Chapter 1276

After dealing with the self-delivered eldest prince, Jin Chen lived leisurely in the palace for a while.

This set the palace into chaos, bustling beyond measure.

Now when the little heir is mentioned, any eunuch or palace maid can spout a basket of his 'feats'.

Before dawn he runs to the Imperial Study, supposedly to ease the Imperial Uncle's worries, which has Jin XuanZhang bursting with headaches.

Leaving the Imperial Study, Jin Chen will drag his precious little guard around the palace, unabashed, kissing as he pleases and even climbing trees to scare people.

Yajiu naturally obeys everything Jin Chen says; he's a 'say one, do one' type. To others, his willful arrogance seems foolish, but in Yajiu's eyes, his master is the number one person under heaven.

Jin XuanQi and Xu WangYue have always been indulgent, and now they can't control him even in the palace; Jin Chen has thoroughly brought lawlessness to life.

The flowers in the imperial garden that weren't allowed to be picked were taken back pot by pot—not for use, just for fun; once they'd wilted from play, they were dumped beside the tree roots planted in the palace, with the claim that it was fertilizing.

Within three days, the precious tree species that had been supposedly over‑fertilized was gone.

The next day, Jin Xuanqi finally found out that this brat had chopped down the tree he and his imperial brother had planted when they were young, and used it to make a swing.

Jin Chen held Yajiu's shoulders, his forehead still showing a red mark from the beating.

"Really, I've been put through a lot."

Jin Chen felt wronged.

Jin Chen held tightly to the Yajiu in his arms, feeling both pained and amused, and said, "Little Nine is still laughing at me—really bold."

"No," Yajiu raised his head, gently blowing on his slightly red forehead, "Master, you've worked hard."

"Not enough, not enough."

Jin Chen tapped his lips, "Kiss here, it'll stop the pain."

Nonsense, but it's perfect for dealing with the obedient little guard.

Jin Chen was the one who got beaten—his lips swollen, his collarbone bruised—and Yajiu was the one who got beaten in an unspeakable place.

——

Even the sickly Sixth Prince Jin Qingshu, now an "ally," hasn't escaped Jin Chen's scheming.

A thin snake, caught from who knows where, coiled around the qin that Jin Qingshu had to play every day, frightening him so much he nearly suffocated on the spot.

With a speechless expression, he grabbed the snake and crushed it; Jin Qingshu stared at Jin Chen and Yajiu, who were crouched outside the wall peeking, and got a headache.

"Little cousin, if you're bored, go play elsewhere; this palace is frail and can't take a fright."

Jin Chen hissed, turned his head and asked Yajiu, "If you can crush the snake, is he really that weak?"

Yajiu shook his head, "He's very strong."

"Then I'll find a chance to give him a beating and see," Jin Chen thoughtfully.

Jin Qingshu: "……"

He pressed his forehead, and Youyou sighed.

Where did that misunderstanding come from before, that it actually made him think this little cousin was a tough nut to crack.

Jin Chen patted his butt and walked away, leaving a meaningful remark.

"In a few days will be the reunion feast; the Sixth Prince just needs to get ready."

Jin Qingshu's expression shifted slightly, he touched his weak heart, and finally showed a hint of a smile.

If he can live well, he will surely not disappoint the emperor's cultivation from childhood.

Speaking of this early banquet, it's all Jin Xuan Zhang's plan.

As the saying goes, 'fragrance from afar, stench up close.' Back when Jin Chen was in Yangzhou, Jin Xuan Zhang thought this little nephew was perfect in every way—smart and resourceful, ideal for cultivation.

Now that he's constantly by his side, Jin Xuan Zhang instead feels that if such days continued, he'd probably die even sooner.

Jin Xuan Zhang was annoyed to the point of being unable to bear it, but a ruler's words are not jokes, and he couldn't take back letting them return to Yangzhou after the reunion feast, so he could only move the reunion feast earlier and send that little ancestor back sooner.

——

A few days later, the palace reunion feast.

No matter what, the remnants of the Cheng Wang faction were eliminated, the long‑absent brother also came to the palace, and Jin Xuan Zhang was still happy from the heart, pulling him to drink a lot.

Jin Xuanqi felt quite sentimental, thinking that these past few years, with so many affairs in Yangzhou and the wearisome journey to the capital by boat and carriage, he hadn't realized it had been so long since he last shared a drink with his imperial brother.

Usually Xu Wanyue would keep an eye on them, but today he simply let the two brothers drink freely.

Because of his relationship with Jin Chen, Jin Xuan Zhang also tacitly allowed it—Yajiu is no longer a member of the Cangqiong Guard, but just as in Yangzhou, he remains embraced by Jin Chen, drinking and whispering.

But the other royal relatives and nobles present didn't know this; officials with daughters especially wanted to seize tonight's opportunity to hitch themselves to the Han Wang's boat, yet seeing this scene they felt somewhat hesitant to approach.

There were also the bold ones, but just as they brought it up, Jin Xuanqi hadn't spoken yet when Jin Chen started shouting.

"Anyone who wants to mess with the mandarin duck registry tonight, tomorrow this Heir Apparent will send a pair of cooked mandarin ducks to your mansion."

The official who had just made the suggestion: "……"

What kind of talk is this.

Parents' orders, matchmaker's words—even if the Heir Apparent is unwilling, any refusal should be spoken by the Han Wang.

Jin Xuanqi didn't even look, turned and spoke to his imperial brother, leaving that person with just a view of his back of the head.

The official shook his head, bowed to Jin Chen in apology, then reseated himself, pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, and felt that the little persimmon holding that person in his arms was… terrifying.

With the warning from the one who spoke up first, even if others had thoughts, they dared not say them outright.

Yajiu pursed his lips, leaned into Jin Chen's waist, "Master, I want to go back to Yangzhou."

Only there would no one try to take his master from him.

"Jealous, huh," Jin Chen tilted his head to look at him, smiling, "Little Nine, you're really a little vinegar jar."

Yajiu has grown bolder, but in a crowd like this he still feels embarrassed, burying his face in Jin Chen's neck and not lifting his head.

"You say it is… right?"

Jin Chen let out a cheerful "hai ya", quite satisfied but seeming helpless, "Alright, alright, once I get the imperial marriage edict I'll take you home."

He held Yajiu on his lap, gently rubbed his neck, "Tonight will be chaotic; don't rashly charge at the sight of an assassin—I'm not that easy to hurt."

Hmm, I know.

Yajiu gave a slight nod; tonight's assassin was heading for……

Anyway, as long as the master isn't hurt, he doesn't care.

Yajiu thought, pressing his cheek against the neck crook and rubbing, "I only protect you."

Jin Ren couldn't help but laugh again, tapping Yajiu's forehead twice with his index finger.

Halfway through the banquet.

Jin Qingshu, sitting opposite Jin Chen, set down his teacup, walked to Jin XuanZhang's seat, and performed a bow.

"Father Emperor, on such a splendid reunion day, your subject son, long confined, has greatly missed your teachings; today I wish to take this opportunity to ask Father King and Imperial Uncle to look at and also the poems your subject son has composed these days."

After being diagnosed by the imperial physician that he wouldn't live past next year, he hadn't seen anyone; he never expected to attend the banquet today, let alone this twist.

Regarding this youngest son, Jin XuanZhang always feels a bit guilty.

"It's rare to see Shu'er so interested; first show it to your Imperial Uncle."

"Yes."

Jin Qingshu presented the ink paper with both hands; Jin Xuanqi shook his sleeve to receive it, quite interested.

After reading the two poems, Jin Xuanqi seemed to understand something; just as he was about to speak to Jin XuanZhang, he heard the guard guarding the hall shout.

"Assassins!! Protect His Majesty!"