The Sickly Regent Prince Who Was Abandoned as a Substitute Bride

"What do we do next?" Madam Su asked softly, pushing a bowl of hot soup in front of him. "Since the Duke of Zhenguo dared to falsely accuse you of treason, he must have fabricated evidence. In the capital... he has probably already laid a trap."

Zhao Xuan picked up the soup bowl, the steam blurring his features: "What he wants is the ledger in my hand." His voice was low and cold, "That's evidence I discovered three years ago in the northern frontier, where I found out that the Duke of Zhenguo was secretly colluding with the Xiongnu and reselling military rations. He was afraid I would present it to His Majesty, so he struck first."

"Are the ledgers hidden properly?"

“Yes, in a place they would never expect.” A sharp glint flashed in Zhao Xuan’s eyes. “But the account books alone are not enough. The Duke of Zhenguo has many cronies, and most of the officials in the court have been bribed by him. We must find an opportunity to meet the emperor directly, or unite with the censors of the Censorate, to have any chance of winning.”

After a moment of silence, Madam Su tapped her fingertips lightly on the table: "I have a cousin on my mother's side who works at the Imperial Observatory. Perhaps he can find a way to pass on the message. But..." She looked up at Zhao Xuan, her gaze firm, "The most urgent thing is to recover your health. You've barely slept these past few days. If your health collapses, nothing else will be possible."

Zhao Xuan looked at her. In the lamplight, her profile was gentle yet resolute, like a spark in the dark night. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, feeling her slightly cool body temperature, and his heart suddenly calmed down. The wind outside the window gradually subsided, and a few owls cried from the distant mountains. Inside the meditation room, two pairs of eyes met in the dim light, both seeing the determination in each other's hearts.

“Alright,” Zhao Xuan said slowly, his voice steady and powerful. “Let’s rest here for now and recharge. Once things calm down, we’ll split into two groups—you contact your old subordinates, and I’ll try to head south to find evidence of the Duke of Zhenguo’s collusion with the salt merchants of Jiangnan. One day, I will expose his conspiracy to the world, restore justice to this world, and clear my name, Zhao Xuan.”

The flame of the oil lamp flickered gently, casting the image of their clasped hands onto the wall, like a silent vow, awaiting the dawn in the quiet Yunqi Temple.

However, unbeknownst to them, the Duke of Zhenguo had already sent men to secretly follow them. Just as they finished their plans and were preparing to rest, a group of men in black infiltrated Yunqi Temple. Outside the meditation room, the sounds of light footsteps and clashing swords could be heard. Zhao Xuan and Su Shi instantly became alert. Zhao Xuan drew his sword and shielded Su Shi behind him. "Looks like they can't wait any longer," Zhao Xuan sneered, his eyes filled with determination. The men in black burst through the door, their blades flashing coldly. Zhao Xuan brandished his sword and engaged them in battle. Su Shi was not to be outdone; she picked up a wooden stick from the ground and joined the fight. In an instant, dust filled the meditation room, and shouts of battle echoed throughout. Although Zhao Xuan was highly skilled in martial arts, the number of men in black was increasing, and he gradually became overwhelmed. Just then, the sound of horses' hooves and shouts of battle suddenly came from outside the meditation room. It turned out that Zhao Xuan's sentries, whom he had planted in the mountains, had discovered the men in black and arrived with reinforcements. Caught in a pincer attack, the men in black were quickly driven back. Zhao Xuan and Su Shi exchanged a smile. They knew that this battle had only just begun, but they were confident that they could turn the tide.

After repelling the men in black, Zhao Xuan and Lady Su dared not delay any longer and left Yunqi Temple that very night. As planned, they split into two groups. Lady Su rode swiftly back to her parents' home to try and contact her cousin at the Imperial Observatory to relay a message. Zhao Xuan, disguised, headed towards Jiangnan. Upon learning of the men in black's failed operation, the Duke of Zhenguo was furious and intensified his pursuit of Zhao Xuan, setting up checkpoints at every major route. Zhao Xuan proceeded cautiously, skillfully evading capture thanks to his years of military experience. On his southward journey, he met a mysterious old man who seemed to know his predicament and secretly provided him with crucial clues, guiding him to important evidence of the Duke of Zhenguo's collusion with Jiangnan salt merchants. Meanwhile, Lady Su successfully relayed the message to the Emperor through her cousin and, together with officials from the Censorate, impeached the Duke of Zhenguo in court. Suddenly, the court was in turmoil, and the Duke of Zhenguo's supporters began to panic. Zhao Xuan rushed back to the capital day and night with the evidence, and together with the Su family, a battle between good and evil was about to unfold.

Finish