At the corner of the wall outside Ning Wang Manor:
“Why is the rain getting heavier?” Fuyi sniffed. “It’s a bit chilly.”
“Miss, we should hurry back,” Xiayu said, casting a worried glance at Fuyi’s left leg. “Physician Liu said your leg still needs one or two years to fully heal. You absolutely mustn’t let it get infected by chill.”
“Shh.” Fuyi covered Xiayu’s mouth. “Don’t let Xiaowu and the others hear. They’ll make a big fuss again.”
“Fuyi, what are you whispering about with Xiayu?” Lin Xiaowu leaned her head over.
“Nothing. You guys should all go ahead and have fun at Caiyin Pavilion. I’d like to head back early and catch some sleep.” Fuyi stifled a yawn, covering her mouth with her hand. “Next time, drinks are on me.”
Seeing that she did look tired, Lin Xiaowu nodded. “Alright, we’ll hang out together another time.”
When her friends heard that Fuyi wanted to leave early, they worried she might be attacked again and immediately offered to send their attendants to escort her home.
“It’s fine. This is East Street, with patrols everywhere. What’s there to be afraid of?” Fuyi said, trying to reassure them. Given these guys’ knack for getting into trouble, she’d actually be more concerned if they didn’t have attendants to watch over them.
“Then I’ll at least walk you back…”
“Miss Yun,” Sui Tingheng approached the group. “The spring rain is still quite chilly, let me escort you.”
Lin Xiaowu and the others immediately shrank back the moment they saw the Prince; no one dared to speak up.
“Thank you, Your Imperial Highness.” Fuyi stomped her cold feet and followed Sui Tingheng into the carriage.
Inside the carriage was very warm, with a large brazier placed in the center. “Please dry your hair,” Sui Tingheng handed Fuyi a clean handkerchief.
“Thank you, Your Imperial Highness.” Fuyi took the handkerchief and haphazardly patted her hair, wiping away the rainwater.
Sui Tingheng’s fingers twitched as he watched her disheveled hairpins and her now frizzy hair, but he silently averted his gaze.
“This subject daughter already wasted two of your handkerchiefs today, Your Imperial Highness,” Fuyi said as she removed her hairpins and re-tied her hair into a quick bun, casually securing it with a simple jade hairpin.
“No need for such formalities, Miss Yun.” Sui Tingheng picked up a teapot from the small table and poured her a cup of steaming hot tea. “Thanks to your help, we managed to prevent those suspects from escaping.”
Fu Yi held the cup in her hands, feeling its warmth seeping into her skin. With her eyes lowered, she spoke softly, “I heard that when Noble Consort Zeng perished in the fire, many of those serving her failed to escape and were reduced to ashes as well?”
Sui Tingheng nodded. “There were thirty-two eunuchs and thirty-six palace maids on duty at Xiangkun Palace that day. In the end, only a bit more than ten survived. All their names were recorded, and the man who attempted to assassinate you, Wang San, was one of them.”
Fuyi didn’t ask why so few had escaped. Imperial secrets weren’t something she needed to know. The fact that the Prince had shared this much with her was already surprising enough.
Around an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of the Yun family manor. “Miss Yun,” Sui Tingheng called as he stepped down from the carriage, stopping Fuyi just before she entered the gates. He removed a pouch from his waist. “I forgot to give you this earlier.”
Fuyi turned back and took the pouch. When she opened it, she was surprised to find her lost earring inside. “Thank you, Your Imperial Highness,” she smiled warmly at Sui Tingheng.
“Go on inside.” Sui Tingheng took an open umbrella from Mo Wen and handed it to her. “Don’t catch a cold.”
Fuyi curtsied, holding the umbrella.
Sui Tingheng turned and boarded the carriage again. As it rolled away, he watched her turn and walk back into the Yun manor with her maid.
Because he was a prince, she would have stood in place, waiting, if he hadn’t left.
—Three years ago, he had met her in the imperial garden. She walked ahead, with his uncle following behind.
Sui Tingheng’s eyes caught a glimmer beneath a cushion. He reached down and picked up a small gold cicada hairpin, delicately adorned with jade leaves.
…
“If Ning Wang were smart, he’d be dragging his sick body to the palace right now to plead for forgiveness, claiming it was his own failure to manage his household that allowed the criminals to slip through,” Xiayu said as she placed the medicinal packet from Physician Liu into the bathtub.
“Ning Wang isn’t a fool, but the Jinwu Guards stationed at his manor might not give him that chance,” Fuyi responded, leaning against the edge of the bath. “Besides, he grew up pampered and was used to being the center of the world. Even though he’s kept a lower profile these past two years, the arrogance ingrained into his marrow won’t fade so easily.”
If Sui Ruijing were shameless enough, he’d already be kneeling at the gates of his manor by now, crying his heart out for the entire capital to see. The emperor was only two years into his reign; with such a display of humility and loyalty from his only surviving younger brother, he’d likely go easy on the matter just to maintain his image of benevolence.
Unfortunately, arrogance was Sui Ruijing’s greatest flaw. She, Fuyi, knew this very well, and that’s why she had gone out that far to provoke him.
…
During the next morning’s court session, as anticipated, an official submitted an impeachment against Ning Wang, accusing him of sheltering criminals, harboring ill will toward his brother and sovereign, and even conspiring to rebel. However, the side branches of the imperial clan quickly intervened, arguing the situation could be a misunderstanding, and the court soon devolved into a frenzy of heated debates.
Suddenly, the emperor’s sobs echoed from the throne. Everyone was stunned—such a scene was unheard of, and the entire court instantly fell into a heavy silence, with only the emperor’s cries breaking the stillness.
“Ruijing is young and ignorant. Even if he harbors resentment towards me, his elder brother, it’s because I have failed him as a brother.” The emperor wept, beating his chest, not even realizing that his tasseled crown had tilted askew. “Dear ministers1, stop arguing. Even though Ning Wang has rebellious intentions, he is still just a child. As the saying goes, ‘A father’s fault lies in the failure to teach his child.’ After the late emperor passed, it was Zhen2, his elder brother, who was responsible for his upbringing. If he has done wrong, can Zhen truly be blameless?”
The courtiers were so shocked by the emperor’s unexpected outburst that they were momentarily speechless.
“Please, for Zhen’s sake, spare Ning Wang this once,” the emperor pleaded, not waiting for the courtiers to respond. “And if you are still unsatisfied, let’s punish him by docking his stipend for three years—no, eight years! If he dares to make another mistake, Zhen will punish him severely!”
“…” The chief justice was the most speechless of all. His Judicial Court and the Ministry of Justice were jointly handling this case. They hadn’t even found concrete evidence of Ning Wang’s rebellion yet, but the emperor was already tearfully begging for mercy.
“Your Majesty’s kindness and compassion move us deeply,” Yun Wanggui stepped forward. “But as your loyal subject, I hope Ning Wang will always remember the grace Your Majesty has shown him today. Should he commit such treasonous acts again, we would rather die than forgive him.”
The emperor continued to sob, repeatedly lamenting his failure to teach his brother properly and the unbearable pain in his heart.
Even the imperial relatives, who had spoken up mainly because of their concern about the Emperor’s attitude toward the side branches, were deeply touched by his display of emotions.
They had always known the emperor cared for them. Compared to the generous and benevolent emperor, Ning Wang truly seemed like an ungrateful wretch!
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Author’s Note:
Emperor: “It’s fine if Ning Wang is arrogant, because Zhen is the most shameless~”
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Damn I love the emperor. Man would have made a killing as an actor.
And the Oscar for best male actor goes to…the emperor 👏🏼👏🏼😂😂