A weak voice, lacking strength and stamina, mixed with anger yet carried particular weight.
When Shen Xihe and Prince Xiao Xiangyan turned to look, they saw Prince Xiao Huayong being supported by Tianyuan, approaching with hurried steps. His brows concealed hidden anger, and he seemed to have lost his breath from his previous statement, breaking into violent coughs: “Kha kha kha…”
Behind him followed Prince Xiao Xiangqing, strolling casually in his moon-white robe.
“Your Highness…” Shen Xihe rushed forward anxiously, naturally, and skillfully rubbing his back to help him catch his breath, her eyes clouded with worry.
After coughing for quite a while, Prince Xiao Huayong finally seemed to catch his breath and managed a forced smile at Shen Xihe, gently patting her supporting hand on his arm: “It’s nothing.”
After reassuring Shen Xihe, he turned his head, his expression immediately becoming serious as he faced Prince Xiao Xiangyan: “Do you admit to encouraging the disaster victims to plunder?”
With evidence laid before him, even if Prince Xiao Xiangyan wanted to deny it, he couldn’t. Fortunately, he had been cautious in his actions. Although there were suspicions of bias and protecting the disaster victims, no one had caught him ordering people to lead the victims to plunder.
Prince Xiangyan lowered his gaze: “The people of Deng Prefecture endured months of drought, and just when they finally welcomed a sweet rain, their joy hadn’t yet subsided when the blessing turned into a flood disaster. The pain of losing their harvest after months of hard work, suddenly becoming homeless, and some even losing their families and homes – it was truly a devastating blow. Understandably, some people acted inappropriately in their anger. I worried that if we punished them severely at this time, it would provoke public outrage, and in their complete loss of reason, they might rebel, plunging Deng Prefecture into deeper chaos. Therefore, I had no choice but to use appeasement tactics.”
“Such wonderful appeasement tactics,” Shen Xihe sneered. “Prince Jing shows mercy to the common people and sympathy for the weak – that shows Your Highness’s magnanimity. But Your Highness used this to exploit the wealthy households, using their resources to gain a good reputation for themselves. Are they not also citizens of Deng Prefecture suffering together? Just because their ancestors accumulated wealth or they were clever enough to amass a fortune, does that mean they deserve to be exploited?
Does Your Highness know that if this matter spreads, who would dare to engage in commerce and seek advancement in the future? Wouldn’t everyone fear becoming meat on the chopping block one day? The consequence of such widespread fear would be making people afraid of wealth. As a result, national financial income would sharply decrease, and over time, national prosperity would become nothing but empty talk.
Does Your Highness know that your actions could make you the condemned one of the realm!”
Prince Xiangyan suddenly raised his head to stare at the forceful and aggressive Shen Xihe. Though his eyes seemed to hold turbulent waves, upon closer look, they appeared completely calm.
Prince Xiangqing stood with his hands naturally clasped in front of him. Though his gaze was lowered, he heard Shen Xihe’s words clearly – quite a serious accusation indeed.
They all understood that Prince Xiangyan’s actions weren’t quite that severe, but they couldn’t deny that his behavior could indeed lead to the outcome Shen Xihe predicted, however minimal the possibility might be.
Prince Xiangyan spoke through gritted teeth: “The rain in Deng Prefecture has not stopped for a moment since the end of last month until today. All roads in and out of Deng Prefecture are cut off. I cannot ignore the life and death of an entire city’s people. Although it was an expedient measure and indeed inappropriate, I dare not shirk my sister-in-law’s reproach. Once the people of Deng Prefecture survive this catastrophe, I will personally request punishment from His Majesty.”
Shen Xihe’s elegant eyebrows raised slightly. Prince Xiangyan’s restraint and concession truly raised her opinion of him. Moreover, while openly admitting his mistake, he subtly reminded Shen Xihe that even if he was wrong, only His Majesty could punish him – Shen Xihe didn’t have that authority.
Of course, Shen Xihe had no authority to punish a prince – even Prince Xiao Huayong didn’t have that power. But she had never intended to punish Prince Xiangyan. She looked toward Prince Xiao Huayong.
Prince Xiao Huayong shook his head slightly, but Shen Xihe stubbornly stared at him.
Finally, after hesitating for a moment, Prince Xiao Huayong heaved a deep sigh: “Since Eighth Brother bears guilt, I will take charge of the disaster relief in Deng Prefecture. I will report Eighth Brother’s fault to His Majesty and request His Majesty’s judgment, which should also placate the people.”
Not giving Prince Xiangyan a chance to respond, Prince Xiao Huayong turned to the three who had come to complain: “You were robbed by refugees due to the government’s failure to maintain order. Although Prince Jing used this to persuade you to be generous, while there was indeed an element of coercion, it also resolved your difficulties.
You must understand that if Prince Jing had severely punished the disaster victims who led the disturbance, their resentment would have been hard to dispel, and in their desperate situation, blood would have surely been shed.
Your wealth is not wrong, nor should you be the target of oppression. However, you should understand the danger of possessing valuables. Once the flood crisis is resolved, I will petition His Majesty to bestow plaques honoring your charitable houses for assisting the people during this time.
What do you think of this?”
Though his words were so righteous and his expression so dignified and composed, Shen Xihe could only think of the word “shameless.”
Prince Xiao Huayong perfectly played the role of a good man who was partial to his wife in his heart but outwardly mindful of brotherly affection, caught between his brother and wife, trying his utmost to accommodate both sides.
He stripped Prince Xiangyan of his authority over disaster relief, yet defended him in front of his accusers by weighing the benefits and drawbacks, transforming acts of coercion into consideration for their welfare. To appease these people whose resources had been squeezed to help others, he promised them honors.
He played all the good parts himself!
To Shen Xihe, in others’ eyes, he satisfied his wife’s desire to seize power.
To Prince Xiangyan, though he sided with his wife, he had essentially put an end to Prince Xiangyan’s improper conduct, ensuring no one would hold it against him in the future.
To these people from Wengdeng County who were forced to empty their coffers, he was the Crown Prince who championed their cause and brought them the highest honors – they had to be overwhelmed with gratitude toward him.
“We humble subjects thank Crown Prince for his grace,” the three complainants excitedly prostrated themselves.
Prince Xiao Huayong raised his hand slightly, appearing somewhat exhausted, and turned to Prince Xiangyan: “Does Eighth Brother have any objections?”
Facing his Crown Prince brother’s gentle smile, Prince Xiangyan was nearly suffocated with frustration. He glanced at Shen Xihe, who wore a stern expression of displeasure, opened his mouth, but could only say: “It is this brother’s incompetence that troubles Crown Prince Brother.”
This was tantamount to accepting the Crown Prince’s measures.
This performance by Prince Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe, combined with his previous speculations about them, further confirmed to Prince Xiangyan that Prince Xiao Huayong wasn’t dismissive of brotherly bonds, nor was he mediocre and ineffective – he simply habitually favored Shen Xihe.
The Crown Prince was physically weak, and disaster relief was no pleasant task – one misstep could leave an eternal stain on one’s reputation. Prince Xiao Huayong would have to be foolish to seize this power. It was Shen Xihe who wanted to intervene, and though Prince Xiao Huayong didn’t wish to, he could only comply with her wishes.
Prince Xiao Huayong nodded and said wearily: “If there’s nothing else, you may withdraw. Eighth Brother, come with me – tell me the details about the situation in Deng Prefecture.”
With that, he allowed Tianyuan to support him.