Chapter 245: Disapproval (2/2)

He shook his head tiredly. Prince Duan was the one who welcomed him when he reached the backyard. Prince Duan frowned at his unkempt look. “See what you've done to yourself.”

Qi Chen scrunched up his nose and growled, “I would have succeeded! If Feng Baiyu hadn't betrayed me, I wouldn't be here!”

Prince Duan frowned deeply and hit Qi Chen's forehead with his fan. Qi Chen sucked in a breath, looking up at Prince Duan, and muttered, “What was that for?”

“To remind you to learn from this experience,” Prince Duan said coolly. “Think about how foolish you've been.”

Qi Chen pouted and took a seat. Prince Duan sat down next to him. “What do you plan to do next?”

Qi Chen turned to Prince Duan, his heart filled with resentment for Jun Huang. He would explode if he didn't do anything. “I'm going to take revenge on Feng Baiyu and let him have a taste of failure. Then I'll storm the palace and kill the emperor straight away. I'm not going to be merciful ever again.”

Surprised by Qi Chen's impa.s.sioned declaration, Prince Duan stared at him without blinking. Qi Chen cleared his throat and looked away, his face flushed and his muscles tense. “Don't look at me like that. I meant what I said.”

“Then you must listen to me no matter what you do next,” said Prince Duan, waving his fan. “Don't be so reckless again.”

Qi Chen knew he'd been hasty. Prince Duan had told him to be patient, but he got careless and ended up falling into Jun Huang's trap. He nodded without a word.

Prince Duan sighed in relief. His son wasn't too helpless yet, at least.

Some time into their conversation, Prince Duan realized that Qi Chen was still dressed in the same clothes he'd worn in prison. He looked pitiful. Prince Duan ordered a few servants to prepare a hot bath and help him clean up. Qi Chen followed the servants obediently. He knew how terrible he looked now.

When Nan Xun reached Jun Huang's manor, she'd already gotten the news. She sat in the garden in deep thought.

She turned around when she heard footsteps and was surprised to find Nan Xun staring back at her. She quickly schooled her expression and got to her feet. “Do you know that Qi Chen's been rescued?”

Nan Xun nodded. “That's what I'm here for.”

“I think it's Prince Duan.”

Nan Xun didn't immediately respond. “No one will believe us if we say so. I've heard about the emperor's interrogation. Qi Chen insisted that it was his idea all along. Prince Duan is known for being a man of integrity. People may still stand behind him even if we've collected all the evidence, let alone when we don't have any.”

Jun Huang knew he was right. That was their biggest challenge now. She thought for a moment with her head lowered before looking up at Nan Xun. “I'm sure it was Prince Duan. Do you believe me?”

“Or course,” Nan Xun said without hesitation, his eyes serious. The answer made Jun Huang feel a little better. Neither of them brought up their argument, but their strained relations.h.i.+p recovered somewhat.

“Prince Duan has taken Qi Chen away, and you're exposed,” Nan Xun said. “They aren't going to let you off the hook. Your manor isn't safe. Come to my place. I'm a general and a prince. No matter how bold they are, they won't barge into my territory. The world is still the emperor's, after all.”

Jun Huang had thought of the same thing. Although they had been fighting, this wasn't the right time to let their personal affair get to the big picture. She nodded readily.

A few officials gathered in the biggest tavern in the imperial city, their expressions serious. They made sure several times that they were alone before talking about the political situation in the court.

“The first prince is gone, and the second prince had his t.i.tle taken away for staging a coup,” said a second grade official. “The third prince is still locked in prison. The fourth prince is our only candidate. The rest of the princes are too young to be taken into consideration.”

The others shared a look. Their eyes widened when they figured out what the official was implying. “Do you mean we should a.s.sist the fourth prince in becoming the crown prince?”

The official nodded. “That's the reality now. That's our only choice.”

A man sitting in the corner shook his head disapprovingly. “You may think the fourth prince seem free of desires. I suspect that he's actually a shrewd man. Perhaps this is all part of his plan.”

The official laughed. “Do you think the fourth prince is a G.o.d? That he could force the second prince to commit treason?”