Chapter 94

In the serene Qianqing Hall, Zhu Jingyu, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, sat at the head while Qin Yan stood in the hall.

He appeared exhausted, with stains of mud on the trailing hem of his vermilion robe and noticeable knife marks on his shoulders and sleeves.

Zhu Jingyu stared at the blood-stained and tattered clothes, forcing himself to avert his gaze before speaking, “What are Zhang Huaian’s men trying to investigate in Mocheng?”

“They were looking for the physician who helped Ye Qing with his disguise before. However, I stopped them.”

Qin Yan’s face was unusually pale. Although the injuries weren’t too serious for him, the continuous back-and-forth journeys to the capital without proper bandaging had caused some loss of blood.

Zhu Jingyu clenched his fist beneath his sleeve, pursed his lips, and fell into silence. If it weren’t for him, Qin Yan wouldn’t have needed to stay here.

After a brief moment of silence, he regained his composure and opened the report submitted by Zhou Zheng on behalf of the Eastern Bureau a couple of days ago.

“During the time you were away, Zhou Zheng found that the soldiers’ salaries allocated by the Ministry of Revenue were indeed insufficient for the deserters from the border regions.”

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Feng Bao didn’t dare to respond and simply followed behind him.

“What about Su Mi?”

“She’s in the courtyard. Madam doesn’t know that Master returned today. Should the servant go and inform her now?”

Qin Yan glanced at the wound on his right shoulder and arm. “No need; I’ll take a bath.”

Even though he had applied medicine and wrapped several layers, any slight change would be noticeable to someone close, making it extremely conspicuous.

Inside the inner chamber, after Su Mi’s initial excitement upon seeing Qin Yan return had passed, she noticed that something was wrong with him. Following a faint scent of medicine, Su Mi took the opportunity to loosen the collar of his undershirt and saw the three uneven knife wounds on his shoulder and arm. The jagged wounds seemed to be caused by a serrated blade, and against the smooth jade-like skin around them, they appeared even more sinister.

Su Mi’s nose suddenly tingled, and her eyes, once filled with a peach blossom smile, immediately welled up with mist, as if she herself had been injured and pitiful.

“There’s no need to cry over such minor injuries.” Qin Yan pulled Su Mi toward him with his uninjured hand and pressed her against his leg, embracing her.

“It’s nothing, Lord. Does it still hurt?” Lately, Su Mi had become more sensitive for some unknown reason, with easily fluctuating emotions, as if she had become a different person, out of control.

“Once I hold you for a while, it won’t hurt anymore.” Qin Yan lightly chuckled, burying his face in her neck and inhaling the faint fragrance of orchids. “Did you meet Jian Yujue?”

“Yes, but he doesn’t seem interested in acknowledging me and Mother. We’re still strangers to him.”

“Hmph, he’s so pretentious for a man. Then don’t bother acknowledging him.” Qin Yan didn’t like the resemblance between him and Su Mi. It was better to keep some distance.

“…”

Su Mi knew his temperament and didn’t know how to respond. She had to stand up and say, “Lord, I’ll go have the kitchen prepare some food.”

Before she could take a few steps, Qin Yan pulled her back into his chest, his arm’s strength pressing her firmly against him, causing the two mounds of red jade on her chest to soften and change shape.

Su Mi, blushing, looked at the still bright daylight outside and said, “Lord, you just returned and haven’t had a meal yet!”

Qin Yan smiled and made a sound of agreement, reaching out to unfasten the buttons of Su Mi’s dress. “We can have one now.”

***

At the residence of Prime Minister Zhang Huaian, two individuals sat in the main hall.

“This is simply outrageous!” A celadon teacup was thrown to the ground, shattering into four pieces with a crisp sound.

After throwing one cup and still feeling dissatisfied, Zhang Huaian glanced at the Qi Prince sitting at the head, forcibly suppressing the impulse to throw another cup.

Prince Qi seemed unaffected by the harsh sound, lifting his own teacup and taking a sip.

“The Emperor sent the Eastern Bureau’s men to intercept that old physician before us. There must be some hidden secrets behind this!”

Zhang Huaian couldn’t help but feel furious. After investigating for so long, he had just discovered that Ye Qing was also from Mocheng. He might have been acquainted with concubine Lian, which was why she received so much support. Finally, when he had obtained a lead with a portrait, Qin Yan had intercepted him.

“You’re right, Uncle.” Prince Qi responded calmly.

Although he was just a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old youth, he possessed a majestic temperament and faintly exuded an imperial aura.

Zhang Huai’an continued, “Hmph, everyone knows that Concubine Lian was captured from outside the palace by the late Emperor, driven by his greed for her beauty. If it weren’t for that old eunuch, Ye Qing, supporting her at every turn, her child would have been…”

“What qualifications and identity does her son have to snatch your position and ascend to the Dragon Throne?”

Prince Qi, lost in his thoughts, did not respond. Just then, Li Zhi hurriedly entered from outside, holding an old ledger that had been sealed, indicating that it was circulated within the palace.

“I pay my respects to Your Highness, Lord,” Li Zhi said, presenting the ledger in his hand, his gestures trembling slightly. “Someone approached my subordinates, claiming to be the grandson of a deceased royal physician. He demanded a price of ten thousand taels, stating that this ledger contains confidential information. His father strictly forbade him from leaking it, but due to his current livelihood, my subordinates..”

Zhang Huaian, in a bad mood today, impatiently waved his hand. “Li Zhi, just get to the point. Prince Qi and I have matters to discuss.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“This ledger was left by the palace physician twenty years ago. It contains records of the concubine Lian’s pulse during her pregnancy,” Li Zhi paused and looked up. “It states that the Emperor… he was carried for a full ten months, not born prematurely!”

“What? But the physician at the time clearly said…”

Zhang Huaian sat up in surprise from his chair. Everyone in the palace knew that the concubine Lian had given birth to the current emperor after less than nine months of pregnancy. However, the physicians at the time claimed it was a premature birth. Moreover, Zhu Jingyu’s physical condition was abnormally weak, requiring medication to sustain him. Every year, there were rumors from the imperial physicians that he wouldn’t last long. The late Emperor had some doubts initially, but they were forcefully dispelled. Later, a few years passed, and the late Emperor passed away due to illness, passing the throne to Zhu Jingyu. Since then, nobody has mentioned the past.

Once his emotions settled, Zhang Huaian finished reading the ledger and passed it to Prince Qi. Then he turned to Li Zhi and continued questioning, “Where is the grandson of that physician now?”

“Lord, rest assured, after I obtained this ledger, I took care of all the people who were aware of it,” Li Zhi replied.

Zhang Huaian pondered for a moment and couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “It’s truly effortless. After investigating Ye Qing for so long, this old ledger is more useful.”

“Lord, what about Ye Qing? Should we continue investigating him?”

“No need. Why waste our efforts on the matter of a deceased eunuch? he was just acquainted with Concubine Lian.”

Prince Qi, who had been silently reading the ledger, flickered a trace of suspicion in his eyes when Zhang Huaian mentioned Ye Qing, but it disappeared without a trace.

“Chen’er.”

“Yes, Uncle.” Prince Qi closed the ledger, calmly raising his head to look at Zhang Huaian.

“Since Zhu Jingyu’s reputation is tarnished and he is abdicating now, it is up to you to inherit the throne.”

“I thought we wouldn’t need to delay any longer. Although it disrespects the late Emperor, it can’t be helped. We can’t let the country fall into the hands of his surname. Once we announce this ledger to the world, he will have no chance of sitting on the throne.”

Zhang Huaian was not asking for Prince Qi’s opinion. He was always the decisive one. He wanted Prince Qi to become Emperor for better control over the court. After all the effort he had put in, he wasn’t doing it for someone else.

Prince Qi spoke slowly, “Uncle, this matter concerns the late Emperor’s reputation. If it spreads to other countries, it will damage the prestige of our Ming Yin Dynasty. Moreover, in doing so, Lady Shen’s young daughter will also face death. I can’t bear to do that. Can you let me think of a solution that benefits both sides?”

What a compassionate man! Zhang Huaian frowned. He didn’t expect Prince Qi to speak up. In his eyes,Prince Q was nothing more than a young boy who relied on him for assistance and had no other use. Now he seemed to have unnecessary goodwill.

“Alright, since you’re speaking up, I’ll give you three days,” Zhang Huaian said.

Prince Qi’s eyes shimmered with gratitude as he respectfully replied, “Thank you, Uncle.”

Once Prince Qi had left, Li Zhi spoke up and inquired, “Lord, do we really have to wait for Prince Qi’s consideration?”

“What good solution can he come up with? In the end, he’ll still have to listen to me. At this critical moment, to avoid displeasing him, let him think for two days.”

Regardless of whether it was a child or a woman, they couldn’t step onto the grand stage. After the Mingyin Dynasty, everything would still be in his hands.

***

Prince Qi left and walked to the gate of his residence, where he happened to see someone being stopped.

She was dressed in men’s clothing, but her slender figure and weak arms made it obvious she was disguised as a man.

“Let me see the Prime Minister; I just want to say a few words,” Ye Yunshuang pleaded, holding her arms, but her strength was feeble. The gatekeeper remained unmoved.

“The Prime Minister isn’t someone you can see just because you want to. Now get lost.”

The gatekeeper’s subordinate pushed her, causing Ye Yunshuang to lose her balance and fall to the ground. At that moment, a pair of slender hands reached out, clearly attempting to help her up.

“Who are you?” Sitting on the ground was not a flattering sight. Ye Yunshuang looked suspiciously at the person through the sleeves of those hands, supporting herself as she stood up.

Although Prince Qi had not yet reached adulthood, he was not short in stature. He easily supported Ye Yunshuang, saying, “If you have something to tell Prime Minister Zhang, I can convey it for you.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Ye Yunshuang saw him walking out from inside; with his handsome and noble appearance, perhaps he was also a son of the Zhang residence. If she had relied on herself alone, she probably wouldn’t have had such an easy chance to meet him. Besides, there was no harm in telling someone else about this matter. The more people knew, the better.

“Good! Come closer, I’ll tell you.”