"But your clothes..." A thought flashed briefly through Ling Yu's mind, but he couldn't grasp it.
Xiao Yi calmly wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.
He glanced at the booklet on the table.
"Alright, you may go now."
"Good work!"
Xiao Yi said it very lightly, almost casually.
Ling Yu scratched the back of his head, looking a bit dazed.
"Your Highness, Prince Rui is currently locked in the dungeon."
"If you present these documents to the court,"
"Then Prince Rui will definitely lose his chance!"
Xiao Yi tossed the handkerchief aside carelessly.
"If I eliminate Prince Rui now, wouldn't that be helping Prince Ling remove a rival?"
Ling Yu hesitated.
"But Your Highness, keeping Prince Rui alive won't make him your ally!"
"Sooner or later, you'll have to face him. Striking first would save us one less trouble."
Xiao Yi shot Ling Yu a cold glare.
"Since when do I need you to lecture me on what to do?"
Hearing this, Ling Yu immediately dropped to his knees.
"Forgive me, Your Highness. I spoke out of turn."
Xiao Yi remained silent.
Gritting his teeth, Ling Yu slapped himself in the face.
"Please forgive me, Your Highness. I know I was wrong."
"Get up. I know you were thinking of the bigger picture."
Ling Yu kowtowed once, then rose to his feet and stood quietly with his head lowered.
The excitement he had felt earlier had completely vanished.
Xiao Yi pondered for a moment.
"You know, Ling Yu, my goal has never been that throne."
Ling Yu had already calmed down.
His Highness had broken his back long ago, and since then, he had lost all qualification to compete for the imperial position.
He had been far too excited earlier and forgotten that crucial fact.
That was why he had touched on His Highness’s taboo.
That slap he gave himself was well deserved.
Ling Yu replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Highness. I understand."
Xiao Yi waved his hand. "Alright, you've worked hard making this trip."
"Take two days off to rest."
Ling Yu was stunned. He lifted his head, about to speak, when he felt someone nudge him.
He immediately lowered his head again.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I understand."
Xiao Yi waved his hand once more. Ling Yu and Yunxiao bowed and withdrew.
After walking a good distance away, Ling Yu turned around.
"Yunxiao, why didn’t you let me speak just now?"
Yunxiao looked around cautiously, then pulled Ling Yu to an open area.
"Commander Ling, the young princess has been thrown into the Punishments Office."
"What?" Ling Yu was shocked.
"Shh! His Highness has ordered that not a word of this be leaked."
"You should pretend you know nothing even after hearing this."
"By the way, Consort Li is the one who sent her there."
Ling Yu stood frozen for a long moment.
Now he understood why His Highness was choosing not to move against Prince Rui.
He patted Yunxiao on the shoulder.
"Thank you for stopping me just now. Otherwise, I would have ended up like Lingfeng!"
Lingfeng had once been His Highness’s trusted man, but now His Highness had sent him far away.
Yunxiao scratched the back of his head.
"I was lucky back then, thanks to you, Commander Ling, that I got to serve His Highness."
Ling Yu patted Yunxiao's shoulder again.
"That was your good fortune!"
"I appreciate the favor today."
"I'll take my leave now. You go back and attend to His Highness!"
With that, Ling Yu strode away.
Yunxiao hurried back to the study.
"Your Highness, the weather is hot. This servant has prepared some water for you."
Xiao Yi's voice came from the study.
"Mm."
Yunxiao carefully pushed open the door, carried the bucket into the side chamber, and poured it into the bathtub.
"Your Highness, the water is ready." Yunxiao reported.
"Mm. Go out and close the door."
Xiao Yi ordered without raising his head.
Yunxiao bowed and left.
Only then did Xiao Yi put down the book in his hand and push his wheelchair toward the side chamber.
The reason he no longer used Lingfeng was simply because they were too familiar with each other.
Unlike Yunxiao.
When he told him to leave, he left.
If it were Lingfeng, he would have started asking questions.
Xiao Yi pushed his wheelchair to the side chamber, stood up from it, took off his outer robe, and stepped into the bathtub.
It seemed that next time, he should switch to exercising at night instead.
It was best to remain cautious.
Yunxiao stood guard at the door, his heart full of worry.
But what had happened earlier with Ling Yu had shocked him deeply.
He warned himself once more: the prince was the master! Whatever the prince said, he would do!
He must never interfere with the prince’s affairs.
Otherwise, he would end up as miserable as Lingfeng.
Far away in the mountains, Lingfeng was leading his men in training.
He sneezed three or four times in a row.
"Captain, have you caught a cold?" a guard asked with concern.
Lingfeng rubbed his nose.
"Just an itch. Continue! Again!"
Immediately, a chorus of groans filled the air.
After several busy days, Prince Ling finally had time to return to the Ling residence.
Upon hearing the news, Song Shuyu quickly changed into a festive outfit and hurried to the main hall.
When she entered the room, it was filled with cheerful laughter.
Princess Consort Ling looked at Song Shuyu with a gentle smile.
"Funing is here. Come quickly and greet your father."
Song Shuyu put on her most pleasing smile and knelt before Prince Ling.
"Funing pays respects to Father."
Prince Ling was in high spirits. He stood up and personally helped Song Shuyu to her feet.
"Mm. How is your health now?"
Beside them, Xiao Yunming’s eyes flashed with intense jealousy.
Song Shuyu wore a grateful smile as she replied, "Thank you for your concern, Father. Funing is much better now."
"Oh, and Funing hasn’t yet congratulated Father! Congratulations, Father!"
"Ha ha ha!"
Prince Ling burst into laughter upon hearing Song Shuyu’s words.
He patted Song Shuyu’s shoulder proudly.
"The day I ascend to that throne, both you and An Ning will be the most honored princesses."
The concubines of Prince Ling, especially those with daughters, looked at Song Shuyu with complicated expressions.
Song Shuyu gazed at Prince Ling with admiration.
"Father is so formidable!"
Over the past few days, Prince Ling had been in an excellent mood. Hearing Song Shuyu’s words, he waved his hand generously.
"Princess Consort, have new clothes made for every child in the household."
"In a while, it will be the Emperor’s birthday, and the Ling residence must not disgrace itself."
Princess Consort Ling beamed with shared pride. "Rest assured, Your Highness. I have already given everyone an extra month’s allowance."
"Let them all share in Your Highness’s joy."
"As for the children’s clothes, I have already arranged for them to be sewn."
Prince Ling nodded with great satisfaction.
"You’ve worked hard, Princess Consort. With you managing the inner quarters, I can rest easy."
Secondary Consort Wei, seated below, covered her mouth with a handkerchief as she smiled.
"Your Highness, my health has improved greatly. Perhaps I could help Sister manage the household affairs?"
"Having to take care of Princess Funing all by herself while also managing the household affairs—it's really too much for Sister to bear!"
