Yan Xingzhou nodded knowingly, not caring much: "I'll just stay at the door, I won't go in. Eunuch Fu can go about his business."
"Then I'll take my leave." Eunuch Fu curtsied, tucked his whisk into his arm, and left with a smile, inwardly scoffing.
He had already tried to persuade him, but since he wouldn't listen, he could only report the truth to His Majesty.
After Eunuch Fu left, Yan Xingzhou looked into the hall. Chi Yan, who had heard the commotion long ago, could not pretend not to hear it. He could only reluctantly put down his chopsticks, stand up and step forward, bowing a few steps away: "Greetings, Third Prince."
Yan Xingzhou scrutinized the person in front of him. Chi Yan was dressed in a blue robe and stood there straight. He was tall and slender with a handsome face. Apart from the slight unruly and unrestrained look in his eyes, he did not resemble the playboy in the rumors at all.
His eyes deepened slightly. He hadn't expected that he had misjudged the Chi family and overlooked the unassuming second son of the Chi family!
Even Chi Jingyu himself probably didn't expect that his younger brother was actually a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Yan Xingzhou's eyebrows suddenly curved into a smile: "Young Master Chi, I've long admired your name."
Chi Yan raised an eyebrow, wondering what the other party's purpose was, whether it was to test him or something else.
"Your Highness is joking. It's better not to mention my reputation." He touched his head rather shyly.
Yan Xingzhou laughed: "Young Master Chi, don't underestimate yourself. I think you are no ordinary person. Given time, it won't be difficult for you to catch up with your elder brother."
Chi Yan's eyes widened in surprise, his face showing fear: "How could I possibly compare to my elder brother? Your Highness is giving me far too much credit!"
His expression was so genuine that Yan Xingzhou couldn't tell whether it was from the heart or just an act. However, Chi Yan's ability to escape unscathed from the Pingting case and to avoid the Kunshan jade incident by sheer luck must not be as simple as it seems on the surface!
Yan Xingzhou stared at him with a half-smile: "Young Master Chi is too modest. I cannot stay any longer. I will come to congratulate you again after you pass the imperial examination and enter officialdom!"
"Respectfully seeing off Your Highness." Chi Yan watched him leave, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes. It seemed that the Third Prince was unaware that he had already figured out the mastermind behind the Pingting case.
Is this visit partly a test, and partly a gesture of goodwill towards him?
Chi Yan subtly curled her lip. She had plotted against him several times, and now she wanted to recruit him?
Has this guy lost his mind?
Although the imperial cuisine was exquisite, it tasted bland and tasteless, and he suddenly felt homesick.
...
"You mean, the third brother went to the Hall of Preserving Harmony?"
Emperor Chongde was still reviewing memorials when he heard Eunuch Fu's words, and his eyes darkened. "Why isn't he leaving the palace at this hour? What is he doing there?"
Eunuch Fu ordered the meal to be served, and upon hearing this, he chuckled and said, "The Third Prince is probably still a child at heart. Seeing His Majesty personally inspecting him, he can't help but be curious about what the Second Prince of Chi looks like."
Emperor Chongde threw down his pen and suddenly scoffed coldly: "Childish mentality? He's eighteen this year, isn't he? The Crown Prince is already fighting on the battlefield at that age!"
It is true that he doted on Consort Li, but that was because Consort Li knew how to please him, had no troublesome family background, and her son had no ambition and posed no threat to him.
Looking back now, it seems that his son wasn't as honest and dutiful as he had imagined.
Emperor Chongde remained silent, radiating coldness. After a long while, he said indifferently, "Tonight, prepare to travel to Kunning Palace."
Eunuch Fu raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "This servant will go and inform Her Majesty of the good news right away."
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