Free Web NovelChapter 1144: Chapter 1135: Sowing Discord (20)
After waiting for so long, finally a birth, and it’s a son as hoped.
Chu Shun was overjoyed.
Upon learning that Qin Hanhan gave birth because she laughed so much at Young Master Su’s letter, Chu Shun specifically asked Su Jin to see the letter.
In the end, he even wrote a thank-you letter to Prince NanAn.
Whether Prince NanAn was happy to receive it remains unknown. freёwebnovel.com
Thinking of it, whenever he loses face, he always manages to lose it far and wide.
With another child in the courtyard, it has become even more lively.
Chu Shun’s son has a birthmark on his arm, making him easily recognizable, and coupled with Yuanyuan being almost three months older, there’s no fear of confusing them.
The Little Princess often plays with Yuanyuan and was extremely fascinated to find another child suddenly present.
One day, the Princess Consort and Su Jin returned from visiting Qin Hanhan.
Xie Jingchen happened to come out of the study, sneezing several times as he descended the steps.
The Princess Consort saw this and asked, "Did you catch a cold?"
"I’m fine," Xie Jingchen replied.
The Princess Consort turned to Su Jin and said, "Take a look at Chenchen."
Back inside, Su Jin checked Xie Jingchen’s pulse.
Xie Jingchen held her in his arms and said, "How could I catch a cold so easily?"
"Catching a cold is nothing, but don’t pass it to the child," Su Jin said.
"...."
What could Xie Jingchen say? If she wants to check the pulse, then let her.
As soon as Su Jin extended her hand to feel the pulse, Xie Jingchen sneezed again.
After checking his pulse, Su Jin withdrew her hand.
Xie Jingchen held her and asked, "Did you find anything?"
"Someone cursed you," Su Jin said earnestly.
"...."
Xie Jingchen held her facing him, "Can’t you tell who cursed me?"
Su Jin, "...."
"It seems your medical skills still need improving," Xie Jingchen said.
"...."
Su Jin was at a loss for words.
It’s getting hard to argue with him now.
Su Jin was just teasing Xie Jingchen, but Xie Jingchen took it seriously; he was pondering who might have cursed him.
The Prince Qi was dead, the Second Prince was executed in public, and Duke Chong was killed with a single sword strike.
All his enemies were dead; surely no one should be cursing him, right?
Could it be the Emperor?
It must be him.
Su Jin came out looking for him, ended up at the border for so long without returning, and the Emperor must be missing his daughter, so he took it out on him.
Although Xie Jingchen’s suspicion was close to the mark, it wasn’t the Emperor who cursed him this time.
Daqi was now peaceful, with internal troubles and external threats resolved, but Nanliang was locked in an endless struggle.
Beimo was putting pressure on Nanliang, and while Nanliang tried to negotiate, after compensating Daqi with too much wealth, it couldn’t pay Beimo ten thousand taels of gold and three hundred thousand dan of grain and grass.
Especially since the money and grain were intercepted by Daqi halfway, not a single copper coin or grain entered Nanliang’s territory.
This compensation felt humiliating and frustrating.
Beimo pressed aggressively, and although the border battles were not intense, even small skirmishes were vexing.
Especially with Duke Huguo dead, General Shi and his trusted followers defected to Zhao Xu; the Nanliang Court was short on personnel.
Without generals gifted in warfare, no matter how many soldiers there are, they’re like a pile of loose sand, unable to accomplish much.
After several victories, Zhao Xu’s forces grew, and in battles with the Nanliang Court, they won more and lost less.
The Prince of Nanliang and the Heir of the Duke of Guardian were both on the battlefield.
After successive defeats, the Heir of the Duke of Guardian was so angry he gnashed his teeth; unable to openly suppress the rebel forces, he could only resort to underhanded tactics.
The Heir of the Duke of Guardian thought of Xie Jingchen, and although Xie Jingchen did not openly defect to him, he had received many benefits from him.
Xie Jingchen had saved Dong Chenglang several times, earning great trust; such a person would surely be able to gather much intelligence.
Knowing oneself and the enemy ensures more victories than losses.
The Heir of the Duke of Guardian sent someone to contact Xie Jingchen, but Xie Jingchen had long left Dong Chenglang.
The Heir of the Duke of Guardian couldn’t find him, grew anxious and irritable, and then cursed Xie Jingchen.
Yes.
Not only cursing but when he couldn’t find him, he started sowing discord.
When confronting Dong Chenglang and Young Master Shi, he looked at Dong Chenglang and said, "Where is that sidekick of yours?"
"What do you want to know so much for?" Dong Chenglang responded coldly.
"Even without Brother Li, I can still deal with you!"
Dong Chenglang thought the Heir of the Duke of Guardian was underestimating him.
And he was no longer just the Heir; after Duke Huguo died, he succeeded as the new Duke, though the title was still used out of habit.
Originally, with Duke Huguo assassinated, he should mourn for three months.
He set off from the Capital to the battlefield just on the day the three-month mourning period ended.
Initially, the Heir of the Duke of Guardian did not intend to disdain Dong Chenglang, but hearing Dong Chenglang say so, he laughed, "Do you think you can take my life?"
Even if he couldn’t defeat him, he wouldn’t let him take him down.
The two were evenly matched in martial arts with neither holding a definite advantage.
What truly made the Heir of the Duke of Guardian cautious was Xie Jingchen.
The Heir of the Duke of Guardian sought information on Xie Jingchen and learned he had left the Zhao Family for a long time with no one knowing where he went.
General Shi repeatedly urged Prime Minister Zhao, but Prime Minister Zhao dismissed him evasively.
On the battlefield, anger can unleash potential but also easily lead to losing reason and leaving openings.
Dong Chenglang wanted to spar with the Heir of the Duke of Guardian, but Young Master Shi stopped him.
No matter why the Heir mentioned Brother Li, caution was necessary to avoid falling into his trap.
The Heir of the Duke of Guardian, seeing that his provocation hadn’t worked, stroked his horse’s smooth mane and said, "Do you think he’s truly loyal to you?"
Dong Chenglang laughed coldly, "Stop sowing discord!"
"We know about you bribing him!"
The Heir of the Duke of Guardian was stunned.
Afraid he wouldn’t believe it, Dong Chenglang even revealed the amounts of the silver notes the Heir gave to bribe Xie Jingchen.
The Heir of the Duke of Guardian’s hand gripping the spear bulged with veins; he took a deep breath and said, "And was it your plan that led him to scheme against your cousin, forcing General Shi’s Mansion to use the Red Book Iron Certificate to save his life?!"
Now it was Dong Chenglang’s turn to be shocked.
That matter, he truly didn’t know.
Dong Chenglang said incredulously, "That’s impossible!"
The Heir of the Duke of Guardian’s eyes flickered for a moment; Dong Chenglang sighed in relief, indeed he was still trying to sow discord!
Young Master Shi looked at Dong Chenglang, and began to believe the Heir’s words somewhat.
If the Shi Family hadn’t lost the Red Book Iron Certificate, they would never have defected to Zhao Xu.
Though he and his father would never agree to it.
But his cousin took a reckless gamble, disregarding the Shi Family’s ancestral honor, and he as the cousin couldn’t agree!
"Cousin, don’t listen to his nonsense," Dong Chenglang said.
"Have you forgotten who came up with the idea to save you?"
The Emperor was wary of the Shi Family, and with their Red Book Iron Certificate missing a piece, it was a sharp blade hovering over the Shi Family’s head.
If it weren’t for Xie Jingchen’s brilliant idea, who knew when disaster might strike the Shi Family due to the Certificate.
He might as well trust a stubborn mule over believing the Heir.
Xie Jingchen had confessed to poisoning his uncle, no reason he’d hide this matter.
He pressed the Heir of the Duke of Guardian for how he gave his advice, but the Heir couldn’t answer.
After all, if he revealed more when drunk it was due to his own slyness, others were merely unguarded.
