Chapter 82: Chapter 82: On How to Prove Prime Minister Zhao’s Innocence

“Prime Minister, please don’t make things difficult for this subordinate, ah,” the imperial guard commander pled.

Zhao Qiuming steeled his heart and said, “My conscience is clear. Commander Luo, go ahead and order your men to search the estate.”

Prime Minister Zhao was certain that Yu Ziming couldn’t be at the Zhao Estate. Even if Zhao Beicheng, that bastard, had taken His Sixth Highness out of the palace, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to hide him here. Now all he could do was bear a search of the premises to prove his innocence. Zhao Qiuming had enough confidence to win over Xianzong with his words and make the emperor believe that he’d blamed them unjustly.

“Then this subordinate will have to offend you,” Commander Luo said politely before waving at his men. “Search!”

The imperial guards began their sweep of the grounds from the front courtyard.

—

In the back gardens of the estate, Yu Xiaoxiao brought Yu Ziming to look around for other people. They stopped briefly to admire a green-feathered bird perched in a wutong tree. Before Yu Xiaoxiao could ask Yu Ziming about the whereabouts of his cousins, a voice cried out from behind them.

“Who’s there?!”

Yu Xiaoxiao turned back to meet the speaker eye to eye. Hm? She recognized the man. Isn’t he the guy I beat up on my wedding day? That’s Zhao Beicheng, the one who stole Gu Xinglang’s credit for the battle.

Zhao Beicheng had to rub his eyes at the sight of Princess Linglong carrying His Sixth Highness on her shoulder. He squinted and realized, Damn, those two are really standing there!

Yu Ziming recognized him and called out, “Uncle.”

Zhao Beicheng approached them in a daze. “Why are you here?” he asked Yu Xiaoxiao.

“I’m looking for Little Sixth’s cousins,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied.

Zhao Beicheng took a while before he processed ‘Little Sixth.’ “His Majesty came?” In Eldest Young Master Zhao’s eyes, there was no way the brother and sister could meet up unless Xianzong had brought them with him here. His breath was full of alcohol as he spoke, causing Yu Xiaoxiao to fan the air in front of her.

“You drank wine?” she asked.

Yesterday, Zhao Beicheng had been in a bad mood because of His Sixth Highness, so he went out drinking and didn’t come back until the wee hours of the morning. After settling in the wings of his latest concubine, he fooled around in a drunken stupor until now. At Yu Xiaoxiao’s questions, he backed away a few steps and said, “Yes, this soldier was drinking last night. Your Royal Highness, who are you looking for?” His Sixth Highness had multiple elder male cousins, so he didn’t know which one Yu Xiaoxiao meant.

“I’m looking for oldest bro cousin, Yu Ziming replied.

The eldest male cousin would be Zhao Beicheng’s oldest son. He looked at Yu Ziming and smiled, saying, “Then shall this soldier take Your Sixth Highness to see him?”

“Okay. Uncle, pick me up,” Yu Ziming stretched out his arms to Zhao Beicheng. Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t stop him; after all, this was just an uncle carrying his nephew.

By now, Zhao Beicheng had heard the commotion in the front courtyard and very “knowledgeably” asked Yu Xiaoxiao, “Your Royal Highness, what’s going on in our Zhao Estate?”

Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t care. “Don’t know, ah. What could be happening at your house?”

That’s true, thought the eldest Zhao son carefreely. No one in the capital even cares even if the Zhao Clan walks sideways on the streets. What could happen?

Yu Ziming nestled into his uncle’s arms and suddenly felt sad. “Uncle, I’m going away.”

Zhao Beicheng grew gloomy as well. That’s right, ah. The little imperial prince is going to Zhuri soon. Judging from his sister’s words, she was planning to abandon this son in Zhuri for good. Who knew when they’d meet again?

Yu Ziming pursed his lips and said, “I’ll miss uncle.”

Zhao Beicheng gave a mournful sigh and hugged Yu Ziming to his chest as he headed for the front courtyard. After passing a covered corridor overlooking the water, he suddenly didn’t feel like letting His Sixth Highness to go Zhuri anymore now that he was out of the palace. He could run away with the imperial prince first! Could Jing Mo wait indefinitely for them to bring him back? After His Majesty selected a different imperial prince to accompany Jing Mo, he could take His Sixth Highness back to the capital. With big sister there, even the emperor at his angriest would refrain from killing him.

Zhao Beicheng’s thoughts matched Gu Xinglang’s idea exactly. As it turned out, sometimes generals made the same types of choices. He muttered to Yu Ziming, “Your Sixth Highness, how about this soldier takes you out of the city?”

Yu Ziming was only three and a half years old. This was his first time out of the palace, so he had no idea what it meant to leave the city. Zhao Beicheng’s voice was very faint, but Yu Xiaoxiao heard it all the same. She zipped forward and stopped in front of him. “Where are you taking Little Sixth?”

When Zhao Beicheng recalled how His Sixth Highness was taking His Seventh Highness’s place as a hostage, his temper abruptly flared. “Why is it His Sixth Highness that has to go to Zhuri?”

“What?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked. “Then who do you think it should be?”

Zhao Beicheng all but roared at her. “As long as it’s not His Sixth Highness, it’s fine! I’m taking him away!”

“Uncle?” Yu Ziming was a little frightened by Zhao Beicheng’s yelling. Tears gathered at the corners of his eyes before he said, “I want imperial sister.”

Zhao Beicheng refused to release him. Princess Linglong was their family’s enemy, so how could he give His Sixth Highness to her?

Yu Xiaoxiao realized his intentions and grew angry. She already made arrangements with Jing Mo and even gave him some of her hair. Now this guy wanted to take Yu Ziming and run? “You can’t,” Yu Xiaoxiao said coldly. “Put Little Sixth down!”

“Princess, don’t force this soldier!” Zhao Beicheng hollered.

Yu Xiaoxiao rolled up her sleeves. I’ll force you anyways, what can you do?

Zhao Beicheng had been beaten up by her before and knew of her strength. He turned on his heel and fled with Yu Ziming in his arms. “I’m definitely going to save His Sixth Highness today!”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Eldest imperial princess!” Yu Ziming cried out in fear.

Yu Xiaoxiao was ready to beat Zhao Beicheng dead today, but she’d hardly caught up when a tottering, faltering voice rose up from behind them.

“Unfilial son!” Zhao Qiuming cursed before he began trembling too much to say another word. Zhao Beicheng stopped running as well as two imperial guards rushed out to block his way.

Yu Xiaoxiao was bewildered as she stared at the guards. “Your house has imperial guards too?” she asked Zhao Qiuming. Hasn’t that fatuous guy in the palace done enough? Doesn’t he care that his subjects keep so many soldiers around?

Zhao Qiuming looked at Yu Xiaoxioa and grew even more speechless. He wanted to know what she was doing here, but lacked the strength to speak. Commander Luo ran to Yu Xiaoxiao and clasped his hand in greeting. “This soldier is Luo Yangling,1 greetings to Your Royal Highness.”

Yu Xiaoxiao examined him from head to toe and remarked, “I think I’ve seen you before.”

Commander Luo was internally crying. Your Royal Highness, on your wedding day you flew over my head twice to get past the imperial watchtower. It’d be strange if you didn’t remember my face by now.

Luo Yangling (骆扬翎) －Luo means “white horse with a black mane,” Yang is “raise, scatter, make know,” Ling is “plume, tail feather.”