Chapter 214 A brutal beating of Qi Shuren...
That night, Qi Chengming slept very restlessly in the Second Prince's quarters.
He tossed and turned on the bed, repeatedly recalling everything and pondering how to avenge the original owner of this body.
The Third Prince was truly wicked from a young age, wicked to the point of being rotten. The two princes of the same age had different fates. The original Second Prince was framed and made an orphan, a nobody, and had to endure such bullying from childhood. He just didn't want to be bullied anymore, which led to the deaths of so many palace servants around him, and he couldn't even protect them.
Now that the Third Prince has been demoted to a commoner and his mother, Consort Rong, has been ordered to remain in her palace, his entire clan has scattered like monkeys in a fallen tree. It seems there's no longer any need for him to report anything. But even a fallen camel is bigger than a horse; Consort Rong still has some people around her.
They must be eliminated, otherwise the safety of the wet nurse and others will be threatened.
Was Consort Rong the only one who said the original owner of the Second Prince's fate was ominous? How much was the Empress involved? Who was the mastermind behind Qi Chengming's poisoning in Liuzhou? Emperor Hongren has already investigated these matters, but he hasn't taken any action since. Whom is he trying to protect?
We need to find a way to dig it out and solve it.
Looking around, he realized he had so many enemies. Qi Chengming disliked this feeling; just thinking about it was upsetting. But it wasn't his fault, and since others had done it, he had to retaliate.
Qi Chengming recalled Emperor Hongren's repeated tests, all stemming from concerns that he might be too soft-hearted. Indeed, since returning to the capital, he had been showered with praise and accolades, and hadn't yet had a chance to establish his authority. This time…
Qi Chengming had an idea in mind, regained his composure, and finally fell asleep.
The next morning, Xiao Chengzi returned to the Second Prince's residence with dark circles under his eyes, his face full of exhaustion and self-reproach as he reported:
"Your Highness, someone really did open the window at night to let the patients in Shan'en Hall freeze! Aunt Anxiang's condition was already critical, and she almost didn't make it through the night. If she gets cold, no amount of medicine will help. I chased after her and subdued a eunuch. When I returned, I saw that Aunt Anxiang's face was bluish-purple, her eyes were bulging, and she was almost... almost strangled."
He knelt down and begged for forgiveness, saying, "It was Xiao Chouzi, who was guarding Shan En Tang, who arrived in time and stopped the perpetrator... No one expected that someone had bribed the palace maids in Shan En Tang."
"Where is he?" Qi Chengming asked, turning over and sitting up on the couch, instantly becoming fully awake.
"Those two are being held outside, and Xiao Chouzi is waiting outside too." Xiao Chengzi said, his head drooping.
Qi Chengming remained noncommittal. He also had some suspicions about the little silkworm he had seen yesterday, wondering whether Consort Rong had bribed two or three people.
"Since those two injured people without cause, let's report to the person in charge and deal with them according to palace rules," Qi Chengming said calmly. "Let Xiao Chou in."
He gave Xiao Chengzi a wink, and Xiao Chengzi understood.
Stepping out of the Second Prince's courtyard, Xiao Chengzi transformed into the imposing Eunuch Cheng, standing tall and proud. He immediately and without hesitation announced the punishment for the two palace maids and eunuchs, making no attempt to conceal anything: "Two strong men, take them to the Department of Punishments. The Prince has instructed that the palace maids and eunuchs who committed murder without cause should be sent to be dealt with according to palace regulations!"
"Yes!" There were so many people in the Second Prince's quarters eager to step forward that two strong palace maids immediately stepped forward, and the little eunuch didn't even have a chance to speak up.
Upon hearing this, the two people who had been forced to kneel at the door turned pale. They struggled and begged for mercy, but were silenced.
To the Censorate?!
It was Prince Rui who gave these instructions; how could they possibly survive?
Doesn't Your Highness intend to detain them and interrogate them about who's behind them? They can confess!
This was completely different from what the two eunuchs and palace maids had imagined. Prince Rui should be very understanding and easy to talk to! The two women were dragged away, tears streaming down their faces.
The people in the town fell silent. Even Xiao Chouzi, who was about to receive her reward, took a breath and entered the door with her head down, holding her breath.
"This is a reward from His Highness for your merits." Xiao Chengzi stuffed a heavy purse into Qi Chengming's hand and acted as his mouthpiece.
"I'm leaving Anxiang in your care." Qi Chengming called him in not to give him any more instructions, but to give him a warning. "In a while, if anyone from the Imperial Court asks you anything, you must tell them everything truthfully."
Little Silkie felt even more uncertain. She knelt on the ground, trembling slightly, and repeatedly replied, "Yes...yes!"
He was just an ordinary eunuch, ostracized and relegated to a place like Shan'en Hall with no hope of advancement. He only hoped to gain the favor of Prince Rui this time... But would the Emperor's men really pay attention to Shan'en Hall?
Little Silkie immediately knew nothing more than to obediently kowtow.
"Go." Qi Chengming didn't say anything more. Xiao Chengzi saw him to the door and whispered a reminder, "If you do your job well, you'll be someone the Prince and His Majesty know. Why worry about not having a good future?"
Little Silkie touched the heavy purse in her arms, grinned broadly and said loyally, "Thank you so much for teaching me, Eunuch Cheng! That aunt will keep it safe!"
From this day forward, Aunt Anxiang will be his life and his future!
With no one else in the main hall, Gan Tang quickly brought out a spring robe for her prince to change into, and also re-tied his hair. Qi Chengming quietly instructed her, "You will remain in the palace to keep an eye on things for the next few days. Once Anxiang has recovered, send her to Consort Xue's palace and then come back. If anyone asks anything in the meantime, feel free to speak freely."
"Yes." Gan Tang was surprised, but answered smoothly without asking why.
Qi Chengming then led Xiao Chengzi out of the palace.
"Let's go—we'll get revenge for Granny Liu!" Qi Chengming sent a message to several places, and then found a nearby restaurant to wait by the window.
Before long, Li Banhui arrived with a string of纨绔 (sons of wealthy and powerful families).
"What does Your Highness want us to do?" Li Banhui rarely acted so confidently. He patted his chest and said with great bravado, "There's nothing in the capital that we can't do! These are my brothers."
Those spoiled brats each gave their names and talked enthusiastically.
Qi Chengming glanced at Li Banhui's overly arrogant and foolish grin and deliberately asked him, "Is there anything you can't do? What if I wanted to beat up Qi, the commoner in the Imperial Clan Court?"
Li Banhui's smile immediately froze, his chest puffed out less, and he sheepishly begged for forgiveness: "Your Highness, please forgive me, I just couldn't control my mouth..."
The other playboys also exchanged glances and racked their brains to try and smooth things over for Li Banhui: "Your Highness, he's just a bit too talkative. When he wants to do something in the capital... Your Highness, just give us your orders!" "...Yes, yes, yes!"
"I'm not joking." Qi Chengming slammed his knuckles on the table and said bluntly, "Qi Shuren's men are still not honest. Even now, they still want to make trouble for my mansion... I'm going to break their hands! Cleanly, completely."
He emphasized the word "clean and tidy".
Li Banhui's expression changed drastically, from hesitant and troubled to furious and indignant. Without even flinching, he replied, "How dare a commoner like you?! Leave this to us!"
The spoiled brats looked at each other, then steeled their hearts and decided to do it!
Qi Chengming not only conveyed this message to Li Banhui, but also had Song Gu deliver it to several court officials who had secretly pledged allegiance to him.
After the former Minister of Rites retired to his hometown, how many remnants of the Third Prince's faction remained? Qi Chengming didn't know, and he couldn't find out in a short time. But matters of the court were handled by the court itself, and those old foxes knew far better than he did.
What Qi Chengming needs to do this time is to wipe out all their manpower!
...
A few days later, before the spring imperial examination began.
The Vice Minister of Revenue suddenly launched an attack in court, accusing a Vice Minister of Rites of condoning the smuggling of exam questions, uncovering evidence against dozens of others. Meanwhile, officials from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau reported that someone was using celestial phenomena to spread misinformation and create a false impression of power, secretly forming a faction with court officials even before entering officialdom…
Emperor Hongren was furious, and severely punished and exiled a group of people to quell the chaos: "This is outrageous! Every year there are those who refuse to give up. Do they think I've been too lenient?! Execute all the ringleaders—in the next couple of days!"
He said angrily.
A strange sight appeared in the capital.
On one side, criminals were being beheaded at the execution ground, their blood flowing like a river, their cries echoing to the heavens. On the other side, half a mile away, scholars lined up in a long queue at the entrance of the examination hall.
The imperial examinations have begun.
On the main street, vendors carried goods on shoulder poles: some sold "Zhuangyuan Cake" (a type of cake for top scholars), others sold "Jidi Porridge" (porridge for those who passed the imperial examinations), and still others sold writing brushes, ink, paper, and even shoes. Families of the scholars accompanying them to the examinations crowded together, eagerly watching them enter the examination hall. Nearby taverns and teahouses were packed.
Qi Chengming and two deputy examiners from the Ministry of Rites first entered the examination hall together.
After setting up the incense table, Qi Chengming led the scholars in bowing down, followed by the scholars bowing to the examiners. The four main gates were then closed. The scholars would then take three exams here, each lasting three days, for a total of nine days. Regardless of wind, rain, floods, or death from illness, the gates would not be reopened until the exams concluded.
From that day on, the entire capital was shrouded in a tense yet exciting atmosphere. Weddings and funerals were postponed, and the playboys who used to frivolously enjoy themselves disappeared from the streets.
Emperor Hongren began to pay close attention to the imperial examination hosted by his two sons.
However, on the very day Qi Chengming entered the examination hall...
Li Banhui led his group of纨绔 (sons of wealthy and powerful families) to cover their faces. While the guards of the small courtyard in the Imperial Clan Court where Qi Shuren was imprisoned were out drinking, they audaciously rushed in and smashed everything up, giving the former Third Prince a good beating.
"Don't forget... we're breaking one hand!" Li Banhui reminded him in a low voice.
Another playboy objected: "...Are you talking about one hand?"
These spoiled brats are good for nothing but are adept at doing bad things, and they never even mention their names.
Li Banhui was stunned for a moment, then looked at the others in bewilderment: "..."
yes.
How many hands did the prince want? It seems he only said he wanted to break his hands, right?
"What's the point of dawdling? Let's just interrupt them to be on the safe side!" another hot-tempered playboy urged.
Li Banhui thought it made sense and repeated, "Yes, it needs to be clean and tidy! Don't make it a mess."
The third prince lay on the ground, bent over like a shrimp, his face flushed with pain. Hearing this, he was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat, shouting in fear, "Who are you people? I am a prince! The emperor's own son! You can't touch me—ah! My hand! How dare you! Ahhh!"
After two sharp cracking sounds, his hands fell limply to the ground, and he rolled around in agony, howling like a banshee.
"What kind of prince are you!" A spoiled brat who loved to spout threats was now using his words with gusto. "You're just a commoner, a commoner that nobody cares about!"
Regardless of whether you feel scared or not, you can't lose face!
The women inside the gate peered in fear, and when they saw the Third Prince's miserable state, they covered the child's eyes and ears tightly, but not one of them came out to beg for mercy.
"Hmph, let's go!" Seeing the mess in the yard, Li Banhui led his men away arrogantly—not forgetting to lock the gate again before leaving to create the illusion that nothing had happened.
Li Banhui felt a little uncertain, but he wasn't afraid.
So what if he hit the Third Prince? He's deeply loved by the Empress Dowager and lives a much better life than the other princes. In his past life, even though he targeted the Seventh Prince, His Majesty turned a blind eye. It's alright!
Despite saying that, the first thing Li Banhui did after changing his clothes at home was to sneak into the palace to seek the Empress Dowager's support...
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