Chapter 590: Only Dead People Can’t Open Their Mouths
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Your Ma… Cough, cough, cough, cough…” As soon as Prince Jiangning opened his mouth, he choked on his saliva and started coughing violently.
Xiao Jin helped to soothe him by patting his back thoughtfully. “It seems that you are too happy, Prince Uncle. You must be very delighted with my suggestion.”
Prince Jiangning coughed for quite a while before he could catch his breath. “Your… Your Majesty, er… er, now… now Kun City hasn’t been rebuilt yet. How would I dare to spend money like this? I won’t be celebrating my birthday. I’ll just eat a bowl of longevity noodles as a token gesture.”
Xiao Jin tightened his grip on Prince Jiangning’s arm, and his expression was one of disapproval. “It’s rare for Prince Uncle to be so considerate. I’m very touched. It won’t be extravagant. I just want a get-together with Prince Uncle and your son, that’s all.”
Prince Jiangning knew it! The Emperor did not ask him to enter the palace simply for a meal!
“Your Majesty, I might as well tell you frankly. This son of mine is not within my control. You also know that after he was born, he was sent to Jinling City and only met me a few times. I’m afraid he doesn’t have any strong father-and-son relationship with me. So he will not be willing to come all the way to the capital city to celebrate my birthday. If I ask him to come and he refuses, won’t it be a tremendous loss of face for me?”
Prince Jiangning’s words were sincere and he did not seem to be lying.
Xiao Jin raised his sharp eyebrows slightly. “Not willing to come to the capital city? Has he done something shameful in Jinling City and is afraid that Prince Uncle will find out?”
Prince Jiangning’s expression changed drastically. He stood up and knelt down in one breath. “Your Majesty, you are perceptive. That kid definitely wouldn’t dare to have any thoughts that he shouldn’t have. Your Majesty, don’t worry. When I return, I will send a letter to him. I will definitely make him come to the capital city to celebrate my birthday, no matter what it takes!”
Xiao Jin nodded in satisfaction upon hearing that. “Steward Zhang, Prince Uncle enjoyed these dishes. Pack them up and send them personally to Prince Uncle’s residence. Once there, if Prince Uncle finds it inconvenient, you can write that letter to Shijie on his behalf. I also want to have a good get-together with Shijie.”
Zhang Shuming stepped forward and answered, “Yes, Your Majesty.” As he spoke, he instructed the palace servants to bring in a food container and pack up the food on the table.
Prince Jiangning’s face turned pale. He couldn’t evade it even if he wanted to. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
As he walked out of the main hall, the cold wind blew against his face, but Prince Jiangning felt a chill throughout his whole body.
He prayed silently in his heart, praying that his only son would not do anything stupid!
Zhang Shuming followed Prince Jiangning all the way back to his residence.
“Your Highness, these dishes must have turned cold. Let the kitchen heat it up before eating. While they are preparing the food, I will help you write the letter so that the Young Prince can come to the capital city before your birthday.”
Prince Jiangning gave the people in the room an eye signal, indicating to them to leave.
After the attendants excused themselves and stepped outside, Prince Jiangning closed the door behind him and shoved a few banknotes into Zhang Shuming’s hand.
Zhang Shuming demurred with a smile for a while before accepting them.
Prince Jiangning felt a little better when he saw Zhang Shuming putting the money away. “Steward Zhang, as you can see, I only think about having fun normally. I don’t know what is happening in the capital city. Why does the Emperor want Shijie to come to the capital city for no reason? Did something happen?”
Zhang Shuming gave Prince Jiangning a reassuring smile. “Your Highness, don’t think too much. His Majesty genuinely just wants to give Your Highness a good birthday celebration, especially after… after what happened to Eldest Young Master. Therefore, if your second son comes back and His Majesty gets to meet him, His Majesty will be happy and feel at ease. What can possibly happen?”
To put it bluntly, Xiao Jin did not feel at ease with Xiao Shijie because of Xiao Shihang’s matter. Now, the Emperor was giving them a chance to show their loyalty. If Xiao Shijie came back publicly without hesitation and showed his face to the Emperor, the fact that he had the courage to come back proved that he did not have any ulterior motives.
If he didn’t dare to come back, he might have done something he shouldn’t have at Jinling City!
No matter how stupid Prince Jiangning was, he understood the meaning behind Zhang Shuming’s words. The Emperor was testing him.
“Then… then, what if he… he is held back by some matters and can’t come back…”
Zhang Shuming gave Prince Jiangning a look that implied, “You know what I mean.” Prince Jiangning felt a stronger wave of chilliness overwhelming his heart.
“Just write then. Just write, just write. Write according to what I say.”
Since he wanted his son to come back, he couldn’t let his son notice that something was wrong. Otherwise, if his son felt that there was danger, would he still come back?
His son was fine in Jinling City, but what about Prince Jiangning himself? The Emperor would still be able to make an example out of him!
He finally knew why the Emperor did not let him go to the fiefdom previously. He was waiting for Prince Jiangning to deliver himself here!
After Zhang Shuming finished writing the letter for Prince Jiangning, he sent it out through Prince Jiangning’s channel.
“Your Highness, enjoy your meal. I will return to the palace to report to His Majesty.”
Prince Jiangning was in no mood to respond and waved his hand to gesture to him to leave.
After Zhang Shuming returned to the palace, he reported what happened to Xiao Jin.
“Judging by Prince Jiangning’s behavior, it looks like he genuinely doesn’t know anything.” However, there was a particular kind of person in this world. If this kind of person were to seriously put on an act, this person would even fall for his own act. Therefore, Xiao Jin did not dare to conclude that Prince Jiangning was really an innocent old rabbit.
“The carrier pigeon will arrive at Jinling City soon. It only takes two to three days for a return trip.” At that point, whether Xiao Shijie was a human or a demon, they would know once they tested him.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The carrier pigeon soon arrived at Prince Jiangning’s Residence in Jinling City.
The caretaker took the letter and walked through the long corridor to the study.
“Your Highness, there’s a letter from the capital city.”
A moment later, a bright and clear voice rang out from the room. “Come in.”
The caretaker entered the room and handed the letter to Xiao Shijie.
After the caretaker left, a figure walked out from behind the screen in the study. It was Ma Zhi, who was on the run.
“Your Highness, the capital city sent a message at this juncture. Did they discover something?”
Xiao Shijie opened the letter and read it. It was sent by Prince Jiangning. The content of the letter was simple. His father wanted him to go to the capital city to celebrate his birthday.
After Ma Zhi read the letter, his heart was in his mouth. “Your Highness, they are luring you into a trap.”
Xiao Shijie lowered his eyes. His father would occasionally send him a letter, but he had never once mentioned he wanted Xiao Shijie to go to the capital city. This time, his father sent a letter telling him to go to the capital city. It would be strange if there was no problem.
“Your Highness, you must not go.” If Xiao Shijie was taken down, then all their efforts over the years would have been in vain, just like Prince Ma in the past.
“The Emperor will definitely send someone to investigate the matter of Su Yulun being buried. When you escaped, did anyone know your whereabouts?”
Ma Zhi shook his head. “Don’t worry, Your Highness. No one knows.”
Xiao Shijie nodded. “Stay in Jinling City first and don’t go anywhere.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Just as Ma Zhi turned around and was about to leave, he suddenly felt a chill on his neck. His two eyes widened in shock when he reached out to touch his neck and felt blood on his hand.
Xiao Shijie withdrew the sword in his hand without emotion. “Only a dead man can’t open his mouth.”
Ma Zhi collapsed to the ground suddenly and stopped breathing.
“Men.”
Two guards pushed open the study door and walked in.
“Throw the corpse outside the border as quickly as possible. Thereafter, lure the soldiers at the border to that spot. Don’t give yourself away.”
“Yes, Your Highness..”
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