Chapter 961

Wen Zhiheng still came to outside the side hall; upon arrival, he was told by Yan Fu'an that His Majesty had already brought the young master

Yan Fu'an still remembered Wen Zhiheng's hesitation and turmoil just now, but now he was also vexed by this matter and simply could not understand why.

"Your Highness, why go to such trouble? Even if you are angry with the Emperor, you should have some restraint."

Yan Fu'an, having watched them grow up and marry, could not help adding a few words: "You and the Emperor became acquainted in your youth; you ought to understand what kind of person he is."

"Does Lord Yan think the Emperor has changed a lot recently?" Wen Zhiheng looked at the tightly closed palace doors, suddenly asked him, his gaze lowering.

"The Emperor has been paying more attention to state affairs lately; it is truly a blessing for Jin State." Yan Fu'an answered flawlessly, even though he knew in his heart that perhaps the Empress was asking about dismissing the concubines, but how could an old servant like him discuss such a matter?

"Your Highness?"

Yan Fu'an looked puzzled at Wen Zhiheng walking to the window, exchanged a glance with Shunping; the latter lowered his head helplessly, also not knowing what was going on.

"Has the Emperor changed?" Shunping said he didn't know, but since moving back to the Qingxin Palace, Your Highness has often been gloomy; many times he had wanted to let the Emperor in, yet something seemed to block that thought.

Wen Zhiheng met Jin Chen's gaze through the window; perhaps he hadn't expected to be caught, he rarely showed any fluster, instinctively wanting to step back and leave, but he saw Jin Chen's eyes holding disappointment, and for a moment he froze in place, his gaze inevitably falling on Jin Chen and the little prince holding hands.

Jin Chen took a few quick steps, thrust the window fully open, stood with his hands behind his back, his aura cold and heavy.

"Since the Empress is unwell, why isn't she resting in the Qingxin Palace?"

Perhaps due to the drug's effect, Jin Chen could hardly suppress the anger and agitation within him, and his tone when he spoke was extremely harsh.

The little prince, frightened, knelt again, trembling as he paid his respects to Wen Zhiheng.

"I have obtained the medicine from the Imperial Physician; the Emperor need only take it. If the love drug is later dispelled, the Emperor may still favor this young lord."

Wen Zhiheng handed over the pill he had been clutching in his palm to Jin Chen.

"Antidote..."

Jin Chen took the pill, suddenly recalling an event from the original plot's later development.

Later, the tyrant was also drugged once; investigation revealed it was a love drug from Saiwai's Western Regions; the original host's choice was to find someone to share his bed, which resulted in torturing to death three attendants.

Jin Chen: "……"

"What a vicious male lead."

He took the medicine, looked at the pill but did not swallow it, instead slipped it into his sleeve and ate the detoxifying pill exchanged for 0731.

"Just leave; since you have never shared my bed, when you leave the palace I will arrange another spotless identity for you."

Jin Chen glanced at the little prince still kneeling on the ground; his tone was indifferent, and his emotions had steadied considerably.

The little prince was overjoyed; perhaps leaving the palace is not a good thing for other attendants, but for him it could not be better—he would not have to spend his life scheming inside the palace and could still have an upright life.

He thanked the emperor's grace, dared not linger, and hurriedly kowtowed before leaving.

Jin Chen once again looked at the thoughtful Wen Zhiheng, gave an awkward sigh, "Huai Feng, do you still have something to say?"

"Since the Emperor is fine, I am relieved."

"How do you know I was given a love drug?" Jin Chen suddenly asked, recalling Wen Zhiheng's recent appearance with probing and doubtful eyes, which only deepened his confusion.

One can be certain that in this world his wife has not been reborn, so it cannot be due to resentment from the original plot's later events; then what exactly happened to cause such a great change in him?

Wen Zhiheng avoided Jin Chen's gaze and said softly, "When Lord Yan came to report, he said you had been given the drug by the Young Noble."

"You previously suspected the Young Noble of being a spy from Saiwai's Western Regions, and that region is most skilled at producing such poisons."

Yet his body was steadied by Jin Chen gripping his shoulders, forcing him to face forward, and he heard the low voice ask, "Is that all?"

The two stood near the window at an almost embracing distance; Wen Zhiheng again noticed the conspicuous sandalwood scent on Jin Chen, a flicker of turmoil and fluster crossing his eyes as he lowered his gaze to avoid meeting his eyes.

"That's all."

A soft laugh suddenly sounded beside his ear, as if helpless.

"Never mind, Huai Feng, you had better go back and rest."

Jin Chen adjusted the fur cloak on his body, "Your constitution is weak; do not let yourself get chilled again."

Having said that, he simply closed the window just like that.

The sound of the window closing made Wen Zhiheng close his eyes; his thin, tall frame slowly withdrew, as if it might drift away at any moment in the autumn mist.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value 10, cumulative -5!】

0731 did not understand; why did the favorability keep rising while the Main God's attitude toward the Host grew ever stranger?

Jin Chen alone returned to the side hall to rest, circulating his Spiritual Power throughout his body as he meditated.

He did not know whether it was due to the influence of the original host, but he always seemed unable to control his emotions, and he did not know where all this anger came from day after day.

He released his divine sense, letting his true soul rest.

【Host, just now the male lead's little move……】

【I saw it, just drawing the snake out of its hole.】

That's fine; 0731 still thought the Host had been angry at the time and hadn't noticed.

【Also, monitor Wen Zhiheng.】 Jin Chen sat cross-legged, his expression unchanged.

【Ah……ah?!】

0731 was still shocked; after so many worlds, this was the first time he had heard the Host utter such a command.

——

Over the next few days, things were barely calm.

Jin Chen had zero tolerance for being drugged; he directly issued an edict stripping the Young Noble of his rank, but since the palace banquet had not yet begun, he could not let all efforts come to naught, nor did he impose any further punishment.

Once the spies on the left and right were lured out, their accounts could be settled together.

As each day he found some excuse to drive away a few attendants, by the eve of the palace banquet there were hardly any people left in the inner court.

The few attendants remaining perhaps also guessed they could stay only because of their family background; each dared not overstep again, fearing they might be the next.

"Uncle! Please hurry and accompany your servant to fly a kite!"

The little Crown Prince, already accustomed to living in the palace, gradually revealed his nature; grabbing his kite, he ran into the Imperial Study, clinging to Jin Chen's thigh and refusing to let go, he said crisply, "You promised your servant a few days ago that if he could recite a new poem, you would accompany him to fly a kite!"

Jin Chen held him securely, "Where is your little father? Why isn't he playing with you?"

"Xiao Die also agreed, just waiting for you!"

Jinyu Feng clung to Jin Chen's neck, acting coquettishly, "If you don't accompany this subject child to play, today I won't get to see Xiao Die again."

Jin Chen: "……"

Good, good, good, now even this little brat knows they aren't favored by the Empress.

"Come on, come on, looks like I have to keep you company."

Jin Chen, not in a good mood, pinched the little brat's face, picked them up and walked out, with a mighty throng of people following behind.