20demayo Chapter 525
Chapter 525
Isn't that like lighting a lamp in a latrine—looking for trouble?
The previously arrogant Elder Zhu quickly stepped forward, "A misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding, Marshal Yan. What brings you here today?"
In reality, he was trying to ask when the Yan family had recognized Zhu Qianyi as their esteemed nephew!
Marshal Yan pretended he had just noticed the old man—no, wait—
How had he picked up this bad habit after drinking with the Chief Minister a few times?
Whenever he encountered someone he disliked, he couldn't help but show a sour face and even curse under his breath.
He coughed and feigned recognition, "And who might this be...?"
Marshal Yan genuinely didn't know Elder Zhu, as he had only dealt with the main branch of the Zhu family before.
What use was it to be the oldest and most senior if you were born from a concubine?
Which family would let a child born from a concubine entertain esteemed guests?
Wouldn't that be disrespectful?
Elder Zhu's face turned red and then pale, but Marshal Yan ignored him and said directly, "Didn't you say the Zhu family has split up?"
He slung an arm over Zhu Qianyi's shoulder as if they had been friends for years, "The Chief Minister has arranged a banquet, and you must do me the honor of attending, nephew. I've already boasted about it. If you don't show up, I'll lose face."
Mentioning the Chief Minister made everything clear to Zhu Qianyi.
It must have been the Empress who, sensing the Emperor's intentions, had sent someone to the Chief Minister to help the Zhu family rid themselves of the troublemakers.
The Jiang family's way of handling things was always similar, something Zhu Qianyi had long since experienced and understood.
"Tsk—"
Marshal Yan didn't need anyone to respond to him; he could carry the entire act on his own.
Frowning, he descended the steps and looked at Zhu Chongjing, who stood behind Elder Zhu, covered in injuries. "So, you're the junior from the Zhu family's side branch who incited the Fifth Prince to rebel last night?"
He pushed Elder Zhu aside and fixed Zhu Chongjing with a hawk-like gaze, "Trying to manipulate a prince as a puppet? You're young, but your ambitions are vast. Guards, take him away! I want to interrogate him thoroughly to see if there are any accomplices."
"Wait! Wait!"
"I... I agree to the family split, I agree!"
The Chief Minister was right: when striking a snake, you must hit its head. If you don't kill it in one blow, it might strike back, and that could be fatal.
Zhu Chongjing was the only male heir in Elder Zhu's line, the old man's most treasured possession. He couldn't bear to see even a single hair on the boy's head harmed.
Jiang Xinyue whispered to Shuang Jiang, "Go... summon Qingqing to the palace. I have something to tell her."
Then she turned to Jiang Chuan, "Go to the Fifth Prince. Tell him I need to discuss something important."
Bringing both parties together to hear each other out would make things much simpler.
Kunning Palace—
Yan Qingqing scratched her head, wondering why her aunt, the Empress, had summoned her to the palace.
She counted on her fingers, "Recently, I haven't taken the Third Princess out to climb trees or steal bird eggs, nor have I smuggled palace treasures to trade for candied hawthorns, and I certainly haven't led the princess on any sword-wielding adventures. What could the Empress want with me?"
"Little Fifth, tell me the truth. Do you like Qingqing?"
From behind the screen, Jiang Xinyue's voice rang out, followed by a long silence.
Sigh!
If he doesn't like her, so be it!
It's not like this is the first time I've known, but... why does my heart still ache?
"Is that question so hard to answer?"
"No!"
The young man frowned, his fists clenched, "But I feel that Your Majesty is humiliating me, so I don't want to answer."
"Oh?"
Jiang Xinyue nodded, "Then tell me, how am I humiliating you?"
The Fifth Prince had been having a tough time lately. The Zhu family's split felt somehow tied to him.
"Yan Qingqing is the granddaughter of the Marshal of the Empire, the daughter of the Commander of the Three Armies. The Yan family holds such real power. If Yan Qingqing doesn't marry the Crown Prince, whoever marries her will become a thorn in the Crown Prince's side, a target to be eliminated."
"I am the son of the late Empress, barely holding onto the title of a legitimate son. Many in the Zhu family want to push me to become the Crown Prince. In such a situation, if Yan Qingqing were to marry me, she would not only offend His Majesty and Your Majesty but also clash with her family. I don't want to see her fight the whole world for my sake."
"I... I want her to be happy."
Even if it means not marrying me.
"After all that, you still haven't answered me. Do you like her?"
"I do!"
Since Yan Qingqing wasn't here, the Fifth Prince thought it wouldn't hurt to confess to his mother.
"I like her very, very much!"