Good Luck Wedding 065

 After a long deliberation, Qiao Hairen decided to enter the palace and request an audience.

He had seen through Prince Yong’an's recent actions in the capital all too clearly. He was also increasingly certain that the emperor must be fine; otherwise, Prince Yong’an wouldn't have spread such baseless rumors out of nowhere.

But after the emperor returned to the capital, the emperor's condition seemed different from what he had expected. The Imperial Physicians wore solemn expressions and kept a close watch, as if the emperor truly wasn't doing well.

 

Qiao Hairen mulled it over and felt that something fishy was going on. Furthermore, Han Chan and some court officials had made some subtle actions before, so he couldn't shake his concerns. Hence, he decided to go to the palace and find out the truth.

Cui Xi led Qiao Hairen inside, and after guiding him to the door, he said, smiling, "Please go ahead, Minister Qiao. His Majesty and Minister Shen are discussing matters within."

Hearing this, Qiao Hairen grew even more puzzled. How could they be holding discussions when the emperor was so badly injured and unconscious?

Doubts growing, he entered the inner hall. There he saw Li Zong sitting up on the bed, hands resting on his knees, with blood-stained bandages scattered beside it. Though his face was pale, it glowed with a osy flush—nothing like someone critically ill at death's door.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Qiao Hairen said, stepping forward and bowing. His eyes swept over Li Zong, and he could see that he was not in a good condition.

Li Zong noticed his subtle examination and laughed. "What brings you here today, my dear subject Qiao?"

"The citizens have been unsettled lately.  Everyone is saying that Your Majesty suffered severe injuries during battle... that you're on death's door." Qiao Hairen was a straightforward man who didn't mince words. He simply spoke of the rumors spreading outside, "If Your Majesty isn't seriously ill, why haven't you appeared before the people to reassure them?

"Rumors have grown stronger these past few days, causing unrest among the populace. I’m afraid could be detrimental to the stability of the court."

Li Zong rotated his wrist, paying little heed to Qiao Hairen's concerns.  He asked casually. "The people are unsettled?  How exactly is the public unsettled?"

Could it be that there were people besides Li Fengqi who dared to rebel?

"That..." Qiao Hairen hesitated slightly. Realizing that Li Zong seemed unaware of Han Chan's actions, he felt compelled to inform him. "The Imperial Tutor... has visited Prince Duan's estate several times in recent days."

Li Zong hadn't considered any other implications of this, and wanted to say, “What’s wrong with the Imperial Tutor visiting Prince Duan’s estate?” But just as the words were about to leave his lips, he suddenly remembered what lurked within Prince Duan's estate.

His expression shifted abruptly as he asked Qiao Hairen in disbelief, "What was the Imperial Tutor doing at Prince Duan's estate?"

"I've never been there, so I dare not say anything for certain." Qiao Hairen replied with a bow and clasped hands.  He sighed. "His Majesty should go ask Prince Duan himself."

The emperor and the Imperial Tutor had a deep teacher-student bond. The emperor held his mentor in particularly high regard; if possible, he didn't want them to fall out. They'd already lost Prince Yong'an's loyalty.  If the Imperial Tutor also harbored doubts, the situation in court would become unimaginably grim.

But from what he was hearing now, it seemed his worst suspicions might be true.

Li Zong's hands, resting on his knees, clenched into fists. His face darkened, and he said nothing.

Standing nearby, Shen Zhongyu grew increasingly alarmed as he listened. Yet within moments, he thought that fewer trusted confidants by the emperor's side meant more opportunities for him.

The atmosphere in the inner hall turned tense and cold. After what felt like an eternity, Li Zong finally fixed his gaze on Qiao Hairen and said sternly, "Minister Qiao, please stay in the palace tonight. There are some matters I need to verify personally."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Qiao Hairen sighed again. It was clear the emperor feared he might leak information and wanted to keep him confined to the palace for now.

He looked at Li Zong's dark face and thought about Prince Yong’an's actions. He felt he was missing some important piece of information, but no matter how he tried, he couldn't figure it out. In the end, he could only follow Cui Xi to a side room to rest.

Only two people were left in Taiqian Palace.

Shen Zhongyu glanced at his unpleasant expression and carefully said nothing.

After a moment, Li Zong controlled himself. "My dear subject Shen," he asked, his face blank, "have you heard the rumors outside?"

"I've heard some." Shen Zhongyu lowered his head and said softly. "But I'm stationed at the camp outside the city walls, so I haven't heard much. And I knew nothing of what happened with the Imperial Tutor."

Li Zong suddenly let out a scornful laugh. It seemed he hadn't really wanted to hear Shen Zhongyu's answer. He muttered to himself, "Even Qiao Hairen knows, yet we're the last to find out. Ridiculous!"

He suddenly jumped up, viciously slamming the soft pillows on the bed onto the floor. His face twisted into a snarl as he shouted, "Absolutely preposterous!"

"Your Majesty, please calm yourself!" Caught off guard by this sudden eruption, Shen Zhongyu fell to his knees.

"You lot don't think much of me, do you? You're all waiting for my death, aren't you?" Li Zong's eyes reddened, his chest heaving. Since hearing from Qiao Hairen that Han Chan had gone to Prince Duan's estate, anger had been building inside him, finally bursting forth now.

"I wouldn't dare! My loyalty to Your Majesty is as clear as day," Shen Zhongyu replied, inwardly cursing while trying to calm Li Zong down.

But Li Zong wasn't listening; his mind was consumed by thoughts of Han Chan hoping for his death—so much so that he'd already started picking his successor. It was utterly ridiculous!

He had gone to great lengths to fake a serious injury.  However, he not only to would up causing zero injury to Li Fengqi, he even made Han Chan unable to sit still.

"The Prince Duan's estate... Yes, the Prince Duan's estate." He muttered this over and over, pacing in circles and carelessly draping a robe around himself before grabbing a whip from its stand and heading out. The palace attendants followed nervously behind him, too afraid to stop their emperor.

Cui Xi rushed forward upon hearing the commotion. "Where is Your Majesty going?" he asked softly. "I'll have the carriage prepared."

"P-prince D-Duan's estate," Li Zong spat through gritted teeth. Without even turning back, he added, "Have someone bring out my horse!"

Cui Xi didn't try to dissuade him further. With a look at one of the attendants, he signaled for them to ready the horse.

Moments later, an attendant led out the mount. Li Zong climbed onto it and spurred it towards the palace gates.

News of the commotion in the palace spread quickly. Those well-informed immediately knew what had happened as soon as Li Zong left through the palace gates.

At Imperial Tutor’s manor, Han Chan was listening to his informant's report.  His hand trembled, spilling hot tea all over the table. He suddenly looked up at the messenger. "What did you say?"

The young palace attendant nervously replied, "Your Majesty angrily galloped out of the palace towards Prince Duan's estate."

"...He's certainly grown more resourceful," Han Chan murmured.

Upon hearing from the young palace attendant that Li Zong had rod out of the imperial palace on horseback, he immediately realized that this so-called grave injury was entirely feigned. His expression froze for a moment before he closed his eyes briefly. Then, with a calm demeanor, he wiped away the water stains on the table with a handkerchief and said evenly, "I understand now. You may return."

After seeing off the attendant, Han Chan poured himself another pot of tea. He then ordered the gates opened, waiting quietly for what would come next.

Li Zong had gone to Prince Duan's estate; soon enough, the next would be at the Imperial Tutor’s manor.

Meanwhile, news had also reached Prince Yong’an’s Palace.

"He went to Prince Duan's estate?" Li Fengqi scoffed mercilessly. "Only when he hits rock bottom will he finally give up—typical."

Ye Yunting furrowed his brow slightly. "Do you think this time he'll make a move against Han Chan?"

"He is the emperor, after all." Unconcerned, Li Fengqi replied mildly, "Besides, we still have one major gift left to offer him."

With those words, he summoned Wu Geng to prepare the carriage.

"Let's go.  We should wait for him ahead of time." Li Fengqi said leisurely, tucking several letters from the desk into his sleeve as he spoke. "After all, he doesn't yet know about the matter between Han Chan and the Yin family."

*

The horse galloped all the way and reached Prince Duan's estate in less than half an hour.

Li Zong dismounted from his horse and strode inside, whip in hand.

The gatekeeper initially moved to intercept him but recoiled two steps upon seeing the imperial dragon robes. Shocked, he took two steps back, then scrambled away to report this urgent news.

Ever since Han Chan's visit several days ago, Prince Duan had been living in anxiety for days. Though he'd anticipated such a day would come, he never thought it would arrive so soon—and even more surprising was that Li Zong himself had charged into the estate with a whip in tow.

Upon hearing the panicked alert from his servant, Prince Duan hastily ordered for his young grandson to be taken to the rear courtyard. Wiping his face, he adjusted his crown and attire before stepping out nervously.

As he reached the entrance, there stood Li Zong bearing down menacingly.

"Why does the emperor’s uncle look like this?" Li Zong paused and sneered. "What state is this? I expected Prince Duan's estate to be brightly lit with lanterns these past few days, overflowing with joyous celebration... After all, we're about to welcome a little emperor soon, aren't we?"

Prince Duan immediately protested his innocence, his face sorrowful as he said, "I have always been unwaveringly loyal to Your Majesty; I would never harbor any improper ambitions. Even when Imperial Tutor came to my house time and again to force and threaten me, I refused to yield. Please see through this deception!"

As he spoke, Prince Duan grew increasingly convinced that this was a grave injustice. His voice filled with indignation, he continued, "This old minister has spent his days tending to flowers and plants, and doesn’t care about state affairs. I've never harbored disloyal thoughts.  It’s the Imperial Tutor's who is unscrupulous and wolfish. He saw Qi-er as pliable and easy to control, so he relentlessly demanded that I hand him over!"

Prince Duan hated Han Chan, who had dragged him into this mess. He meticulously recounted every detail of Han Chan’s actions over the past few days.

Listening to this, Li Zong felt his heart gradually freeze over. The ice on the ground couldn't compare to the chill in his chest at that moment.

Prince Duan's lamentations persisted. Despite his advanced age, he stood there clad only in simple, thin robes, crying and shouting out his innocence. Along the way, he also roundly cursed Han Chan for his treacherous deceit and lack of loyalty, for betraying the emperor's trust.

As Li Zong listened, it seemed as if a gaping hole had opened in his own chest. Bitter winds howled through it, freezing him down to his bones. Involuntarily, he took a step backward, the whip slipping from his grasp and clattering onto the floor.

After a long time, Prince Duan's voice had grown hoarse. Yet without uttering another word, Li Zong turned on his heel and left.

Prince Duan stopped crying, wiped his face, and watched Li Zong's retreating figure. A chill ran through him at the sight of that departing back. Supported by attendants, he rose to his feet and gave quiet instructions: "Go tell the princess to pack up all our valuables. In a few days, I'll submit a memorial requesting permission to retire to my fiefdom."

This capital was no longer safe for them, he feared.

 

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 Author's Notes

77: I am not good at helping people, but I'm the best at adding fuel to the fire.