The second prince was shocked: "W-what?"
Chu Yuanchi sneered:
"Don't you understand? Sixth brother was unhappy with ninth brother because of the Chongyang Festival and secretly drugged me. At that time, ninth brother had already reconciled with sixth brother. It was you who sent someone to complain to father, causing sixth brother to be confined for three months. Second brother, you forgot about something that happened only in the first half of the month?"
The second prince looked as if he was just passing through a tourist attraction, which was quite interesting.
When the truth is revealed, all explanations seem futile and even embarrassing.
He moved the corners of his mouth, but for a long time he couldn't come up with any excuse.
He did it.
It was he who filed the complaint that day.
The eldest prince must not stand idly by when the sixth prince is punished. As long as something happens to the eldest prince, he can become the emperor's eldest son and have a great chance of becoming the crown prince in the future.
"Big Brother, you...you misunderstood me...I..."
Chu Yuanchi sneered and interrupted:
"I have been on guard against you all these years. If you still want to save your life, you'd better be smart with your status as a prince!"
"Report—"
At this time, an informant came running over.
Just as he was about to report the news, Chu Yuanchi said coldly: "What are you still doing here?"
The second prince's face turned pale: "Big brother..."
"go out!"
He pursed his lips, feeling hopeless.
His biological mother died early, and he has no power or influence, so he is no match for the eldest prince. Now that the two of them have fallen out, his only hope is that these rumors can bring down the eldest prince, so that he can have a chance to come to the fore.
After the second prince left, the spy knelt on the ground, panting anxiously:
"Master, there is an urgent news from the palace. The emperor was furious when he heard the rumors in the city. He sent the Dali Temple to investigate immediately and... he also summoned the fifth prince back to the palace and ordered him to assist in governing the country."
"What did you say?"
Since the fifth prince broke his legs when he was young, he has been raised outside the palace, unwelcome and like a chess piece.
But now the emperor has summoned him back to the palace to assist in governing the country!
The emperor wants to use him!
Chu Yuanchi felt dizzy and took three or four steps back before falling into a chair.
No one could have imagined that after so many disputes and struggles among the princes, in the end, it would be the disabled Fifth Prince who would gain the greatest advantage.
How could he accept this?
How could his years of hard work be wasted on a disabled person?
Chu Yuanchi slowly clenched the folded paper, which was crumpled into a ball and then crushed tightly.
Father, you forced me to do this!
-
The Imperial Palace.
A Yu pushed the wheelchair and came out of the imperial study. The man was dressed in clean and simple clothes, which seemed to have nothing to do with the dirtiness and darkness of the palace. He was spotless.
"Master, are we going to live in the palace from now on?" asked Ayu.
Chu Yeli smiled faintly: "Maybe."
Nothing to look forward to.
"Go check on my ninth brother."
The news that the disabled fifth prince was recalled to the palace shocked everyone. All the officials were at a loss for a moment, trying to guess the emperor's intentions and were careful not to take sides.
The officials who had supported the eldest prince before were also scared. Now that the eldest prince's position has fallen, they have not been implicated. They are already blessed.
Chu Li was very happy to see Chu Yeli coming:
"Fifth Brother!"
"Xiaojiu," Chu Yeli stretched out his hand, hugged her, and said with a smile, "I never thought that one day, we would be able to meet in the palace."
Chu Li squatted in front of the wheelchair and felt that there was a bit of compassion in what he said.
He said, "Father loves every one of his children, so he will not abandon my fifth brother."
"Yes, my father loves you very much, so I asked him to allow you to leave the palace and set up your own residence early, and he agreed."
Chu Li widened his eyes in disbelief and almost stuttered.
Did the emperor agree to let her leave the palace and set up her own residence?
Did she hear it right?
In the past two years, she begged and pleaded with her father, but his father would not allow her to leave the palace and set up her own household until she was eighteen years old. However, she never expected that her fifth brother would fulfill her wish!
The wish she longed for in her dreams!
Chu Li felt complicated: "Fifth Brother, you haven't been back to the palace for more than ten years. You could have used this grace to ask for something else. Why..."
"I have lived outside the palace for many years, and only Xiaojiu comes to visit me from time to time."
Chu Yeli patted the back of her hand gently, "I like Xiaojiu, so I am naturally willing to do something for Xiaojiu within my ability."
"The eunuch from the Ministry of Internal Affairs should be here soon."
Chu Li had mixed feelings in his heart, and he took the initiative to invite Chu Yeli to have dinner together in Zhaolan Palace. During the meal, Eunuch Zhang from the Ministry of Internal Affairs indeed arrived.
"Greetings to the two princes."
Eunuch Zhang bowed and got straight to business:
"Ninth Prince, the Emperor has issued an order to build your mansion in the Golden Sparrow District of the city. Here are the blueprints for your review."
He waved his hand, and the young eunuch trotted forward and handed it to him with both hands.
Chu Li's eyes lit up.
Her mansion!
She can finally leave the palace and live alone!
The mansion on the drawing was quite standard, similar to the mansions of other princes, with similar specifications.
"Eunuch Zhang, how long will it take to be completed?"
Eunuch Zhang smiled while pinching his orchid fingers:
"It's already winter, and the Chinese New Year is in two months. There are many things to do during the New Year, so I'm afraid you can't move in until after the New Year at the latest."
Just one year.
She can wait.
So many years have passed.
Chu Li rolled up the blueprint and looked at Chu Yeli who was sitting opposite him with a hungry look. Just as his mouth was about to flatten, Chu Yeli raised his eyebrows and said, "Don't cry."
Suddenly, several young eunuchs couldn't help laughing.
The corners of her mouth became even more flat.
Who's going to cry?
You’re not a child anymore.
"Eunuch Zhang, go and get busy. I trust you to do your job. When the mansion is completed, I will reward you handsomely."
"Thank you, Ninth Prince!"
Eunuch Zhang led the two young eunuchs back.
Chu Li picked up the serving chopsticks and picked up a lot of dishes for Chu Yeli. Not knowing how to repay him, he decided to help him find a marriage:
"Fifth brother, what have you thought about what I mentioned last time? My cousin really likes you and has admired you for many years."
Moreover, Wen Zhixi is a dignified, gentle and polite woman. If she is married, she will definitely be a good match for the family.
Chu Yeli shook his head and said, "I am disabled and I dare not mislead her."
"My cousin knows this, but she still insists on what she wants. Her love for you is not just superficial."
"Does she like my insides?"
Chu Li was stunned.
"Nonsense." He tapped her forehead with his raised index finger. "Eat."
"Fifth Brother..."
"Whenever you get married, I will get married."
That won't work?
I'm afraid it will be difficult for her to get married in her life.
Besides, he treated her well, and she would feel uncomfortable if she didn't do something to repay him.
then.
The next day.
During the morning court session, she squatted outside the Dacheng Hall, waiting for the civil and military officials to leave. From a distance, she saw the young eunuch pushing a wheelchair and pushing Chu Yeli out. There were two officials beside him:
"The Fifth Prince has some tricks."
"In the past, we underestimated the Fifth Prince."
Judging from their tone and expressions, they seemed to be sneering and mocking.
Chu Li stepped forward and asked: "What are you talking about?"
Chu Yeli was surprised: "Ninth brother, why are you outside the Dacheng Hall?"
The officials in the court are so powerful. People are not what they seem. They are all smiling tigers. They appear gentle and friendly on the surface, but in fact, they all have their own ulterior motives.
The princes have been fighting for years, and finally, a disabled fifth prince emerges and is the most favored by the emperor. Who could have understood this?
Who is convinced?
At the court this morning, many people thought that the Fifth Prince was just here to take advantage, which was despicable.
Chu Li walked over with his head held high: "What were you two talking about just now? I couldn't hear clearly from the distance, how about we discuss it together?"
The two officials' expressions changed slightly.
The fifth prince's biological mother has passed away. He has no power and no authority, so he is easy to bully. But the ninth prince is different. No one dares to offend him.
After saying a few roundabout words, they immediately left.
Chu Li sneered.
"Ninth brother, why do you have to argue with them?"
"Fifth brother has lived outside the palace for a long time, and his temperament is kind, but too gentle. The more you are like this, the more they will bully you."
Chu Yeli's eyes were bright, like the crescent moon and stars:
"With my ninth brother here, no one can bully me."
Chu Li puffed out his chest.
Isn’t it?
As long as she is here, these people will never be able to bully the fifth brother.
After the court session, Chu Yeli had to go to the imperial study to discuss matters, so Chu Li stood outside and chatted with two young eunuchs, laughing from time to time, as they talked about some secrets of the palace.
The palace servants usually had a lot of work to do and came into contact with many people, so many gossips were spread among them.
Chu Li joined in and naturally had a lot of fun listening to the gossip.
But not long after, the eldest prince arrived.
"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Chu Li looked up, his smile faded a little: "Big Brother."
"My ninth brother is here too."
Chu Yuanchi walked forward and wanted to enter the imperial study, but Chu Li spoke first: "Father is discussing matters with several ministers inside, I'm afraid he doesn't have time to see my eldest brother. Also, I heard that there have been a lot of rumors outside the palace recently. Have you dealt with them?"
Chu Yuanchi paused slightly.
Those rumors were not groundless and were very difficult to deal with, so the emperor took his anger out on him and exempted him from the morning court for half a month.
For this reason, he could only come to the imperial study and explain to the emperor.
"Rumors are just rumors. Don't believe them."
"But there's an old saying that goes, there's no smoke without fire."
Chu Yuanchi said: "Being in the royal family, you are always in the quagmire of right and wrong. If you are not careful, you will be doomed. There are many people waiting to step on you."
He seemed innocent in saying this.
In the past, Chu Li would have believed him.
But after what happened to Wen Ya and the evil deeds that were exposed, she no longer dared to look directly at this dignified and gentle elder brother.
"If the Emperor believes in my eldest brother, he will definitely summon him. The Emperor is currently discussing matters and probably doesn't want anyone to disturb him."
Chu Yuanchi stopped and stared at Chu Li for a long while.
Fang said, "Ninth brother seems to have changed."
"My eldest brother, you are overthinking."
"I will soon marry Miss Wen. We are a family, ninth brother."
Chu Li was surprised: "What do you mean by that, my eldest brother? If you don't marry Wen Ya, then we are no longer a family? Aren't we brothers?"
Chu Yuanchi didn't say anything. He looked at her for a moment, then turned and left.
Chu Li stood there, the curve of his lips slowly retracting. Several young eunuchs sensed that the atmosphere was not right, and naturally they did not dare to speak as happily as before.
Not long after, Chu Xiling came again.
"Third brother."
"Ninth brother, I heard that fifth brother was in the imperial study, discussing matters with father?"
"yes."
Because the Fifth Prince is suddenly highly regarded by the Emperor, they all can't sit still, right?
No one wants to watch a disabled person jump out and take advantage of others, right?
"I just wanted to pay my respects to my father." Chu Xiling smiled gently and asked the eunuch to go in and report.
Chu Li let him do as he pleased. She was just playing outside the imperial study and couldn't control him anyway.
However, I asked out of curiosity:
"The funeral of the Third Prince's wife has finally ended. My Third Prince, please accept my condolences. I wonder how the Dali Temple's investigation into the murderer is going?"
"Since my Third Brother loves the Third Prince's Consort so much, he must be paying attention to the progress of the Dali Temple day and night, not wanting to eat or drink, and not caring about anything else. He must be wishing to stay in the Dali Temple every day to catch the murderer as soon as possible. I wonder how distressed my father must be when he sees the deep love between you and your wife."
Chu Xiling paused.
He had not been to the Dali Temple for several days after the burial of the Third Prince's wife. Now, after hearing what Chu Li said, he was wrong.
He pursed his lips and said nothing.
After the young eunuch reported, he went into the imperial study, greeted, and left quickly.
Chu Aotian came running over, "Ninth brother!"
He had been looking for her all the way.
"Ninth brother, I have been looking for you for half a day. Why are you standing outside the imperial study like a stone lion guarding the door? Come on, let's go to the horse race today."
"No."
She declined bluntly.
"Why?" Chu Aotian couldn't believe it. "Don't you like riding horses? We can ride to the suburbs, go fishing in the lake, and pick some fruits in the mountains. Isn't this what we loved to do the most in the past?"
That was in the past.
Although Chu Li likes it very much now.
But she couldn't leave.
The fifth prince is alone in the palace, helpless. If she is not there, those people will definitely bully him.
"Eighth Brother, go and have fun. I have something important to do now."
"What's up?"
"It's a very important thing."
"For example, squatting here like a stone lion?"
Chu Li glared at him. If it weren't for the fact that no quarreling was allowed outside the imperial study, she would have fought with him.
Finally, after some bluffing, Chu Aotian was coaxed away. After waiting for a quarter of an hour, Chu Yeli finally came out.
He was very surprised when he saw Chu Li.
She is still here.
The two of them had breakfast together. While he was busy, Chu Li played nearby, and they had dinner together in the evening.
This happened for several days in a row.
However, over the past few days, officials in the court have complained about the Fifth Prince, believing that he has been raised outside the palace, has not received a good education, does not have sufficient ability, and should not be valued by the Emperor.
During dinner, the atmosphere at the table was quite solemn.
Chu Li heard the criticism outside, but how could one person win over so many people? Looking at Chu Yeli's heavy face, he comforted him:
"Father thinks highly of my fifth brother, so he must be capable. Don't worry about what they say."
"Um?"
Chu Yeli raised his eyes, his brows a little sleepy, and smiled softly:
“I’m not thinking about that.”
"Huh? What is that?"
"Father has been coughing badly over the past two days. I don't know what's wrong, and the imperial physician can't figure it out. I'm worried about his health."
So that's what it was.
Chu Li said, "With the Imperial Hospital here, those imperial doctors are not just sitting there doing nothing."
“Oh no!”
At this time, outside, Gou Ba ran in hurriedly:
"Oh no, my Lord, something happened in the Yangxin Palace, the Emperor vomited blood and fainted!"
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