Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

109. Prince Ning Gets Rebuked

Translator: Sissy That Walk

Xiao Yi rubbed Cao Mo on his shoulders, “Mo, don’t fall for Lady Lu. As you said, she gave you the account books to shirk responsibilities, so don’t go to the shops under your own name. Just tell father about this, father will ask Lady Lu to take care of this. You are managing the household, but for bulk buy for private troops, Lady Lu’s seal is needed.”

Cao Mo yawned and wrapped his arms around Xiao Yi’s neck, “But I’m more scared of Auntie Lu now that we’ve killed her bird, who knows what she will do next.”

Xiao Yi carried Cao Mo in his arms and walked to the bedroom, “That’s a problem for tomorrow, plus she can’t hurt us now that father has known about this.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Haha, father is Marquis Valour after all, let’s not underestimate him.”

… …

In the Imperial Palace.

The emperor fumed after he took a look at the wooden box that Prince Xing had presented.

That fit in with Prince Xing’s scheme, he kowtowed to the emperor and said he was wronged.

With a thud the emperor threw the wooden box on the ground, “You are wronged? Now you take a look yourself and you tell me whether you are wronged or not.”

Prince Xing picked up the box and took a look, he had already knew the handwriting had already vanished, he kowtowed again and suggested, “Your Majesty, please ask the eunuch to bring some vinegar and splash a few drops on the paper. I only heard of this in anecdote, hopefully it will work.”

The emperor was intrigued, he asked one of the eunuchs to do what Prince Xing just said. And soon enough a layout of the capital city showed up on the paper.

“What has just happened?” the emperor was taken aback.

“I heard this from Cao Mo, the ink on the paper is made from sepia, a fun fact about sepia is it will vanish over time, but it will show up again once it’s met vinegar.” Prince Xing explained, his tone tight and controlled, the emperor felt so bad for blaming him wrongly.

“How scheming!” the emperor exclaimed, “My son, good job! The consequences will be unimaginable if this has fallen into the hands of the enemy! My son, I have wronged you, you have made me proud!”

Prince Xing’s eyes sparkled, that was the first time that the emperor had spoke highly of any prince.

The emperor summoned Xiao Yugui after Prince Xing had left.

Xiao Yugui stuffed a pouch of gold to the silver who came summon him, “Eunuch, how is His Majesty today? Is there anything I should watch out for?”

The eunuch beamed with joy when he weighed the pouch in hand, he was even more thrilled when he took a peek and found it was gold instead of silver in the pouch, “Your Lordship, you shouldn’t have.” but with that the eunuch looked around and put the pouch in his sleeve.

“Here is the thing, Your Lordship, Prince Xing presented a wooden box in the morning, His Majesty has been furious after he saw what was inside.”

Xiao Yugui gasped, little did he think Prince Xing would be so quick.

Xiao Yugui walked to the hall in an attitude of respect, he found Prince Ning kneeling on the ground before he could make profound reverence.

The emperor threw the wooden box to Xiao Yugui’s feet in a huff and asked, “Marquis Valour, perfect timing, please have a look at the map and tell me whether it belongs to you!”

Xiao Yugui dared not to make a sound, he opened the box and it was the layout of the capital city that Xiao Yi had warned him about.

Prince Ning was trembling on the ground, he didn’t understand why there was handwriting on a piece of paper which should be empty by now.

Xiao Yugui soon gained his composure, he knew it was high time he had picked a side between the two princes.

No way could he admit this map was stolen from his manor, he didn’t care about Auntie Lu, but he was sure Auntie Lu would drag their entire family into dire.

Xiao Yugui pretended he studies the map for a while and said, “To report to Your Majesty, this looks like a discarded map in our manor.”

“A discarded map? You used sepia ink for a discarded map? What have you taken me for, a fool? Marquis Valour?” the emperor fumed.

Xiao Yugui took a deep breath and replied, “Your Majesty, the layout of our capital city is top secret of our whole country, I won’t be that careless about the authentic one.”

“This is a reminder for you, Marquis Valour, you need to pay more attention in your household! Understood?” the emperor showed a solemn face.

The emperor glared at Prince Ning after Xiao Yugui had left, “I’m all ears now, my good son.”

“Father, I have no idea what’s going on.” Prince Ning kept thumping his head on the ground.

“Aren’t you the one who came reminded me about the wooden box right after your brother presented to me? And now you are telling me you have no idea what’s going on?” the emperor threw a teacup on the ground, “Aren’t you the one who has supported Lu Jianzhong to abduct Cao Mo? Yes, I know that too.”

Prince Ning trembled all over, “Please give me an opportunity to mend my ways!”

The emperor said, “I have two assignments for you and your brother, one is to appease the victims in disaster-hit areas and one is to meet the delegates from the southern country, you pick one yourself.”

“Father, I’m willing to go to Dingzhou to appease the victims.” Prince Ning knew this was his last chance to impress the emperor.

“I have faith in you, I know you will do a good job this time.”

Prince Ning kowtowed to the emperor and staggered from the hall.