Wearing a sweet smile, Qin Yunuan looked back at Leng Changxi who was extremely tender. They two understood each other’s feelings, and there was full of love in their eyes. They didn’t notice Jing Yuanxiao’s arrival until they heard he coughed out of awkwardness.
“Changxi, you two are indeed deeply attached to each other, which is so enviable.” Jing Yuanxiao smiled. After he held the porcelain bottle and strode forward to lay bare Jing Yuanchu’s evil plot, no one would think the Crown Prince in West Xia was a lame duck anymore.
“Your Royal Highness, your wife and you are also a loving couple.” Qin Yunuan didn’t feel shy and directly expressed her admiration for the affection between the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. Jing Yuanxiao lowered his head, and the smile on his face was so sweet.
“Your Royal Highness, Mr. Leng, Mrs. Leng, His Majesty wants you to come in.” The eunuch in charge walked out to report. Jing Yuanxiao was going to take a step forward but stopped to turn around to remind the eunuch. “Remember, you should call him Prince Changxi now, rather than Mr. Leng.”
Leng Changxi smiled lightly and shook his hand. “It doesn’t matter.”
At the same time, the curtain was pulled back, and Jing Donghua, who sat inside, heard what they said. He had got trivial work done. Thanks to Jing Yuanxiao’s cooperation and precautions, they managed to minimize the damage caused by this revolt. Everything in West Liang remained in order. As for the palace, Bai Shishi, the exalted daughter of General Bai, was in charge, so they had no need to worry.
“It’s true.” Jing Donghua looked up and invited them three to come in.
Jing Yuanxiao, Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan curtsied to Jing Donghua in turn. Jing Yuanxiao called him father, but Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan still used “Your Majesty”. Jing Donghua frowned.
“As I said just now, you should call me father now.” Jing Donghua thought it was very reasonable and natural to grant Leng Changxi a title. “I heard from the palace that Qinghe was going to recover and wake up. It seems that your drug is effective.” Jing Donghua said the last sentence to Qin Yunuan. Closing the memorials and name lists, he smiled at her and said, “When you and Changxi move to the palace, you still have to spare much time to take care of Qinghe. She has lived alone in the Yueya Mountain for years and must be in poor condition. After all, that place is too cold. When we’re back to the capital, and everything’s settled, I will issue an announcement to tell everyone that you are my son.”
The more Jing Donghua said, the happier he was, which could be told from his eyes. Jing Yuanxiao extended his sincere congratulations. “Congratulations! Father. You found Changxi back, and I have one more competent brother now.”
When everything seemed to go as Jing Donghua pictured, Leng Changxi abruptly cut in, “Your Majesty, sorry to cut in, but I haven’t thought about getting any title before.”
“Eh?” Jing Donghua couldn’t believe this. He thought Leng Changxi just said this to be polite, so he offered more immediately. “Alright. If you don’t want to live in the palace, I will ask people to buy a seven-hall mansion for you. Whenever you miss your mother, you can come to the palace and visit her at any time.”
“Your Majesty, I don’t mean that.” Leng Changxi sounded determined.
“So what do you want?” Jing Donghua raised his head a bit. “You want a noble title and live far away from me? I know I owe Qinghe and you so much for having not taken good care of you in the past over two decades, so I want to make up for you.”
“I don’t want that,” Leng Changxi looked up and said resolutely. “I don’t like the title of the Eleventh Prince of West Xia at all. And Your Majesty, I even hope you can keep this from the public.”
After Leng Changxi finished, Jing Yuanxiao exhorted at once, “Changxi, West Xia truly is not as strong as before, but this prince title represents the recognition for your royal lineage. You have been far away from home for long, so it’s time for you to come back now.”
Leng Changxi didn’t look at Jing Yuanxiao but looked down at Qin Yunuan. He knew she would understand and support him no matter what decision he made.
“Your Majesty, please let me explain.” Leng Changxi knelt on one knee and sincerely explained to Jing Donghua. “Maybe, this title is highly valued and hard-won. But for me, it’s just a title. My hometown is Qi. I have a father who has taken good care of me since I was a baby, and who is willing to protect me at the risk of his life. He may be unable to grant me a valued royal title, but he gives me as much love as he can. He once took me to kneel down for three days before the door of the best martial art master in the mountain, just to beg him to teach me martial arts. So for me, my father is Leng Zhongxiao, Prince Ning in Qi.”
Jing Donghua was not reconciled and asked Leng Changxi with his mouth corner twisting. “So, you don’t want to admit that you belong to the royal family of West Xia, and don’t want to admit that I’m your father?”
After exchanging a glance with Qin Yunuan, Leng Changxi said to Jing Donghua slowly, “Your Majesty, I’m really grateful that you gave me life. But now, Qi is under Sima Ray’s control, and my father alone bears great pressure to protect everyone in the Prince Ning’s mansion. I’m not a filial son for not sharing the burden he shoulders. Your Majesty, if you feel sorry for mother and me, please grant me an opportunity to fulfill my filial duties.”
“Grant?” Jing Donghua raised his voice a bit. He sounded doubtful and self-mocking.
He thought Leng Changxi who had lived separately with him for long would feel deeply grateful for what he did to him, or at least feel willing to accept the title. He didn’t expect Leng Changxi would turn down the offer in such a direct and tough way.
“What opportunity do you want?”
“Your Majesty, I’d like to dispatch 200,000 soldiers in black armor to Qi for killing Sima Ray and bringing peace back to Qi.”
“Nonsense!” Jing Donghua cut in and even stood up. He sounded highly serious. “Soldiers in black armor make up the most skilled army in West Xia. Each year, only the most outstanding generals and soldiers can join in. There are only 300,000 soldiers in black armor with 100,000 guarding the palace. How can I dispatch all left soldiers to follow you to fight in Qi? It’s impossible!”
“It’s true that I shouldn’t go back to Qi with all soldiers.” Leng Changxi knelt on one knee and made a fist. He said respectfully, “However, the imperial court of Qi is under Sima Ray’s control. He has killed loyal officials, put the emperor under house arrest and turned a blind eye to his underlings’ actions of rapes and robberies. He is so inhuman, which everyone knows. So, to kill such a savage man is to uphold justice for all. Your Majesty, dispatching soldiers to Qi is a good way to demonstrate West Xia’s national prestige, and it also helps West Xia to make a return as a great power.”
Jing Donghua sat down slowly. On the yellow tea table were scattered name lists, documents and maps. One of the maps depicted how the current world looked like. Now, West Xia and Qi dominated the Central Plains. Many small countries, including the Liuli Kingdom and South Yue, depended on these two countries to develop, so the relationship between West Xia and Qi was subtle. Since Qi got rid of the control of West Xia 50 years ago, it had gradually caught up with West Xia in terms of national strength.
However, the two countries had the same enemy, North Di, a nomadic country in the northern area. Despite lagging behind in cultural development, North Di had a large territory covering the Yeren Valley in the southernmost, the Changbai Mountain in the northernmost, the East Sea in the easternmost and the Langya Mountain in the westernmost. Besides, North Di people were not as easy-going as those in Qi. They were combative and would declare wars out of no reason. Once they invaded, they would take a large territory away from other countries. If West Xia helped and allied with Qi this time, it could take advantage of East Qin, a newly occupied territory of Qi, to fight against North Di. Then it would be much easier to overturn North Di.
Jing Donghua was emotionally unwilling to dispatch soldiers to go with Leng Changxi to Qi, because this meant that he would lose Leng Changxi forever. However, rationally speaking, Qi was in great danger and needed help. He shouldn’t give up this wonderful opportunity.
“Your Majesty, please rethink it.” Leng Changxi stepped forward and cupped his hands.
“You leave me alone.” Jing Donghua turned away and was unwilling to see Leng Changxi.
Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan then left, but Jing Yuanxiao didn’t. Jing Donghua squinted and rubbed his sour eyes with long fingers.
“What do you think of it?” Jing Donghua asked loudly.
After thinking for a while, Jing Yuanxiao took a deep breath and answered, “I think it’s feasible.”
“So this is what we really should do?” It seemed that Jing Donghua was asking Jing Yuanxiao and also himself.
Jing Yuanxiao lowered his head a bit to show his agreement. When he was ready to leave, Jing Donghua squinted and said leisurely, “Yuanchu is right about one thing. You pretend to be slow-witted. Yuanxiao, you’ve kept this from me for so long.”
Although Jing Donghua sounded leisured, he took a serious attitude. Jing Yuanxiao’s fingers trembled. Actually, Jing Donghua was sounding him out. How Jing Donghua would deal with this would depend on what answer Jing Yuanxiao gave. Because he deceived Jing Donghua who, therefore, could convict him and let him have no opportunity to rise again. But if his answer sounded reasonable, he would be praised for protecting the emperor from harm.
Jing Yuanxiao had already prepared for this. Following Qin Yunuan’s suggestion, Jing Yuanxiao answered sincerely, “Father, it’s truly my fault. But I have a question for you. Do you know why the other four princes all died young other than Yuanchu and me?”
As a hint of asking him to go on, Jing Donghua opened his eyes slightly.
“It’s because of personal interests. There are many princes, but only one can be the Crown Prince. So they will compete for the title and keep a close eye on who becomes the Crown Prince. Once someone is granted the title, he will become others’ target. But what if the Crown Prince is just an incompetent lamb duck? Then, will they pay attention to this lamb duck or the man who has the potential to take place of the lamb duck?” Jing Yuanxiao wore a bitter smile and continued, “I once treated all of them nicely until I recognized that in the fight for power, they would easily abandon the brotherhood and compete for a higher position. So to survive, I pretend to be a fool.”
Some wanted greater power while he just wanted to survive. How sharply they contrasted with each other. What Jing Yuanxiao said deeply hurt Jing Donghua who also suffered a lot to become the emperor. If he hadn’t fought for this position, he would not have left Qinghe alone in the Yueya Mountain. He knew well about this. And this was what Qin Yunuan wanted him to recall.
“Alright. Leave me alone.”
Jing Yuanxiao curtsied and left. Right when he walked out of the tent, he saw Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan were waiting for him.
