T/N: Thank you so much for the donation, @Alex! Here’s a double update as my token of appreciation, enjoy~ 

Something major must have happened for the Emperor to call in so many officials from the Ministry of Rites. Li En looked at Chen Wang, and found that he was stuffing some food into his mouth unhurriedly. 

“Your Highness?” Li En, whose impression of Chen Wang had changed greatly, bowed: “Us officials will accompany you to the Palace.”

“En.” Glancing at the snacks Jiuzhu had specially brought for him, Chen Wang grabbed a handful and put those into his pouch: “Lords need not panic. Father Emperor might have summoned everyone because of the assassination attempt on Qi Wang.”

“What?”

“Assassination attempt on Qi Wang?!”

“Your Highness need not be too upset.” Ming Jingzhou got up and sighed: “No wonder when xiaguan saw Your Highness, you looked so pale. You must have been concerned about His Highness Qi Wang’s safety.”

“Yes ah, Your Highness.” Li En opened his mouth: “Heaven helps the worthy so His Highness Qi Wang must be alright. If you worry too much and harm your health, wouldn’t it make His Majesty anxious?”

Chen Wang took the handkerchief delivered by Fugui and wiped his hands: “He is Ben Wang’s fourth brother. How can Ben Wang not worry? He is the one who is injured but it is Ben Wang who feels the pain ah.”

“Your Highness values your brotherly bond so much. You are too kindhearted.”

“Yes ah.” An official rubbed the corner of his dry eyes with his sleeves: “What a touching bond this is!”

Another official wiped the food crumbs from the corner of his mouth, opened the door and said at the top of his lungs: “Coworkers should quickly assist His Highness. He almost fainted from too much grief.”

Jiuzhu, who was sitting on the side holding a teacup, quietly stuffed a piece of snack into her mouth, not daring to speak a word. 

The world of grown-ups is really too complicated.

She raised her head and looked outside the window. The newly replaced glazed tiles on the roof of the bureau reflected the scorching sunlight and shone brilliantly like gold. 

“His Highness is a master of both pen and sword. How could he be attacked by an assassin?” Sun Caiyao looked at the pale Qi Wang lying on the bed and summoned his personal attendant, “What happened at that time?”

“Replying to Wangfei, with His Highness’ agility, he could have avoided the assassin’s sneak attack.” The attendant hesitated: “But His Highness froze for a moment when he walked up to the assassin. That person took this opportunity and injured His Highness.” 

Sun Caiyao looked at her unconscious husband. Her long, shapely brows were slightly furrowed: His Highness has always been attentive and cautious in doing things. How could he suddenly be absent-minded when approaching a stranger? 

“Was there anyone around who His Highness is mindful of at that time?” 

The attendant bowed: “Replying to Wangfei, there were none.”

“Are you certain?” Sun Caiyao gazed at the personal attendant. She couldn’t see his expression clearly due to his lowered head. 

“No.” The attendant cupped his hands and said, “Wangfei, apart from the residence’s guards and us attendants, there were only the lords of the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Guards.”

“I see.” Sun Caiyao sighed and wiped Qi Wang’s forehead with a handkerchief. At this time, Lanxu Palace sent people to inform that Ning Fei had summoned her into the Palace.

His Highness needs someone to take care of him now that he is injured. Why would Mother Consort call her into the Palace now? What can possibly be more important than the His Highness’ well-being? 

“There were so many people and yet, no one could prevent Qi Wang from getting injured. What were you all actually doing?” Emperor Longfeng questioned the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, “Zhen sent you to ensure the well-being of Qi Wang and the officials of the Ministry of Revenue. And what have you done?” 

The Deputy Commander1T/N: The author specified that this is the 副统领 (fù tǒnglǐng) which means the ‘deputy commander’ previously but now it’s only written 统领 (tǒnglǐng) which is commander. I feel like this might be a typo since later, it is again ‘deputy commander’. did not dare to make a sound when faced with the Emperor’s furious chastisement. 

“Your Majesty, the officials of the Ministry of Rites and the princes have all arrived.” 

“Let them in.” Emperor Longfeng threw the memorial in his hand heavily on the table, and snorted to the Deputy Commander: “Get up.” 

The latter glanced at him gratefully. His Majesty saved him some face by not having him kneel in the presence of the princes and officials of the six ministries. 

“What’s wrong with fifth younger brother?” Standing outside the gate of Taiyang Palace, Huai Wang looked at Yun Duqing, who was being supported by officials of the Ministry of Rites, airily.

“Replying to Your Highness Huai Wang, His Highness Chen Wang got too angry and worried upon hearing that His Highness Qi Wang had been attacked by an assassin. He is a little out of sorts at this moment.” Li En bowed to Huai Wang: “Please don’t worry, Your Highness. The Ministry of Rites will definitely take good care of His Highness.”

Angry? 

Worried? 

Does Yun Duqing himself believe this kind of nonsense? 

He glanced at Li En and raised his eyebrows slightly. Li En was a staunch supporter of the Emperor. It was unlikely for him to speak up for Yun Duqing. It seemed that during his time in the Ministry of Rites, lao wu’s2Lao wu [老五] – Or literally, ‘old fifth’. Here, Huai Wang is referring to Chen Wang since the latter is the fifth (五) son of the Emperor. acting skills had improved a lot. 

Thinking of this, he slowly said: “Fifth younger brother has always been soft-hearted and kind. Ben Wang thanks the lords for looking after him.” 

Blergh!

“Please be at ease, Your Highness.” Li En pretended not to see Huai Wang’s lack of sincerity and went to grab Chen Wang’s other arm. “Your Highness, how are you feeling?”

“Thank you, Minister Li. Ben Wang feels a lot better.” Chen Wang raised his eyes, and smiled weakly at Huai Wang and the other two princes: “Now that three elders brothers are here, Ben Wang feels more at ease.”

The three princes: “……”

Blergh blergh blergh, when did Yun Duqing become so disgusting? 

What bullshit did he learn in the Ministry of Rites?

When everyone walked into the hall, Emperor Longfeng saw his son being helped in by Li En and his expression changed slightly: “Minister Li, what happened to Duqing?”

“Your Majesty, when His Highness heard that His Highness Qi Wang had been injured by an assassin, his emotions got too stimulated, leaving him a little drained.” Li En sighed and continued with a worried expression: “Please punish the assassin severely, Your Majesty. It will comfort His Highnesses Qi Wang and Chen Wang.”

The officials from the other five ministries glanced at Li En, seemingly having heard some amazing lies. 

Would Chen Wang really be sad to the point of failing to walk properly because of Qi Wang’s injury?

What kind of an exceptional joke was this?

“Liu Zhongbao, hurry and bring a chair for Chen Wang.” Emperor Longfeng sighed: “My son is too soft-hearted and emotional.” 

The other princes: “……”

Fine, as long as Father Emperor is happy.

Chen Wang sat on the soft, padded chair and even ‘coincidentally’ adjusted to a very comfortable sitting posture.

Emperor Longfeng didn’t seem to see it and even instructed a eunuch to bring him a cloak and cover him because he feared that Chen Wang would feel cold while sitting, delivering an act that made the others present in the hall almost become melon eaters. 

Watching this blinding act, Huai Wang cupped his hands and said: “Father Emperor, erchen believes that this matter must be investigated strictly. This kind of thing ought to be never allowed to happen again.”

“En.” Emperor Longfeng nodded: “In order to protect the princes and princesses, zhen has arranged for the Department of the Palace to check the identities and family relationships of all the servants of their residences. Anyone suspicious is not allowed to stay. The chief attendants of each residence will be selected by zhen again.”

The officials of the six ministries had a weird feeling when they heard these words. Was His Majesty protecting the princes and princesses, or did he want to grasp this opportunity and keep them all in check?

“Thank you, Father Emperor, for thinking about the safety of erchen.” Chen Wang stretched out his arms from his thick cloak, and cupped his hands toward Emperor Longfeng: “Erchen is incompetent to have troubled Father Emperor.”

The smiles on the faces of the three other princes were on the verge of collapsing.

How much effort and energy did they put into inserting spies in their brothers’ residences?

With Father Emperor’s command, all their painstaking efforts over the years had been wiped out, and they had been put right in their places. What else can they do, or rather, dare to do?

After today, they would become blind and deaf despite having their eyes and ears function fully well3T/N: What this “睁眼的瞎子，长耳的聋子” (zhēngyǎn de xiāzi, zhǎngěr de lóngzi) means is that the princes would now be incapable of pulling strings to scheme against their brothers despite knowing how to.. 

Who would be happy about this except for that good-for-nothing Yun Duqing? 

“You all are zhen’s children. Zhen only hopes that you will be safe, happy and healthy.” Seeing the different expressions of his sons, Emperor Longfeng sighed: “Until the identities of all the servants are ascertained, the princes and princesses will move back to live in the Palace.”

“None of you need to leave the Palace today. Your work in the ministries will be put on hold for the time being.” He looked at his sons: “Zhen had already instructed the servants to prepare your living quarters. You all simply have to live there without worries.”

The princes did not dare to look at him. They were afraid that as long as their gazes met, Emperor Longfeng would be able to clearly see the thoughts in their minds. 

None of the officials of the six ministries standing in the hall were fools. At this time, no one could possibly dare to speak out.

Summoning the princes and princesses into the palace, not letting them out once they get in, and then sending people to thoroughly investigate their residences… These measures were really too drastic and ruthless. 

The Emperor had always been kind and generous. So for him to make such a choice must have been because these imperial children had stepped on his bottom line. No wonder these princes couldn’t even maintain their facial expressions at the moment.

Li En turned his head slightly toward the one sitting on the chair. No, there was no anomaly here.

Unexpectedly, Chen Wang was the most normal among the princes and the one who cared about this matter the least.

Logically speaking, Chen Wang was arrogant, domineering and extravagant by nature, so he ought to be the most afraid of His Majesty’s thorough investigation. Why was the situation different then?

“Father Emperor, erchen’s Wangfei is in the residence. Erchen…”

“Don’t worry.” Emperor Longfeng interrupted Huai Wang, “Zhen has already sent someone to bring your Wangfei-s here.”

The officials’ brows rose.

Oh well, none of them can escape now.

The last glimmer of hope in the eyes of the three princes was fully extinguished.

Chen Wang glanced at his three elder brothers, feeling a little complicated. Unfortunately, he and Ming Xiaozhu were not yet married; or else he could have asked his Father Emperor to bring her into the Palace as well and take her to his Mother Consort’s Palace for meals every day.

His Mother Consort not only had too much food but also a lot of jewelry, cloth and jade. How great it would have been if he could pick out a few suitable ones for Ming Xiaozhu and take them with her ah. 

Seeing Yun Duqing staring at themselves enviously, Huai Wang, An Wang, and Jing Wang resisted the urge to roll their eyes with great difficulty.

Crazy!

“Duqing, why are you looking at your elder brothers?” Emperor Longfeng smiled at Yun Duqing.

“Father Emperor, erchen was just thinking that you are really a good father who cares for his children. You were worried that elder brothers will be lonely so you sent for their Wangfei-s.” 

The officials: “……”

Isn’t it said that Chen Wang invited hatred upon himself?

How peculiar yet eerily accurate these words are ah!

If a princely residence didn’t even have its hostess left, it was tantamount to losing all control over the residence. With the imperial family’s ability of thorough investigation, they could even dig out several anthills4T/N: Anthill or 蚂蚁窝 (mǎyǐ wō) is mentioned here to emphasize the expertise of Emperor Longfeng’s people. Humans tend to ignore or overlook small things which are hard to see at a glance. That is why, if the investigators are able to find even the little anthills, they can also very possibly find very little detail of the servants of the residences. from inside the princely residences.

Two privately biased officials’ moods sunk to the bottom. His Majesty has become suspicious of the princes ah.

Recalling the tragedy caused by the princes fighting for the throne during the late Emperor’s reign, everyone became even more taciturn.

In a way, this was good. If His Majesty kept these princes and princesses under firm control, those three years of the late Emperor’s reign would not repeat again.

When Qi Wang opened his eyes, he discovered that his surroundings were a little unfamiliar. He looked around vigilantly, and saw a young eunuch coming over: “You woke up, Your Highness?”

“Which place is this?” He noticed the clothes on the eunuch’s body, and lay back.

“Replying to Your Highness, this is the Zhangliu Palace. His Majesty was worried about your safety, so he sent someone to bring you to the Palace to recuperate.”

Wasn’t this the Palace where the underage princes used to live?

He was injured but his Father Emperor had him brought to the Palace when he was still unconscious?

Was this simply worrying or was he trying to control him?

“Many thanks to Father Emperor for his consideration.” Qi Wang smiled and asked, “What’s your name? Do you know where Ben Wang’s attendants are?”

“This slave’s humble name is Ercheng. Your Highness’ attendants are all in your residence. If you and the Wangfei need anything, please do not hesitate to instruct us.”

Both he and his Wangfei were placed under house arrest by Father Emperor? 

Qi Wang’s complexion was deathly pale. At this moment, he seemed to feel as if he had returned to those three years in the late Emperor’s reign. 

Suddenly, he vaguely heard the sound of dispute from the yard and the voice seemed to be of Huai Wang’s. 

“Why is it so noisy outside?”

“Replying to Your Highness, the palace servants are setting up the chambers of His Highnesses and arranging their stuff.” Ercheng continued with a smile: “His Majesty got worried when he heard that there was an assassination attack on Your Highness and commanded that before spring next year, all the princes will be residing in the Zhangliu Palace.”

“You are saying that all the princes have been brought here?”

“That is right, Your Highness. All the Wangfei-s and the princesses have moved into the Palace.” Ercheng spoke again: “All the princesses are staying in the Xiyu Palace. You can walk around after your injuries get better.”

Qi Wang: “……”

He had only been unconscious for a few shichen due to the anaesthetic drug used to treat his wound, so why did everything change so much once he woke up?

Next chapter will be up in 10 minutes~

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