Chapter 22: Righteous and Bold

He stepped out the door, gave an order to keep watch over the study and let no one enter, then walked toward the front hall.

A moment later he entered the hall and saw a eunuch sitting in a chair drinking tea. At the sight of him, the eunuch hurriedly rose and bowed: "Your servant Tian Xi pays respects to the Prince."

Zhao Ti nodded: "The Empress Dowager summoned me?"

The eunuch said: "The Empress Dowager's verbal decree orders the Prince to enter the palace, saying she has matters to inquire about."

Zhao Ti smiled slightly: "Then let's go now."

Two quarter-hours later, he returned once more to the Imperial City, still entering through the Left Side Gate. This time, however, he did not head toward the Cining Hall but went instead to the Ciming Hall.

The Ciming Hall was where Empress Dowager Xiang resided, and it was equally sizable. Empress Dowager Xiang had a forceful temperament and was disliked by the women of the inner palace; only Zhao Ji, because of his mother Lady Chen, regarded her as a support.

Entering the hall, he saw Empress Dowager Xiang seated in the center, with Zhao Ji beside her speaking in a low voice. At the sight of him, Zhao Ji hastily fell silent, turned his face aside, and deliberately refused to look.

Zhao Ti's expression did not change. He bowed to Empress Dowager Xiang and said: "Did Aunt summon me?"

Empress Dowager Xiang's face was expressionless: "Prince Yan, Prince Duan has come to me to complain, saying you forced your way into his residence, extorted and blackmailed him for property, showed no brotherly affection, and threatened and intimidated him. Is there such a matter?"

Zhao Ti blinked and shook his head: "There is no such matter."

"You—you lie!" Zhao Ji, hearing this, immediately turned his face and said angrily: "Aunt, he lies! He led men into his son's residence like bandits from the mountains, outlaws from the greenwood. All his son's guests were scared off, his son's face lost all honor, and in the end he extorted over a dozen of his son's beloved items before leaving!"

Empress Dowager Xiang's face showed displeasure: "Prince Yan, do you still intend to conceal it here before me?"

Zhao Ti said: "It is not concealment. There truly was no extortion, nor any intimidation of Prince Duan. It was Prince Duan who first brought men to beat the guards and servants at my gate, arrogant and domineering, wild and unreasonable. That is why I went over to demand the medicine fees—perfectly fair and reasonable."

"What fairness and reasonableness!" Zhao Ji said angrily from the side: "You injured so many of my men too. How is it that you can demand medicine fees for your subordinates, but what about mine?"

Zhao Ti stroked his chin: "Prince Duan can demand them from me as well. Didn't you never once ask from beginning to end?"

Zhao Ji was stunned, then gritted his teeth: "Then pay me the medicine fees now. You injured so many of my men—the fees must be doubled to be enough!"

Zhao Ti said: "Fine."

Zhao Ji said: "When will you bring it?"

Zhao Ti shook his head: "I won't."

Zhao Ji froze, then flushed with rage: "Prince Yan, are you toying with me?"

Zhao Ti said: "I only told you to demand it; I never said I would give it to you. Where is the toy?"

Zhao Ji was so angry his face turned green. He looked toward Empress Dowager Xiang: "Aunt, please stand up for your son. This—this Prince Yan is truly bullying people too far…"

Empress Dowager Xiang said coldly: "Prince Yan, this is your fault. I need not inquire into the cause. Since both sides suffered injuries, why did you alone go demand medicine fees? Prince Duan refused you, and you brought men to chase him all over his residence, his dignity utterly lost, and you extorted and blackmailed his property. Is this the conduct of a Prince?"

Zhao Ji added from the side: "Aunt, I was not being blackmailed at the time. I glared at him coldly, and he drew out a wind-like swift blade to threaten me, looking like a vicious fiend. In the end I had no choice but to let him take the property."

Zhao Ti's mouth twitched: "A wind-like swift blade? Prince Duan, have you listened to too many operas, or read too many storybooks? Where did such a thing happen?"

Zhao Ji said: "In any case the things were taken by you. Now that Aunt is upholding justice, you must return them all and compensate me as well!"

Zhao Ti said: "No."

"You!" Zhao Ji wanted to rush forward to argue, but fear held him back. He could only look toward Empress Dowager Xiang: "Aunt, you see, Prince Yan is nothing but a bandit, an outlaw…"

Empress Dowager Xiang snorted: "Prince Yan, is such conduct not evil? Hurry back to your residence and return Prince Duan's property!"

Zhao Ti frowned: "Aunt's words weigh heavily. You do not ask the cause, only demand the result, favoring Prince Duan, acting rashly and speaking evil. Please forgive me, I cannot agree!"

"Prince Yan, what are you saying!" Empress Dowager Xiang's face darkened as she said angrily: "I have no sons of my own; you are all sons by concubines. I treat you all equally—how could I favor any one?"

"Aunt favors Prince Duan!" Zhao Ti said calmly.

"Then tell me where I favored him! If you cannot say, I will drag you before the Emperor and the Grand Empress Dowager and let them hear what kind of unfilial, defiant words you speak, and whether they befit a Prince!"

Zhao Ti said slowly: "Prince Duan compensated my subordinates' medicine fees. At the time it was mutual consent, with no coercion. Now you demand it back on Prince Duan's behalf—Prince Duan goes back on his word, and Aunt backs him up. Is that not favoritism?"

"You!" Empress Dowager Xiang, hearing this, rose from her chair with a "thud": "What nerve! Are you saying I am extorting you?"

Zhao Ti said nothing, his face wearing an expression that said exactly that. He did not care about offending Empress Dowager Xiang. During Emperor Shenzong's reign, she had suppressed palace attendants, including his mother Consort Xing. Apart from her own trusted circle, nearly everyone had suffered her punishment.

If Zhao Xu were not present, with no legitimate heir, the eldest would inherit. Empress Dowager Xiang would surely find ways to find fault with him and elevate Prince Duan. With no dispute over legitimacy, the eldest was unreliable—history had long proven this. At that point he and the other would be mortal enemies.

As for now, even if Gao Taotao passed away, the other party could not do anything to him. Once Zhao Xu took personal rule, he would not give her a single thread of power. Zhao Xu's relationship with her was also poor, because Empress Dowager Xiang had likewise punished Zhao Xu's mother Consort Zhu, more than once.

"You forced Prince Duan, took his property and won't return it. I am upholding justice, yet in your mouth it becomes me extorting you?" Empress Dowager Xiang was furious, reaching out to slam the table.

"Aunt, I said before—that was Prince Duan compensating my subordinates' medicine fees. At the time it was mutual consent, the money matter settled. I did not expect Prince Duan to go back on his word and bring up old accounts. That is no conduct for a gentleman; I am ashamed to call him brother." Zhao Ti spoke slowly.

"I don't want to be with this bandit either!" Zhao Ji said angrily.

"Prince Yan, you keep saying mutual consent—nothing but empty talk. And you dare say Prince Duan is not a gentleman?" Empress Dowager Xiang was beside herself with rage.

Zhao Ti looked at the two of them, then suddenly gave a light laugh. He reached into his robe and pulled out a sheet of paper, which he unfolded to reveal clear black characters on white paper and a bright red fingerprint.

He said unhurriedly: "Aunt, this is the receipt and proof written to me by Prince Duan at the time the money matter was settled. It states clearly: given voluntarily, as medicine fees, signed and fingerprinted. The evidence is irrefutable!"

Empress Dowager Xiang's body stiffened at the words. Her gaze swept over the paper, and her face turned iron-gray as she turned to Zhao Ji: "Prince Duan, is this something you signed and fingerprinted?"

Zhao Ji stared blankly at the receipt, then suddenly realized the purpose behind Zhao Ti having him write it at the time. He was instantly furious and shouted: "Prince Yan, you black-hearted bandit! You schemed to make me sign this just for this moment, didn't you? You Sima Zhongda type…"

Zhao Ti snorted: "The evidence is here. No need for more words."

Empress Dowager Xiang said nothing, her face so dark it seemed about to drip water. Zhao Ji tried to speak but was coldly cut off by her: "Shut up!"

Seeing this, Zhao Ti smiled slightly: "Aunt, since there is nothing else, I shall leave the palace." Without waiting for Empress Dowager Xiang's reply, he turned and walked out of the hall.

Behind him, Zhao Ji stamped his feet in rage: "Aunt, Aunt, this warrior is so rude. This matter cannot be let go so easily."

Empress Dowager Xiang took a deep breath, suppressed the fury in her heart, sat back down in her chair, and said calmly: "You signed and fingerprinted it yourself. What else can be done?"

Zhao Ji said: "Even if I don't want those things back, this grievance is hard to swallow. He brought men into his son's residence, drove off the guests, chased and intimidated me—so overbearing and unreasonable. How can we let it drop so easily!"

Empress Dowager Xiang was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice: "It is fine. I will have the Court of the Imperial Clan handle this matter. I will absolutely not let him get away with it so easily, sitting pretty and carefree!"

Zhao Ti left the palace and returned to his residence. By then the sky was growing dark. He went to the study, took up a long sword and a short sword, then summoned Zheng Fu, Bai Zhan, and others. After giving instructions, he went to the secret chamber.

The secret chamber was spacious—it was where he usually practiced martial arts. The space was vast enough to swing weapons freely, and it was fully furnished with tables, chairs, and a bed, so he could rest there when tired.

He walked to the stone couch at the very back and sat down, then took out the book containing the Phantom Yin Finger Cultivation Technique, gathered his focus, and gently opened it.