"Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Qing has taken Grandpa Gao hostage. I have come specifically to report this."
Pei Hong replied, his demeanor trembling with fear.
These were the exact instructions Pei Tianlin had given him before they entered the palace.
Should the Emperor decide to pursue the matter, this amounted to treason.
Pei Hong still felt a lingering sense of unease.
"What!" The Yongzhao Emperor’s voice rose, laced with evident fury.
"That rebellious son, number eight—he actually dares to defy my decree!"
Pei Tianlin’s eyes flickered as he stepped forward to plead on his behalf: "Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Qing has been deeply wronged. His actions, while rash, are understandable given the circumstances."
"I humbly ask for Your Majesty's leniency."
"Truth be told, His Highness Prince Qing is in this predicament because of my family."
"If Your Majesty intends to punish someone, I, your humble servant, am willing to bear the burden in his stead!"
As he spoke, Pei Tianlin bowed his head, pressing his forehead against the cold, hard floor.
The Yongzhao Emperor remained silent for a moment before sighing and feigning helplessness. "Enough. When all is said and done, this whole affair is a misunderstanding. I shall not pursue it further."
"Both of you, rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Duke Xiang and Pei Hong stood up with great caution.
The Yongzhao Emperor thought for a moment and then announced, "Pei Hong, convey my oral decree: Prince Qing is innocent. The order for his execution is rescinded."
"Once you have delivered the decree, bring Prince Qing to see me."
"As you command, Your Majesty." Pei Hong cupped his hands and accepted the order.
At that moment, Pei Tianlin spoke up: "Your Majesty, the Pei family owes a debt to His Highness Prince Qing. I wish to accompany him to offer my apologies. I humbly request your permission."
The Yongzhao Emperor hesitated, then nodded. "You may go."
After leaving the Imperial Study, Pei Hong looked left and right, ensuring no one was eavesdropping, before lowering his voice.
"Grandfather, if it is true that His Highness Prince Qing did not harass Yiqiu, why did you claim that they were in love?"
Pei Tianlin sighed, his face dark as he whispered, "Do you know why His Majesty used this incident to test the Pei family?"
"Because our family’s influence is so great that it threatens the throne, and the Emperor is wary of us," Pei Hong replied without hesitation.
Pei Tianlin nodded. "And do you know when he first began to harbor suspicions against us?"
Pei Hong shook his head. "I... I do not know."
Pei Tianlin recalled the past. "Some time ago, the Emperor proposed that Yiqiu be betrothed to Prince Qing."
"Prince Qing’s reputation is in tatters. There was no way I would allow Yiqiu to marry such a man, so I refused the Emperor to his face."
"Looking back now, that was a test."
Pei Hong frowned, still confused. "Grandfather, why would he use Prince Qing to test us?"
"Hmph..." Pei Tianlin gave a cold laugh. "Because Prince Qing is the most convenient tool for the job."
Pei Hong struggled to understand and shook his head. "I don't follow, Grandfather."
Pei Tianlin pursed his lips. "The Emperor is suspicious by nature and fond of political manipulation. With no heir apparent yet chosen, and with our family holding so much power in Dayong, he would never sit by and watch us grow too close to any of the other princes."
"Except for Prince Qing!"
"Oh..." Pei Hong’s eyes widened in realization. "I understand now! Because you refused to let Yiqiu marry him, the Emperor suspected we were colluding with one of the other princes!"
"Exactly!" Pei Tianlin sighed helplessly. "To dispel his suspicions, our family must ensure this marriage between Yiqiu and Prince Qing takes place."
Pei Hong nodded, his face clouded with worry. "Marry Yiqiu to a man like that? Will she... will she agree?"
"The fate of our family is at stake. I believe she will understand." A profound sense of reluctance flickered in Pei Tianlin’s eyes.
"By the way," Pei Tianlin’s gaze sharpened as he looked at Pei Hong. "That analysis the Emperor used to test us—did Prince Qing truly say that to you?"
Pei Hong nodded firmly. "It is the absolute truth!"
"It seems this Prince Qing is not as simple as he appears." Pei Tianlin narrowed his eyes, staring off into the distance, his thoughts unreadable.
Meanwhile, in the main hall of Prince Qing’s Estate:
"Grandpa Gao, do you think my analysis for Pei Hong earlier held any water?" Zhao Yi asked with a grin.
In reality, his left hand was already pressed firmly against the old man's carotid artery.
It was a method for detecting lies.
Grandpa Gao forced a grotesque smile. "Your Highness, this old servant is dull-witted and dare not comment."
"I’m telling you to speak. Don’t feed me bureaucratic nonsense. Be careful—if my hand slips, you won't have another chance to open your mouth," Zhao Yi threatened, feigning anger.
Grandpa Gao immediately wore a miserable expression, begging for mercy. "Your Highness, please don't be angry. I’ll speak... I’ll speak!"
After swallowing hard, he chuckled nervously, "This old servant thinks what Your Highness said makes a great deal of sense."
Zhao Yi nodded in satisfaction. His eyes rolled, and he softened his tone. "Grandpa Gao, before the Emperor sent you here, did he give you any specific instructions?"
The old man’s eyes flickered, and he smiled obsequiously. "His Majesty didn’t say anything special."
Feeling the change in the old man's pulse, Zhao Yi’s eyes narrowed slightly. He continued, "Grandpa Gao, if I were not to die, would you report everything I’ve said today to the Emperor exactly as it was?"
The old man’s heart skipped a beat.
After a moment of thought, he forced a flattering smile. "Your Highness, I am old, and my memory is not what it used to be. I already cannot remember what you said today."
"Grandpa Gao, you truly are a clever man!" Zhao Yi praised him with a smile.
The old man responded with a radiant grin.
The two looked perfectly amicable.
In the next second, Zhao Yi’s expression shifted. His left hand clamped tightly around the old man's throat, and his voice dropped to a cold, dark tone. "Grandpa Gao, if I’m not mistaken, the poisoned wine the Emperor gave you wasn't meant to actually kill me, was it?"
At these words, Grandpa Gao’s face paled, his eyes bulging in terror.
Zhao Yi sneered. "Before you came, the Emperor must have told you what to do if the poison failed to kill me, didn't he?"
Hearing this, the terror in the old man's eyes knew no bounds.
His lips trembled as he gasped, "Your Highness, I don't know... I don't know anything!"
Zhao Yi’s face remained expressionless. He tightened his grip into a chokehold, his tone icy. "Grandpa Gao, you know too much, and you lied to me. I cannot let you leave here alive!"
"Ah... ah..."
Grandpa Gao’s face turned deep crimson. He tried to speak but could only make strangled noises, his hands flailing and his legs kicking involuntarily.
Before long, the old man stopped moving.
Zhao Yi looked down at the body on the floor and sighed softly.
He hadn't wanted to risk killing Grandpa Gao.
But after testing him, he had no other choice.
The things he had said to Pei Hong today must never reach the Emperor’s ears.
Though he had accidentally become a chess piece in the Emperor's power struggle against the Pei family, the fact that the Emperor would manipulate his own son proved he was not only suspicious but utterly ruthless.
If a man like that realized that the prince he considered useless could actually see through his schemes, what would he think?
He would likely see him as a man hiding deep, ulterior motives.
Zhao Yi did not want to become the target of the Emperor’s suspicion so soon.
As he was thinking, footsteps approached from outside.
The doors opened, and Pei Tianlin and Pei Hong walked in, one after the other.
Seeing the body of Grandpa Gao on the floor, both of them froze.
The next second, Pei Hong rushed over to the old man’s side and knelt down. He reached out to check for a pulse, then drew in a sharp, horrified breath.
"Your Highness, you killed Grandpa Gao?" Pei Hong looked up at Zhao Yi, utterly stunned.