After ordering the guards to escort Yan Qingqing back, the Fifth Prince sighed helplessly.
The fireworks had faded, their brief brilliance giving way to an even darker night sky, much like fleeting splendor that vanishes in the blink of an eye.
He jumped down from the artificial hill, and someone patted his shoulder. "Fifth Prince, wasn’t that Yan Qingqing, the legitimate daughter of the Yan family?"
The person’s tone was mocking, as if he had caught the Fifth Prince in some compromising situation. "Tsk... The old master has always hoped you would marry Yan Qingqing, securing the strength to rival the Crown Prince. If he finds out you’ve already won her over, he’d be overjoyed. Should I personally inform him after the palace banquet? Let him share in the happiness?"
Recognizing the voice, the Fifth Prince knew it could only be Zhu Chongjing, a junior from the Zhu family’s branch, who was about the same age as him and someone he detested.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
The Fifth Prince remained silent, which only emboldened Zhu Chongjing. He stepped in front of the Fifth Prince. "What? You don’t want to marry Yan Qingqing? The Yan family holds the lifeline of Great Yan. Marrying her would make even the Crown Prince defer to you. Once the Emperor... our Zhu family could rise again."
"Shen Mingsheng, why are you putting on airs in front of me? Who do you think you are? If it weren’t for the late Empress adopting you and registering you under her name, you’d have ended up like your short-lived mother, dead in the Palace of Exile. The Zhu family has treated you well. Are you going to betray them now?"
His words treated the Fifth Prince as if he were the Zhu family’s property, to be commanded as they pleased.
"Tsk! Since Yan Qingqing likes you, why not take the next step? Once it’s done, I’ll barge in with some people. Even if the Yan family refuses to marry their daughter to you, her reputation will be ruined. What do you say?"
The more Zhu Chongjing spoke, the tighter the Fifth Prince’s fists clenched, his veins bulging as he reached the edge of his patience.
"Why wait? I think Yan Qingqing is quite taken with you..."
"Insolent!"
Just as the Fifth Prince’s fist was about to send Zhu Chongjing to meet the King of Hell, the Emperor’s furious roar echoed from behind the corner as he strode out.
Shen Mingsheng and Meng Yixuan were startled, turning to see the Emperor storming past and Jiang Xinyue standing still.
"Mother..."
Shen Mingsheng approached. "We..."
The Zhu family had gone too far, treating a noble prince with such disrespect, even calling him by name. It was clear the Fifth Prince had endured much humiliation.
"No need to intervene," Jiang Xinyue smiled at the Crown Prince and Meng Yixuan. "Just watch. His Majesty will handle it."
And it wasn’t just Zhu Chongjing who would face consequences, but also the old master he had mentioned.
The Emperor’s son, even if born to the lowest-ranking palace maid, held a noble status as long as the Emperor favored him. Commoners and officials alike must show respect and never dare to challenge the royal family’s dignity.
Zhu Chongjing’s words had implied that the Fifth Prince should marry Yan Qingqing, even if it meant ruining her reputation, and then wait for the Emperor’s demise to pressure the Yan family into helping the Zhu family overthrow the Crown Prince and install the Fifth Prince on the throne.
Such audacity showed no reverence for the royal family.
This was something the Emperor could not tolerate.
"Slap!"
The Emperor’s strike was swift and decisive.
A resounding slap landed on Zhu Chongjing’s face, sending him spinning in place. His ears rang, and it took him a moment to realize he had just been struck by the Emperor.
"Your... Your Majesty!"
"What did you just call my fifth son? Shen Mingsheng? What kind of lowly scum dares to shout at my prince? The late Empress died because of your family’s rebellion, and now you dare use her to morally blackmail my son? It seems your Zhu family has grown tired of living and wants to relive the experience of being raided, is that it?"
"Your Majesty, spare me! Spare me!"
"Now you beg for mercy? Weren’t you so bold just now? You even thought of ruining my niece’s reputation? How much wine have you had to dare speak such nonsense?"
Shen Mingsheng tilted his head, glancing at Jiang Xinyue. "Why does Father’s scolding sound so familiar? I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere before."
Of course he had. It was because Jiang Xinyue had used the same words to berate certain ministers, and the Emperor, being a diligent "student," had picked it up.
Meng Yixuan, having witnessed the Empress’s formidable temper before, tugged at the Crown Prince’s sleeve and whispered something in his ear. The Crown Prince’s eyes filled with admiration as he looked at his mother.
Indeed...
His mother was truly her father’s daughter!
Her father had dominated the court, berating officials without match, and anyone who dared slight him would be beaten until they cried for mercy.
Even the Grand Tutor, her great-grandfather, had said that her grandfather was incorrigible, his words as sharp as if his ancestors had been cursed, and no one could withstand them.
Shen Mingsheng thought his mother was no less impressive.
The palace banquet soon drew to a close. With several key figures absent, the ministers, having enjoyed their drinks, were now slightly intoxicated.
Zhu Qianyi set down his cup, looking around. He asked his attendant, "Where has Zhu Chongjing run off to this time? If he causes trouble again, I won’t let him off easily."
"Sir, the young master said..."
"Sir Zhu! Sir Zhu, something terrible has happened! You must go to the palace gates at once! Zhu Chongjing... Young Master Zhu Chongjing has been beaten half to death by the Emperor’s men and thrown at the palace entrance!"
"That little brat!"
Zhu Qianyi shoved the table aside and rushed out, still unaware of the gravity of the situation, thinking his nephew had merely offended the Emperor.
"Ouch... Ouch, it hurts so much..."
Zhu Chongjing lay on the ground, his body burning with pain. His backside was sore, and the humiliation made him bury his face in his clothes.
"Disgraceful wretch, get up!"
Zhu Qianyi kicked Zhu Chongjing in the side. Tang Shiliang flicked his horsetail whisk, maintaining a cold smile. "Sir Zhu, His Majesty instructed me to wait here and relay a message: the Fifth Prince is a prince, and even if he’s of low status, he is still the Emperor’s son. He is not a dog raised by your Zhu family."
"No... Eunuch Tang, I..."
"Furthermore, while the Fifth Prince was adopted by the late Empress for a time, after her passing, he was entrusted to the Empress. He has no ties to your Zhu family. When the Fifth Prince went to the royal mausoleum, your family contributed nothing. Now that he’s grown, your family is inciting him to rebel. What exactly are you plotting?"
"Rebel?"
Zhu Qianyi nearly fainted at the word.
He shook his head frantically. "Eunuch Tang, how can you say such a thing? I was personally groomed by the Chief Minister. I am forever loyal to the Crown Prince. How could I possibly..."
Mid-sentence, he froze, his eyes widening as he stared at Zhu Chongjing.
