Chapter 110 I Want to See Him

Chapter 110: I Want to See Him

Xiao Jing ordered the news of His Majesty's fall from his horse to be suppressed, so it had not yet spread outside the palace.

Liu Wenyuan took his carriage to the palace gate.

The sunlight was nice today, shining on the vermilion palace gate.

Liu Wenyuan stepped down from the carriage, straightened his robes, and walked toward the gate.

On the day of the palace banquet, when he returned to the capital, His Majesty merely exchanged pleasantries and said that a favorable day would be chosen later for his reinstatement. That day had been set for today.

So today, he was entering the palace under imperial order.

He wore no official robes today, only a simple blue robe.

The palace gate was the same as ever.

But the moment Liu Wenyuan set foot inside, he sensed something was wrong.

The guards at the gate had been replaced; their faces were unfamiliar and their eyes cold.

Liu Wenyuan's brow furrowed slightly as he continued inward.

Along the way, all the eunuchs and maids he encountered kept their heads low, walking hurriedly, as if hiding from something.

Outside the Qianqing Palace, he was stopped.

"Lord Liu, please hold."

A pale, beardless middle-aged eunuch stood at the door, a practiced smile on his face.

"Eunuch, I am here today by imperial decree to perform the investiture ceremony and to have an audience with His Majesty."

"Investiture ceremony?" The eunuch repeated, as if to confirm. Then he sighed.

"Lord Liu, perhaps you haven't heard? His Majesty has been unwell these past few days. The imperial physician prescribed complete rest. No one is allowed to see him."

Liu Wenyuan's brow furrowed deeper.

Unwell?

On the night of the Lantern Festival, he had seen His Majesty at the palace banquet, full of vitality. How could he have become so ill in just a few days that he couldn't even receive anyone?

"Eunuch," he asked cautiously, "what illness has His Majesty contracted?"

The eunuch shook his head, his smile unchanged.

"That... this servant does not know. I wouldn't dare to pry into the physician's affairs."

He paused, then added a sentence, as if to reassure, or perhaps to warn:

"Lord Liu, please don't worry. Once His Majesty recovers, the investiture ceremony will surely be rescheduled. Return to your residence and rest. Prince Rui is handling all court affairs."

Liu Wenyuan entered the palace only to meet Prince Rui instead of His Majesty.

In the Imperial Study, Xiao Jing was seated behind the imperial desk, reviewing official reports.

Seeing Liu Wenyuan enter, Xiao Jing set down his brush and rose to greet him with full etiquette.

"Lord Liu, please have a seat."

Liu Wenyuan did not sit.

"Your Highness Prince Rui, may I be so bold as to ask: when will His Majesty recover from his illness?"

Xiao Jing shook his head.

"The imperial physician cannot say for certain. Head injuries take the longest to recover from. At best, ten to fifteen days. At worst... who knows."

Liu Wenyuan's heart suddenly sank.

Xiao Jing seemed not to notice his reaction and continued,

"But rest assured, Lord Liu. We sons are taking care of our father. And as for Seventh Brother, I also have people looking after him. These days, he is staying in the side hall next to Qianqing Palace. Close to Father, so he can feel at ease."

As Liu Wenyuan left the palace, he felt as if an eternity had passed.

In just a matter of days, the entire palace had turned upside down.

What he saw and heard in the palace—after decades of ups and downs in the court, how could he fail to see what was behind these words?

The entire imperial court was already under Prince Rui's control.

The carriage rolled through the long street and turned into the lane where the Liu residence stood.

Liu Wenyuan lifted the curtain and gazed at the gate drawing closer.

At the gate stood a slender, tall figure in a pale blue robe.

The carriage stopped.

Liu Wenyuan stepped down, and Liu Qingci rushed over, his face full of hope.

"Father, how did it go?"

These past few days, Liu Qingci had been going to Prince Yu's mansion every day.

But each time, he received the same reply: His Highness Prince Yu was still in the palace and had not returned.

What could have kept him in the palace for three or four days without even sending word?

But given his status, he could not enter the palace without a summons, nor did he have any way to find out.

Today, his father was going to the palace for the investiture ceremony—perhaps... he could see him.

Liu Wenyuan looked into his son's expectant eyes and said nothing.

He simply walked over and gently patted his son on the shoulder, as if to comfort him.

As a father, he naturally knew that his son had been visiting Prince Yu's mansion every day.

"We'll talk inside." Liu Wenyuan said, his voice deep.

Inside the study, Liu Wenyuan closed the door.

Liu Qingci stood before him, gazing at his father’s face—so stern it seemed to drip with water.

His voice grew steadier. “Father, what exactly happened?”

“His Majesty… has met with an accident.”

Liu Qingci’s pupils contracted sharply.

“What?”

“The Emperor fell from his horse, struck his head, and has remained unconscious.” Liu Wenyuan spoke deliberately, word by word. “Four days ago.”

Four days ago.

Liu Qingci’s heart clenched in his chest.

“What about Prince Yu?” he blurted out.

Liu Wenyuan saw the sudden panic flash in his son’s eyes—and felt helpless.

“Qingci,” he said, “Prince Yu…”

Liu Wenyuan paused.

Liu Qingci’s face had already paled.

“Father,” his voice began to tremble, “what happened to him?”

“He’s confined within the palace.” Liu Wenyuan took a deep breath. “Prince Rui’s men are guarding him; he cannot leave.”

Liu Wenyuan recounted everything he had witnessed in the palace, along with intelligence gathered from former colleagues.

Liu Qingci listened, his body swaying—then steadied himself against the edge of the table.

His mind went blank—yet seethed with chaos.

“Prince Rui will never release him.” Liu Qingci’s voice was eerily calm.

Liu Wenyuan frowned, deep in thought: “Qingci, you were once close to Prince Rui—you know his character well. Why say that?”

“Precisely because I know his character.” Liu Qingci closed his eyes. “Given the threat Xiao Yan poses to him, he will certainly not spare him.”

In truth, though he had known Xiao Jing for years, he had never truly understood him.

It was only through recent events—after all he had endured—that he finally saw the man clearly.

Liu Wenyuan spoke gravely: “Prince Rui… currently enjoys the deep trust of the ministers; no one dares oppose him.”

Liu Qingci was no longer listening.

Four days had already passed—how much longer could Xiao Jing endure?

Xiao Yan could be in danger at any moment.

His eyes were rimmed red, yet his voice fell as softly as a snowflake sinking into a deep pool.

“Father, I want to see him.”

“Qingci…”

“I want to see him,” Liu Qingci repeated.

He looked at his father, his gaze calm.

“I know you’ll call me impulsive. I know the current situation in the palace. I know I may accomplish nothing by going.”

Liu Wenyuan gazed into his son’s eyes—so resolute, so unyielding.

He knew he could not dissuade him.

“Wait a moment.”

Liu Wenyuan turned, walked to the bookshelf, reached up to the top shelf, and retrieved a long, slender sandalwood box.

He opened it and withdrew a token.

The token was cast entirely from black gold: the character *yù* (imperial) engraved on its front, a coiled dragon motif on its back.

“This is…”

“On the night of the Lantern Festival, His Majesty gave it to me.” Liu Wenyuan handed the token to his son. “He said that wronging the Liu family had been his oversight. As an apology, he granted me one wish—and this token is its proof.”

Liu Qingci looked down at the token resting in his palm.

The black gold was heavy—its weight pressing into his skin, numbing it slightly.

“Now, with this token, you may enter the palace at any time, unannounced,” Liu Wenyuan said.

He let out a deep sigh and again patted his son’s shoulder.

“Go. Use this—and perhaps you’ll be able to see him.”