Chapter 666: Chapter 666: Personally Opened

The rain was pouring heavily, and there was no dry place to be found along the corridor.

The Hidden Guard urged Xingxing to return indoors, assuring her he would stand watch.

Xingxing returned inside, occupying herself with weaving knots to pass the time.

It was Su Jin who supported Xie Jingchen when they went out.

When they returned, it was Xie Jingchen carrying Su Jin.

The wound on his arm had reopened, but the blood was bright red; unlike the dark red from when he returned from the prayer for rain, indicating that the poison was probably cured.

Xingxing brought over the medicine box, and Su Jin gritted her teeth as she helped Xie Jingchen change the medicine.

Her hand intentionally poked the wound an unknown number of times.

Xie Jingchen’s forehead trembled.

Xingxing watched seriously from the side.

She thought that poking the wound during bandaging was necessary for recovery, and soon she would be copying this method when bandaging someone else…

The rain lasted three days before it stopped.

It wasn’t a constant downpour.

The heavy rain diminished after midnight and continued sporadically for two more days before it cleared.

The sky after the rain was as blue as jade and as clear as a wash.

Looking at this sky, people’s mood significantly brightened.

With the rain lasting three days, the Emperor suspended court for three days.

On this day, the court resumed.

The officials praised the Emperor’s successful rain prayer, with gratitude from the common people certainly being conveyed to the Emperor.

After the praises, Duke Chong began to impeach Marquis Dongxiang.

The Emperor had entrusted him with the prayer for rain, yet assassins infiltrated the altar, causing the Empress to fall and the Emperor to narrowly escape an assassination attempt.

Recalling that day’s events, the officials were still fearful, siding with Duke Chong, calling for the Emperor to punish Marquis Dongxiang.

Marquis Dongxiang looked at Duke Chong without saying a word.

Prince Zhenbei looked to the Emperor and said, “This cannot be blamed on Marquis Dongxiang’s incompetence.”

“The task was originally assigned to Prince NanAn, but because the officials felt he couldn’t handle it, Marquis Dongxiang had to take over at the last minute.”

“Prince NanAn’s men withdrew, and Marquis Dongxiang’s men hadn’t replenished in time, allowing the breach.”

“Changing generals on the battlefield is a major taboo, and it’s unavoidable for anyone to fall victim under such circumstances.”

Duke Chong countered, “While it was handed to Marquis Dongxiang temporarily, no one ordered him to immediately have the Emperor conduct the prayer!”

“He didn’t even ensure the Emperor’s safety before hastily proceeding with the prayer, playing with the Emperor’s life!”

Marquis Dongxiang patted the official robes on his body and said, “Prince NanAn wasn’t worried about being impeached, while I was frantic; yet I still got impeached. They say the more you do, the more mistakes; the less you do, the fewer mistakes; don’t act, no mistakes — it seems to avoid impeachment, I should talk less and do less.”

Duke Chong was so angry he nearly fell backward.

This was Marquis Dongxiang’s way of mocking him for not taking on difficult tasks, only to comment negatively afterward.

Duke Chong glared at Marquis Dongxiang and said, “To follow Marquis Dongxiang’s thinking, those who don’t work cannot criticize others; what then is the purpose of the Imperial Censorate?!”

Duke Chong’s point was valid.

The Emperor understood why Marquis Dongxiang was in such a hurry to perform the prayer; if delayed, he would have no need to perform it.

Still, the task was not handled well, and punishment is protocol; the Emperor couldn’t overtly show favoritism.

The punishment for Marquis Dongxiang was the same as Prince NanAn’s, a six-month salary forfeiture.

But Duke Chong found such a penalty utterly unsatisfying.

Half a year’s wages were inconsequential!

Previously, Marquis Dongxiang was penalized with several years’ salary forfeiture, but when Su Chong wore a pair of tattered shoes, the Emperor relented and rescinded the punishment.

Even though Marquis Dongxiang had faults, his successful rain prayer was also a merit.

If Duke Chong continued to press, the Emperor might become annoyed.

Reluctantly, Duke Chong could only conclude, “The Emperor is wise!”

If Duke Chong were to know that the Emperor penalized Marquis Dongxiang openly, but rewarded him after court, he might be furious enough to spit blood.

The matter settled temporarily.

The Emperor was in a particularly good mood.

Unfortunately, this good mood lasted only until the end of court, when it was overshadowed by troubling news.

Just after rewarding Marquis Dongxiang, the news of Beimo Cheng King’s disappearance reached the Emperor.

The impatient Beimo Cheng King returned to Beimo ahead of the Beimo Princess and the Prince Beimo.

However, by the time the Beimo Princess and her entourage returned to Beimo, the whereabouts of Beimo Cheng King were still unknown.

The 100,000 troops from Nanliang were borrowed through Beimo Cheng King’s intervention; although they are now retreating to Nanliang, they remain stationed at the border, causing disputes with Beimo.

Beimo Cheng King had made promises for borrowing those 100,000 troops — 100,000 taels of gold and 300,000 dan of grain and grass.

However, no one knew of Beimo Cheng King’s promises.

Anxious to find Beimo Cheng King, Beimo was left with no trace of him.

To say he vanished without a trace wasn’t entirely accurate, as Beimo Cheng King’s confidant returned heavily injured to Beimo, reporting that they were ambushed within Daqi territory, with Beimo Cheng King severely wounded and taken away by boat while they stayed behind; afterward, there was no contact.

In other words, Beimo Cheng King disappeared in Daqi, whether dead or alive is unknown.

The King of Beimo dispatched envoys at urgent speed, hoping for Daqi’s assistance in locating Beimo Cheng King.

Upon seeing the letter from the border, the Emperor’s brows furrowed intensely; he turned to Marquis Dongxiang and asked, “What do you make of this?”

“The King of Beimo likely won’t wage war on us, but the same can’t be said for Nanliang,” Marquis Dongxiang said moodily.

Despite being a General, Marquis Dongxiang had no desire for war.

Yet, a war with Nanliang had been anticipated for over a decade.

The shame of the Flying Tiger Army’s destruction must be avenged!

Moreover, he needed to ascertain whether Duke Chong’s alliance with Nanliang was true or just speculation.

Eunuch Fu looked at the message tube and said, “Emperor, there is another message in the tube.”

The Emperor shook out the letter stuck inside the tube.

Written in large characters: Opened Only by Princess Consort Zhenbei.

Followed by a smaller note: From Princess Jing Mountain.

The corner of the Emperor’s mouth twitched.

Within a letter concerning military and state affairs was another addressed to Princess Consort Zhenbei from Beimo Princess Jing Shan, such an audacious princess of a nation.

The letter was for Su Jin, so the Emperor couldn’t rightly open it.

Marquis Dongxiang said, “I happen to be going to see Prince Zhenbei; I’ll take this letter.”

Accepting the letter from the Emperor, Marquis Dongxiang took his leave.

When Marquis Dongxiang arrived at Prince Zhenbei Mansion, the Prince was preparing to head to the military camp, surprised upon seeing Marquis Dongxiang.

The two went to the study for a private conversation.

Agarwood Pavilion, rear courtyard.

Inside the bamboo house.

Su Jin was helping Xie Jingchen change his bandages.

The wound on his arm had already crusted over, with new flesh regrowing, pale pink in hue.

Su Jin applied newly prepared ointment and wrapped it with gauze.

Outside, Bi Zhu ran in, saying, “Princess Consort, Marquis Dongxiang is here, and the Prince requests you in the study.”

“My father is here?” Su Jin was a bit shocked.

It was rare for Marquis Dongxiang to visit Prince Zhenbei Mansion; what sort of wind blew her father in today?

Eager to meet Marquis Dongxiang, Su Jin swiftly wrapped the gauze, casually tying it in a bow.

Xie Jingchen, “…”.

Just as he was about to speak, Su Jin had already left the bamboo house, with Xingxing following closely behind.

Leaving him alone in the bamboo house.

Finally, the Hidden Guard slipped in silently, redoing the gauze for Xie Jingchen.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep