Chapter 385

He stepped back a few steps, pointing at the obviously somewhat guilty Jin Hua Xuan, "It turns out those assassins were sent by Elder Imperial Brother, truly making me feel utterly chilled."

"I haven't seen Imperial Elder Brother for decades, but I still remember the days we both listened to the Grand Tutor's teachings; how has Imperial Elder Brother become so indifferent to family affection?"

Jin Hua Xuan, who had been scolded by Jin Chen with crackling noises: "……"

He cursed under his breath, "This person is simply sick," and upon seeing Emperor Qian Yong's meaningfully deep gaze, his body shuddered.

"Father Emperor, it must be the Governor who made a mistake; how could it be your humble servant! Furthermore..." He saw the silent Jin Changyou to the side, pointed at him, and continued, "Furthermore, with both emperors returning to the palace at the same time, if your humble servant truly wanted to do something, why target only the Third Imperial Younger Brother?"

Jin Hua Xuan, also scheming, immediately knelt by the table, implying: "The Governor has only been back for half an hour, yet he's investigated this so thoroughly?"

This is clearly targeting Xuan Che.

Xuan Che gave an ambiguous smile, fiddling with his waist jade pendant, glanced up at Emperor Qian Yong.

Everything that had just happened hadn't angered Emperor Qian Yong, but when Jin Hua Xuan targeted Xuan Che, Emperor Qian Yong's expression changed, as if fearing Xuan Che would get angry; he picked up the tea cup on the table and threw it.

It squarely hit Jin Hua Xuan's forehead, leaving a red mark.

"Damn thing!"

"The Governor is swamped with state affairs; where does he get all this leisure to frame you!"

For an emperor to say this is truly ironic.

Xuan Che didn't think anything was wrong, glanced at the resentful yet silent Jin Hua Xuan, leisurely bowed to Emperor Qian Yong, his salute still not as standard as when facing Jin Chen that day.

"I still have some matters to discuss with the Third Prince; I'll take my leave now."

He looked at Jin Chen, still holding a sorrowful expression, gesturing for him to follow him away.

Jin Chen naturally listens to his wife.

As the two departed, their backs fell into Emperor Qian Yong's eyes; he tried to ponder something, but was soon dazed by the elixir's dreamy effect, causing the other two to leave as well; ultimately, the punishment for the Eldest Prince was to personally go and seek the Governor's forgiveness.

This essentially meant handing Jin Hua Xuan over to Xuan Che for disposal.

This decision surprised Jin Changyou, who had just returned to the palace.

He had thought that the Eldest Prince, raised in the capital since childhood, though his authority couldn't match the Father Emperor's, was still the foremost heir; aligning with him would allow one to stand firm in the imperial palace.

How could this Governor...

Jin Changyou had never dealt with court affairs before, so he wasn't sure how great Xuan Che's power was, nor why the Father Emperor could indulge him so.

After leaving the Imperial Study, he saw Jin Hua Xuan being taken away by the Eastern Depot's guards, his eyes thoughtful.

It seems that to have a say in the imperial palace, merely relying on princely status and aligning with the Eldest Prince is insufficient.

Here, Jin Chen followed behind Xuan Che as they left, passing one palace after another, finally stopping at an exceptionally elegant and luxurious pavilion palace.

The person guarding the Main Gate saw Xuan Che, hurriedly knelt and saluted, opening the gate.

"This will be Your Highness's residence from now on."

Xuan Che stepped in first, turned to look at Jin Chen, and casually pointed at the crowd of people kneeling by the Lotus Pond.

"These are all servants carefully selected by the Imperial Household Department, each loyal; Your Highness can use them with confidence."

Jin Chen followed the direction of his gaze, his mouth twitching slightly.

What does that mean? How come each one is uglier than the next?

Probably his expression was too obvious; Xuanche slightly pursed his lips and waved them away.

"Your Highness, are you dissatisfied with this arrangement?"

"It seems the head of the Palace Internal Affairs Bureau is not up to snuff; the palace maids and eunuchs he picked are all hideous."

Jin Chen shook his head, his peach-blossom eyes holding a hint of teasing, "Just looking at them really affects my mood."

"Your Highness, what do you want to watch them do?" Xuanche walked over, his pink finger lightly hooking Jin Chen's fingertip, his tone soft, "Didn't you say before that having Xiao Qi is enough?"

"Xiao Qi, hum, you still have the nerve to say that—there's no Xiao Qi in the palace at all."

Jin Chen didn't resist holding hands, but pretended to still be angry, "Why did you lie to me?"

That question left Xuanche stunned for a moment; Didn't Know How to Answer.

The day he first met Jin Chen at the Jiangnan manor, the graceful young man in a green robe, his jade-like face charming, the smile lingering at his lips like a spring breeze, actually made his heart beat a little faster.

He also harbored a test from the Heaven-Mandated Emperor Star, so he simply concealed his identity; who would have thought that merely less than ten days of companionship in the carriage would already indulge his feelings for Jin Chen beyond his expectations.

Seeing the person before him not speak, Jin Chen turned and walked into the hall.

Just as the two were about to brush past each other, Xuanche wanted to reach out and grab Jin Chen, but he hesitated for a moment and didn't.

His face also grew cold, and the irritable gloom in his heart began to surface.

What this person said in the carriage really doesn't count anymore.

Having just reached the main hall's entrance, Jin Chen sighed, resignedly turned back, walked to face Xuanche, and they locked eyes.

A few seconds later, Jin Chen pulled him into his embrace.

"They all say you're a bad person, so that's why you won't tell me your identity, right?"

A mature lover must learn to make excuses for themselves, then deceive themselves.

Smelling the dry, comfortable agarwood, Xuanche did not reject this embrace; instead, as usual, he reached out to hold Jin Chen tightly.

"Your Highness, do you think I'm a bad person?"

"As far as I know you now, you're not a bad person."

Jin Chen rubbed the top of the person's head in his arms, "I only believe what I see."

"And if Your Highness later discovers that I appear differently in front of others?"

"Then try not to let me see it." Jin Chen began to act shamelessly, his tone rather self-satisfied, "Anyway, I'm not letting go; you were the one who hid your identity first, so the fault isn't mine."

Perhaps these words pleased Xuanche; the suppressed atmosphere instantly dissipated, and he let out a soft laugh in Jin Chen's embrace.

"I've remembered it; Your Highness, don't forget what you said today either."

Xuanche broke free of the embrace, pulling Jin Chen's arm as they walked inside.

"In a few days there will be a welcome banquet prepared for several princes; by then the emperor may ask some questions, and if Your Highness is interested in the realm, you'll still need to prepare in advance."

The current emperor is still alive; rashly discussing the realm is truly disrespectful, but neither of them cares.

What if I say I have no interest in this realm?

Jin Chen spoke calmly.

He had originally planned to help Xuan Che find the Heaven's Mandate Emperor Star, then become an idle prince; otherwise, he'd have to attend court every day, leaving no time to keep his wife company.

Who would have thought that upon hearing this, Xuan Che's steps suddenly stopped, "Impossible."

"Your Highness, if you are to be interested in the throne, you must also learn how to govern the realm."

Jin Chen: "......"

He seemed to know the reason.