Daxuan Kingdom, the twenty-first year of Deshun.
Layer upon layer of Qin bricks and Han tiles, purple pillars and golden beams, manifesting the Emperor's majestic aura, exceptionally splendid.
Xiao Jinxing arrived at the Emperor's sleeping palace.
It was already deep into the night.
Xiao Jinxing sat on a wheelchair that had been prepared in advance, waiting at the entrance of the sleeping palace to be summoned.
Soon, a servant came out and reported, "Prince Chen, His Majesty has been waiting for you for a long time."
"Thank you, Eunuch Mu."
"Please, Prince Chen." Eunuch Mu, immensely respectful, bowed low and pushed Prince Chen's wheelchair, entering the Emperor's palace.
Emperor Xiao Zhanping, dressed in a brocade robe embroidered with golden dragons, sat in front of the inkstone platform, writing with brush and ink.
"This son pays respects to Father Emperor." Xiao Jinxing was immensely respectful, attempting to rise.
"Xing'er, you have difficulty walking; no need for formalities."
"Thank you, Father Emperor."
Xiao Zhanping set down his brush and ink, sat sideways on the soft couch of the Dragon Throne in the sleeping palace, "I heard you were assassinated today?"
"Thank you for your concern, Father Emperor. This son was fortunate to escape unharmed. Ye Qichi almost lost his life protecting me. The Imperial Physician has already arrived at this son's residence and is currently treating him," Xiao Jinxing respectfully responded.
Xiao Zhanping nodded indifferently, then asked, "Do you know who it was?"
"This son does not know."
"This servant is here." Eunuch Mu quickly kneeled to pay respects.
"Bring that thing over here."
"This servant will fetch it now."
Saying so, Eunuch Mu briskly walked towards the nearby inkstone platform, picked up a long wooden box, and respectfully handed it to Xiao Jinxing.
Xiao Jinxing opened it, looked at a blood-stained arrow inside, and, bewildered, looked towards Emperor Xiao Zhanping, "Father Emperor?"
"This was taken from the assassin. Take a close look," said Xiao Zhanping.
Xiao Jinxing took out the arrow and carefully examined it.
On the sharpest part of the arrowhead, a "Chu" character was engraved.
In the Daxuan Kingdom, only people from Prince Chu could possess such arrows.
Xiao Jinxing dared not speak.
Xiao Zhanping, observing Xiao Jinxing's expression, asked, "What do you think?"
"This son does not believe it was Second Imperial Brother. Not to mention that Second Imperial Brother has no reason to assassinate me, even if he wanted to, he would not use his own arrow to leave evidence," Xiao Jinxing spoke candidly.
"So what you mean is, someone deliberately framed and set you up."
"This son is foolish and dares not jump to conclusions easily."
Xiao Zhanping sneered slightly, changing the subject, "I called you here tonight mainly to check on your well-being. Seeing you unharmed, I am also at peace. Additionally, Ye Qichi saved you and deserves a reward."
"Thank you, Father Emperor."
"Go back and rest early, I am also tired."
"May Father Emperor rest early, this son takes his leave," Xiao Jinxing bowed.
Eunuch Mu hurriedly pushed Xiao Jinxing out.
Xiao Zhanping spoke towards the screen, "Come out."
"Yes, Father Emperor," Prince Xiao Jinsen respectfully walked out.
"Xiao Jinxing is not too stupid," Xiao Zhanping remarked.
The summon today was mainly to test whether Xiao Jinxing had other intentions!
It seems that he does not!
"Third brother has always been clever."
"Who do you say is framing you?" asked Xiao Zhanping.
"This son dares not say."
Xiao Zhanping coldly smiled, "The Empress there is far too impatient."
Xiao Jinsen dared not respond.
"After Bai Wenwu returns from the frontier in a month, I will hold a feast in the Imperial Palace to celebrate his return, and then I will officially promise Bai Mowan to you."
"Thank you, Father Emperor," Xiao Jinsen hastily kneeled to express his thanks.
"Don't let the Empress grab hold of any of your weaknesses."
"This son will heed your teachings!"
Xiao Zhanping waved his hand, signaling Xiao Jinsen to leave.
As soon as Xiao Jinsen left the bedchamber, his expression darkened instantly.
He had always wanted to marry Bai Mowan, not only for political reasons but because she was the only woman who had ever moved his heart.
However... these past few days, the resplendent face he saw at the gambling house kept resurfacing in his mind. He had someone investigate, and it wasn't the commoner Ye Zhilan; she was embroiled in a scandal at home that day and could not have left. It was very likely Ye Qichi, rumored to be worthless.
Hearing that Ye Qichi resembled Bai Mowan, he also felt a sense of familiarity at first glance.
Perhaps, Ye Qichi's sudden display of cleverness was due to someone instructing her from behind the scenes. Could that person be... Xiao Jinxing?!
Upon further thought.
Xiao Jinxing, now helpless and physically disabled, posed no threat even if he was intelligent.
It seemed that the Crown Prince could hardly hold back anymore!
Xiao Jinsen smirked coldly!
Anyone who blocks the path must undoubtedly be exterminated!
Xiao Jinxing was riding in a carriage, leaving the Imperial Palace.
He coldly watched the high city walls and the familiar palace buildings.
All the tragedies of his life had occurred here.
Each time he entered the palace, the grotesque memories from the past would vividly spring to his mind, impossible to shake off.
Xiao Jinxing returned to the Prince's mansion.
Xiaowu had been waiting at the gate all along, and hurriedly approached when he saw the Prince returning, "Prince."
Xiaowu always knew that the Prince's mood would be terrible after visiting the palace.
The best thing to do at this time was, naturally, to tactfully avoid him.
But he couldn't neglect to report about the Princess.
"Is there something?" Xiao Jinxing asked with a cold face.
Xiaowu's heart trembled, "It's the Princess."
"Has she died?" Xiao Jinxing asked with an icy voice.
"...No. She is sleeping soundly."
Xiao Jinxing's eyes tightened.
"The Imperial Physician said the injury isn't serious, she might recover in three days," Xiaowu reported.
Xiao Jinxing thought he had misheard.
Xiaowu repeated again, "Only three days."
Xiao Jinxing remained silent, instructing Xiaowu to push him into the sleeping chamber.
As soon as he entered, the loud snoring of Ye Qichi hit him in the face.
Indeed, she was sleeping very well.
Xiao Jinxing lifted the bed curtain.
He saw Ye Qichi sprawled on the bed, snoring loudly with her mouth open, drenched in drool that flowed onto his pillow!
He had never seen any woman as slovenly as Ye Qichi, totally lacking any semblance of a Princess!
"Ye Qichi!" Xiao Jinxing roared loudly.
Xiaowu's body shook in fright.
Knowing the Prince's bad mood after returning from the palace, was he planning to unleash all his anger on the Princess now?!
Ye Qichi moved her eyebrows slightly.
She was sleeping sweetly, who was calling her?!
"Ye Qichi!" Seeing that Ye Qichi showed no signs of waking, Xiao Jinxing yelled again.
Ye Qichi was really annoyed.
She grabbed her wildly disheveled hair and sat up from the bed angrily.
The moment she sat up, she accidentally tugged at her wound and couldn't help but cry out, "Ah, it hurts!"
Then she saw Xiao Jinxing in front of her, his face stern.
It took Ye Qichi a while to realize that she had transmigrated into the book, not just lazing at home.
She thought it was her mother waking her up.
"Have you slept enough?" Xiao Jinxing asked her coldly.
Ye Qichi looked around.
She was actually in Xiao Jinxing's bed; she thought he had discarded her corpse in the wilderness.