Upon hearing Li Qitian’s question, Li Guanwen’s heart skipped a beat. He hastily lowered his eyes to conceal the emotions within them, his mind racing. In the space of a breath, he said: “Reporting to Your Majesty, this slave observed that while Prince Consort Ji didn’t express himself as directly as Prince Zhongshun, he wasn’t far off. However, Prince Consort Ji’s temperament is naturally cold – that he could say a few harsh words already proves he was truly angered.”

Li Qitian pondered deeply for a moment upon hearing this, then nodded.

“I understand. Their injuries are both without serious harm?”

Li Guanwen respectfully replied: “Reporting to Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Ma examined them. The bump on Prince Consort Ji’s forehead from the collision looked quite substantial. Considering how Prince Consort Ji values his appearance, he probably won’t want to leave his residence for several days.

“Prince Zhongshun’s injuries aren’t severe – just his arm pierced by a sword. As for his other wounds, Your Majesty just saw them yourself – Prince Zhongshun’s mouth corner is still bruised.”

“These two aren’t children anymore.” Li Qitian shook his head helplessly and sighed: “How old are they, yet they still fight like this? I feel embarrassed for them. If all the civil and military officials knew about this, wouldn’t they all laugh their teeth off?”

“Your Majesty speaks truly.” Li Guanwen kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart. He had a premonition that this matter being known throughout the court wasn’t far off.

Li Qitian’s mind conjured the scene of Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu fighting, his mouth corners twitched twice, as if wanting to laugh but restraining himself due to propriety.

Seeing this, Li Guanwen hastily buried his head even lower.

When His Majesty was in such a gleefully satisfied mood, he should just peacefully be invisible, lest His Majesty later recall this incident and take his displeasure out on him when in a bad mood.

Li Qitian thought for a moment before noticing that Li Guanwen had withdrawn to stand attendantly to the side.

He was very satisfied in his heart, smiling as he summoned Imperial Physician Ma to question him.

Finally, he thoughtfully called Li Guanwen: “Instruct the Imperial Medical Academy to check their pulses for peace every three days, especially at Prince Zhongshun’s place. After all, the one who injured him is my brother-in-law.” Pausing a moment, he added: “I recall there’s still a red coral ornament in the treasury. Go send it to Princess Imperial’s mansion, saying I’m rewarding it to Anyang for her enjoyment.”

“Yes, this slave will go immediately.”

At this time, Qin Yining was sitting in a carriage, frowning as she asked Qianyun: “What exactly was said? Wasn’t it said they only fought with fists and feet? How could there be injuries?”

Qianyun said: “This slave doesn’t know the specifics either. This slave only heard about it when leaving the mansion. Prince Consort Ji was so angry he stabbed the prince with a sword. Though it didn’t endanger his life, at the time blood was scattered all over the ground.”

“This person, really…” Qin Yining frowned and twisted her fingers. When she first heard these two had fought, she only thought it was a scheme by Pang Xiao. Who would have thought she’d later hear he was wounded by Ji Zeyu’s sword.

Seeing Qin Yining so anxious about Pang Xiao, Qianyun couldn’t help but secretly smile: “Miss, don’t worry. When you see the prince shortly, you’ll naturally understand.”

“Miss.” Outside the carriage, Xiaoxue said quietly: “This subordinate inquired and learned that just now the grand manager from His Majesty’s side came to the prince’s mansion to visit. As a result, some quarrel occurred between the prince and Madam Pang in the inner residence. In his anger, the prince personally entered the palace for an audience with His Majesty. He hasn’t returned yet.”

Qin Yining’s eyebrows jumped upon hearing this, slowly saying: “I understand. Let’s wait in a concealed location first and see how the situation develops.”

“Yes.”

The group drove the carriage to a hidden alley across from the prince’s mansion.

Qin Yining and Qianyun remained in the carriage while Jingzhe and the others alertly guarded the surroundings.

Qin Yining felt somewhat more at ease now.

Still having the strength to enter the palace for an audience meant his injuries weren’t serious.

However, Pang Xiao’s temperament was hard to say. He was always stubborn by nature – if it was truly for some matter he was being headstrong about, enduring his injuries was possible.

But…

Why would Pang Xiao have a conflict with Madam Pang, then rush to enter the palace?

Qin Yining’s fingers lightly tapped the small table, producing regular, slow, crisp sounds. Some clues in her mind pieced together into fragments, adding several points to her speculation.

However, Qin Yining didn’t have to wait long before there was movement from the prince’s mansion.

First, a single rider galloped swiftly back to the prince’s mansion. Jingzhe only had time to glance and confirm the returning person was Pang Xiao before coming to report to Qin Yining.

In just a moment, the side gate of the prince’s mansion opened again. A luxurious carriage emerged from within, followed by six blue-canopied carriages, and finally a crowd of servants and maids. The entire procession grandly exited through the side gate and stopped before the prince’s mansion.

Pang Xiao stood on the steps wearing a cloak with gray squirrel fur collar, his expression calm as he watched those carriages.

From the blue-canopied carriages came faint sobbing sounds.

Someone even lifted a window curtain, calling out softly: “Your Highness, don’t make us leave! We are concubines His Majesty granted to Your Highness – we won’t go!”

Pang Xiao said expressionlessly: “Madam Pang is this prince’s legitimate mother. Now that she’s moving to a separate residence to recuperate, how can this prince be at ease with her going alone? This prince hasn’t married, and the only female family members I can trust are you. You shall replace this prince in properly serving Madam Pang. You must accompany and show filial piety to her daily. If there’s the slightest negligence on your part and this prince learns of it, I won’t let it pass lightly.”

“Your Highness! We don’t want to!”

“Not wanting to accompany Madam Pang is also acceptable.” Pang Xiao’s single sentence made all the chattering female voices disappear in unison.

Then they heard Pang Xiao say in an even colder voice: “You are this prince’s concubines. Even though you were granted by His Majesty, you mustn’t forget your status. Madam Pang is this prince’s legitimate mother. This prince can barely manage to show respect and filial piety – calling you to help this prince serve her, yet you all make excuses. What use does the prince’s mansion have for you! Whoever is unwilling to go can leave on their own.”

That single sentence made all the women’s faces change color.

The first luxurious carriage finally showed movement.

The carriage curtain lifted, and Madam Pang, her face full of fury, leaned out halfway, saying angrily: “The people you don’t want – kill them or sell them as you please – why must you foist them on me! I don’t want them. Keep those sluts away from me, each one more coquettish and improper than the last!”

The word “sluts” stirred great indignation among the women in the following carriages, who all retorted angrily.

Listening to all the chirping and twittering filling his ears, Pang Xiao didn’t feel annoyed but actually smiled.

“Could it be that Madam Pang is confused with anger? No matter how coquettish these women are, they weren’t General Pang’s concubines. Could it be that you’re so accustomed to jealousy from years past that you can’t control your temper now?”

“You! You wicked creature!”

“Madam Pang, just go peacefully to the separate residence for recuperation. My concubines will serve you well.”

Pang Xiao instructed: “Depart now. Serve Madam Pang well.”

The carriages immediately filled with sorrowful voices.

However, who would dare disobey Pang Xiao’s orders? His mind was made up – no one had the ability to dissuade him!