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Chapter 144: Wild Words

At this moment, it was a time for His Majesty to reunite with an old friend from years past. Listening to those old stories, who among the officials standing in the court did not sigh with emotion?

Then, Zhang Zhe suddenly spoke such words—

It was indeed quite tactless.

It spoiled the mood.

When everyone turned to look at him, they couldn’t help but think so.

Xiao Dingfei had played his part so well that he almost believed it himself. It was as if he truly was the heir who had narrowly escaped death twenty years ago. Seeing that with just a little more effort, the act would conclude, who would have thought Zhang Zhe would come out of nowhere?

Heh.

This man, with his stern face and thick eyebrows, didn’t turn out to be anything good after all. It seems he was waiting for this moment!

Indeed.

Back at the Shangqing Temple in Tongzhou, Xiao Dingfei did betray Zhang Zhe at a critical moment, almost costing Zhang his life. However, the reason behind it…

He glanced subtly at Xie Wei beside him.

Zhang Zhe was recommended by Gu Chunfang and was known to be a straightforward and trustworthy official. Although Shen Lang sometimes found Zhang troublesome, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at this moment.

He turned his gaze to Xiao Dingfei: “Dingfei, what’s going on?”

Xiao Dingfei, who was used to the ways of the streets, could lie with ease. With just a blink, he put on an embarrassed look, touched his nose, and said sheepishly, “Misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding…”

Gu Chunfang stood calmly to the side, glancing at him: “Misunderstanding?”

Inwardly, Xiao Dingfei cursed this unfamiliar old man into the grave but outwardly said, “At the time, this Lord Zhang claimed to be a guest of Du Junshan. You all are likely aware that within the Tianjiao sect, Du Junshan is as infamous as Gongyi Cheng, both of them notorious villains. Du Junshan is even more elusive than Gongyi Cheng. Naturally, I was scared. To be honest, from the ruined temple in the capital all the way to Tongzhou, I kept an eye on the boy called Xiao Bao, thinking he was quite peculiar. I tested him a few times and noticed that he seemed particularly concerned with my name ‘Dingfei’. So, when the leaders of the Tianjiao sect mentioned there was a court spy among them, I assumed it was Xiao Bao, not Lord Zhang, who claimed to be Du Junshan’s disciple. Under those circumstances, I aimed to cause internal strife within the Tianjiao sect. Who could have known… Who could have known…”

The more he spoke, the more remorseful he appeared.

Finally, he bowed deeply to Zhang Zhe: “Who could have known it would lead to mistakenly harming Lord Zhang, almost costing him his life. I am deeply regretful and beg for Lord Zhang’s forgiveness!”

Zhang Zhe stood not too far nor too close, his posture straight and his eyes cold and somewhat aloof, observing Xiao Dingfei’s deep bow. He seemed unconvinced and remained silent.

In the grand hall, the atmosphere grew quiet.

At this moment, Xie Wei stepped forward and said to Shen Lang: “That young boy called Xiao Bao is a fellow villager of one of my subordinates. Upon learning he was in the Tianjiao sect, I had him act as an informant. Because Lord Zhang infiltrated the sect under a false identity, things were perilous, and I intended for him to secretly assist. Unexpectedly, he encountered the heir, leading to this misunderstanding. I seek Your Majesty’s forgiveness for this error.”

Zhang Zhe looked at him but ultimately said nothing.

Everyone already knew that Xie Wei had orchestrated the plan. His secret preparations were not surprising, so no one doubted him.

Shen Lang also had his own plans.

He smiled and acted as a peacemaker: “Fortunately, Lord Zhang braved the danger, showing both courage and wisdom, and returned safely. Moreover, he rescued the heir, deserving of great reward and promotion!”

He then asked Gu Chunfang: “If we are to promote him, what position do you suggest, Lord Gu?”

Gu Chunfang replied: “Lord Zhang excels in adjudication. There happens to be a vacancy for a department head in the Ministry of Justice.”

Shen Lang declared: “From today onwards, Zhang Zhe is promoted to be a department head in the Ministry of Justice, responsible for detailed reviews and redressing grievances.”

With these words, the hall erupted in praise and commendation.

Thus, Zhang Zhe was promoted.

Next, it was time to reward merits. Xie Wei, who played a leading role, was appointed to the vacant position of Vice Minister of Works. Normally a third-rank official, Xie Wei, being the ‘Grand Mentor of the Crown Prince,’ held a title equivalent to second-rank. If the Consort Wen Zhaoyi were to give birth to a prince, the position of ‘Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince’ would surely be his.

As for Duke Dingguo, Xiao Yuan, he was rather unfortunate.

Originally, he received the news first and led the charge to eradicate the Tianjiao sect. Unexpectedly, he fell into their trap, failing to eliminate the rebels and almost losing his entire troop in their ambush!

This is an example of seeking merit through rash actions, which not only achieves nothing but actually incurs faults.

Shen Lang was quite displeased and directly docked him half a year’s salary.

This amount of money was negligible for the vast Xiao family, but the real issue was the loss of face, making it impossible for him to hold his head high.

The most prestigious one was Xiao Dingfei.

He was rewarded with a thousand taels of gold, ten thousand taels of silver, silk and fabrics, antiques and treasures, luxurious carriages, fine horses, and even the title of “Military Colonel,” one of the eight colonels of Xiyuan, ranking fourth in the official hierarchy and commanding some troops.

Others work hard all their lives without reaching this position.

But he got it right upon his return.

This truly made others envious.

However, after the rewards were distributed, Shen Lang had a conversation with Xiao Dingfei about some childhood memories in the palace and suddenly asked, “Just now, when Dingfei mentioned past events, he always referred to the Duke of the State as ‘Lord Duke’ instead of ‘Father.’ What is the reason for this?”

The court was filled with astute and observant individuals.

Many had noticed this since Xiao Dingfei mentioned Xiao Yuan leading reinforcements to the capital to protect the emperor, but no one dared to bring it up. Hearing the emperor’s question, they couldn’t help but glance between this pair of “father and son.”

Xiao Dingfei did this deliberately. He knew if he dared call that bastard Xiao Yuan “Father,” he might get his head chopped off by Xie Wei upon returning.

He had just received the gold and silver; he wasn’t willing to die yet.

With a hint of mockery and a cold smile, he said, “In exile for twenty years, I have no regrets about being loyal to Your Majesty, but there is one regret that weighs heavily on my heart, tormenting me day and night. Lady Yan was my unfortunate biological mother. Due to her worries, she passed away within a year, and the Duke of the State remarried. Even though it was under the emperor’s orders, I still hold a grudge.”

What!

He clearly rebuked Duke Xiao Yuan for failing his first wife!

There was a sudden sound of gasping in the hall.

Even Shen Lang didn’t expect this and was momentarily stunned.

Xie Wei lowered his eyes, silently watching his shadow on the ground.

Xiao Yuan’s face instantly turned beet-red with anger, and he roared, “You ungrateful wretch, what nonsense are you spouting!”

Xiao Dingfei, with a sarcastic smile, retorted, “If you can produce an ungrateful wretch, you must be something awful too!”

Xiao Yuan was enraged, “You!”

Xiao Dingfei, having grown up in the streets, was quick-witted and not easy to deal with. He had long disliked this old bastard and found it exceptionally smooth to curse him: “A noble family, a prestigious household, yet the new wife you brought in gave birth to a daughter seven months after marriage without any defects, lively and healthy! Duke, you truly honored my mother!”

The entire court was dumbfounded!

Exciting!

Thrilling!

Duke Xiao Yuan had been criticized for hastily marrying his current wife, Lady Lu, shortly after his first wife’s death. Although the large household indeed needed a mistress to manage it, remarrying just a month after his first wife’s passing was questionable. To make it worse, the daughter born to the new wife was prematurely born, raising even more suspicions.

Everyone had expected that upon the return of heir Dingfei to the capital and the Xiao family, his reunion with his father would be deeply emotional and tear-inducing. Who could have guessed that he was such a formidable character!

In front of the emperor!

With just a few words, he slapped his father’s face hard!

Colleagues at court, who could stand to see each other doing well?

Especially the powerful Xiao family.

At this moment, everyone appeared serious on the surface, but inside, they were ready to watch the drama unfold, eagerly hoping for a fight to break out.

Xiao Yuan couldn’t believe what he heard, nearly choking in anger, pointing at Xiao Dingfei, trembling all over, “You dare to disrespect your stepmother, you truly defy the heavens…”

Xiao Dingfei, growing impatient, retorted, “I don’t even want to acknowledge you as my father; what does that woman count for!”

The Golden Throne Hall immediately erupted in an uproar!

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