Unexplained conflict

Li Yunye, after returning from the palace, locked himself in his room for over ten days, feigning illness and refusing to attend court for several days. Anyone with a discerning eye knew something was amiss. Li Yunrui frowned, looking at Shen Qinghang sternly, and asked, "What did you say? Yunye went to see Consort Xiao? Who gave him permission! Investigate! He's foolish; he's clearly in the eye of the storm, yet he doesn't avoid suspicion. Bring me the guards from the gate. I want to question them myself."

Seeing Li Yunrui's anger, Shen Qinghang had no choice but to agree. As he was about to leave, he saw Li Yunheng already standing at the door. Li Yunheng smiled at him, "Lord Shen, what's the rush? I'd like to participate too." Shen Qinghang glanced back at Li Yunrui, then cupped his hands and said, "Of course... I'm going home. If His Highness Prince Cheng has nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Seeing Shen Qinghang leave, Li Yunheng walked into the house with his hands behind his back, and sat down opposite Li Yunrui at the table. "Brother, when was the last time we sat facing each other like this? It seems like it was a few years ago at Lishan Academy. Time flies, you're already married."

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Li Yunrui's eyes flashed coldly, his brows furrowed, and his face showed great displeasure. "I just wanted to remind our eldest brother that fortunes can change in an instant. Don't let the position of Crown Prince cloud your judgment and cause you to lose your way. Oh, by the way, Third Brother went to see Consort Xiao a while ago; Consort Xiao is in such a pitiful state."

"Nonsense! Before Lady Xiao was imprisoned, I instructed her to treat her well."

"You did give instructions, but did you go to check on her? Did you check on Consort Xiao's well-being, whether she was being bullied, or if she was facing any difficulties? You didn't go, but Third Brother did. When he saw his mother in that state, what do you think Third Brother will think of you, Your Highness?" Li Yunheng's face remained expressionless, but Li Yunrui sensed a hint of provocation in his eyes.

"Do I really need to supervise something I personally instructed you to do well?" Li Yunrui clearly didn't trust Li Yunheng; in his view, Li Yunheng's words were only three parts truth and seven parts falsehood. However, he had already spoken, and Li Yunheng's expression hadn't changed at all, which made Li Yunrui somewhat uneasy. Li Yunheng crossed his arms, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Brother, if you're really so confident, why don't you go and see for yourself! Oh, and wear something warm; I can't guarantee that Consort Xiao won't do anything outrageous."

Hearing Li Yunheng's words, Li Yunrui could no longer remain seated. She abruptly stood up, then, feeling it was beneath her dignity, took a deep breath before hastily leaving her seat. Once out of Li Yunheng's sight, Li Yunrui frantically ran, bumping right into Shen Qinghang, who was returning with the gatekeepers.

"Your Highness? Why are you so flustered? Has something happened?" Shen Qinghang was caught off guard by Li Yunrui's collision, but he still managed to remain composed. He turned to look at the two soldiers and said sternly, "You two step back ten paces and turn your backs to them." Then he pulled Li Yunrui aside. "Your Highness... did Prince Cheng say something to you?"

Li Yunrui raised his hand to rub his aching temples and sighed, "I've been so busy these past few days, I can't calm down. His meddling always gets me flustered. I'm afraid this is exactly what Li Yunheng wanted. Never mind, I need to go see Consort Xiao now."

"Your Highness, Your Highness, Your Highness! Wait a minute!" Seeing the Crown Prince about to leave, Shen Qinghang quickly grabbed him, nearly stumbling in the process. "Listen to me first. You'd better not go to Consort Xiao's place yet. I just came from there, so I went in to take a look, and it was a terrible sight! Everyone knows you said you would treat Consort Xiao well, and that the guards were incompetent and should be executed, but if you go... people will say you... that you secretly manipulated things, that you have a guilty conscience!"

"Where did this underhanded operation come from? Why do you say it's because you have a guilty conscience?" Li Yunrui frowned. "If it's really as you say, then I'm going even more. I want to see who's spreading rumors. I'm upright and have nothing to fear. Why should I be afraid of a few rumors?"

Shen Qinghang wanted to say something more, but Li Yunrui had already walked far away. He could only slowly lower his raised arm, and the words that were about to come out of his mouth could only turn into a sigh.

As Li Yunrui arrived at Xiao Wan'er's palace, he heard a pitiful scream from inside. Slowly pushing open the door, he saw the courtyard in complete disarray. He remembered visiting Xiao Wan'er's palace as a child, when she was favored and the palace was filled with beautiful flowers. Now, however, it was a scene of decay and decay. The stone bricks were covered in moss, likely due to neglect, and cobwebs clung to the rafters. Li Yunrui frowned, surveying his surroundings. He had clearly instructed the guards, so why was it in such a state? It seemed necessary to return and give those greedy, opportunistic guards a thorough interrogation. Just as Li Yunrui was considering how to punish the guards, he saw Xiao Wan'er stumble out. Seeing Li Yunrui standing there, her eyes instantly reddened, and she pointed at him with her thin, bony finger, exclaiming, "Who do we have here! Isn't this His Highness the Crown Prince?"

"Your Highness Xiao," Li Yunrui bowed respectfully to Xiao Wan'er. This address caused Xiao Wan'er to burst into laughter, barely managing to steady herself by leaning on the stone table. "Your Highness Xiao? This servant cannot bear such a title! Look around here! Even the servants in my mother's household live better than this. Li Yunrui, don't think I'm easy to bully. I have a son. Your position as Crown Prince is in jeopardy. Ah! Soon, my son will become Crown Prince and save me. As for you! And your mother, I curse you both to die a horrible death!"

“Third Prince wouldn’t do that,” Li Yunrui shook his head as he watched Xiao Wan’er rambling incoherently. “Your Highness, I, Li Yunrui, would never do anything to betray anyone. Third Prince has never sought fame or fortune in his life, and you are pushing him step by step into a desperate situation. You were imprisoned in the palace before because you were in the wrong. To put it bluntly, I was the one who overheard those words. If Father had heard them, do you think you would still be standing here talking to me? Your Highness, I often came here to play when I was a child, so we have some affection for each other. I gave you plenty of face that day. As for why someone bullied you behind my back, I will find out for myself. Also, if Third Prince breaks the rules and sneaks to see you again, don’t stir up trouble or sow discord. I think you know how Consort Yu and her son died in the previous dynasty. Just stay in the palace obediently. No matter how Father punishes you, at most it will be a matter of mother leaving and son staying. You should think it over carefully!”

After Li Yunrui finished speaking, he turned and left, followed by Xiao Wan'er's pitiful screams: "Li Yunrui! Crown Prince! Hahahaha! I wish you boundless imperial power and endless blessings! Hahahahahaha!"

Li Yunrui closed Xiao Wan'er's palace gate, then turned around and saw Li Yunye. Li Yunrui stepped forward and said, "Yunye, I've said it many times..."

"You went to see my mother?" Before Li Yunrui could finish his reprimand, Li Yunye interrupted him, his voice icy and devoid of any emotion. "How do you think my mother is doing there? I remember you told me to take good care of her."

"I...I'm sorry, Yun Ye, I didn't expect this either," Li Yunrui said, somewhat caught off guard by the question. "But don't worry, I've already taken the guards back for questioning, and I will prove my innocence."

"Innocence? Li Yunrui, you grew up in the deep palace, surrounded by all sorts of people. Don't you know the greed and darkness of human nature? Do you think they would treat an unfavored concubine imprisoned by the Crown Prince well? Li Yunrui, don't tell me you don't know! You do know! But you've never come back! Never come back to see my mother! And now you're telling me you're innocent? Where is the person who swore to me a month ago that he would treat my mother well? The people around you are so smart, surely no one advised you! But what did you do? Did you listen?!" After listening, Li Yunrui looked at Li Yunye in disbelief. His third brother had always been good-tempered, but now, standing before him, he was so aggressive. This made Li Yunrui inexplicably flustered. Li Yunrui waved his hand, "Yunye, listen to me. I have never made an enemy of you on the road to seizing the throne. Your mother was imprisoned because she was in the wrong first. I didn't want you to come see your mother because I wanted you to sever your relationship with Consort Xiao, so that at least when Father Emperor returns, it won't implicate you. As for the fact that Consort Xiao has been bullied, give me time, and I will investigate it thoroughly!"

Li Yunye found Li Yunrui's flustered attempts to defend himself laughable and retorted, "Wrong first? Then let me ask you, wasn't it wrong of you to compete with the Fourth Prince for the throne? When you visited your mothers in the palace, they gave you plenty of advice, didn't they? Wasn't that wrong? You colluded with ministers in court, wasn't that wrong? Everyone made mistakes, so why are you only targeting my mother? Many things can be overlooked, but you're so stubborn and persistent." Then Li Yunye walked to Li Yunrui's side and whispered in his ear, "Don't worry, Li Yunrui. You don't need to apologize, and you don't need to punish those two guards. I don't want anything." "But this crown prince position... I'm determined to have it. Don't blame me; blame yourself. You only have yourself to blame!" Li Yunye then straightened up and brushed past Li Yunrui. After a few steps, he stopped and said to Li Yunrui, "Ah! Li Yunrui, I forgot to tell you, my elder sister is coming to see you soon! I heard that the person who conspired with my mother is Huaitang. He's still in your jail, and I heard he's a bit mentally unstable. Elder brother! Don't forget to tell my elder sister that you're following the rules; there's no way you can show leniency or let bygones be bygones. If you turn a blind eye, you'll be letting down the people of the world."

Li Yunrui clenched his fist, staring at Li Yunye's retreating figure, then punched the palace wall.