Chapter 44: Mount Li Summer Resort "Your Highness must be extremely careful. ...
Deep in the courtyard, Xie Jingrong sat disheveled on a stone bench, with a few empty wine jugs scattered at his feet. The strong smell of alcohol mixed with a decadent atmosphere filled the air.
"Your Highness! His Majesty has deeply misunderstood you. The Crown Prince claims to have recovered, and the Sixth Prince is eyeing you covetously. If the two of them ascend to the throne in the future, how can Your Highness remain here in peace?"
A figure dressed as a scholar came quietly, speaking earnestly and claiming that every word he said was for the good of His Highness.
The Fourth Prince raised his head with drunken eyes. The alcohol had already made his mind intoxicated. Looking at the figure in front of him, he felt that it was somewhat familiar and somewhat strange - it seemed that it was one of his many staff members?
Regardless of the person's identity, this person's words just happened to express what was in his heart. But even so, he had fallen to this point. What was the point of saying more? No longer looking at the person who came, Xie Jingrong turned to reach for the wine jug on the stone table, but was stopped by this person.
"Your Highness! How long will you continue to be decadent?! If Your Highness gives up on yourself now, you will truly be wasting your advantages!"
Hearing what the aide said, Xie Jingrong sneered bitterly, shook off the other person's hand, and retorted:
"I'm imprisoned in this huge Fourth Prince's mansion and have become a discarded pawn. What advantage do I have? I'm just waiting to die!"
"Your Highness, you are confused!"
The staff lowered their voice, but their tone became more urgent and forceful.
"How could you forget? The Empress is still in the palace, and General Guan commands a hundred thousand border troops, dominating the region! These are your solid backing! They are silent now, waiting for Your Highness to rally your forces!"
Seeing his reaction, the man's face flashed with joy, and then he began to flatter him.
These words were like a huge rock thrown into stagnant water, stirring up huge waves in Xie Jingrong's turbid mind.
The Fourth Prince stood up abruptly, a last-minute glint of light flashing in his eyes, his lips trembling with excitement. But then, as if poured with cold water, the excitement on his face quickly faded, turning into deeper despair, and he stumbled back onto the stone bench.
"It's useless... It's useless... My father has completely abandoned me. I have committed a heinous mistake... My grandfather... My grandfather will not take risks for a discarded child like me..." He hugged his head, his voice full of powerlessness.
"Your Highness! How can you be so self-deprecating!"
The voice of the staff was like a poisoned dagger, piercing his deepest desires with precision.
"To be frank, the supreme position may not be decided by the superior. If General Guan's 100,000 cavalrymen were to march south, who in Bianjing could stop them? By then, Your Highness, the world would still be ruled by you!"
"Your Highness, the world still has the final say!" These words were like the most potent poison, instantly igniting all the resentment, fear, and primal desire for power deep within Xie Jingrong's heart! His heart was beating wildly, his blood was rushing, and the alcohol was driven away by the immense stimulation. He had never been so "clear-headed" as he was at that moment!
"But……"
He tried to make a final struggle, but was interrupted by the staff member's loud voice!
"Your Highness! Now is a perfect time! His Majesty will soon be moving to the Lishan Mountain Resort! The defenses there are far less extensive than in the Imperial City. This is a godsend opportunity! All we need to do is..."
The aide's encouraging words gradually turned into a gust of evening breeze.
The Fourth Prince's expression gradually turned from one of struggle to one of fierceness, and finally to a desperate madness. He slammed his fist down on the stone table, shattering the wine jug to the ground. "Alright! As you say!"
Almost instantly, a subtle, sinister smile of triumph appeared on the aide's face, and he bowed and retreated.
"I, your Highness, will die for you!"
At night, in the dungeon of the Prince’s Eastern Palace.
The air was filled with a strong smell of mold, blood and an indescribable stench. Torches danced on both sides of the deep passage, casting swaying and distorted shadows. From time to time, painful groans or the crisp sound of iron clashing could be heard from the depths of the dungeon, adding a bit of eeriness and horror.
Covering his mouth and nose with his sleeves, Xiao Wangshu felt a little uncomfortable when he first came here. He followed Eunuch Wei's footsteps and walked to the deepest part.
His Highness was lazily leaning on a tiger-skin-covered armchair, his fingertips tapping the armrest absentmindedly.
Before His Highness, a bloody man was suspended in mid-air by iron chains, his head hanging limply, only the slight rise and fall of his chest proving he was still alive. Beside him stood two expressionless jailers holding torture instruments.
"Your Highness." Xiao Wangshu approached, his cold voice sounding particularly clear in the empty stone chamber.
Hearing the voice, Xie Xuanhui turned sideways to look at him and waved to him lazily.
"Come."
When Xiao Wangshu came closer, Xie Xuanhui reached out and grabbed his sleeve, as if trying to pull him onto his legs, but Xiao Wangshu didn't let him succeed. He only took two steps closer, speaking with helplessness.
"Your Highness."
Xie Xuanhui didn't bother to argue anymore. He took his hand, which was hanging by his side, and gently tickled his slightly cold palm with his fingertips. He then pointed at the prisoner in front of him who was already half dead and said seriously:
"He admitted that he was sent by Xie Jingrong and explained that he intended to commit an illegal act in the Mountain Resort. As for the rest, he knew nothing."
Walking up to the prisoner, Xiao Wangshu looked at him carefully for a moment. Although the man was dying, there was a strange determination hidden deep in his eyes.
"Death warrior? Why aren't they dead?"
Turning around, Xiao Wangshu asked again.
"The medicine was secretly taken out, and there was no time."
He pointed to the chair that Eunuch Wei had sent over and motioned Xiao Wangshu to sit next to him.
"Your Highness, don't you find it strange?" Xiao Wangshu said slowly, "The Fourth Prince has just experienced a major setback and is under strict surveillance. He simply has no time to quickly and secretly contact his old subordinates and plan major events.
Besides, this man is a ruthless person, how could he confess so easily? I trust my own judgment more than what he admits."
The prince picked up a strand of hair that was hanging on Xiao Wangshu's side and fiddled with it, saying absentmindedly, "You mean..."
"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind." Xiao Wangshu lowered his voice, "The Sixth Prince is definitely involved."
While talking with the crown prince, Xiao Wangshu was also observing the "prisoner" out of the corner of his eye. The moment he mentioned the Sixth Prince, Xiao Wangshu keenly noticed that the hanging prisoner's breathing stopped almost imperceptibly for a moment. Although it was extremely brief, it was enough to confirm his guess - this man was closely related to the Sixth Prince.
"Your Highness must be extremely careful."
Now that the news had been released, this person was no longer of much use. Xie Xuanhui waved his hand, and someone dragged the prisoner away.
The other hand released Xiao Wangshu's hair, but the fingers slid down and very naturally picked up the cup of ginseng tea in front of him that had not been touched and was of the right temperature, and handed it to Xiao Wangshu's lips.
"After all this talk, let's moisten our throats."
His tone held an unyielding dominance, yet his eyes held a hint of concern. The dungeon was chilly, and as he linked his fingers with Xiao Wangshu's, he noticed a chill on his fingertips.
This startled Xiao Wangshu slightly. He looked at the teacup at his lips, then glanced at the prince's stubborn gaze. Finally, he reluctantly took his hand and lowered his head to take a small sip. The warm liquid, with a slight sweetness from the ginseng slices, flowed down his throat, dispelling the chill of the dungeon.
"Thank you, Your Highness." He said softly.
Satisfied, Xie Xuanhui withdrew his hand and drank the remaining tea in the same place where Xiao Wangshu had just drunk. His movements were extremely natural. This scene fell into the eyes of the eunuch Wei behind him, making him quickly lower his head and focus his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart.
"Speaking of which, Your Majesty seems to be particularly sensitive to the cold lately."
Xiao Wangshu mentioned it seemingly casually, his voice still low.
"Although it's midsummer, the dragons in the palace still seem to be raging. The Imperial Hospital has been checking on An's pulse more frequently lately."
Although he didn't say it directly, Xie Xuanhui understood what Xiao Wangshu was trying to say:
"Well, the Imperial Hospital couldn't find anything and just said it was caused by overwork. I guess it was that little girl who did it. It saved me the trouble."
This made Xiao Wangshu frown. Seeing that his expression was not right, Xie Xuanhui quickly added:
"Don't worry, I'll protect you."
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