Imperial Palace, Nurturing Heart Palace.
The Emperor was clad in a bright yellow Dragon Robe, adorned with golden thread embroidering a fierce, clawing dragon.
At this moment, he sat in front of the desk with a brooding face, irritably flipping documents on the Dragon Desk back and forth, causing the paperwork to become a scattered mess.
Eunuch Li stood by with fear and trepidation.
Early this morning, the War Prince’s Mansion sent a letter, which left the Emperor in this agitated state after reading it.
Suddenly, the Emperor tossed the document he was holding onto the desk forcefully, asking with a gloomy expression, "Eunuch Li, why has the Fourth Prince not arrived yet?"
"Replying to The Emperor, not yet. This old servant has already sent someone to fetch him."
Looking at the dark countenance of The Emperor, having served by his side for decades, Eunuch Li bravely inquired, "Your Majesty, has the Fourth Prince caused some trouble?"
The Emperor spoke with a headache, "Indeed, he’s stirred up trouble with the last person he should provoke, even fighting with the War Prince for a woman. You know, my relationship with the War Prince has been very tense recently; don’t let him stir up a disaster."
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Li was shocked. The War Prince was a thorn in The Emperor’s side, and despite efforts, he was one who could not be easily removed. The Emperor was deeply vexed.
"Fighting over a woman? But the Fourth Prince is not known to be lecherous. Could Your Majesty be mistaken?" Eunuch Li was incredulous.
"I wish I were mistaken, but the War Prince has both witnesses and evidence — how could it be denied?"
In the midst of their conversation, a sharp-voiced report from the Little Eunuch came from the door: "Announcing to The Emperor, the Fourth Prince has arrived."
"Yes." The sharp-voiced Little Eunuch responded, turned his head, and said to the Fourth Prince waiting at the doorstep, "Fourth Prince, The Emperor summons you."
The Fourth Prince entered the Nurturing Heart Palace with unease. On his way here, he had turned the recent events over in his mind and couldn’t recall doing anything wrong, except for rescuing Situtu Qinger at the entrance of the General’s Mansion yesterday.
"Your son pays his respects to imperial father." The Fourth Prince walked respectfully to the desk, lifted the hem of his robe, and knelt to pay homage to The Emperor.
"Enough, enough, there are no outsiders here, there’s no need for such formalities." The Emperor waved his hand irritably.
"Thank you, imperial father." The Fourth Prince stood up.
Eunuch Li, a man with a keen sense of the occasion, quickly moved a stool forward for him.
After the Fourth Prince sat down, he asked with nervousness, "Imperial father, what urgent matter calls for my presence?"
The Emperor first gave him a cold look, and then slowly spoke, "Do you not know the good deeds you’ve done? Are you not aware?"
The Fourth Prince’s heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a calm facade: "Your son is unaware, please enlighten me, imperial father."
The Emperor slammed the table fiercely, "Have you eaten so much you have nothing better to do? Of all people to offend, you choose to provoke the War Prince, not even weighing your own capabilities, bringing nothing but trouble to me. Again and again, it’s all because your Empress Mother spoils you, you’ve become utterly ignorant of your place."
The Emperor had been holding back all morning, and now seeing the Fourth Prince, he could no longer restrain himself, lashing out with a torrent of harsh words.
Indeed, it was due to the matters involving the War Prince’s Mansion.
The War Prince was formidable; without settling scores with him directly, he went straight to the Emperor.
Realizing this, the Fourth Prince spoke with some defiance, "Imperial father, the War Prince is but a Prince with a Different Surname, who still relies on the Royal Family for his livelihood. Why should we fear him and concede to him in everything? Your son is not convinced."