Chapter 388: Paying a Visit
With the border left unguarded, the people there would suffer terribly in an invasion. Countless families would be torn apart.
To General Xiang, a single little girl is more important than the millions of people on the border.
The slander was relentless and the matter escalated quickly. In just one day, the public was vilifying Xiang Minghou as if he were a traitor who had lost a border city.
Around noon, news that Xiang Minghou had gone south to suppress bandits began to spread, followed by a wave of ridicule.
He insisted on resigning his post as General, and now he’s been demoted to a measly vice-commander chasing bandits. It serves him right.
「Chunfeng Lou, Drunkenness Pavilion.」
"I just received reliable intelligence. Xiang Minghou has indeed left the city for the south," the guard reported to the two men at the table.
Xiliu Yuan’s handsome face betrayed no emotion, but Mo Geluo, beside him, was utterly shocked.
"A great general of a nation, actually going out to catch bandits! HAHAHAHA! People would laugh their heads off if they heard this."
"We also received word that the Beili Emperor issued a decree today," the guard added. "It concerns the ridicule surrounding Miss Xiang’s marriage. Anyone who speaks ill of it further will be charged with defying an imperial edict."
At this, Xiliu Yuan frowned slightly.
"To think the Bei Emperor would choose someone as stupid and fat as a pig for his Crown Princess Consort. He’s not even old yet, so how have his eyes gone so dim? And he forbids anyone from talking about it. How amusing," Mo Geluo said, his laughter unabated.
"Does General Mo truly believe Miss Xiang is a fool?" Xiliu Yuan asked coolly.
"What else could it be? I have seen countless people in my time, and I’ve never seen a child get that fat. I suspect she must suffer from some kind of illness."
"And I, for one, think she is smarter than General Mo."
Mo Geluo’s laughter stopped abruptly. "Crown Prince?"
’He might be a little dense,’ he thought, ’but he wasn’t so stupid as to be outsmarted by a child.’
"What is the status of that matter?" Xiliu Yuan asked.
"Reporting to Your Highness, all arrangements are in place. The night after tomorrow."
"There can be no mistakes. If there are, I’ll have your head."
"Yes." The guard withdrew.
"Your Highness, must we really wait until the Grand Princess arrives in Beili to return to Xi Yan?" Mo Geluo inquired.
"We’ll see."
"Your Highness, I do not believe Beili is a place we should linger. To avoid any trouble, I think it would be best for us to depart as soon as possible."
Xiliu Yuan remained silent, his gaze drifting through the window to the stream of people below. His eyes flickered, and whatever he was thinking caused his beautiful eyes to darken.
Seeing this, Mo Geluo sighed inwardly and didn’t dare say another word.
’The Crown Prince is cold and aloof by nature,’ he thought. ’No one can ever guess what he’s planning.’
On the bustling street below, Prince Yu and Helian Chen came into Xiliu Yuan’s line of sight.
"The people from Nanyuan certainly are carefree," Mo Geluo remarked, having also noticed the two men below. Seeing the four guards trailing behind them, each with their hands full of goods, he couldn’t help but sneer, "I suppose Nanyuan doesn’t have so many fine things."
Xiliu Yuan cast a lazy glance in their direction before his gaze drifted into the distance.
’No matter how bustling Beili is, it’s nothing compared to the splendor of Xi Yan.’
"When we see Miss Xiang in a little while, you are not to call her a fatty."
"Uncle, you’ve told me a million times! Even if I were an idiot, I wouldn’t call her a pig-head to her face."
"You just said it again."
"I said I wouldn’t call her that *to her face*," Helian Chen retorted, his young face scrunched in a frown.
"You... Honestly, just be sure to remember what I told you at the residence," Prince Yu urged as they walked.
"I know, I know."
Prince Yu felt helpless. ’I know this little rascal all too well,’ he thought. ’He never means what he says.’
Up in the private room, Xiliu Yuan’s gaze fell upon the pair again. "Invite them up," he said coolly.
