Chapter 119: Then There's No Choice But to Take That Step!

"What Imperial Prince means is, does the National Lord still believe in the Second Prince in his heart?"

Shang Xiaomin revealed a meaningful, profound smile.

"Whether Father Emperor believes it or not is not important at all. What's important is that the Second believes Father Emperor does or doesn't."

Having said that, he looked toward Qingmu.

"Go send word to Commander Wu of Bingma Si, say that tomorrow afternoon, this Imperial Prince invites him to tea."

Qingmu was slightly taken aback.

"Imperial Prince means..."

Shang Xiaomin slowly picked up his teacup and took a sip, the corner of his mouth curving into a cold, cruel arc.

"If the Second can just leave on his own, I can let him live a few more years. But if he wants to gamble everything on one throw, then he can only blame himself — no one else."

"Yes! Subordinate will see to it right away!"

Meanwhile, at the Second Prince's Residence.

One is that it hurts too much to want to speak, the other is that she really can't be bothered to deal with you.

"Imperial Prince! You're finally back. A group of people came earlier, rummaging through the residence everywhere, like bandits."

You quickly ordered the guards.

Or is it because of those wood carvings he received!

You were so scared your face went white, your eyes suddenly widened, covering your mouth as you cried out in shock.

Even your father and brother, because of their From-the-Dragon Merit, were promoted several ranks. Your father became a Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, and your younger brother was even elevated to Commander of the Imperial Guard.

"Hiss— that hurts!"

She can flare up, she can scold — after all, when the moment truly comes, she still needs to rely on the Gu Family to turn things around!

"The Seventh Prince's Consort is worried, and hasn't sent anyone to invite yet."

"I'm sorry, Imperial Prince, this concubine didn't mean to."

Although the Seventh Prince's fief is considered quite wealthy among the princes, it still can't compare to the prosperity of Ducheng!

Looking up at Gu-shi's innocent, bewildered gaze, Long Yunjia only felt a tightness in her chest.

Shang Xiao Hui slammed heavily onto the bed.

Shang Xiao Hui glanced at you.

Gu-shi was so frightened by that look that she kept backing away, staring at the bright red blood on her fingertips, utterly at a loss.

What's going on?

Shang Xiao Hui gripped the pillow beside him tightly, clenched his jaw hard, veins bulging at his temples, beads of sweat sliding down his face one drop at a time, occasionally letting out muffled groans of pain.

"He thinks he can still find you all?! Does he actually have or not..."

Saying this, you turned around aggressively, about to head inside.

Shang Xiao Hui let out a cold laugh.

"What?!"

He wearily laid his forehead back on the pillow, closed his eyes to rest, and didn't respond.

"The Imperial Decree has arrived—"

"If they wanted to help, they would have stepped forward earlier in front of the Imperial Prince."

Your Gu Family was the height of glory for a time. Over the years, no matter where you went, you were always the one being flattered and fawned over.

"Must have been used by someone. Even if we investigate, we probably won't find anything."

Long Yunjia naturally saw the emotion on your face, and rather disdainfully looked away.

"Enough!"

Especially after this later upheaval, when the former King/Prince transformed into the National Lord, Shang Xiao Hui became a Prince, and you leapt up to become the Seventh Prince's Consort!

Saying this, a glint flashed in his eyes.

Seeing his wretched state, tears of heartache welled up in Gu-shi's eyes.

You really don't want to leave here.

If not for your careful attentiveness, would things have come to such a state?

Gu-shi suddenly stood up.

If Father Emperor won't soften his heart before the late Consort's memorial day, then there's no choice but to take that step!

Father Emperor is truly so heartless!

"Imperial Prince, this concubine can go to Father Emperor to explain — it must be some scheming person deliberately framing us!"

"No! I'm not leaving!"

……

Hearing that the Second Prince had returned to the residence, the Second Prince's Consort Gu-shi hurried over to complain. Before she even entered the room, she started making a fuss.

Gu-shi took the handkerchief, took over the maid's position, and gently helped Shang Xiao Hui wipe his wounds.

"Heavens!"

Hearing those words, Shang Xiao Hui's heart turned cold, followed by an unstoppable surge of resentment.

"Father Emperor has already dealt with our three families. What's more, those three families were originally your people. This assessment will surely have problems — why would they make such a move unnecessarily?"

"Imperial Prince, what's wrong with you?"

It turned out Gu-shi had been so agitated by the news earlier that she accidentally pressed hard on the wound, her long nail stabbing straight into Long Yunjia's flesh.

She stumbled backward as she entered, about to fall to the ground, but was luckily caught by the maid.

After a pause, you carefully observed the Seventh Prince's expression, tentatively opening your mouth to ask.

"They're deliberately avoiding suspicion — even if we go to them, it won't help!"

"In the hall, is Father Emperor truly going to drive you out of Ducheng? Is there really no room to turn things around in this matter?"

"They're all a bunch of fence-sitters! On regular days they come bearing gifts to call on you, or invite you out for tea and flower-viewing, every one of them fawning and currying favor, but at the critical moment, not a single one can be counted on!"

"In the hall, what exactly happened?"

"What's most urgent now is to stall for time."

Does he have a brain or not?!

Shang Xiao Hui could only rise and let Madam Gu go out to receive the Imperial Decree.

She had previously received the late National Lord's arranged marriage, and as the daughter of an eighth-rank official, she married into the imperial family, becoming the legitimate wife of Shang Xiao Hui, who was then a Prince's son — it was enough to make countless noble young ladies in Ducheng grind their teeth in jealousy.

"Prince's Consort, it's not the wooden carvings you mentioned earlier — those wooden carvings had a great deal of gold hidden inside them. Censor Zhang discovered it and exposed it publicly before the National Lord. The National Lord not only had the Prince caned in the hall, he also ordered the Prince to leave Ducheng and return to his fief."

"What on earth happened? How could Father Emperor reward the Prince so gently?"

Shang Xiao Hui turned his head and roared at you.

The Seventh Prince suddenly drew a sharp breath and let out a scream.

The steward replied from the side.

"Never again may he set foot in Ducheng…"

"Are we just going to sit here and wait to be driven out of Ducheng?"

"Imperial physician, hurry and fetch the imperial physician!"

"Leave Ducheng?!"

Fine, you can accept it!

But now you want to give up everything you have in Ducheng and go to the fief?

"In the hall, what are you going to do now?!"

"Look at what a state this residence has been thrown into!"

The guard at the side loudly explained to you.

"Those few days, whenever he was free, he would go chat with his father-in-law and his elder brother."

"These eight wooden carvings were sent to me by Madam Li and the others — you go find them, bring them, and we'll confront Father Emperor face to face!"

Madam Gu calmed down.

"That Censor Zhang even took my wooden carvings away — they were sent to me by Madam Li and the others half a month ago, carved exquisitely well, truly outrageous…"

Not long after, clutching the imperial edict, she walked back in a daze, her steps unsteady.

"Get out of the way!"

"If that's how it is, then go find Madam Zhao, Madam Qian, and Madam Sun, whom you usually have good relations with, and have them plead with those people on the Prince's behalf before Father Emperor."

Shang Xiao Hui silently repeated it several times in his heart, then finally took a deep breath and tried his best to speak in a calm tone.

Before she could finish speaking, she saw the Second Prince, pale-faced, sprawled on the bed, his back a bloody mess.

"It's pointless!"

"Coming back from the street, I was pointed at and whispered about the whole way!"

Madam Gu's anger subsided, and she gritted her teeth in a furious curse.

Madam Gu hurried to Shang Xiao Hui's side, where the guard was cutting away the clothing stuck to his back with flesh and blood.

After marrying the Seventh Prince, although your Gu Family couldn't really be called a famous and illustrious house, you were the only son in the family, and had been doted on by your father and elder brothers since childhood, never having suffered any hardship.

Just then, a sharp, thin voice came from inside.