“Please forgive me, Your Highness. I was careless and was discovered by the Commandery Princess.”
Yunxiao looked utterly ashamed as he pleaded with Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi lifted his gaze from the book in his hands.
“You were discovered?”
“Yes! This subordinate knows he was wrong.”
Yunxiao himself could not understand how Duoduo had discovered him when he had been so careful.
He had been unable to figure it out the entire journey back.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared at the corners of Xiao Yi’s lips.
“Mm. Tell me first, what exactly did you hear?”
Yunxiao hurriedly reported everything he had heard to Xiao Yi, without leaving out a single detail.
“You were discovered, but Duoduo continued talking to Shitou?” Xiao Yi asked again.
“Yes.” Yunxiao lowered his head dejectedly.
Xiao Yi pondered for a moment.
“From now on, you don’t need to keep watch over the Commandery Princess anymore,” Xiao Yi said slowly.
“All right. You may leave.”
After saying that, Xiao Yi lowered his head and returned to the book in his hands.
“Ah?” Yunxiao raised his head in confusion.
“Your Highness, this subordinate knows he was wrong. I am willing to accept punishment!”
“I’ll go receive ten strokes of the military cane right now. Or perhaps twenty…”
Before Yunxiao could finish, he saw Xiao Yi staring at him with an amused yet unreadable expression.
Yunxiao lowered his head, becoming even more dejected.
“Your Highness, this subordinate understands.”
“I’ll immediately arrange for someone else to come and attend to you.”
“I’ve learned so much from following Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Your Highness, for never disdaining me and for teaching me so many things.”
“Now that I’m leaving, I won’t be able to serve Your Highness anymore. Allow me to kowtow to you!”
Yunxiao’s eyes grew slightly hot.
He truly did not want to leave, but since he had made a mistake, he had no choice.
Xiao Yi put down the book in his hands and watched as Yunxiao earnestly kowtowed three times.
Then he saw Yunxiao rise with his head hanging low and walk toward the exit.
“Are you sulking because I’m dismissing you?” Xiao Yi’s cold voice rang out.
Yunxiao stopped. “This subordinate wouldn’t dare!”
“Wouldn’t dare? Then where are you planning to go?”
“And who are you planning to arrange to attend to me?”
Hearing what sounded like a hint of amusement in Xiao Yi’s voice, Yunxiao turned around in disbelief and cautiously glanced at him.
Sure enough, he saw a trace of a smile flash across Xiao Yi’s face before vanishing without a trace.
“Your Highness?” Yunxiao was bewildered.
“This subordinate made a mistake. Didn’t you say that you no longer wanted me to work for you?”
“Before I leave, I’ll certainly arrange for an appropriate guard to serve you…”
Yunxiao’s throat tightened.
“Yunxiao, have you become stupid lately?” Xiao Yi rubbed his fingertips.
“When did I ever say I didn’t want you anymore?”
“What? Do you think I should have you beaten with dozens of strokes before you’ll be satisfied?”
“Perhaps I’ve been too lenient?”
Yunxiao was completely stunned.
What did His Highness mean by that?
Had he misunderstood him?
“Your Highness, didn’t you just say that you no longer wanted this subordinate to supervise the Commandery Princess?”
Xiao Yi nodded.
“Yes, I did.”
“Have you forgotten what your duties are?”
“All right. I have no patience to waste words with you.”
“Since you want to be beaten, go and receive ten strokes yourself!”
Although Yunxiao was somewhat slow-witted, he had the virtue of being obedient.
Besides, given the current situation, Xiao Yi did not dare to casually replace the people around him.
The moment Yunxiao heard this, his face lit up with joy.
Ten strokes were no more than a tickle to him.
His Highness was worried that he would be injured!
With a thump, he dropped to his knees and kowtowed heavily to Xiao Yi.
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
Yunxiao left cheerfully, while Xiao Yi could not help rubbing his brows.
Was there really someone so willing to be beaten?
Xiao Yi shook his head.
The reason he no longer wanted Yunxiao to monitor Duoduo was that, now that Duoduo knew she was being watched, she would certainly find ways to guard against it.
Setting aside whether Yunxiao would be able to hear anything else, if Duoduo’s feelings were hurt, it would be a loss far outweighing the gain.
His original intention had been to make sure Duoduo would not mishandle matters if she encountered trouble.
Now that she knew, there was no longer any need for him to continue.
At worst, if Duoduo caused a major disaster, he could simply clean up the mess afterward.
With that thought, Xiao Yi closed the book in his hands and picked up the secret letter beside him.
At the court session the following day, Prince Rui was indeed met with opposition from the assembled ministers.
After a heated dispute, the Fifth Prince was appointed to oversee the state.
Prince Rui was extremely unwilling to accept this.
He wanted to see how Fifth Brother would deal with this mess.
The first thing the Fifth Prince did after taking charge of the court was promote an experienced veteran to Minister of War.
He also issued an edict in court declaring that he would personally lead an expedition against the Xiongnu and recover the lost cities.
The ministers exchanged glances.
After a moment, one of them immediately stepped forward to object.
Following another round of discussion, they ultimately settled on a solution.
The newly appointed Minister of War would serve as commander in chief and lead the troops out the following day.
News of the court session soon reached the desks of all the princes.
Xiao Yi received it as well.
He glanced at it and tossed it aside.
It was more or less what he had expected.
But if the imperial court sent troops out so quickly, could the provisions keep up?
Since ancient times, whenever troops went to war, provisions had always gone ahead of them.
He had never heard of soldiers setting out before the provisions.
Xiao Yi pondered for a moment.
It seemed that the Fifth Prince was merely putting on a show for the common people.
Xiao Yi could not help shaking his head.
At Prince Ling’s residence, Prince Ling handed the news to his attendant.
“Read it aloud to them.”
The attendant bent over to take it and read through the contents of the court session.
One of the advisers immediately understood.
“Crown Prince, provisions have always preceded the army when going to war.”
“Yet the Fifth Prince has done the opposite this time.”
“I suspect the provisions will leave the city afterward.”
“Why don’t we take this opportunity to lend a hand?” The adviser’s eyes gleamed.
“Exactly, Crown Prince! This is an opportunity that cannot be missed!”
“If we push the Fifth Prince out, that position will still be yours!”
The other advisers echoed him one after another.
Prince Ling pondered for a moment before looking toward Song Jiang.
“What do you think? What do you suggest?”
Song Jiang rose, flattered by the attention, and cupped his hands in greeting.
“Crown Prince, I have a different opinion.”
A flicker passed through Prince Ling’s eyes.
“Oh? Let’s hear it.”
Seeing everyone’s eyes turn toward him, Song Jiang could not help straightening his back.
“I believe that since the Fifth Prince hastily issued the order to send out troops, the provisions and other supplies will certainly be insufficient at the outset.”
“Furthermore, I’ve heard that this Minister of War is a timid man who fears taking responsibility.”
“I suggest that we first send people to follow them and observe.”
“Then we can have our men disguise themselves as Xiongnu and harass the army.”
“They will certainly fall into disarray. At that point, we can send people to seize all the provisions in one stroke!”
“That way, everyone will believe that the provisions were taken by the Xiongnu!”
