The two of them were a little unwilling, but they let go obediently.
Yan Tai quickly helped Shangguan Han up.
At this moment, Zhu Zi also came over. Seeing that his young master’s hair was messy, his clothes were disheveled, and his face was swollen, he complained in his heart and quickly went over to help him.
If that person knew that his precious grandson had been beaten up like this, he would feel suffocated just thinking about it.
He quickly pressed his free hand against one of his men to prevent himself from fainting.
Song Jingchen walked in with a cold expression and sat down. “Tell me, what happened?”
After fighting, the anger in Shangguan Han’s heart dissipated. At first, he was the one who wanted to kill someone. How could he dare to say it?
Qian Youde also felt that it was a little embarrassing to be beaten up by someone younger, so he kept quiet.
Song Jingchen looked at Yan Tai. “Tell me!”
Yan Tai looked at its lord, then at Qian Youde. He gritted its teeth and knelt down with a thud before recounting the entire incident.
He also included what he had said to Shangguan Han after he returned. However, he did not dare to mention what Qian Youde said about the empress. He only vaguely mentioned it.
However, Song Jingchen understood.
He glanced at Qian Youde, wondering if it was an illusion.
He felt that Qian Youde had deliberately said those words to anger Shangguan Han and divert his anger, preventing him from killing anyone.
Qian Youde rubbed his nose guiltily and moved behind Shen Yijia.
Song Jingchen didn’t look at him anymore. He turned to Shangguan Han and said in a low voice, “Come with me.”
Shangguan Han thought, “Why am I carrying the blame for the two of us?”
In the study, Shangguan Han lowered his head, not daring to make a sound. He felt that the surrounding atmosphere was so oppressive that he almost couldn’t breathe.
Song Jingchen sneered. “You want to kill Lord Zhou?”
“Cousin, I-”
“And then? You’ll let everyone in the world know that you have no regard for the law. You even killed the imperial envoy of the imperial court just because you wanted to. Do you want to confirm your crime of plotting a rebellion and give the imperial court a reason to send troops to attack you?”
Song Jingchen’s words were heartbreaking. Every word made Shangguan Han’s heart bleed and his forehead was covered in cold sweat.
That’s right. At that time, he was blinded by anger. If he really killed Lord Zhou, he would have confirmed his crime and personally delivered the knife to those who wanted him dead.
“If you wanted to die, you could have told me earlier. I wouldn’t have come all the way to Xunyang to save you,” Song Jingchen continued mercilessly.
Shangguan Han lifted his robe and knelt down. “Cousin, I was wrong. Punish me.”
Song Jingchen closed his eyes. “Do you still remember your identity?”
“I remember.”
“Then what are you doing now?” Song Jingchen asked coldly.
Shangguan Han said, “You’re my elder, like a father to me. I can kneel.”
“Oh my, Sister-in-law, help me take a look. Am I disfigured? Am I going to lose my beautiful face?”
Qian Youde slumped in his chair and let Zhu Zi tidy his hair. He wailed nonstop.
He was either crying out in pain or worried about his appearance.
Shen Yijia looked at it seriously and nodded. “A little.”
The skin at the corner of his mouth was broken, his face was swollen, and his eyes were blue. He couldn’t bear to look at himself.
“Ah! What should we do then?” Qian Youde jumped up exaggeratedly and circled Shen Yijia twice. He said with a long face, “You have to avenge me. I called you sister-in-law.”
Shen Yijia tilted her head and frowned. “Why don’t I beat him up for you?”
Qian Youde nodded hurriedly.
“But Shangguan Han also calls me Sister-in-law. I can’t favor one over the other. I’ll beat you up for him first before helping you beat him up.” Shen Yijia bared her teeth, her face filled with excitement.
She wanted to beat both of them up. Hitting both of them at the same time was perfect.
Qian Youde’s nod froze. He wanted to force a smile, but it tugged at his wound. It hurt so much that he gave up.
He could only say dryly, “Haha, Sister-in-law, you’re really good at joking. Little Han and I were just playing around. There’s no need for revenge in a spar between men.”
Shen Yijia clenched her fists and looked regretful. “Really?”
“Yes, yes.” Qian Youde nodded vigorously, afraid that Shen Yijia’s fist would come at him if he didn’t speak quickly. He turned around and instructed Zhu Zi, “What are you waiting for? Can’t you see that your young master is injured? Hurry up and help me back to my room to apply the medicine.”
Zhu Zi thought to himself, “I said that I would help you back, but you said that you didn’t want it. Didn’t you just want to pretend to be pitiful in front of this young lady?”
On the Prince’s residence’s side, Lord Zhou did not know that he had almost died.
After they sat down, Butler Wan brought some tea and left. No one bothered with them anymore.
They waited from midnight to noon. For a full four hours, no one welcomed them for lunch.
There was not even a charcoal basin prepared in the reception pavilion. The group was cold and hungry.
Lord Zhou sat there with a dark expression. He picked up his teacup and wanted to take a sip, but he realized that it was already empty.
He placed the teacup down angrily and glanced at Eunuch Li, who was resting with his eyes closed. He said with a fake smile, “Eunuch Li is quite calm.”
Eunuch Li looked up and clasped his hands in his sleeves. He said casually, “His Highness is not around, so what can I do? Besides, Lord Zhou is here too. I’m just here to join in the fun.”
Lord Zhou snorted and glanced at Zhou Qing. The latter understood and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Where is he? Is there no one left in this residence?”
Soon, Butler Wan ran in, panting. “Sir, do you have any other instructions?”
Without waiting for Lord Zhou to speak, Zhou Qing said arrogantly, “Don’t you see that my lord’s tea is gone? Don’t you know how to refill tea? Also, this house is so cold. Go and add two charcoal basins.”
Butler Wan was about to nod when he heard the last sentence with a difficult expression. “Lord Zhou, you might not know this, but ever since our Prince came to Xunyang City, he has been struggling to make ends meet.”
“Coupled with what happened a few days ago, the residence is almost out of food. We don’t have money to buy charcoal.”
Want a charcoal basin to warm up? No.
Since Lord Zhou wanted to wait, he might as well freeze.
Zhou Qing wanted to say more, but Lord Zhou stopped him with a look.
“Speaking of which, we’ve been in Xunyang for a few days. Have you sent someone to inform His Highness?” He looked very easy to talk to, as if he wasn’t the one who had insisted on entering the residence with Emperor Chong’an’s imperial edict.
Butler Wan did not know why he asked this. He deliberated and said, “Lord Zhou also knows that there are not many things around Xunyang City, but many mountains.”
“We don’t know where His Highness went. We really can’t find him for the time being. We can only wait for His Highness to return.”
Lord Zhou did not even take Eunuch Li seriously, let alone the butler of the residence.
He sneered and said sarcastically, “I think it’s best if the Butler Wan sends more people to search. Lord An Le has been gone for so long and hasn’t returned. It won’t be good if something happens to His Highness.”
