Chapter 24: Best laid plan [2]
In the imperial court, all the ministers were exchanging nervous whispers as they had been inform that his Majesty was in the bad mood.
It was already ten in the morning and the court session were supposed to start at nine.
In the left side Minister Xu of finance and Prince Zhang was discussing something. While in the right side, Prime Minister Yan was rather calm but who would have known that he was also anxious inside.
If his Majesty is indeed in a bad mood, then it must had something to do with the Crown Prince and what makes it even worst is that he's supposed to attend a court every morning but this time, he was not arround.
"Did you informed them?"
Prince Zhang secretly asked Minister Xu, his uncle. He nodded and took a glanced toward Prime Minister Yan that coincidentally
took a glanced towards him.
Minister Xu frowned, when he realized that Prime minister Yan seems to be unbothered.
"Let's see how Royal father will react this!"
He smiled wickedly.
Minister Xu smirked. "I hope that old fool will be shaken this time!"
Then they saw his Majesty emerge at the back. He was coming to sit in his throne.
"Greetings Your Majesty!"
They kneel down before his Majesty cupping one hand in other before their chest and bow down their heads into the ground.
"wànsuì, wànsuì, wànwànsuì !"
"Rise!"
Eunuch Li repeated what his Majesty said into the ministers.
His Majesty's face was indeed in a bad mood, his brows almost meet in between and he seems to be furious.
"If there is no memorials today then lets end this court session immediately!"
There was an obvious anger and annoyance in his voice.
"Your Majesty!"
Minister of war suddenly come forward.
"What is that?"
His Majesty asked him impatienly and this time he already yelled at him. But before he could even came forward, minister Yan Li suddenly presented a memorial.
"I have something to report, a memorial arrived from the border in the south!"
His Majesty give a signal to Eunuch Li to go and fetch the memorial from Minister Yan Li. While Prince Zhang and Minister Xu look in each other, puzzled.
His Majesty sat straight when he read the content of the memorial.
"Who sent this?"
"In reply to you, Your Majesty. It was a convoy from the south!"
"Alright—We will discuss this the day after tomorrow!"
"Your Majesty!"
Again another minister had called his Majesty. He glared at the man imperiously.
"What is it?
He frowned, this time he did not bother to hide his annoyance anymore.
"Your Majesty, we have something to discussed with the Crown Prince!"
All the ministers exchange curious look and whispers after they heard what assistance of justice had said.
"Imprudent!"
His Majesty's voice roared and everyone jerked.
"What is that you want to discussed with him that you can't speak to me?"
Prince Zhang, secretly informed minister Xu to add fuel in the fire.
"Your Majesty! It's about what the Crown Prince has instructed us—"
Minister Xu deliberately look arround to find the Crown Prince but he was no where to be found.
"We wonder why the Crown Prince did not attend the session today?"
He then took a glanced towards the Prime Ministers side and smirked.
As if saying. "How will you handle this things?!"
It's known to them that Duke Yan is always in a Crown Prince side. Prime Minister Yan expression remain blank, that makes him annoyed.
"Unless something happened— that we don't know!"
Upon hearing it His Majesty almost shouted at the old fool.
"Royal Father! We are just wondering why the Crown Prince is not arround? could that be the humor is true that—"
"What humor?!"
His Majesty frowned and asked Prince Zhang
grimly. He knew that Prince Zhang has always been ambitious and was displeased by his decision to make Prince Ching as a Crown Prince instead of him.
"That he was—"
"That I was what?"
They suddenly heard a voice that makes their eyes widened in shock as if they saw a someone comeback from the dead.
The Crown Prince that supposed to be dead is in front of them alive and well.
"Royal Father, your son was late— I deserved to be punished!"
He said kneeling while cupping his hand with the other before his chest.
His Majesty sat stiff in his chair. He open his mouth in shocked and cough discreetly as soon as he recovered.
"Never mind! It's good that you're here—"
He paused while looking at him.
"What happened to your voice?"
The Crown Prince cough to clear his throat.
"In reply to you, Royal Father— I accidentally caught a cold last night!"
he deliberately cough and cough to show them that he actually had a cough and cold.
His Majesty's face was half amused half furious, and Duke Yan was avoiding to take, even a slight glance towards him.
"Alright!"
He said after a while.
"Since the Crown Prince is not feeling well, lets all end in here—"
"Royal Father—"
Prince Zhang was about to say something when His Majesty, shut him whith an imperious look in his eyes.
"We're done for today!"
He said with finalities in his voice. Crown Prince immediately stood up with out a word and leave His father stunned.
Prince Zhang silently clenched his hands to control his anger.
The Crown Prince went straight into his chamber and saw Prince Yu anxiously waiting as he was walking back and forth.
"How did it goes?"
He exclaimed excitedly.
"I don't have time to explain. His Majesty is coming this way, informed the Crown Prince and act as we planned!"
His voiced suddenly changed
"Alright!"
Prince Yu immediately went inside into his brother's bedchamber.
"I have to go!"
She did not bother to wait for Prince Yu's reply. As she knew that a slight changed of time will ruined everything.
A moment later. .
Concubine Xian rushed into Princess Ye's room as she already heard the news.
She thought that if she could catched her red handed then the Princess would be in a big trouble.
Deceiving his Majesty is a Capital crime!
Duke Yan also rushed home, there was something off in the court a while ago that makes him confused.
As Concubine Xian was nearly in Ye'ers room when Lu'er suddenly blocked her.
"Madam Xian!"
She was struck in horror.
"Get lost!"
Concubine Xian pushed the poor maid aside and burst into Ye'ers room uninvited.
Lu'er followed her hopelessly and silently praying for some miracle. When they're already inside they both gasped.
Concubine Xian gasps in disappointment while Lu'er gasped in surprised. As they both saw that Princess Ye'er is writing in her table.
"Whats going on?"
Concubine Xian suddenly stuttered in fear. she knew that she would be in great trouble for barging Princess Ye's room with permission.
"You're not supposed to be—"
"Xian'niáng!"
Princess Ye'er automatically widened her eyes in surprised. She wasn't expecting her at all.
She surely knew where the wind blows! Ye'er thought.
"Why are you here?"
She asked Concubine Xian confusedly.
When the great medoza, had visited her. it meant no joke! She thought to herself.
"You— you!"
"Ye'er!"
Before concubine Xian could answered, her father suddenly burst inside.
"What was going on?!"
He asked confusedly, as he saw her daughter inside her room.
"Father, something is wrong?"
She raised her eye brow in suspicion.
Something is not right. ! Duke Yan thought.
He was looking blankly back and forth to his daughter and concubine Xian.
How is that possible? If Ye'er was the one in there then how she come home before me, when it will take an hour to arrived from the palace into our house? Did I made a mistake? But how could I not recognized my own daughter?
He thought as he felt into silence. he was scared out of his wits earlier, he clearly knew the consequences if ever Ye'er deceived his Majesty.
He felt relieved when he come home, right on time and realized that his fear was all for nothing.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone