Chapter 122: When Snipes and Clams Fight, the Fisherman Profits

Chapter 122: The Fisherman Profits from the Quarrel

When Jiang Shuning arrived at the palace gate, Jiang Yaozhen had already been waiting in the carriage for a long time.

Her face was a picture of resentment: "Sister, why did you take so long? I'm starving!"

Jiang Shuning looked at her with a half-smile: "What, didn't His Highness the Third Prince keep you for lunch?"

Jiang Yaozhen immediately fell silent, her expression turning somewhat unnatural.

She hadn't gone to see Xiao Xiuzhan at all today; instead, she had gone directly to meet with the Emperor.

Presumably, she would soon have her wish granted and have a grand, high-profile wedding.

Xiao Xiuzhan would probably be angry, but she couldn't care less about that now.

She wanted a glorious marriage, one that would make all the Noble Maidens in the capital envy her. No one would dare treat this wedding as a mere formality!

Meanwhile, Consort Xi arrived at the Lin Ge Palace in a rage.

"Mother Consort, what's wrong? Who has angered you like this?" Xiao Xiuzhan hurried forward to greet her, his voice full of concern.

"It's that inconsiderate Prince's Consort of yours!" Consort Xi said with a dark expression, her anger palpable. "I originally planned to use your grand wedding to cover the deficit in the inner treasury. Who knew she would be so reckless as to go specifically to see your father today, saying she wanted the Jiang family to bear all the wedding expenses!

Your father came directly to me, ordering me to spare no effort in preparing for the wedding. He even emphasized preparing a generous betrothal gift for her, saying we absolutely must not lose face for the imperial family! This Jiang Yaozhen is truly a fool who ruins everything she touches!"

"Mother Consort, please calm your anger, don't upset yourself," Xiao Xiuzhan soothed Consort Xi. "Recently, the Nanyue invaders have been frequently violating our Daye territory. I believe Father will soon send someone to lead troops to meet them in battle. Your son requests permission to lead the expedition. If I can return victorious, I will hand over all the rewards Father bestows upon me to you, Mother Consort, to help you smoothly cover the inner treasury's deficit!"

A trace of worry appeared on Consort Xi's face: "The battlefield is perilous, with swords and arrows flying everywhere. Leading troops into war is no child's play. What if you get injured?"

"Mother Consort, rest assured. I have already discussed this matter in detail with my uncle. Currently, Nanyue's military strength is far inferior to our Daye's elite troops. Their invasion this time is an act of overreach, no different from digging their own graves!"

Xiao Xiuzhan's tone was firm and confident. "Your son is fully confident that I can rout them completely, sending them home in defeat. Besides, even if Mother Consort doesn't trust my capabilities, you should trust my uncle's. With him overseeing the battlefield, he will definitely ensure my safety!"

Only then did Consort Xi feel slightly relieved: "If that's the case, then do as you wish!"

The next day, during the court assembly in the Golden Luan Hall, the Emperor brought up the matter of Nanyue's invasion. As expected, the Duke of State Stabilization strongly recommended Xiao Xiuzhan to lead the expedition.

Seeing this, Xiao Lingchuan immediately stepped forward, cupping his hands in salute: "Father, Third Brother's wedding is imminent. If he leads troops into battle now, wouldn't it only add to the future Third Prince's Consort's worries? Your son is not yet married and am unencumbered. I should share your burdens, Father. I am the more suitable candidate to lead the troops!"

Seeing Xiao Lingchuan trying to snatch this easily attainable military merit, Xiao Xiuzhan's eyes turned red with fury. He hurriedly refuted: "Father, absolutely not! Fourth Brother's birth mother is from Nanyue. Who knows if he harbors disloyal intentions in his heart? If he leads troops to the battlefield and suddenly defects, collaborating with the enemy and betraying our country, what then?"

"Third Brother, watch your words!" Xiao Lingchuan's expression darkened, a hint of anger in his tone. "Everything your son does is for the people of Daye. What ulterior motives does Third Brother have to slander me so baselessly?"

"Fourth Brother, don't be angry. I naturally believe you would never commit treason or collaborate with the enemy," Xiao Xiuzhan said with a false smile, then shifted his tone. "However, Fourth Brother is, after all, of Nanyue bloodline, with half Nanyue people's blood flowing in his veins. Unless our Daye truly reaches a point where we have no one else to use, we absolutely cannot let you lead troops against the Nanyue invaders, to avoid criticism!"

As the two faced off against each other, tension mounting, the Emperor seated high above finally spoke.

"I see the loyalty in both your hearts, your desire to serve the country," the Emperor's voice came slowly, carrying an undeniable authority. "However, I already have a more suitable candidate in mind."

With that, he turned his gaze to the Second Prince, who had remained silent all along. "Second Son, you have always excelled in martial arts, which pleases me greatly. I command you to immediately muster troops and lead one hundred thousand Elite Troops and capable generals. You must drive the Nanyue invaders out of our Daye territory and uphold the prestige of our Daye nation!"

Upon hearing this, the Second Prince's expression turned solemn. He quickly rose to accept the order, his voice loud and firm: "Your son obeys the decree! I will not fail this mission and vow to defend Daye's territory with my life!"

After the court session ended, Xiao Xiuzhan's heart burned with rage, difficult to quell.

He quickly caught up with Xiao Lingchuan, his tone sharp with accusation: "When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman profits! Now this immense merit has fallen right into Second Brother's hands. Are you satisfied now, Fourth Brother?"

"Of course I'm satisfied!" Upon hearing this, the corner of Xiao Lingchuan's mouth lifted in a meaningful smile. "As long as I can prevent you, Third Brother, from obtaining this merit, who ultimately gets it is irrelevant to me."

"You..."

Only then did Xiao Xiuzhan realize that Xiao Lingchuan had never intended to actually lead the expedition from the start. His true goal was simply to stop him from getting this opportunity to earn merit.

Fury surged in his heart. He clenched his fists, his gloomy gaze filled with resentment and unwillingness.

Xiao Lingchuan was truly a most detestable stumbling block!

Returning to the Lin Ge Palace, Xiao Xiuzhan's anger remained unabated.

Jiang Lian brought him tea. Seeing his furrowed brow, she asked softly, "Your Highness, is something troubling you?"

"I originally had an easily attainable opportunity to earn merit, but Fourth Brother intervened and ruined it. Now it has instead benefited that always low-profile Second Brother!" Xiao Xiuzhan said with a face full of resentment.

Jiang Lian blinked: "Is His Highness the Second Prince on the same side as Your Highness?"

"Of course not!" Xiao Xiuzhan seemed enlightened by her words, raising an eyebrow. "But you've reminded me—I can try to form an alliance with Second Brother!"

He had originally exhausted all efforts trying to win over the Fifth Prince, Xiao Huaijin. However, Xiao Huaijin disapproved of him profiting from underground gambling dens, brothels, and human trafficking—these filthy, corrupt places—and thus consistently refused to become his ally.

The Second Prince lacked ambition, and his maternal family held military power. He was a decent second-choice option for an alliance.

Once allied, couldn't he share in the rewards and honors?

Only...

"This Second Brother of mine is straightforward by nature, inflexible. I'm afraid he would be difficult to assist me in reaching that supreme position!"

For something as treasonous as plotting to usurp the throne, given the Second Prince's character, he would surely disdain it and absolutely refuse to participate. That's why Xiao Xiuzhan had initially excluded the Second Prince from his list of potential allies.

Observing his expression, Jiang Lian spoke slowly: "Your Highness, if you can find His Highness the Second Prince's weakness, you need not worry about him not being useful to you!"

"Weakness? You mean..."

"If His Highness the Second Prince has a beloved person, something he cares about deeply, or an unfulfilled wish—these can all become bargaining chips for Your Highness to control him!" Jiang Lian's tone was gentle, yet each word struck true, hitting the vital point.

Xiao Xiuzhan suddenly remembered that day during the polo match when he had inadvertently seen the Second Prince meeting privately with Zhang Yan, the daughter of the Minister of Revenue.

"I know what Second Brother's weakness is!" He pulled Jiang Lian onto his lap, his gaze lingering on her face, which so resembled Jiang Shuning's, a flicker of infatuation passing through his eyes. "You not only look like your sister, but you are also as clever as her! This prince is very pleased!"

"Your Highness flatters me." Jiang Lian lowered her eyes, deliberately revealing a smile that closely imitated Jiang Shuning's.

That smile was like a hand plucking at his heartstrings. Xiao Xiuzhan felt a surge of heat throughout his body, an indescribable desire rising from the depths of his heart.

He picked her up in his arms and strode towards the bedchamber...