Chapter 98: Chapter Ninety-Eight: Malicious Curse

After Cheng Chengxuan left, the Cheng family's life seemed to change, yet at the same time seemed not to have changed at all.

They were still busy with those few plots behind the courtyard—planting, harvesting, planting again, then harvesting again… on and on like that.

Only Cheng Old Madam often gazed beyond the courtyard, her brows knit in thought.

Wang Shi would drift into a daze and sigh from time to time.

Yu'an still ran back and forth every day, except he no longer went to the Modern Era at night, because Cheng Sitao felt that was a waste of time.

These past few days, the little fellow had been following his Daddy around everywhere.

To be precise, shuttling between several warehouses, gathering supplies.

Days passed like this, and in the blink of an eye half a month was gone.

Cheng Chengxuan had long since arrived at Muyuan Capital.

This day, at the Fifth Prince's Residence.

Suddenly, a clatter of crashing sounds rang out from inside the Study.

"Get out, all of you, get out!"

After that furious roar, the maids and servants attending inside the Study scrambled to flee outside as if for their lives, terrified that one step too slow would earn them a slash from the enraged Fifth Prince Imperial Prince.

Meanwhile, inside the room, after a violent bout of smashing things, the fury in Shang Xiaomin's heart subsided a little.

"In previous years, for the winter hunt, Father Emperor had me and Second Prince prepare it together, but just a few days ago, he suddenly said I needn't bother with it anymore!"

"The winter hunt would be one thing!"

"For the past three years, the year-end assessment of all officials was handled by me and Second Prince together—I was in charge of civil officials, he was in charge of military officials."

At this point, a ruthless glint gradually crept into his eyes, and he clenched his teeth hard.

"But today, Father Emperor actually announced publicly in the Imperial Court that the assessment would be handed over entirely to Second Prince!"

As he spoke, he exerted force with his hand and sent the teacup beside him crashing to the floor.

"He's nothing but a roughneck who only knows how to fight wars—let him take charge, what could he possibly understand?!"

Cheng Chengxuan raised his eyes and glanced at the broken porcelain on the floor, saying nothing.

"And that fellow Second Prince—I don't know what's gotten into him lately, constantly opposing me in the Imperial Court! And making all sorts of baseless accusations out of nowhere!"

As he spoke, Shang Xiaomin clenched his fist and slammed the tabletop heavily several times.

Cheng Chengxuan, standing beside him, offered a word of counsel.

"Imperial Prince, do not be hasty."

Shang Xiaomin shot to his feet abruptly.

"Not hasty? How could this Imperial Prince not be hasty?!"

"If I allow Second Prince to keep pressing ahead of me at every turn, letting him continue to shine and gloat, how will the officials in this court view this Imperial Prince?!"

"I'm afraid it won't be long before all those Imperial Officials who support this Imperial Prince switch over to back him instead!"

Unlike his towering rage, Cheng Chengxuan's tone remained very calm.

"How the Imperial Officials view the Imperial Prince is not important—what matters is how the National Lord views the Imperial Prince."

Shang Xiaomin gave a cold snort.

"With Father Emperor treating us so differently, what else could he possibly think of me?"

"Naturally, he thinks I'm no match for Second Prince!"

Cheng Chengxuan, however, shook his head.

"I would not see it that way."

Hearing this, Shang Xiaomin's brows knit slightly.

"What do you mean?"

"The National Lord's health is deteriorating day by day. The Imperial Prince should understand the National Lord better than I do—the National Lord is not someone who will accept growing old or resign himself to fate."

Hearing these words, a dazed look came over Shang Xiaomin's face.

Yes—Father Emperor valued power above all. After all the difficulty of ascending the throne, how many years had he sat upon it?

He hadn't sat on it long enough; naturally, he wouldn't be willing to give it up.

From the very year he first ascended the throne, he had been constantly seeking out physicians and remedies. The many wandering Daoists kept in the Imperial Palace, and the endless stream of health-preserving Elixirs each month, were the best proof of that.

"So what you mean is…"

Cheng Chengxuan smiled faintly.

"Being too conspicuous now will only earn the National Lord's displeasure."

"The Imperial Prince's edge has been too sharp before now. The National Lord's move is likely because suspicion toward the Imperial Prince has already taken root in his heart. It would be best for the Imperial Prince to keep a low profile from here on."

Shang Xiaomin's expression grew somewhat ugly.

So Father Emperor's move was actually meant to suppress him!

"Then this Imperial Prince is just supposed to do nothing?"

Cheng Chengxuan shook his head.

"Having too many tasks is no blessing either. I wonder if the Imperial Prince has heard that scoundrel's saying: the more you do, the more mistakes you make."

"The civil official assessment and the winter hunt—Second Prince is not particularly familiar with either. If the Imperial Prince harbors the thought of brothers helping one another, and offers assistance from the side, putting forward a few suggestions as appropriate—"

"However, the Second Prince has just been suddenly entrusted with an important task by the National Lord and is at the height of his pride. Combined with the Second Prince's always proud and arrogant nature, I'm afraid he won't be willing to listen."

Hearing his words, a meaningful smile appeared on Shang Xiaomin's face.

Yes—the tasks in his hands had been handed off, so now he had time to make trouble for Second Prince.

Cheng Chengxuan was right. He could offer Second Prince some timely advice, preferably in front of the court officials.

That way, it would make everyone think him magnanimous and respectful of his elder brother, and earn him a good reputation into the bargain.

And in the end, if anything truly went wrong, he could wash his hands of it and even seize the chance to trample Second Prince underfoot!

Having thought this through, Shang Xiaomin laughed twice, walked out from behind the desk, and patted Cheng Chengxuan on the shoulder.

"Ha ha!"

"Brother Chengxuan truly is resourceful. With a great general like you, what great undertaking need this Imperial Prince worry about failing?"

Cheng Chengxuan lowered his head slightly.

"Your Highness overpraises me."

At this moment, the Study door was knocked.

Shang Xiaomin, in a fine mood, called out toward the outside.

"Enter."

A guard strode in quickly.

"Your Highness, our informant at the Second Prince's Residence has sent back a piece of news."

As he spoke, he glanced in Cheng Chengxuan's direction, his face showing a look of difficulty.

Cheng Chengxuan cupped his hands toward Shang Xiaomin.

"Then I shall take my leave first."

"No need!"

Shang Xiaomin reached out to stop him, then glared at the guard.

"This Imperial Prince has long said that within the residence, Brother Chengxuan may dispatch anyone as he wishes. Any news, so long as Brother Chengxuan wishes to know it, none of you may conceal it!"

"Are you treating this Imperial Prince's words as wind past your ears?!"

"After leaving, go receive punishment on your own!"

The guard hurriedly knelt on the ground, kowtowing to beg forgiveness.

"This Subordinate did not dare. Please, Your Highness, calm your wrath."

Cheng Chengxuan said a sentence.

"Your Highness, calm your wrath. This young brother is being so cautious — Your Highness ought to reward him well. What matters most is the intelligence brought back."

When the show of propriety is overdone, it only seems false.

"Still, it's Brother Chengxuan who understands reason."

Then he shouted angrily at the guard.

"Have you gone mute? Speak quickly!"

"Yes, yes, yes."

The guard, face full of terror, hurriedly reported the matter.

"Our informant sent word: the Second Prince's legitimate son has contracted smallpox, and since last night his fever has not broken. The situation is very dire."

Cheng Chengxuan furrowed his brow tightly.

"Smallpox?"

The Second Prince's legitimate son is only five years old — about the same age as Yu'an.

Thinking of Yu'an, the pity in Cheng Chengxuan's heart grew ever stronger.

He hoped that child could pull through.

"Good!"

Shang Xiaomin clapped his hands and shouted excitedly.

"With this happening, the Second Brother will certainly have no time to attend to other matters — all the more convenient for us to make moves."

As he spoke, a flash of dark light passed through Shang Xiaomin's eyes.

Speaking of which, the day the Second Brother's legitimate son was born happened to be the Father Emperor's sixtieth birthday, and that child also looks very much like the Father Emperor between his brows and eyes.

Precisely because of these two reasons, his son has enjoyed the Father Emperor's favor from the very day he was born.

If something were to happen to that child, it would strike a heavy blow against the Second Brother, and at the same time, the Father Emperor would surely be greatly affected as well.

The more Shang Xiaomin thought about it, the more excited he became.

He did not notice the flash of mockery and contempt that passed across Cheng Chengxuan's face as he looked at him.

That is merely a five-year-old child. Even if he stands opposed to the Second Prince, their positions differ.

Although the struggle for imperial power is destined to be accompanied by bloodshed and sacrifice.

But what crime does a young child have?!

How could he, the child's own uncle, harbor such deep malice to curse him?