The fifteenth day of the first lunar month!
Da Li.
Third Prince’s Manor.
Yu Lingyi had been experiencing one setback after another lately, and even his inner court was no longer peaceful.
"Argue, argue, all day long you just know how to make noise. Go tell the Consort, if she can't manage the household, she should hand over the management power soon enough."
Yu Lingyi grumbled as he headed to his study, venting his anger on the door. He pushed it open with a "bang," then strode towards his desk. He didn't stop until he sat down in his chair, his chest still heaving, unable to quell his fury.
Suddenly, his pupils contracted.
On his desk lay a letter he hadn't seen before. Yu Lingyi shot to his feet, glancing around vigilantly. After confirming no one was hidden in the study, he shouted outwards, "Where are today's guards? Get in here!"
The guards stationed outside the study quickly entered.
"Your Highness!"
The guards knelt and paid their respects.
"Did anyone enter this prince's study today?" His gaze was like a blade, hanging over the guards' necks. The guards, with their heads bowed, dared not be perfunctory, and loudly replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, no one!"
"Are you sure?"
"This subordinate is willing to stake his life on it."
"Good!"
"Guards, drag him away and behead him."
"Your Highness, why? Your Highness, this subordinate has not spoken a single false word. No one has entered the study today, Your Highness, Your Highness..."
The guard was gagged and dragged away.
Yu Lingyi's expression turned extremely grim. He stared at the letter on the desk for a long time before finally snatching it up, tearing it open, and pulling out the letter within.
The letter explained the reason for his wings being clipped.
"Assassination?"
"When did this prince send people to assassinate Yu Chengxuan?"
Yu Lingyi felt utterly wronged. If he had been able to reach so far, would he still have been suppressed by Hui'an and Yu Chengxuan?
Has the Emperor become senile? How could he believe such slanderous words?
No, I must go to the palace!
Yu Lingyi tucked the letter into his怀, ordered a carriage to be prepared, and headed to the Imperial Palace.
"Your Majesty, the Third Prince requests an audience!"
In the Imperial Study, the chief eunuch bowed and quickly walked to Yu Wenyi's side, speaking in a low voice.
Lately, the Third Prince had apparently committed some offense that incurred the Emperor's wrath. Although the Emperor had not revealed anything outwardly, as a close attendant who was often by His Majesty's side, he could still discern the general trend.
"What does he want?"
"I will not see him!"
Yu Wenyi indeed had an ill temper. Upon hearing that he would not be seen, the chief eunuch was about to turn and inform the Third Prince. However, just as he turned, Yu Wenyi changed his mind: "No, let him in!"
"Yes!"
The chief eunuch, without even considering why His Majesty had changed his mind, responded and went to escort Yu Lingyi in.
"This humble son pays his respects to Father Emperor. May Father Emperor's health be robust."
"Lingyi, have you visited your Imperial Consort since entering the palace?"
"This humble son has matters to report to Father Emperor. After taking my leave, I will go pay respects to Imperial Consort."
"What matters?"
Yu Lingyi suddenly knelt down, took out the letter from his怀, and presented it with both hands. Yu Wenyi glanced at the attendant beside him. The attendant quickly walked to Yu Lingyi's side, took the letter from his hand, and hurried back, presenting the letter to Yu Wenyi with both hands.
Yu Wenyi opened the letter, and his face suddenly darkened before returning to its previous state.
"Father Emperor, this humble son is wronged. This humble son does not know who has slandered him, but this matter, this humble son truly did not do it!"
Yu Lingyi proclaimed his innocence in a high-pitched voice.
His face was filled with righteous indignation and grievance at being wronged. His eyes were bright as he looked at Yu Wenyi, unafraid of Yu Wenyi's scrutiny and probing.
"I understand!"
Yu Wenyi placed the letter on the desk, saying no more, as if he did not wish to delve deeper. "Alright, your Imperial Consort has been feeling unwell these past few days. Go and see her!"
"Father Emperor!"
"You may withdraw!"
Yu Lingyi was somewhat unwilling, but seeing Yu Wenyi's resolute attitude, he could only softly agree.
After he left, Yu Wenyi tossed the letter at the eunuch's feet: "Take a look!"
The eunuch quickly bent down and picked up the letter. After reading it at a glance, his face turned extremely pale. He finally understood why His Majesty had flown into a thunderous rage. The assassination case that occurred in Lin Yuan half a month ago had actually been committed by the Third Prince. For his own selfish interests, he had caused the border troops to be slaughtered. The mountain of thirteen hundred heads piled high was a shocking sight, completely reducing Da Li's already scattered military spirit to ashes.
The Third Prince, he was foolish!
"This... Your Majesty, is it true as the letter states, that the Third Prince is..."
"Is what? Are you implying that my personal guard wronged him, or do you think my personal guards are a group of incompetent wastrels who can be easily fooled?"
These words were extremely harsh, and they exploded in the eunuch's ears. The eunuch was so frightened that he scrambled to his knees: "This servant dares not, this servant dares not!"
"Hmph!"
Yu Wenyi snorted coldly. "If Yu Lingyi is truly innocent, then I shall not be able to sleep peacefully. It would mean that in Da Li's capital, someone has managed to blind me and frame Yu Lingyi. If that is the case, I might as well hand over this entire empire."
"Your Majesty..."
"Enough, you may rise."
Yu Wenyi was merely using this to admonish the eunuch beside him. Although he allowed his sons to contend for the throne, if those around him dared to take sides, he would not hesitate to be ruthless!
...
Today was the Lantern Festival. Colored lanterns were lit, and after the hour of You (7-9 PM), the streets gradually became more crowded. This year's Lantern Festival extended from Changling Street to Yunlan Street. The stalls on both sides of the street were countless. At the beginning of the street, there were platforms for guessing lantern riddles and matching couplets. At the end of the street, the moat was filled with peace lanterns released by the people. The streets and alleys were teeming with people, shoulder to shoulder, pressing against each other. Children of short stature could only sit on their elders' shoulders to see the surrounding scenery.
The turmoil of the year had not affected the joy of the festival.
At the dough figurine stall, an old woman held her grandson's hand and was haggling with the dough figurine vendor: "Two copper coins, just two copper coins. My grandson only wants a small rabbit, and it's not much work."
The vendor couldn't help but want to roll his eyes. How was it not much work? His rabbits were praised for their details, and they were absolutely more exquisite than ordinary dough figurines. Besides, if it weren't for the fact that a small rabbit was simple, why would he only charge three copper coins? The truly elaborate dough figurines cost five, eight, or ten. Three copper coins was already very cheap.
"Fine, fine, consider it the opening sale!"
However, looking at the way she was haggling, he feared she wouldn't leave if he disagreed. Two copper coins it would be. At least it was an opening sale.
"Alright, thank you!"
The old woman's face lit up with joy as she took out money to pay. She wasn't so happy about saving one copper coin; it was the sense of accomplishment from haggling that brought her such delight.
She handed two copper coins to the dough figurine master. As the master reached out his hand while preparing the dough, the copper coins did not land in his palm but fell to the ground. The moment the copper coins hit the ground, the old woman suddenly clutched her heart and, in the next second, collapsed heavily onto the ground.
The dough figurine master jumped up in shock. He darted around the stall and quickly went to the old woman's side. He turned her over and saw her ashen, pale face. His knees suddenly felt weak, and in a trembling voice, he called out, "Auntie, Auntie..."
The people around them rushed over in a crowd. The vendor shouted to them, "Quick, go get a doctor! And, and... quickly report to the authorities!"
The patrol camp had already made thorough arrangements for the Lantern Festival, to prevent any accidents. Upon hearing that something had happened near the end of Yunlan Street, the patrol camp personnel quickly rushed to the scene.
When they arrived, the old woman had already passed away.