Chapter 958: I've confined the empress—how do I break this! 11

Jin Yufeng finished shouting at the crowd, only then recalling his grandmother's warning; inside the palace it's not like the temporary lodging, and everywhere one must observe etiquette.

I, your nephew, pay my respects to my uncle.

He gave another odd salute; Jin Chen's eyelid jumped, and he seized the child's collar to stop him from kneeling.

That's enough, no need for more ceremony.

Jin Chen held him, weighing him, and wondered aloud: "Is the temporary residence lacking your food, clothing, and necessities? How have you grown so thin?"

Yan Fu'an hurriedly glared at the three plump grandmothers kneeling on the ground, "Hurry up and answer His Majesty!"

Yes, yes, the little highness is mischievous, always unwilling to eat, and we servants...

"Stupid slave!" Yan Fu'an broke into a cold sweat from fright, and before Jin Chen could anger, he kicked forward.

It's only whether you serve well or not; it's not the little highness's fault. Each of you has gall bigger than heaven, yet the little highness is frail while you're all well-fed.

The three plump grandmothers stared at each other, only able to kneel and tremble, not knowing how to reply.

They never expected His Majesty to suddenly bring the little crown prince back to the palace—it's been years since they last saw him...

"Are they treating you badly?" Jin Chen asked Jin Yufeng.

Don't let him go astray just after entering the palace!

"I don't know," Jin Yufeng said, shaking his head, he clung to Jin Chen's neck, curiously looking back, met Wen Zhiheng's gaze, gasped, and reached out to be held.

Little father!

Wen Zhiheng looked somewhat surprised, "Little Feng, do you still remember?"

He could only take Jin Yufeng from Jin Chen's arms in the same motion, smoothing the upright strands of hair.

I remember! Little father protected me before.

When the Grand Princess died, the Prince Consort was still in the Huakui's quarters, inevitably drawing gossip, so he had Jin Yufeng stay briefly at the Qixin Palace.

Who would have thought Little Feng actually remembered.

Jin Chen looked at this heartwarming scene, firmed his resolve, and leaned close to Wen Zhiheng to discuss.

This brat lived in your palace as a child; why not let him stay at the Qixin Palace for now, and only go to the East Palace after his coming-of-age?

Wen Zhiheng understood the meaning of those words, yet did not immediately respond, only lowering his gaze at the obedient little crown prince, as if in contemplation.

Jin Chen waited no longer for an answer, fell silent for two seconds, flicked his sleeve, dropped the subject, and his face turned cold.

The Grand Tutor's expression tightened, and he quickly joked, "The little highness has grown quite a bit; he actually resembles His Majesty in his youth somewhat."

"Is that so?" Jin Chen pinched Jin Yufeng's cheeks, looking, then asked, "What does Huai Feng think?"

Saying that, he leisurely glanced toward Wen Zhiheng, who seemed lost in thought.

Wen Zhiheng lifted his eyes to him, stared for a few seconds, gave a faint smile, and said, "Little Feng and Ah Chen are naturally alike; Your Majesty need not doubt."

Oh.

Jin Chen frowned, feeling the words sounded strange.

Just standing at the palace gate isn't a solution; Wen Zhiheng had Yun Wu take the little crown prince to the Qixin Palace to rest, tidied his cuffs, walked side by side with Jin Chen inside, and suddenly recalled something.

Your Majesty, do you still remember the jade pendant bestowed by the late Empress Dowager?

Jin Chen took out that jade pendant, placed it in his palm and handed it over, "Huai Feng suddenly asked what this is for."

He knew...

Wen Zhiheng's brows slightly furrowed as his gaze moved from the jade pendant in Jin Chen's palm to his face; his heart was in turmoil, though he showed nothing, forcing a faint smile.

Nothing, I merely suddenly thought that I seem never to have seen Your Majesty wearing it.

Because the original owner probably long forgot.

Jin Chen silently cursed.

Since it was a gift from the Empress Dowager, I ought to keep it safe.

Assassins!!

The guards behind suddenly shouted, all guards drew their swords and rushed forward, crying to protect His Majesty, and the surroundings instantly fell into chaos.

Jin Chen instinctively grabbed Wen Zhiheng to shield him behind, while several guards drew swords to protect, he vigilantly watched the approaching figures.

Wen Zhiheng lowered his eyes to the hand clasped at his waist, slowly gazed at Jin Chen's face, and became dazed again.

Why would the first reaction be to protect him?

Zhang Kui...

Jin Chen spoke low, precisely spotting the tallest among the assassins.

"Weiwu General... the Weiwu General has rebelled! Your Majesty, flee quickly!!" the Grand Tutor shouted.

Zhang Kui, upon being discovered, tore off his mask with a vicious grin, his target only Jin Chen amid the chaos.

Dog emperor! Give me your life!

He roared, a great blade already charging forward.

【Really courting death, General.】0731 complaint.

Jin Chen took a sword from a guard's hand, with one arm encircling the startled Wen Zhiheng, using only one hand to oppose Zhang Kui, and after just a few moves gained the upper hand.

Moreover, with all the guards present, Zhang Kui was soon subdued and forced to kneel before Jin Chen.

Weiwu Grand General.

Jin Chen's sword tip pointed at Zhang Kui's neck, his eyes downcast, devoid of warmth, as if merely looking at an ant.

If I recall correctly, you should be in prison right now.

You want to have the minor general executed by lingchi, yet the minor general is merely defending himself.

Zhang Kui showed no remorse; even pressed by the Imperial Forest Army, he strained to lift his head and glare at Jin Chen, eyes bulging, veins standing out on his neck, shouting, "Your Majesty!"

The minor general, for the sake of Jin State, thrice repelled foreign foes, yet ends up facing the prospect of having his head cut off by you!

His voice was extremely loud; all the civil and military officials who had come to welcome the Crown Prince back to the palace heard it very clearly.

Jin Chen gave a cold smile, the sword tip lightly tapping Zhang Kui's face a few times, the tyrant's manner very obvious.

"Three times repelling foreign enemies, who should truly get the credit? General, shouldn't you know better than I?"

Zhang Kui's face turned pale, his previously fierce aura collapsing instantly, his gaze shifting to lock onto the Empress tightly held in Jin Chen's arms.

The master said… his final worth was to let the dog emperor throw his own ranks into chaos, sowing discord between ruler and subject, otherwise his family……

Zhang Kui let out a low roar, his eyes turning fierce, he struggled free of the Imperial Forest Army's restraint, drew a dagger from his waist and lunged at Jin Chen.

But now, having lost the initiative, Jin Chen was already tightly protected, he couldn't get close at all.

In the struggle, Zhang Kui suddenly flung a sleeve dagger toward the direction where Wen Zhiheng stood.

Wen Zhiheng caught sight of the flying sleeve dagger out of the corner of his eye, startled, he turned his head, only to see Jin Chen shielding himself in front of him.

The sleeve dagger was knocked away by Jin Chen, yet it still slashed his arm.

Wen Zhiheng's expression tightened, his voice full of panic, he instinctively grabbed Jin Chen's injured arm, blood seeping from the torn yellow fabric.

"Your Majesty!"

Seeing Jin Chen about to leave, Wen Zhiheng grabbed his hand, voice tense, "Where do you still want to go?"

"He wants to kill you," Jin Chen's eyes dark and sharp, yet he softened a little toward Wen Zhiheng, completely ignoring the wound on his right hand as he brushed Wen Zhiheng's cheek, "I won't allow it."

How could Wen Zhiheng possibly stop him? He could only watch as Jin Chen approached Zhang Kui, his wounded arm bleeding continuously, drops falling from his fingertips.

He clenched his face, feeling somewhat lost and doubtful, murmuring, "Why…"

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value 10, cumulative -35!】

The Imperial Forest Army's swords crossed and stabbed into Zhang Kui's chest, forcing him to kneel again.