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Your Majesty nearly shattered the imperial desk. In his twenty years on the throne, even when he was a puppet of the eunuchs or suppressed by the noble families, there had never been a popular uprising. Now, when he held absolute power, he was left with such an extraordinary disgrace!
A popular uprising signified the incompetence and inaction of the monarch!
"Investigate! I want a thorough investigation!" The sight of the Youning Emperor gritting his teeth made Xiao Huayong's lips curl into a faint, pleasurable smile whenever he recalled it. He was beginning to understand why the Sixth Prince took such delight in causing trouble for His Majesty.
Hearing Shen Xihe's question, Xiao Huayong snapped back to reality. Seeing her intense gaze, he lowered his voice and said, "Don't worry, Youyou. Although it's a popular uprising, no commoners will be harmed. With Xiao Shiyi in Dengzhou, I've already instructed him that the authorities won't resort to violent suppression. The situation won't escalate. The people inciting the unrest are my agents—they'll blend in and act according to circumstances.
Not only will the commoners remain unharmed, but they'll also receive their grain rations earlier."
The court wouldn't distribute these grain reserves unless absolutely necessary, as failing to sustain subsequent supplies could lead to greater disasters.
If the rain Shen Xihe anticipated were to fall, this grain would simply be transported back to the Ministry of Revenue as it came. Maintaining a full state treasury was the priority; as long as these commoners could tighten their belts and survive, the court wouldn't intervene.
After such a calamity, many of these people would have to sell their children to survive. Stirring up some trouble now could give them a chance to catch their breath.
Hearing Xiao Huayong's words, Shen Xihe's expression softened. She wasn't a particularly benevolent person, but she disliked bullying the weak, disregarding the innocent, or trampling on the common people.
She knew Xiao Huayong must be scheming something, but if achieving his goals meant harming innocent civilians, it would displease her.
"What's your objective?" Shen Xihe pondered but couldn't figure out why Xiao Huayong was meddling in Dengzhou's affairs.
"Didn't I tell you earlier that the Sixth Prince spread the Imperial Observatory's predicted rainfall date to Dengzhou?" Xiao Huayong elegantly lifted his teacup with one hand while adjusting his sleeve with the other. "Although this popular uprising appears more thunder than rain, it sounds terrible when word gets out. His Majesty can't tolerate any blemish on his political achievements—this is a major stain. If His Majesty uncovers the mastermind behind it, he won't show any mercy."
Shen Xihe instantly understood Xiao Huayong's intention: he was amplifying Xiao Changqing's actions and framing him for instigating the popular uprising. Since Xiao Changqing was already the one who leaked the Imperial Observatory's rainfall prediction—and since Xiao Huayong knew about it—there would inevitably be traces.
With Xiao Changgeng as an insider in Dengzhou, having him orchestrate some maneuvers would make it easy to frame Xiao Changqing, leaving him unable to defend himself.
But Shen Xihe didn't understand: "We've had no conflict with Prince Xin. Why are you suddenly targeting him?"
"I'm not targeting him. Don't you know your husband well enough? Your husband has always been a law-abiding man—why would I stir up trouble for no reason?" Xiao Huayong's clear eyes shone with an innocent smile as he looked at Shen Xihe, appearing almost harmless.
Shen Xihe couldn't help but twitch her lips, her expression one of speechless disbelief.
The man before her was probably the most mischievous man in the entire world—how dare he claim to be law-abiding?
He wouldn't stir up trouble for no reason; he merely turned minor issues into major ones.
"You...""Your Highness, Prince Xin and Prince Lie request an audience." Before Shen Xihe could speak, Zhenzhu's announcement sounded from outside the door.
Xiao Huayong took a light sip of Eucommia Leaf tea, closed his eyes and hummed softly in enjoyment for a moment before setting down the teacup. He stood up, took Shen Xihe's hand, and led her to the reception hall.
Xiao Changqing stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a moon-white robe, his expression calm.
Xiao Changying wore fiery red robes, his brows slightly furrowed with complex emotions.
"Greetings to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess." Upon seeing Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe, Xiao Changqing took the lead in performing the ceremonial greeting.
Xiao Changying followed behind with a stiff face, somewhat perfunctorily mimicking his elder brother's salute.
Xiao Huayong reached out to gesture them up: "Fifth Brother and Ninth Brother need not stand on ceremony."
Shen Xihe also returned the salute behind him. The two brothers took their seats at Xiao Huayong's invitation.
After the servants poured tea, Xiao Changqing went straight to the point: "Your Highness, what instructions do you have for us?"
"Fifth Brother arrived faster than I expected." Xiao Huayong first offered praise.
"If I weren't quick, I fear I would already be convicted." Xiao Changqing stared intently at Xiao Huayong, his words carrying hidden meaning.
Xiao Huayong had framed him, then let him know it was Xiao Huayong who had set him up. At this moment, neither Xiao Changyan in Dengzhou nor His Majesty had yet discovered who had incited the civil unrest—or perhaps they hadn't obtained evidence—but already suspected it was him.
This was clearly meant to make him come knocking on the door.
"If Fifth Brother is upright and aboveboard, why fear unfounded accusations?" Xiao Huayong said lightly.
Xiao Changqing admitted he had played a part in this matter, but never intended it to reach the level where Xiao Huayong would add fuel to the fire. It wasn't that he didn't want to cause trouble for His Majesty, nor that he feared being discovered, but rather that his influence in the regions couldn't compare to Xiao Huayong's. He couldn't control the situation, and if things escalated beyond control, it would be the innocent common people who suffered.
His Qingqing wasn't someone who would eliminate evil and support the weak, but she disliked bullying the weak even more, and particularly hated involving the innocent.
"Your Highness, if you have any orders, please speak plainly." Xiao Changqing had already seen through Xiao Huayong's true nature and had no desire to engage in verbal sparring with him.
Speaking with intelligent people was always this straightforward. Xiao Huayong no longer beat around the bush: "The drought in Dengzhou is the source. If Fifth Brother, concerned about the people, specially seeks guidance from an expert, learns which day will bring rain, and informs His Majesty—how could such a Fifth Brother, so devoted to Dengzhou's disaster relief, be the mastermind behind the chaos?"
Upon hearing Xiao Huayong's words, Shen Xihe suddenly turned to look at him. She finally understood the careful planning behind his arrangements.
The Imperial Observatory could miscalculate. He worried others might also miscalculate. No matter how much Shen Xihe trusted him, such errors were always possible. He couldn't bear to let her take any risky steps.
She had just opposed His Majesty. If she personally went to tell His Majesty which day it would rain in Dengzhou, using the pardon of the Imperial Harem as pretext, His Majesty would certainly question her. Given the urgency of the severe drought, even if His Majesty knew her private motives, he wouldn't dare ignore it—but would surely demand she sign a military pledge before being moved.
Once such a pledge was signed, if no rain came, Shen Xihe would have no way to retreat and would be attacked by censors. His Majesty could seize the opportunity to revoke her decree of Palace authority, and might even implicate her further...
"You know which day it will rain?" Xiao Changqing asked incredulously."It was predicted by a highly respected individual, but nothing in this world is absolute. There are still risks, after all. The Imperial Observatory isn't filled with incompetents either—they too have made miscalculations. Fifth Brother, would you like to take a gamble? The choice is entirely yours." Xiao Huayong adopted an attitude of being very accommodating and absolutely non-coercive.
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