Chapter 104: Even Without Kneeling, You Must Kneel

Jun Buwen’s first order of business was to have the entire Peacekeeping Bureau arrested.

The guards of the bureau were stunned. "This... what is the meaning of this?"

"Indeed, why does Prince Jin want to take us into custody?"

"We haven't done anything!"

"We beg for mercy, Prince Jin!"

The Seventh Prince, Jun Qianye, was visibly shaken by the poisoning of Gao Shanshui. The Peacekeeping Bureau was, in effect, part of Jun Qianye’s sphere of influence. With Prince Jin suddenly targeting Gao Shanshui and the bureau, Jun Qianye feared that Jun Buwen was merely using this as a pretext to strike at his power base.

Now that Gao Shanshui had died right before his eyes, Jun Qianye felt a surge of panic. Jun Buwen had been waiting for an opportunity to attack him; why would he let Gao Shanshui die so easily? Was this an attempt to dismantle the bureau's influence? Jun Qianye could not let that happen.

Taking a deep breath, Jun Qianye asked, "What is the meaning of this, Prince Jin? Even if Prefect Gao is accused of embezzlement, surely that does not warrant arresting everyone in the bureau."

Jun Buwen, sharp-witted as ever, sneered. "The needle mark is located on the back of the Prefect’s neck, at an angle only someone close to him could reach. During my confrontation with him, the only people near us were your guards. If it wasn't one of you, then who could it have been?"

Jun Qianye countered, "It is true the guards had the opportunity, but... it is equally possible that you, Prince Jin, took the opportunity to strike while you were arguing with him."

Jun Buwen laughed. "The Prefect was already slated to be taken away by the Imperial Guard. If I truly wanted him dead, I have plenty of time to do it within the Imperial Guard under my own command. Why would I choose to strike him down in the middle of the Peacekeeping Bureau’s hall?"

Jun Qianye was left speechless. Jun Buwen held the formal indictment, likely backed by Emperor Zongkang’s own orders. Yet, seeing his bureau being dismantled, Jun Qianye felt a suffocating pressure in his chest.

Xia Wentao’s face went pale, his body swaying as he succumbed to the shock. After all, both Gao Shanshui and he were part of the Seventh Prince’s faction. Seeing Jun Buwen pull the rug out from under them, Xia Wentao wondered if he had made a mistake in siding with the Seventh Prince. Was he destined to end up like Gao Shanshui?

Xia Yue’er and Xia Mingxuan supported the trembling Xia Wentao, preparing to leave.

Xia Jiujiang looked at Xia Wentao’s retreating back and remarked, "Where are you going, Prime Minister?"

Xia Yue’er adopted the persona of a devoted daughter. "My father is unwell, and with the arrest of my mother, he is physically and mentally exhausted. I must take him away to rest."

Xia Jiujiang sneered. "Has the Prime Minister forgotten the wager he made with me?"

With this prompt, the surrounding crowd began to jeer. "That's right! What happened to the bet?"

"He was so arrogant before, but now he’s tucking his tail between his legs to sneak away."

"He didn't mind leaving when he was busy insulting and harming his own daughter."

"People like him deserve a lesson. This is going to be a good show."

"Keep your voices down, aren't you afraid he’ll come after you?"

"Small fry like us aren't even on his radar. If he really comes for us, he’d only prove himself to be petty and vindictive."

The crowd’s murmurs grew louder, and Xia Jiujiang’s words had clearly struck a chord.

Xia Yue’er looked indignant. "Sister, how can you be so cruel? Father is already in such pain, yet you still insist on holding him to that wager."

With Lin Baixue arrested, the public’s favor had turned against Xia Yue’er. Facing the shame of a mother who was a murderer, she only wanted to escape.

Xia Jiujiang mocked, "Your words are heavy, sister. When I was being slandered as a murderer, the Prime Minister didn't even blink; he was all too eager to treat me with cold, official indifference, even going so far as to sever our ties. Why is he suddenly so 'exhausted' now that the Madam has been arrested?"

"You..." Xia Yue’er was left speechless.

Xia Jiujiang realized something and added, "Oh, I see. Sister, are you trying to tell everyone that I am nothing in the Prime Minister's eyes? That he grieves for the Madam’s arrest, yet remained utterly indifferent when I was framed?"

"What do you mean by that? Are you implying that my exhaustion is an act?" Xia Wentao snapped, clearly irritated by her relentless pressure.

Xia Jiujiang smiled. "If it’s an act, we have the Imperial Physician Hu right here. Don’t worry; if anything happens to you, the coroner can testify that you were angered to death by me, and I will gladly accept the blame."

Xia Wentao gasped for air, his face turning purple. She was practically wishing for him to drop dead!

"You... you... don't forget that you carry the name Xia! I am your father!"

Xia Jiujiang replied with cold disdain, "It was you who insisted on severing our ties. Everyone here heard it with their own ears and saw it with their own eyes. Why is it that now that our ties are truly severed, you act as if I forced you into it?"

Xia Wentao had been so smug and arrogant before; now, Xia Jiujiang was the one holding all the cards.

Xia Yue’er pleaded, "Sister, can’t you see how pale Father looks? Why must you insist on the bet now?"

Xia Jiujiang stood her ground. "I am the Princess Consort of Jin. The Prime Minister made this bet of his own free will and gave his word. I did not hold a blade to his throat, nor did I coerce him. Why should I be afraid to claim what is mine?"

Xia Wentao erupted in fury. "I am your father! You would have your own father kneel to you? Have you no fear of retribution?" This wicked daughter! She had turned the entire Xia household upside down. He should have poisoned her along with Jiang Ruan!

Xia Jiujiang stood tall. "It seems the Prime Minister still fails to realize his errors. During the public trial today, did you trust me even once? No. You repeatedly accused me, urged me to confess, and acted as an accomplice to Lin Baixue in her attempt to frame me."

Using his status as a father now was truly laughable.

Xia Wentao went deathly pale at her words.

Xia Jiujiang declared with authority, "You are not kneeling to me; you are kneeling to the justice and fairness of this world. What could I possibly be unworthy of? Kneel. Unless you want me to summon the Seventh Prince to testify to the wager and force you to do it?"

Having dared to plot against Xia Jiujiang, Xia Wentao had no choice—he would have to kneel.