Chapter 385: Disgraceful (2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Chu Yi said faintly, “Lord Xiao, it’s really not appropriate to say that someone is trying to a.s.sa.s.sinate someone without evidence!”
“It’s better not to wrong innocent people.”
A few people revealed strange expressions and felt that the Eldest Prince’s words sounded a little familiar. Where had they heard it before?
“Eldest Prince,” Xiao Shoufu said sternly. He was so angry that his entire body was trembling. He raised his hand and pointed at the b.l.o.o.d.y wound on his neck. “My wound was caused by a dagger. This is the evidence.”
“Could it be that I, the dignified Grand Secretary, will deliberately cut myself to frame a mere eunuch?” The anger in Xiao Shoufu’s heart rose steadily, and he couldn’t hide the arrogance on his indignant face.
Chu Yi didn’t answer Xiao Shoufu. His calm eyes turned to Feng She and Third Master Feng and asked, “What do you think, Lord Feng?”
“…” Feng She and his brother felt that something was wrong. They looked at each other, not knowing how to answer this question.
Just 10 minutes ago, they were still questioning if the Eldest Prince’s injuries were caused by him deliberately harming himself and framing Feng He.
Xiao Shoufu was originally a smart person and quickly understood. His expression changed, and his heart sank. His eyes were sinister.
He had been shocked and agitated just now, so he had forgotten himself. Only now did he gradually come back to his senses.
So the Eldest Prince was waiting for them here.
Chu Yi sighed slightly and asked the servant in green gently, “What’s your name?”
“My name is Jiang Lun,” the green-robed servant hurriedly replied. He lowered his head again and apologized respectfully. “Your Highness, please forgive me for being disrespectful.”
Chu Yi smiled and waved his sleeves gently, his movements indescribably beautiful. “Everyone is the pillar of the Imperial Court. Their safety is naturally the priority.”
“In the future, you have to look around and listen to everything like today. When it’s time to attack, don’t hesitate.”
These words sounded pleasant to the ears of the censors present. They felt that the Eldest Prince had the style of today, was gentle and tolerant, and would definitely be a benevolent king in the future. A few of them looked at Chu Yi with admiration.
However, in Xiao Shoufu’s ears, every word was threatening.
Especially the last sentence, “When it’s time to attack, don’t hesitate.” It made Xiao Shoufu feel that there was a sharp edge in his words. Did the Eldest Prince think that Jiang Lun’s cut just now wasn’t ruthless enough?!
“Lord Xiao.” Chu Yi looked at Xiao Shoufu with a faint smile and greeted him with concern. “Is the wound on your neck alright? Do you want to summon the imperial physician?” He looked like he cared about his subordinates.
“I only have some superficial injuries. It’s fine,” Xiao Shoufu hurriedly said.
How could he dare use the imperial physician that Chu Yi had summoned? What if the imperial physician poisoned the medicine?
To put it bluntly, when he returned home and died from the poison, there was no evidence that he had been poisoned by the Eldest Prince.
Xiao Shoufu instantly felt a chill as if a guillotine had been placed on his head. His limbs went cold and numb.
“Help! Help!” The parrot finished pecking at the millet and screamed again on the gilded bird stand, its voice shrill.
Xiao Shoufu’s heart beat faster, his face was pale, and he was uneasy.
Chu Yi raised his hand and gently hooked the parrot’s chin twice. The parrot was easy to coax and rubbed against his fingers affectionately.
Chu Yi said calmly with a sympathetic expression, “Lord Xiao is too tired, that’s why he had a surprise attack.”
“Speaking of which, Lord Xiao has been retired for so many years and hasn’t had a good rest.” With that, Chu Yi looked at the Emperor opposite the chessboard and pleaded, “Father, why don’t you give Lord Xiao a long vacation and rest for a few days to recuperate?”
“You’re right,” the Emperor agreed without another word, his eyes filled with laughter.
The parrot happily imitated him. “Surprise attack! You’re right!”
These words were extremely ironic.
Madam Gu and Gu Jian were already stunned when they saw this scene.
Ever since Xiao Shoufu was thrown to the ground, the mother and son hadn’t reacted and could only watch in a daze.
Seeing that Xiao Shoufu was about to be forced to leave the court by the Emperor and his son in just a few words, the mother and son found it unbelievable. They almost suspected that they were hallucinating as they looked at Xiao Shoufu with complicated gazes.
Xiao Shoufu’s expression darkened again. He hurriedly explained to the Emperor, “Emperor, I’m fine. I’m not sick…”
“Lord Xiao, don’t force yourself.” A clear male voice suddenly interrupted Xiao Shoufu.
Everyone couldn’t help but look over. It was a middle-aged man in his 45s and 46s who was wearing a crimson embroidered brocade chicken. He was medium-sized, neither fat nor thin. His appearance was ordinary, and there were smile lines at the corners of his mouth.
It was the Cabinet Deputy a.s.sistant and Minister of Works, Mu Sheng.
Mu Sheng took a few steps forward and walked calmly to Xiao Shoufu’s side, forming a sharp contrast to his disheveled clothes.
Mu Sheng said sincerely, “In the past 10 years, Lord Xiao has been conscientious for the sake of the Imperial Court. It’s been hard on you. Listen to my advice. Only by being healthy can one have a future.”
He appeared very sincere, but the others around him had strange expressions.
Mu Sheng was the top scholar chosen by the previous Emperor. With his background as a civil servant, he was completely different from those aristocratic families who entered the court as a ninth-grade middle-cla.s.s official. He had fought steadily step by step to obtain his current status.
Everyone knew that Mu Sheng was ambitious. He had long wanted to replace Xiao Shoufu, but he had no chance.
It could be imagined that if Xiao Shoufu was on leave, then as the second a.s.sistant, Mu Sheng could naturally temporarily take over the position of the first a.s.sistant.
Xiao Shoufu glared at Mu Cheng fiercely. The corners of his eyes twitched as he cursed at this Mu Cheng who had hit him when he was down.
Alarm bells rang in his heart, and a strong sense of danger rose in his heart. He said with a fake smile, “Thank you for your concern, Master Mu. My body is safe and sound.”
“I just didn’t sleep well last night, so 1 accidentally saw wrongly.”
He said the last sentence through gritted teeth.
Without waiting for Mu Sheng to say anything else, Xiao Shoufu thanked Chu Yi again. “Thank you for your care, Your Highness.”
Chu Yi watched for a moment and smiled gently at Xiao Shoufu. His words suddenly turned to Feng He.. “Then what do you think about Feng He’s a.s.sa.s.sination?”