Bu Yi cried, his nose running and tears streaming, feeling utterly heartbroken...
If he had known this would happen, he shouldn't have opposed Miss Yun in the first place.
Now, to salvage his dire situation and his foul reputation, he had to ladle porridge for the common people on the streets every day, or perhaps adopt a few stray children...
With enough good deeds, people would naturally notice.
After handling the affairs of the wine shop, Xiao Xi Tian led Xiao Jie Kong back to the manor...
The battlefield blueprints would be completely revised today. Once this matter was settled, she could also free up her energy to attend to other things.
The carriage slowly stopped in front of the Yun Manor. As Xiao Xi Tian jumped down, she saw Xiao Jun Bao pouting as he walked out, grumbling, "Hmph, you brat, always bossing me around. I'm never talking to you again..."
After Kong Xing Zhuo failed to find the mother蛊, Xiao Jin Heng planned to have his imperial brother try.
Earlier, in the study, Xiao Jin Heng had chattered on and on, making Xiao Jun Bao's head spin.
"Greetings, Seventh Prince!~" Xiao Xi Tian bowed with a smile.
Xiao Jun Bao had met Xiao Xi Tian the night before he went to Yan Country, at the Yun Manor, so they already knew each other...
Xiao Jun Bao hummed, blinking his beautiful eyes, "Oh, it's the little county princess. Just got back?"
"Yes, why is the Seventh Prince frowning?" Xiao Xi Tian asked, tilting her head.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jin Heng rolled his eyes so hard they almost touched the ceiling, "It's all that brat Jin Heng. He insisted I go to the nunnery to find insects, and what's more..."
At this point, Xiao Jun Bao paused. He knew that the matters Jin Heng had entrusted to him were absolutely confidential and could not be overheard by outsiders.
So, he leaned closer to Xiao Xi Tian's ear and whispered with a smile...
A moment later, a crisp burst of laughter echoed. Xiao Xi Tian was doubled over, laughing so hard that tears streamed from her eyes.
"Oh dear, who came up with this idea? Haha, that's too wicked!" Xiao Xi Tian wiped away her tears of laughter.
Xiao Jun Bao gestured towards the study with his chin, "See, it was that Tao Tao who thought of it. He's truly a talent..."
After speaking, he glanced at the darkening sky, "It's getting late. I have to go to the nunnery. Goodbye, Little County Princess Xi Tian!~"
With that, Xiao Jun Bao hummed a little tune and left...
"He's so beautiful, prettier than a princess!" the little monk complained.
Xiao Xi Tian: "..."
Little Monk Jie Kong, you can't like girls yet. When you grow up and leave the monastery, I'll personally find you a beautiful wife.
That evening, after Xiao Xi Tian had perfected the battlefield blueprints, she called Tu Qing Dong over and handed them to him personally, "Now, Lord Tu can report to His Majesty..."
With the help of Murong Tao Tao and Murong Qing in reviewing this blueprint, many loopholes had been fixed, and it was now a perfect finished product.
As long as they hurried to build it, it would quickly rectify the deficiencies in the coastal defense of the Great Liang Kingdom.
Tu Qing Dong's eyes curved into slits. He carefully put away the blueprints and cupped his hands in a bow to Xiao Xi Tian, "Your Highness is truly my great benefactor. If you have any needs in the future, please don't hesitate to ask me. I will do my utmost to help you..."
No wonder the Crown Prince doted on the county princess like a treasure. She was truly a little genius.
"Oh, that's not necessary!~" Xiao Xi Tian waved her hand. "Actually, I quite enjoy the process of designing blueprints. Lord Tu, you don't need to be so polite!"
Money couldn't buy her willingness. Whatever she liked, Xiao Xi Tian was willing to delve into and learn...
"Alright, it's getting late. I shall take my leave then!" Tu Qing Dong bowed again and hurried away.
At the same time, in the palace, within the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Emperor Cheng collapsed on the imperial bed in the inner chamber. The room was unlit, shrouded in darkness, and a strange aura permeated the surroundings...
Since last night, Emperor Cheng had been like someone afflicted with a serious illness. Not only was he physically weak, but his mood was also utterly terrible.
Eunuch Zhao summoned the imperial physicians, who took turns checking the Emperor's pulse, but they couldn't find anything wrong...
Now, Emperor Cheng had driven everyone out and was curled up on the bed, trembling.
"It's all the Crown Prince's fault. If it weren't for him, how could Consort Hui have suffered such great injustice?"
Emperor Cheng gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot. "I warned her repeatedly not to investigate Consort Hui, nor to give her a hard time. But Heng'er disregarded my words. This is insubordination, disloyalty, and unfilial conduct. Cough cough..."
After a bout of scolding, Emperor Cheng suddenly began to cough uncontrollably.
Eunuch Zhao waited outside the door, extremely anxious...
There was nothing he could do. The Emperor had forbidden him and the imperial physicians from entering, threatening to kill anyone who dared to enter.
At this critical juncture, only those who wished to court death would dare to seek trouble. Normal people wouldn't have the guts...
"Cough cough, I, what's wrong with me? Cough cough, pfft..."
Emperor Cheng's cough worsened, and in the end, he actually spat out a mouthful of black blood. Moreover, a voice in his mind seemed to be commanding and controlling him.
"Summon Xiao Jin Heng, depose him as Crown Prince, demote him to commoner, and exile him to the frontier..."
The tone of this command made Emperor Cheng exceptionally irritable. Even his last shred of reason was drowned out by various auditory hallucinations.
"No, no, Heng'er did this all for the sake of the nation and the state. He has never betrayed his people. I... I cannot depose him as Crown Prince, or I will be cursed by the people and the officials!"
Emperor Cheng clutched his head with both hands, groaning and roaring in pain...
"Heh heh, does Your Majesty no longer like this concubine? Does Your Majesty simply watch as Xiao Jin Heng kills this concubine?"
"Hui, Consort Hui, I will never let you down. Can you give me a little more time?"
"No..."
The voice in his mind was resolute, as if filled with indignation, "Your Majesty, summon the Crown Prince to the palace immediately, and call all the ministers here. In front of them, depose Xiao Jin Heng as Crown Prince!"
This was an absolute command. No matter how much Emperor Cheng resisted, he could not refuse or shirk it...
After an unknown amount of time, Emperor Cheng roared towards the hall, "Eunuch Zhao, get in here immediately!~"
Eunuch Zhao's legs trembled. He quickly pushed open the hall door and scurried in, "Your, Your Majesty, are you feeling any better?"
The Emperor looked like a little paper figure in a puppet show, being pulled and pushed around, completely devoid of self-awareness...
Emperor Cheng slowly raised his head, revealing a pair of blood-red, gleaming eyes that were particularly eerie in the darkness.
Eunuch Zhao was startled and immediately knelt on the ground, "Your, Your Majesty, are you alright?"
"Go, summon Heng'er and all the ministers to the palace. I have something to announce..."