Reborn: I Found The Wrong Brother

Chapter 43 - Xiao Nong: Fool

As soon as they stepped out of the Yangxin Palace, everyone's expression was different

.

When Prince De saw Xiao Nong coming in just now, he was so angry that he wanted to fight with Xiao Nong in private, but he didn't lose his temper. He glanced at Prince An and Prince Jing, and finally his eyes passed Pei Hong and fell on Prince An, and ordered: "Fourth Brother, come here."

After saying that, he waved his sleeves and left in another direction.

Although Prince An is Prince De's elder brother, the age gap between the two is not that big, and they often get together when they were still princes. Prince An, who came from a humble background, has always been inferior to Prince De, and it is common for Prince De to boss him around in public.

Prince An's expression did not change at all. He bowed to the others, then lowered his head and followed silently.

Marquis Huai'an withdrew his gaze, looked worriedly in the direction of the Yangxin Palace, and walked out of the palace without saying a word.

After leaving the palace, a carriage was waiting outside, waiting to take Huai'an Marquis back to the Dali Temple.

Marquis Huai'an stepped onto the stool, opened the carriage curtain, and paused for a moment.

The unfamiliar driver stood respectfully beside him. When he saw the Marquis of Huai'an suddenly stop moving, he looked up and asked, "My Lord?"

Huai'an Marquis said, "It's okay."

He naturally bent down and got into the carriage.

The carriage of the Marquis of Huai'an's Mansion was not as spacious as that of Prince Ding's Mansion. In the not-so-big carriage, His Royal Highness Prince Ding, who had just almost left, sat calmly in the carriage, looking down as he played with something.

When he saw what it was, the corner of Huai'an Hou's eye twitched.

It is a small and exquisite Tian Huang stone seal, which is particularly translucent because it has been played with for a long time.

He subconsciously recalled the seal that he had put back in the study in the Marquis' Mansion and never dared to take it out again, and was sure that this seal was not his.

Excluding the last time when Xiao Nong suddenly showed up in the Dali Temple and caused chaos in the entire yamen, this was the first time the two of them had a face-to-face conversation alone.

Marquis Huai'an sat opposite Xiao Nong without saying a word.

Xiao Nong slowly put the seal back into his sleeve, looked at the Marquis of Huai'an, and asked indifferently: "My Lord, are you going to say anything?"

Huai'an Marquis sat like a pine tree, with his back straight and his tone calm, "This humble official has nothing to say."

"The Lord has nothing to say, but I do have something to say." Xiao Nong's eyes were as sharp as a wolf, staring into the eyes of Marquis Huai'an, "Is Zhong Yansheng really of royal blood?"

Marquis Huai'an remained silent, but Xiao Nong saw the answer from his expression.

"Okay." Xiao Nong nodded slowly. "I am really curious, when did the Marquis know about Zhong Yansheng's background?"

If Zhong Yansheng was really of royal blood, and Marquis Huai'an knew about the situation long ago, why would he conceal the matter and raise a little prince at home?

Do you think your life is too long?

Marquis Huai'an was silent for a moment, then spoke this time: "Yuan'er... I only learned about his identity today."

Today?

Xiao Nong narrowed his eyes, grasping the ambiguous word in his words. Before he could speak, Huai'an Marquis cupped his hands and said in a tired tone, "Your Highness, I have told you everything I know. Please don't ask any more questions."

Early this morning, on his way to the Dali Temple, Marquis Huai'an was suddenly stopped by people from the palace and taken to the Yangxin Palace.

At that moment, he already had a premonition that His Majesty had learned some secrets, but he did not expect that His Majesty's actions would shock him even more.

He thought the knife that was swinging down was now hovering on his neck. Every time he said one more word, the knife would lower a little.

If this knife falls, it will not only affect the heads of hundreds of people in the Zhong family, but also involve many more people.

The lineage of the Huai'an Marquis' mansion had been imprisoned in a private prison. Huai'an Marquis knew better than anyone what methods the seemingly kind old man in the Yangxin Palace had, especially... His Majesty's attitude towards 

Zhong Yansheng was also a warning to him that the past must never be mentioned again.

He believed that Xiao Nong would protect Zhong Yansheng, but he would never dare to put the lives of hundreds of people in the hands of the unpredictable Prince Ding.

Xiao Nong stared at Huai'an Marquis expressionlessly for a while, then nodded: "Then you only need to answer one question from me."

"Is Zhong Yansheng really the so-called eleventh prince?"

The driver of the carriage was not the one brought from the Marquis of Huai'an's mansion that morning, but a stranger. The Marquis of Huai'an knew that from the moment he entered the palace, his every word and action would be reported. Hearing this, his heart skipped a beat, and he slowly asked, "Why do you say that, Your Highness?"

Xiao Nong leaned back and said in a cold tone: "I just think that the old man can't give birth to such a lovely son."

Huai'an Marquis: "..."

The driver who was eavesdropping outside: "..."

Marquis Huai'an could only pretend that he was deaf and did not hear these outrageous words.

When Xiao Nong was about to jump out of the carriage, Marquis Huai'an glanced at the shadow of the coachman outside, lowered his eyes and said, "Your Highness's status is different now. No matter what hatred you had with Your Highness in the past, it should be settled. From now on, Your Highness and Your Highness will go separate ways."

[T/L NOTE:- Marquis is referring to Yuan Yuan as your highness here.]

Hearing the implicit warning from Marquis Huai'an, Xiao Nong waved his hand expressionlessly, turned over and jumped out of the carriage.

Zhan Rong and another personal guard had been following behind with the carriage. When they saw Xiao Nong coming down, they immediately came over to pick him up.

"Master, what's the situation?" Zhan Rong asked, "Young Master Yuan Yuan... could he really be the eleventh prince?"

Another guard couldn't help but ask, "Do they really want to keep the young master in the palace?"

Xiao got on the carriage, opened the curtain and got in. He glanced in the direction of the imperial city and said indifferently, "I think so, but it doesn't matter if it isn't. Can I break into the palace and rob people?"

His identity is sensitive, and he forced his way into the palace today without an imperial edict. This is enough to give the Censorate and the officials of the courtroom room to maneuver.

Zhan Rong and his personal guards dared not say a word.

The carriage swayed towards Prince Ding's Mansion, and Xiao Nong closed his eyes in the carriage.

Zhong Yansheng is the bloodline of the Pei family.

He hated and detested the royal family the most.

The secret of Zhong Yansheng's life experience, which had been impossible to find out before, and the strange fragrance that could relieve his headaches... were explained in the direction he least wanted to see.

Xiao Nong pressed his forehead with no expression on his face.

Sixteen years ago, an army of two hundred thousand barbarians attacked the border town of Mobei at night. The Xiao family held out for a month, and the imperial reinforcements also spent a month on the road before finally arriving.

At that time, Mobei had fallen into chaos. After the imperial army arrived, they had no power to resist and retreated again and again. Finally, the barbarians stopped their offensive after occupying ten cities.

After the imperial army returned to the capital, the old emperor was extremely furious. He ordered the then commander of the imperial army, Duke Jingguo, and the eunuch who supervised the army to be thrown into death row. Over three days, he listed countless charges against them and ordered them to be executed immediately. One of the charges was for failing to provide adequate assistance.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that Duke Jingguo is just the unlucky one who has to take the scapegoat.

Xiao Nong once thought that the royal family wanted to drag the Xiao family to death in order to resolve this major concern, but over the years he had been in Mobei, he gradually became suspicious and discovered other hidden secrets.

The barbarian tribes outside the Great Wall were constantly fighting with each other, so why did they suddenly gather together?

The barbarians' offensive was so fierce back then, why did they stop after occupying only ten cities?

Xiao Nong never spoke out that secret guess.

The Xiao family was a thorn in the side of the royal family, making the old emperor uneasy on the throne day and night.

So he sold the lives of the Xiao family to the barbarians.

How can I not hate them?

Xiao Nong was so angry that he bled.

But Yuan Yuan is just...

Xiao Nong took a deep breath. There has never been a more depressing moment than right now.

The carriage arrived at the palace. When getting off the carriage, Wang Boxian had already heard the news. He was waiting outside the gate with a serious face. When he saw Xiao Nong, he bowed his head and called, "Prince."

Xiao Nong was in a terrible mood. He didn't even look at Uncle Wang and walked towards the mansion with big strides.

When Zhong Yansheng was here a few days ago, the atmosphere in the palace was always lively and cheerful. But now it was stagnant and even quieter than the palace. The secret guards who always liked to appear here and there also shrank into the shadows and dared not move.

Wang Boxian and Zhan Rong followed Xiao Nong and sighed deeply. After following Xiao Nong into the study, Zhan Rong asked, "Master, should the people sent out to investigate the young master be withdrawn?"

After waiting for a moment, he heard Xiao Nong say, "No."

Xiao Nong's dark blue eyes fell on him: "Send more people and continue the investigation."

Zhan Rong and Wang Boxian were both a little surprised. After Zhan Rong left, Wang Boxian walked to the desk with a hunched back and slowly ground ink for Xiao Nong: "Why does Your Majesty want to continue investigating that young master? The fact that he can relieve your headache should be related to the fact that he is a member of the royal family."

Xiao Nong did not tell others about Zhong Yansheng's role in him, but it was not surprising that Wang Boxian guessed it.

This is a secret between him and Uncle Wang only.

Xiao Nong actually knew that his headache was caused by poisoning.

He even knew roughly when he was poisoned.

But he couldn't say.

All the servants in Prince Ding's mansion "died for their master" that year, leaving only the elderly butler. He returned to the capital, and he and the five-year-old Xiao Wenlan were left alone and helpless, with no one to take care of them. The old emperor "felt sorry for the two orphans of the Xiao family" and took them into the palace.

At that time, Xiao Nong was like a vigilant little beast, guarding against everything. He never ate food or snacks that were out of his sight in the palace, and never drank wine handed to him by others. He also strictly required Xiao Wenlan not to touch those things... until that family dinner.

Before he was five years old, Xiao Wenlan lived a life of luxury in the capital. He lost his loved ones in a catastrophe and was still young. After entering the palace, he was controlled by Xiao Nong in every way. He was particularly greedy at the family dinner and kept staring at the food on the old emperor's table. The old emperor then openly gave Xiao Wenlan a plate of snacks and a glass of wine.

The old man was talking to the young Xiao Wenlan, but his eyes were looking at Xiao Nong, flashing a kind smile: "Nong'er is too restrained in the palace. I heard that Wenlan is not allowed to eat freely. How can you restrain a child's nature?"

At that moment, Xiao Nong was alarmed and understood what the old emperor meant from his eyes.

These things were not given to Xiao Wenlan;

His overly obvious vigilance made the old emperor very dissatisfied. If he did not accept it, there would be other things given to the two brothers today.

Xiao Nong forgot what kind of mood he was in at that time. His head was buzzing. He suddenly opened Xiao Wenlan's hand, swallowed the snacks given to him in three or two bites, and drank the glass of wine.

Then, with red eyes, he went to beat up Pei Yong, who was always looking for trouble.

The headaches that he has suffered for years were probably the hidden danger that was buried at that moment.

Xiao Nong had never told Xiao Wenlan these things. His stupid brother knew nothing, and it was enough for him to live a carefree life in the capital. The old emperor would not have the intention to kill him. Instead, he was happy to see the descendants of the Xiao family being so stupid and doted on them.

Lou Qingtang had a good relationship with Xiao Wenlan and was also a big mouth, so Xiao Nong never told him these things.

What's the point of saying it out loud? Let Xiao Wenlan cry for his carelessness when he was young? He is not interested in listening to Xiao Wenlan crying for his parents. It's so noisy.

The old emperor had been poisoning him for many years, probably because he wanted to use the poison to control him. He knew that he would die of headache sooner or later, so he felt at ease and let him do whatever he wanted.

But Yuan Yuan is a variable.

This is probably a variable that the old emperor did not expect.

The poison used by the old emperor might be related to Zhong Yansheng. He must have other secrets.

Xiao Nong rubbed his brows and felt more upset the more he thought about it.

No matter what secrets there are, the fact that Zhong Yansheng is of royal blood is most likely a foregone conclusion.

The old emperor, Prince De, Prince An, Prince Jing... they are all ugly and crooked. They don't look like that kid at all. How can they be a family?

Wang Boxian looked at the young master he had watched grow up with a gloomy face and dark eyes, and couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "Young Master, are you thinking about that young master?"

Xiao Nong: “Yeah.”

Thinking of the warning given to him by Marquis Huai'an.

The old emperor couldn't bear to see him getting close to Zhong Yansheng, probably not only because of Zhong Yansheng's status, but also because he could relieve his headache.

The master had a bit of a twisted temper. He was used to being proud, so he rarely lowered his pride and bowed his head. Moreover, the young master was a member of the royal family...

Even though he knew that Zhong Yansheng was a member of the royal family, Uncle Wang had mixed feelings, and it was difficult for him to feel disgusted.

Uncle Wang asked worriedly, "How are you going to treat that young master in the future?"

Xiao Nong did not answer for a moment. He looked at the document in front of him for a long time without opening a page. Then he turned his eyes to the direction of the imperial city. He said without any expression: "This king is tired of all the Pei family members."

It is indeed so. Uncle Wang sighed.

After a while, Xiao Nong was heard mumbling to himself, "I wonder if he can sleep well in the palace tonight."

“…”

"This is the Minghui Palace that your majesty asked me to prepare for you. It is very close to the Yangxin Palace."

Tian Xi smiled respectfully and led Zhong Yansheng into the Minghui Palace. "Your Highness, please see if there is anything that does not suit your taste. I will send someone to correct it immediately."

Zhong Yansheng was still in a low mood and had no mood to look around. His thin eyelids were a little red, like a piece of beautiful and fragile porcelain, which made people feel distressed just by looking at them.

Tian Xi groaned, "Why is your Highness so depressed all the time?"

Zhong Yansheng's eyes were still slightly red and watery. He pursed his lips tightly and looked up at him.

When the old emperor grabbed his hand and asked him how he was doing with Prince Ding, Zhong Yansheng vaguely realized that the old emperor didn't want to hear the news that he had a good relationship with Xiao Nong.

So he answered in fake fear.

But when the old emperor fell asleep, he turned around and found that Xiao Nong was missing. He panicked and immediately chased after him, but was exposed in front of Tian Xi.

Will it bring any trouble to my brother?

Zhong Yansheng was sad and worried. He stared at Tian Xi with tears in his eyes without saying a word.

Tian Xi gasped as he stared at him. He looked around and lowered his voice to Zhong Yansheng's ear: "I won't tell anyone anything. Don't be afraid, young prince."

Zhong Yansheng was stunned for a moment, then looked at him and blinked.

Tian Xi's round face still looked cheerful, and his tone was gentle: "Your Highness, if there is anything you want to know or do, you can come to me."

His tone seemed sincere. Zhong Yansheng hesitated: "Can I really ask you anything?"

Tian Xi nodded quickly: "Of course, of course."

Zhong Yansheng asked: "Then Eunuch Tian Xi, let me ask you, how did His Majesty know that I was the eleventh prince?"

Tian Xi: “…”

Zhong Yansheng asked again: "Why doesn't your majesty want me to have a good relationship with His Royal Highness Prince Ding?"

Tian Xi: “…”

Zhong Yansheng: "Did Your Majesty really not intervene in the Mobei Incident?"

Tian Xi was sweating profusely when asked: "..."

You are very good at asking questions, my lord.

Zhong Yansheng pursued his lips and lowered his head to rub his eyes.

How insincere! You promised to answer everything.

Tian Xi hesitated for a moment and was about to answer with a smile. Zhong Yansheng was in a bad mood, so he interrupted him rudely. However, his voice was soft, which didn't seem so rude: "I don't want to hear lies."

Tian Xi: “…………Ouch.”

Zhong Yansheng sniffed and tried to control his emotions, not wanting to embarrass Tian Xi who was sweating madly: "Eunuch Tian Xi, I want to ask you one more thing, and I'm sure you can answer it this time."

"Excuse me, little prince."

"You said I was the eleventh prince born to Concubine Zhuang." Zhong Yansheng looked up at him, his eyes clear and black, "Then where is Concubine Zhuang?"

But from the time he entered the palace until now, no one has mentioned Concubine Zhuang. Tian Xi only mentioned her once before, but has avoided talking about her since then.

Zhong Yansheng felt very strange.

"This……"

Perhaps because he hadn't answered the previous questions correctly, Tian Xi hesitated for a moment before answering, “Because Concubine Zhuang is crazy.”

Zhong Yansheng was wondering if Concubine Zhuang had passed away, but he didn't expect this answer. He was stunned: "Is she crazy?"

"When Concubine Zhuang gave birth to you, she watched helplessly as you were snatched away by the rebels. She was so heartbroken that she went mad." Tian Xi said, "Now Concubine Zhuang doesn't recognize anyone. She grabs, hits, and scolds everyone she sees. Your Majesty didn't mention it because he was afraid that you would be sad."

Zhong Yansheng felt very strange: "Can I go see her?"

"Her Royal Highness Concubine Zhuang is staying in Guanhua Palace now. It is quiet and deserted there on weekdays, so it is a good place for her to recuperate." Tian Xi lowered his eyebrows and replied, "But without the order of His Majesty, you are not allowed to visit her. If the young prince wants to see Her Royal Highness Concubine Zhuang, you can ask His Majesty."

Zhong Yansheng cried out in amazement. He always felt that the old emperor would not agree to let him meet Concubine Zhuang.

Tian Xi finished speaking and bowed. He was afraid of the young prince asking any more questions and did not dare to stay any longer. "After drinking the medicinal tea, your majesty usually sleeps for a few hours. I will go back to the Yangxin Palace to serve his majesty. The one outside is my godson, Feng Ji, who is quite smart. He will serve the young prince in Minghui Palace in the future. You can ask him to do anything for you."

Zhong Yansheng didn't have anything he wanted to do. When he thought that Xiao Nong might hate him, he felt so sad that his nose started to ache and he nodded weakly.

It was so boring staying in the palace.

There were no endless books to read like in Xiao Nong's study, and no furry snow to walk on even though it would shed.

When it was getting dark, Zhong Yansheng ate a few bites of the dinner brought by Feng Ji without any appetite. After taking a bath, he fell on the unfamiliar big bed in a daze.

It was not the soft bed he liked. The porcelain pillow was cold and hard, and the color of the bed curtains was also dull.

There was also no familiar, cold scent with a hint of bitter medicine.

Zhong Yansheng's stomach suddenly churned, and he curled up in discomfort, guessing that there was something in tonight's dinner that he couldn't eat.

When he was in Prince Ding's mansion, except for the first night he arrived, when he vomited all over the place because he ate something he was not allowed to eat, Xiao Nong took good care of him every day and made a very comfortable little nest for him.

Zhong Yansheng lay on the luxurious big bed in the palace, holding his aching stomach, looking out the window with a pale face at the bright moonlight, wondering anxiously whether he would never be able to return to Prince Ding's Mansion again.

He misses his brother.

Normally he could fall asleep as soon as he touched the pillow, but tonight Zhong Yansheng tossed and turned for a long time before he could barely close his eyes. He woke up three or four times throughout the night, and only closed his eyes and dozed off for a while at dawn.

But he didn't sleep for too long, Feng Ji knocked on the door and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty is calling you to the Yangxin Palace. You should get up and wash up."

Zhong Yansheng hadn't fallen asleep completely to begin with, and he woke up when he was called, and he crawled up half-heartedly.

He had a fair complexion, and if he didn't sleep well, the dark circles under his eyes would be very obvious, which scared Feng Ji who came in with a basin of hot water: "Little Prince, did you not sleep well?"

Zhong Yansheng shook his head. Seeing Feng Ji was about to help him wipe his face, he dodged and said, "I'll do it myself."

After washing up, Zhong Yansheng changed into the clothes prepared by Feng Ji and followed him out of Minghui Palace and went to Yangxin Palace. On the way, Feng Ji saw that he was in a bad mood and smiled flatteringly: "Your Majesty is really good to you, little prince. This Minghui Palace is so close to Yangxin Palace, and only one person has lived here before."

Zhong Yansheng tilted his head and looked at him: "Who?"

Feng Ji was young and looked smart, but he was obviously not as reliable as his godfather. He looked around and squinted his eyes: "That's the one."

Zhong Yansheng opened his eyes wide and looked at him innocently.

Feng Ji exclaimed, lowering his voice: "That one, that one!"

Zhong Yansheng didn't understand what he meant and looked at him more and more confusedly: "..."

He really hates these people who play charades.

Feng Ji choked up and got a little angry. He took small steps closer to Zhong Yansheng and squeezed out three words from between his teeth, "First, Tai, Zi."

[T/L NOTE:- This refers to the First Prince.]

Zhong Yansheng suddenly understood.

At the same time, he felt something was wrong.

Of course, he knew that the late crown prince was a taboo for the old emperor. The East Palace had been sealed for many years and no one could get close to it until now... Then why should Minghui Palace, where the late crown prince had lived, be given to him to live in?

When they arrived at the Yangxin Palace, the old emperor was already sitting in the study waiting.

Unlike the appearance he had on the hospital bed yesterday, the old emperor seemed to have recovered a lot today and no longer looked as lifeless as if he was about to die.

Zhong Yansheng's hair still stood on end from yesterday's contact. He wanted to kneel down and salute, but was held back.

The old emperor smiled and said, "There is no need for us to be so unfamiliar with each other, Xiao Shiyi, come here quickly and let me take a closer look."

Zhong Yansheng would rather kneel on the ground with his head down, but when he heard the words, he walked up to him with his eyelids drooping, and whispered, "Your Majesty."

The old emperor's gaze slowly dropped from his forehead to his chin, as if he was observing his entire face. After a long while, he stroked his beard, and the smile lines at the corners of his eyes deepened: "Sit down, Xiaoyi, did you not rest well last night?"

Zhong Yansheng answered hesitantly: "Your Majesty, I am new to the palace, and I am not used to sleeping."

"It will be fine in a few days." The old emperor said kindly, "You will get used to it."

The old emperor looked like a kind father, but Zhong Yansheng still felt uncomfortable. The palace servants in the study brought a chair, and he hesitated and sat down obediently.

The old emperor kept smiling and asked Zhong Yansheng some questions about his childhood. Zhong Yansheng didn't want to say too much and vaguely said that he had poor health as a child and was always sick, so he couldn't remember many things.

"Little Eleven is not in good health." The old emperor sighed, "My youngest son is so weak and prone to illness. It gave me a headache, so I decided to raise him by my side myself."

Zhong Yansheng had never heard of any prince having such treatment, and looked at the old emperor in surprise.

The old emperor did not mention the matter again. He changed the subject and looked at Zhong Yansheng with a smile, "I was so sick yesterday that I did not have time to ask you in detail. How did Xiao Shiyi get along with Xianwei after staying in Prince Ding's mansion for a few days?"

His tone was natural, and he called Xiao Nong by his given name, appearing very friendly and easy-going, like an old father casually asking about family matters.

Zhong Yansheng felt an inexplicable shock in his heart, and the uneasy feeling he had yesterday came back to him. His intuition told him that the old emperor didn't want to hear that he had a good relationship with Xiao Nong.

Zhong Yansheng was not very good at lying. He knew that when he lied, his eyes would unconsciously dodge and his fingers would get tangled together. But at this moment, he actually controlled his dodge and stared directly into the old emperor's eyes without moving. He said timidly, "His Royal Highness Prince Ding... is very scary. I, I am a little afraid of him."

The old emperor smiled and stared at him for a moment before nodding his head in satisfaction and sighing, "He has committed too many murderous acts, has a perverse personality, and acts without restraint. It's normal for you to be afraid of him."

After saying that, he clapped his hands toward the outside and said, "Come in, what are you all standing at the door for?"

Zhong Yansheng was sitting sideways facing the old emperor. He was extremely nervous just now and didn't notice that there was someone at the door. When he heard the old emperor's words, he turned his head stiffly.

Several people walked in from outside the door, the first one was Xiao Nong.

Zhong Yansheng's mind suddenly went blank.

It was over, his words were heard by his brother.

Did the old emperor do this on purpose?!

He stood up in panic and opened his mouth to explain to Xiao Nong, but it was impossible for him to explain in front of the old emperor.

Xiao Nong's face was expressionless, as if he hadn't heard what he said, and he didn't even look at him, just like a stranger passing by, walking as fast as the wind, brushing past him, standing in front of the old emperor, bowing his head and saying, "The Prince Ding greets His Majesty."

At the same time, Zhong Yansheng's palm sank slightly.

His eyes widened as he stared at Xiao Nong's cold and unapproachable back. The panic that had almost made him faint suddenly stopped. He held his breath, quietly hid the thing that Xiao Nong had stuffed into his hand when they passed by him into his sleeve, and squeezed the thing.

Yes, it's a sachet and a small note.

Elder brother……?

Zhong Yansheng was so surprised that he almost couldn't stand, and he quickly said: "Your Majesty, this subject is feeling unwell and wants to change clothes."

[T/L NOTE:- Here, Zhong refers to himself as his son in this text, but as he was unable to accept the emperor, I changed 'this/your son' to 'this subject'.]

In the imperial presence, even if they are the three highest officials in the court, they have to hold back their urgency. There is no one like Zhong Yansheng.

The officials who followed Xiao Nong all glanced over.

The old emperor obviously didn't expect his new youngest son to be so reckless. He shook his head helplessly and said, "Go."

Zhong Yansheng nodded, and went to the side room. There was no one around, so he sat on the toilet. Without having time to see what was in the hard sachet, he secretly took out Xiao Nong's small note and unfolded it with anticipation.

The note slowly unfolded, revealing a single large character written in a flamboyant style.

"Fool".

Zhong Yansheng: “…”

He is going to be angry.