Volume One, Chapter Six: Thunderous Measures

Xiao Yuan walked ahead in silence, his entire figure emanating a sense of desolation and heaviness.

Xiao Ningshuang followed behind him, her face icy cold. From beginning to end, she did not spare Li Xuan a single glance.

The atmosphere among the three was awkward and oppressive.

When they reached the palace gates, Li Xuan could no longer hold back. He stepped forward and bowed deeply toward Xiao Yuan’s back.

“Father-in-law, please accept your son-in-law’s bow.”

Xiao Yuan’s footsteps abruptly halted. He slowly turned around, his tiger-like eyes fixed intently on Li Xuan, his expression a complex mix of anger, unwillingness, helplessness, and a subtle, inscrutable scrutiny.

“Hmph!” He let out a cold snort through his nose, neither accepting Li Xuan’s courtesy nor saying another word. He then turned and boarded his carriage, vanishing into the distance.

The carriage curtain fluttered in the wind, and Li Xuan caught sight of Xiao Ningshuang’s cold profile, and the fleeting yet boundless hatred flickering in her eyes.

Li Xuan smiled bitterly and shook his head.

It seemed that this future Crown Princess would be difficult to win over.

But time was on his side.

He turned to look at the magnificent carriage waiting nearby, belonging to the Crown Prince’s mansion.

From today onward, he would officially begin to face this brand-new life that belonged to him.

...

The Crown Prince’s Mansion, also known as the Eastern Palace, stood on the eastern side of the imperial city. It spanned a vast area, adorned with pavilions and towers, intricately carved beams and painted rafters, all radiating the unique luxury and grandeur befitting royalty.

Yet as Li Xuan’s carriage passed through the heavy vermilion gates and truly entered his residence, what greeted him was not honor or dignity but a pervasive, bone-deep stench of decay.

The precious flowers and plants in the courtyard drooped and leaned askew, clearly neglected for a long time. The vermilion railings of the covered corridors were coated with a thin layer of dust. Several servants in plain attire gathered in small groups in the corners, whispering and cracking sunflower seeds. Upon seeing the Crown Prince’s carriage arrive, they merely cast a lazy glance, their salutations half-hearted and listless.

From top to bottom, inside and out, the entire Crown Prince’s Mansion exuded an aura of decline, dilapidation, and lifelessness.

This was the “family legacy” the original owner had left behind for him.

Li Xuan’s brow twitched imperceptibly.

As the carriage came to a halt, a slightly plump middle-aged man with a mustache in the shape of two curved eights hurried forward, wearing the attire of the mansion’s steward, his face plastered with a forced smile.

“Ah, Your Highness, you’ve finally returned! You had me worried sick!” The steward wiped his nonexistent sweat with his sleeve and spoke in an exaggerated tone.

This man was named Zhao De, the chief steward of the Crown Prince’s Mansion and the original owner’s most “trusted” servant.

According to memory, Zhao De was the most sycophantic and duplicitous person, feigning loyalty while betraying behind the scenes. Most of the money the original owner squandered on drinking, gambling, and debauchery was embezzled through falsified accounts managed by him, withdrawn from the mansion’s funds. It could be said that Zhao De was “indispensable” to the original owner’s extravagance.

“Your Highness, are you hungry? Thirsty? I have already instructed the kitchen to prepare your favorite bird’s nest porridge and eight-treasure duck, all waiting for your return.” Zhao De bowed deeply, his smile blooming like a chrysanthemum.

He evidently knew nothing of what had happened in the palace, assuming the Crown Prince had simply been out carousing all night and had now returned safely.

Li Xuan said nothing, merely regarding him with a calm, even indifferent gaze.

That look sent chills down Zhao De’s spine.

His smile gradually stiffened.

Strange, this Crown Prince feels different today... His eyes... so terrifying.

“Bring me the ledgers,” Li Xuan finally said, his voice low but carrying an unmistakable command.

“Le... ledgers?” Zhao De was momentarily stunned but then laughed, “Ah, Your Highness, you just returned after a tiring journey. Why bother with those things now? No need to trouble yourself. With me in charge, you can rest assured a hundred and twenty percent!”

He spoke while reaching out to steady Li Xuan.

Li Xuan deftly sidestepped his hand.

“I’ll say it again. Bring me the ledgers.”

Li Xuan’s tone grew colder.

The smile on Zhao De’s face froze completely. He looked into Li Xuan’s fathomless eyes and suddenly felt a wave of dread. He realized this Crown Prince was no longer the fool he had been able to deceive so easily.

“Y-Yes, I’ll get them right away,” Zhao De stammered, bowing hastily and retreating, sweat already beading his forehead.

Li Xuan ignored him and headed straight to his chambers.

Along the way, the servants and maids they encountered only offered perfunctory bows, their eyes glazed with numbness and disdain. Clearly, the original owner had no authority in this household.

Li Xuan observed everything carefully, storing it all in his mind.

He understood that to establish himself in this world, to contend with those ravenous brothers, he needed an absolutely loyal and reliable team. Building that team meant starting with cleaning up his own den—the Crown Prince’s Mansion.

A purge was inevitable.

...

Returning to his quarters, the furnishings only deepened Li Xuan’s frown.

A bed made of golden nanmu wood, ivory-carved ornaments, paintings by renowned masters of the previous dynasty hanging on the walls, and wool carpets imported from the Western Regions... each item was priceless. Yet piled together haphazardly, they reeked of tasteless, nouveau riche ostentation.

The air still carried faint traces of alcohol and perfume.

Li Xuan casually picked up a teacup on the table, noting a faint lipstick stain on its rim.

He shook his head and tossed the cup into the trash bin.

It seemed the first thing he had to do was thoroughly clean this den of dogs.

At that moment, footsteps sounded outside the door.

“Your Highness, the ledgers have arrived.” Zhao De entered, panting and carrying a thick stack of ledgers.

He slammed them down on the table with a heavy thud.

“These are the accounts for the past three years. Please, Your Highness, take your time.”

Li Xuan did not immediately inspect the ledgers but asked, “During my absence, has anything unusual happened in the mansion?”

Zhao De’s eyes darted as he smiled obsequiously, “All has been normal, calm and peaceful, Your Highness. Except... the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince sent congratulatory gifts, wishing Your Highness happiness in your marriage.”

As he spoke, his gaze flickered, clearly aware of some underlying news.

“Oh? Gifts?”

“They’re all stored in the warehouse.”

“Bring them to me.”

Zhao De’s heart skipped a beat but he dared not refuse. He hurried off.

Soon, he returned holding two exquisite brocade boxes.

Li Xuan opened the first box to find a translucent jade ruyi scepter, evidently valuable. It was a gift from the Eldest Prince, Li Yuan.

He toyed with the jade scepter briefly, a cold smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Then he opened the second box.

Inside lay a finely crafted wolf-hair brush, a gift from the Second Prince, Li Zhan.

Li Xuan picked up the brush and lightly twirled the tip between his fingers.

Suddenly, his fingers halted.

He brought the brush closer and sniffed faintly.

An extremely subtle, nearly imperceptible, strange sweet fragrance wafted into his nostrils.

In his past life, in pursuit of martial perfection, he had studied traditional medicine and toxicology. This scent was all too familiar.

It was a chronic poison called “Seven-Day Drunkenness.”

Colorless and tasteless, mixed into ink, it could penetrate the skin slowly. Early symptoms were lethargy and drowsiness, akin to drunkenness. After seven days, death was inevitable, beyond any cure.

What a cruel tactic!

What a seemingly refined Second Prince!

Sending a brush that appeared elegant but could silently end his life. If he truly died, others would think the Crown Prince had succumbed to excessive drinking. None would suspect foul play.

“Your Highness, is there something wrong with this brush?” Zhao De asked cautiously, noticing Li Xuan’s dark expression.

Li Xuan said nothing but returned the brush to the box and said coldly, “Put everything back in the warehouse. From today on, no one is allowed to step into my study without my permission. Also, replace all the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones in my study.”

“Y-Yes, Your Highness.” Though puzzled, Zhao De quickly agreed.

Li Xuan looked at the flattered yet guilty expression on Zhao De’s face and sneered inwardly.

He was certain Zhao De was at least aware of the poisoned brush scheme, if not a co-conspirator. Otherwise, he would not have been so nervous when questioned about the gifts.

It seemed the Crown Prince’s Mansion had already been infiltrated by his so-called “brothers” like a sieve.

At that moment, a commotion arose outside the door.

A flustered maid rushed in and knelt, reporting, “Your Highness, bad news! Miss Xiao’s dowry has arrived at the mansion’s gate!”

“What?” Li Xuan was stunned.

So fast? The Emperor’s decree had just been issued, and the Xiao family’s dowry was already delivered?

This was clearly Xiao Yuan’s way of showing his stance.

He wanted to complete the transaction as quickly as possible, sending his daughter into this prison he despised.

Li Xuan rose and headed out.

“Go see for yourself.”

The mansion’s gates were now crowded with curious servants.

Dozens of large carts loaded with red chests stood at the entrance. Leading them was the steward from the Xiao household.

The steward showed no expression when Li Xuan appeared, simply handing over a list of the gifts.

“By order of the Grand General, this dowry is delivered for Miss Xiao. Please inspect, Your Highness.”

Li Xuan skimmed the list.

It was densely written with exotic treasures and land deeds, so lavish that any princess would be humbled.

Xiao Yuan was clearly telling everyone that his family was marrying off not just a daughter, but their pride.

Just then, an elegantly decorated carriage slowly rolled to the gate.

The curtain lifted, revealing a face as cold and beautiful as ice.

It was Xiao Ningshuang.

She wore no bridal gown, only a simple white dress. Her face was bare of any makeup, her expression as frigid as midwinter ice.

She dismounted without a glance at Li Xuan and coolly told the Xiao steward, “The items have all been delivered. You may leave now.”

“Yes, Miss.”

The Xiao household retreated like a tide.

At the grand entrance, only Li Xuan and this soon-to-be wife, the ice queen, remained.

Their eyes met.

One gaze was calm and profound; the other cold as a blade.

Invisible sparks seemed to crackle in the air.

The servants craned their necks, watching with keen interest.

They had heard that this future Crown Princess had been forcibly “invited” back by the Crown Prince. Now, there was a good show to watch.

“What are you staring at?!” Li Xuan suddenly turned toward the gawking servants, his voice sharp, “Don’t you have anything better to do? Standing here like that, are you waiting for me to invite you to dinner?!”

His voice thundered like a sudden storm, startling everyone into alertness.

The servants exchanged nervous glances.

Is this still the same Crown Prince who used to joke and never lose his temper?

“Zhao De!” Li Xuan barked again.

“I-I’m here!” Zhao De scrambled over.

“From today on, the mansion’s rules are rewritten!” Li Xuan’s voice was icy and authoritative. “Any servant caught abandoning their post without reason or gathering to chat during duty will be punished as follows: first offense, twenty lashes; second offense, forty lashes and six months’ salary withheld; third offense, immediate dismissal with no chance of rehire!”

“Furthermore!” His gaze swept across everyone present like lightning. “Anyone found embezzling mansion property, regardless of amount, will be handed over to the authorities with no mercy!”

“All purchases and expenditures within the mansion require my personal written order. Violators will face the same punishment!”

Li Xuan’s series of commands struck like a bombshell, leaving the entire Crown Prince’s Mansion stunned.

Everyone stared at him with wide eyes and open mouths, as if looking at a stranger.

Even Xiao Ningshuang’s icy eyes finally flickered with a trace of emotion.

She looked at the spirited, commanding man before her, momentarily dazed.

Could this really be the prodigal Crown Prince she once despised to her core?