"Who are you calling Sixth Brother?" Lu Mingyuan said, his face an emotionless mask as he confronted the Fifth Prince.
As Lu Mingkong stepped out of his sedan chair, a slender Palace Maid in a purple veil was at his side, supporting his arm.
Hearing Lu Mingyuan's words, he didn't seem annoyed. He opened a black folding fan and gestured with his chin.
"Lu Mingyuan, I haven't seen you for two days, and I have to say, I'm impressed. Your tongue has gotten quite sharp. To think you even got the better of Shi Taigong."
"But aren't you afraid Father will punish you for the crime of assaulting a Court official?"
Lu Mingyuan crossed his arms and said nonchalantly, "I've already fallen this far. What's one more crime? Your dog was the one who started it. How can someone so insolent be worthy of being an Imperial Censor of the Court?"
Shi Taigong, who was struggling to his feet, turned livid and gritted his teeth when he heard Lu Mingyuan call him the Fifth Prince's dog.
But there was nothing he could do.
No matter what—whether he was in the Cold Palace or under confinement—Lu Mingyuan was still the Sixth Prince. As furious as Shi Taigong was, he could only swallow his grievances.
The Fifth Prince, Lu Mingkong, sneered. "In your current state, you still have the nerve to meddle in others' affairs? After committing such a heinous crime, what right do you have to inherit the throne? Oh, Sixth Brother, Sixth Brother... now that you've lost your right of succession, how can you possibly contend with me?"
Lu Mingyuan remained the picture of nonchalance. He cleaned out his ear and said dismissively, "The throne? You mean spending all day reading memorials, being mentally exhausted, and staying up past midnight? I'd be much more comfortable calling a few girls from the Drunken Flower Tower to spend the night with. Three thousand beauties in the Harem, yet no energy to dote on any of them. What's so great about the throne?"
This made Lu Mingkong laugh, but on second thought, it was indeed just like Lu Mingyuan's character. He then sneered.
"I never would have thought, Sixth Brother, that you're a man of such little ambition. Is that truly the extent of your aspirations?"
"Oh, but I almost forgot. In your current state, you're willing but not able. HAHAHA!"
Lu Mingyuan listened, a strange thought forming in his mind. 'Did this guy just come here looking for a beating?'
'I can't just let that slide.'
SLAP!
A crisp, loud sound echoed through the air.
The Fifth Prince, Lu Mingkong, was stunned, his dark face frozen in disbelief.
"You dare to hit me?"
It wasn't just him; Shi Taigong and the Purple Gauze Palace Maid were also completely stunned.
None of them had expected the Sixth Prince to strike so cleanly and decisively.
To prevent him from striking again, the Purple Gauze Palace Maid immediately moved to shield the Fifth Prince.
So this Palace Maid was his bodyguard.
"So you're Lu Mingkong, huh?"
Lu Mingyuan rubbed his wrist, showing no intention of striking again. Instead, he snorted coldly.
"I'm in this mess because of you! You're the one who framed me, aren't you!"
Hearing this, Lu Mingkong's expression flickered. Clutching his right cheek, he loudly denied it, "Don't you dare make baseless accusations! What frame-up? You brought this on yourself!"
Seeing his reaction, Lu Mingyuan knew his probing had hit its mark and pressed his advantage. "I haven't forgotten your threats from two days ago. You said I was a dead man. If it wasn't you, then who was it?"
"Is that why you hit me? Because of what I said?!"
Lu Mingkong glanced at the Imperial Guard standing watch in the distance, his chest burning with rage. He stepped forward and slapped the Purple Gauze Palace Maid in front of him.
SLAP.
"What are you gawking at? Didn't you see me get hit? Hit him back!"
The Purple Gauze Palace Maid trembled. She bit her lip and glanced at the Sixth Prince, her voice full of hesitation.
"If I strike the Sixth Prince, I will be sentenced to death."
Lu Mingkong's expression turned icy. "Do you want to die by my hand, or by my father's?"
Hearing this, the Purple Gauze Palace Maid's delicate frame trembled even more violently. She knew the Fifth Prince's horrifying methods for dealing with servants were beyond what any person could bear.
To fall into his hands would be a fate worse than death.
But if she struck the Sixth Prince, not only she but her entire family would be implicated and put to death.
"Useless!"
Seeing she remained motionless, Lu Mingkong grew even more furious. He couldn't believe a mere Palace Maid would defy his order.
He kicked her squarely in the stomach and began to beat her mercilessly.
Lu Mingyuan watched the scene unfold with a blank expression. He glanced into the distance and noticed the group of Imperial Guard, who remained completely indifferent.
He quickly sensed something was amiss, catching the scent of a conspiracy.
"Enough!"
Just then, a majestic, elderly voice called out from afar.
A cyan Nine Phoenix Sedan Chair slowly approached.
Lu Mingyuan's heart stirred when he saw the sedan chair. He knew Empress Dowager Liu had arrived.
"What is all this commotion? I could hear you two brothers arguing from several halls away."
Empress Dowager Liu was draped in a Cyan Feathered Phoenix Robe, a Mandarin Duck Hairpin in her hair. She carried her usual air of dignified nobility, but her elderly face was grim.
"Grand Empress Dowager! You must stand up for Yuan'Er!"
Seeing that his backer had arrived, Lu Mingyuan reacted instantly. He rushed over to Empress Dowager Liu and began to wail.
"Fifth Brother came running to my Qingzhu Hall first thing this morning to humiliate your grandson! He brought some Senior Third-Grade Official with him and said things like I was 'finished for life'!"
'With the Empress Dowager's backing, I naturally have to press this unique advantage.'
"You—you—"
Lu Mingkong was so enraged by this shameless display of playing the victim that he was left speechless.
"Grand Empress Dowager! Don't listen to his lies! He was the one who hit me first!"
Empress Dowager Liu frowned, uncertain who was in the right.
Lu Mingyuan immediately pointed to the Treasure Copper Bell on the ground. "Grand Empress Dowager, look at what Fifth Brother sent me! What is this, if not a deliberate humiliation?"
"And this Imperial Censor! He didn't even bow when he saw me. He just started lecturing and throwing his official weight around. What an impressive display of authority!"
"Have you ever seen anyone bully someone like this?"
Empress Dowager Liu saw the Copper Bell on the ground and Shi Taigong standing nearby with his head bowed in silence. She began to form her own judgment.
Lu Mingkong grew anxious. "Empress Dowager, please see the truth! It was Lu Mingyuan who first assaulted a Court official, and then he hit your grandson! Don't listen to him twist the facts!"
Hearing him address her as "Empress Dowager," Liu's brow furrowed, and she immediately passed her judgment.
"Enough. Everyone in the Harem knows about the matter between you two. You shouldn't have come to bother your brother. He has acknowledged his mistake and is staying quietly in the Cold Palace. Do not do anything further to damage your brotherly bond. Now, disperse."
Lu Mingkong's face paled when he heard this.
For some reason, he felt that the Empress Dowager was taking Lu Mingyuan's side.
"Grand Empress Dowager, we can't just let it go! Just now, Fifth Brother tried to have this Palace Maid 'teach me a lesson'! He's gone too far!"
Lu Mingyuan declared with righteous indignation.
"Is this true?"
Empress Dowager Liu noticed that the Purple Gauze Palace Maid had a Cultivation base. If she had been ordered to "teach him a lesson," the consequences would have been far more serious than a simple squabble.
"Well..."
The Purple Gauze Palace Maid saw the Fifth Prince desperately shooting her warning glances, and she froze, not daring to speak.
Having navigated the politics of the Harem for decades, Empress Dowager Liu had seen every trick in the book. Her tone was deceptively calm.
"Think carefully before you speak. You know the consequences of deceiving me, don't you?"
The Purple Gauze Palace Maid was torn. She bit her lip so hard it started to bleed. Ultimately, the Empress Dowager's threat held more weight.
"Yes..."
"How audacious!"
Upon receiving her answer, Empress Dowager Liu's eyes flashed with a cold light. The imposing authority she had built up for over a decade was unleashed, pressing down on the Fifth Prince. Her voice was glacial.
"Fratricide has been the greatest taboo of the Royal Family since ancient times. Lu Mingkong, believe me when I say I will report this to your father immediately."
At her words, the Fifth Prince felt as if he'd been plunged into an icy abyss. He trembled and said:
"Empress Dowager, forgive me! Your grandson was momentarily blinded by anger."
Empress Dowager Liu said indifferently, "Apologizing to me is useless. You should be asking your brother if he is willing to forgive you."
"As it happens, I'm in need of a Palace Maid. Why don't you give me the pretty one by your side? If you do, I won't pursue this matter any further. How about it?"
Lu Mingyuan said with a wide grin.
Hearing this, Lu Mingkong's face turned grim, his fists clenching tightly.
While one woman meant little to him, this was an undeniable loss of face. It was tantamount to Lu Mingyuan walking all over him, a humiliation worse than death.
But at that moment, he had no choice.
Lu Mingkong could only force a smile. "Fine. Since my Sixth Brother has taken a liking to her, then this Palace Maid is yours."
Then he barked at the Purple Gauze Palace Maid, who was sobbing softly on the ground, "What are you waiting for? Greet the Sixth Prince!"
"This servant greets the Sixth Prince."
The Purple Gauze Palace Maid bowed her head in Lu Mingyuan's direction.
"Good, very good."
Lu Mingyuan beckoned to her, gesturing to the spot beside him. He smiled. "Come here."
Like a new bride, the Purple Gauze Palace Maid walked over with her head lowered.
Empress Dowager Liu watched this scene with a cold gaze and said flatly, "Since that's settled, this matter is now closed. I hope you'll take this as a lesson, Fifth Prince."
Lu Mingkong silently gritted his teeth and bowed to the Empress Dowager without a word.
He and the red-faced, swollen Shi Taigong scurried back to the carriage and departed.
They fled with great haste.
Seeing them leave, Lu Mingyuan bowed to Empress Dowager Liu. "Thank you, Grand Empress Dowager. I'm surprised to see you looking so well this early in the morning."
Hearing this, Empress Dowager Liu smiled faintly. "You always were the smooth-talker."
"I've seen more than enough of these old tricks."
"Even though you've been moved to the Cold Palace, you must be more careful. If I hadn't been taking a morning walk in the rear garden and heard the commotion, you might have suffered a great loss. You need to learn to curb that impetuous nature of yours."
Lu Mingyuan nodded obediently. "Your lesson is well-received, Grand Empress Dowager."
"Alright, it is time for me to leave. You may go."
"Farewell, Grand Empress Dowager."
Lu Mingyuan watched the cyan Nine Phoenix Sedan Chair recede into the distance, his mind lost in thought.
'What on earth is the Fifth Prince up to?'
'Is he testing me?'
He felt the Witchcraft incident had to be connected to him, but he had no concrete proof yet.
On the other hand, he doubted Lu Mingkong had the brains to orchestrate a scheme as elaborate as the Witchcraft incident.
Lu Mingyuan looked at the Six-Yao Turtle Shell in his mind's eye.
'No matter who the true culprit is,' he thought, 'once my Cultivation reaches a high enough Realm, I will make them pay.'
...