Chapter 103
In a side room in the backyard, Xu Xuan kicked open the door and saw a face that was surprised and then turned to horror.
Biluo stood there, her mouth agape. Before she could speak, Xu Xuan had already closed the door and bolted it shut.
He walked towards Biluo step by step, a smile playing on his lips, and slowly asked, "Where is Chen Yao?"
Biluo couldn't help but back away, acting warily like a frightened little animal, and instead of answering, she asked, "You...you didn't leave?"
Xu Xuan suddenly laughed, "I left, and now I'm back. I'm sorry to have disappointed you."
Biluo swallowed hard and remained silent.
Xu Xuan then patiently asked, "Where is Chen Yao?"
I won't tell you.
After she finished speaking, her eyes darted around, her waist twisted to one side, and she was about to run towards the window.
Trying to run away?
No sooner said than done, Xu Xuan took a step forward, grabbed the woman's arm, and with a strong tug, Bi Luo fell to the ground with a cry of "Ah!", clutching her shoulder and trembling.
Xu Xuan looked down at her coldly, gritted her teeth and cursed, "You have quite the nerve, maid. Like master, like servant."
"They're all despicable people!"
He crouched down, reached out and grabbed Biluo by the neck, forcing her to ask, "Where is the token for entering the palace?"
Biluo's eyes suddenly widened, her cheeks flushed red from lack of air, but she remained stubbornly silent.
Xu Xuan grew impatient. Seeing a fruit knife on the table, she reached out, grabbed it, and held it against Bi Luo's neck. "Tell me, where is Shen Yao's ivory token?"
Biluo was so frightened that tears streamed down her face, and she shook her head hesitantly.
Xu Xuan could no longer tolerate it. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he stabbed her in the neck.
However, the force was controlled extremely well, allowing Biluo to feel pain and the loss of life, but not to the point of immediate death.
Biluo clutched her neck in disbelief, blood trickling through her fingers and into her sleeves; she nearly fainted.
Xu Xuan continued to threaten, "You have half an hour left."
He threw the blood-stained knife on the ground, got up and walked around the room, found a rope, pulled Biluo up from the ground, tied her to a chair, and then searched the room thoroughly.
Before long, the tooth token was found.
Biluo struggled desperately, tears streaming down her face, still screaming, "You can't go to the palace! If you go to the palace, you'll kill the girl!"
"I want her dead, and those two scoundrels too!"
Xu Xuan suddenly raised her voice, sharp and piercing like nine feet of ice in winter.
Bilu coughed loudly.
Xu Xuan lifted his leg to approach her, watching her lips gradually turn white. He then kindly found a handkerchief and tied it around her neck to stop the bleeding, saying, "I guess Shen Yao doesn't live in the South City, but in the East Palace, is that right?"
Biluo's lips trembled, and Xu Xuan continued, "After I escape, given His Highness's cautious nature, he certainly wouldn't let Shen Yao live alone outside the palace. What place in the world is safer than his Eastern Palace?"
He was extremely close to the woman, and the fear that flashed in her eyes was unmistakable.
Xu Xuan took it all in and smiled, "Thank you for telling me."
He got up, dusted himself off, and turned to leave.
Bilu blinked, then hurriedly cried out at the top of her lungs, "The day you left—"
Xu Xuan paused slightly, turning her head to the side.
"The girl went to the dock that day too. Cough, cough cough, she only felt at ease going home after watching you leave. She didn't say it, but in her heart, she was still worried about you. She even begged Your Highness not to hurt you."
"If you go to the palace to complain, the young lady will die. Can you bear to do that?"
After saying all that in one breath, Bilu could no longer hold on. Her head tilted to one side, and she leaned against the back of the chair, dozing off.
Xu Xuan's hand holding the domino suddenly clenched, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Don't think you can appease me with some sweet words. If she doesn't belong to me, what does it matter if I die?"
After speaking, he opened the door and stepped out of the room. Inside, Biluo, having lost too much blood and stimulated by his words, fainted immediately.
Xu Xuan ordered his men to prepare horses while saying to his servants, "Biluo in the backyard is injured. Find a doctor to take a look."
The servants, unaware of the reason, nodded vigorously in agreement.
Xu Xuan gripped the reins, mounted his horse, glanced sideways at the plaque of the Shen Mansion, coldly cracked his whip, and galloped swiftly toward the palace.
*
Inside Qixiang Palace, the emperor was in a good mood, enjoying tea and playing chess with Wei Luo and Chen Zhen, chatting and laughing.
In the heat of a fierce game of Go, a black and white board game known as "Ambush from Ten Sides," a palace attendant suddenly entered and announced that Xu Xuan had arrived.
Wei Luo's hand trembled, and he almost overturned the chessboard.
He stared intently at the eunuch, his eyes wide, and asked, "Xu Xuan, are you sure it's Xu Xuan?"
The eunuch quickly looked up, glanced at the Crown Prince's pale face, and nodded vigorously, saying, "Your Highness, it is Xu Xuan, the former Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Justice, who requests an audience."
Wei Luo couldn't sit still any longer. He stood up and said, "He must be here to see me. I'll go out and see him first."
He was about to leave when he said that, and couldn't wait even a moment longer.
Unexpectedly, the emperor called out, "Halt! Who said they were here to see you?"
Wei Luo turned around and saw the emperor asking the eunuch, "Who are you looking for?"
The eunuch said, "It seems they are requesting an audience with His Majesty."
Wei Luo was immediately startled, realizing something was wrong. Just as he was about to reprimand the emperor, the emperor spoke up, "Please come in."
Wei Luo tried to stop him, "Your Majesty, Xu Xuan—"
The emperor interrupted him sharply, looking at him and asking, "Why is the Crown Prince so tense?"
Upon hearing his father's suspicious remark, Wei Luo involuntarily clenched his hands, which were hanging in his sleeves, and immediately fell silent, not daring to utter a sound.
The eunuch bowed and withdrew.
A few moments later, Xu Xuan walked in, knelt down and kowtowed without looking to the side, "Your subject, Xu Xuan, former principal of the Ministry of Justice, greets Your Majesty."
The emperor narrowed his eyes and said loudly, "Get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Xu Xuan stood up gracefully, while Wei Luo glared at him, wishing he could devour him alive.
Perhaps the hatred in his eyes was too obvious, Xu Xuan couldn't help but look at him. The moment their eyes met, it was like a battle of wits and hatred.
Xu Xuan raised an eyebrow at him slightly, a mocking smile appearing on his lips, openly provoking him.
Wei Luo was so angry he could hardly breathe. Just then, Chen Zhen coughed slightly, drawing his attention. He saw Chen Zhen gently shake his head at him.
Chen Zhen was trying to calm him down, so Wei Luo closed his eyes slightly and forced himself to stay calm for a while before opening them again.
The emperor began his questioning, "My dear minister, in order to fulfill your filial duty, you submitted a memorial requesting retirement, saying you would return to Hangzhou, didn't you?"
Xu Xuan quickly turned around and respectfully replied to the emperor, "It's just a rumor. My father is injured in the leg and half-paralyzed in bed. How could he possibly travel all the way to Jiangnan? I suspect someone is framing me for some ulterior motive. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."
The emperor suddenly burst into laughter, exclaiming, "Such a thing is true?"
"Yes, my adoptive father is recuperating in the capital, and my biological father, Governor Shen, is serving as an official in the capital. What would I be doing returning to Hangzhou?"
Wei Luo was dumbfounded by Xu Xuan's words. He thought Xu Xuan would accuse Governor Shen of deceiving the emperor, but he never expected that this guy would swallow his brotherly affection. It was really unbelievable.
If that's the case, then what's he doing here?
In a flash, Wei Luo thought of Shen Yao. Xu Xuan must have come to complain to the emperor, or it must be because of Shen Yao!
He wants to take Shen Yao away from him!
Instantly, Wei Luo began to sweat even more.
At this point, the emperor asked again, "Then what brings you to see me today?"
One sentence instantly created a tense atmosphere in the room.
Beside him, Wei Luo was covered in sweat, which ran down his forehead and cheeks. He didn't dare to wipe it away at all, but kept his eyes fixed on Xu Xuan, hoping that the man would be merciful in his words.
As time passed and the emotional tug-of-war between the two sides reached its peak, Xu Xuan spoke.
"Your Majesty, I have come here—"
"Xu Xuan, watch your words—"
Wei Luo couldn't hold back any longer.
Two voices rang out simultaneously, intertwining and echoing throughout the magnificent palace.
An eerie silence descended upon the room once more.
The two stared at each other, locked in a stalemate, neither willing to give in.
The emperor suddenly sensed something was wrong and stared at Wei Luo with a warning look. Wei Luo gritted his teeth and endured it, refusing to bow his head.
The emperor stared at Xu Xuan, urging him to continue.
Xu Xuan said, "I have come here to ask Your Highness for someone."
Xu Xuan said "Your Highness," and said it openly and honestly.
In an instant, several gazes turned to Wei Luo.
Wei Luo's heart pounded so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of his chest. He immediately snapped at Xu Xuan, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Xu Xuan tilted her head back and chuckled softly, "Why is Your Highness so nervous?"
"How dare you—"
"Your Highness, watch your words!"
The emperor abruptly interrupted, looking at Xu Xuan and asking, "Whom are you seeking? Explain clearly."
Xu Xuan lifted his eyelids and said, word by word, "My younger sister, Chen Yao."
The emperor's eyes darted between the two men, and he asked in confusion, "Is Shen Yao in the Eastern Palace?"
"Yes, my younger sister has been in the palace for a long time and has not returned, so I have come to ask Your Highness for her."
The emperor asked Wei Luo, "Crown Prince, please explain."
Wei Luo quickly knelt down, fluttered his eyelashes a few times, and said, "I am unaware of what Master Xu said."
The emperor laughed and said, "Your territory, you don't know anything about it?"
“Your Majesty—” Wei Luo glanced at Xu Xuan and said forcefully, “Since you are looking for your sister, Master Xu should go to Yikun Palace.”
Xu Xuan opened her mouth, about to retort. Chen Zhen, sensing the tense atmosphere in the room, quickly stepped in to interrupt, saying, "Perhaps the Imperial Concubine asked Miss Shen to deliver something to His Highness, but His Highness happened to be away from the Eastern Palace, which is why he was delayed."
Although it's a far-fetched explanation, it's still a reason, much better than all sorts of wild speculation.
Wei Luo remained silent.
Chen Zhen looked at Xu Xuan with hope in his eyes.
If it were an ordinary person, they would have already accepted the situation, but Xu Xuan had endured humiliation for a long time and would not easily compromise. So he used a strategy to stop the other's strategy and took action against Chen Zhen, who had been supporting him. "Master Chen knows the Crown Prince very well."
In short, this directly aroused the emperor's suspicions, as did those of the Crown Prince's Palace and the Directorate of Ceremonial.
Chen Zhen was shocked to find himself in such a predicament. He immediately knelt down and kowtowed, questioning Xu Xuan, "Why is Master Xu acting like this? This servant has served His Majesty with utmost loyalty, as Heaven and Earth can attest."
Xu Xuan chuckled softly, "Chief Chen, you're nervous too. I didn't say anything."
"you--"
Chen Zhen glanced at the emperor's grim face and dared not utter a word.
The emperor, his eyelids drooping, glanced at the people below, and after a long while said, "What's all this noise about? Send someone to the Eastern Palace to check on things."
In the past, Chen Zhen would handle such matters, but this time the emperor clearly had some doubts and sent another group of eunuchs directly.
Because the message wasn't communicated, the eunuch sent over was unaware of the situation and obediently brought Shen Yao over without any problems.
Shen Yao was still wearing her eunuch's robes. As soon as she entered, several pairs of eyes stared straight at her, and her expression changed involuntarily. But that wasn't the main thing. When she saw Xu Xuan, her face turned as white as a sheet, and she froze.
Xu Xuan remained elegant and smiled slightly at her, "Sister, pay your respects to His Majesty."
When he said "sister," Shen Yao's legs went weak, and she knelt down, unable to utter any auspicious words.
Xu Xuan cracked his knuckles and explained to the emperor, "Your Majesty, please forgive my sister. She was startled and behaved improperly before the emperor. I will take her back and discipline her properly."
The emperor pondered without saying a word.
Xu Xuan then stood up, bent down and picked up Shen Yao, and walked outside.
Wei Luo flew into a rage, stood up, and shouted, "Stop right there—"
Xu Xuan stopped upon hearing the sound, but still held her younger sister tightly in her arms.
Shen Yao was so frightened that she dared not move.
Wei Luo clenched his fists and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I have something to say."
The emperor frowned and coldly rebuked, "Crown Prince, step down."
His voice was full of authority.
Wei Luo was not afraid at all. He knelt down again and kowtowed three times. The sound of the kowtows echoed in the silent palace like war drums.
"Your Majesty, I have something to ask of you."
The voice was exceptionally clear and formal, like a declaration.
The emperor lowered his eyes and stared at him, his hands involuntarily clenching.
Wei Luo looked directly at the emperor and declared firmly, "I have long admired Lady Shen, and I will marry no one else in this life. Today, I humbly request Your Majesty to grant me this marriage and fulfill my lifelong wish!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
