Based on Li Qitian’s understanding of Pang Xiao over the years, he was an extremely face-conscious person. Even when throwing tantrums, he would definitely stand openly on the side of justice, never giving anyone grounds for criticism.

Yet now, knowing full well that the national treasury was empty and the imperial private funds were exhausted, Pang Xiao had dared to ask such questions in front of everyone at the grand court assembly. This was undoubtedly slapping him across the face in public!

This was clearly undisguised humiliation, exposing all his secret thoughts for everyone to see!

How dare he!

If it were anyone else, even knowing the national treasury lacked silver and the imperial private funds couldn’t pay for disaster relief provisions, they would privately seek consultation with him to preserve His Majesty’s dignity, or more likely try to find their own solutions to avoid provoking imperial wrath.

How had everything completely changed when it came to Pang Xiao?

He clearly no longer regarded him as the Son of Heaven!

When Li Qitian fell silent, all the civil and military officials held their breath, not even daring to breathe loudly, afraid of being noticed by Li Qitian at this moment and becoming the target.

Everyone secretly blamed Pang Xiao in their hearts for being reckless—why speak such words directly, embarrassing the Son of Heaven? Could they gain any benefit from this?

But Pang Xiao seemed completely oblivious to everyone’s strange expressions. Seeing Li Qitian’s silence, he automatically interpreted it as not hearing clearly.

Pang Xiao openly bowed with cupped hands and asked again: “How much money and grain has Your Majesty prepared for disaster relief? Should this subject go to the Ministry of Revenue to collect them? Or should I contact the eunuchs managing the imperial estates to inquire about the money and grain to be carried for disaster relief?”

Li Qitian took a deep breath, holding it in his chest for a long time before slowly exhaling, then put on a smiling face: “Rest assured, I have already prepared everything properly.”

Prepared properly? Prepared with what?

The court ministers looked at each other, not knowing what Li Qitian was planning.

Pang Xiao also had doubts in his heart, but his face showed no suspicion as he smiled and bowed: “Your Majesty is wise.”

Li Qitian narrowed his eyes, smiled, and declared loudly: “The situation in the south is urgent. Though you’re still ill, the people of the realm are ultimately most important. I’ll give you one day to prepare—depart early the day after tomorrow.”

Pang Xiao nodded earnestly: “Your Majesty, this subject knows the suffering of the southern people. I now have only a princess consort at home, no one else to bid farewell to, and nothing much to prepare. This subject can depart immediately! Please understand my urgent feelings.”

Pang Xiao’s words moved the nobles around him and those military generals who admired him to repeated sighs: “The prince is truly devoted to the country.”

“The prince is a true hero—this humble officer is convinced!”

…

Li Qitian sat upright on the imperial steps, looking down at the group of people who held Pang Xiao in their midst. His face flushed red with anger, veins bulging at his temples.

Pang Xiao was far too good at acting—couldn’t he see that this was deliberately said!

He was clearly certain that he couldn’t produce disaster relief supplies and wanted to embarrass him.

But what was most infuriating and frustrating was that Li Qitian indeed couldn’t produce disaster relief money and grain.

If he agreed to let Pang Xiao depart immediately, how could he handle not having money and grain right now?

But if he gave himself time to prepare yet still couldn’t produce the funds, how would he silence the endless chatter then?

At this moment, Li Qitian deeply felt that Pang Xiao was truly his nemesis—whenever he encountered him, he never had a smooth time!

For a moment, Li Qitian really wanted to nod directly and let Pang Xiao quickly get lost!

But he also knew that as an emperor, sending a subject for disaster relief without preparing money and grain would make countless people gossip behind his back about the ruler’s lack of benevolence.

Even if just for show, he had to provide Pang Xiao with several carriages of grain.

After all, no one would know what was actually loaded in the carriages. When it proved insufficient later, he might even be able to use this opportunity to charge Pang Xiao with inadequate disaster relief.

Thinking of this, Li Qitian nodded with a gentle expression: “You’re right, I have indeed prepared everything. Besides, even though you have only one family member and your injuries haven’t fully healed, I’m not a tyrant—would I not allow you to rest and prepare before setting out? Depart the day after tomorrow!”

Li Qitian’s words carried heavy implications of warning. First mentioning his injuries was hoping he wouldn’t forget his status! As the Son of Heaven, treating Pang Xiao—never mind caning—even if he immediately ordered people to drag Pang Xiao down and throw him in prison, what could Pang Xiao do to resist?

After the warning, saying “set out” was clearly sarcastic.

Everyone heard these words clearly. Each lowered their heads in silence, not daring to interject even half a sentence. Even some of Pang Xiao’s devoted supporters, though nearly exploding with anger inside, dared not show the slightest dissatisfied expression on their faces.

This was the grand court assembly, with His Majesty’s inner officials and spies all around, and eunuchs carefully recording every word and action of the officials. Anyone who dared purse their lips would probably face the danger of losing their head!

In the complete silence, Pang Xiao’s voice seemed particularly resonant: “Yes, Your Majesty is a wise and benevolent ruler. That this subject can serve Your Majesty is truly a blessing of three lifetimes! Your Majesty’s consideration for the people is indeed the people’s fortune!”

These words of praise flowed naturally, and even if historians recorded them word by word, no fault could be found. Yet spoken at this moment, they were full of sarcasm.

Li Qitian was extremely annoyed, his face flushed red, but faced with such praise, he couldn’t explode—could he deny Pang Xiao’s compliments?

“Enough. This matter is settled.” Li Qitian stiffly ended the topic.

In the subsequent court assembly, the ministers seemed to understand that Li Qitian was in a foul mood, so none dared touch His Majesty’s reverse scale. Even urgent matters like civil unrest somewhere or how many people had starved to death elsewhere—after consideration, they dared not report them now.

After the court assembly, Pang Xiao rode a sedan chair back to his mansion.

The patient expression he had maintained in Fengtian Hall immediately changed when the azure wool sedan curtain fell.

Pang Xiao sat sideways, grimacing and taking several silent deep breaths.

He had received a thorough beating with the rod. Li Qitian had acted as if he wanted to cripple him. Being able to stand and walk this time was thanks to Bingtang using her family’s inherited medicine for rod wounds. Though applying the medicine was more painful, it healed faster and was less likely to leave lasting problems.

The wounds hurt, and using the medicine made them burn even more fiercely. If not for fear of being looked down upon, Pang Xiao definitely couldn’t have maintained his indifferent expression until now.

Returning to the prince’s mansion, when the sedan entered the ceremonial gate, Huzi immediately ordered people to bring the oil-walled cart for transportation.

Walking in the alley leading to the hanging flower gate, while Pang Xiao was resting with closed eyes, he suddenly heard Huzi laugh outside.

Pang Xiao asked puzzledly: “What is it?”

Huzi chuckled: “Your Highness, the princess consort has come to receive you.”

Pang Xiao lifted the dark green brocade curtain and saw Qin Yining with Bingtang and Ji Yun standing beside the hanging flower gate. She wore a plain azure silk jacket over an ivory eight-panel skirt, showing gentleness within freshness. Even a casual hair arrangement exuded an otherworldly air as she looked at him with curved eyes and brows.

Pang Xiao’s originally gloomy mood lightened by three parts upon seeing such a charming Qin Yining. He felt that his wife standing at the hanging flower gate, eagerly awaiting his return, was like an autumn painting!

“Yi Jie’er, it’s getting cold—why aren’t you staying inside?”

Qin Yining smiled and stepped forward, watching the driver and Huzi help Pang Xiao down from the cart. “I estimated the time was about right. Being idle anyway, I came out to welcome you. How are you feeling? Are your wounds very painful?”

Pang Xiao smiled. His wounds did hurt, especially with that medicine making them burn fiercely. But in front of others, he could remain composed without showing any abnormality. However, seeing Qin Yining, even three parts of pain Pang Xiao would magnify to seven parts.

Pang Xiao’s steps were somewhat unsteady as he put an arm around Qin Yining’s shoulders, his face pale as if enduring pain: “I’m fine, not too bad.”

Qin Yining’s delicate brows immediately furrowed: “How is it not bad? With such serious injuries—how could those despicable, black-hearted villains bear to strike so hard!”

Huzi, Bingtang, and the others following behind saw the prince acting coquettishly, deliberately holding onto the princess consort, yet reluctant to put his weight on Qin Yining—they couldn’t help finding it amusing.

The prince was nearly thirty years old, yet seeing the princess consort, he acted like a child, actually being coquettish!

Qin Yining helped Pang Xiao return to the inner residence, supporting him up the steps into the main room, through the gourd-shaped door in the antique shelf to the inner chamber, helping him lie on his side on the warm kang by the window.

The kang was now spread with thick cotton padding, soft and comfortable. The brocade bedding on top felt smooth to the touch. Once Pang Xiao climbed up, he was too lazy to get up, sighing comfortably.

Qin Yining went to bring tea for him to drink, then took advantage of Pang Xiao lying still to help him remove his court robes and official boots, working up a sweat on her forehead.

Pang Xiao secretly cooperated with Qin Yining’s movements, reluctant to tire her too much yet thoroughly enjoying her care. When Qin Yining brought a thin blanket to cover him, he couldn’t help pulling her onto the warm kang.

“Ah!” Qin Yining was startled, finding herself lying on his chest in the blink of an eye.

Seeing him looking at her with smiling eyes, his phoenix eyes seeming to hold bright stars, Qin Yining scolded: “You’re injured yet won’t stay still—what if you tear your wounds open?”

“It’s fine, holding you makes it not hurt at all.”

Qin Yining simply settled comfortably against Pang Xiao’s chest and asked in a low voice: “Did His Majesty have you march to war?”

Qin Yining felt Pang Xiao’s large hand stroking her back pause, and she looked up in surprise: “Don’t tell me His Majesty didn’t have you march to war?”

“Not only did he not have me march to war, he had me go for disaster relief.” Pang Xiao told Qin Yining about the court assembly.

Qin Yining was shocked, then understood, saying mockingly: “It seems he can’t wait to bring you down. I bet he hasn’t prepared any disaster relief supplies at all. Even when you depart the day after tomorrow, you won’t get any disaster relief supplies. He might even falsify things to fool you and silence criticism!”

Pang Xiao was stunned: “That can’t be right. He’s still the Son of Heaven—even if he can’t produce anything, he wouldn’t resort to several carriages of fake grain.”

“The grain doesn’t have to be fake—but couldn’t the silver be?” Qin Yining raised an eyebrow at him.