"Your Majesty, it's all over the streets now that your subject poisoned his own father — to marry the Ninth Princess, to grab wealth and glory, to prove his loyalty."

"Your subject has become a creature without a shred of conscience, an unpardonable villain."

Ning Chen glanced at the Xuan Emperor and answered plainly.

The Xuan Emperor actually laughed — though it was the laugh of a man pushed past his patience.

Marry the Ninth Princess, murder his own father to show his loyalty... these people had no idea how much effort he'd spent bringing Ning Chen and Huai'an together.

"Utter stupidity... whoever is scheming against you behind the scenes is both a fool and a snake!"

"This emperor will issue an edict this instant — every loose mouth, every idiot who swallows the rumor, round them all up and charge them."

Ning Chen said quickly, "Your Majesty, that would only make things worse... you might choke the rumor off in the open, but you can't stop the common people from whispering it in private."

The Xuan Emperor frowned. "Ning Chen, you know the saying — three men make a tiger. If this rumor gets out, it does your name real harm."

"Left unchecked, the more it's passed around the wilder it gets — enough to ruin your name for good."

Ning Chen bowed. "Your subject understands!"

"Which is why a single move is all it takes to break it!"

The Xuan Emperor looked at him, curious. "And what move is that?"

Ning Chen hesitated, then said, "All it takes is one edict granting Ning Ziming the poisoned cup."

Something flickered in the Xuan Emperor's eyes; he caught on at once.

He glared at Ning Chen. "You little brat — that head of yours turns fast, doesn't it?"

Ning Chen smiled, all fawning. "Your Majesty's genius commands the age. Your subject's scrap of cleverness isn't fit to fetch Your Majesty's shoes!"

The Xuan Emperor let out a cold snort and shot him a look.

"This emperor understands. Go on back for now!"

"You'll be marrying Huai'an any day. Watch your…