Chapter 199: Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Nine

Watching his expression grow uglier by the moment, the Empress also knew that bringing this up now was no different from sprinkling salt on her son's wounds.

Compared to a grandson who didn't exist, her son still weighed more in her heart after all — she sighed softly within.

Enough. In any case, with only Hao'er as Prince now, that throne wasn't going anywhere!

Thinking this, her tone softened considerably.

"Alright, alright, this mother won't mention it then."

That's more like it.

The Crown Prince's expression eased considerably.

"What we should be worrying about right now is the Cheng Family Army's rebellion."

"Hmph!"

Speaking of this, he suddenly let out a cold snarl and said through gritted teeth.

"They called the Cheng Family Army the guardian gods of Da Yin's people — and now look, haven't they still rebelled?"

"And they chose to raise their troops in the chaos precisely when Da Yin had just gone through two great wars and hadn't yet recovered its vitality."

"What army of loyalty and righteousness?!"

"I say they're nothing but a pack of despicable villains who kicked us when we were down!"

Saying this, he clenched his fist and slammed it heavily against the table.

"Bang!"

"And that old undying creature surnamed Zhou — I spared his miserable life, and he doesn't even know to be grateful. I refuse to believe he hadn't noticed anything amiss beforehand."

"If only he had sent word back to the Capital earlier that the Cheng Family Army was making unusual moves, how would we have ended up so passive?"

"Enough. At this point, no amount of anger will help."

The Empress's expression was also very ugly, but she still offered a gentle word of comfort.

"This matter is indeed rather strange."

"But have any other messages come back? Who is leading the troops?"

The Crown Prince, however, didn't seem to mind at all.

"Besides that fellow surnamed Xu or whatever, who else could it be?"

"Could it really be him?"

The Empress furrowed her brows, her face lost in thought.

"Imperial Prince!"

Suddenly, a young Eunuch came running over, gasping for breath.

"This Servant greets the Empress Dowager, and greets the Imperial Prince."

The Empress glanced at the newcomer.

"Aren't you Little Chengzi, Stone Chief Steward's disciple who serves by the Xiyue Emperor's side?"

Little Chengzi nodded respectfully.

"The Empress Dowager has a good memory. This Servant is indeed Little Chengzi."

Saying this, he looked anxiously toward the Crown Prince.

"Imperial Prince, the Xiyue Emperor wishes to see you. Please hurry over."

The Empress lowered her eyes in thought.

"Since the Xiyue Emperor has commanded it, Hao'er ought to go immediately, but he just received a bit of a fright earlier. A calming soup will be brought over very soon — would a brief moment be acceptable?"

Little Chengzi's face showed difficulty.

"This…"

The Empress tilted her head slightly and gave Hua Ru a look.

"Why don't you quickly invite Eunuch Little Cheng to have a cup of tea."

Hua Ru stepped forward, led Little Chengzi a couple of steps outside, then took out a pouch containing silver and pressed it into his hand.

"Eunuch Little Cheng, has Your Majesty's health improved any at the moment? Is his mood still fairly stable?"

Little Chengzi glanced around, then swiftly tucked the silver into his sleeve.

After doing this, he shook his head and sighed.

"Sigh, Your Majesty is in a fury right now."

Inside, hearing this, the Empress and the Crown Prince — mother and son — exchanged a glance.

Hua Ru spoke again.

"The Cheng Family Army truly has boundless audacity."

Little Chengzi thought of what he had vaguely overheard outside the hall earlier.

"That's only one part of it."

Hua Ru's eyes flashed.

"Oh? What do you mean?"

Thinking of his own Master's intentions toward the lady before him, Little Chengzi leaned in a bit closer and added another word.

"Isn't it all because of the Sun and Meng families?"

"His Majesty sent Imperial Physicians to attend to the two lords, but who would have thought — the Sun Residence and the Meng Residence had long since been emptied of people!"

"When His Majesty received the news, he flew into a terrible rage."

Hua Ru was utterly astonished.

"Both families — completely gone?"

Little Chengzi sighed.

"Exactly."

Inside, hearing the two of them talking, the Crown Prince was frantic with worry.

"Mother Empress, we've had people watching the Sun and Meng families the whole time — so many people, how could they have vanished without a trace? Someone must be helping them in secret!"

He had originally wanted to use the Sun and Meng families' ties with the Cheng Family to negotiate with the Cheng Family Army.

But now, those two families have actually escaped!

And right under their noses, despite all the informants they'd planted openly and covertly, they slipped out of the Capital without a sound!

No wonder Father Emperor is furious.

What a disgrace!

They had so many people watching in secret, and those two were high-ranking court ministers no less — yet they just slipped away right under their eyelids.

If word got out, where would the royal family's face be?

The Crown Prince was troubled, the Crown Prince was depressed.

When he saw Father Emperor later, he'd surely get another thorough scolding.

Could he just not go?

Just then, the Calming Soup was also delivered.

The Empress personally carried it over to her son.

"Your Father Emperor is in a foul mood. If he scolds you a few times, just take it. Try to coax him more. This is a critical juncture, and your Father Emperor's health is far worse than before — don't let him work himself into another fit."

If that old thing got so angry he dropped dead, he'd be rid of his troubles for good.

But if he left them, mother and son, with a pile of messes, that would be troublesome.

Mother and son exchanged a glance, each understanding perfectly.

The Crown Prince's tone was heavy.

"Mother Empress need not worry. Your son knows what he's doing."

Having said that, he picked up the Calming Soup before him, took a deep breath, and downed it in one go.

With all the bearing of a man drinking his last cup before execution.

Setting the bowl down heavily, the Crown Prince turned and strode out of the hall.

……

Shen Hao had just stepped into the Emperor's sleeping quarters when a teacup came flying at him and smashed at his feet.

"Smash!"

He dodged quickly, but the tea still splashed onto his instep.

He forced himself to endure the discomfort and walked over to bow to the Shunhe Emperor.

"This son greets Father Emperor."

"Look at the brilliant idea you came up with!"

"Now look — we've lost face right in front of the Muyuan people!"

The Crown Prince shrank his neck and muttered softly, unconvinced.

"This son actually thinks it's not bad having the Muyuan generals stay in the Capital. No matter how you look at it, they're some help, aren't they?"

There was one more thing he didn't dare say.

When the proposal was made to invite the Muyuan Kingdom's soldiers into the Capital to receive rewards, Father Emperor, you agreed too. Now that something's gone wrong, you blame it all on me.

I'm so wronged I could die!

Hearing this, the Shunhe Emperor thought it over.

Hmm, there does seem to be some sense in that?

……

Elsewhere, Cheng Chengxuan sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, gazing at the sky in a slight daze.

He wondered how things were going on Chu Yuan's end.

That fellow wouldn't have gotten so worked up that he killed the Shunhe Emperor outright, would he?

The Cheng Family did want revenge, but the prerequisite was to clear the stain of colluding with the enemy and betraying the nation. He couldn't let his two uncles bear that crime forever, spat upon by the world.

Besides, he wanted to win back justice for himself!

Otherwise, why would they have gone through such a huge detour?

Suddenly, six Carrier Pigeons — three grey and three white — flew overhead.

At the sight, Cheng Chengxuan's brow smoothed out.

It seemed he'd succeeded, and had even left the palace smoothly.

Now they just had to find a chance to meet and discuss the next plan.

"Prince's Son!"

Cheng Xin and Cheng Yao walked over.

"This Subordinate happened to discover that Shi Xiao, the one by General Lu's side, seems to be secretly investigating whether anyone left the inn without permission today."

"This wouldn't be aimed at us, would it?"

Cheng Chengxuan, however, looked perfectly calm.

"No matter. Whatever he needs to know, he'll find out sooner or later anyway."

"Prince's Son!"

Just as the three of them were talking, Shi Xiao suddenly walked over.

"Prince's Son, our General requests your presence."

Hearing this, the three exchanged a glance.

Cheng Chengxuan stood up, and Cheng Xin and the other man prepared to follow.

"Wait a moment!"

Shi Xiao reached out and stopped the two of them.

"My general has only invited Prince's Son Sheng alone — he never said anything about seeing you two."

Cheng Xin stepped to the side, preparing to walk around him.

"We're just following along, we won't go in."

"That won't do either!"

The moment these words came out, the several Muyuan Kingdom soldiers he had brought with him blocked the two of them.

Then Shi Xiao brought his five fingers together and extended his hand forward.

"Prince's Son Sheng, if you please."

Cheng Chengxuan gave Cheng Xin and the other man a reassuring look.

"It's fine. You two just wait here."

"Prince's Son!"

Cheng Xin hopped about anxiously behind him.

"What do we do? They won't hurt the Prince's Son, will they?"