Isn't that like lighting a lamp in a latrine—looking for trouble?
The previously arrogant Elder Zhu quickly stepped forward, "A misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding, Marshal Yan. What brings you here today?"
In reality, he was trying to ask when the Yan family had recognized Zhu Qianyi as their esteed nephew!
Marshal Yan pretended he had just noticed the old man—no, wait—
How had he picked up this bad habit after drinking with the Chief Minister a few tis?
Whenever he encountered soone he disliked, he couldn't help but show a sour face and even curse under his breath.
He coughed and feigned recognition, "And who might this be...?"
Marshal Yan genuinely didn't know Elder Zhu, as he had only dealt with the main branch of the Zhu family before.
What use was it to be the oldest and most senior if you were born from a concubine?
Which family would let a child born from a concubine entertain esteed guests?
Wouldn't that be disrespectful?
Elder Zhu's face turned red and then pale, but Marshal Yan ignored him and said directly, "Didn't you say the Zhu family has split up?"
He slung an arm over Zhu Qianyi's shoulder as if they had been friends for years, "The Chief Minister has arranged a banquet, and you must do the honor of attending, nephew. I've already boasted about it. If you don't show up, I'll lose face."
ntioning the Chief Minister made everything clear to Zhu Qianyi.
It must have been the Empress who, sensing the Emperor's intentions, had sent soone to the Chief Minister to help the Zhu family rid themselves of the troublemakers.
The Jiang family's way of handling things was always similar, sothing Zhu Qianyi had long since experienced and understood.
"Tsk—"
Marshal Yan didn't need anyone to respond to him; he could carry the entire act on his own.
Frowning, he descended the steps and looked at Zhu Chongjing, who stood behind Elder Zhu, covered in injuries. "So, you're the junior from the Zhu family's side branch who incited the Fifth Prince to rebel last night?"
He pushed Elder Zhu aside and fixed Zhu Chongjing with a hawk-like gaze, "Trying to manipulate a prince as a puppet? You're young, but your ambitions are vast. Guards, take him away! I want to interrogate him thoroughly to see if there are any accomplices."
"Wait! Wait!"
"I... I agree to the family split, I agree!"
The Chief Minister was right: when striking a snake, you must hit its head. If you don't kill it in one blow, it might strike back, and that could be fatal.
Zhu Chongjing was the only male heir in Elder Zhu's line, the old man's most treasured possession. He couldn't bear to see even a single hair on the boy's head hard.
How could he let Zhu Chongjing suffer in Marshal Yan's prison?
Moreover, he knew Marshal Yan's threats were just a show. If he didn't agree to the family split, his grandson would be thrown into the prison to suffer.
"That's more like it!"
Marshal Yan smiled, "I can see your grandson isn't a fool. Now that the family is split, hurry to the officials to finalize the paperwork. The Chief Minister and I will be waiting for you to join us for a drink."
With that, he left as swiftly as he had arrived.
Elder Zhu glared fiercely at Zhu Qianyi, "You let an outsider ddle in our family affairs?"
"To , Elder Zhu... you are also an outsider."
Before the Zhu family's troubles, he wouldn't have had the chance—no, to be precise, soone of Elder Zhu's status, born from a concubine, would never have been involved in such matters.
He wouldn't even have had the opportunity to stand on equal footing with Zhu Qianyi.
How could he question him now?
"You—"
Elder Zhu's face turned crimson, but he had no retort.
Zhu Qianyi, this scoundrel, seed to have received guidance from so expert. Previously, playing the elder card might have worked, but now, no amount of sweet or harsh words had any effect.
When soone has nothing left to lose, they beco impossible to control.
Spring in the capital often cos with rain, and then it leaps straight into sumr, leaving no ti for adjustnt.
May—
The sky burned with a blazing sun, and the weather had already ward up. Wearing just a thin dress felt unbearably hot.
Shuang Jiang ordered the ice basins to be set in place and sat by the couch, speaking to Jiang Xinyue, "Your Majesty, the Zhu family has split. Miss Yan Qingqing has been chasing the Fifth Prince for a month now. I suspect... their happy event is near."
Jiang Xinyue shook her head with a smile, "That silly girl. Who does she take after?"
However, Shuang Jiang's prediction of a happy event was likely premature.
The world assud that Yan Qingqing, with her powerful family background, would have no say in her marriage.
Surely, she would be married off to soone closest and most trusted by the Crown Prince.
Everyone thought so, and so did the Fifth Prince.
That's why, during the fireworks display, even though he had been moved, he had harshly rejected Qingqing.
This couldn't go on. The Fifth Prince needed a push.
Jiang Xinyue whispered to Shuang Jiang, "Go... summon Qingqing to the palace. I have sothing to tell her."
Then she turned to Jiang Chuan, "Go to the Fifth Prince. Tell him I need to discuss sothing important."
Bringing both parties together to hear each other out would make things much simpler.
Kunning Palace—
Yan Qingqing scratched her head, wondering why her aunt, the Empress, had summoned her to the palace.
She counted on her fingers, "Recently, I haven't taken the Third Princess out to climb trees or steal bird eggs, nor have I smuggled palace treasures to trade for candied hawthorns, and I certainly haven't led the princess on any sword-wielding adventures. What could the Empress want with ?"
"Little Fifth, tell the truth. Do you like Qingqing?"
From behind the screen, Jiang Xinyue's voice rang out, followed by a long silence.
Sigh!
If he doesn't like her, so be it!
It's not like this is the first ti I've known, but... why does my heart still ache?
"Is that question so hard to answer?"
"No!"
The young man frowned, his fists clenched, "But I feel that Your Majesty is humiliating , so I don't want to answer."
"Oh?"
Jiang Xinyue nodded, "Then tell , how am I humiliating you?"
The Fifth Prince had been having a tough ti lately. The Zhu family's split felt sohow tied to him.
"Yan Qingqing is the granddaughter of the Marshal of the Empire, the daughter of the Commander of the Three Armies. The Yan family holds such real power. If Yan Qingqing doesn't marry the Crown Prince, whoever marries her will beco a thorn in the Crown Prince's side, a target to be eliminated."
"I am the son of the late Empress, barely holding onto the title of a legitimate son. Many in the Zhu family want to push to beco the Crown Prince. In such a situation, if Yan Qingqing were to marry , she would not only offend His Majesty and Your Majesty but also clash with her family. I don't want to see her fight the whole world for my sake."
"I... I want her to be happy."
Even if it ans not marrying .
"After all that, you still haven't answered . Do you like her?"
"I do!"
Since Yan Qingqing wasn't here, the Fifth Prince thought it wouldn't hurt to confess to his mother.
"I like her very, very much!"
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