abcnovels
Chapter 209.3
Chapter 209.3
Chapter 209.3
Qing Wang followed the carriage all the way to the side entrance of the Xiao Manor. Seeing Xiao Jirou getting off the carriage without even glancing at him, he turned his horse around with a desolate look.
He might be fine with it, but others might not be. Dressed like this and wandering around on the street, wasn’t it challenging the hearts of common people?
Qing Wang’s mind was blank, seemingly thinking of many things, but also as if he wasn’t thinking at all. A few guards from Qing Wang Manor rode their horses not far behind him.
Suddenly, a voice came from the side, “Seventh brother, what’s wrong with you? You look so dejected. Did you catch sister-in-law with a pretty white face together in bed?”
Qing Wang raised his head to look. It was Lu Wang.
He was also riding a horse, accompanied by several guards. He smiled gloatingly, not bothering to hide his ill intentions at all.
Qing Wang ignored him, urging his horse to continue forward. However, before he could leave, Lu Wang stopped him.
“What’s wrong with you? We are brothers after all. If you have any difficulties, tell your older brother, and maybe I can offer some advice.”
“Step aside!”
Lu Wang’s eyebrows furrowed, and he stared at him, saying, “Well, old seventh, you think you’re favoured by the new emperor, so now you look down on me, your sixth brother, don’t you? Let me tell you, even if you ascend to the heavens, I will still be your older brother.”“Get lost!”
Qing Wang, already feeling frustrated, saw Lu Wang persistently bothering him again. Unable to control his anger, he raised the horsewhip in his hand and struck at Lu Wang.
Lu Wang didn’t expect that Qing Wang, who had always been an underdog to him, would dare challenge him. Without saying a word, he rushed forward.
The two fought fiercely, exchanging blows on and off their horses, completely engrossed in the fight, not pulling back their punches at all.
As the two princes fought, the guards from both their manors couldn’t pretend not to notice. They quickly dispersed the common people on the sides of the road. At the same time, they were inwardly anxious, knowing that if news of this brawl between the princes reached the emperor’s ears, it would be troublesome.
They were hesitant to intervene and could only anxiously stand by the side, watching.
As if their worries were heard, when the two princes finally got tired of fighting and collapsed on the ground, a group of people arrived on fast horses. The person leading the group was a eunuch.
“The emperor commands both Lu Wang and Qing Wang to enter the palace for an audience.”
Inside Yangxin Hall, Emperor Jin’an sat on the dragon throne with a stern expression.
Standing below were Qing Wang and Lu Wang, both with swollen and bruised faces. Qing Wang had a black ring around one eye, with blood oozing from his mouth. Lu Wang fared worse, with two black rings around his eyes, and half of his face swollen like a pig’s head.
“So, you’ve all grown up, huh? As imperial princes, you both fought in the bustling streets without a care for your face?” Emperor Jin’an said.
Hearing this, Lu Wang felt particularly wronged.
Before, he used to beat Qing Wang, and now, he still could, but he couldn’t gain the upper hand. Not only that, he was even beaten up like this. Without needing to look in the mirror, he knew how pathetic he must appear.
“Fifth brother, it wasn’t me who struck first; it was old seventh! Look at what he did to me. I merely found him in an unpleasant mood and offered a few words out of concern before he turned and attacked me, showing no respect for his elder brother at all!”
In terms of lip service, Qing Wang was not as eloquent as Lu Wang, and he lacked Lu Wang’s shamelessness to distort the truth, turning black into white.
“Chen¹ was reckless; please punish me, Your Majesty,” Qing Wang said, trying to hold back his frustration.
“So, now you know you were reckless? It’s true that only a dog who doesn’t bark bites people. How did Zhen not know you were so capable before? You fought your sixth brother as if you were fighting a thief. Let me tell you, this matter is far from over,” Emperor Jin’an scolded.
“Then I’ll offer some compensation to sixth brother,” said Qing Wang under his breath.
“You think some compensation is enough? Let me tell you…”
“Enough! You are no good either. Zhen knows what your temper is like. Why do you always insist on making trouble from nothing?!” Emperor Jin’an’s reprimand was followed by a flying inkstone, passing through the space between the two brothers and smashing onto the ground into pieces.
“Both of you are fined half a year’s worth of allowance! Get lost for Zhen!”
Both princes bowed and expressed their gratefulness before leaving Yangxin Hall looking despondent.
Walking on the palace path, Lu Wang reverted to his usual ways and mockingly asked Qing Wang what was bothering him.
Qing Wang couldn’t possibly tell him, so he kept silent.
Lu Wang couldn’t stand seeing Qing Wang acting like he was the most wronged person in the world and sneered, “I’m sparing you some face, but you really think I don’t know you’ve been humiliated by the Xiao Family? With your current situation, it’s normal for seventh sister-in-law to give you the cold shoulder. Who knows, maybe she’ll remarry soon, and then…”
Before he could finish his words, a fist struck, and the two once again turned into a tangled mess. This time, the palace servants were trembling with fear.
Finally, when Fu Cheng received the news and rushed over, he said, “Your Highnesses, please calm your anger. If you continue like this and the emperor gets angry, then it really won’t end well.”
Only then did the two princes reluctantly stop fighting.
Afraid that the two would continue fighting inside the palace, Fu Cheng specially ordered a young eunuch to escort them out of the palace.
Once they passed through the Xihua Gate, Lu Wang glanced at Qing Wang and said, “Hey, you really don’t want my help? I heard that the Xiao Family has found a man for seventh sister-in-law, and that man is also interested in her. When the time comes, don’t regret it later.”
Qing Wang couldn’t sit still any longer and immediately rushed over.
gingercat's notes:
¹Means this subject/official