“Your Highness!” The Second Prince’s attendants rushed to steady him, glaring at the Fourth Prince. “Fourth Highness, how dare you speak to your elder brother this way—”
“What are you—a dog barking at its master?” The Fourth Prince’s sneer silenced the room. Even the Second Prince’s conciliatory demeanor hardened.
“Xie Guogzheng, enough!” The Second Prince’s voice turned icy. “I advised you for your own good. Escalating this benefits no one. Young Master Zheng erred, but not fatally. Beat him further, and you’ll only drag your own disgrace into the open. Do you truly wish the entire court to debate your scandals? Father’s wrath will follow.”
“You threaten me with the emperor?” The Fourth Prince hissed.
“Not a threat—a warning.”
The Fourth Prince seethed. Once, this bastard-born brother had groveled before him. Now, emboldened by his momentary stumble, he dared posture as an elder? Rage burned in his eyes.
As tension crackled, a voice cut through.
“What troubles our esteemed princes?”
The crowd parted to reveal Xiao Yan. The Second Prince smoothed his expression. “Governor Xiao. A minor misunderstanding.”
Xiao Yan glanced at the battered man on the floor. “Shall I take this offender to the Privy Council?”
“Unnecessary,” the Second Prince said hastily.
The Fourth Prince, though still fuming, forced calm. Xiao Yan’s presence reminded him of recent humiliations—his mother confined, his influence waning. A public scandal now would bury him.
“A… misunderstanding,” the Fourth Prince gritted out.
The accused men fled like startled rabbits. Xiao Yan’s gaze scattered the onlookers.
The Second Prince masked his frustration. “A rare encounter, Governor. Might I host you for tea?”
“I’m here by appointment—with the Fourth Prince.”
The dismissal stung. As the Second Prince left, the Fourth Prince savored his rival’s discomfiture. Bastard whelp—even eunuchs scorn you.
Turning to Xiao Yan, he attempted camaraderie: “I should be the one hosting—”
“I dislike tea.” Xiao Yan strode toward a private chamber. “And I’m not here for leisure. His Majesty’s orders.”
The Fourth Prince’s smugness evaporated. Inside the room, he froze at seeing Tang Ning.
“Your Highness.” She bowed.
“Song Tangning?”
“I renounced the Song name. Call me Yiyang.”
The Fourth Prince blinked. This poised woman bore little resemblance to the meek girl his grandmother had despised.
Xiao Yan gestured her to sit. “What we discuss concerns her.”
“The investigation into Prince Cheng’s collusion with the Lu family,” Xiao Yan began. “Did the empress inform you that Prince Cheng bedded Lu women? That Xie Yin is Lu blood?”
The Fourth Prince shot up. “What?!”
“Her Majesty didn’t tell you?” Xiao Yan feigned surprise. “She begged me to conceal this while she ‘investigated.’ Yet you met Lu Zhongshu yesterday. No wonder His Majesty rages.”
The Fourth Prince turned ashen. Mother knew? And told me nothing?================
You can read ahead to chapterr 400 (100+ extra chapters) here
Comments
Post a Comment