The Emperor's question was a tricky one, but it had to be answered.

 

Xiao Shan not only answered but did so with complete nonchalance: "If Father Emperor wants me to go, then I'll go."

 

The Emperor: "..."

 

Xiao Jin: "..." This response was so contradictory that it bordered on arrogance.

 

The Emperor remained silent, but Xiao Rong, whose hair seemed to stand on end with anger, looked at him with eyes full of mockery. He let out a cold laugh and said, "What, did Third Brother's words just now only apply to me? By your logic, I'm practically Liu Jingxuan's brother, but you aren't? Or are you saying that in your heart, my relationship with the Crown Prince is closer than yours?"

 

Xiao Shan didn't even blink as he blatantly lied, "Eldest Brother, what are you saying? We are all brothers, sharing Father Emperor's blood; there's no question of who is closer to whom. What I meant earlier is that Father Emperor is the sovereign, and I am his subject. Whatever command Father Emperor issues, even if it contradicts my own beliefs, I must obey. No matter how difficult, I must undertake it. This is called sharing the sovereign's worries."

 

Xiao Rong wished he could turn his gaze into sharp little knives, slashing at Xiao Shan's face, preferably rendering him mute.

 

His chest heaving with rage and sarcasm, he said, "Since you still recognize that Father Emperor is the sovereign and you should share his worries, why did you blurt out that I shouldn't go? In Third Brother's eyes, am I, your eldest brother, incapable of sharing the sovereign's worries?"

 

Xiao Shan spread his hands innocently, "Eldest Brother, I was just expressing my thoughts to Father Emperor. If you really can't stand it, you're free to argue or ignore it. I was just speaking my mind, indulging in a bit of talk. Ultimately, it's still Father Emperor who makes the decision. You really shouldn't get angry with me over this."

 

"You..." Xiao Rong's chest heaved with anger, and he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood from the frustration. Right now, he just wanted to go over and punch Xiao Shan in the face, smashing his mouth so he could never speak again.

 

The Emperor: "..."

 

He coldly observed everything that just transpired. If he had to say something, it would be that Xiao Shan was being shamelessly audacious.

 

All the good and bad feelings were stirred up by his words alone.

 

Xiao Rong, almost driven to tears by his anger, knelt before the Emperor and tearfully complained, "Father Emperor, Third Brother's words just now were truly insidious. Who doesn't know about his close relationship with the Crown Prince? Can he honestly say he would be completely impartial in the matter of Liu Jingxuan? I believe someone with a fair and just heart should be sent to investigate."

 

Before the Emperor could speak, Xiao Shan quietly muttered, "Of course I dare. I even dare to swear in front of Father Emperor. It's normal for us brothers to argue and bicker, but Eldest Brother, you not only complain to Father Emperor but also make it sound so serious, as if I've committed some heinous crime. We're all grown-ups; can you be a bit more mature?"

 

Though he spoke softly, everyone present heard him clearly.

 

The Emperor: "..."

 

Xiao Rong: "..." He had a curse on the tip of his tongue that he wanted to hurl at Xiao Shan's face.

 

Xiao Jin: "..."

 

Xiao Jin cleared his throat and looked at Xiao Shan, saying, "Third Brother, you must maintain decorum in Father Emperor's presence."

 

Xiao Shan grinned, his expression clearly conveying that he didn't see anything undignified about himself.

 

Finally, the Emperor stopped the three brothers from continuing, mainly focusing on silencing Xiao Shan.

 

At the mention of swearing, the Emperor couldn't help but recall the scene where Xiao Shan swore on their ancestors' names.

 

Just thinking about that scene made the Emperor want to kick Xiao Shan.

 

The Emperor spoke in a deep voice, "Enough."

 

The three of them fell silent, their eyes all turning to him.

 

The Emperor felt as if he was seeing the scene from their childhood again, where they would look at him with bewildered eyes after a fight, waiting for him to provide a solution. He hadn't expected to feel the same exasperation after so many years.

 

The Emperor said, "Crown Prince, stand up."

 

Xiao Jin thanked the Emperor, bowed to him, and then stood up.

 

The Emperor looked at them and said, "Zhen don't want to hear any more nonsense. Zhen just want to know who you think is suitable to go to Liangzhou to investigate this matter."

 

Since it was inappropriate for Xiao Jin to speak, he remained silent.

 

Xiao Rong glared at Xiao Shan and said, "I believe Father Emperor already has a decision in mind. I will follow Father's orders."

 

Xiao Shan quickly chimed in, "Father Emperor, if you want me to go, I'll go. If not, I'll just go back to the residence and rest."

 

The Emperor glanced at Xiao Shan and said, "Zhen thought you didn't like taking on such tasks."

 

Xiao Shan's expression finally turned serious, and he said with righteous indignation, "Father Emperor, this is what I think: if that Liu Jingxuan really did such inhumane things, I'll break his legs on behalf of you and Second Brother."

 

"Corruption, murder to silence witnesses... any of these would disgrace Second Brother and bring shame to you. Of course, if he didn't do it, I'm also willing to go and ensure he isn't wronged."

 

For some reason, the Emperor felt that the same words sounded more convincing coming from Xiao Shan than from Xiao Rong.

 

Perhaps it was because Xiao Rong had ulterior motives, while Xiao Shan did not.

 

The Emperor understood everything clearly.

 

If Xiao Rong were to go to Liangzhou, he would undoubtedly use the opportunity to weaken Xiao Jin's influence.

 

Due to the passing of the Old Master Gu, Gu Xuan's son, Gu Yin, the prefect of Jiangnan, had also returned to the capital to observe mourning. As a result, Xiao Jin's influence in Jiangnan was significantly diminished. If Xiao Rong were to stir up trouble, it could severely damage Xiao Jin's power base in Jiangnan.

 

The Emperor allowed Xiao Rong to cause some commotion, but it had to be within limits and under his control.

 

The Emperor's stance was clear: there was only one Crown Prince. It was understandable for the other brothers to have minor jealousies, but if they crossed the line, it would not only harm their brotherly bonds but also strain the father-son relationship.

 

Therefore, he couldn't let Xiao Rong go to Jiangnan alone to cause trouble.

 

The Emperor did not make an immediate decision. He looked at the three of them and said, "Zhen will consider this matter carefully. Crown Prince and Xiao Shan, you may leave. Zhen have something to discuss with Xiao Rong."

 

Xiao Shan swiftly and neatly bowed, while Xiao Jin was more dignified and restrained.

 

After the two left, the Emperor looked at Xiao Rong and asked, "Do you have a close relationship with Wang Xin, the magistrate of Su'an County?"

 

Xiao Rong quickly shook his head in denial, "Father Emperor, I am not acquainted with Lord Wang, let alone have a close relationship."

 

The Emperor said slowly, "If you are not familiar with him, then it is strange. The matters mentioned in Wang Xin's memorial seem to accuse Liu Jingxuan but actually point directly at the Crown Prince. How did he dare to send the memorial to your residence? How did he know you would bring it to Zhen?"

 

Xiao Rong opened his mouth, and after a long pause, he finally said, "Father Emperor, I believe that anyone in the capital, even the Crown Prince, would not dare to conceal such a memorial. This must be a coincidence."

 

The Emperor nodded, his tone even more profound, "Not entirely foolish. You may go back now."

 

"Yes," Xiao Rong replied, unable to discern the Emperor's true meaning—whether he was calling him foolish or implying something else.

 

He also wondered if his actions today had been too eager, prompting the Emperor to deliberately say those words to caution him. He blamed Xiao Shan for this; if it weren't for his reckless talk, the Emperor wouldn't have questioned him in this manner.

 

The more Xiao Rong thought about it, the more anxious he became. He was eager to leave the palace and discuss the matter with Gu Guang.

 

So, as soon as the Emperor dismissed him, he left immediately.

 

Watching Xiao Rong leave, the Emperor remained silent for a moment before summoning Chang Le. "Send someone to investigate if there is any connection between Wang Xin and Gu Guang."

 

Even if Xiao Rong had no direct involvement, his father-in-law, Gu Guang, might. Regardless, it needed to be thoroughly investigated for peace of mind.

 

Chang Le, with lowered eyes, acknowledged with a "Yes" and quietly withdrew.

 

The Emperor sat on his throne, his eyes lowered as he stared silently at the blood-stained memorial on the imperial desk.

 

***

 

After Xiao Shan and Xiao Jin left the Qianming Hall and walked a considerable distance, Xiao Jin finally let out a long sigh of relief.

 

He looked at Xiao Shan and said, "Thank you today, otherwise I would have been in serious trouble." To be honest, when he saw the contents of the memorial, he was utterly shocked, and cold sweat broke out on his back.

 

Fortunately, he hadn't done anything wrong, so he quickly regained his composure and managed to speak appropriately.

 

Xiao Shan, however, responded nonchalantly, "Second Brother, Father Emperor knows exactly what kind of person you are. Since this matter doesn't directly implicate you, even if Father Emperor is extremely angry, the worst he'll do is scold you. Don't overthink it, and don't worry too much."

 

Xiao Jin: "..."

 

Being scolded wasn't serious? If the Emperor scolded the Crown Prince, who knew what thoughts would arise in the minds of the court officials.

 

As the Crown Prince, what he desired most was stability and peace, without any ripples in the court.

 

Seeing Xiao Jin's disagreement, Xiao Shan sighed and said, "Second Brother, what you should be concerned about now is Second Sister-in-law. Her condition is delicate, and this matter involves her brother. Forgive me for being blunt, but if things go wrong, Liu Jingxuan could lose his head. If any rumors reach Second Sister-in-law's ears and she gets agitated, it won't be good."

 

It wasn’t that he wanted to speak so harshly, but knowing Xiao Rong, if he didn't make this widely known, Xiao Shan felt he might as well cut off his own head and give it to him as a ball to kick.

 

Xiao Jin: "..."

 

Thinking about it this way, being scolded really wasn't that bad.

 

The Liu family only had Liu Jingxuan as their sole son, and they cherished him like a precious gem. Liu Jingyi often talked about him as well.

 

The real concern was that someone in the Liu family, in their desperation and confusion, might bring this matter to Liu Jingyi.

 

Imagining that scenario, Xiao Jin felt his head ache. His expression turned serious as he said, "I will return to the palace immediately and order that no one mentions this matter in her presence, to avoid upsetting her."

 

He then fell silent for a moment, pacing in place, and muttered, "The more you try to hide something, the harder it is to keep it hidden. Even if the Eastern Palace is as secure as a fortress, if someone is determined, a fly can still get in. She will find out eventually. If she learns about it through someone's instigation, she might think I deliberately kept it from her, damaging our relationship and making it difficult for us to be united in the future. It might be better to tell her now. After all, no one knows if Liu Jingxuan committed those crimes. Even in the worst-case scenario..."

 

Even in the worst-case scenario, if Liu Jingxuan was indeed guilty, there was a long time from now until the case was concluded. By then, Liu Jingyi would have mentally prepared herself and wouldn't harm her health or the child.

 

Liu Jingyi was the Crown Princess, and ever since she married into the Eastern Palace, many wanted to bring her down.

 

In this palace, even if the Emperor issued a gag order, it was hard to ensure absolute secrecy.

 

If someone deliberately leaked this information when Liu Jingyi was further along in her pregnancy, the impact on her could be even greater. It might be better to tell her now, so she could come to terms with it and be better prepared to guard against those with ulterior motives in the future.

 

Hearing this, Xiao Shan coughed and said, "Second Brother, if you decide to do this, you should have an imperial physician on standby in the Eastern Palace." In case Liu Jingyi got too agitated, it could be harmful to her health.

 

Hearing the reminder, Xiao Jin said to Xiao Shan, "I'll immediately send someone to fetch Imperial Physician Su." He didn't say anything more; between him and Xiao Shan, there was no need for empty words.

 

Xiao Shan replied, "Second Brother, you go ahead. I'm leaving the palace."

 

Xiao Jin instructed Chang An to escort Xiao Shan out of the palace, while he personally went to find Imperial Physician Su.

 

After bringing Imperial Physician Su to the Eastern Palace, Xiao Jin went to the inner courtyard to find Liu Jingyi.

 

Looking at Liu Jingyi, who was unaware of everything, his expression turned serious. "There is something I need to tell you. I don't want you to be upset by this, but I also don't want you to suddenly hear about it from someone else in the future."

 

Liu Jingyi was startled by his tone and expression and quickly said, "Please, Crown Prince, tell me."

 

Xiao Jin took a deep breath and then recounted the matter concerning Liu Jingxuan.

 

Before he even finished speaking, Liu Jingyi's face turned pale, and she clutched her stomach, bending slightly at the waist.

 

Xiao Jin supported her to lie down on the bed while instructing someone to fetch Imperial Physician Su.

 

Since Imperial Physician Su was just next door, he arrived quickly.

 

Imperial Physician Su immediately took Liu Jingyi's pulse. Confirming that she had disturbed her fetal energy, he administered acupuncture and then went to the outer room to prepare the medicine.

 

During this time, tears streamed down her face as she clutched Xiao Jin's hand, her voice trembling, "Crown Prince, it's impossible. My brother would never do such a thing."

 

Xiao Jin held her hand firmly and said in a deep voice, "Right or wrong, Father Emperor will have someone investigate thoroughly."

 

Liu Jingyi wanted to say more, but Xiao Jin interrupted, "Do you know why, even though I knew you might not be able to handle this right now, I still told you?"

 

Liu Jingyi hesitated and shook her head.

 

Xiao Jin's expression was unreadable as he softly said, "If I didn't tell you, and as your pregnancy progresses, someone else suddenly tells you, would you be able to accept it?"

 

Liu Jingyi remained silent, realizing that she probably wouldn't be able to accept it.

 

Xiao Jin continued, "If at that time, you couldn't accept it and something happened to your health or the child, what then?"

 

The Emperor, the Empress, and even Liu Jingyi herself eagerly awaited the birth of this grandchild. If something were to happen, the consequences would be unpredictable.

 

"As the Crown Princess, you can do many things, including protecting your family. But what if you are no longer the Crown Princess? How many people are waiting for that day, and how many don't want this child to be born?"

 

"You must not fall into someone else's trap because of this matter. Moreover, nothing is certain yet. Father Emperor will send someone to investigate. It's enough for you to be aware of this situation."

 

Liu Jingyi was no fool; she quickly understood the underlying meaning of Xiao Jin's words.

 

If she was well, the Liu family would be well. Even if something did happen to the Liu family, as long as she remained the Crown Princess, the Liu family would always have a chance to rise again.

 

The prerequisite for all this was that she took care of her health and protected the child.

 

This child was the Emperor's legitimate grandson, carrying immense significance.

 

Understanding this, Liu Jingyi exhaled and said, "I understand. I will take my medicine properly and won't be swayed by others."

 

From now on, anyone who deliberately brought up this matter in her presence would be considered a spy.

 

Hearing this, Xiao Jin squeezed her hand reassuringly.

 

After a moment, Xiao Jin walked to the outer room where Imperial Physician Su already prepared the prescription and was instructing him on how to brew the medicine.

 

Xiao Jin asked about Liu Jingyi's condition, and Imperial Physician Su replied, "The Crown Princess is in good health. Today, she was just momentarily agitated. With proper care for a few days, she will be fine."

 

It was only at this moment that Xiao Jin truly breathed a sigh of relief.

 

As long as Liu Jingyi could remain stable, the Eastern Palace's inner court would also remain stable.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, Xiao Shan returned to his residence and recounted the events in the palace to Xie Zhui.

 

After listening, Xie Zhui said, "It seems that Your Highness had already decided to go to Liangzhou while still in the palace."

 

The Emperor had this intention, and Xiao Shan also had this thought. In that situation, not wanting to suffer a loss, he took the opportunity to mock Prince Rui, who was trying to stir up trouble, while also trying to dispel the Emperor's suspicions about the Crown Prince.

 

The Emperor trusted the Crown Prince, but that didn't mean he didn't have doubts about him.

 

If Liu Jingxuan was indeed guilty of corruption and murder, where did the embezzled money go, and who gave him the audacity to commit murder?

 

Thinking about the hidden risks in every word and action, Xie Zhui couldn't help but shiver.

 

Xiao Shan sighed and said, "To be honest, if this were someone else's problem, I wouldn't bother with it. But if I don't step in now, who else can help Second Brother? Jiangnan is too far from the capital, it's a wealthy region with a complex and murky situation. Few officials can leave there unscathed."

 

There are many who want to throw stones at Xiao Jin, but few who want to pull him out of the pit.

 

Saying this, Xiao Shan suddenly felt weary. He hated these troublesome matters, and just thinking about it gave him a headache.

 

Leaning on the table with his chin resting on it, Xiao Shan muttered, "When the time comes, Second Brother must protect me so I can be the most comfortable and leisurely salted fish in Da Zhou."

 

His words were somewhat muffled, and Xie Zhui only caught the words "Second Brother" and "salted fish."

 

Xie Zhui blinked, not understanding how Xiao Shan connected the Crown Prince with being a "salted fish."

 

At that moment, Xiao Shan sat up straight, his eyes bright and spirited. "Xie Zhui, have you ever been to Jiangnan?"

 

Xie Zhui's heart skipped a beat, and he slowly shook his head. "No, I haven't." He followed his father to the borderlands in his childhood and only heard of Jiangnan, never having visited.

 

Xiao Shan clapped his hands. "I... I've never been there either. This time, I'll take you with me to properly see the scenery of Jiangnan."

 

Xie Zhui steadied his mind and said, "If Your Highness is going to Jiangnan to investigate a case, wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to accompany you?"

 

"What's inappropriate about it? You and I are one; wherever I go, naturally, I should take you with me."

 

Besides, investigating the case wouldn't interfere with sightseeing and leisure.

 

He intended to take Xie Zhui on a state-funded trip.