Chapter 106: Lose and You Have to Accept It!

Upon hearing the old National Lord's words, Shang Xiaomin's heart lurched, and a flicker of panic crossed his face.

Though he was doing his best to maintain composure, his hands gripped the armrests of the chair so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

At this moment, he regretted having Cheng Chengxuan wear the uniform of a guard from the residence.

He even regretted letting Cheng Chengxuan come along.

Such a subtle shift in emotion could not, after all, escape the notice of the Second Prince, who had been watching him closely.

Shang Xiao Hui sneered inwardly.

So nervous?

This person definitely has a problem!

He stared fixedly at Cheng Chengxuan and continued to press the attack.

"What? You don't dare remove your mask — could it be you have a guilty conscience?"

"After all, there was no merit in saving the imperial carriage. Seventh Brother, pressing him like this is going too far, isn't it?"

The old National Lord's expression was unreadable; he lowered his eyes in thought.

Once I doted on him no little; now I like him no little.

I gave the Eunuch Chief a look.

The palace man knelt calmly on the ground.

As the mask was slowly removed, an utterly ordinary face — the left side burned into a pitted, hideous, terrifying ruin — was exposed before everyone.

The Seventh Prince answered with a willing and eager nod.

"Spare me, my Lord! It was your servant, your servant did not laugh! Spare me, my Lord!"

I was too hasty.

"Qiu? That is an uncommon surname."

Father Emperor is warning me — I've lost this round, and I have to accept it!

Taking in everyone's reactions, Cheng Chengxuan raised a hand and touched his hideous left cheek.

"But isn't that the color Seventh Brother is wearing?"

"Guards! Drag that vile slave who dared to scheme against her master out and behead her!"

But the next moment, she was muffled by the Imperial Guard and dragged away.

"Hurry up and drag that vile slave out!"

But at that moment, when the man removed his mask, there truly was no problem.

"The woman in purple?"

"Wait a moment!"

A timid palace maid, upon seeing his face, covered her mouth and cried out in fright.

"Seventh Brother, this is a guard from your residence. As you wished, he has removed his mask. What more do you want?"

The old National Lord suddenly gave the table a light tap.

Hmph!

Shang Xiaomin's eyes went wide, fixed intently on his movements, his whole body taut.

"Is that so?"

"This subordinate is called Qiu Shen."

The Eunuch Chief attending at the side bowed his head deeply, pretending he had heard nothing, not daring to reply.

His expression turned harsh, killing intent flashing in his eyes.

The Seventh Prince's face was ashen; he clenched his teeth and returned to sit down in his chair.

Those words made the palace man tremble violently; she struggled desperately against the guards holding her.

Hearing this, the Seventh Prince's gaze flickered slightly; he lowered his head in silence.

"What is your name?"

"Reporting to the National Lord, this servant was ordered to go find Snow Consort's personal palace maid, only to discover this woman acting furtively, her bundle stuffed with jewels and Silver Notes, attempting to escape!

The Seventh Prince watched Ren Zhe Xian, standing in the center, with a dark expression, then shot Cheng Chengxuan a glare.

"What's wrong with being a little more cautious?!"

"Guards! Go and help him!"

"This servant… this servant doesn't know."

He certainly understood — Father Emperor was, on the surface, rewarding that little eunuch, but in truth, he was singling me out.

That vicious man!

Saying so, he slowly raised his hand and removed his mask.

Seeing her like this, Ren Zhe Xian narrowed his eyes, a subtle note of threat threading his tone.

Cheng Chengxuan sighed, his tone helpless.

The matter of the little tiger — he truly was afraid.

"I am weary. All of you, leave."

Cute!

Cheng Chengxuan straightened himself properly once more.

Seeing this, the two brothers who had been arguing nonstop moments ago immediately fell silent.

"This servant… this servant remembers now!"

The guard at his side, hearing this, walked over to him.

"These two sons of mine — not one of them is easy to deal with."

"It should be like that!"

"That's right!"

"Indeed, not even a little alike."

The servant boy lowered his head even deeper.

"Hiss—"

"It was Imperial Consort (Gongzhu) Xue. She found this tiger cub at the edge of the Camp, and this servant mistook it for a big cat, which is why I brought it back to care for."

The chief eunuch knelt calmly on the ground and knocked his head against the floor—thud, thud, thud—several solid kowtows.

At the same time, he rejoiced inwardly that he had hung up the call just now; if An Luo had seen that face, it would have been disastrous.

"Your son obeys the Imperial Decree."

The old National Lord rubbed his head with one hand and waved his hand at the crowd.

"Ah—"

"How dare you!"

If there were no problem, why would Seventh be so relaxed?!

"This matter is of great importance. Concealing it is a report, but deceiving the sovereign is a grave crime—how many heads does he have to be chopped off?!"

The old National Lord's body tilted back slightly.

How could that be something a mere servant like me is not allowed to hear?

At that moment, two Imperial Guard soldiers escorted a palace man into the Tent.

"The Imperial Queen lost her composure—such audacity! How is a man without merit someone a servant like him can mock?!"

The old National Lord gave a small wave of his hand.

This is deadly!

"This servant vaguely saw the Imperial Consort (Gongzhu) talking with a woman in purple. The two were intimate in their manner, but as for what they said, this servant truly does not know."

"Seventh, what did he mean by that just now?!"

Ren Zhexian looked at me and asked back, his tone carrying anger.

"Thank you, National Lord."

"Seventh Brother, don't take it slow. Big Brother was just asking casually."

The words that came before, the old National Lord had not spoken out.

Cheng Chengxuan wore an innocent expression.

But then again, from the National Lord's meaning, it seemed he was not satisfied with either the Seventh Prince or the Second Prince?

"The guards in the Seventh Prince's Residence have rendered meritorious service in saving His Majesty. Reward: ten thousand taels of gold, ten bolts of silk and satin, and one precious saber."

"For no reason at all, why would Imperial Consort (Gongzhu) Xue go to the Camp to circle around?"

Ren Zhexian gritted his teeth and glared at me.

The servant boy glanced up, then quickly lowered his head again, stammering out.

The swarming crowd departed, and the Tent instantly fell quiet.

The Seventh Prince suddenly stood up, his face full of disbelief.

"Don't—"

Ren Zhexian cast a half-smiling glance at the Seventh Prince.

The old National Lord propped his forehead with one hand and leaned back against the chair again.

In his mind, the scene from earlier on the high platform suddenly appeared—when he heard Seventh's victory, Imperial Consort (Gongzhu) Xue's elated expression, and when Seventh was injured, Imperial Consort (Gongzhu) Xue's undisguised worry…

The most crucial point was that Father Emperor also had his own considerations, which was why he had tacitly allowed his aggressive pressing.

"What exactly is going on?!"

Staring furiously at the chief eunuch who had lost his composure just now.

"Oh, I see—it's not easy to pick, is it?"

"It seems the Second Prince is determined to tear open my wound."

Damn it, how did this servant boy see it?!

It had to be said, the human-skin masks made by the Dark Pavilion were quite lifelike.

I had intended to take the chance to drag Seventh into the water, but I never expected to be outmaneuvered by him instead!

Shang Xiao Hui lowered his head slightly,

That was a bargain for them!

The Seventh Prince immediately slapped the armrest and stood up.

The palace man began to speak, trembling.

Although the guard was suspicious, he had saved Father Emperor in front of everyone—that was a fact. To keep harping on it would also be slapping Father Emperor in the face.

The next moment, he let out a sigh of relief.

And hearing those words, and recalling what Qingmu had said earlier, Ren Zhexian's eyes shifted, and he cast a meaningful glance in Ren Zhexian's direction.

Hearing you mention the two words "Imperial Consort (Gongzhu) Xue," the old National Lord's face clearly showed a trace of impatience.

The old National Lord leaned sideways in the spacious chair, his weary, aged face darkening, a storm brewing in his eyes.

"National Lord, spare my life! It wasn't this servant who did it! The matter of the tiger cub truly has nothing to do with this servant!"

"If it weren't only the two of us…"

"As for Seventh, for handling affairs poorly, I fine him one year's salary. The matters here will be handed to Seventh; he need not concern himself further. Roll back to your residence and reflect behind closed doors. Without my Imperial Decree, you are not permitted to set a single step outside the residence!"