Ch. 42 - Zhong Yansheng: So brother now...hates him?

Tian Xi's round face still had a pleasing smile on it. He bowed deeply and respectfully in the direction of Zhong Yansheng. His slightly shrill voice was neither too high nor too low, just loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Of course it's you, little prince. His Majesty has been looking for you for many years and finally found your whereabouts. He is anxious to see you."

Zhong Yansheng still couldn't react.

This man was wearing a dragon robe bestowed by the emperor, had no beard, and carried a whisk. He was obviously a senior eunuch in the palace... Such a man, followed by a group of Jinyiwei, knelt in his direction, calling him the eleventh prince...

The biological parents that he had always been curious about and wanted to find seemed to be just around the corner, but Zhong Yansheng not only did not feel happy, but became more and more nervous and anxious, looking at Xiao Nong anxiously: "Brother..."

The curve of Xiao Nong's mouth corners disappeared at some point. He looked at him silently, his deep blue eyes like an icy lake in winter, without any emotion visible.

Zhong Yansheng did not respond for a long time. Tian Xi exchanged a glance with the Jinyiwei leader behind him, and went upstairs with his men. When he was about to knock on the door, the personal guard standing by the door drew his sword with an expressionless face, blocking them.

The Jinyiwei leader's face changed instantly, and he almost couldn't hold down the knife at his waist. Tian Xi smiled and elbowed him back. He was not angry, but stepped back a few steps, bowed again towards the house, and said softly: "Your adoptive father, Marquis Huai'an, and the princes have entered the palace. Please move, Your Majesty. His Majesty is overjoyed and is eagerly waiting in the palace."

Hearing that the Marquis of Huai'an had entered the palace, Zhong Yansheng's heart tightened inexplicably. He looked towards the door and nodded hesitantly: "Okay, okay."

He walked to the door, turned back to look at Xiao Nong who was silent, pursed his lips, and opened the door with a somewhat depressed look.

Just now, they were at a distance, and Tian Xi was old, and his eyesight was not so good, so he could only vaguely see his facial features. Now that the person appeared clearly in front of him, looking at those clear and bright black eyes, he couldn't help but feel mixed emotions in his heart and sighed.

They really look so similar, how could Your Majesty let it go?

Zhong Yansheng was just about to go around the guards blocking the door when he suddenly heard a familiar sound of footsteps behind him. The footsteps did not sound leisurely like usual, but landed behind him, implying a sense of oppression.

"Wait." Xiao Nong stood behind Zhong Yansheng, his expression cold, like a ferocious beast protecting something. He glanced at Tian Xi and the Jinyiwei indifferently, "I will send him to the palace."

Entering the palace without the emperor's order was simply disrespectful and arrogant. The young Jinyiwei could not control his temper. He just took a step forward and was hit back by Tian Xi's elbow.

Jinyiwei: "…"

This damn eunuch.

Tian Xi saved his life, his expression unchanged: "It would be great if His Royal Highness Prince Ding could escort us. Your Highnesses, please."

When they went downstairs, all the young men from noble families who were having fun in the building had been rounded up by the Embroidered Uniform Guards and driven to the bottom of the stage, including the ones who had been staying in the box next to Zhong Yansheng and Xiao Nong.

These people, who a few minutes ago were playing wildly and throwing silver coins onto the stage, were now more obedient than each other and stood quietly together. Their expressions changed from fear of having caused a disaster to confusion and shock, and it was hard to tell which emotion was more important.

But when they saw His Royal Highness Prince Ding, who was feared by everyone and was like a nightmare to them, and Eunuch Tian Xi, who had to be politely greeted by their grandfather and father, escorting Zhong Yansheng down, everyone still felt like they were dreaming.

A fake young master whom they had mocked for a long time, a counterfeit that was no longer wanted by the Huai'an Marquisate... was actually a prince?

Duke Pei's face also looked somewhat numb.

Over the past few years, the Duke of Pei's Mansion has been flourishing and prosperous, but in fact it has been on a downward trend.

Meng Qiping's elder brother and the princess have a bad relationship, and they each keep people in their private houses. Meng Qiping's aunt is also not valued in the palace. The last time Meng Qiping broke a finger, he went to the emperor to cry and complain many times, and he had already begun to be disliked.

Before Tian Xi appeared, he could still use his brain to make Prince Ding and Zhong Yansheng pay a price for his grandson's tragic condition, but after Tian Xi appeared, he realized that it was basically impossible.

This was indeed the case. Tian Xi didn't even look at the Duke of Pei. He followed Xiao Nong and Zhong Yansheng and walked out with his men.

The leader of the Jinyiwei was a step slower, glanced at those second-generation rich people who were just waiting for death and causing great trouble, and raised his hand: "Take them all away!"

The carriage used to enter the palace was still from Prince Ding's palace.

After all, Tian Xi was an old man around the emperor, so he very tactfully followed behind with his men and did not dare to get into Xiao Nong's carriage, so there were still only Zhong Yansheng and Xiao Nong in the carriage.

The atmosphere is quite different from when he went out.

Zhong Yansheng was sensitive enough to sense something different. He quietly stayed in a corner of the carriage, secretly glanced at Xiao Nong, whose expression was hard to read, bit his lip, and whispered, "Brother, are you angry?"

Xiao Nong lowered his eyes and looked into his uneasy eyes. He wanted to raise his hand to rub his soft and furry head, but after a moment, he still did not reach out his hand. His voice was flat: "Let's talk about it after we enter the palace."

Seeing that Xiao Nong didn't want to say more, Zhong Yansheng had to swallow his words.

In fact, Zhong Yansheng didn't really want to talk. He was still very shocked and confused.

After waking up from the nightmare and finding out that he was not his parents' biological child, he had been like a bird without direction, not knowing where to fly. After finally finding a temporary place to stay in Prince Ding's Mansion, he now didn't know where to go.

Fortunately, although Xiao Nong didn't say anything, he still stayed in the space where Xiao Nong was. The familiar aura wrapped around him still made people feel at ease.

Zhong Yansheng suppressed his inner panic and managed to calm down.

The carriage swayed slowly and soon arrived in front of the palace gate.

Even if it was Tian Xi, he had to get off and walk around after taking out the tooth cards and entering the palace gate. However, Xiao Nong's carriage could continue to move forward without him having to get off the carriage.

Zhong Yansheng realized belatedly that his brother was indeed very powerful.

But Xiao Nong obviously didn't want to pay attention to him. He crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and leaned against the carriage door with a cold expression.

So when the carriage stopped, Zhong Yansheng saw Xiao Nong getting off, shrank his neck, and got off the carriage very consciously.

He moved slowly, tiptoeing cautiously towards the ground. Before he touched the ground, he felt a tightening around his waist, his body lightened, and he was picked up again and gently placed on the ground as if it were some fragile object.

Xiao Nong withdrew his hand, his face still expressionless, as if the person who had just hugged Zhong Yansheng was not him.

Tian Xi had lived for decades without getting surprised by praise or criticism, but he was also shocked by the move of His Royal Highness Prince Ding. After a few moments, he finally found his voice and smiled as he led the way for the two people: "After passing this door, you will reach the Yangxin Palace. His Majesty is waiting for you."

Tian Xi smiled cheerfully, unlike those eunuchs who were always a little gloomy. This eased his tension a little and said "oh" softly.

As they walked towards the Yangxin Palace, Tian Xi half-bent over, smiling, and said, "Eighteen years ago, there was some trouble in the capital, which affected the palace. Concubine Zhuang was disturbed and gave birth to you. Unfortunately, the palace guards and Jinyiwei were all transferred to the palace gates and Yangxin Palace that night, which led to you being abducted by the rebels. Your Majesty has been missing you all these years, and has sent people to look for you everywhere."

Zhong Yansheng is a little slow, but that doesn't mean he is really stupid.

If he really was the eleventh prince, and if His Majesty really missed and cherished him, then judging from Tian Xi's tone, why were there no guards guarding the mother who was giving birth when the palace was in turmoil?

Either Tian Xi was lying to him and His Majesty did not actually value him, or there was some other reason.

Zhong Yansheng blinked and looked at Tian Xi without saying a word. His eyes were dark, bright, and clear.

Meeting those eyes, Tian Xi almost bit his tongue, but still spoke the rest of the words calmly.

"Back then, the bandits kidnapped you and fled outside the city. When they saw the pursuers were about to catch up, they also took the wife of the Marquis of Huai'an hostage. In the chaos, they accidentally pick up the wrong child. It was really a complete mistake. Fortunately, the midwife who delivered you remembered that you had a flower petal birthmark on the back of your neck, so she found you and brought you back."

Birthmark?

Zhong Yansheng subconsciously touched the back of his neck.

Xiao Nong's eyes also glanced at the back of the boy's neck beside him. The snow-white, thin neck was hidden by black hair, but he had stroked and even kissed that skin with his own hands, and knew better than anyone that there was indeed a birthmark there.

Tian Xi kept on talking about how much the emperor missed his youngest son and how surprised he was when he got the news. Zhong Yansheng listened for a while but didn't feel anything was true.

The palace was not like the familiar marquis' mansion, where there were familiar faces everywhere, nor was it like the spacious prince's mansion, where the guards would greet him wherever he went.

Everything here is neat and solemn, with flying eaves stretching out in a continuous piece. The palace servants coming and going lower their heads and close their eyes, walking in a hurry, and the whole place is dead silent.

The closer he got to the Yangxin Palace, the more nervous Zhong Yansheng felt, and his breathing became a little irregular. It was like the nightmares he often had when he was a child, where he was being chased by something terrible.

Until he stepped into the Yangxin Palace.

Ever since His Majesty grew older and fell ill frequently, he entrusted most of the government affairs to the Cabinet and several princes. The Hall of Mental Cultivation has not been so lively for a long time.

[T/L NOTE:- The Hall of Mental Cultivation = Yangxin Palace; I will decide after a few chapters what name to choose from both the names.]

When he stepped into the bedroom, a strong smell of medicine wafted over. It was different from the light bitter smell on Xiao Nong's body, and it was so strong that it was a bit choking.

There is a dead smell.

Walking further in, Zhong Yansheng first saw many people waiting on the side. There was Prince De, Pei Yong, whom he had met in Jinghua Garden, Prince Jing, Pei Hong, whom he had not seen for a long time, and a very unfamiliar man wearing a prince's robe, probably the little-known His Royal Highness Prince An.

It is said that His Royal Highness Prince An's birth was even worse than that of His Royal Highness Prince Jing. His mother was just a little palace maid, and he had no support, so he has been more low-key than anyone else over the years.

Then, Zhong Yansheng noticed Huai'an Marquis, whom he had not seen for several days.

Marquis Huai'an's expression was as solemn and calm as ever, but Zhong Yansheng was very familiar with Marquis Huai'an, and he vaguely felt that his father's expression seemed to be extremely bad. The moment he heard the footsteps and looked over, there seemed to be a moment of shock, anger, injustice and helplessness in his eyes.

Like a wave that suddenly rises and then quickly disappears without a trace.

Zhong Yansheng was still in a daze when he heard an old voice: "Ahem...Tian Xi, is my little Eleven here?"

Only then did Zhong Yansheng notice the old man on the bed and see clearly the current emperor of Dayong.

His Majesty the Emperor has been in power for nearly fifty years and is nearly seventy years old. His hair has turned gray, and he is as thin as a dead tree. He sits quietly at the head of the bed, like a candle that is about to burn out. His expression is peaceful and kind. At first glance, he looks like Uncle Wang in Prince Ding's palace, a kind old man.

But those slightly cloudy eyes were like faint will-o'-the-wisp fire. Zhong Yansheng felt a little scared for some reason and subconsciously rubbed towards Xiao Nong.

[The will-o'-the-wisp are most frequently described as small moving blue flames that hover a few feet off the ground, and do not flicker.]

Xiao Nong's face was stern, showing no sign of respect. He turned aside calmly and said in a light voice: "Prince Ding greets His Majesty."

The old emperor coughed again, smiled and nodded, and had no objection to Xiao Nong's uninvited visit: "Xian Wei is here too, that's right, today is a happy day, the Pei and Xiao families are one family, I am just getting old and confused."

Hearing his words, there was a hint of obvious disgust in Xiao Nong's eyes.

The old emperor looked at Zhong Yansheng who was hiding behind Xiao Nong again, and his voice became softer: "Little Eleven, come here and let me see."

Zhong Yansheng hesitated and didn't really want to go out from behind Xiao Nong. Tian Xi saw the old emperor's eyes and hurriedly urged him softly: "Your Highness, the emperor misses you very much. Don't be afraid, go over."

Zhong Yansheng hesitated again, raised his eyes to look at the cold profile of Xiao Nong, then looked at Huai'an Hou who lowered his eyes and remained silent, suppressed the subconscious uneasiness, listened to Tian Xi's words, and walked towards the bed.

As he emerged from behind Xiao Nong, Prince De looked over with a gloomy expression, his face instantly becoming somewhat uncertain. However, Prince Jing's expression remained the same as usual, and he even gave Zhong Yansheng a comforting smile.

Zhong Yansheng didn't have the energy to care about what others thought. He slowly moved to the bedside and timidly said, "Greetings, Your Majesty..."

Before he could finish his words, his hand was grabbed by the old emperor.

The dry fingers brushed against the tender skin, and Zhong Yansheng was so scared that his back went hairy. He wanted to shake off the hand, go back to Xiao Nong, and ask Xiao Nong to take him back to Prince Ding's Mansion.

But he caught a glimpse of Huai'an Marquis from the corner of his eye, and suppressed the impulse, pursed his lips and said nothing.

The old emperor stared at his face closely, and after a moment, he suddenly burst into laughter. He was old, and his voice was old, and his laughter sounded like some kind of old crow, which made people feel creepy.

Tian Xi's back was covered in sweat, and he clapped his hands immediately, "I congratulate your majesty. God has finally found the little prince."

Others also followed suit and offered their congratulations, but Huai'an Marquis and Xiao Nong stared at Zhong Yansheng's slightly trembling back without saying a word.

The old emperor kept holding onto Zhong Yansheng's wrist. He was extremely emotional, his face flushed, and he sighed, "I thought that before I die, I will never see my little Eleven again."

Tian Xi groaned, "Your Majesty, what are you talking about? You are the emperor of Dayong, and you have a long and blessed life. Now that you have found the little prince, you have even more luck."

Seeing the old emperor so happy, Prince De's face became even worse, but given the current situation, saying anything would be offensive, so he could only hold it in and say nothing.

The old emperor held Zhong Yansheng's hand tightly, and after laughing, he talked to him in a friendly manner. The questions he asked were indeed very similar to those of an ordinary father, such as how was his food and accommodation, and how was his studies. After asking, he looked at the Marquis of Huai'an and sighed, "Minghu, my little Eleven is being well raised in your place."

After these words came out, Huai'an Marquis closed his eyes and knelt down silently: "...It's my fault."

"How can you say it's your fault?" The old emperor said gently, "Back then, the rebels invaded the capital, and Little Eleven was kidnapped by the rebels, and your wife was also held hostage. Under those circumstances, it's understandable that you took the wrong child."

Huai'an Hou lowered his head: "Yes."

"Okay, what are you so nervous about?"

The old emperor patted Zhong Yansheng's hand, and Zhong Yansheng, who had finally calmed down, almost couldn't sit still. He sighed again: "You have raised Little Eleven for many years on my behalf, so you can be considered half a father to Little Eleven."

Huai'an Marquis' throat was dry: "I... dare not."

The old emperor praised the Marquis of Huai'an a few more times, and his face gradually looked tired. Seeing that he had finished speaking, Tian Xi came up and whispered in the old emperor's ear about the grandson of the Duke of Pei.

Strictly speaking, Meng Qiping's current half-human appearance was indeed not caused by Xiao Nong, but by those lackeys who had caused Meng Qiping a lot of trouble. He only crippled Meng Qiping's right hand, which was used to drug Zhong Yansheng.

If this matter is to be investigated, more than a dozen aristocratic families will be implicated, after all, everyone is involved.

The old emperor leaned back on the bed and said indifferently, "The Duke of Pei is old and even more confused than I am. He protects his grandson and bullies the capital all day long. If I remember correctly, the third son of the Meng family has caused many deaths in the past and dared to be rude to the eleventh prince. Now that he has become like this, he has paid off his sins. I am merciful not to pursue him."

Tian Xi waited respectfully at the side and listened: "The Duke of Pei is waiting outside the palace gate now, what do you think, Your Majesty?"

The old emperor took the medicinal tea handed to him by the palace servant, took a sip, closed his eyes, and the fatigue on his old face became more and more intense: "He is not young anymore, don't run around all the time, give him some medicine, let him take his grandson back and take good care of him."

As for how to deal with other people, the old emperor did not say anything, but Tian Xi had followed the old emperor for many years and understood what he meant without much explanation.

Although these dozen or so noble families are not large, they are numerous after all. We must not move all of them, otherwise there will be chaos, and they will be locked up in the imperial prison for a few days.

He quietly retreated and asked someone to pass on the message.

One of Zhong Yansheng's hands was still being held, and his skin was rubbed red and stinging. Seeing that the old emperor seemed to be falling asleep, he could not help but pull his hand away.

The old emperor seemed to be suddenly awakened, opened his eyes and stared at him.

Zhong Yansheng's heart skipped a beat when he was stared at.

The look the old emperor gave him just now did not contain the kindness and love he had shown before, but rather a gloomy look.

But the old emperor's expression suddenly softened again, as if it was just his illusion.

Tian Xi returned to the bedroom and saw that the old emperor was drowsy, so he lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, you have drunk the medicinal tea, it is time to go to bed."

The old emperor still held Zhong Yansheng's hand and responded vaguely.

Zhong Yansheng was so stiff from being gripped by him that he wanted to pull his hand away but didn't dare. He stared at the skinny fingers holding his wrist, feeling panic and uneasy.

Judging from Tian Xi's intention to let everyone else leave, does His Majesty the Emperor want to keep him waiting here?

Zhong Yansheng was usually very popular with his elders and liked to act like a spoiled child in front of them. During the few days he lived in Prince Ding's mansion, he liked to take Taxue to see Uncle Wang when Xiao Nong was not around, and help him loosen the soil for the flowers and listen to him talk about the past.

However, he was somewhat reluctant to be alone in a room with His Majesty.

Or rather, fear.

Xiao Nong watched for a long time, and finally spoke indifferently: "Your Majesty, do you need someone to accompany you to sleep? Your Highness went to bed late yesterday, and you must be very tired now. It's time to rest."

The old emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, looked over at the young boy in front of him, and exchanged a glance with Xiao Nong. He coughed hoarsely, "I forgot that Xiao Shiyi was taken to the palace by Xianwei to stay for a few days. Xiao Shiyi, how are you doing in the palace?"

[Xiao Shiyi = Little Eleven]

Zhong Yansheng obviously sensed something was wrong, and blinked, lowering his long eyelashes as if in fear: "Your Highness Prince Ding... is very good to me."

The old emperor nodded with satisfaction: "That's good, that's good."

Xiao Nong is a lunatic. How can you have a good life if you are captured by him and taken to Prince Ding's Palace?

Prince De glared at Xiao Nong with a dark face.

So many days had passed since the incident, and he naturally realized that Xiao Nong had deliberately leaked the news to him on the day of the flower-fighting banquet, causing him to be frightened for so long before he realized that he had been cheated.

But he can't say anything and is very angry.

Just when he was getting angry, he received news that His Majesty had found the Eleventh Prince who had been missing for many years... Damn it.

The more Prince De thought about it, the angrier he got. When he saw Zhong Yansheng's face, he felt something was wrong. The more he looked at it, the more he felt something was wrong. He simply said, "Father, I still have some business to deal with. Now that I have met my eleventh brother, I will leave first."

The old emperor, who used to love him very much, didn't even look at him: "Go."

After Prince De left, it was time for everyone else to leave. Marquis Huai'an took one last look at Zhong Yansheng's thin back, exchanged a glance with Xiao Nong in silence, and then left the bedroom.

It seems that Xiao Nong has left as well after a while.

The bedroom became quiet and Zhong Yansheng felt a slight breathing difficulty. He didn't know if it was because the smell of medicine in the bedroom was too strong or because of something else.

The old emperor was about to fall asleep, but suddenly opened his eyes and said, "Little Eleven, you have never called me father."

Father?

If he called it out, would it be equivalent to him admitting that he was the eleventh prince and that this dying old man was his father?

Zhong Yansheng opened his mouth, but the two words were stuck in his throat and he couldn't utter them out.

The old emperor stared at him for a while, but he didn't hear him shout out. He seemed a little disappointed, but he didn't get angry, nor did he shout out to him. He just sighed and said, "After so many years away, you are still estranged from me."

This was a very strange thing to say. Before Zhong Yansheng could think about it, Tian Xi spoke up at the right time: "Don't be sad, Your Majesty. The little prince is just a little confused. He will be fine if he stays in the palace for a few more days."

Zhong Yansheng was suddenly stunned.

Stay in the palace for a few more days? He still has to live in the palace?

The old emperor seemed to be comforted by Tian Xi's words. He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep again. This time he was probably really asleep, and his grip on Zhong Yansheng loosened.

Zhong Yansheng quickly pulled his hand back, turned around and saw that Xiao Nong was gone.

He stood up quickly, and even though he felt dizzy for a moment, he didn't care. He staggered two steps and ran outside. Tian Xi didn't expect him to do this, so he quickly followed him, swinging his whisk, and lowered his voice and called out, "Young Prince, what are you going to do?"

Zhong Yansheng rushed out of the room. The outside was empty. All the palace people were busy with their own things. Only the Jinyiwei were patrolling in the distance with solemn expressions. No one was waiting for him.

His eyes suddenly turned red, his throat choked, and he turned his head and asked in a hoarse voice: "Eunuch Tian Xi, where is His Royal Highness Prince Ding?"

Tian Xi was stunned for a moment, then quickly took out a clean handkerchief and wiped his eyes with a sigh: "Oh, my little prince, don't be like this in front of His Majesty. His Royal Highness Prince Ding does not live in the palace, and he has not been summoned to enter the palace. Without His Majesty's words, he cannot stay for long, so he will naturally go back."

Zhong Yansheng couldn't help but feel a sense of being abandoned, and his eyes became even moister.

My brother went back...without waiting for him.

Suddenly, he remembered some secret stories from the past that Uncle Wang had told him on the day he came back.

For example, the royal family and Prince Ding's Mansion were not as close as rumored. Children over five years old had to be sent to Mobei, otherwise they would be taken into the palace. If it weren't for the chaos in Mobei that year, almost all the Xiao family was buried there, and Xiao Wenlan should have gone to Mobei that year...

For another example, when the old Prince Ding was defending Mobei to the death, the reinforcements from the capital were slow to arrive, and the army was delayed on the road for a whole month. When they arrived, there was not even enough time to collect the corpses.

There were also the servants in Prince Ding's mansion who suddenly hanged themselves together to die for their master.

Wang Boxian's tone was calm, but Zhong Yansheng could tell that he was not at peace.

Xiao Nong even told him this that day.

He hated the royal family.

A huge feeling of panic filled his every limb, and a chill slowly seeped out of Zhong

Yansheng's hands and feet.

He is now considered a member of the royal family.

So brother now...hates him?

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