Chapter 204 Solving the Problem
Emperor Hongren now conducts all his official business in the side hall, so Qi Chengming remained calm as long as he was unaware of the situation and did not express his opinion.
For the next two weeks, he took the sixth prince along to build rapport with him, while the seventh prince, who had recovered from his illness, didn't dare to follow. He just stared longingly at his brothers all day long, unable to do anything about it.
After returning from his maternal grandfather's house that day, Qi Chengming learned two things:
Uncle Yang secretly found out that General Wen Zhongnan from the outskirts of Beijing had been dispatched and had set off early in the morning, leading a troop under the banner of the Luoyang Army towards Zhengzhou, supposedly to suppress the rebels.
Another thing was that Nanny Liu returned unharmed, and neither her two boys nor Xiao Fangzi noticed anything amiss. Her family members fussed over her, asking nothing but concern.
Qi Chengming understood.
As expected, Wen Er received a real assignment, which is why his task page changed.
However, Liu's in-laws are too troublesome; we need to be patient and observe them slowly. Qi Chengming actually dislikes the feeling of being constantly watched and having trouble erupt at any moment, but for now, this is the only option.
Right now, my cousin Wang Shuo's wedding is the most important thing.
If this goes wrong, my cousin's life will be ruined.
Qi Chengming finally got his chance when Emperor Hongren announced the investigation. As usual, he went to the palace that day and deliberately waited for the Sixth Prince to go out on his business.
"How could I trouble you, Second Brother, to come and wait? Just send someone over and tell me that I have something to attend to and I'll grant it immediately." The Sixth Prince had just recovered from a serious illness, and although his face was still somewhat weak and his lips were pale, he was very grateful.
Having barely survived a brush with death, the Sixth Prince wept with joy; life was so wonderful. His Second Brother showered him with concern, clearly seeing this as a golden opportunity to curry favor!
The Sixth Prince has been feeling quite relaxed these past few days, and his previously suppressed ambitions, which were ready to resurface at any moment, have long since vanished.
He just wanted to be a tagalong.
Qi Chengming glanced in the direction the Seventh Prince was looking, then casually put his arm around his sixth brother's shoulder, revealing his true intentions with a smile, and said, "What do you mean there's work to do? We're practically in-laws now, shouldn't we get to know each other better? Let's go out of the palace for a drink together!"
The direction the Seventh Prince was looking towards was deserted and utterly silent. At this hour, he was probably still engrossed in his studies with his grandsons in the Imperial Study. This was also the reason why the Seventh Prince had been looking at them with resentment lately.
When Qi Chengming and the Sixth Prince were unwilling to play with him, they would even stagger their usual meeting times, making it impossible for anyone to see him. They couldn't say anything and could only silently suffer in silence.
"What do you mean by that?" The sixth prince was taken aback, full of doubt.
Qi Chengming carefully observed the boy's expression, not missing the slightest change in his face, and asked him as they walked, "You don't know?"
His question was tantamount to digging a pit for the Sixth Prince; how to deal with him in the future would depend on the Sixth Prince's reaction.
The sixth prince, recalling how his mother had embraced him and wept bitterly after his recovery from illness these past few days, and then busied herself with matters concerning his elder sister, felt a slight change in his expression. His look shifted, a mixture of bewilderment and the unexpected joy of being struck by lightning. He asked uncertainly, "I...know what? Could it be that my elder sister...?"
His dark pupils almost lit up.
He quickly and humbly asked his second brother, "May I ask which talented person is by your side, second brother?"
The sixth prince only knew that his second brother's maternal family was some kind of marquis's family, a family of military merit who had fought their way up on horseback, but it seemed to have declined in recent years and was no longer favored by his father. He didn't know the specifics of what kind of children were in the family.
Seeing his reaction, Qi Chengming finally felt reassured and calmed down. He then turned around and asked with suspicion, "Don't rush to conclusions. It seems to be the Empress's plan? I only know that someone delivered the message not long ago."
Qi Chengming held the Sixth Prince's arm the whole way, speaking in a low voice, making it seem like he was talking normally but making it difficult for passersby to hear him clearly. He focused on describing the official who had delivered the message.
"I don't know the specifics either; you'll have to ask him when you get back, Sixth Brother," Qi Chengming shrugged.
The sixth prince's face grew increasingly joyful, and in his bewilderment, he readily agreed: "Okay!"
He roughly guessed that it was one of his mother's people. His elder sister's fiancé had tragically passed away, a terrible loss, but if they could form a marriage alliance with his second brother's maternal family, both he and his sister would have a better future!
The Sixth Prince hadn't forgotten that he was the legitimate son. If his mother's misdeeds were to come to light and the Empress Dowager were to fall from power, his life would be in grave danger. Throughout history, how many legitimate sons had managed to survive peacefully after vying for the throne? Even if he did survive, who wouldn't want a better life?
If you want to curry favor, stick with the biggest one. That's the best way to get involved with the second brother!
So the sixth prince was very enthusiastic when he heard that.
Qi Chengming coldly observed his appearance, shook his head almost imperceptibly, and sighed inwardly.
This foolish child is indeed not cut out for the struggle for the throne. It seems his ambition is almost worn down, and the final, devastating blow will depend on when that old tyrant, Emperor Hongren, will deliver it.
After the two brothers left the palace and returned to Prince Rui's residence, Qi Chengming asked Aunt Fang to show off her culinary skills and prepare a table full of delicious dishes to be served.
—The incident at Chun Ya Pavilion last time left a deep psychological scar; Qi Chengming and the Sixth Prince probably won't want to go to restaurants for a while.
The recently popular "Spicy Chicken" in Beijing, the new Jiangnan dish "Orange-Stuffed Meat", and the classic old dish Peony Swallow Dish, all served with a chicken soup pot, stewed with dried mushrooms, frozen cabbage, radish, sunflower and other vegetables as accompaniments.
Despite it being the dead of winter, Qi Chengming and the Sixth Prince ate until their heads were steaming, filling the entire flower hall with a warm and pleasant aroma of chili peppers and black pepper.
"Second brother, this place is so comfortable." After the meal, the young man's face was rosy, and he let out a long sigh, looking at Qi Chengming with envy. "When will I be able to leave the palace and build my own residence?"
"It depends on the situation," Qi Chengming said, half-jokingly asking, "You're willing to spend that much?"
Aside from the fact that he was initially excluded from the line of succession due to being disliked, which of the other princes couldn't compete for the throne? Especially the sixth prince, the legitimate son of the empress; when it was announced that he would leave the palace to establish his own residence, Emperor Hongren had completely declared that this son was not qualified.
The sixth prince, whose drowsy state had been soothed by the food, suddenly perked up. He had been wanting to express his opinion for a long time, so he picked up his teacup and said seriously on the topic, "I don't have any grand wishes. I just want to have my own mansion, do some errands, and hear the Emperor praise me a couple of times."
He spoke the second half of his sentence with a hint of embarrassment, as if he were about to unload a heavy burden: "If my elder sister's marriage is really settled, I will have no more worries! I will go to talk to Father Emperor right away."
The sixth prince wore a somewhat weak but resolute expression, anticipating that he would likely be severely beaten by his enraged father, or suffer for some time. But he genuinely believed that as long as his second brother was there to protect him, he could reassure his brother by showing that he had no ambition.
Otherwise... otherwise, the things the Empress Dowager has done are on the verge of exploding at any moment. The Sixth Prince doesn't even know how long it has been since he had a good night's sleep!
He also came to terms with himself. This wasn't even because he had done anything wrong, yet he was already like this. He felt he couldn't compare to the ruthless Third Prince, let alone his quite capable Second Brother.
Qi Chengming was stunned.
"No, don't go directly to Father Emperor about this. He won't agree until the final candidate is chosen," Qi Chengming interjected, stopping him. "I understand what you mean completely, that's settled then."
The boy, who had been staring at him expectantly, finally relaxed his shoulders and began to drink his tea with satisfaction.
Qi Chengming felt a cold sweat break out on his back.
He realized that his sixth brother, for some reason, genuinely wanted to surrender. But as the saying goes, "The flowers you plant with care may not bloom, while the willows you plant without intention may thrive." If the sixth prince truly maintained this unassuming and simple-minded demeanor and went to Emperor Hongren...
—That resonated perfectly with Emperor Hongren.
There's nothing wrong with the eldest son maintaining the status quo.
On the contrary, Qi Chengming, the popular prince who became a hot commodity as soon as he returned to the capital and has been repeatedly feared by the emperor, may be about to have his career ruined.
It can only be said that life is unpredictable.
Not long after, just as the Sixth Prince was about to take his leave to go to the outskirts on official business, Steward Hua hurriedly came over to report: "Your Highness, someone from the palace has arrived."
The one who came was the Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Household, who was also an acquaintance of Qi Chengming.
With a somewhat stiff smile, Dai Xiyu read out the imperial edict, inviting the two princes to the palace for an audience: "Your Highness, Sixth Prince, please."
Qi Chengming was not surprised at all. In the time it took him to eat a meal, the old eunuch on Emperor Hongren's side had reported twice, thoroughly investigating everything that had happened between him and the Sixth Prince these past few days, including the Empress's intention to arrange a marriage with the Marquis of Weiyong's family. The old emperor's veins bulged as he listened.
Calling them over now is a test, isn't it?
The sixth prince, still curious, tried to inquire: "Eunuch Dai, did Father Emperor say what he wanted to do before summoning us?"
Dai Xiyu had been smiling perfectly, but when he glanced at Prince Rui, who was silent but also looking curious, his face fell. He still whispered, "This servant heard that His Majesty was in a bad mood and had people investigate something... about brotherly love and respect."
Qi Chengming relaxed his brows, accepting this belated gesture of goodwill. With Cui Anshi and the surveillance already in place, Dai Xiyu's role was essentially diminished, but she still gave him a friendly look.
The Sixth Prince's face darkened. He didn't think of anything else, but stood up sullenly: "Could it be that the Seventh Prince is complaining again? He almost killed us all, and now he has the nerve to complain?!"
Steward Hua went to prepare the carriage, while Qi Chengming and the Sixth Prince walked towards the door. Qi Chengming saw that he hadn't yet reacted and didn't point it out. The current situation was perfect for seeing Emperor Hongren; revealing the truth would only make things worse.
The two brothers were led to kneel before the emperor.
The sixth prince glanced around but couldn't find the seventh prince. Completely bewildered, he knelt down obediently.
Emperor Hongren was unusually kind and benevolent today. He excused the two from their formalities and had a eunuch bring in two chairs, one for Qi Chengming and one for the Sixth Prince. He then began to chat casually with the Sixth Prince, asking him questions first:
"How many shops are there in the suburbs?" "How many acres of land have been approved for construction this past ten days?"
If one were unaware of this, they would think that Emperor Hongren was simply showing habitual concern for the current situation of his official duties.
The Sixth Prince answered each question, and Qi Chengming listened respectfully from the side, but inwardly he suspected that he was probably just there to be a foil. Of the two of them, the Sixth Prince, being less cunning, was naturally the one more suitable to be tested.
Sure enough, Emperor Hongren soon got to the point: "I've heard that you two brothers have been drinking together a lot lately? You've just recovered, so you should take good care of yourselves!"
These words made no mention of the seventh prince, who was suspected of complaining; they were entirely the words of a loving father. The sixth prince had long since calmed down and was quite pleased. Although cautious, he still spoke well of Qi Chengming, trying to clarify: "Father, you may not know, but my second brother is very sensible. These days, he mostly takes me to the outskirts to observe the people's livelihood, or we play together at home with his study companions—we rarely drink alcohol."
"Oh," Emperor Hongren responded inscrutably, "I didn't know you guys had become so close! Your seventh brother mentioned a few times in the Imperial Study that he wanted to go with you to broaden his horizons."
The sixth prince was annoyed by this, especially when he thought about how the seventh prince was already expecting to run errands and perform official duties before he was even old enough. What did that mean? Which prince hadn't obediently waited until he was thirteen?
Remembering that his second brother had forbade him to make any presumptuous requests, such as establishing a residence outside the palace, he simply expressed his loyalty tactfully with a smile, saying, "My relationship with my second brother is just that—a good one! How can it be the same as my relationship with my seventh brother?"
His words implied a future in-law relationship between the two, suggesting an unusual and intimate connection.
Emperor Hongren was furious upon hearing this and immediately roared, "Nonsense!"
Well, he said, why did the cold-hearted and aloof Erzi suddenly change his usual behavior and become close to Liuzi?
This son, accustomed to the hardships of palace life, only showed politeness to his brothers. His willingness to share duties with them, showing both a clear sense of right and wrong and a magnanimous heart, was enough. How could Emperor Hongren be unaware of the infighting among his princes? It was the unexpected, overly close relationship between the second and sixth princes that was truly suspicious!
in law?
If Emperor Hongren had initially been somewhat tempted to dote on his princess, seeing the interaction between his two sons—and witnessing the consequences of their marriage alliance—left him only with rage.
"Listen to the nonsense you're spouting!" Emperor Hongren roared, his face dark with fury. He seized the opportunity to lash out, "Kneel down before me! Your seventh brother has always treated you with utmost respect. How has he ever wronged you? You're still the elder brother!"
He then turned his attention to Qi Chengming and berated him mercilessly: "And you! You're always leading your younger brother astray, loafing around outside. Is being a prince just for enjoying yourself?! You don't even do your duties anymore? All you know how to do is take care of your sixth brother! What about your seventh brother?"
Qi Chengming hurriedly knelt down in fear and trepidation to receive the reprimand. He saw that the Sixth Prince next to him was pale with fright, full of grievances, and tears were almost welling up in his eyes.
He felt much better.
Wang Shuo's cousin's marriage is now settled.
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Author's Note: I'm back! I'm back again!
I don't know if it's because I wrote too much in one go last time, but I immediately got sick again. I had laryngitis and fever, which turned into a cold, sinusitis, and bronchitis. I also lost my sense of smell. I went to the hospital for a check-up today. I hope I won't have to be hospitalized again.
I get similar illnesses every day, and I can't tell the difference. Maybe my immune system is just too weak.
Unfortunately, even if I wanted to rise up, I couldn't.
Since suffering from several serious illnesses last year, and taking a complete break from writing for several months at the beginning of this year, I haven't fully recovered. I also don't have the means to save up enough money to properly care for myself for several years. So, I'll continue with this low-frequency update schedule, writing only when I feel better. I'm truly sorry everyone.
(Looking back, I was always worried about the data. Now I realize that if updates can't be maintained, of course the data won't be good. It's never been the content that's the problem qwq.)
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