The courtyard was bustling with joy and delight.
A cool breeze suddenly kicked up outside the courtyard, swirling the firecracker debris and confetti that Zhu Changhong's black boots stepped on, bringing a chill over the whole street.
"Is this the place?" Zhu Changhong was filled with murderous rage and mighty valor.
"Yes, Your Highness. The Crown Prince is here." The attendant responded softly, then hurriedly covered his mouth, afraid of incurring the wrath of the Eldest Imperial Son.
Fortunately, Zhu Changhong did not notice, still glaring fiercely at the small courtyard, his neck cracking as he turned, making crackling noises as if he was about to swallow the entire celebratory feast alive.
"I've finally caught you. No one can escape today." He bared his fangs and uttered vicious words.
The attendant nodded behind him but felt something was off.
It wasn't until Zhu Changhong became enraged again. "How dare you harm my birth mother, injure my uncle, and still dare to seize my position as the Crown Prince. Where did you get the guts!"
It sounded fierce, as if a fight could break out at any moment.
If he could take two more steps forward and kick down the wooden door covering the small courtyard.
But in reality, threats were made over and over again, fangs were bared repeatedly, yet the Eldest Imperial Son’s black boots had not moved at all. Only the firecracker debris they stepped on was crushed into dust.
The attendant was speechless.
"Your Highness," someone suggested, "why not kick down the wooden door first?"
Zhu Changhong nodded but soon shook his head again. In his big eyes flashed a trace of cowardice that quickly disappeared, replaced by viciousness. "They are having a celebratory feast. It doesn't seem right."
Better to destroy a temple than disrupt a marriage.
Causing trouble on someone's wedding day was already immoral enough. Disturbing their meal would be utterly inhumane.
"But, Your Highness, we planned this disturbance together!" The attendant said through gritted teeth. "You came today for revenge and to eliminate their suspicions."
Zhu Changhong realized belatedly, "Oh right."
He had lost in the fight for the throne. His mother lay unconscious in bed, not knowing if she would survive. If he didn't seize this opportunity, their Ju Family would surely become meat on the chopping block in the future.
"So, Your Highness, break in and disrupt their feast, let them know the Zhu Family is not to be trifled with!" The attendant persuaded vigorously.
Zhu Changhong clenched his fists and finally released the crushed paper debris. He took one step forward but hesitated again, "Do we have to go in?"
"Your Highness!" The man was finally annoyed. "Have you forgotten what we discussed earlier?"
"Continuing to hesitate will only arouse vigilance and suspicion. Your coming here today is to vent your anger and eliminate doubts."
"Even if you don't care about yourself, think about Consort Ju lying unconscious in bed, think about the entire Zhu Family!"
Having come this far, you’re no longer just yourself.
You have family behind you, a clan, supporters. You can’t act on a whim.
Zhu Changhong lowered his head. In his eyes flashed a deep sense of helplessness. After gritting his teeth, it turned into viciousness again.
He stepped on the crushed paper debris and walked forward step by step until he kicked the wooden door.
Bang!
The wooden door slammed into the wall and bounced back.
Jiang Sheng, who had just picked up a piece of elbow skin, stared with wide eyes and mumbled, "Did you guys see something just now?"
"It was the wind, I guess." Zheng Ruqian was equally puzzled.
Wen Zhiyun tilted his head to observe. Zhang Xianglian’s face was full of astonishment.
Only Xu Mo and Chang Yan were vigilant, one looking at Jiang San and Jiang Si, the other scanning his personal guards.
The agile guards swiftly got up and rushed to the door in a flash.
With another bang, the two wooden doors were successfully sacrificed, tilting and falling down.
Zhu Changhong appeared with four guards. A cool breeze blew past again, swaying clothes while stirring up surging murderous rage.
The uninvited guests boded ill rather than well.
Kicking down the door on one’s wedding day was exactly something the Eldest Imperial Son was capable of doing.
But leaving him as the only visitor, how could the Ju Family feel at ease?
Chang Yan's eyebrows twitched slightly. He stopped his Second Brother who was about to burst out scolding. He smiled and walked over, "The Eldest Imperial Brother has arrived to celebrate. You sure picked a good time. The dishes have just been served and are most delicious right now."
Zhu Changhong froze.
According to the original plan, the two should have clashed, even escalating to fisticuffs. He was going to take this chance to violently beat this Fifth Imperial Brother to vent his anger for his mother. Then make a scene to bring it up to Their Majesties, fishing for a closed-door punishment.
The only thing the Ju Family did not plan for was the Fifth Imperial Brother inviting him to enjoy the celebratory feast.
"I...I..." Zhu Changhong stammered. After being coughed at for reminders by the attendant, he recollected his viciousness. "Who wants your lousy feast. You harmed my mother. I won’t let you off."
"I harmed Consort Ju?" Chang Yan was suddenly surprised. "Has Eldest Imperial Brother said this incorrectly? Consort Ju bumped into a pillar when I was not present at all. Housekeeper Wu can testify."
Zhu Changhong almost spit out a mouthful of air. "That's also related to you. My mother fell unconscious after bumping into the pillar, yet you took over the position of Crown Prince. Can you say there is no relation?"
In theory, there was a relation.
But Chang Yan did not know of this theory.
"The Eldest Imperial Brother is just spreading rumors." The youth's face was innocent. "The Crown Prince position is inherited by the proper heir. As the lawful son, ascending as Crown Prince is set in stone. As for the real reason Consort Ju bumped into a pillar and fainted, didn't the Ju Family tell you about it?"
"Tell me what?" Zhu Changhong was somewhat baffled.
In Chang Yan's eyes flashed a hint of mockery and malice. "Tell you that the Ju Family wanted to assassinate His Majesty. So Consort Ju is taking the fall for the Ju Family's crime. That’s why she bumped into the pillar."
In fact, up till now, there was no evidence to prove it was the Ju Family who had poisoned the congee.
But what made this scheme so ingenious was that as long as Consort Ju took the fall, regardless of who the real culprit was, it could only have been done by the Ju Family in the end.
Master Ju should understand his nephew’s temperament and did not directly explain the truth.
He let Chang Yan seize the opportunity and thrust the sharp words in deeply like a blade.
"No... Impossible." Zhu Changhong's first reaction was to shake his head. "You're spouting nonsense. How could the Ju Family poison the congee? If my mother had tasted a couple mouthfuls, wouldn't she be poisoned and killed as well?"
Sometimes feeling the Eldest Imperial Son was foolish, yet sometimes thinking he was not that stupid.
Of course the Ju Family was unwilling to harm Consort Ju. Given the premise that the Eldest Imperial Son could not be supported, Consort Ju and the younger generations were key to the Ju Family’s longevity.
"But what if Consort Ju also knew the congee was poisoned?" Chang Yan smiled as he stabbed down with another blade.
Consort Ju conspiring with the Ju Family to poison the current Emperor, just for the sake of the position of Crown Prince...it was indeed possible.
Zhu Changhong became more alarmed the more he thought about it and unconsciously took a step back.
"Your Highness, Your Highness," the attendant called out to him, hoping to get things back on track.
But Chang Yan did not give him this opportunity. He continued coldly, "It seems Eldest Imperial Brother also feels it's possible. So do you still blame me for your mother lying unconscious in bed? Between your father and mother, whom will you choose? Which would you help?"
The more pampered the Eldest Imperial Son had been, the more heartbroken he now felt.
Both of them loved him. He loved them both as well.
Make a choice? How could he possibly choose?
A weak-willed person would only shake his head, would only back away, wishing these things had not happened, avoiding them like an ostrich.
Just like Zhu Changhong at this moment, staggering and helpless as he looked at Chang Yan, then swept his eyes over the entire celebratory feast, only to discover everyone was staring coldly at him.
Those eyes were like icy, venomous needles, piercing fiercely into him, causing him to shudder in pain.
All schemes and pretenses were tossed out of his mind.
Unable to restrain himself any longer, he let out a painful whimper and fled in panic.
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