Chapter 387 How did Lao Liu do that?

Emperor Longqing looked at the bed, then at the imperial physician Zhou kneeling at his feet, and was instantly enraged.

He kicked Doctor Zhou in the shoulder.

"You scoundrel, how dare you impersonate Prince Rui and lie in bed to deceive me!"

Tell me, where has Prince Rui gone?

Physician Zhou knelt on the ground, trembling, but gritted his teeth and refused to utter a single word.

The Longqing Emperor was so angry that his face turned ashen.

Prince Heng was overjoyed, but dared not show it on his face, and pretended to be angry as he glared at Jinbao.

"You dog servant, why don't you tell the truth where your sixth brother went? Father Emperor was worried about his injuries and came to visit him personally."

He's much better; he's vanished without a trace. Where has he gone off to fool around?

Jinbao knelt on the ground and kept kowtowing.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, this servant does not know where Your Highness has gone."

Prince Heng sneered, "Nonsense, how could a perfectly healthy person disappear without a trace?"

Jinbao said with a mournful face, "This servant really doesn't know. This morning I got up late and when I woke up I found no one in bed."

His Highness didn't leave any words or phrases, so he probably just went out for a stroll, right?

Or perhaps he went to the Flying Eagle Guard. His Highness has been cooped up in the mansion for a long time and has long wanted to return to the Flying Eagle Guard.

He also said that he hadn't seen His Majesty for many days and missed him dearly, adding that even if he couldn't see His Majesty right now, it would be good to be able to serve His Majesty.

Jinbao wiped away her tears while playing the victim card for her prince.

"This servant was just about to go out to find Your Highness when His Majesty and Prince Heng arrived. This servant was afraid that His Majesty would blame Your Highness for not taking good care of your injuries and for going out and running around."

So, in a moment of panic, I made Physician Zhou hide under the covers and pretend to be asleep. I was blinded by greed and misunderstood.

His Majesty has personally come to visit Your Highness; naturally, he cherishes Your Highness and would never blame you.

Jinbao's words softened the Longqing Emperor's expression somewhat, leaving only a trace of anger on his face.

"Hmph, the sixth son has always been restless since he was a child. He didn't even know how to properly recuperate after getting injured. I guess he got bored staying in the manor and went out to wander around the streets."

A dark glint flashed in Prince Heng's eyes, but his face showed a worried expression.

"Sixth Brother, this servant is really good with his tongue. It would be good for him to go for a stroll in the streets. This morning, I heard from the Ministry of Justice that the case in Yangzhou has been solved."

Some people said they saw Sixth Brother in Yangzhou. I scolded that person at the time, saying that Sixth Brother was recuperating in the capital, so how could he have gone to Yangzhou?

When I came in and didn't see my sixth brother, my heart skipped a beat. I thought he had really gone to Yangzhou to see Lord Shen.

Emperor Longqing's expression changed slightly as he recalled Pei Yuan's ambiguous feelings for Shen Chu, and how Pei Yuan had gritted his teeth and agreed to the arranged marriage because of Shen Chu.

He began to believe Heng Wang's words to some extent.

The look in his eyes as he looked at Jinbao suddenly turned somewhat gloomy.

"Tell me, when exactly did Lao Liu leave? Did he go to Yangzhou to find Shen Chu?"

Jinbao secretly groaned, but shook his head vigorously like a rattle-drum.

"Your Highness is injured, with such serious injuries, how can you go to Yangzhou?"

"Then tell me, where did Lao Liu go?"

Jinbao gritted his teeth, "This servant really doesn't know where Your Highness went this morning."

The Longqing Emperor was so angry that his beard stood on end.

Prince Heng stepped forward and kicked Jinbao in the waist, "You dog slave, you dare to lie to His Majesty when he asks you a question."

"I see you won't behave unless you're beaten! Guards, give them both twenty lashes each, and see if they confess!"

After Prince Heng finished speaking, he glanced at Emperor Longqing's expression.

The Longqing Emperor sat in his armchair without saying a word.

Prince Heng felt emboldened and ordered the imperial guards to come in, drag Jinbao and Physician Zhou out, and press them onto a stool.

Jinbao's face turned pale, and he secretly groaned inwardly.

My lord, please come back soon.

If you don't come back soon, you'll never see Jinbao again in your life.

After twenty strokes of the cane, Jinbao's heart and liver could hardly bear it.

Jinbao sniffed and looked pitifully at Doctor Zhou, who was also being held down on a stool beside him:

"Doctor Zhou, let's keep each other company in the underworld."

Although Physician Zhou liked to keep a straight face, like a wooden board, at least he was a companion.

Physician Zhou pursed his lips and nodded with a look of resignation.

Prince Heng stood at the door and rebuked:

“If you are willing to tell me where Sixth Brother went now, you can avoid some physical punishment. Otherwise, we will just beat you to death.”

The Imperial Guards dragged over the long clubs used for executions and swung them down.

Jinbao shuddered and instinctively closed his eyes.

Your Highness, Jinbao will serve you again in the next life.

The expected pain didn't come; instead, a carefree, laughing voice rang out from above.

"It's only been a few days since I last saw you, and my fourth brother is already yelling at my servants to fight and kill. Anyone who didn't know better would think that their master was no longer here."

His Highness's voice?

Jinbao was startled and suddenly turned his head to look.

Pei Yuan, dressed in white, held the imperial guards' cane in his hand, bathed in sunlight, looking like a god descending to earth.

Jinbao blinked hard; it really was His Highness who had returned.

Oh dear, that's great! I don't have to die, and I don't have to be stuck in the underworld with that wooden-faced Physician Zhou.

When Prince Heng saw Pei Yuan suddenly appear, he was so startled that he stood up straight abruptly.

"Sixth brother?"

Pei Yuan threw the cane on the ground, put his hands behind his back, and walked over with a smile.

"My fourth brother seems quite surprised to see me?"

A dark glint flashed in Prince Heng's eyes.

It has only been four days since he received the news.

Four days! It takes at least seven days to travel from Yangzhou to the capital. How could the sixth prince possibly be in the capital?

How did he do that?

"You insolent fool, get your ass in here right now!" Emperor Longqing's rebuke echoed from inside the room.

A look of surprise flashed across Pei Yuan's face as he strode inside.

"So Father is here too. Your Majesty, I was unaware of your presence. I apologize for my rudeness."

He knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Emperor Longqing.

Emperor Longqing did not call him to get up, but squinted at him, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.

How badly are you injured?

Pei Yuan smiled and said, "The wound on my leg has completely healed, only the wound on my chest hasn't fully healed yet."

Physician Zhou said that in a few more days, he should be fine.

"Oh?" Emperor Longqing raised an eyebrow. "You rushed out before your injuries had even healed. Tell me, where did you go?"

So, they really went to Yangzhou to find Shen Chu, just like they said? Hmm?

"Going to Yangzhou?" Pei Yuan looked bewildered. "Which bastard said I went to Yangzhou?"

"I'd love to go! Will Father allow me to go?"

Prince Heng's face immediately darkened.

He suspected that Pei Yuan was deliberately insulting him.

The Longqing Emperor sneered, "Just because I told you not to go doesn't mean you won't go? Then tell me, where exactly did you go?"

Pei Yuan paused slightly, "Your subject... Your subject..."

When Prince Heng saw him stammering, he was immediately pleased.

"Sixth brother, stop stammering. If you really go to Yangzhou, it's nothing. Just apologize to Father in person."

Pei Yuan's eyes widened. "So it was you, Fourth Brother, who said I was going to Yangzhou. I thought it was some blind fool spreading rumors."

Prince Heng.....

I suspect he was subtly insulted again.

He suppressed his anger and said coldly, "If you weren't going to Yangzhou, why didn't you just answer Father Emperor's question directly?"

The Longqing Emperor glared at him, "Tell me quickly, where did you go?"

Pei Yuan sighed, gritted his teeth, and said, "Fine, since Father Emperor is asking, I can no longer hide this matter."