Chapter 15: Chapter 15: The Prime Minister Meets the Princess

“Anyone who acts rashly shall suffer the same punishment as the Gu Clan,” Zhao Qiuming declared when many of the Gu Clan’s former subordinates looked ready to revolt.

“D*mn your mother!” a sturdy looking military officer raised his fist and charged at Zhao Qiuming.

“Qingzi, stop!” Gu Chen shouted at his old subordinate. It wasn’t worth it for old friends to join the Gu Clan’s fate. A few of Supreme Commander Gu’s military friends were all incensed and wanted to charge as well.

“If any of you still have this old man in your eyes, then you’ll stop this instant!” Gu Chen roared. His raging form and livid face soon stunned the men into freezing in place.

“Search!” Zhao Qiuming was still digging through the princess’s dowry chests. “Start from right here.”

Ying Nianyun instantly demanded, “Lord Zhao, that’s the eldest princess’s dowry chests. You dare to touch the imperial family’s goods?”

Zhao Qiuming’s response was cold. “Who knows where the Gu Clan’s hidden their guilty goods?”

“You’re spewing nonsense,” another military officer raged. “There are so many of us here. How is Supreme Commander Gu supposed to hide anything in the dowry chests?”

Zhao Qiuming retorted, “Why would Gu Chen fear a search if his conscience is clear?”

“And if you can’t find anything? What then?” Gu Chen asked.

“Then this lord will fall on my knees to admit my wrongs to Her Royal Highness and you, Old Gu,” Zhao Qiuming declared.

“Something’s not right,” Ying Nianyun muttered in low tones to Gu Chen. “Jing Zhong was the one to deliver the dowry items. They must have hidden something in it beforehand. Now they’re trying to mislead us.”

“Search,” Zhao Qiuming ordered the imperial guards.

Gu Chen saw the guards running for the dowry chests and only felt utter despair. The current emperor only trusted petty types and distanced himself from capable officials. If he cried injustice to Xiaozong afterwards, their Gu Clan would undergo the same trials as the White Tiger Nation incident. Xiaozong would only believe Zhao Qiuming and Jing Zhong instead of his words. Since childhood, he’d been taught to love his country, but no one had told him what a subject should do if the sovereign was unworthy.

Jing Zhong shot a glance at one of the imperial guard commanders, who quickly walked towards a certain mahogany chest so he could unseal and open the box. All of the wedding guests had their hearts stuck in their throats. Just as the box was about to be opened, a sonorous cry broke through the crowd.

“Her Royal Highness arrives!”

Everyone looked up to see Princess Linglong, still dressed in her wedding rodes, step through an arched gateway. Her expression was wooden and detached. The people made way for her on both sides as she approached. Gu Chen and the other old officials didn’t hold much hope for Yu Xiaoxiao. Since Zhao Qiuming had arrived to search the premises with imperial guards, he wouldn’t dread its royal princess, either.

“Is he that Zhao so-and-so?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked Wang momo while pointing a finger at Zhao Qiuming. By now, she’d reached the center of the commotion.

Wang momo immediately nodded. “He’s Lord Zhao.”

“This official greets Your Royal Highness,” Lord Zhao bowed.

Yu Xiaoxiao ignored him and stared at the guards standing in front of her dowry chests. “What are you guys doing? Stealing money?”

The guards exchanged looks. What kind of look is the eldest princess giving us? Would anyone rob someone in broad daylight? Even if we are, weren’t these dowry chests gifted to the princess by the imperial clan?

“Your Royal Highness,” Zhao Qiuming explained, “This official is simply fulfilling my duties. I hope that Your Royal Highness won’t fault me.”

Jing Zhong kept shooting looks at the guard commander to hurry up and open the box. That would seal the fates of the Gu Clan. Thus, the commander lifted the lid of the box. Meanwhile, Zhao Qiuming was still sincerely explaining himself to Yu Xiaoxiao. “Your Royal Highness, this official…”

He never finished his sentence before he felt a gust of wind kick up before him. By the time he recovered his wits, the commander who was in the middle of opening the chest had flown clear over the walls.

Jing Zhong shut his eyes. This again!

“Get lost,” Yu Xiaoxiao stood in front of the red mahogany chest while sweeping her eyes across the imperial guards. Her words were cold.

Both the villains and the innocents were left gaping and bewildered. How did such a tall, bear-like imperial guard commander just go flying like that? Wang momo pinched herself in the thigh to regain her wits before shouting, “Someone come, quick! Carry Her Royal Highness’s dowry to the inner courtyard! Don’t let anyone steal it away!”

Servants from Resplendence Palace were used to listening to Wang momo’s orders, so their bodies reacted on instinct even as their minds remain stunned. Immediately, a crowd of retainers ran forward, put the chests on their shoulders, and took them to the inner courtyard. Wang momo herself took the red mahogany chest and prepared to drag it away.

Seeing this, Zhao Qiuming fumed, “How dare you! Put that chest down!”

Wang momo only pretended he was a barking dog and ran for the inner courtyard.

“Stop them for this lord!” Zhao Qiuming panicked.

Yu Xiaoxiao tapped him on the shoulder, but that was enough to send Zhao Qiuming tumbling to the ground. “Do you want to die?” she asked.