On the third day after the envoys of the Shuobei Kingdom left the capital.
During the morning court session, Xiao Chengjing sat on the dragon throne, resting his head on his hand, looking somewhat exhausted.
A deep voice rolled from his throat, Read the decree.
Zhao Yande stepped forward confidently and slowly unrolled the bright yellow scroll in his hands.
By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Jinzhou is granted to Prince Qi, Xiao Rongche, as his fiefdom. He is to depart for his fiefdom within three days.
This simple sentence plunged the imperial court into a moment of dead silence.
Everyone looked at Xiao Chengjing in disbelief.
It was well known that Prince Qi was not only blind but also physically weaker than an ordinary person; calling him a sickly invalid would not be an exaggeration.
Given the Emperor's previous protection and doting on him, they all thought the Emperor would let Prince Qi stay in the capital permanently to recuperate. Why was he suddenly driving him away to Jinzhou?
Xiao Rongyan stood at the very front of the ranks. Unlike the others, he appeared exceptionally calm at this moment.
Recalling Xiao Rongche's uninvited appearance at the wedding banquet, the maid taken away from his manor by Fan Guanshan, and the lies the Emperor fabricated to hide the truth.
A suspicion gradually formed in his heart.
That maid was a mole planted in his manor by Xiao Rongche; it was he who wanted to kill Wang Nie and Qi Xiong.
His imperial father knew, Fan Guanshan knew, and Jiang Dongsheng knew too, yet they still kept it a secret from the rest of the world.
Xiao Rongyan could not help but look up at the Emperor.
Assassinating the envoys and deliberately provoking a war between the two nations.
Despite such a heinous crime, his imperial father still granted such a prime location like Jinzhou to Xiao Rongche as his fiefdom.
Thinking back on the Emperor's various acts of shielding and protecting Xiao Rongche, Xiao Rongyan felt both angry and stifled.
He was the one who solved the political marriage dilemma for his father and married the princess of the Shuobei Kingdom, yet his father was so protective of Prince Qi.
They were both his sons, so why was it like this?
The more he thought about it, the more he fixated on the unfairness, bitterness welling up and stinging his heart.
In stark contrast to Xiao Rongyan's jealousy, Xiao Rongche had a completely different reaction upon receiving the imperial decree.
I won't go to Jinzhou. I want to stay in the capital. I want to see Imperial Father!
Eunuch Zhao calmly handed the imperial decree to an attendant beside him.
The Emperor asked this servant to pass a message to Your Highness: once you go to Jinzhou, do not cause any more trouble. Behave yourself.
As Xiao Rongche tried to scramble up from the ground, his toe accidentally hit the steps. The pain made him lose his balance, and he fell hard onto the floor.
He roared hysterically, tears spilling from his eyes.
Imperial Father cannot treat me like this! My eyes went blind for the sake of the Dongzhao Kingdom! I did nothing wrong! It's all their fault; they all lied to me!
Seeing him in such a wretched state, Eunuch Zhao felt a twinge of pity in his heart.
Rest assured, Your Highness. Imperial physicians will accompany you to Jinzhou. It will be no different from staying in the capital.
Xiao Rongyan waved his arms agitatedly, driving everyone away.
How could there be no difference?! Imperial Father is exiling me! He wants to abandon me! He is abandoning me—
Roar after roar echoed through Prince Qi's Manor.
Seeing Xiao Rongche beginning to criticize the Emperor, Eunuch Zhao dared not speak any further. After pausing for a moment, he led his people away from Prince Qi's Manor.
In the imperial study, Xiao Chengjing looked at Eunuch Zhao, who had just walked in, and asked, How is Prince Qi?
Eunuch Zhao lowered his head.
Prince Qi does not want to leave the capital. His emotions are somewhat out of control.
Xiao Chengjing placed his wolf-hair brush on the brush rest and spoke faintly.
For the sake of our father-son bond, I have already granted him Jinzhou as his fiefdom. I have done everything I can. Keep a close eye on Prince Qi's Manor. Prince Qi must leave the capital within three days.
If he stays any longer, who knows what kind of disaster he will cause. It is better to drive him out early and completely sever his ambitions.
Eunuch Zhao said submissively, The Emperor has given this much thought; His Highness Prince Qi will understand sooner or later.
Xiao Chengjing sat quietly without uttering a word.
