Chapter 91: The Lost Princess Bai Yueguang 22: Relations between the Two Countries
Not long after, a major event occurred in Xuanping Palace:
The eldest prince was walking in the imperial garden when his horse was startled and ran away. The frightened horse ran away, and the prince fell down the stairs and was injured.
His leg bones were broken and he was in unspeakable pain. He has been limping ever since and it is difficult for him to recover his normal appearance.
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When this incident happened, people in the palace talked about it a lot. Some said it was a punishment from God, or maybe it was some kind of... ominous sign.
Everyone in the palace was secretly terrified, while at the same time, they tacitly passed on the news. Since ancient times, the throne of the emperor has placed the greatest emphasis on natural beauty. Not only must one be of noble birth, but also must be a symbol of destiny.
It would be extremely difficult for a prince with a disabled body to ascend to the throne of crown prince, no matter how talented and resourceful he was.
After all, imperial power symbolized the majesty and prosperity of the entire dynasty. If the future emperor's every move was flawed, how could he convince the people? The ministers might not support him. Even if the emperor favored him temporarily and wanted to make him crown prince, he would inevitably face countless obstacles and opposition from the court. Furthermore, the eldest prince was not favored by Emperor Xuanping.
Therefore, although this accident did not take the eldest prince's life, it almost completely destroyed his possibility of ascending the throne in the future.
In the eldest prince's palace.
Multiple layers of curtains were lowered, and the air was filled with a strong bitter smell of various medicines, which made people feel stuffy.
All the palace maids had been dismissed. On the bed, the eldest prince Wen Yuanzhao was pale with cold sweat still hanging on his forehead. He leaned on the bed, unable to straighten his body, and could only half lean and half lie.
Wen Yuanzhao's right leg was wrapped in thick white cloth and fixed tightly. Any movement would cause him to break out in cold sweats.
The injured right leg was like a heavy stone weighing on his heart, a constant reminder...
My life is no longer complete.
Beside the couch, Concubine Zheng's eyes were already red from crying, strands of hair were scattered, and her makeup was no longer as graceful as before, leaving only sadness and panic.
She hugged the eldest prince's shoulders tightly, her voice filled with tears: "My Zhao'er, why did you go to the horse farm for no reason? How did you hurt your leg? Who wanted to harm you?!"
"Zhao'er, you know, you are my lifelong hope. In my heart, you are the future crown prince of the Xuanping Imperial Family! Now you are like this... What should I do?"
Wen Yuanzhao was already upset because of his injury, and Concubine Zheng mentioned the throne he had longed for, which further irritated him.
He gritted his teeth, veins bulged on his forehead, and the pain of his broken leg was far worse than a knife cut. Yet, he had to hold on and pretend to be calm to comfort his mother.
"Alright, alright, why are you crying?" Wen Yuanzhao took a deep breath, covered his head, and said impatiently but a little confusedly, "This matter... is my own negligence."
"Negligence?" Concubine Zheng's eyes widened, and she shook her head repeatedly in disbelief. "You are usually so cautious and careful, how could you be so careless as to get injured at the horse farm? If you say someone didn't deliberately harm you, I won't believe it! Tell me, who did it!"
The eldest prince's heart tightened, and his throat seemed to be blocked by something, and he couldn't speak.
He clenched his fists tightly, closed his eyes, and said with difficulty: "Mother... At first, I also thought someone was plotting against me."
"But," he paused, his pain unspeakable, "I did drink a little too much that day, and then I seemed to... stumbled into the stables in a daze. The guards there also said that I was unconscious and insisted on going in to see the horses."
"You...when did you become so careless?" Concubine Zheng didn't believe it.
The eldest prince's mouth twitched, he smiled bitterly, and raised his hands to cover his eyes. He didn't want others to see the pain and humiliation in his eyes, even if the person in front of him was his mother.
"Besides, I checked and there was nothing wrong with the frightened horse. It was just an accident. And that staircase... I fell down by myself."
"All the clues are clear and obvious. It's like... it's like God wanted me to go through this."
His voice gradually lowered, and he felt an indescribable depression in his heart.
After listening to Wen Yuanzhao's account of the whole story, Concubine Zheng's breath was held, and she reached out her trembling hand to touch her son's cheek, and tears fell on his clothes.
"How could it be...how could it be you? You are the eldest prince, the one who will inherit this country in the future!"
Was this really just an accident? She couldn't believe that her son would encounter such an accident.
God will not treat them like this!
"Now, one of my legs is disabled. The imperial physician said that even if it can be cured in the future, it will probably leave a root of disease. My father doesn't like me in the first place. He wants a crown prince who can support the world, not a... disabled person." The eldest prince forced a bitter laugh from his throat.
His words were like a sharp knife piercing Concubine Zheng's heart. She cried and trembled all over, as if she was about to faint in the next second.
Concubine Zheng clutched the eldest prince's hand, crying urgently, "Zhao'er, even if it was an accident, we can't just accept our fate! You must remember, you are Xuanping's eldest son! Even if your leg is injured, you still have me. Your father will never disregard our bloodline. I will find a way to ensure that you remain firmly on the throne of the crown prince!"
The eldest prince's heart was beating wildly, and a sinister flashed in his eyes. He certainly understood his mother's painstaking efforts, but the feeling of helplessness and humiliation made him almost breathless.
"Mother, I know." He gritted his teeth, his eyes cold. "No matter what, I will not admit defeat. Who will have the last laugh is still to be seen."
At this point, he could only follow his previous plan and rely on foreign forces...
At the same time, Ji Hanlin came here.
The sound of footsteps was particularly clear in the silence. It was Eunuch Su who was approaching quickly. After entering the hall, he bent down at the door and whispered, "Your Highness, I have carried out your instructions."
"Under the corridor of the stables, this old servant had already burned incense in advance. The eldest prince was drunk and was involuntarily drawn by the aura and accidentally stumbled into the stables."
What happened later... just happened naturally.
There was a hint of fragrance on the eldest prince's clothes. The fragrance came from their Dayan. It was not a big deal for ordinary people to smell it, but if animals got a sniff, they would become restless.
So, that day at the racecourse, the docile horse was startled by this and bumped into the eldest prince. Furthermore, the eldest prince was still drunk and staggered, and with no way to avoid it, he fell down the stairs in a panic.
No matter how you look at it, all of this seems like an accident, foolproof. Even if others suspect something, they can't find any clues.
After receiving the report from Eunuch Su, Ji Hanlin's expression did not change, and he said "hmm" lightly.
Eunuch Su raised his head and looked at the tall figure of the young man, his heart beating fast.
When Xuanping was plotting against the prince, he was still a little afraid that his crime would be exposed.
After all, having followed His Highness for many years, Eunuch Su knew his character well. His Highness was a meticulous person and never one to take risks, but for Ji Hanlin, this matter truly did more harm than good.
"Your Highness..." Eunuch Su hesitated for a moment, then finally asked his question. "Your Highness's plan is indeed flawless, almost watertight. However, what this old servant doesn't understand is that you don't have to take such a risk. After all, Your Highness is still in Xuanping's territory. If you attack Prince Xuanping, once the news leaks out, I'm afraid your life will be the first to be threatened!"
Ji Hanlin still didn't speak.
He naturally knew that his current position in Xuanping Palace was awkward. If he were implicated in a murder, not only the Xuanping royal family, but also the Great Yan people would surely sacrifice their lives to save their own.
But he did not hesitate at all when doing this.
If they were only targeting him, Ji Hanlin could still tolerate it, and it wouldn't matter to him. But the eldest prince and Concubine Zheng wanted to attack Wen Qianning, and he couldn't tolerate it at all.
He always prides himself on being calm and self-controlled, always planning for anything, and never wavering because of emotions. But once it comes to that girl, he seems to have lost his mind, willing to take risks, and hand the knife to fate with his own hands.
Ji Hanlin did not say these to Eunuch Su. He withdrew his gaze with a cold look.
Seeing that His Highness remained silent, Eunuch Su sighed, feeling a little disappointed.
"Your Highness, I dare to say one more thing. The war between Xuanping and Dayan has become increasingly intense recently. The border is bloody and violent. I am afraid that the relationship between the two countries is at a precarious point. If Your Highness stays in Xuanping, the situation will be even more dangerous in the future."
"Your Highness should make plans early...how to return to Dayan safely?"
The hall fell into silence again.
"...You're right." Ji Hanlin pondered for a moment, nodded, and pursed his thin lips.
The recent border wars have intensified, and both inside and outside the imperial court, there is a sense of unease. The rift between Xuanping and Dayan has also manifested itself in daily life.
However, as for living expenses, Wen Qianning had previously given special instructions, and the palace servants did not dare to reduce the amount harshly, so Ji Hanlin did not feel any difference.
The next day, Ji Hanlin passed by the corridor of the school. Not far away, a young man from a noble family came towards him hesitantly.
The young man had no friendship with Ji Hanlin on weekdays, but he secretly admired him because he often heard his clear and insightful answers in class.
These past few days, he was puzzled by a difficult military strategy problem. After hesitating for a long time, he finally mustered up the courage, walked up to Ji Hanlin, and asked:
"Master Ji...um, there's something I don't understand, I'd like to ask you a question."
The boy scratched his head a little embarrassedly.
Ji Hanlin paused. If someone asked him a question, he would be willing to answer it.
He was about to nod in response, but before he could utter a word, a group of young men from royal and noble families passing by burst into laughter.
"Ha, he's really been so stupid from studying that he even has to go and ask a great Yan proton for advice!"
"Tsk, aren't you afraid of being laughed at? What do the people of Dayan know? They're treacherous. They talk about morality and justice, but then turn around and bite you like an ungrateful wolves. How dare you discuss academic matters with him?"
The few words he said were so sharp and sarcastic that everyone around him burst into laughter.
The young man's face changed slightly, his grip on his sleeve gradually tightened, and his eyes flickered with anxiety. He had originally been motivated by a desire to learn, but now he was being ridiculed by everyone, and his heart was immediately shaken.
Ji Hanlin raised his eyes and happened to meet his.
There was some struggle in the young man's eyes, and his face was full of guilt, but in the end he couldn't speak to continue.
Ji Hanlin saw it clearly and understood his self-preservation, and did not show the slightest strange expression.
The children of the aristocratic families of Xuanping were taught from a young age to be cautious in their words and actions, always prioritizing their own situation and their family's reputation. If they were to get too close to the Dayan hostage in public today, others would inevitably exploit the situation, or even secretly fabricate rumors.
Because of his status, even if I truly admire his profound knowledge, I cannot talk to him with the sole intention of learning from him.
Moreover, among their peers, the thing teenagers fear most is being isolated. If he insists on getting close to them, others don't need to say it out loud; just a glance will isolate him from the group.
"Since you have doubts, there is no need to force it."
Ji Hanlin understood this, and his voice was extremely calm, without a trace of emotion. After saying this, he left.
The young man was tall and slender, as lonely and cold as a single pine tree in the wind.
Just as Ji Hanlin was ignoring these people and things that were irrelevant to him, he walked all the way to the corridor and saw the pretty and lively back of the girl in front of him, which disrupted his thoughts.
Wen Qianning also heard the footsteps and turned around to see him. She looked left and right at first, as if afraid of being seen by others, before turning around.
As her bright eyes moved, the look she gave him was extremely complicated. Wen Qianning straightened his back and said with a stern face, "Are you following me?"
"There are many people in the palace, and this is the only way to the academy." She paused, "I don't want to be discovered."
Ji Hanlin was a little stunned. He obviously didn't expect that the girl who always smiled happily when she saw him would say such a thing.
It's not that he didn't sense the alienation in the girl's words.
How could Ningning have avoided him like this in the past?
Even teasing him is better than wanting to distance yourself from him like this.
Considering the ridicule and isolation from other young masters just now, Ji Hanlin couldn't help but wonder if the little princess would also distance herself from him because of these external factors.
He thought that as long as she was in this world, other people's criticism would not be worth mentioning. But now she did not rely on him capriciously as usual, but wanted to keep a distance between herself and him like everyone else.
There was an inexplicable bitterness in my heart, but I just lowered my eyelashes and said in a light tone: "I didn't mean anything else, I just happened to pass by."
Hearing this, the girl in front of him gently moved to stand beside him, intentionally keeping a gap between them. With no one around, they could have moved closer to talk, continuing their previous private conversation, but she chose to adopt a posture that made it difficult for others to approach her.
As if to prove that his guess was correct.
Seeing the girl's behavior, Ji Hanlin couldn't help but laugh at himself in his heart.
Zhuiyun and Zhuyue noticed that the atmosphere between their master and Master Ji was not right, so they walked away on the pretext of keeping watch for them.
Naturally, Wen Qian knew how hurtful her words were, but there was nothing she could do. Rumors were spreading in the palace that the relationship between Xuan Ping and Dayan had reached a point of confrontation that was difficult to reverse.
This also meant that Ji Hanlin's return to Dayan would not be too far away. This was exactly the key point at which she was about to dump him according to the original plot of the novel.
Thinking of this, Wen Qianning ignored the slight guilt she felt towards the male protagonist in her heart, pursed her lips, and raised her chin proudly: "We should keep some distance for the time being. Although we... but if someone sees us, it will be very troublesome."
"Don't go to my bedroom if you don't have anything to do in the future, to avoid suspicion."
A concise reason.
He looked at her quietly, and in the end he said nothing more, but just smiled softly: "Well, I understand."
"If you hadn't said that, Ningning, I would have thought... that you wanted to break up with me."
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but he blocked them preemptively. Wen Qianning choked and gave an awkward smile.
"How could that be... Don't think too much." She hesitated for a moment, then quietly pulled the boy's slender hand as a comfort, hoping to reassure him.
Then she quickly pretended to be relaxed and withdrew her action, looking away. It was obvious that the action of holding hands just now was not from her true heart, but just a casual perfunctory.
Ji Hanlin's expression became increasingly ugly as he watched her little movements.
"Then Your Highness, I will take my leave now." He turned around and left with a cold face and didn't want to say anything more.
Although his actions were decisive, he didn't really want to cut off anything in his heart.
He would rather leave like this than let her speak. As long as she didn't say in person that she wanted to break up, he could still comfort himself that maybe the little princess was just throwing a tantrum and would be back to normal in a few days.
Ji Hanlin was willing to deceive himself, believing that her avoidance was not estrangement.
He didn't want to believe that the relationship between the two countries would create a rift between them.
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