Chapter 1556: The Regent Prince Dotes on Me Too Much—What Should I Do 25

The commoner earnestly begs Your Majesty for protection.

Seeing Jin Chen's cold attitude, Song Yanwen could no longer maintain his pretence of composure and integrity; he knelt at Jin Chen's feet to beg, and when he lifted his head to look at him, his expression was flustered and desperate.

Jin Chen shifted to avoid the sleeve corner he almost grabbed, frowned, and asked: "As the prefect's second son, what else do you need me to decide for you?"

"Father… Father despises my lowly birth and never acknowledges my identity." Song Yanwen immediately rolled up his sleeve; the scars on his arm beneath the long sleeve were numerous and shocking.

"Please, Your Majesty, point out a way for me to survive."

Song Yanwen summoned courage to lift his gaze; his eyes, as clear as ink, held tears, truly bearing the grace of a refined bamboo.

Jin Chen deeply felt that coming to the prefect's residence today was a huge trouble.

He shifted his gaze to the black and white pieces on the chessboard and casually said: "Your father may not necessarily heed my advice."

"How about…" Jin Chen had an idea, swept aside the messy situation, and said: "How about you go beg the Regent Prince for help? His words would be far more useful than mine."

"Your Majesty is willing to help!" Song Yanwen didn't know how he understood; his tears instantly withdrew, his eye sockets reddened, leaving only overflowing feeling and joy.

"The commoner kowtows in thanks to Your Majesty."

When Song Yanwen kowtowed again and rose, his frail body could not muster strength, his movements became much slower.

Just then, the sound of the door opening rang out; Xie Zhiwei and the sweat-drenched Prefect Song emerged one after another from the study, coming face to face with the two people in the pavilion.

From their perspective, Song Yanwen seemed to have just risen from Jin Chen's embrace, his expression all the more suspicious.

Xie Zhiwei gave Jin Chen a meaningful look, but his words were for Prefect Song: "Is this your mansion's son? He certainly has a fine appearance."

The Prefect Song, already frightened once in the study: "……"

His legs were so weak he could barely walk; he thought, if this master gets angry a few more times, whether he can keep his position as prefect is beside the point—his life might be gone first!

"The commoner greets the Prince." Song Yanwen performed another salute as Xie Zhiwei approached: "The commoner had just begged Your Majesty to let him stay by your side; Your Majesty said… to first ask for your opinion."

The white piece in Jin Chen's hand nearly fell from shock; he stared in astonishment at Song Yanwen.

"... Huh?"

"Is that what you mean? You're framing me!"

Xie Zhiwei smiled lightly, curling his lips: "Does Your Majesty want to take this young lord into the inner palace?"

Jin Chen: "It's not me, I don't have that intention!"

"Your Majesty… please have mercy." Song Yanwen still knelt at Jin Chen's feet, reaching to tug his robe: "You promised."

Liu Feng, standing behind Jin Chen, was startled and hurriedly helped Song Yanwen to his feet: "Young Master Song, take care."

Jin Chen rose in a flash, but Xie Zhiwei grabbed his wrist: "If so, then let this Young Master Song accompany Your Majesty to the traveling palace to serve."

"Any objections, Prefect Song?" Xie Zhiwei glanced lightly at the bewildered Prefect Song, who hurriedly shook his head: "Your servant, I certainly have no objections; to be able to serve Your Majesty is the fortune of this unworthy son of mine."

After Prefect Song finished speaking, not knowing why, he felt that after his flattery, the Regent Prince's expression looked even worse!

Prefect Song wiped his cold sweat again, actually daring not to look at the expressions of those few people.

In the carriage heading to the traveling palace, Jin Chen deliberately kept Xie Zhiwei beside him, drew the curtain, and spoke privately.

"Why bring Song Yanwen to the traveling palace?" Jin Chen held Xie Zhiwei in his arms and asked.

"I thought Your Majesty liked him."

Xie Zhiwei feigned surprise, his soft fingers poking Jin Chen's chest: "Turns out it isn't?"

"Nonsense, you clearly know I don't have that intention." Jin Chen straightened his face, pushed his hand away, placed it on his lips and kissed it: "There must be another reason."

Only then did Xie Zhiwei laugh, leaning into Jin Chen's embrace, burying his face in the neck and saying: "This person's appearance is suspicious; Prefect Song's first glance at his attitude was also odd; perhaps he is someone sent by Mu Zhongzheng."

He hadn't forgotten that Jin Chen still trusted Mu Zhongzheng deeply, wrapping his arms around his neck and rubbing against him.

"Your Majesty, if I'm not mistaken this time, you will no longer be able to unconditionally trust Mu Zhongzheng."

"Alright." Jin Chen appeared convinced, nodded in agreement, then kissed Xie Zhiwei's cheek: "I knew you were just jealous."

"Hmph." Xie Zhiwei did not hide his jealousy, limp and boneless in his embrace, gave a slight twist, his tone coquettish yet cold: "If he merely wants to cling to you and one day disappears silently, you must not blame me."

Jin Chen looked at him leisurely, saying nothing; after Xie Zhiwei gave him a reproachful glance, he smiled: "Then I'll pretend to know nothing, leaving it to you to handle."

——

After returning to the traveling palace, Jin Chen first summoned Chu Qingqing; fortunately, Xie Zhiwei seemed to have his own business, knowing that after Jin Chen's summon, his jealousy arose and clung to him, demanding several kisses before letting him go.

When Chu Qingqing entered, she happened to brush past the departing Xie Zhiwei; his gaze lingered on her for a few seconds, as if probing, but Chu Qingqing, experienced as a double agent, responded with unchanging composure, not glancing sideways as she passed, and Xie Zhiwei said nothing more.

At this moment, Chu Qingqing was immensely grateful for the unexpected attendant Yu Huayao; Xie Zhiwei's jealousy toward her was no longer as strong as before!

Chu Qingqing entered the Imperial Inner Hall of the traveling palace; Liu Feng led the guards outside to wait and let off steam.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Don't bother with the salute, what have you found?" Jin Chen asked hurriedly; the iced porridge on the table couldn't even draw attention.

Chu Qingqing straightened her expression and said: "Our earlier investigation was not baseless; the monk and National Teacher who knew the whereabouts of the divine medicine both came from Jiangnan, originally from the same lineage, and that very divine medicine is the treasure of their sect."

"But by this generation, that medicine is neither in the National Teacher's hands nor in that mysterious monk's possession; thus they only know of its existence, not where exactly it lies."

"After this period of investigation, I have discovered that the National Teacher, the monk, and the never-before-revealed junior disciple Xianming Gongzi carry that medicine on his person; I and the Master of the Liu Pavilion tracked him all the way and finally found his lodging in Jiangnan."

Jin Chen propped his head up listening; he felt the name Xianming Gongzi was somewhat familiar, lazily lowering his eyes to think for a while but still couldn't recall, then asked Chu Qingqing.

"If Xianming Gongzi has never revealed his identity before the world, how did you investigate him?"

Chu Qingqing: "In reply to Your Majesty, Xianming Gongzi has another identity in the Jiangnan region, honored by aristocratic families as the Divine Doctor, and he had deep connections with the Commandery Prince from earlier years."

And acquainted with Mu Zhongzheng……

【Ah, isn't this exactly the original plot where the male lead's deep affection for Mu Zhongzheng makes him willing to accompany him without seeking a title, the devoted second male lead!】

Ling Gun Gun suddenly perked up: 【When the second male lead appears, the original owner is already dead, so it's normal that the host has no impression~】

Jin Chen: 【……】

After Ling Gun Gun finished his nonsense, he transmitted the plot about Xianming to Jin Chen.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Chu Qingqing saw Jin Chen lost in thought, thinking he still had something to ask.

Nothing

Jin Chen waved his hand, pushing the untouched ice porridge over, "Bring a fresh bowl; this time I also brought the Hanlin Academy's Chief Scholar. You haven't seen him in days—go meet him."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Chu Qingqing this time showed a genuine smile, lifted the bowl and took leave.

"'Liu Feng.' Jin Chen called again."

"Your subordinate is here."

Jin Chen lay sideways on the couch, slowly thinking, 'Go find a talented impersonator and take him to the Little Stockade Mountain Path.'

"'Yes.'"