As soon as these words were spoken, the court erupted in an uproar!
Immediately, an old minister knelt down to plead for Zhennan Wang: “Zhennan Wang is Your Majesty’s own younger brother, and also the late emperor’s youngest son. It is absolutely impossible for him to commit such an act of colluding with the enemy and betraying the nation. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!”
“Your Majesty, Zhennan Wang led troops onto the battlefield at the age of ten, pacified the southern border at thirteen, repelled the Eastern Ling Kingdom at sixteen, and now has achieved a great victory over the Northern Di, signing a ten-year ceasefire agreement with them. Zhennan Wang has long been known as the God of War—brave and skilled in combat, having slain countless enemies. He would absolutely never commit treason. This must be a false accusation. I beg Your Majesty to see clearly!”
Inside Taihe Hall, civil and military officials knelt everywhere, all pleading for Zhennan Wang.
Emperor Shunkang stood at the head of the hall, his expression dark and inscrutable as he looked at the kneeling officials.
Finally, he addressed the Minister of War: “Then summon your daughter, General Ye, to the hall!”
The Minister of War was Ye Hangyu, and the daughter he spoke of was the only female general of the Xuan Yuan Dynasty—the very General Ye Qingyu whom Helian Zhi sought to marry.
Soon, Ye Qingyu was summoned to the hall.
“Your subject, Ye Qingyu, pays homage to Your Majesty!”
Emperor Shunkang did not permit her to rise to answer. With a stern expression and a solemn tone, he said, “Just now, your father Ye Hangyu stated that you personally witnessed Zhennan Wang Xuanyuan Yi secretly conspiring with the fifth prince of the Northern Di in the middle of the night, plotting to annex our Xuan Yuan.” Is this true or not?”
Ye Qingyu sensed the threat in Emperor Shunkang’s tone and had also gleaned some understanding of the emperor’s intentions from her father. “In reply to Your Majesty, it is true.”
Emperor Shunkang flew into a rage: “What a fine Zhennan Wang, my good imperial brother! I have placed such trust in him, yet he has truly disgraced the Xuanyuan family! Where is Zhennan Wang Xuanyuan Yi?”
As Emperor Shunkang raged, all the officials below knelt down.
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger!”
At this moment, Prime Minister Lin Yuanfeng spoke up: “In reply to Your Majesty, when Zhennan Wang returned victorious, you specifically granted him three days of leave and exempted him from court attendance!”
He wiped the sweat from his brow, hoping the emperor would forget his own earlier foolish actions.
Emperor Shunkang completely ignored the old ministers kneeling and pleading on the ground, coldly stating: “Attendants, summon Zhennan Wang Xuanyuan Yi for an audience!”
When the eunuch arrived at the Prince of Zhennan’s Mansion with Emperor Shunkang’s oral decree, Imperial Noble Consort Xi had also just arrived at the mansion not long before.
Hearing the summons for Xuanyuan Yi to enter the palace, and observing the eunuch’s expression—which held little respect for her—her intuition as someone long accustomed to the inner palace told her that something bad was about to happen.
Could it be that there was another war at the border, requiring Yi’er to go and pacify it?
But she quickly dismissed this thought herself. If it were truly a border matter, this eunuch would not have such an attitude.
Then what could it be?
She knew full well what kind of thoughts the emperor harbored toward her son.
Imperial Noble Consort Xi discreetly gave Nanny Fang a look. Nanny Fang immediately understood and took out a heavy purse.
She directly stuffed it into the young eunuch’s hand. “I wonder what matter requires His Majesty to summon the Prince for an audience at this time. As you know, the Prince is often at the border and suffers from many hidden ailments, frequently sleeping poorly. Now that he finally has these three days of leave, so…”
Normally, as a nanny serving Imperial Noble Consort Xi, who wouldn’t greet her with a smiling face? But this time, the young eunuch directly pushed away the purse she offered, showing none of his usual respect.
“His Majesty has issued a command, so I must urge Your Highness to hurry. His Majesty and all the civil and military officials are still waiting in the grand hall.”
Imperial Noble Consort Xi’s heart sank, but she knew imperial orders could not be disobeyed. She could only have Uncle Fu summon Xuanyuan Yi.
When the late emperor was still alive, even the current emperor had to show her, the imperial noble consort, utmost respect. Now, she and her son had to live under others’ scrutiny.
It was precisely because the late emperor saw the emperor’s temperament that he gave the Heijia Army to Yi’er, hoping to protect them both.
After the emperor ascended the throne, he still treated her with some respect, and Yi’er was often away fighting enemies. She had thought…
But it was only her wishful thinking. It seemed they were now moving against Yi’er!
Xuanyuan Yi had been unable to sleep all night due to excitement over yesterday’s imperial marriage decree. He had finally drifted off just as dawn broke, thinking about going to the Changxin Marquisate today to deliver betrothal gifts to the girl he had long yearned for.
Liuxing watched as Uncle Fu hurried over, his expression urgent.
Since following the Prince out of the palace to establish his own mansion, Uncle Fu had always kept his emotions hidden, rarely showing such agitation. Liuxing was instantly curious—what could have caused this?
“Uncle Fu, did your wife run off with someone or something? You look awful.”
Uncle Fu had no time for banter now. He called directly toward the room, “Your Highness, someone has come from the palace. His Majesty summons you to the palace immediately. The eunuch delivering the oral decree was quite disrespectful, not even sparing face for Imperial Noble Consort Xi.”
Xuanyuan Yi had already woken when Uncle Fu entered the courtyard. He quickly donned his prince’s court robes, opened the door, and strode out.
His steps were steady, a sharp glint flashing imperceptibly in his eyes.
He knew today’s matter was no trivial affair and silently calculated the possibilities.
Entering the front hall, he faced the arrogant young eunuch and curled his lips into a faint smile, tinged with a hint of defiance and confidence. “Eunuch, please lead the way. This prince will accompany you to see His Majesty immediately.”
With that, he lightly patted Liuxing’s shoulder, gave Uncle Fu a meaningful look, and finally cast a deep glance at Imperial Noble Consort Xi.
Meeting her worried gaze, he gave her a reassuring look before striding purposefully after the eunuch toward the palace.
Since returning to the mansion after the Divorce Decree, Xia Xing’er had been having people monitor the movements at the Prince of Zhennan’s Mansion.
Xia Xing’er, who had been enjoying tea with the Duke of Zhou in her dreams in her courtyard, bolted upright in bed upon hearing Chunliu’s report.
“Chunliu, what did you say? Zhennan Wang has been summoned to the palace by His Majesty?”
She sought confirmation from Chunliu again, making sure she wasn’t dreaming.
After receiving Chunliu’s affirmative reply, the last traces of sleepiness vanished, and her mind cleared instantly.
“Chunliu, help me dress and wash up quickly. Send someone to Father and Mother first, and have my brothers and sisters-in-law gather there as well. Tell them I have something important.”
After giving these instructions, she added, “Once you’re done, pack your things quickly. Follow the original plan with Xiayue and the others, and don’t return to the mansion.”
What was supposed to happen tomorrow seemed to have been moved up to today because of her actions last night.
By the time Xia Xing’er arrived at her parents’ courtyard, everyone else was already there—only she was missing.
Once inside, she wasted no time and got straight to the point: “Father, Mother, brothers, sisters-in-law—that person has just summoned Zhennan Wang to the palace. Things have been moved up. How are your preparations?”
“Pack the important items from the courtyard into the ring, but leave some behind as well, so that when those who come to confiscate property arrive, they won’t find nothing and cause trouble. Alright, now tell me what each of you has prepared!”