Chapter 118: Chapter One Hundred and Eighteen

"Court is adjourned!"

The old National Lord did not listen to him continue, merely waved his hand, and rose to leave.

"Father Emperor!"

After the Imperial Officials had all left, the Second Prince finally came back to his senses, scrambled up from the ground, and hurried after him.

"I beg Father Emperor to see clearly, this son truly did not do those things, Father Emperor!"

After receiving the old National Lord's signal, the Eunuch Chief had two young Eunuchs block him.

"You damned Servant, how dare you block me?!"

Shang Xiao Hui delivered a kick to the chest to each of them, sending the two young Eunuchs flying several meters away.

The Eunuch Chief stepped forward, looking at him with a mournful face.

"Oh dear, Second Prince, the National Lord has given orders that he does not wish to see you. Please do not make things difficult for this old servant."

"... Blah blah blah..."

But the surrounding officials, let alone coming over to show concern and inquire after him, upon seeing me being carried over, all dodged far away, looking as though they feared being associated with me in the slightest.

"Who can truly read Father Emperor's mind?"

"Second Prince, the people from the Imperial Clan Court are still waiting outside."

"Congratulations, Seventh Prince."

"That villain Qin really put on a fine act. This time, this Crown Prince has taken note. You have a long future ahead!"

……

Recovering from the injuries will take a few days, and in another eight days it will be the memorial day of Shang Xiao Hui—no, of the Seventh Prince's consort.

Just as the Eunuch Chief was about to leave after receiving the order, the old National Lord called out to me again.

Tao Quanlun gave the gathered officials a polite smile and delivered an extremely official set of pleasantries.

Then I looked toward the Imperial Clan Court.

Upon hearing my words, Vice Minister Qin's body stiffened, he shrank his neck, and dared not speak.

"There's no need for him to feign kindness!"

……

"Return to the residence!"

"Second Brother, Father Emperor is still in a fit of anger, everything said was spoken in anger. Rest assured, once Father Emperor's anger has passed, this younger brother will certainly counsel Father Emperor properly."

Meanwhile, the Imperial Clan Court, surrounded by the officials in the center, upon seeing this, a glint flickered in his eyes. He quickly squeezed out from outside the crowd and ran toward the Seventh Prince with a worried expression.

The old National Lord gazed at the Memorial, lost in thought. After a long while, I said in a low, drawn-out voice.

Completely unlike my side, which was like the moon surrounded by stars, Shang Xiaomin, who had just received the reward, his face pale and bloodless, was carried out by two guards. Behind him was a small patch of bloodstains, looking seriously injured.

The Imperial Clan Court gave a cold snort.

"Go to the Imperial Medical Bureau and pass a message to Feng Dongnian. If anyone from the Seventh Prince's residence goes to the Imperial Medical Bureau, have him go take a look at the Seventh Prince. But you may say it is my intention."

"But, National Lord, haven't you already issued an order for the Seventh Prince to return to his fief, never to return to Ducheng for the rest of his life?"

On the road back to the residence, inside the Horse Carriage, Qingmu spoke with an agitated tone.

I glanced at the Eunuch Chief.

I reached out and touched Shang Xiaomin's back, heartbroken beyond words.

What a fine scheme indeed!

"Go investigate!"

Then I, wearing a face that smiled the moment it was called for and fawningly flattering, ran toward the Imperial Clan Court, waving my hand as I ran.

"Seventh Prince, wait for me, Sir!"

I coldly smiled as I looked at Vice Minister Qin, who stood off to the side with his head lowered, body shrunk, wishing he could stuff himself into a crack in the ground.

Shang Xiaomin was in so much pain his teeth were bared, and he forcefully slapped my hand away.

"I ask everyone to rest assured. As for the matter of the assessment, this Crown Prince will certainly handle it with absolute impartiality!"

"Congratulations, Your Highness. The Seventh Prince has now been completely abandoned by the National Lord. The position of Crown Prince belongs to none other than Your Highness!"

Is this move not intended to protect the Seventh Prince?

"Don't think I don't know—all of this was your scheming behind the scenes!"

If the Seventh Prince were to come crying and complaining then, Father Emperor might truly soften his heart and retract the decree.

"The Seventh Prince is clever and astute, handles matters without the slightest negligence. Only you are fit to shoulder this important responsibility!"

Having said this, I looked toward the guards.

The Seventh Prince's own arrangement—he wants to use a ploy of self-injury again!

After they had walked far away, Vice Minister Qin completely changed his earlier timid, mouse-like manner. He straightened his back, put his hands on his hips, and spat viciously in the direction the Seventh Prince had left.

"Go handle one more matter for me."

"Exactly. With the Seventh Prince in charge of the assessment, we can all rest easy."

At that moment, the Eunuch Chief's mind was a jumble of countless thoughts.

"Seventh Brother!"

"You all flatter me. This Crown Prince is merely handling matters according to the rules, sharing Father Emperor's burdens, that is all."

There is only one possibility!

The Seventh Prince is a Prince, and moreover Tao Quanlun is the Seventh Prince's maternal Grandfather. How could these people possibly have struck so heavily?

Noticing this point, Shang Xiaomin's expression grew increasingly ugly.

"Completely abandoned? I'm afraid not."

If delays like this continue, won't it be indefinitely far off?!

Even if he would agree, Shang Xiao Hui's death anniversary is only a few days before New Year's Eve, so no matter how angry Father Emperor is, he would at most chase me away for the minor New Year.

"A ruler's heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea."

After Shang Xiao Hui was born, she was Father Emperor's most favored Consort; even though she passed away young, Father Emperor still cannot forget you.

The Zongren Fu tugged at the corner of his mouth, curving into a cold, thin arc.

As he spoke, Shang Xiaomin walked over with a smile; in a place unseen by others, his eyes were cold as ice, and he leaned close to the Second Prince's ear, speaking softly in a disdainful tone.

Before the Eunuch Chief delivering the Imperial Decree left, the surrounding minor officials crowded around to offer congratulations and flattery.

"In those two days, you sorted out the problems you had encountered in past years' official assessments, intending to present them to Father Emperor at Early Court, but who would have thought such a thing would happen."

Hearing those words, the Eunuch Chief pondered secretly in his heart.

I put on an appearance of righteous indignation.

"This Imperial Prince knows, why the rush?!"

A small Eunuch suddenly walked in.

"You—pah!"

It seems that for now, my attitude toward the Seventh Prince can be casual; I must be as respectful toward him afterward as before.

But after walking a few steps, Shang Xiaomin suddenly raised his hand to stop the guards.

"How could one know…"

"Second Brother, without evidence you cannot speak recklessly."

I want to use my injuries to stall for time!

The very picture of a petty person who has finally gotten his way.

Doctor Feng is the physician with the lowest medical skill in the entire Imperial Medical Bureau.

Shang Xiaomin looked at him with an innocent face.

Shang Xiaomin glared at me fiercely, looking as though he wished to tear that person to shreds.

That's right, delay breeds trouble, I absolutely cannot allow any trouble to occur!

"Yes."

"You lost so little blood, it must hurt terribly, right? Seventh Brother worries that your residence has no miraculous healing medicine, so once you return, have someone deliver it to your residence."

Killing intent flickered in Shang Xiaomin's eyes; his thin lips parted again, and he spoke with deep meaning.

Inside the National Lord's sleeping chambers.

"Seventh Brother, apply this, and in eight days you will be fully healed."

Realizing that point, Tao Quanlun narrowed his eyes slightly.

So you see, after all he is a real son; no matter how furious the National Lord is, he still cannot bear to let the Seventh Prince suffer.

"When did the people around Old Seven disappear?"

Before I left, the Zongren Fu turned and smiled at the Eunuch Chief.

"No matter what, at least let Second Brother spend the New Year in Ducheng before leaving."

"No need to thank me."

"How could the injury be so minor?"

"Old Seven, just you wait!"

"He's already been chased out of Ducheng—who knows if he can ever come back in this lifetime, and he still dares to say there's always tomorrow?"

"Since Father Emperor is in a bad mood and this would be a disturbance, that Memorial will still need to trouble you, Eunuch, to deliver on my behalf."

"Get out!"

"Yes, the Seventh Prince worries too much; this old servant will certainly deliver it to the National Lord."

The Eunuch Chief bowed and received it with both hands.

"What is the matter with Tao Quanlun's people? Father Emperor only said an angry word in passing, and they actually dared to use real force?!"

A bunch of fair-weather fence-sitters!

Shang Xiao Hui gritted his teeth and glared at him.

Meanwhile, before the Zongren Fu had even walked out of the palace gates, he received the Imperial Decree appointing me to take over the official assessments.

Shang Xiao Hui let out a furious roar.