This Wei Zichen was clever indeed. Knowing that pleading with his mother would be useless, he had instead come straight to Xu Manor.
His expression indifferent, Xu Ge placed the Severed String Blade that had been resting on the table into its scabbard.
“Have him wait in the main hall.”
Of course, he could refuse to see him. Although Xu Ge had no desire to involve himself in the rivalry between the two princes, an opportunity to balance them both had been delivered right to his doorstep—how could he possibly let it slip away?
Ashu accepted the order, turned, and quickly departed.
Once again, the courtyard was left with only Xu Ge.
He stood still for a moment, then, unwilling to give up, took out the jade pendant once more.
After repeatedly confirming that Tang Zhiwu had not sent any message, Xu Ge let out a soft, disdainful snort.
“Arrogant and aloof, far inferior to the noble ladies of the imperial city.”
With that, he flicked his sleeve and strode toward the main hall.
However, the jade pendant was not left on the table; instead, it was carefully tucked back into his robe.
In the main hall of Xu Manor, the current Third Prince, Wei Zichen, waited anxiously.
He had naturally taken a seat in the lower position, his hands clenched tightly, his body swaying restlessly from side to side. The jade tassel hanging at his waist swayed gently along with his deep purple brocade robe.
He lifted his head, craning his neck to peer repeatedly outside the door. Unable to catch sight of Xu Ge, he couldn’t help but grab Ashu and ask, “Ashu, please go find Lord Xu again. My matter is truly urgent.”
This was the first time Wei Zichen had ever begged a servant. The Third Prince, who had always held himself above others, had never regarded Xu Ge’s subordinates with any respect.
His current demeanor was rather amusing.
Ashu raised his eyes, glanced at the hand gripping his sleeve, gently freed himself, and bowed to Wei Zichen. “Your Highness, please remain calm. My lord was just practicing martial arts and should be changing his attire now.”
As if oblivious to Wei Zichen’s fiery glare, Ashu remained neither subservient nor arrogant, bowing once more. “I will have a servant bring tea first.”
With that, not wishing to engage with him further, he turned and left the main hall.
Only Wei Zichen remained in the hall, with no attendants arranged to serve him.
He widened his eyes, as if trying to bore a hole through Ashu’s back with his stare.
It wasn’t until Ashu had completely disappeared from sight that Wei Zichen, seething with frustration, spat out, “When I ascend the throne one day, the first place I’ll raze to the ground will be your Xu Manor.”
Gritting his teeth, he showed not a trace of imperial bearing.
But for now, he only dared to vent behind others’ backs, for his only lifeline was Xu Ge alone.
Perhaps due to his extreme anxiety, Wei Zichen felt the wait was exceptionally long—even the tea brought by the maid had grown cold.
He never could have imagined that the scoundrel Wei Zijing would dare to play such underhanded tricks behind his back.
Wei Zijing had gone to Huicheng yesterday, catching him completely off guard and leaving him no time to prepare.
As soon as the delegation visiting Huicheng entered the city, they caught the Shi family’s second young master, the legitimate heir, forcibly seizing a commoner’s daughter right on the main street, along with other atrocities such as the Shi family violently extorting the people’s income.
Now, in the imperial court, the Shi family was his greatest supporter, even representing his own Prince Chen’s faction.
For so many years, he had turned a blind eye to the Shi family’s deeds, allowing them to act recklessly right under his nose.
In fact, he himself had been somewhat involved in their affairs.
Now that the emperor was growing older, a sudden sense of righteousness had made him deeply hostile to such foul and corrupt practices.
If these scandals of the Shi family were exposed by Wei Zijing, he absolutely could not remain unscathed in this mire of corruption.
Including his maternal grandfather, Grand Tutor Shi, who also could not escape disaster.
He kept estimating the time Wei Zijing would return to the imperial city, calculating how to respond.
Finally, amidst the silence, another disturbance suddenly arose.
Wei Zichen abruptly looked up toward the door, even standing up entirely.
Xu Ge had already changed out of his earlier training attire, now wearing a deep gray robe. The patterns embroidered on the fabric remained exquisite, with a few faint silver threads woven in.
The collar and cuffs were edged with silver-threaded flowing cloud patterns, and his slender waist was cinched with a wide black belt adorned with white jade.
Since he was within his own residence, his dark hair was loosely gathered, not tied up high.
He was like the dark clouds of a rainy day, sweeping in with an overwhelming gloom, unreasonably descending without warning.
Wei Zichen met Xu Ge’s sharp, cold gaze and froze uncontrollably, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed.
Before he could speak, Xu Ge spoke first, “Prince Chen.”
Xu Ge did not bow to Wei Zichen like others would, merely greeting him as if casually before stepping up to take the seat of honor.
One could say Xu Ge was arrogant and disregarded hierarchy, but if other powerful officials were present, they would not voice any objection.
In the present day, the only person likely to receive a bow from Xu Ge, Commander of the Imperial Guards, was the emperor himself.
Seeing Xu Ge arrive, the nearly extinguished hope in Wei Zichen’s eyes reignited. Suppressing his fear of Xu Ge’s imposing presence, he forced an awkward smile onto his face.
“Lord Xu, it has been days since we last met. I have yet to congratulate you on overthrowing the Yan family.”
Everyone knew that everyone in the Xu family except Xu Ge himself had died due to the slander Yan Kaiji spread to the late emperor.
Thus, Yan Kaiji was naturally the deepest thorn in Xu Ge’s side.
As Xu Ge took his seat, a maid brought up freshly brewed tea.
“Prince Chen, please watch your words. Yan Kaiji disrupted court affairs and spread heresy; he deserved punishment.” Xu Ge picked up his teacup, chuckling softly at Wei Zichen’s ill-timed remark.
“Moreover, the order to purge the Yan family was decreed by His Majesty. What does it have to do with me, Xu Ge?”
With a single sentence, he distanced himself from Wei Zichen, thoroughly trampling both his dignity and pride.
Wei Zichen was well aware of Xu Ge’s deliberate aloofness, realizing that Xu Ge likely knew all about Wei Zijing’s secret inspection.
His face flushed pale then red, and after stammering for a moment, he gritted his teeth and stood up.
Walking before Xu Ge, he bowed deeply with clasped hands, “I beg you, my lord, to save Prince Chen’s residence!”
His voice carried a pitiful tone; Wei Zichen had truly set aside his pride to plead with Xu Ge.
Bowed as he was, he could not see Xu Ge’s expression and naturally did not notice the sudden change in Xu Ge’s demeanor.
The spot on his chest where the jade pendant rested was faintly vibrating, and a folded piece of paper was tucked inside.
After waiting for a while without a response from Xu Ge, Wei Zichen was about to raise his head when Xu Ge spoke from ahead,
“Prince Chen!”
His head, not yet fully raised, lowered once more.
“I, Xu Ge, have always believed in equivalent exchange. I have the ability to block the news from Prince Jing’s side, but…” Xu Ge paused.
He felt several more sheets of paper appear on his chest. Pressing down on the constantly vibrating jade pendant with his hand, he continued,
“But, what can you give me?”