Chapter 69 – Something Must Be Wrong

Chapter 69 - Something Must Be Wrong

Outside the hunting grounds, in the tents of those not participating in the competition, the officials of Da Li were livid.

"What nonsense is Bi Luhun spouting! Is this some sort of wedge to deliberately sabotage the relationship between Prince Jian and Princess Jian? Does he want to win by foul means?"

"It's more than that. He's already acted on it. Listen to his implications; it's as if he's sent people over, causing Princess Jian distress long ago! Perhaps Prince Jian doesn't even know yet!"

"No wonder he deliberately provoked in the grand hall, spewing arrogance, wanting to play such a hunting wager...it seems his aim was this."

"If not for this, how could their defenses be lax under urgent preparations, revealing insignificant vulnerabilities for him to exploit, sneaking in unsavory characters to unsettle Princess Jian?"

"He doesn't want to bully or humiliate Princess Jian; he wants to take her away! He understands the importance of Princess Jian!"

The border trade is crucial, concerning diplomatic relations, peace and war, and the well-being of the people. But talent is also important. How long has Wen Ruan been in the capital? Just half a year, and how many significant events and achievements has he orchestrated?

Ordinary people only hear interesting gossip and tales of struggles in the streets and alleys. But those with a bit of information and foresight can discern something from it.

The momentum of the Huo family's business in recent years, the various new inventions, businesses, and directions they've taken, the rapid resurgence of Lady Liang in the capital, dominating the market—whose shadow is missing from all these without the young master?

One wonders how his mind works, casually coming up with novel ideas, each one a golden opportunity for wealth!

Whether it's perfumed soaps, fragrances, fabrics, new wines—let's not even mention those. Just consider the recent salt production. Salt is a national necessity, and for years, countless people have tried to innovate, but despite their efforts, nothing substantial emerged. Yet, when Wen Ruan arrived, he swiftly and efficiently produced superior quality new salt!

And then there's the crops in the fields...people say that's where Wen Ruan truly excels. The same crop grows stronger under his care, yields higher than others, and he can cultivate new superior strains, increasing output five to seven times per acre!

Food is the foundation of prosperity! The wealth and vitality of the people are the roots of a prosperous era!

Such talent must not be lost; how could it be taken by the Northern Di?

Some began cursing in their hearts: "What outrageous deeds has Prince Jian done, not knowing to keep clean before marriage, daring to wrong the young master!"

Others tried to reassure themselves and others: "Don't panic. It's been so long since then; surely it's long over. It was just a fleeting affair, a casual encounter. Every man has had such experiences. As long as he doesn't fall into it and get manipulated, it will pass. At worst, he'll have to humble himself and let the young master vent his anger...the young master is so good-looking, so obedient when he smiles, and so capable. If Prince Jian isn't blind, he knows what choice to make!"

"And the most critical piece of information here isn't this: Bi Luhun once sent people to kill Prince Jian!"

"Yes, I thought of that too. Prince Jian, during his youth, went to the border a few times and clashed with the Northern Di, but most of the time, he was in the capital or traveling around our Central Plains. When did the Northern Di manage to reach into the Central Plains and set an ambush to harm a prince of Da Li?"

"There might be a traitor lurking here!"

"And that 'fleeting romance' that led Prince Jian astray needs investigation. We should start now and deal with it quickly!"

"No, we can't kill them. We need to control them first and ask if they're the mole..."

Everyone was discussing, but the Second and Third Princes were strangely out of sync, their thoughts elsewhere, not joining the conversation at all.

Today, they coincidentally shared a rare understanding, exchanging a glance unseen by others, filled with suspicion and bewilderment.

They had secretly dispatched a small team to give Bi Luhun a taste of their power, to scare him and make him realize his limits, making future negotiations easier. But in good conscience, they didn't intend to kill him. Bi Luhun couldn't die here! They wouldn't dare touch the Sixth Prince either. If they wanted to target the Sixth Prince, why would they choose this moment? What benefit would it bring them?

Their interests aligned in this matter; they wouldn't betray each other, nor was there any reason to act so ruthlessly. So why did the situation turn out like this?

How did two assassination teams appear, one targeting Zhu Yan with such brutal methods?

It was hard not to suspect Bi Luhun. This brute, though seemingly reckless, was actually cunning. Perhaps he noticed something and intentionally added fuel to the fire...trying to fish in troubled waters!

Only Bi Luhun had a deep grudge against Zhu Yan from their encounters at the border years ago. Only he would want him dead!

But they couldn't expose him because they had sent assassins. An investigation would lead back to them. This couldn't be investigated!

The Second and Third Princes felt incredibly frustrated, never expecting to cover for Bi Luhun on their own turf!

As they pondered how to salvage the situation, news came in again. More assassins had appeared, even more formidable than the previous wave! Not only did they immediately attack Bi Luhun upon sight, wounding him, but they also forced him deeper into the forest. Given this trend, he definitely wouldn't return to camp tonight!

Bi Luhun wasn't weak; the fact that he was injured and driven away spoke volumes about the strength of this wave of assassins. And they were pushing him deeper into the forest...for safety, the hunting grounds were limited to the forest's edge. One could imagine the dangers lurking further in, especially in this freezing weather. If he was stranded deep in the woods overnight, he might not survive the night!

If he died, they'd have to investigate thoroughly, inside and out. How could they avoid exposure?

The Second and Third Princes were filled with regret, their insides turning green. They couldn't intervene directly from outside, and they were beginning to pray that the Sixth Prince would step up, protecting Bi Luhun so he wouldn't die right now!

They wouldn't let whoever was stirring the pot use them as pawns in a murder plot!

"What? Someone was injured near the forest? Who?"

Was someone trying to trample their faces into the dirt?

...

The one injured near the forest was the Tenth Prince.

In the early years of the emperor's reign, palace intrigues were rampant, resulting in the loss of many princes. There was also a period when imperial concubines frequently miscarried, preventing the birth of new princes. Thus, compared to the adult princes, the Tenth Prince was much younger, only twelve this year, short in stature and very thin. He usually lacked presence and wasn't known for exceptional literary talent or high aptitude, appearing somewhat weak.

His mother, originally a palace maid, passed away seven years ago, leaving no political influence or power base for him.

Perhaps due to these circumstances, the Tenth Prince hadn't been targeted by the Second and Third Princes. Occasionally, to enhance their reputations, they would bring this brother into focus, praising him a few times and showing some care.

The Tenth Prince ventured into the forest today to find someone.

He had fallen ill in recent days, suffering from a cold, which left him very uncomfortable. However, the arrival of the envoy in the capital was a major event, and the emperor intended to demonstrate the might of the nation. All royal relatives were summoned, so how could he, as a prince, be absent? Thus, he brought his medicine and came along.

He never sought to stand out; such thoughts never crossed his mind. In the palace, he spent his days idly anyway, so changing locations made little difference. To him, it was merely a bit more hardship on the road, with no one paying attention to him and no troubles arising.

However, he underestimated the severity of his illness. Exposed to the cold winds, his condition worsened. He continued taking his medicine as usual, but his appetite vanished, and he even vomited.

The old eunuch attending to him worried about his health, feeling that this couldn't continue. With the bitter cold and inability to eat, what if his condition worsened? He decided to find something palatable for him.

The Tenth Prince's mother was from the south and loved bamboo shoots, a preference he inherited. But bamboo shoots were seasonal, and in the palace, the favored concubines would consume all the available portions during the season, leaving the Tenth Prince rarely able to enjoy them.

Now, however, they were at the hunting grounds. The terrain here was unique, with a small bamboo grove. Some bamboo could produce winter shoots in winter, and the old eunuch thought of going out to search. If he could find some, perhaps his master could eat a bit, and his recovery would be faster.

The Tenth Prince didn't know that the old eunuch had left. After waking up and asking about it, he learned what had happened. He waited for a long time in his tent but saw no one return. It was freezing outside with wild beasts lurking around, so he was somewhat worried but didn't want to cause too much of a fuss, fearing others would see and his father would punish him again. Thus, he quietly came out, planning to take a quick look at the edge of the forest. Regardless of whether he found anyone or not, he would immediately return.

As fate would have it, his luck wasn't great today, as he encountered an assassin chasing someone else.

The assassin's target wasn't him; they were just passing by. Originally quite clever, he hid behind a large tree on a slope, thinking he was well-concealed and only needed to wait for the others to pass. However, out of nowhere, two people suddenly appeared, making a big fuss about saving him, running straight towards his hiding spot with all the commotion...

Assassins aren't blind or deaf; it was only natural that they would attack!

The Tenth Prince, lacking martial arts skills, fled in panic. Already weakened by fever, he stumbled and rolled on the ground twice, scraping his scalp and tearing up from the pain.

Who were these people? None other than Wen Yu and Jing Yuqing, who had 'just finished exercising' and 'happened' to witness this incident.

Wen Yu recognized the Tenth Prince and nearly shed tears. Truly, heaven hadn't forsaken him; finally, his chance had come! No one knew how much he had sacrificed for this opportunity...

Naturally, he immediately took action, showering the prince with concern and care, making a grand display... As if the Tenth Prince hadn't merely tripped but was on the brink of death, and he and Jing Yuqing had saved his life, performing a great deed worthy of gratitude from heaven and earth, an extraordinary event!

Tenth Prince: ...

Unlike Wen Yu, Jing Yuqing was completely different. Despite this 'life-saving grace', he maintained a composed demeanor, neither humble nor arrogant, cool and detached, with a noble air. There was no indication that he intended to get close or curry favor.

The Tenth Prince looked down at his imperial robes, certain that no one could fail to recognize the significance of such attire.

Though young, he was still a prince, familiar with the cutthroat power struggles at the pinnacle of authority, far beyond the imagination of ordinary people. Having endured much hardship since childhood and seen the coldness of human nature and the tendency to flatter the powerful while stepping on the weak, how could he fail to read between the lines?

Hmph, some people wanted to claim credit for saving his life yet looked down on him, did they?

Who did they think was eager for their attention?

The Tenth Prince had his own survival tactics. When faced with things or people he disliked, he rarely showed explicit disgust. He spoke little but remained polite, neither overly intimate nor particularly distant.

This continued until someone heard the commotion and approached, dealing with the assassin.

"Sixth Brother!"

From afar, the Tenth Prince recognized the person and ran over with teary eyes, ready to throw himself forward. Zhu Yan seemed to find him dirty and stepped aside.

If he couldn't stop in time, wouldn't he fall again!

Wen Ruan felt a pang of sympathy. Although he didn't know this child, seeing the boy foolishly charge over, seemingly full of trust and never imagining that Zhu Yan would dodge—or that it would be fine even if he did, or that another bump wouldn't matter—he stepped forward and caught the child.

In that embrace, he sensed something amiss. The child's weight distribution seemed unusually severe...

Looking down, he quickly identified the problem. Gently lifting the corner of the Tenth Prince's clothing, he carefully pinched his ankle.

"It hurts..."

The Tenth Prince allowed him to examine him, looking pitiful with tears in his eyes.

"No, you mustn't move. Your foot is sprained."

Upon closer inspection, his complexion also seemed off. Wen Ruan reached out to feel the child's forehead. Indeed, he was still running a fever!

How could this child be so naive! Trusting anyone, throwing himself at any older brother, allowing himself to be touched and examined, unaware of his own illness?

In another situation, Wen Ruan might have lost his temper, but this was a prince, and he didn't seem qualified to scold him. Besides, the child was already pitiable enough...

He beckoned Nanxing over. "Carry him out and find a court physician for him. Make sure he gets treated before returning."

Nanxing hesitated. "But if I leave, Master will be without assistance..."

"You'll be back soon," Wen Ruan said sternly. "What could possibly go wrong in such a short time?"

The Tenth Prince wiped his eyes. "No, it's unnecessary. I can..."

"What can you do? Don't be stubborn," Wen Ruan pointed to Zhu Yan beside him. "See, I have him here. I'm not short of help; it's just a matter of escorting you. It won't inconvenience me at all."

The Tenth Prince was adept at reading people. His companion's eyes were clear and sincere, firm in his concern. Tears welled up again. "I don't want to cause trouble for myself. The old eunuch by my side saw that I couldn't eat and left when I was asleep, saying he wanted to find some bamboo shoots for me. I couldn't wait for him to return and became worried, so..."

Wen Ruan turned to Lan Tian. "Why don't you also lend a hand and help search for him?"

Lan Tian responded promptly. "Yes!"

At this moment, the words of the princess were more influential than those of the prince.

The Tenth Prince, with red-rimmed eyes, looked at Zhu Yan. "Sixth Brother..."

"What's there to fear now that everything's resolved?" Zhu Yan still disapproved of the dirt covering the prince and kept his distance, only tapping the uninjured side of his forehead with a finger. "Crybaby, obediently go back and get treated. If I find out you've been disobedient or haven't recovered by the time you should have, I'll drag you to the training grounds for a beating."

Although Zhu Yan was fierce, the Tenth Prince wasn't afraid. He quietly agreed and let Nanxing carry him away.

He hadn't been spared hardships within the palace walls. He hadn't been careless, getting entangled in others' schemes, facing life-threatening situations, or experiencing betrayal, cunning deception, or honeyed words masking hidden daggers...

Yet there was one person who would always save him.

This person had a peculiar temper, sometimes speaking harshly, sometimes tricking him for fun, frightening him, sometimes taking him to the training grounds for discipline when he couldn't bear to watch, and sometimes forcing extra lessons upon him, overwhelming him with work.

He had never been coddled, appearing to others as someone who often bullied him.

However, every action this person took toward him, without exception, resulted in his benefit.

He remembered his mother's words before her death, clearly recalling her advice. She said not to judge a person by their words but by their actions...

Sixth Brother had a bad temper but the softest heart. Whenever he encountered troubles he couldn't resolve on his own, seeking help from others proved futile. But Sixth Brother would always extend a helping hand.

Yet Sixth Brother never boasted about these deeds, and thus, he didn't want to tell others about them either.

"Hold on," Zhu Yan seemed to notice Wen Yu and Jing Yuqing only now. "What's the deal with these two?"

Now the Tenth Prince had all the justification he needed, clinging to Nanxing's shoulder. "I accidentally saw the assassin pass by. I was hiding well behind that mound over there, but they insisted on coming to save me!"

This didn't sound like gratitude for being saved; it sounded more like tattling!

After lodging his complaint, the Tenth Prince gently tugged at Nanxing's clothes, signaling him to leave quickly. He dared not look at Zhu Yan, only secretly waving at Wen Ruan from an angle where Zhu Yan couldn't see.

He had always worried that his Sixth Brother's dogged temper would prevent him from finding a wife. Now... his Sixth Sister-in-law was truly wonderful, a real catch for his Sixth Brother.

Wen Yu was utterly shocked.

In the future he knew, the Tenth Prince and Jing Yuqing were in perfect harmony as ruler and minister, a benevolent monarch and a powerful official, never suspicious of each other, their political views in accord. They should have been a perfect match, their personalities well-suited. But that wasn't the case? At their first meeting, there were already signs of mutual dislike. What could be done about this in the future? It shouldn't be like this!

And why did the Tenth Prince seem to have such a good relationship with Zhu Yan? In his previous life, he had never heard any similar rumors or known of any connection between Zhu Yan and the Tenth Prince. When he tried to help Zhu Yan by building connections and expanding his network, he had considered reaching out to the princes in the palace, but this Tenth Prince seemed to dislike him intensely, never even giving him a proper glance... How could he trust Wen Ruan so much upon their first meeting?

Something was wrong...

There must have been some mistake somewhere. It shouldn't be like this!