Chapter 752: Chapter 714: Detained in the Imperial Clan Court

When the banquet was over, Song Wei deliberately found an opportunity to stay behind and ask Zhao Xi about Yang Xueru.

"Was Miss Yang’s injury really caused by His Highness?"

Zhao Xi smiled faintly, "I have already confessed before Father Emperor, there’s nothing to argue about."

Song Wei hadn’t participated in the hunt, but had been at the viewing platform during the day. Like Jinbao, he saw several young women enter the forest, especially witnessing Qi Xuan panic and run out, clearly visible.

He harbored doubts, but swallowed them down upon hearing Zhao Xi’s words.

The Yang Family’s tent.

Yang Huan frowned deeply, "Our third sister was injured like this, are we really just going to let it go?"

Chief Minister Yang sat in a round-backed chair, rubbing two walnut shells in his hands. Though he felt discontent within, he maintained a composed facade, "At the previous banquet, did you truly believe the Emperor was going to hold the Crown Prince accountable? It was clearly a disguised reproach towards our Yang Family for failing to teach our daughters properly, ignoring the imperial edict and entering the forest at will. But since your third sister is the Crown Prince Consort, the Emperor showed some leniency and didn’t directly tear us down."

In such matters, even if the Crown Prince was truly wrong, how could the Emperor possibly embarrass his own son in front of so many people?

"But..."

Yang Huan still wanted to say something when a servant came in to report that Miss Qi had arrived and wanted to see the third young lady.

Thinking of that fiancée, Yang Huan sighed and waved to the servant, "Let her in!"

Qi Xuan entered Yang Xueru’s chamber. Due to the injury, she hadn’t attended the banquet and was lying on the couch, originally talking to Cai Xiu about something. Upon hearing someone enter, she quickly fell silent.

Seeing that it was Qi Xuan, Yang Xueru’s face darkened slightly, "What are you here for?"

Qi Xuan’s lips curved into a smile, "We will soon be family, you’re injured, can’t I come to see you?"

Yang Xueru’s expression remained unpleasant, "I know you’re still resentful over the birthday banquet incident. Regardless of whoever in my Yang Family owes you, today’s arrow has already repaid the debt. What more do you want?"

"Repaid?" Qi Xuan sneered, "Then why didn’t you dare admit in front of the Crown Prince that I was the one who injured you? Afraid to admit the arrow was to repay a debt?"

Saying this, Qi Xuan casually sat down beside her, her fingers playing with the hairpin on her head, "By remaining silent, are you protecting your future sister-in-law, or are you scheming to push this arrow onto His Highness and make him feel guilty towards you?"

Having her thoughts exposed, Yang Xueru’s face turned pale, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Seeing Yang Xueru acting so pretentiously, Qi Xuan felt disgusted, though she still maintained a smile, "You didn’t attend the banquet earlier, but His Highness has already admitted that he injured you, so you’ve succeeded. Accordingly, I prematurely congratulate you on eternal harmony and love with His Highness."

The tone reveals little sincerity.

Even a fool like Yang Xueru wouldn’t believe these words were sincere from Qi Xuan. Previously oblivious, today she realized how terrifying this woman was.

"If you have nothing else, please leave now, I’m tired."

The wound ached faintly, and Yang Xueru coldly issued an eviction order.

——

Only a few were at the hunting grounds, and it wasn’t hard for Emperor Guangxi to learn the true reason for Yang Xueru’s injury. The next day, Mr. Cui reported his findings to him.

Upon hearing it was someone from the Qi Family, Emperor Guangxi’s eyes darkened.

Mr. Cui advised, "Last night at the banquet, the Crown Prince took the initiative to admit it was his doing, indicating he doesn’t want the matter blown out of proportion. Perhaps you should feign ignorance, Your Majesty?"

Emperor Guangxi remained silent, and Mr. Cui, unable to guess the Emperor’s thoughts, retreated dejectedly.

...

In the following two or three days, the hunt proceeded as usual, without any disturbance caused by Yang Xueru’s injury.

Just as everyone thought this year’s hunt would end as ordinarily as in past years, something unexpected happened.

Emperor Guangxi was struck by a stray arrow.

The arrow also bore the mark of the Crown Prince.

While the future Crown Princess Consort’s injury stirred only minor ripples, which some might not have even known about, Emperor Guangxi’s injury struck like a tempest, scattering the entire hunting ground’s birds and beasts, shocking ministers and citizens alike.

Outside the Emperor’s tent, ministers gathered in crowds, including Song Wei, Chief Minister Yang, and others.

Zhao Xi stood at the forefront, handsome features cloaked in frost, his eyes fixed on the entrance.

The Imperial Physician was inside attending to the diagnosis, and Mr. Cui hadn’t come out either.

The sky was gloomy, dark clouds weighed heavily, stifling people with their pressure.

Everyone was waiting, and at the same time, knife-like glances stabbed at Zhao Xi’s back.

A few days ago, it was the soon-to-be Crown Princess Consort who was injured, and today the Emperor was hurt. Was it coincidence or intentional?

In past dynasties, there were instances of attempting to assassinate the Emperor using stray arrows during hunts.

Everyone knew the Crown Prince’s archery was unmatched, yet he injured two people; first his unsanctioned wife, and second his father. It makes one ponder whether Yang Xueru’s injury was merely a setup for an assassination attempt on the Emperor.

Some ministers lost patience and stepped forward to accuse: "First the soon-to-be Crown Princess Consort, now the Emperor. Shouldn’t the Crown Prince provide us ministers a reasonable explanation?"

One stepped out, emboldening others, who followed up with: "Assassinating the Emperor is a grave crime. If a Prince breaks the law, he should be punished like a commoner. The Emperor is unconscious and can’t govern; Chief Minister Yang, please say a fair word, how should this matter be handled?"

Chief Minister Yang glanced at Zhao Xi, who remained motionless throughout, then lowered his gaze and said: "If Princes commit crimes, the Imperial Clan Court will handle it. Asking me about such matters is futile."

He said he couldn’t make a decision, but he had actually pointed the other ministers towards the fact that Zhao Xi, as Crown Prince, should be sent to the Imperial Clan Court for attempting to assassinate the Emperor.

The ministers started whispering among themselves, when an angry shout came from behind, "Nonsense!"

Everyone turned to see Song Yuanbao angrily approaching and standing beside Zhao Xi, glaring at the ministers, "Who told you that the arrow with the Crown Prince’s mark must have been shot by the Crown Prince?"

Song Wei looked at him sternly, "This is not the place for you to be, go back first."

"I refuse!" Song Yuanbao stubbornly stayed, "I’m classmates with His Highness; now that he’s in trouble, how can I stand idly by?"

Zhao Xi also said, "Don’t be foolish. Listen to your father and go back first."

Song Yuanbao clenched his teeth and looked at Zhao Xi, "Even if it’s not your doing, will you accept it?"

Zhao Xi replied indifferently, "It has nothing to do with you."

"How can it have nothing to do with me?" Song Yuanbao clenched his fists.

Zhao Xi’s expression remained calm, "If you refuse to leave, I’ll have someone escort you out."

"Zhao Xi!" Driven to desperation, Song Yuanbao shouted his name regardless of the occasion, "About Miss Yang’s matter you already..."

"Shut up!" Zhao Xi interrupted him and called a few guards to take Song Yuanbao away from in front of Emperor Guangxi’s main tent.

After this small episode, the ministers were silent for a moment, and then they began arguing again, about how to deal with the Crown Prince.

At that moment, the curtain of the tent was lifted, and out came Mr. Cui.

The ministers approached eagerly, and Chief Minister Yang asked, "Mr. Cui, how is the Emperor’s condition?"

Mr. Cui’s face looked gloomy; hearing Chief Minister Yang’s inquiry, he shook his head and sighed, "Not good."

Those four words made everyone’s heart skip a beat.

Dark clouds gathered more densely; the sky became darker, as if a heavy rain was about to burst forth.

Standing in front of the Emperor’s tent, everyone harbored their own thoughts.

Someone sneered, "If anything happens to the Emperor, who will be held accountable?"

Someone chimed in, "Since he was hit by the Crown Prince’s arrow, naturally the Crown Prince should be held accountable."

Thus, Zhao Xi was drawn into the matter once more.

This time no one asked Chief Minister Yang, but directly looked to Mr. Cui, "Mr. Cui has served the Emperor for decades; surely everyone present listens to his words. Since the Emperor is unconscious, please decide how to handle this matter. We need a resolution for the ministers, don’t we?"

Eunuch Sanbao anxiously said: "You must be mistaken. How could my Lord’s Highness attempt to assassinate the Emperor? He’s already the Crown Prince; what would he gain?"

The person who spoke earlier sneered, "What would he gain? The Crown Prince knows best himself."

Eunuch Sanbao looked at the speaker, recognizing him as someone from the Honglu Temple, who had once been aided by His Highness, but had defected to the Second Prince’s faction after His Highness secretly traveled to Jiangnan for a month and returned.

Not only him, but many ministers who had previously supported the Crown Prince turned against him during that month, as if struck by madness. There wasn’t much remaining support for the Crown Prince in the court, and if he was confirmed to have attempted an assassination, His Highness’s future would be utterly ruined.

Thinking of this, cold sweat broke out on Eunuch Sanbao’s back. He wanted to argue further but was restrained by a stern glance from Mr. Cui.

Eunuch Sanbao dared not make another sound and retreated to one side.

Mr. Cui turned to Zhao Xi, "The Imperial Physician just removed the arrow; I looked at it, and it indeed bears the mark of His Highness. Does His Highness have anything to say?"

Zhao Xi’s fingers curled inside his Purple Gold Narrow Sleeve, "No."

Mr. Cui took a deep breath and summoned a group of guards, "In that case, escort His Highness back to the Imperial Clan Court."