince of Ning, who had been waiting for him on purpose.

The Prince of Ning told him, "The Emperor is impatient to deal with the three of us brothers, but Zhengshitang has blocked him every time. I reckon that before His Majesty passed, he must have given some instructions — they're merely carrying out the late Emperor's orders."

"Rest assured, Your Highness. I know my place — I will absolutely not implicate you." Xiao Xiao Changsheng said through gritted teeth.

The Prince of Ning gave an acknowledging hum. "I'm not worried about myself. Even if it really implicates me, with Father's edict in hand, the Emperor can't touch me for the time being. What I worry about is the Imperial Consort."

"I've done my best to persuade Her Ladyship, but she won't listen. When you have time, try talking to her too. And tell Her Ladyship not to keep calling him 'that little brat' — that gives people a handle. Not being called to account now doesn't mean not being called to account later. People keep a careful tally, waiting to settle scores in the future. Xie Changling and the others can protect you for a while, but not for a lifetime. What happens ten or twenty years from now — who can say?"

Xiao Xiao Changsheng was deeply pessimistic.

He had thought about putting up a hard fight, about going against Emperor Yuanding — not seeking any outcome, only seeking to vent his anger, only seeking to make Emperor Yuanding half-mad with rage. To let the other man know that plenty of people refused to accept him as Emperor.

In the end, he thought it over and decided against it.

Not worth it!

It would only invite even more frenzied and vicious retaliation, and gain him nothing he wanted. It would also implicate many innocent people.

As the saying goes, the victor becomes king, the loser becomes bandit — he accepted his defeat!

He decisively laid down his weapons and surrendered.

The Prince of Ning was different from him — at least he still had a life-preserving edict in hand. The only question was how many times it could be used, and for how long.

He naturally hoped all three nephews could live out their lives in peace and safety, but feared Emperor Yuanding would not be willing to allow it.

The Prince of Ning gazed at the horizon, hands clasped behind his back, and said softly, "The Emperor can't touch us. If nothing unexpected happens, he'll soon move against you. If you can't bear it, you may end things yourself! I'll try to arrange for you to be placed in the Heavenly Prison, to avoid the Imperial Prison."

Xiao Xiao Changsheng chuckled. "We'll talk about it when the time comes."

He took his leave of the Prince of Ning, little knowing that this would be the last time uncle and nephew would meet, and the last time the brother and sister would meet.

A few more days passed, and officers from the Six Gates came to the door.

Xiao Xiao Changsheng suddenly let out a breath of relief — the heart he had been holding suspended finally settled into place.

That day had finally arrived.

It wasn't the Embroidered Uniform Guard who came — thank heavens.

He was very cooperative. Whatever the handling officials asked him to do, he did. For a moment, they couldn't even find an excuse to make things difficult for him.

Escorted to the Heavenly Prison.

Chen Chen Guanlou personally received Xiao Xiao Changsheng and personally handled the transfer procedures.

"Lord Xiao, we meet again."

"Prison Warden Chen, a pleasure!"

Xiao Xiao Changsheng's expression was calm — he had a clear grasp of his own situation.

"This way please, Lord Xiao! This is your second visit, so you know the rules of the Heavenly Prison — I won't waste words. You follow the rules, pay the silver in full, and everything's easy on my end. As for how the higher-ups want to deal with you, I'm powerless to help — I hope you'll understand."

Xiao Xiao Changsheng nodded, indicating he understood.

He went down into the Class-A prison and entered his cell. It was a bit close to Cao Song's side — only three or four cells between them.

Passing by, Xiao Xiao Changsheng even greeted Lord Cao.

The man surnamed Cao was uncooperative. He gave a cold snort, turned his back directly, and even cursed, "Serves you right!"

Chen Chen Guanlou clicked his tongue and quipped, "Old Cao, if you're so upright, why did the late Emperor throw you into the Heavenly Prison? Clearly, you're just an insufferable person — your way of conducting yourself isn't recognized by the world!"

"Nonsense! Stop talking rubbish. I've been upright and clean my whole life — don't try to sow discord and slander me."

Chen Chen Guanlou snorted with laughter. "Fine, whatever makes you happy."

He personally escorted Xiao Xiao Changsheng into his cell. "Given your current status, naturally you won't get any special treatment — make do. However, if you pay enough silver, I can authorize an upgrade. Bed and bedding, desk and chair — everything's available. Do you want it?"

"No need!"

Xiao Xiao Changsheng looked at the spartan cell — only a single wooden plank for a bed, plus a chamber pot. Compared to the treatment during his first imprisonment, it was far worse.

"This is fine! I should adapt to my changed status."

"Lord Xiao, your composure is admirable. Stay put, just call out if you need anything."

"Has the Ministry of Justice said when they will interrogate me?" Xiao Xiao Changsheng asked.

Chen Chen Guanlou shook his head. "I'm not sure. I only just received word before you arrived."

Xiao Xiao Changsheng was a little disappointed.

"Will the Ministry of Justice use torture on me? Could you give me an idea? I want to know whether I can endure it." Only now did a faint trace of panic and helplessness show on Xiao Xiao Changsheng's face.

Chen Chen Guanlou sized the other man up for a moment, then reached a conclusion. "Most likely you can't. All these years you've lived in luxury, never known real hardship. The hundred and eight methods the interrogation chamber uses on prisoners — even I might not be able to endure them. Let alone you!"