Chapter 52
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The impact of that punch left the Third Prince reeling. He raised a hand to cover his nose, only to find his hand covered in blood!
“You, Old Fifth, dare to fight with your Third Brother!” The Third Prince got up, his anger reaching its peak.
The Fifth Prince stared at him with a cold face, “This is the arena. In the Third Brother’s eyes, there are no younger brothers, and in my eyes, there is no Third Brother. If you want to spar, let’s do it properly.”
The Third Prince, his nostrils flaring like fire, pointed at his nose. “Alright, alright! This is what you said. You don’t see me as your Third Brother, do you? I’ll go ask Consort Hui how she raised such a good son like you when I return to the palace!”
The Fifth Prince’s clenched fist suddenly trembled, and his icy gaze gradually turned fearful as he slowly lowered his head.
Thinking that it would bring trouble to Mother Consort, he once again humiliated himself by showing weakness.
“Help! Help! Quickly, fetch the imperial physician! The Seventh Prince is injured! Help us!”
Suddenly, behind them, Xue Yao cried out in despair.
The Fifth Prince turned around and saw Xue Yao tightly embracing the Seventh Prince, desperately seeking help from those around.
The crowd joined in the commotion, with attendants rushing in groups to fetch the imperial physician.
Near the distant bonfire, the Eldest Prince, alerted by the commotion, stood up and reached out to grasp a passing servant. “What’s happening?”
The servant hastily bowed and replied, “The Seventh Prince is injured!”
The Crown Prince’s calm and composed phoenix-like eyes widened instantly. “Where is he? How did he get hurt?”
“Right over there!” The servant pointed toward the sparring grounds, explaining urgently, “During their earlier duel, the Third Prince accidentally injured the Seventh Prince. No visible blood, Your Highness…”
Before the explanation was complete, the Crown Prince had already pushed past the servant and hurried towards the sparring grounds in swift steps.
The Sixth Prince hurriedly got to his feet and followed.
The imperial physician, accompanied by the servant, hastily arrived and knelt beside the Seventh Prince, preparing to assess the injuries. Suddenly, they heard a thunderous shout from the Crown Prince.
“Clear the way!”
The elderly physician was so startled that he dropped his medicine bag, scrambling to his feet and sidestepping.
The Third Prince had initially planned to vent his anger on the Fifth Prince, but upon hearing the Crown Prince’s voice, he was so frightened that he swiftly turned. Using the cover of the crowd, he scurried back to his own tent, head down and shrinking.
Knowing that the Eldest Prince wouldn’t easily let things go, the Fifth Prince didn’t hinder the Third Prince’s escape. He immediately turned and grasped the Seventh Prince’s arm, looping it around his shoulder, intending to assist him back to their tent.
The Crown Prince’s thunderous voice exclaimed, “Don’t touch him!”
Startled, the Fifth Prince’s legs gave way. He tumbled to the ground, along with the Seventh Prince he had been carrying.
The Seventh Prince’s abdomen throbbed with pain after the fall. His eyes wete closed, his brow furrowing tighter.
“What are you doing! What are you doing!” The Crown Prince raised his hand and gave a couple of smacks to the back of the Fifth Prince’s head, then knelt beside the Seventh Prince, his face filled with panic.
Seeing his beloved younger brother’s pale face covered in fine beads of sweat, the Crown Prince’s heart constricted. “Where are you hurt?”
Xue Yao rolled up his sleeves, wiping away the tears and snot on his face in a fluster. With trembling hands, he gently touched the injury on the Seventh Prince’s abdomen, choking up as he said, “The Third Prince kicked His Highness here with great force just now.”
“Don’t touch!” The Crown Prince bellowed in alarm once more, causing Xue Yao to quickly withdraw his hand.
“Where’s the physician?” The Crown Prince looked around.
The elderly physician stepped forward in response. “This servant is here!”
“Quickly assess the extent of the injury!”
“Yes!” The elderly physician, holding his medicine bag, knelt beside the Seventh Prince.
Just as he was about to apply pressure to the injury, the Crown Prince bellowed, “Do not touch!”
The elderly physician was so frightened that he dropped his medicine bag once again and quickly withdrew his hand.
The Crown Prince, anxious and fretful, commanded, “Quickly assess!”
The elderly physician, on the brink of a nervous breakdown, nodded in fear and reached out again. However, another shout from the Crown Prince rang out, “Do not touch!”
The elderly physician withdrew his hand, his expression on the verge of collapse.
Allowing him to assess the injury, yet not allowing him to touch!
Even if he was the Crown Prince, this was beyond reason!
The imperial physician couldn’t bear the blame any longer. If he didn’t pass the torch, the Crown Prince might resort to violence. He urgently turned to instruct an apprentice, “Go and fetch Associate Physician Sun to jointly assess the situation.”
“Eldest Brother,” the Sixth Prince, unable to bear the situation any longer, nervously advised, “Let’s take Seventh Brother to the camp first. It’s windy outside, and it’s pitch dark. Even Physician Sun won’t be able to see clearly.”
The Crown Prince felt his younger brother had a point, but still wouldn’t allow anyone to touch his precious younger brother. After a brief hesitation, he personally lifted his brother horizontally and swiftly and steadily carried him into the tent.
The Crown Prince’s skill and strength truly left the attending servants in awe.
It was worth noting that the Seventh Prince was no ordinary twelve-year-old child but a robust one at that.
The Crown Prince effortlessly lifted him and dashed away, not even slightly out of breath.
The phrase “one step at a time” referred to the fact that, as the Crown Prince carried his brother, every step he took left footprints in the ground, each one sinking due to the “heavy burden.”
Upon returning to the tent, only a few princes and the dazed Xue Yao remained, their faces filled with worry as they watched the physician’s examination.
The Seventh Prince’s clothing was removed, revealing a white lower abdomen marked with a bruise in the shape of a paw print.
After the physician performed acupuncture, bled, and dispelled the stagnant blood, the Seventh Prince’s painful expression slightly eased.
Xue Yao rolled up his sleeves, wiping away the sweat beads forming on His Highness’ chin. He turned to the physician and asked, “That kick was quite powerful. I wonder if it has affected His Highness’ internal organs. Imperial Physician, please check his pulse!”
The physician glanced at Xue Yao and was taken aback by his ashen complexion. “Has this young master also been injured? Judging by your complexion, it seems you’ve been more seriously hurt.”
The Sixth Prince, alarmed, stepped forward to examine Xue Yao. “Did Third Brother strike you too? Why didn’t you say anything? Where are you hurt?”
“No, I’m just shaken.” Xue Yao, his face filled with concern, wiped the sweat from the Seventh Prince. “With His Highness in this condition and the strong winds at night, should we consider rushing him back to the palace for recuperation?”
“No need to worry. Physician Liu and Physician Sun have checked the pulse and both say there’s nothing serious.”
The Sixth Prince consoled, “The journey back to the palace is long, and with the carriage’s jolting, considering Seventh Brother’s condition, it’s probably…”
“It’s probably already healed seven or eight hours ago,” the Seventh Prince interrupted, tilting his head and making an unconcerned face, “It was just a kick. Look at you, getting all scared. Your grandpa is perfectly fine and might even dig out a rabbit hole for you tomorrow.”
Xue Yao was momentarily stunned. Seeing the chubby cub regain his usual calm demeanor, emotions overwhelmed him. He couldn’t hold back the tears welling up in his eyes…
Seeing Xue Yao shedding tears, the Seventh Prince was taken aback, not daring to move.
The Sixth Prince quickly bent down and comforted, “A’Yao? Why are you crying? Seventh Brother is doing fine.”
The Crown Prince, observing his precious younger brother’s color returning to a healthy flush, finally set his anxiously beating heart at ease and started to inquire further.
He glared at the Fifth Prince with a sidelong glance and scolded angrily, “And it’s you, little troublemaker, who incited a group of guards to spar! If you’re itching for a fight, come challenge your Eldest Brother. Bullying your younger sibling is no skill at all!”
“Eldest Brother, it wasn’t me…”
Before the Fifth Prince could finish explaining, the Crown Prince unleashed the pent-up burst of emotions, raising his hand to strike, “Not you! Not you! If it’s not you, then who is it!”
The Fifth Prince, clutching his head, retreated repeatedly, stammering, “It was Third Brother who kicked…”
“Let’s stick to the matter at hand! Martial arts competition! Wasn’t it you! Young man! Taking the lead!” “
The Fifth Prince wanted to argue, “I had set some rules for the duel, but Third Brother…”
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes and began a furious tempo, “Today, I’ll keep poking you until you cry. That’s the end of it!”
Beside the bed, the Sixth Prince pretended not to see the sorry state of the Fifth Prince getting beaten up and patiently reassured Xue Yao, “I was just discussing grain procurement matters with Eldest Brother. He agreed to let me take you along.”
At this moment, Xue Yao had no interest in the matter.
The Third Prince’s kick had shattered his heart, and right now, he couldn’t care less about anything else. He only wanted to cry with the chubby cub in his arms for a day and a night.
But he had to consider that the other princes were in the tent. He couldn’t lose his composure.
However, the Seventh Prince’s focus on the trip to Jiangsu and Zhejiang had surpassed Xue Yao’s own interest. He turned to the Sixth Prince and asked, “Did you ask on your grandpa’s behalf?”
The Sixth Prince smiled helplessly. “Eldest Brother won’t take you with him, so just wait patiently in the palace for our return. I promise to bring back the best delicacies from Jiangnan for you.”
Upon hearing that he wouldn’t be taken along, the Seventh Prince grew anxious. He turned to Eeldest Brother, who was currently “educating” the Fifth Prince, and tremblingly raised his hand, “Eldest Brother…”
Hearing his beloved younger brother’s call, the Crown Prince immediately halted his rhythmic scolding and swiftly walked to the bedside, “What is it? Do you feel unwell?”
The Seventh Prince wanted the Crown Prince to agree to take him along.
The playback of words stored in the tape recorder brain swiftly cycled through, selecting a request that was impossible to refuse. The Seventh Prince firmly grasped the Crown Prince’s hand and spoke with a voice as delicate as a strand of silk, “Before the impending death, there’s one thing your son wishes the Eldest Brother to fulfill.”
The Crown Prince’s face turned a shade of pale!
Why did he suddenly mention “before the impending death”?
Only when he noticed that his younger brother’s complexion was still rosy did he gradually snap back to reality.
Where on earth did this boy learn that phrase from?
Did he want to terrify the reigning Crown Prince?
“If you dare to utter nonsense again, I…” The Crown Prince, unable to contain his anger, raised his hand toward his precious Seventh Brother!
Seeing that Eldest Brother was about to resort to violence against the Seventh Prince, the Fifth Prince, with a head wrapped in bandages, curiously approached to see the commotion, but…
The Crown Prince delivered a swift backhanded slap, landing on the back of the Fifth Prince’s head, “Who let you teach him to say such nonsense!”
The Fifth Prince felt so wronged that he was almost ready to bite his own tongue!
Tearfully clutching his head, he looked at Eldest Brother and protested, “It wasn’t me…”
“Not you! Not you! If it’s not you, then who is it!”
The tragedy began to repeat itself.
Because of organizing the sparring, the Fifth Prince ended up with a swollen head. Taking severe measures to harm his younger brother, the Third Prince, naturally resulted in facing even more consequences.
This time, the Crown Prince meant business. Instead of dealing with it privately, he directly instructed the physician to exaggerate the severity of Seventh Prince’s injury when presenting it to the Emperor.
He also asked several attendants who had witnessed the Third Prince’s aggressive and malicious actions on the night of injuring his youngest brother to truthfully recount the incident.
After examining the Seventh Prince’s condition, the Emperor flew into a rage. Years of tolerance and indulgence had reached their limit. He immediately ordered the Third Prince to be brought outside the tent and given ten lashes with a military rod.
The Third Prince was in for a serious lesson this time. He hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to be so harsh and to escalate the matter to Father Emperor’s attention, resulting in a proper beating.
He lay in the tent, unable to move, enduring the pain.
On the second day, the Seventh Prince showed no signs of pain on his face, but Xue Yao didn’t allow him to go hunting. He spent the entire day by his bedside.
In the evening, not trusting the palace maids to tend to his needs, Xue Yao slept on the floor beside the Seventh Prince’s mat himself.
Everything during the daytime proceeded as usual.
In the middle of the night, inside and outside the tent, it was utterly quiet.
Xue Yao, fast asleep, was suddenly jolted awake by a notification sound in his mind: 【Du and Ren meridians are partially unblocked. Quest completion progress at 3%. Host, please be vigilant against interference factors.】
Startled, Xue Yao sat up abruptly in the darkness.
Partially unblocked? The Du and Ren meridians?
But why was the progress only at three percent?
Xue Yao lifted the covers, turned on the light, and cautiously approached the mat where the Seventh Prince lay.
At a glance, his heart constricted.
The chubby cub, who had been full of energy during the day, now had his brows furrowed and a face covered in sweat while asleep.
“Your Highness? Your Highness, what’s wrong!” Xue Yao hastily put down the lamp, trembling as he uncovered the blankets and examined the injury, finding it drenched with sweat.
The Seventh Prince’s entire body was soaked with sweat, as if he had just been pulled out of water.
“Your Highness!” Xue Yao turned around in panic, intending to fetch the imperial physician, but his wrist was suddenly grasped by a hand.
Behind him, the Seventh Prince’s breathing grew erratic.
Xue Yao turned around and held onto the Seventh Prince’s hand. “Your Highness, are you awake? What’s wrong? Where does it hurt? You were perfectly fine during the day… I’ll go find the imperial physician right away, don’t be afraid! Your Highness, don’t be afraid!”
“Don’t leave,” the Seventh Prince spoke with a voice as delicate as a strand of silk.
Xue Yao forced himself to remain calm and recalled the recent warning. It advised him to guard against interference factors.
That meant it was best to avoid outside interference, allowing the chubby cub to endure this period, which should eventually lead to the full unblocking of his Du and Ren meridians.
Xue Yao took a deep breath and firmly held the Seventh Prince’s hand. “I’m here! I’m here! Where does it hurt, Your Highness?”
“Hot…” The Seventh Prince, with his eyes closed, struggled to lift his legs and kicked away the blankets.
Xue Yao quickly helped him uncover the blankets and used the mat’s fan to provide some cooling air.
The Seventh Prince slowly opened his eyes and, in a dazed state, said, “Don’t…”
Xue Yao promptly stopped fanning and asked, “Don’t want the fan?”
“Don’t…” The Seventh Prince plaintively whimpered, “Don’t go with Sixth Brother.”
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