The Emperor nearly shattered his desk. In his twenty years of rule, even when he was a puppet of court officials or suppressed by noble families, there had never been a civil uprising. Yet today, with full power in his grasp, he faced such a humiliating disgrace!
Civil unrest signified a ruler’s incompetence and negligence!
“Investigate! Investigate this thoroughly for me!” When Xiao Huayong recalled Emperor Youning’s gnashing teeth, he couldn’t help but reveal a trace of pleasure at the corners of his lips, somewhat understanding why Sixth Brother enjoyed troubling His Majesty.
Hearing Shen Xihe’s question, Xiao Huayong snapped back to attention. Noting her intense gaze, he said softly, “Don’t worry, Youyou. Although there’s civil unrest, it won’t harm the common people. With Little Eleven in Dengzhou, I’ve already instructed him. The officials won’t use force to suppress it, and things won’t escalate. The people I arranged are mixed among the crowd to act when appropriate. Not only will the common people avoid harm, but they’ll also receive grain early.”
This grain, the court wouldn’t distribute this unless necessary, as insufficient follow-up supplies could lead to greater disaster.
If the rain that Shen Xihe predicted came, these grains would return to the Ministry of Revenue just as they arrived. Treasury abundance was paramount – as long as the common people could survive by tightening their belts, the court wouldn’t intervene.
After such hardship, many people would have to sell their children just to survive. This small uprising could at least give them some breathing room.
Hearing Xiao Huayong’s words, Shen Xihe’s expression softened. She wasn’t a particularly benevolent person, but she disliked bullying the weak, disregarding the innocent, or trampling on common people.
She knew Xiao Huayong must be plotting something, but if achieving his goals meant harming innocent civilians, it would displease her.
“What’s your purpose?” Shen Xihe pondered but couldn’t figure out why Xiao Huayong would interfere in Dengzhou’s affairs.
“Didn’t I tell you earlier that Sixth Brother spread the Astronomical Bureau’s rain prediction to Dengzhou?” Xiao Huayong elegantly rolled up one sleeve while gracefully lifting his teacup with the other hand. “Though this civil unrest might seem like thunder with little rain, it doesn’t sound good when word spreads. His Majesty least tolerates blemishes on his political achievements. This is a major blemish – if His Majesty catches the mastermind behind this, he absolutely won’t show mercy.”
Shen Xihe instantly understood Xiao Huayong’s meaning. He was magnifying Xiao Changqin’s actions and framing him for inciting civil unrest. Since Xiao Changqin had leaked the Astronomical Bureau’s rain prediction and Xiao Huayong knew about it, there must be evidence.
Adding Xiao Changgeng as an inside man in Dengzhou, with Xiao Huayong having him plant some evidence, it wouldn’t be difficult to make Xiao Changqin completely indefensible when everything aligned.
But Shen Xihe didn’t understand: “We’ve had no conflict with Prince Xin, why suddenly move against him?”
“I’m not planning to move against him. Don’t you know your husband? Your husband has always been a law-abiding person, how could he cause trouble without reason?” Xiao Huayong’s bright eyes gleamed with innocent laughter as he looked at Shen Xihe, appearing quite harmless.
Shen Xihe’s lips twitched involuntarily, revealing an expression of speechlessness.
The man before her was probably the most devious in the world, yet he dared claim to be law-abiding?
He might not cause trouble without reason, but he certainly turned small matters into big ones.
“You…”
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, Prince Xin, and Prince Lie request an audience.” Before Shen Xihe could speak, Zhenzhu’s announcement came from outside.
Xiao Huayong took a small sip of Pingzhong tea, closing his eyes to savor it briefly before setting down his cup. He stood up, took Shen Xihe’s hand, and led her to the reception hall.
Xiao Changqin stood with his hands behind his back in a moon-white robe, his expression calm.
Xiao Changying wore bright red clothes, his brows slightly furrowed, his expression complex.
“Greetings to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.” Seeing Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe, Xiao Changqin led the formal greeting.
Xiao Changying followed his brother’s greeting somewhat perfunctorily, his face tense.
Xiao Huayong made a slight gesture to raise them: “Fifth Brother, Ninth Brother, no need for such formality.”
Shen Xihe also returned a greeting behind him, and the two brothers sat at Xiao Huayong’s invitation.
After servants poured tea, Xiao Changqin got straight to the point: “Your Highness, what guidance do you have?”
“Fifth Brother arrived faster than I expected,” Xiao Huayong first praised.
“If I didn’t hurry, I feared I would already be convicted,” Xiao Changqin stared intently at Xiao Huayong, his words carrying hidden meaning.
Xiao Huayong had framed him and let him know it was Xiao Huayong’s doing, while neither Xiao Changyan in Dengzhou nor His Majesty had yet discovered who incited the civil unrest, or perhaps lacked evidence, though they suspected his involvement.
This forced him to come.
“If Fifth Brother is upright and honest, why fear unfounded charges?” Xiao Huayong said mildly.
Xiao Changqin admitted he had played a part in this matter, but hadn’t expected Xiao Huayong to escalate it to this extent. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to trouble His Majesty or feared discovery, but rather that his influence in the regions wasn’t as strong as Xiao Huayong’s. He couldn’t control the situation, and if things became unmanageable, innocent civilians would suffer.
His Qingqing wasn’t one to fight evil and uphold justice, but she disliked bullying the weak and especially disliked involving innocent people.
“Your Highness, if you have instructions, please speak directly.” Xiao Changqin now knew Xiao Huayong’s true nature and didn’t wish to engage in verbal sparring.
Speaking with clever people was indeed straightforward. Xiao Huayong also stopped beating around the bush: “The drought in Dengzhou is the root cause. If the Fifth Brother cares for the common people and specifically sought guidance from an expert to know which day it would rain, informing His Majesty – how could such a Fifth Brother who cares so deeply about Dengzhou’s disaster be the mastermind behind this unrest?”
Hearing Xiao Huayong’s words, Shen Xihe suddenly looked at him, finally understanding his careful arrangements.
If the Astronomical Bureau could make mistakes, he worried others might too. No matter how much Shen Xihe trusted them, such errors were always possible. He couldn’t bear to see her take any risky steps.
She had just opposed His Majesty, and if she told His Majesty which day it would rain in Dengzhou, using the palace amnesty as cover, His Majesty would certainly question her. Though the drought was urgent and His Majesty might not dare ignore her private intentions, he would require her to make a military pledge before being moved.
Once such a pledge was made, if there was no rain, Shen Xihe would have no way out and would be attacked by court officials. His Majesty could use this opportunity to revoke her authority over palace affairs and perhaps implicate even more…
“You know which day it will rain?” Xiao Changqin asked incredulously.
“A highly respected person predicted it, but nothing in this world is absolute. There are risks, after all, the Astronomical Bureau isn’t incompetent and can make mistakes too. Fifth Brother, would you like to take this gamble? The choice is yours.” Xiao Huayong presented an attitude of being reasonable and not forcing the issue.