In the imperial study, seeing someone walk in wearing a mask, Xiao Chengjing's brows instantly furrowed.
"Who is so bold as to dare wear a mask in Our presence?"
Huo Chong paused for a moment before continuing forward, stopping beside Wen Yong to kneel and pay his respects.
"Your humble subject, Huo Chong, greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor."
"My face has been disfigured. Fearing I might offend the imperial presence, I did not remove my mask. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
Xiao Chengjing was still displeased.
In his view, no matter the reason, seeking an audience while wearing a mask was a sign of blatant disrespect toward him as the Emperor.
"We are the true Son of Heaven; how could We be frightened by you? Take off the mask."
Huo Chong reached up and removed the mask.
Everyone standing in the imperial study instantly held their breath.
"Ugh!" Gu Qishan turned his back, feeling a bit nauseous.
The area around Huo Chong's eyes was covered in dense, snake-like patterns. It looked both terrifying and repulsive, like a monster.
Xiao Chengjing subconsciously averted his gaze, but that hideous face lingered in his mind.
He took short, shallow breaths, feeling slightly sick himself after hearing Gu Qishan gag.
"Put the mask back on." Had he known this face was so disgusting, he would never have looked.
Long accustomed to such reactions, Huo Chong calmly put his mask back on.
My face is like this all because of you.
You find it disgusting now, but sooner or later, I will make you pay for all of it.
Xiao Chengjing caught his breath, trying his best not to think about the face he had just seen.
Suppressing his disgust, he questioned Huo Chong.
"What happened during the peace talks? Who shot Prince Qi in the eye?"
Huo Chong replied, "Under the mediation of His Highness Prince Qi, the two clans had originally agreed to a truce."
"Unexpectedly, the Yang clan of Panzhou suddenly demanded that we pay them two hundred thousand taels of silver as compensation for the war. Commissioner Mu refused, and the two sides began to argue, eventually drawing their weapons."
"A guard belonging to Envoy Yang picked up a bow and arrow to shoot my lord. However, his aim was poor, and His Highness Prince Qi happened to lose his footing and stumbled right into the path of the arrow, which struck his right eye."
Xiao Chengjing's breathing grew heavy, his eyes widening like copper bells.
"Where is that guard?"
Huo Chong lowered his head. "He was killed on the spot by Envoy Yang. They knew they had caused a disaster and were in a rush to treat His Highness Prince Qi, so they dropped the demand for the silver."
Dongfang Shaoting and Chu Liuyun exchanged a glance.
In this way, Prince Qi's injury had ironically stabilized the situation in the southwest completely.
Xiao Chengjing frowned and demanded, "Having blinded Prince Qi's eye, why hasn't the Yang clan sent someone to beg for forgiveness?"
Huo Chong replied, "Your subject is unclear about their affairs. Presumably, they are too terrified to come."
After answering Xiao Chengjing's questions, Huo Chong continued, "To reply to Your Majesty, my visit to the capital this time is partly to express our deep gratitude for Your Majesty's grace in sending troops to our aid."
"On the other hand, it is also our hope that the imperial court can help us reclaim our lost cities. Especially regarding the salt fields discovered in Binzhou, the Yang clan should at least give us half."
Everyone in the room merely cast a fleeting glance at Huo Chong, completely disregarding his words.
Xiao Chengjing spoke impatiently, "We will discuss this matter later. You may withdraw for now."
He had no desire to deploy troops to the southwest at the moment. Moreover, the diplomatic mission from the Shuobei Kingdom was still in the capital, so the more peaceful the southwest was, the better.
As for the salt fields, it would be better to keep them for himself rather than give them to the Mu clan. This matter still needed to be fought for.
After Huo Chong was led out of the imperial study, Xiao Chengjing instructed Wen Yong.
"The Yang clan of Panzhou has committed such a grave mistake that they must pay the price. Return to the southwest immediately and tell Gu Zhongxun to negotiate with the Yang clan. The imperial court wants half of the salt fields in Binzhou."
Wen Yong looked up uncertainly and asked, "If the Mu clan asks, what should your subject say?"
Xiao Chengjing replied, "After this battle, the Mu clan's strength has been greatly diminished, and they are no longer a match for the Yang clan."
"From now on, they can only rely on the imperial court. Even if they find out, they won't dare to do anything about it. Just go and do as I say."
Looking slightly hesitant, Wen Yong kowtowed and left.
Gu Qishan stole a glance at Xiao Chengjing's expression, took a deep breath, and lowered his head, remaining silent.
If he had known things would turn out like this, he never would have suggested sending a prince to the southwest in the first place.
He had failed to sabotage Prince Ying, and now Prince Qi was ruined instead.
In the Huitong diplomatic residence, the deputy envoy, who had just returned from the teahouse, hurried urgently toward the courtyard where Gong Linjue was staying.
Arriving at the door, he spoke in an excited and jubilant tone, "Your Highness, this subordinate has an important matter to report."
"Come in." Gong Linjue set down the broken sword in his hand.
The deputy envoy stepped over the threshold and turned to close the door behind him.
He cautiously walked up to Gong Linjue and spoke in a low voice.
"Your Highness, the First Prince of the Dongzhao Kingdom, Xiao Rongche, has just returned to the capital. He is blind in one eye."
The sharp blade of the sword sliced a small cut on the pad of Gong Linjue's finger.
"Has the Dongzhao imperial court gone to war with the foreign tribes in the southwest?"
The deputy envoy shook his head. "That remains unclear, but the general who led the troops to the southwest has already returned alongside Xiao Rongche."
Gong Linjue used the cloth meant for wiping his sword to wipe the blood from his finger.
"Send a few more people out to wander around, especially to the brothels and teahouses. News travels fastest in such places."
The deputy envoy replied, "Rest assured, Your Highness. I have already made the arrangements."
A guard who returned in the middle of the night from drinking at a brothel stood in the room and reported, "The Dongzhao imperial court and the southwestern tribes did not fight. Furthermore, the Yang and Mu clans have called a truce. They rushed back so urgently to find Song Jinzhao to treat Xiao Rongche's eye."
"But it seems it cannot be cured. Your subordinate also learned from the brothel women that both princes of the Dongzhao Kingdom had previously sent assassins after Song Jinzhao. There is bad blood between them. Even if she could cure him, Song Jinzhao definitely wouldn't do it."
The corners of Gong Linjue's lips curled upward in an almost imperceptible arc.
"It seems this prince must go and meet this First Prince."
Song Jinzhao stayed at the Prince Qi's estate until the afternoon before returning. For half of that time, Xiao Rongche was screaming for people to be beaten and killed.
It wasn't until Song Jinzhao told him that if he didn't cooperate with the treatment, his left eye would soon go blind as well, and his life would be in danger, that he finally quieted down.
Song Qiming, who had finished his shift at the Hanlin Academy early, hovered around Song Jinzhao and asked, "Sister, what exactly is the situation with Prince Qi's eye injury? Yukun said he will go blind in both eyes, and he said you were the one who said it."
Song Jinzhao placed her hands into a wooden basin filled with hot water and washed them clean.
She nodded and said, "In at most three months, Prince Qi will become completely blind. Moreover, his eyes will repeatedly become inflamed and ooze pus. Coupled with chronic headaches and facial pain caused by nerve damage, his future days will be extremely excruciating. It can be said that he will live in agony every single day."
While Song Qiming was surprised, a trace of joy flashed in the depths of his eyes.
Before they even had to make a move, Prince Qi had brought about his own destruction. Could this be considered karma?
If only Prince Ying would end up like this too.
Upon learning that Song Jinzhao had washed her hands of treating Prince Qi and passed the task entirely to Gu Jupu, Xiao Chengjing did not say a single word.
Firstly, it was because of the assassination incident last year.
Secondly, it was because Song Jinzhao had just performed a great merit at the birthday banquet. With the Shuobei Kingdom's diplomatic mission still in the capital, he could not show any dissatisfaction toward Song Jinzhao, lest it boost Gong Linjue's arrogance.
