Chapter 37: Jinling City (14)
“It slipped,” Xiao Fu sighed. He truly hadn’t meant to lose control. He’d originally intended to spare some face, but whenever he laid eyes on Yuwen Duo, his temper surged. Expecting him to hold back was impossible.
Yuwen Duo was stunned by the slap. His ears buzzed, and a long-lost feeling of fear came rushing back.
“Aiya!” gasped a few eunuchs and palace maids nearby. One of them couldn’t help exclaiming out loud, then quickly covered their mouth in shock.
Yuwen Duo slowly came to his senses. His cheek was swelling, and the humiliation sparked a violent rage. He spun around, dizzy with fury, and reached for the sword hanging behind him. His hand trembled as he shouted, “Xiao Fu! You’ve got some nerve! Guards! Brocade Uniform Guard! Arrest this—”
Before the words were even out, the legendary sword that had once secured the empire was kicked down by Xiao Fu. He caught it with effortless grace, his red sleeves fluttering, the blade glinting coldly. In a casual tone, he said, “Nephew, that’s not how you use a sword. You want the Brocade Uniform Guard to act against me? Don’t waste your breath. Prince Zhao’s troops are at the gates. You’re still not sending anyone to check? Is your stupidity incurable?”
All around, the palace servants trembled in fear—they had seen something they weren’t supposed to.
Marquis Dingbei had truly gone too far—publicly humiliating the emperor!
Yuwen Duo stared at the sword so close at hand, filled with hate. He couldn’t understand—how had such a defiant and ambitious man like Xiao Fu come from the once loyal and upright Duke Chang Residence?
“Prince Zhao only has eight thousand troops. The Central Imperial Army numbers over ten thousand! The Five Armies, the Three Thousand Battalion, and the Divine Artillery Corps—combined, we have fifty thousand!” Yuwen Duo knew the military structure inside and out. Prince Zhao was no real threat.
“Oh really? Then why do you think, with such a major situation—your second imperial brother quietly bringing eight thousand troops to Jinling—not a single person informed you? Only I did. Do you think it’s because I care about you? It’s because you’re so unbelievably stupid. If I didn’t slap you awake, you’d lose your entire empire.”
Yuwen Duo took several steps back, his face dazed. “The information was intercepted. There are Prince Zhao’s men within the Brocade Uniform Guard.”
The Brocade Uniform Guard—loyal directly to the emperor—had always been the executioners of imperial will. They were supposed to be the most loyal of all.
Yet even the Brocade Uniform Guard had traitors…
Yuwen Duo remembered that many veteran officials in court had once supported Prince Zhao’s claim to the throne.
“I carry the retired emperor’s secret edict. I’ve transferred thirty thousand personal troops from Yunnan to suppress Prince Zhao’s rebellion. If not for my command, those thirty thousand soldiers would’ve joined Zhao’s forces by now.” Xiao Fu’s voice lightened. “Your Majesty, if I truly wanted to kill you, your head would’ve rolled already. Truth cuts deep—does this count as a wake-up call?”
A wake-up call indeed. Probably from that slap.
Yuwen Duo calculated the risks, still in disbelief. “The retired emperor—where is he? When did you receive his order? Do you have proof?”
“Why does that matter? The thirty thousand troops are already on the way. Even if you doubt me, it’s too late. Now go put on your imperial crown to cover your face. It’s your mother’s birthday banquet today. The court officials, the foreign envoys—how can the emperor of the Daye Dynasty show up with five fingerprints on his face?”
Yuwen Duo summoned the imperial physicians and ordered the Brocade Uniform Guard to drag away all the palace maids and eunuchs who had witnessed his humiliation.
“No blood today. It’s the Empress Dowager’s birthday. Handle the punishments tomorrow. Announce my command—lock down the city. Archers to be stationed around the palace to guard against a night attack.”
He waved off the Brocade Uniform Guard. If it were only Prince Zhao, he wouldn’t have been too panicked. But Xiao Fu had brought Yuwen Zhou as a hostage—so long as Yuwen Zhou was in the palace, Prince Zhao likely wouldn’t make any rash moves unless cornered.
But the private troops from Yunnan had also arrived.
Taking Xiao Fu hostage now? Yuwen Duo figured—it’d be nearly impossible.
Imperial Physician Zhang applied ointment to reduce the swelling on the emperor’s cheek, sneaking glances at the composed Marquis Dingbei standing off to the side.
He was too timid to stare or ask questions.
“The sting is pretty bad—like a bee attack, some face powder might help cover it up.”
“Face powder?” Yuwen Duo kicked him in anger. “You’re a senior imperial physician, and all you can suggest is putting women’s cosmetics on me?!”
Imperial Physician Zhang immediately dropped to his knees. “Your servant deserves death! Your servant deserves death!”
Xiao Fu interjected, “You’d better put it on. If you don’t, and the foreign envoys laugh at you, it won’t be me they’re mocking.”
Imperial Physician Zhang silently wiped the sweat from his brow. This emperor’s real illness—only Marquis Dingbei could treat.
The banquet was about to begin. Emperor Wen Tai changed into ceremonial robes and donned the imperial crown, the golden beaded veil hiding his face.
“Where’s Tang Mengyang?” Yuwen Duo suddenly asked.
“Tang Gonggong?” said Chief Steward Liang. “Tang Mengyang lost his sight, and Your Majesty assigned him a quiet post in the palace. Shall I summon him?”
“Summon him. I remember he’s a sly one—always full of ideas.”
Tang Mengyang was indeed full of schemes and could easily read imperial moods.
After a moment of thought, he quietly whispered something. “Your servant believes… perhaps…”
“Poison?” Yuwen Duo frowned. “How would that even work…”
….Poison. Right. Why hadn’t he thought of that?
Tang Gonggong said, “In front of everyone, how could the Marquis refuse a drink personally offered by Your Majesty? He’s known for loving his wine—he won’t say no. If the poison is slow-acting, it’ll take effect in three to five days. By then, Commander Huang will have brought fifty thousand troops from Huizhou, and the private army from Yunnan will retreat.”
Yuwen Duo remained silent, letting the eunuchs help him into his robes.
He truly did want to eliminate Xiao Fu—this thorn in his heart. Not even Empress Dowager Xiao’s pleading would change that. The grudge from the two slaps still lingered.
But standing in Xiao Fu’s way weren’t just the Xu faction and Prince Zhao—there was more to be wary of.
Tang Gonggong couldn’t see the emperor’s expression, but he heard the quiet breath. He quickly added, “We can even frame Prince Zhao. Let Prince Zhao and the Prince Yunnan turn on each other—they already don’t get along. I have a perfect plan…”
He had so many devious tricks that even Liang Gonggong clicked his tongue in amazement. Truly born to be a eunuch. Yuwen Duo was pleased and immediately promoted him to the Chief Steward.
A rank-two official—something Tang Mengyang had never dared dream of!
As dusk fell, the palace lights shone as brightly as day.
Palace maids bustled about like figures from a painting. Over three hundred officials, nobles, and their families lined up from the two sides of the grand hall, forming a procession five zhang long. The event was even grander than last night’s Lantern Festival banquet.
Amid the music, all the elaborate birthday gifts were presented. The Minister of Rites personally read out the gift list.
Grand Secretary Xu, holding a rank-one position, naturally sat close to the emperor. He sat stiffly, hands under the table, glancing toward the emperor from time to time.
Xiao Fu didn’t care for food. He barely ate a few bites. Seated beside him, Young Master Yan munched on cashews. Xiao Fu asked, “Yan Sui, you’ve been eating those cashews nonstop. Are you a squirrel? Are they really that good?”
“Of course!” Yan Sui suddenly felt pity for his cousin who had no sense of taste. “The ones served here in the palace are better than what we have at our prince’s residence.”
“They’re good? Then great.” Xiao Fu scooped up a handful and wrapped them in a handkerchief, stuffing them into his robes. Beneath his cloak, he still wore red—his crimson Bai Ze brocade wasn’t too different from the attire of the other dukes and marquises.
Yan Sui looked puzzled. Cashews weren’t exactly rare. But to come to a palace banquet and still want to take them home—this sentiment said a lot about whom Xiao Fu held dear.
Suddenly, Yan Sui remembered something and asked, “Who are they for? I recall you have a young guard—are they for him?”
“No.” Xiao Fu thought of something, then dumped the cashews back and grabbed a handful from Yan Sui’s plate instead.
“Hey! Why’re you taking mine?”
“I can’t eat anything from my own table.”
From afar, a eunuch near the emperor noticed and reported, “Your Majesty, Marquis Dingbei is growing suspicious—he won’t even eat sunflower seeds. As for the poisoned wine…”
“Forget the wine for now, I just noticed—the heir of Prince Yunnan Residence is here too. After the banquet, detain him in the palace.”
Xiao Fu drank from the wine cup placed at the table of Count Zhongyong next to him.
He needed to stay clear-headed, so he only pretended to take a sip and poured the rest into his sleeve.
From the moment he saw that Xie Laosan’s seat was far away from his own, he already knew.
Xie Laosan had been deliberately sent away to prevent him from discovering that Xiao Fu’s food had been poisoned.
Dazzling dancers twirled across the stage. From a distance of just over a zhang, Xie Laosan raised his wine cup and gave a small shake of his head.
Xiao Fu met his eyes and quietly lowered his gaze.
Then Xie Laosan reached into his hair and fiddled around.
A tiny black insect, no larger than a fingernail, crawled out from his fingers.
Seated diagonally opposite Xiao Fu was Minister Pang of the Ministry of Rites. His family members were seated behind him at a lower table.
His son, Pang Xiang, rarely attended palace banquets. Before leaving the house that day, his father had warned him not to behave rudely—maintain proper posture and don’t let your eyes wander.
Unfortunately, Pang Xiang had excellent vision.
So it happened that he spotted Xiao Fu sitting among the dukes and marquises in the front row.
Xiao Fu’s striking appearance stood out no matter where he sat.
Pang Xiang got a clear look and his heart skipped a beat.
“Father, Father… who is that?”
“Who?” Minister Pang turned his head slightly. Pang Xiang leaned forward, “Next to Count Zhongyong, wearing a crimson robe with white Bai Ze embroidery.”
Minister Pang looked up and was instantly alarmed. He smacked down his son’s pointing finger. “I told you not to point at people! That’s Marquis Dingbei!”
“Marquis Dingbei…” Pang Xiang vaguely recalled, “That’s the Imperial Uncle, the Empress Dowager’s younger brother, the youngest son of Duke Chang. Doesn’t seem like such a big deal. That guy called me pig-brained last night by the Qinhuai River. I was wondering who he was…”
“What?!” Minister Pang turned sharply, aghast. “You offended Xiao Fu last night?!”
Pang Xiang blanked. “I didn’t provoke him. He acted like he was crazy and suddenly started insulting me.”
He knew who Marquis Dingbei was. The man was nobility, not someone to offend lightly. But even if he were the Marquis, he couldn’t just insult a minister of rites!
“You wretched brat! All the lessons I taught you about propriety—worthless! You—” If they weren’t in the palace during a banquet, Minister Pang would’ve slapped his son to death. “Do you even know who was responsible for the Crown Prince’s death when the current emperor took the throne?”
“I don’t know… Was it…” Pang Xiang trailed off, afraid to say more.
He had only been twelve when the emperor ascended. His father had survived by siding with the Empress Dowager.
Back then, when Emperor Wen Tai was still just the Ninth Prince, anyone he wanted dead would be gone by the next day. The court had been full of dread.
Xiao Fu had been a madman—even if he’d been gone seven years, who’s to say the madness was cured? Minister Pang feared they’d be assassinated before they even got home that night. “Tomorrow I’ll take you to the Marquis’s residence to apologize!”
Seated just below the emperor was Grand Secretary Xu. He’d been about to rise and plead for imperial leniency for his son when he suddenly felt an itch at his foot, as though something was crawling inside his boot.
It would be too improper to remove his shoe in public, so he tried to endure it.
He couldn’t…
Xu Hui couldn’t stand it anymore—it itched like hell.
Just then, Yuwen Duo, seated beside the Empress Dowager at the highest place of honor, also felt something strange.
A strange tingling itch rose from the soles of his feet.
That sensation…
Was exactly the same as when the Gu poison had flared up before!
Alarmed, Yuwen Duo immediately looked toward Grand Secretary Xu, only to see the man looking shifty, his head bent beneath the table doing something suspicious.
“Xu Hui! Arrest Xu Hui right now! Summon Divine Physician Xie, quickly—get Xie Laosan!” Before he could finish, a wave of searing pain shot up from the soles of his feet, paralyzing him. He collapsed into the dragon throne.
“My son! My son!” the Empress Dowager stood up in panic.
“Your Majesty!”
The court was thrown into chaos.
“The Emperor of Daye—what’s happening?” the foreign envoys murmured in confusion.
“Xu Hui…” Yuwen Duo convulsed, his face turning the color of raw liver. He trembled and pointed at the Grand Secretary. “It’s him—Xu Hui—he’s the one who harmed me…”
The voice wasn’t loud, but it rang clear in all directions.
The Minister of Personnel, seated next to Xu Hui, cried out, “Grand Secretary Xu!”
Xu Hui, busy scratching, didn’t even have time to put his shoes back on. He dropped to his knees in panic. “Your Majesty, it wasn’t me!”
But when his boots toppled over, a dense swarm of tiny, ant-like insects spilled out.
The Empress Dowager nearly fainted at the sight. The noblewomen attending the banquet screamed in terror. The dancers, still kneeling on the floor, saw the bugs creeping toward them. They were tiny—not frightening individually—but in such numbers, they scattered like ants. Some of the dancers instinctively crushed them with sleeves wrapped around their hands.
Yuwen Duo continued to convulse as the Empress Dowager cried out in shock and fear.
“Xu Hui has committed treason, plotted rebellion, and attempted regicide! He and his nine clans must be executed on the spot!”
Yuwen Duo began frothing at the mouth. “The bugs… the bugs… can’t… die…”
The birthday banquet descended into utter chaos. Xiao Fu sat expressionless, slowly pouring the poisoned wine beside him onto the floor.
Yuwen Duo died with his eyes wide open.
Died without clarity.
Died after being slapped.
The palace eunuchs were stunned, collapsing in shock. “Your Majesty…”
Tang Mengyang, the blind eunuch, cried the loudest—like he’d lost a father. “Your Majesty!”
Amid the wailing, Commander Huang quickly apprehended Xu Hui. The Empress Dowager was in tears. “My son! My son!”
She trembled and cried out, “Kill him! Kill him!”
Commander Huang looked dazed, but kept his head. “Your Majesty, something is clearly amiss. We should interrogate him thoroughly before execution.”
“Commander Huang, you dare disobey the Empress Dowager now?” Xiao Fu slowly rose and walked to her side, squatting beside her.
Yuwen Duo’s lifeless eyes still held fear and stared straight at Xiao Fu.
Xiao Fu’s lips curled into a cold arc. “Elder sister, how about letting me handle this?”
“Xiao Fu… alright,” the Empress Dowager collapsed onto her son’s still-warm corpse. “I leave it to you.”
“Commander Huang, did you hear that?” Xiao Fu rose, drawing a Xiuchun blade, the metal gleaming coldly.
Commander Huang knew full well Xiao Fu was involved in this mess. Xu Hui couldn’t die yet. If he did, there’d be no one left to testify. He held onto Xu Hui tightly, shielding him. “I, Huang Dian, am loyal to the Emperor—not a treacherous dog like you!”
“Oh? So loyal. Are you colluding with this regicidal traitor?” Xiao Fu advanced, blade in hand, his steps slow and heavy.
Pang Xiang had tried to run, but something made him look back.
He saw Marquis Dingbei, dressed in crimson, like a demon king, raise his blade and strike off Xu Hui’s head. Blood sprayed across his face—and he was still smiling!
“He’s a maniac!” Pang Xiang clutched his father. “Father, let’s go!”
“We can’t! We can’t go! His Majesty!” Minister Pang sobbed uncontrollably.
Over a hundred Brocade Uniform Guards around them were stunned by Xiao Fu’s move. Such… speed! Marquis Dingbei’s martial skills were probably unmatched even in the martial world.
Xiao Fu, unfazed, held the Xiuchun blade in one hand. “The Empress Dowager’s decree doesn’t work? Then how about this—”
From his robes, he produced a black tiger tally.
The very object the retired emperor had never relinquished when he abdicated—and the reason Yuwen Duo’s throne had always been unstable.
It was in Xiao Fu’s hands.
Commander Huang’s pupils contracted as he stared at the black Tiger Tally Xiao Fu had taken out.
It really was the Tiger Tally…
With the Tiger Tally in hand, one could command legions of troops!
How—how had it ended up in his hands?!
Seeing the Tiger Tally was like seeing the Emperor himself. Commander Huang’s knees buckled, and he knelt down heavily without a word.
Many of the court officials hadn’t yet left, and quite a few dared not leave. Upon seeing and hearing this, they all knelt down as well, lowering their heads, not daring to utter a sound.
At that moment, a single thought echoed in everyone’s mind.
Xiao Fu wanted the throne. He was seizing power! The dynasty was changing hands. From now on, the empire would bear the name Xiao…
Little did they know—Xiao Fu had not the slightest interest in the throne.
“The Emperor has passed. As His Majesty’s maternal uncle, this marquis is deeply grieved,” Xiao Fu couldn’t shed a tear and didn’t even look back as he asked, “Liang Gonggong, did His Majesty leave any final decree? Of the four princes, did he name a Crown Prince?”
“N-no, he didn’t. Just a few days ago, he wrote a secret edict. I’ll go retrieve it now!”
The edict was simple: it harshly condemned the crimes of the Xu faction. All branches of Xu’s clique were to be removed from office, and their descendants forbidden from holding official posts.
The Minister of Personnel, a bold one, spoke up: “His Majesty did not name a successor. But the empire… it cannot be without a ruler even for a day! Otherwise, chaos will follow!”
“With the Emperor gone, the matter of succession naturally falls to the Empress Dowager’s decision.”
The Emperor had just died, and the ambitious elder statesmen were already fixated solely on the issue of succession.
“The Second Prince is born of Concubine Hui…” Concubine Hui had already been cast into the Cold Palace and stripped of her title. Calling her that now was improper, so the Minister of Rites quickly corrected himself: “The daughter of the criminal Xu clan—naturally, the Second Prince cannot be made Crown Prince.”
“Traditionally, the rightful heir is the eldest legitimate son. In my humble opinion, the First Prince is the most suitable. The Third and Fourth Princes are still young and would require the Empress Dowager to reign behind the curtain.”
“But the First Prince is barely nine…”
“Enough. That’s enough,” the Empress Dowager could no longer bear to listen. When she raised her head, her face was pale as ash and her eyes lifeless. “The Emperor has only just passed. These trivial matters can be addressed later. All of you—hear my decree. I name Marquis Dingbei, Xiao Fu, as the Prince Regent, to manage state affairs on behalf of this mourning mother and oversee the imperial court!”
Xiao Fu swept his crimson robe aside and knelt. “Your subject, Xiao Fu, accepts the decree.”
The ministers exchanged glances, then knelt in unison. “We humbly obey the Empress Dowager’s command!”
Commander Huang lifted his head, eyes fixed on Xiao Fu, who was kneeling in a pool of blood.
His back was straight, his jaw firm, his red garments almost blinding to the eye.
With the Emperor’s death came a flood of pressing matters. Minister Pang, as the Minister of Rites, was particularly overwhelmed. He kept sneaking glances at Xiao Fu, knowing the man to be petty and vengeful. He wondered if it was still in time to bring his son over now to kowtow and apologize…
Moreover, until a new emperor was enthroned, the Emperor’s death had to be kept secret—if word got out, it could incite chaos along the borders.
Xiao Fu hadn’t yet washed his face. The stench of blood clung to him as he stood before the dragon throne and said coldly, “What happened today—whoever dares to breathe a word of it, tomorrow I’ll have their head.”
The officials knew full well what was at stake—this concerned the fate of the people and the peace of the realm. They all understood—news of this must not leave Jinling!
“As for succession, I will discuss it with the Empress Dowager. Minister Pang,” Xiao Fu called out to the Minister of Rites.
“Your humble servant is here!”
Xiao Fu turned to him. “The Emperor has passed. The Capital Examination Hall should be closed as well. Postpone the Spring Imperial Examinations.”
“Th-this…” Logically, yes, that was the procedure—but how could Xiao Fu be thinking about such petty matters at a time like this? Still, Minister Pang quickly answered, “I will handle it at once!”
Such a crisis had erupted in the palace that none of the inner court slept that night. Xiao Fu was not someone suited for court administration—too many trivialities drove him mad.
First, he sent men carrying his token to capture Prince Zhao alive. Then he had to assign ministers to their respective duties, confine the foreign diplomatic missions—not even a mosquito should be allowed to escape. Finally, the four young princes were brought before him by Liang Gonggong.
Xiao Fu’s sharp eyes caught sight of Tang Mengyang, who was blindfolded with a white cloth.
What kind of taste was that? The same color blindfold as Lin Lang used?
“Prince Regent, this is Tang Gonggong.”
Liang Gonggong noticed his gaze and said in a low voice, “Tang Gonggong was once a Grand Academician of the Inner Cabinet—a talented man. Unfortunately, he was ruined by the Xu faction—lost his eyes, and was even… mutilated. His Majesty—the late Emperor—showed mercy and allowed him to remain in the palace.”
Tang Mengyang—
Xiao Fu sneered coldly at him.
Tang Mengyang was completely at a loss. Ever since going blind, even his hearing had worsened. He vaguely understood the situation, though—he knew the man before him was the Prince Regent, as good as the Emperor himself.
Still, he had always been good at flattery, and now he promptly knelt down and shouted, “Your servant Tang Mengyang greets Royal Father! Long live Royal Father—may you live ten thousand years!”
Xiao Fu was the Emperor’s maternal uncle, and now the Prince Regent, holder of the former emperor’s Tiger Tally. It wasn’t inappropriate to call him Royal Father.
Even Liang Gonggong sighed internally—Tang Mengyang, to think he could come up with a title like “Royal Father.” This man had potential!
Yes… great potential. A future as dark as night.
Xiao Fu turned his head away. Just one more glance at this wretched eunuch was disgusting. He waved his hand. “Such an unlucky face. Send him off to empty chamber pots.”
Liang Gonggong was startled and quickly had someone take Tang Mengyang away.
Tang Mengyang looked completely dumbfounded. I cried so sincerely—why am I the one sent to clean chamber pots? Was he just born unlucky? He’d only been promoted to the Chief Steward for less than a day!
Only then did Xiao Fu have time to deal with the four princes.
The little princes all knelt down, calling him “Royal Father.”
Xiao Fu said nothing and stood, slowly walking over to them.
To the four young boys, his towering height was intimidating, and the stench of blood from him felt suffocating.
The First Prince, Yuwen Yu, was nearly ten. He had cried so much that his eyes were red from the Emperor’s passing.
The Second Prince, Yuwen Xuan, only seven, stood with his head lowered darkly. His mother had been thrown into the Cold Palace, and from what he had overheard today, with his maternal grandfather branded a traitor, he feared he too would be discarded.
The Third Prince, Yuwen Huan, about the same age as the Second, just a few days younger, had a calm and dignified air.
The Fourth Prince, Yuwen Yun, was not yet three—he was still sucking on his fingers.
Xiao Fu looked at each of them. They were all clearly terrified of him—except for Yuwen Yun, who dared to lift his head and look at him, eyes full of innocent wonder.
Xiao Fu bent down and asked, “Yun’er, what are you smiling about?”
The nanny attending Yuwen Yun was instantly gripped with fear.
Yuwen Yun mumbled unclearly, “Royal Father… pretty.”
The nanny nearly fainted.
Liang Gonggong was panicking too, afraid Xiao Fu would snap the little prince’s neck in rage.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Fu wasn’t angry at all. He even squatted down and asked, “Is Royal Father the most handsome person you’ve seen?”
“Yes…” Yuwen Yun blinked his large black eyes, his lashes long. “Mother Consort is pretty too.”
“A filial child—those are my favorite,” Xiao Fu said, reaching out his blood-stained hand to ruffle his hair.
On the other side, the other three princes wore various expressions.
The princes’ instructor, a Grand Academician from the Hanlin Academy, had also attended the banquet and was still trapped inside the palace. Now, trembling, he presented the four princes’ schoolwork and essays: “Prince Regent, please review.”
Xiao Fu had no idea how to read any of it. He flipped through the pages at random—at most he could judge how ugly or neat the handwriting was. These princes were taught by masters; all of them wrote far more beautifully than he did.
If Prime Minister Xue were here, perhaps he could give some useful commentary.
Xiao Fu looked up. Dawn was just breaking outside the window. A murky light cloaked the haunted shadows of the palace, heavy with lingering spirits.
He wrote a letter—or rather, a single word.
“Heir.”
Folding the paper, he handed it to Yuanqing. “Take this to Xingzhi Temple and deliver it to him.”
Yuanqing nodded in understanding and left the palace at once.
Xiao Fu rose. “Liang Hong, prepare the carriage. Have the princes changed into clean clothes. I’m taking them out of the palace.”
Liang Gonggong froze slightly, troubled, but quickly obeyed. Then Xiao Fu said, “Wait.” He lowered his head, looked at his blood-soaked crimson robe, and said, “I’ll bathe first.”
He couldn’t smell his own stench, but he could see it—he knew blood stank. If he showed up like this, he’d frighten Lin Lang, and Lin Lang wouldn’t want to get close to him.
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