Chapter 21

Chen Shuwan, and then Liu Shuyi? What's going on?

Could it be that Liu Shuyi also went to Ningxiang Palace to bully Shen Shufei?

It shouldn't be like that. Two days ago, the Eighth Prince smashed Youzhi Palace, and the concubines in the palace should be well aware that this prince is not someone to be trifled with. They wouldn't dare to deliberately cause trouble at Ningxiang Palace.

The three Secretaries of the Chancellery looked at each other, feeling that something was amiss.

Indeed, the concubines in the harem, since they have managed to secure their positions, are certainly not fools. With the precedent of Chen Shuwan at Youzhi Palace, how could they rashly go to Ningxiang Palace to deliberately upset Shen Shufei? Don't they worry that their own palaces might be smashed like Youzhi Palace by Zhao Hongrun?

After such a detailed analysis, the three Secretaries of the Chancellery felt even more that something was not right.

"Liu Shuyi's Fangxin Palace... Could it have been smashed by that rebellious son?"

After a moment of silence, the Emperor, feeling a headache, asked.

To his surprise, the eunuch shook his head and said, "The Eighth Prince did not destroy Liu Shuyi's Fangxin Palace or damage any items inside. He only scolded Liu Shuyi for bullying Shen Shufei together with Chen Shuwan..."

"Hmm?" Hearing that Zhao Hongrun did not destroy anything this time, the Emperor secretly breathed a sigh of relief but was genuinely puzzled.

"Liu Shuyi... Does she have any relationship with Chen Shuwan?" The Emperor quietly asked Tong Xian.

Tong Xian found it amusing. In the past, Liu Shuyi and Chen Shuwan were rivals for the Emperor's favor, and they were like fire and water, fighting like a heated kiln. How could they have any relationship?

"Liu Shuyi and Chen Shuwan do not have a close relationship. According to this old servant, the two ladies do not get along well."

The Emperor frowned upon hearing this: "So, that rebellious son is just causing trouble for no reason?"

"This... This old servant dares not speak rashly."

"Convey my imperial edict, and tell that rebellious son... to scram quickly!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

A while later, the news reached the Chui Gong Hall that the Eighth Prince Zhao Hongrun had left Fangxin Palace. Although he did not damage anything in Fangxin Palace, he had verbally abused Liu Shuyi so much that she was nearly driven mad, and she was now throwing a tantrum in her own palace.

Everyone thought the matter was over, but unexpectedly, just half an hour later, another message reached the Chui Gong Hall, saying that the Eighth Prince Zhao Hongrun had quarreled with Sun Shurong at Guanxue Palace, accusing her of bullying Shen Shufei together with Chen Shuwan.

Similarly, Zhao Hongrun did not destroy anything this time. He only used words to provoke Sun Shurong, making her so angry that she wanted to lash out but dared not, feeling extremely frustrated.

What is that rebellious son up to? Is he so bored that he plans to offend all the concubines in the palace? What benefit does this bring him? What benefit does it bring to his mother, Shen Shufei?

The Emperor of the Great Wei Dynasty gradually felt that this matter was not as simple as he thought. He did not immediately send someone to warn Zhao Hongrun; instead, he wanted to see what this rebellious son was up to.

In just half a day, Zhao Hongrun visited the palaces of eight concubines, scolding each of them. Although the concubines did not dare to argue with Zhao Hongrun due to the precedent of Chen Shuwan, they were not willing to swallow their anger. They all decided to tell the Emperor about this matter when he came, exaggerating the rudeness and wickedness of the Eighth Prince Zhao Hongrun.

The poor Emperor of the Great Wei Dynasty, Zhao Yuansi, was unaware of this.

Today, he did not choose to visit Shen Shufei's Ningxiang Palace. After all, Shen Shufei's health was not good, and while she could chat with him, she could not serve him in bed. Therefore, even though the Emperor had been visiting Ningxiang Palace frequently these days, when he had physical needs, he would choose other concubines.

For example, the once-favored Chen Shuwan.

Of course, the Emperor would not choose Chen Shuwan at Youzhi Palace in the near future. After all, Chen Shuwan had disfigured the increasingly favored Eighth Prince Zhao Hongrun, and the Emperor had some resentment.

"Prepare the sedan chair for Fangxin Palace."

The Emperor made his decision.

Firstly, Liu Shuyi in Fangxin Palace was also a beautiful concubine, and secondly, the Emperor wanted to ask Liu Shuyi about what had happened today.

However, as soon as he entered Fangxin Palace, Liu Shuyi, who had come to greet him, knelt down and began to cry, complaining about the rudeness of the Eighth Prince Zhao Hongrun, making the Emperor of the Great Wei Dynasty extremely annoyed, and he had no mood to stay in the palace.

"My beloved, rest assured, I will handle this matter."

Leaving these words, the Emperor of the Great Wei Dynasty, ignoring the shock on Liu Shuyi's face, turned and left.

It was no wonder. After a day of hard work on state affairs, the Emperor was exhausted and only wanted to relax and enjoy himself in Fangxin Palace. He had no mood to listen to Liu Shuyi's endless complaints about Zhao Hongrun.

To put it bluntly, was the Emperor of the Great Wei Dynasty unaware of the misdeeds of the Eighth Prince Zhao Hongrun? Did he need Liu Shuyi to point it out?

"Is Your Majesty changing your mind and not planning to stay in Fangxin Palace?"

"No, Liu Shuyi has been complaining about that rebellious son. How could I have the mood? Let's go to another palace."

"Where does Your Majesty plan to go?"

"I... " He stopped halfway, suddenly realizing that in the afternoon, Zhao Hongrun had offended the remaining eight concubines with baseless accusations.

In other words, even if he went to another concubine's palace, the situation might not be much different from listening to Liu Shuyi's complaints about Zhao Hongrun in Fangxin Palace.

Could it be...

The Emperor's heart sank, and he frowned, thinking for a moment. Suddenly, a strange expression appeared on his face, and he gritted his teeth and muttered, "So that's it!... That rebellious son is really ruthless!"

"Your Majesty?"

"Go to Wu Guipin's Meigong Palace."

"Yes."

The next day, Zhao Hongrun did not go to the palace school for lunch. Instead, he rarely visited his sixth elder brother, Zhao Hongzhao, at Yafeng Pavilion.

Originally, Zhao Hongzhao was planning to go to the palace school to discuss literature with the scholars, but upon hearing that his eighth brother intended to visit, he rarely took leave from the palace school and waited in his pavilion.

Sure enough, Zhao Hongrun arrived on time.

Zhao Hongzhao invited his eighth brother to the front hall and ordered his servants to serve the sumptuous feast he had prepared.

"Does Elder Brother know I'm coming to freeload?"

Zhao Hongrun asked with a smile.

Zhao Hongzhao smiled but did not speak. In fact, he was well aware that his eighth brother, due to being cut off from the monthly stipend by their father, had been living in dire straits, often freeloading at Shen Shufei's Ningxiang Palace or Zhao Hongxuan's pavilion, and even yesterday, he had to go to the palace school to listen to a lecture just to get a meal.

To be a prince to this extent was unprecedented.

"Is Hongrun here just to freeload?" Zhao Hongzhao asked with a knowing smile.

He had heard last night that after parting ways with them, Zhao Hongrun had visited the palaces of several concubines, accusing them of bullying Shen Shufei with baseless charges. Including Chen Shuwan, Zhao Hongrun had offended all nine concubines.

Zhao Hongzhao did not believe that Zhao Hongrun was just causing trouble out of boredom.

Considering the cause and effect, it was not hard to guess the purpose of the Eighth Prince.

"Brother, do you plan to force Father this way?"

Zhao Hongzhao asked curiously.

At that moment, Zhao Hongrun was looking around the walls of the front hall with bright eyes, as Yafeng Pavilion's walls were hung with the Sixth Prince Zhao Hongzhao's works, which were worth a fortune in his eyes.

"Indeed, I can't hide anything from Elder Brother!"

Zhao Hongrun glanced at his sixth elder brother and said with a smile, "Yes, Father broke his promise, not only refusing to let me leave the palace but also cutting off my monthly stipend. This is truly unbearable."

The conflict between the current Emperor and Zhao Hongrun was a hot topic in the palace, and Zhao Hongzhao found it amusing.

Never before had a prince fought so fiercely with the current Emperor over leaving the palace, which was truly unprecedented.

"If Father were not a wise ruler, you would have been confined to the ancestral temple long ago for your actions," Zhao Hongzhao sighed.

Hearing this, Zhao Hongrun shrugged, thinking that it was precisely because the Emperor was wise that he had to fight. Otherwise, what was the point? He could just wait at home until he was fifteen.

After some thought, Zhao Hongrun said in a low voice, "I came today because I have a favor to ask of Elder Brother."

To his surprise, Zhao Hongzhao waved his hand and said nonchalantly, "No problem. I will visit my mother at Meigong Palace and ask her to speak ill of you to Father."

"Hey?" Even Zhao Hongrun was taken aback by being seen through so easily.

After a moment, he laughed at himself.

Who was he facing? The Sixth Prince Zhao Hongzhao, known as the "Qilin Child," the most outstanding among the talented people of the world!

"Elder Brother... is truly..."

"Talking to a smart person is so much easier, isn't it?" Zhao Hongzhao smiled.

After interacting with Zhao Hongrun and Zhao Hongxuan, he found them both easy to get along with, so he no longer felt constrained.

"Ha ha." Zhao Hongrun laughed.

"However, by doing this, you owe me a favor. How do you plan to repay me?"

"This... What does Elder Brother suggest?"

It seemed Zhao Hongzhao had already thought about it and said enthusiastically, "When I host the next poetry gathering, will you join me?"

"Poetry gathering... " Zhao Hongrun frowned slightly.

He had heard of the Sixth Prince Zhao Hongzhao's poetry gatherings, where he invited scholars and the educated young men from the families of high officials to Yafeng Pavilion to drink, eat, and recite poetry. While it was considered very elegant, Zhao Hongrun was not interested.

"If the Eighth Prince is unwilling, we can forget about it," Zhao Hongzhao said with a smile. "After all, I will explain on your behalf, and your actions will not anger my mother."

"Is this a threat?" Zhao Hongrun felt a bit frustrated.

"Not at all. I am just looking forward to having the Eighth Prince join the next poetry gathering," Zhao Hongzhao said sincerely.

Zhao Hongrun felt somewhat helpless: "Being caught in a weak spot... to be honest, it's quite annoying."

"Then... do we have a deal?"

"Um, deal!"

That night, when the Emperor of the Great Wei Dynasty, Zhao Yuansi, visited Wu Guipin's Meigong Palace again, Wu Guipin, who had been gentle the previous day, began to complain about Zhao Hongrun, much to the Emperor's surprise and suspicion.

Is that rebellious son planning to offend all the mothers of his siblings?