Zhao Beicheng cried injustice, his volume growing. Xianzongâs temper soured with the shouts. This bastard dares to smear an imperial princess? If heâs not soundly beaten to death, Iâll even feel sorry for myself. It was enough that his daughter gave him eyerolls sometimes, but she was his flesh and blood. How could a mere subject dare to look down upon him? It was intolerable!
Zhao Qiuming knelt on the side, not daring to plea for mercy. Otherwise, heâd be the one being beaten too. Still, the gears in his brain were still turning as he puzzled things out. He knew his son well enough to understand he wouldnât speak nonsense just to blame another person. After heâd forced him to steal Gu Xinglangâs credit and ruin the general, his son had been listless for months. If Zhao Beicheng said he saw Yu Linglong bring the sixth imperial prince to the Zhao Estate, then it was most likely true.
Eldest Young Master Zhao might have a sturdy constitution, but his cries soon died beneath the onslaught of 20 beatings. Gu Xingnuo watched coldly and noticed that the inner palace guards in charge of the task must have been instructed beforehand by Jing Zhong, because they werenât using their full strength in the strikes. Otherwise, they wouldâve killed Zhao Beicheng within the first 10 blows.
Jing Zhong, meanwhile, was observing Xianzongâs expressions. The emperorâs face had turned less gloomy once Zhao Beichengâs shouts weakened under the repeated blows, so Jing Zhong murmured, âYour Majesty, itâs already been 29 hits Is Zhao Beicheng to be beaten to death?â
Xianzong gave a cold snort.
Jing Zhong said, âYour Majesty, if this keeps on, Zhao Beicheng will be crippled. In the end, he was only thinking of esteemed consort and His Sixth Highness. That nonsense he just spewed must be from fear of Your Majestyâs punishment.â
âAfraid that Zhen would push the blame onto Linglong?â Xianzong said irritably.
Jing Zhong said carefully, âYour Majesty, donât people who spew nonsense say whatever comes to their minds? As this servant sees it, Zhao Beicheng must know how much Your Majesty cherishes the eldest princess. If he was pushing blame to anyone, itâd have to be someone who wouldnât suffer from Your Majestyâs punishments, yes? It doesnât seem like Zhao Beicheng means to hurt any person.â
Jing Zhong had skills when it came to pleading for leniency. He not only acknowledged Xianzong as a compassionate father who cherished his daughter, but also praised Zhao Beicheng as a man who held the emperor in reverence while being unwilling to malign an innocent party.
Xianzongâs expression shifted before he slapped his hand against the armrest. Jing Zhong quickly turned and ordered the imperial guards, âCease.â
The guards stopped beating Zhao Beicheng, leaving the bleeding man on the verge of death. Gu Xingnuo only felt it was a pity, but he spoke in a solemn and quiet voice. âYour Majesty, itâs likely the court and the commons have already heard of the imperial guards going to the Zhao Estate and Zhao Beicheng stealing His Sixth Highness out of the palace. If Zhao Beichengâs let go just like this, this commoner fearsâ¦â
Before he could finish, Zhao Qiuming kowtowed to Xianzong again. âYour Majesty, this subjectâs unfilial son committed a grave mistake. May Your Majesty punish him severely. This subject is willing to share the crime with my unfilial son.â
Xianzong sighed. As expected, Zhao Qiumingâs a loving father. âTake Zhao Beicheng to the justice courts,â he ordered. He could waive the death penalty, but not punishment. Thus, the scoundrel would be locked up for a few more days.
âThis subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace and mercy,â Zhao Qiuming was all tears and snot as he remained kneeling on the floor.
Two guards dragged out the unconscious Zhao Beicheng. A eunuch by the doors then ran in with two more guards by his side to kneel in front of the emperor. âYour Majesty, Eldest Prince Jing Mo requests an audience.â
Hearing the words âJing Moâ instantly made Xianzongâs head feel swollen. If it wasnât for him, he wouldnât be facing so many different headaches. However, no matter how much the Zhuri prince annoyed him, he had to see him. âLet him in.â
On the way to the imperial study, Jing Mo saw the beaten and bloody Zhao Beicheng being hauled away unconscious. He smiled as he realized the Zhao Clan had suffered another blow.
When Xianzong saw Jing Mo, he said with effort, âEldest imperial prince, what business brings you to the palace this time?â
Jing Mo saw Zhao Qiuming still kneeling on the ground and said, âYour Majesty, I heard that Prime Minister Zhao ordered his son to steal His Sixth Highness out of the palace?â
Xianzong gestured for Jing Mo to take a seat. He did and continued, âYour Majesty, my Zhuri wonât force anyone to do anything. If Your Majesty isnât willing, then I can explain things to my imperial father in your place upon my return to Zhuri.â
Xianzong waved a hand at him and said, âZhenâs sixth son is in the palace right now. He can leave with Eldest Imperial Prince to Zhuri at anytime.â
âThe prime minister has four sons of his own,â Jing Mo replied. âLast night it was Zhao Beicheng. Who knows which son will make their move tonight?â
âYour Majesty, this subject wouldnât dare,â Zhao Qiuming hastened to promise Xianzong.
Jing Mo smiled coldly at him. âHow much of your words can I trust, prime minister?â
Zhao Qiuming looked at Xianzong with a resigned expression.
âThen Eldest Imperial Prince, your meaning is?â Xianzong asked.
âIâm preparing to return back in two days,â Jing Mo said. âFor the sake of saving worry, I think itâll be best if Your Majesty allows me to take away His Sixth Highness.â
Xianzong gave a start, then managed with difficulty. âRight now?â
Jing Mo said, âBetter to have less hassles, donât you think, Your Majesty?â
Zhao Qiuming said, âEldest Imperial Prince, Esteemed Consort Zhao has yet to bid farewell to His Sixth Highness. If you take him away nowâ¦ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âWhat is Prime Minister Zhao saying?â Jing Mo interrupted him without scruples. âWill Consort Zhaoâs health improve just by His Sixth Highness remaining a little while longer?â
If Jing Mo took away Yu Ziming now, neither Xianzong nor Zhao Qiuming would ever find out the truth about last nightâs events from the boyâs lips. This was good news, but Gu Xingnuo still felt a sense of humiliation at Jing Mo forcing their emperorâs hand.
âGo bring His Sixth Highness here,â Xianzong ordered Jing Zhong. The eunuch obeyed and withdrew.
Jing Mo looked next at Gu Xingnuo. At Wangxiang Pass, heâd once see this man dressed in military attire. Now he was wearing the brocade robes of a young master of the Gu Clan in the status of a commoner. Despite this, he still stood here with honor.
Zhao Qiuming looked between Jing Mo and Gu Xingnuo and suddenly understood a possible scheme against his Zhao Clan. With Princess Linglongâs skills, itâd be easy enough to take His Sixth Highness from the palace. Then she could take advantage of the imperial guards visiting the Zhao Estate to bring him there, find Zhao Beicheng, and trick him with her words. Once they acted out the perfect play in front of the imperial guards, the crime of secretly stealing an imperial prince from the palace would rest soundly on the Zhao Clanâs shoulders. Then Jing Mo would come just on time to demand Yu Ziming. Once the boy was in his hands, they would have no chances to ask the little prince just who took him out of the palace that night.
Jing Mo and Yu Linglong have joined hands!
Cold sweat broke out in Zhao Qiumingâs palms at the realization. With those two allied, Yu Ziyiâs grown another set of arms out of thin air. Yu Linglong! Zhao Qiuming admitted he had times when he was careless, but why had he never noticed the 13-year-old girl as an astute and cunning, vicious old schemer?!