Zhu Nanxian strode swiftly up the platform steps, gathered his robes and knelt on the ground: “This son pays respects to Imperial Father.” He added, “While in Nanchang, this son thought of Imperial Father day and night, constantly hoping for Imperial Father’s sun and moon to shine brilliantly, for pine and crane longevity.”

Emperor Jingyuan looked at him, his gaze revealing a rare hint of paternal affection. This founding monarch who had been a chaotic-era warlord already had graying temples. He stepped forward two paces and, like an ordinary elderly father, personally bent down to help Zhu Nanxian to his feet, reaching out to pat his shoulder: “Zhen also greatly missed my son.”

With these words, the various princes’ expressions varied.

Emperor Jingyuan waved his hand grandly: “The Three Judicial Offices shall remain, the rest are dismissed.” Then he turned back to the assembled princes and said: “Zhen must discuss the Petition Drum case. You should all come listen and offer some ideas.”

In the hall, after Right Censor-in-Chief Zhao Yan had recounted the case details once, he said: “We have now discovered that the second scholar who took his own life was surnamed Xu. He and Magistrate Qu were friends despite their age difference. His ancestral home was in Shanxi. The two became acquainted when they came to the capital for the imperial examinations years ago, both failing the same examination. Though each returned to their hometowns afterward, they maintained correspondence over the years. As for the purpose of this trip to the capital, the Censorate has already sent express dispatches instructing the Surveillance Censors of both Shaanxi and Shanxi circuits to investigate.”

He paused and continued: “What’s peculiar is the woman who died later. At present, we’ve only learned that on the night before she struck the Petition Drum, she lodged at an inn. From her accent, she also seemed to be from Shanxi, but the strange thing is—”

Zhao Yan looked around at his surroundings and said with a heavy breath: “This subject ordered an investigation of the capital’s household registrations. This woman was not registered as a resident of the capital, nor do the eight city gates have any record of her entry or exit. We even posted her portrait at the city gates and offered a substantial reward, yet aside from the innkeeper and servers at that inn, no one else has seen this person.”

Emperor Jingyuan looked toward the princes: “What are your thoughts? Minda, you are the eldest brother, you speak first.”

Zhu Minda bowed, then asked: “Lord Zhao, according to what you’re saying, this woman appeared in the capital as if out of thin air?”

Zhao Yan hesitated slightly and said: “One could put it that way.”

But while one might say “appeared out of thin air,” the methods of appearing “out of thin air” were numerous. Guards inevitably had moments of oversight. If they started from this angle, it would be like searching for a needle in the ocean.

Zhu Minda also thought of this point and asked incisively: “Then what about her cause of death? This palace heard it was drowning?”

Zhao Yan bowed to Zhu Minda and glanced at Su Jin.

Su Jin said: “Reporting to Your Highness, it was not drowning, but poisoning.”

Early this morning, the Capital Magistrate’s office had delivered the autopsy case files, which she had just reviewed before morning court.

“The poison was nux vomica, which is strychnine poison. Those who ingest this poison initially only experience dizziness. After several hours, the poison takes effect—chest tightness and shortness of breath, accompanied by convulsions and difficulty breathing. Therefore, she likely fell into the water precisely when the poison took effect and died of suffocation.”

Zhu Minda nodded and reported: “Imperial Father, this son believes that since someone administered poison, there must be traces to follow. Moreover, the Pharmaceutical Bureau keeps records of all medicinal materials entering and leaving the capital and their quantities. We could start investigating from the source of this strychnine.”

Emperor Jingyuan said slowly: “That is one method.” He then looked at the other princes and asked: “What about the rest of you? Do you have different views?”

At this moment, the Fourteenth Prince Zhu Mixiao suddenly stepped forward from the crowd and said: “Reporting to Imperial Father, this son believes that after all, the first person to strike the Petition Drum was the Qu-surnamed magistrate from Shaanxi, indicating that all causes originated from him. If this case could focus on him, it might be easier to make progress.”

Emperor Jingyuan was somewhat surprised, his face showing slight approval: “Not bad. It’s rare for you to think so deeply this time.”

Just as he was about to ask more, his gaze swept across and he suddenly noticed that among the princes, one stood with lowered head and closed eyes, dozing off. He couldn’t help but roar angrily: “Zhu Jiyou!”

It is said that a dragon has nine sons, each son different.

Among Emperor Jingyuan’s many sons, though there was no lack of outstanding individuals, there were also worthless fools lacking common sense.

Chief among the worthless was the Third Prince Zhu Jiyou.

Though Zhu Jiyou was advanced in years, from childhood he had been unscholarly and lazy, fond of ease and averse to work. While still somewhat restrained when young and in the palace, ever since being enfeoffed to Datong Prefecture in Shanxi, he had become arrogant, extravagant, violent and debauched, openly engaging in daytime debauchery—truly contemptible.

Zhu Jiyou was startled into trembling and hastily knelt down, kowtowing: “Imperial Father, this son knows his error, this son knows his error.”

Emperor Jingyuan had originally wanted to use the Petition Drum case to test the princes. With Zhu Jiyou creating such a scene, his interest was instantly lost. He rebuked: “Rotten wood cannot be carved.” Waving his hand, he said, “Forget it, all of you may withdraw.”

The princes all bowed together. Emperor Jingyuan added: “Minda, you and Nanxian come to Minghua Palace tonight to dine with Zhen.”

Zhu Minda and Zhu Nanxian both acknowledged.

Emperor Jingyuan said to the officials standing in the hall: “Department ministers remain, the other officials may also disperse.”

The princes withdrew from Fengtian Hall. Only after descending the platform steps did they stop. Zhu Minda, as eldest brother, turned back and said: “Imperial brothers, we haven’t seen each other in a long time. Why don’t we all go to the Eastern Palace first to catch up?”

As his words fell, someone immediately responded: “Excellent. I truly haven’t seen Thirteen in six or seven years. Later I’ll need to borrow Elder Brother’s courtyard to spar with him in martial arts. Fourth Brother, we’ll need you to judge the victor then.”

The speaker was the Twelfth Prince Zhu Qiyue.

The palace had always had three princes who practiced martial arts: the Fourth Prince, Twelfth Prince, and Thirteenth Prince. Therefore, from childhood, aside from his two maternal brothers in the Eastern Palace, Zhu Nanxian had been closest to these two.

The Fourth Prince said coolly: “You just returned from the frontier and have gained considerable experience. Thirteen spent this past year governing diligently in Nanchang Prefecture. For you to speak of competing with him now is truly unfair.”

Beside them, the Seventh Prince Zhu Zhaowei smiled and said: “Fourth Brother, you’re mistaken there. Though Thirteen stayed in Nanchang Prefecture, someone wouldn’t let him be idle. People were sent from time to time to spar and compete with him, so his martial skills couldn’t slack for even a day. Perhaps if he didn’t practice for even a moment, he might lose his life.”

At these words, all the princes fell silent.

Those who understood were unwilling to comment, those who didn’t understand dared not comment.

After a moment, a voice suddenly said: “What does Seventh Imperial Brother mean by this?”

The questioner was Seventeen. Over the past year, he had grown somewhat taller, and his delicate features had gained a hint of the heroic bearing that resembled Zhu Nanxian.

Zhu Zhaowei seemed somewhat surprised: “Seventeen, you live in the Eastern Palace, yet you know nothing of this?”

Then he curved his lips in a smile and said gently: “Let me put it this way—ask your Thirteenth Brother whether his journey back to the capital was arduous, whether he nearly met harm at a teahouse near the city. If not for your Thirteenth Brother growing wise nowadays, who knows if you’d have had the fortune to see him today.”

Though Zhu Seventeen didn’t understand the palace’s dark struggles, from childhood to adulthood he still knew who most loved to provoke Zhu Nanxian.

Thus he immediately turned to look at the Fourteenth Prince Zhu Mixiao: “Were they your household troops?”

Zhu Mixiao spread his hands: “What does this have to do with this prince?”

Zhu Minda had long known of this matter. However, a month ago, Zhu Nanxian had sent word telling him not to worry, so he hadn’t intervened further. Now seeing that Seventh had opened this topic, he went along with it: “Thirteen, someone set an ambush outside the city?” His voice instantly turned cold as ice. “Who was it? If they don’t step forward, don’t blame this palace for investigating.”

The winter wind rose long. Below the platform steps, the assembled princes stood silently, each harboring their own thoughts.

Suddenly, the Ninth Prince’s knees hit the ground as he trembled and responded: “Re-reporting to Elder Imperial Brother, it was younger brother’s household troops.”

Seeing him kneel, Zhu Mixiao’s eyes widened abruptly. The Ninth Prince was born of humble origins, merely the son of a palace maid who hadn’t even achieved rank. Had he not been fostered under the Imperial Noble Consort’s care for two years back then, the palace might not even know of such a person.

And Zhu Shisi was precisely the Imperial Noble Consort’s son. Who in this palace didn’t know that the Ninth Prince belonged to him?

The Twelfth Prince Zhu Qiyue laughed: “Ninth Brother has been modest and timid since childhood. Where would he get the courage to order an ambush on a legitimate prince? I’m afraid there’s someone else behind this?”

Zhu Mixiao was determined to distance himself from the matter and said neither warmly nor coolly: “What does Twelfth Brother mean by this? Could it be that this prince—”

However, before he could finish speaking, his left cheek suddenly took a punch. Zhu Seventeen said furiously: “Zhu Mixiao, things don’t exceed three! Do you think I don’t know what you’ve been sending people to Nanchang Prefecture to do this past year? If you move against my Thirteenth Imperial Brother one more time, don’t blame me for reporting it to Imperial Father!”

Though Seventeen was frail, a punch thrown with full force caused Zhu Mixiao’s left cheek to swell instantly.

After Su Jin and several officials withdrew from Fengtian Hall, seeing that the princes had not yet left, they could only stand at attention some distance away. Now that the princes had actually come to blows, everyone around them fell to their knees with a rustling sound.

Zhu Mixiao was momentarily furious.

He was after all the Imperial Noble Consort’s son, his birth mother the most honored in the harem. How dare Zhu Seventeen, that motherless thing who’d grown up without a mother, show off in front of him?

He slowly nodded, walking step by step toward Seventeen: “Good, good. Your Imperial Father, your Imperial Brothers—then this prince asks you, what exactly are you, Zhu Seventeen?”

He licked his back teeth and spat out a mouthful of clotted blood, suddenly raising his hand: “You rely on others’ power—are you even worthy?!”

However, his raised hand was suddenly grabbed by someone.

Zhu Nanxian said: “Try touching Seventeen once.”

With that, he pushed back Zhu Mixiao’s wrist. The tremendous force caused Zhu Mixiao to stagger several steps before steadying himself.

A ball of fury burned in Zhu Mixiao’s heart.

He steadied himself where he stood, took several deep breaths, his gaze sweeping around. Suddenly he saw that not far away there were still several high-ranking officials standing at attention. Among them was precisely that Su Jin whom Zhu Nanxian most cared about.

Zhu Mixiao smiled and nodded: “Yes, I cannot touch Seventeen.” Then he suddenly turned and walked toward Su Jin, saying fiercely, “But in this palace, there are always people this prince can touch!”

However, the instant he walked before Su Jin, Zhu Nanxian had already strode up behind him, twisted his elbow back behind him with a reverse grip, and threw him to the ground. Before Zhu Mixiao could even get up, a sword scabbard was already pressed against his neck.

Zhu Nanxian said slowly: “As long as this prince is here, you cannot touch anyone.”

Then he paused and turned back: “Are you alright…”

Before he could finish his question, it abruptly stopped, because Su Jin was also looking toward him. Their gazes met, and both were momentarily stunned, actually averting their eyes at the same time.

A long wind that seemed to rise from nowhere suddenly poured from his ears into his heart. For one instant, Zhu Nanxian’s thundering heartbeat suddenly ceased its clamor.

After a moment, Su Jin’s voice came from behind him, also low: “This subject is fine. Thank you, Your Highness.”

Zhu Nanxian lowered his eyelids, pressed his lips together, and only then softly uttered a sound of acknowledgment—

**Author’s Note:**

Note: “Ji di” is just express delivery. Why use the character “di”? Because it looks good and makes me appear cultured.

Romance scenes, mm… I’ll strive to write a romance scene tomorrow…