Chapter 86: Take this Scoundrel Out for a Beating!
By the time Zhao Beicheng was brought before Xianzong, Yu Xiaoxiao and Gu Xinglang had already brought Yu Ziming back to Brightness Palace. All of its court ladies and eunuchs had been locked into the torture cells for losing track of their master, so there was nobody here except for the emperor’s own servants. Yu Ziming glanced at the strangers and tightened his grip on Gu Xinglang’s shirt.
“Looks like this kid likes you a lot,” Yu Xiaoxiao observed.
Gu Xinglang stared at the sixth prince’s small, thin form and big noggin before he said, “Is it really alright for His Sixth Highness to go to Zhuri? He’s too small.”
“All of you get out,” Xiao Wei turned to dismiss the servants in attendance. They looked and saw that Yu Xiaoxiao made no objection–which was a silent agreement in their eyes–and left the rooms.
Xiao Zhuang muttered, “His Eldest Highness has only just turned 11. None of the princes are very old.”
“So what if they’re young?” Yu Xiaoxiao piped up. “Everyone has to grow up someday.”
Xiao Wei stared at Xiao Zhuang like a traitor. “Are you pitying His Sixth Highness?”
Xiao Zhuang looked at Gu Xinglang as if to say, he’s the one who pitied him first.
“It’s because our people were useless,” Gu Xinglang said while stroking Yu Ziming’s head. “If we could ensure Fengtian’s peace, how would His Majesty ever need to send His Sixth Highness to Zhuri?”
“That guy was ready to kill you, but you’re still thinking for him?” Yu Xiaoxiao was astounded. What kind of sentiments were these? She didn’t understand it.
“His Majesty was only hoodwinked by the wicked consort,” Gu Xinglang said word by word.
Yu Xiaoxiao scratched her head. If that fatuous ruler had an ounce of intelligence, would he be hoodwinked in the first place? “Your words are wrong, you–”
“Princess, there are pine nuts here,” Xiao Wei interrupted as he ran to a tea table to fetch a small plate of them. “Princess, eat some pine nuts.”
Yu Xiaoxiao could recognize it as some sort of nut, but she’d never tried it before. Attention distracted, she asked, “Does this stuff taste good?”
Xiao Wei pulled Xiao Zhuang with him to accompany Yu Xiaoxiao in snacking. He was also considerate enough to place the plate of pine nuts into Gu Xinglang’s hands. It was better to eat more and talk less. These two masters can’t even match wavelengths when they’re making ordinary small talk. And now they want to talk about the best interests of the nation? Xiao Wei shook his head. Why make things harder for yourselves?
Gu Xinglang peeled pine nuts for Yu Xiaoxiao as he asked, “Why did you head for the Zhao Estate?”
Yu Xiaoxiao was considering the flavor of pine nuts. She’d heard that nuts and dried fruits were rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Even tiny bites like these left a fragrant flavor in her mouth.
“Princess?” Gu Xinglang asked while giving her a few more peeled pine nuts.
Yu Xiaoxiao said, “Little Sixth wanted to play with his older cousins.”
Gu Xinglang, Xiao Zhuang, and Xiao Wei fell silent again. Why did they feel like Zhao Beicheng had been wrongly accused?
—
Currently, Zhao Beicheng was kneeling in the imperial study and speaking to Xianzong. “Her Royal Highness brought His Sixth Highness to the back gardens to find this subject’s son to play.”
Gu Xingnuo felt that this was probably the truth. But Xianzong only flew into a rage at the words. “You’re saying Linglong brought Ziming to your estate?”
“Yes,” Zhao Beicheng replied, “This subject personally witnessed Her Royal Highness leading His Sixth Highness to stroll around the gardens.”
“Unfilial son!” Zhao Qiuming felt that it’d be better if his son dropped dead. He had just killed out a path for them to melt Xianzong’s heart, but the bastard had reignited his temper again!
Zhao Beicheng replied, “Father, what’s going on? Wasn’t it His Majesty who brought Her Royal Highness and His Sixth Highness to the estate? Why did Luo Yangling capture us?”
Xianzong was infuriated. Now he’s falsely incriminating me?!
Zhao Qiuming was utterly floored. My son’s already idiotic enough to pin the blame on the emperor? When did His Majesty ever go to the Zhao Estate?
Gu Xingnuo took this chance to speak up. “Eldest Young Master Zhao certainly knows how to jest. His Majesty has been in the palace this entire time.”
Zhao Beicheng felt that his brain was having trouble keeping up. If it’s not Xianzong, then who brought the princess and my nephew to the Zhao Estate?
Zhao Qiuming crawled up from the floor and ran to his son, only to give him a sound slap. “You scoundrel!”
Zhao Beicheng’s lips bled from the slap as he cradled his cheek. “What did I do wrong?”
Zhao Qiuming’s hand stung from the attack as well, and he roared, “You bastard, you’re utterly audacious! You secretly brought His Sixth Highness out of the palace and deserve death, unfilial son! How could you even consider the thought?!”
What? Zhao Beicheng gave a start. I was the one who brought His Sixth Highness out of the palace?
“Your Majesty,” Zhao Qiuming fell on his knees once again. “This subject was useless in teaching my son. This subject deserves death!”
Zhao Beicheng looked up at Gu Xingnuo, whose icy eyes stared back as he said, “Eldest Young Master Zhao indeed possesses superb martial arts skills to bring His Sixth Highness out of the palace.”
“I, you…”
“Eldest Young Master Zhao,” Gu Xingnuo continued, “The prime minister has already acknowledged his guilt. Why are you still quibbling?”
Zhao Beicheng was left flailing before he suddenly came to his senses and threw himself at Xianzong’s feet. “Your Majesty, this subject didn’t secretly take His Sixth Highness out of the palace, ah!”
Xianzong said, “Then how did His Sixth Highness end up at the Zhao Estate? Do you think Zhen’s son learned how to fly?”
Zhao Beicheng pointed a finger at Gu Xingnuo. “It must be the Gu Clan trying to frame our Zhao Clan!”
Gu Xingnuo only looked at him with pity. He really felt it was a shame that his little brother Gu Xinglang had fallen to this kind of wretch’s hands.
After some thought, Zhao Beicheng said, “Your Majesty, it has to be the princess. Her Royal Highness must have brought His Sixth Highness out of the palace.” Yu Linglong’s trying to ruin our Zhao Clan, ah. He turned desperately to his father and added, “Father, son really did see Her Royal Highness bring His Sixth Highness into the estate.”
Gu Xingnuo said, “Eldest Young Master Zhao is filled with the stench of alcohol. Are you pretending to be drunk?”
“Gu Xingnuo!” Zhao Beicheng gnashed his teeth as he glared at him.
Gu Xingnuo kneeled in front of Xianzong and said loudly, “Your Majesty, the princess purposely paid a trip to the Zhao Estate after hearing that His Sixth Highness had gone missing.”
“You’re making things up!” Zhao Beicheng defied desperately.
“Your Majesty, Her Royal Highness can’t began to thank His Sixth Highness enough for saving His Seventh Highness,” Gu Xingnuo went on. “Why would she do anything like secretly taking His Sixth Highness from the palace?”
Xianzong understood Gu Xingnuo’s words. If Yu Ziming couldn’t go to Zhuri, then it might be Yu Ziyi leaving in his place again. Unless Princess Linglong was insane, she’d never help Yu Ziming run away.
“Your Majesty, it really was the princess–”
“Shut up!” Xianzong roared at Zhao Beicheng. “You’re even pushing the blame onto Zhen’s daughter? Someone come, take this scoundrel out for Zhen and give him a beating!”
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