"Is the Fifth Prince still being held in Kunning Palace?"
Yan Qingqing pouted, "Would His Majesty really punish Fifth Brother?"
Third Yan sat in the hall, sipping the hot tea his daughter had handed him. Suddenly, he felt something was off and looked at her suspiciously, "Wait a minute. Didn’t you have plans to go out with Sister Xuan today? Why are you asking about palace affairs instead of keeping your appointment?"
He knew his daughter's temperament all too well.
She didn’t even want to marry the Crown Prince, so why would she care about what was happening in the palace?
She’d probably be more interested in what new flavors the street vendors were selling today.
"I... I was just asking casually," Yan Qingqing coughed twice, "My throat feels a bit uncomfortable, so I told Sister Xuan I wouldn’t go."
The truth was, when she first heard that both the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince wanted to marry her, her heart had inexplicably leaned toward the Fifth Prince!
She didn’t understand herself.
She had always thought she wanted to marry the Third Prince!
Why was she now more worried about the Fifth Prince’s safety after hearing the rumors about the two princes?
Her discomfort was just an excuse; gathering information was her real goal.
Third Yan was no fool.
He had once been the strategist of the Eastern Expedition Army, outwitting the rulers of the Jin Kingdom, Fusang, and Goguryeo.
He could see right through Yan Qingqing’s lies.
She was clearly bluffing!
"In the blink of an eye, our Qingqing is already thirteen," Third Yan mused.
Yan Qingqing, her mind filled with thoughts of the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince, didn’t even hear what her father was saying.
"It seems our Qingqing’s heart is stirring with romance," he teased.
The young girl sat on the chair, her eyes filled with conflict, her head drooping as she sighed deeply.
Her mind was spinning with thoughts of the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince, making her dizzy.
"Fine, I’ll go to the palace and request an imperial decree for your marriage to the Third Prince," Third Yan said casually.
The Third Prince’s Consort?!
Yan Qingqing shot up from her chair, "Why not the Fifth Prince’s Consort?"
Silence... a deathly silence...
Hong Guo nudged Yan Qingqing, who had turned into a statue, thinking she must have misheard, "Miss, what do you mean? Weren’t we supposed to become the Third Prince’s Consort? How..."
Well, that settled it!
His silly daughter had initially wanted to marry the Third Prince, but somehow she had developed feelings for the Fifth Prince without even realizing it.
She thought she still liked the Third Prince, which was why she was so conflicted.
Third Yan had deliberately tested her to figure out which prince she truly liked.
And sure enough, he had uncovered her feelings for the Fifth Prince.
Yan Qingqing’s face turned as red as blood. She glared at her "sly" father, "I’m not talking to you anymore!"
She turned and ran, leaving Hong Guo bewildered as she chased after her.
What had just happened?
What had the master said?
Why had it made the young lady so upset she was on the verge of tears?
When the mistress and her friends returned from shopping, Hong Guo would definitely report that the master had bullied the young lady and made her cry.
A few magpies chirped noisily on the branches. With the arrival of spring, the weather had gradually improved. A warm breeze swept through the trees, and a shower of pink petals fell from the flowering trees in Kunning Palace, creating a picturesque scene.
But the people in Kunning Palace had no time to appreciate the poetic beauty.
The Emperor and Empress were in their study, surrounded by a crowd.
Jing Fengjie knelt on the ground, a bundle of thorns tied to his back, as he presented himself to beg for forgiveness.
"Your humble servant pays his respects..."
"Grand Tutor Jing, please rise!"
Before Grand Tutor Jing’s knees could touch the ground, Tang Shiliang and Little Yuezi supported his arms.
The Crown Prince had also been summoned to Kunning Palace. His expression was solemn as he helped his great-grandfather up, patting his hand reassuringly. He looked at Jing Fengjie with disapproval, "Uncle, I know everything you did was for my sake, but Third Brother and Fifth Brother are my own brothers. They’ve always treated me and our other siblings well. The failed marriage arrangement with the Yan family wasn’t their doing. Qingqing and I only share a sibling bond. My heart belongs to General Meng’s daughter, and Father and Mother are aware of this and have given their approval."
Jing Fengjie’s eyes widened in shock, his mouth hanging open, "But... but..."
He stammered for a while but couldn’t articulate a response.
In his mind, the Crown Prince was the future emperor, and an emperor couldn’t choose his consort based on personal preference. The future empress had to be someone who could provide the greatest political advantage.
But when he saw the Emperor and Empress looking at the Crown Prince with overwhelming affection, he suddenly realized his mistake.
The two sovereigns had already paved a smooth path for the prince. With the nation unified, the people living in peace, and the country prosperous, the Crown Prince didn’t need to consider external factors when choosing his consort. He only needed to follow his heart and seek happiness.
Jing Fengjie finally understood that the Crown Prince, who was deeply loved, didn’t need to scheme or calculate.
Noble Consort, seeing his dazed expression, knew he had come to his senses. He pursed his lips, "You schemed against my Third Brother and Fifth Brother, trying to sow discord among us. But you failed to consider that harmony within the family leads to prosperity. Many dynasties fell due to internal strife. I don’t want to be a heartless, cruel, or incompetent ruler. I need people around me who can guide me back to the right path and remind me not to turn against my own brothers. Uncle, after this, you must leave my side."
Without waiting for Jing Fengjie’s pale reaction, Noble Consort turned to Grand Tutor Jing, "Great-grandfather, you’re getting old. Please don’t worry about us younger generations anymore. You are my great-grandfather and my grand tutor. I will always respect and honor you. I hope you can enjoy your remaining years in peace."
He was subtly reminding Grand Tutor Jing that while others who committed such treasonous acts would face the death penalty, Jing Fengjie, as the eldest grandson of the Grand Tutor, would be spared. However, he couldn’t remain as the Crown Prince’s guard captain.
Even if the Third Prince and Fifth Prince didn’t hold a grudge, Noble Consort had to make his stance clear.
Mistakes were mistakes, and no matter how well-intentioned Jing Fengjie’s actions were, they couldn’t excuse his scheming against the princes.
To Jing Fengjie, this seemingly light punishment felt like the sky had fallen.
From the moment he entered the palace, he had dedicated his life to serving the Crown Prince.
Unfortunately, he had only taken the first half of Grand Tutor Jing’s advice—"Protect the Crown Prince"—and interpreted the latter half—"Assist the Crown Prince"—as "eliminate all threats by any means necessary."
He had used methods the Crown Prince could never accept.
