T/N: Sorry for not updating these days. I was busy with my assignment, projects, and the damned end-semester exams. I’m really really grateful to everyone for their patience and concern. But now that devil’s machinations are over, I’m officially back to the world of novels, woohoo! 🥳
Thank you so much for the ko-fi you bought back in January, TheTanJar! Enjoy the double release~~
“My Lord.” Sitting inside the carriage, the attendant looked worriedly at Chen Wang, who was riding a horse ahead and whispered to Qi Wang, “This servant feels anxious. The situation would turn disadvantageous for you if Chen Wang finds out the identities of those two.”
Marquis Pingyuan’s family was Qi Wang’s maternal family. Although the actions of the two servants had nothing to do with his master, in the Emperor’s eyes, it would become him plotting against Chen Wang’s in-laws.
“Whether Ben Wang goes or doesn’t go, their identities will not change.” Qi Wang said calmly: “I will go with him. At least that can warrant my ignorance about this matter.”
“Does the Marquis family hold a grudge for the Marchioness being summoned to the Palace and getting reprimanded? Is that the reason why they sent their subordinates to do this kind of thing?” Although there was no empress, Su Guifei, as the woman with the highest rank in the harem, could practically be regarded as the deputy Empress. If she summoned a mingfu into the Palace and admonished her, the mingfu could only obediently be admonished.
Qi Wang kept mum.
Seeing that the prince didn’t speak, the attendant felt it that wouldn’t be good to continue. However, he complained inwardly: Aren’t their actions simply dragging back His Highness?
Qi Wang lifted the curtain. From his current position, he could only see the carriage of Chen Wang’s residence and Yun Duqing riding beside it. From head to toe, he was dressed in flaming red; the ostentation making one’s eyes sore.
He lowered the curtain and took a slow breath.
When he was very young, he often heard his mother complaining about Su-shi and Yun Duqing.
Su-shi had little knowledge and used her beauty to entice others; a beautiful woman is a source of calamity. The son she bore and brought up had also learned her skills well- he knew how to win favor by sucking up to people.
Once, he worked incredibly hard to write a piece of essay and was then praised by his Father Emperor. Yet right after that, he saw his Father Emperor beaming with happiness because he saw Yun Duqing peeling a tangerine for him.
Yun Duqing and he were almost of the same age but he did not do his assignments as well as him, and his etiquette was not as good as his. Even his maternal family’s background couldn’t compare to his. Despite all this, Yun Duqing was still the best son in the eyes of his Father Emperor.
He knew that his Father Emperor originally wished to make the Sun family’s daughter marry Yun Duqing. If it weren’t for Miss Sun to fall in love with him, the Sun family, which was highly respected by countless scholars, would have now become Yun Duqing’s reliable supporter.
The only thing he didn’t expect was for the Ming family to have a daughter who had been fostered in Lingzhou since young. Fortunately, their conduct was upright and outspoken and they didn’t have a favorable impression of that pair of mother and son…
“My Lord, we have arrived at the magistrate’s yamen.”
The capital’s magistrate, Lord Wang, looked at the criminals personally escorted by Jinwu Guards and stepped forward to ask the team leader: “Young Officer, which crime have these two people committed?”
If they hadn’t committed a serious crime, how could there be so many people escorting them?
The team leader of the Jinwu Guards clasped his hands and greeted: “Lord Wang, these two people disrespected the Imperial family, slandered court officials, and made assumptions about His Majesty’s thoughts. Please investigate thoroughly.”
Lord Wang sucked in a breath of cold air. These two were so frightened that they couldn’t even stand up. But they actually dared to do such a big thing?
“Many thanks for informing, young Officer.” Lord Wang suppressed the shock in his heart: “This official will arrest them at once. They will absolutely not be let off lightly in the trial of their case later.”
“Why wait for a later trial?” Chen Wang entered with large strides: “Ben Wang feels today is a very suitable day.”
“Xiaguan greets His Highness Chen Wang.” Seeing Qi Wang step in after Chen Wang, Lord Wang hurriedly bowed again: “Greetings to His Highness Qi Wang.”
“No need for these meaningless greetings.” Chen Wang glanced at the two people who had slumped on the ground like mud: “These two people have offended Ben Wang and speculated about His Majesty’s thoughts. Lord Wang must interrogate them carefully and find out their identities, who sent them, and what their ultimate purpose is.”
“Yes yes yes.” Lord Wang shot a glance at the two on the ground: How much courage did they have to offend Chen Wang?
“Your Highnesses, please take your seats. Xiaguan will immediately examine the case…”
“No need. Ben Wang is here to only listen to the trial process, not to participate in the trial.” Chen Wang pulled Jiuzhu, who was peeking at the torture instruments and had her sit on the adjacent chair.
Lord Wang glanced at the young lady who was dragged by Chen Wang to get seated. Although he didn’t know her identity, he cupped his hands and bowed toward her. After this, he turned to the two princes again: “Your Highnesses, xiaguan will boldly like to take a seat.”
Qi Wang nodded slightly before sitting down at the other side of the trial hall, exactly opposite Chen Wang.
“The ones kneeling in the hall, who are you? What are your surnames and where do you live? State everything quickly.” Lord Wang knocked the gavel1T/N: Now, the thing he used isn’t really the little hammer called gavel that judges use now. I just kept it as a rough translation. He actually used a ‘惊堂木’ [jīng táng mù] or literally ‘wood that startles the hall’ which was a wooden block used by magistrates in the olden days to strike the table in calling for attention or order. 
on the table and the officers all took their positions. The sound of their sticks hitting the ground sounded like drums going on on a battlefield.
The two young servants had never encountered such an intimidating scene before. Weeping bitter tears on the spot, they revealed their identities in detail.
“You said you are minor servants from Marquis Pingyuan’s manor on the outskirts of the capital. Do you have any evidence to prove your claim?” Lord Wang furtively looked at Qi Wang. This Pingyuan family was Qi Wang’s maternal family ah.
“There is, there is.” The two hastily fished out their waist plates. All the servants of the manor needed to have these waist plates to enter and exit the manor.
A yamen officer presented the waist plate to Lord Wang, who glanced at it and turned to look at Chen Wang: “Your Highness, you see…”
Don’t make things difficult for a pitiful magistrate like him with matters concerning the shameful methods of you Imperial princes.
“Continue the trial.” Chen Wang motioned the officer who was going to show him the waist plate to retreat: “Ben Wang already said that he came here just to watch the Lord investigating this case.”
Qi Wang stroked the yupei at his waist and smiled faintly: “Fifth brother is right. Such criminals must not be forgiven easily. But of course, good people who have nothing to do with this must not be wronged either.”
Who were the good people who had nothing to do with this?
The Pingyuan residence?
Chen Wang sneered. He hooked his fingers toward Jiuzhu and motioned her to bring her ears closer. Noticing his action, Jiuzhu leaned in.
“Have you ever heard of ‘putting on an act’?” Chen Wang lowered his voice, “My nice fourth brother should undoubtedly be praised for it.”
Jiuzhu peeked at Qi Wang. Imitating Chen Wang, she whispered: “Pingyuan family is Qi Wang’s maternal grandparent’s family. Would he shield the bad people?”
“He dares?” Chen Wang snorted coldly, “I’m still here.”
“En en.” Jiuzhu immediately felt relieved.
“Tsk.” Chen Wang looked at the little guniang who believed whatever he said. Did she have a brain the size of a melon seed? She would not be deceived away with a bunch of tanghulu2Tanghulu [糖葫芦] – Sugar-coated Chinese hawthorn or other fruit on a bamboo skewer. 
, would she?
Qi Wang looked at Yun Duqing, who exchanged whispers with the Ming family’s guniang from time to time with a smile that never faded from his face. The expression of the Ming family’s Young Miss was quite easy to guess; he could tell with just a glance that they were talking about him, and it wasn’t anything good.
Pretending to be ignorant of the undercurrent between the two princes, Lord Wang struck the gavel again: “Drag them away and beat them with large planks twenty times first.” After another thought, he added a few words: “Take them to the side hall. Do not tarnish the eyes of the noble people.”
Looking at the two resembling thoroughly cooked limp noodles as they were dragged away, Jiuzhu couldn’t understand. Since they knew that doing such a thing would have dire consequences, why did they still do it?
Suddenly, two warm palms covered her ears. Jiuzhu turned her head and saw His Highness Chen Wang’s approaching face.
“Little guniangs must not listen to the sound of wailing ghosts and howling wolves.”
Because her ears were covered, the prince’s voice sounded a bit unreal. Jiuzhu blinked.
“Have you ever seen someone getting punished with a beating before?”
Jiuzhu shook her head.
“That’s right.” Chen Wang turned his head and looked at the side hall separated by a wooden barrier. The two prisoners had already been pressed down on wide black lacquered benches. He lowered his eyes and spoke in a ridiculing tone: “The most tight-mouthed people look particularly unsightly when they sob and howl.”
Jiuzhu wanted to follow his gaze so she turned her head.
“Don’t look.” Chen Wang grabbed her cheeks, accidentally using too much force and squeezing her small rosy mouth until it turned into a pouty little duck beak.
Seeing Jiuzhu’s big eyes looking at him confusedly, he quickly reduced his strength and said, “Told you it’s unsightly; little guniangs must be obedient and not sneak any peeks.”
The men’s miserable shrieks were heard. It was very vague as if coming from very far away; so vague that she could hardly hear it.
The hands on her ear were so warm. Jiuzhu couldn’t help but think that a tender man like His Highness must be sent from the Heavens.
After the screams ended, Chen Wang let go of her ears. Seeing Jiuzhu looking at him dimwittedly, he couldn’t help poking her forehead: “Stunned by Ben Wang’s charm?”
Jiuzhu thought for a while and nodded seriously.
Chen Wang turned his head and coughed dryly.
Know, know. Ben Wang knows that you adore him very much.
He lowered his head and fiddled with his fingers. Was Ming Xiaozhu’s face made of tofu?
It was soft and tender as if it would break her face if he used a little more strength to rub.
Thanks for reading ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶! If you found any typo or want to suggest corrections, feel free to do so in the comment section or on our discord server. And if you like my translation, please consider rating it on NU and supporting me on:
