The Dagger Revealed

"Your Majesty, Prince Zhou is still alive. Who knows if he won't change his mind again? Moreover, issuing such an imperial decree now is tantamount to cursing him. In my opinion, it's best to put this matter aside for now and wait until Prince Zhou passes away.

Perhaps upon receiving the imperial decree to establish an heir, Prince Zhou will be so overjoyed that his illness will miraculously disappear? Wouldn't that make the imperial decree a laughingstock?"

The Emperor considered this and agreed. Thus, he only issued the imperial decree to establish an heir for Prince Zhou.

Zhao Yuansong wanted to speak but stopped, his expression grim. The officials from the Ministry of Rites also looked displeased; they had wanted two imperial decrees to be issued together.

However, seeing the Emperor's impatient look, neither Zhao Yuansong nor the officials from the Ministry of Rites dared to mention it again. This matter was complicated and involved ancestral laws.

From the Founding Emperor to the present, through four reigns, officials from the Ministry of Rites had quietly hinted at abolishing the practice of martyrdom sacrifice. However, the reigning Emperors either pretended not to understand or were vehemently opposed by the Imperial Clan Court, often resulting in dismissal or demotion.

Over time, no one dared to openly discuss the matter anymore.

It was rare for a prince to repeatedly mention the exemption from martyrdom sacrifice. Although he only mentioned exempting himself, it was still a good start.

Zhao Yuansong finally took only one imperial decree and rushed back to Kaifeng.

Knowing that Prince Zhou couldn't hold on for much longer and fearing that delay might lead to complications, Zhao Yuansong spent all the remaining money he had, urging the accompanying officials from the Ministry of Rites and the eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial to speed up their journey.

The group galloped back to Kaifeng, but faster than them was the Prince of Xiangfu, who lived on the outskirts of Kaifeng.

Upon receiving the news that Prince Zhou was gravely ill and unconscious, he immediately took a doctor and went straight to the main courtyard.

Since Prince Zhou decided to enter a temporary state of unconsciousness, only Zhu Zijin and a trusted attendant were serving in the main courtyard. Apart from the Princess Consort and Tao Ji, very few people knew about Prince Zhou's condition.

Unexpectedly, the Prince of Xiangfu still got the news.

The Princess Consort gritted her teeth, vowing that if she survived this, she would replace all the servants in the mansion afterward.

She hurried to the main courtyard with her confidants.

Zhu Zijin was standing in front of Zhu Youjue, his face flushed red.

Zhu Youjue was furious and questioned, "When I left, Elder Brother was clearly fine. How could he be unconscious after just over a month? You haven't invited any renowned doctors, nor have you reported it to the court. What are you trying to do?"

Zhu Zijin blocked the doorway and said, "This is Father's wish..."

"Stop calling him that so intimately. He isn't your father yet. Your biological father is Zhu Youxian!" Zhu Youjue sneered, "As the saying goes, like father, like son. Someone like your father... who knows if this isn't a scheme by you and your father for this blasted title..."

Pan Yun stood under the corridor with a cat in her arms, along with Tao Ji and Xuan Miao, watching the spectacle. Upon hearing this, Tao Ji couldn't help but click his tongue, "That's an interesting saying. 'Like father, like son.' If we extend that, the former Prince Zhou was the father of the commoner Zhu Youxian, and the Prince of Xiangfu is the son of the former Prince Zhou. Doesn't that mean the Prince of Xiangfu and the commoner Zhu Youxian are of the same character?"

Pan Yun, holding the cat, nodded repeatedly.

Zhu Youjue's eyes narrowed, and he looked menacingly at the three under the corridor.

"Insolent!" Zhu Youjue's attendant behind him shouted angrily, "What kind of riff-raff dares to interrupt when a Prince is speaking? Are you all dead? Drag them away!"

Pan Yun stood up straight, and Xuan Miao's gaze turned cold as he stepped forward.

Zhu Zijin, sweating profusely, cried out, "Stop! Fourth Uncle, these are honored guests of our Prince's Mansion."

The people of Prince Zhou's Mansion did not move, but everyone brought by the Prince of Xiangfu rushed towards the three.

Zhu Youjue had already taken a dislike to them. If they hadn't brought Zhu Tongqie back, his elder brother wouldn't have thought of establishing an heir. Zhu Zijin would have been at most a servant bearing the title of adopted son, and he could have easily dismissed the man with some land in the future.

Zhu Youjue remained silent, and the Prince of Xiangfu's men felt emboldened. They charged forward like wolves and tigers to apprehend the three. The three simultaneously sidestepped. As soon as the attackers lunged, they swiftly lifted their legs and kicked them in the chest, sending all three flying.

Pan Yun exerted a subtle force, and the person rushing at her flew the farthest, crashing at the Prince of Xiangfu's feet with a bang.

The people kicked by Tao Ji and Xuan Miao landed in the courtyard, a considerable distance from the Prince of Xiangfu.

This sight made it seem as though Pan Yun was the most formidable, especially since she was much shorter than Xuan Miao and Tao Ji, only reaching their necks.

The other two looked down at her together.

Pan Yun flicked her fingers at her sleeve, and holding the cat, she looked back at the Prince of Xiangfu, who was staring at her, with a noble and cold demeanor, completely ignoring the two.

Xuan Miao calmly averted his gaze.

Tao Ji felt indignant and pointed resentfully at the stunned crowd, "Again!"

The Prince of Xiangfu's men took a collective step back.

Tao Ji: ...

The Prince of Xiangfu took this as a provocation. He clenched his fists, his eyes chilling as he stared at Zhu Zijin, "Zhu Zijin, are you trying to rebel? This Prince Zhou's Mansion isn't yours yet, and you dare to lay hands on your uncle within the mansion. You are truly like your father..."

"Hey, hey, hey, we were the ones who acted, not Zhu Zijin," Tao Ji said, unable to stand seeing him bully an honest person. "If you have the guts, come at us. Stop falsely accusing others."

Seeing Zhu Zijin remain silent, Zhu Youjue nodded repeatedly, "Good, very good. It seems this Prince Zhou's Mansion has been taken over by these outsiders. I must see Elder Brother personally and ask him if he knows about these things. Anyone, no matter how insignificant, can bully me here."

He stepped forward and pushed Zhu Zijin aside, "Get out of the way!"

Zhu Zijin stumbled. Seeing him about to rush in, he quickly ran forward to block him again. "Fourth Uncle, the doctor said that Father cannot be agitated while he is asleep. If you have anything to say, tell it to your nephew. You can hit me, scold me, or even kill me..."

Pan Yun clicked her tongue twice inwardly, sighing as she held the black cat, "[So dramatic~~]"

But it was effective, especially on men.

Zhu Hou finally couldn't stand it and rushed forward to pull his father. "Father, let's sit down and talk properly. Why must you make things difficult for our elder cousin?"

Zhu Youjue angrily flung his hand away and kicked him. "You scoundrel, how could I have given birth to a rebellious son like you!"

Seeing their own elder brother being beaten, Zhu Zifang also became displeased. He stepped forward to help Zhu Hou, who had been kicked down, and then followed up by hugging Zhu Youjue and dragging him backward. "Father, Elder Uncle cannot be agitated right now. If you want to see Elder Uncle, do it properly. Wait until Auntie comes, and then you can see him together. Can you please not get so agitated..."

Seeing this, Zhu Zijin held Zhu Youjue's arm even tighter, dragging him off the steps from the doorway.

Seeing the four people tangled together, Pan Yun said regretfully, "It would have been even better if you had fought."

As soon as she spoke, Princess Zhou finally rushed over. Seeing the father, son, and nephew tangled in a heap, she roared angrily, "Stop—"

Seeing their aunt, Zhu Zihou and Zhu Zifang instinctively let go.

Zhu Zijin also immediately let go and stood properly. Zhu Youjue, who had been dragged and hugged, suddenly lost all strength, stumbled, and fell to the ground on his back.

Zhu Zihou and the other two hadn't expected this and quickly reached out to help him up. After a while, the four of them managed to stand steadily again.

Pan Yun couldn't help but let out a chuckle and watched with great interest.

Hearing Pan Yun's laughter, Princess Zhou became even angrier. She didn't look back at Pan Yun but glared at the four men, "What are you all doing?"

Zhu Youjue was also very angry. He shook off the hands of the three pulling him and glared at Princess Zhou, "Sister-in-law, Elder Brother is gravely ill, and you're letting him control the Prince's Mansion instead of treating him?"

Princess Zhou said coldly, "Who has been filling Fourth Brother's ears with slander? Our Prince's Mansion not only has a resident physician and a Taoist doctor, but we've also made arrangements with the famous doctors in Kaifeng, ensuring they won't travel far recently. As long as our mansion requests them, we can summon them immediately.

Since Zijin returned to the mansion, he has personally served and cared for the Prince, never neglecting him. Since the Prince decided to rest and await news from the capital, he has been by his side day and night, attending to him personally. Even his own sons couldn't do this."

Zhu Youjue said with a somber face, "I think Sister-in-law has been deceived by his appearance. I don't believe him. I want to see Elder Brother."

Princess Zhou said expressionlessly, "The Prince cannot be disturbed right now. I appreciate Fourth Brother's good intentions."

Seeing her repeatedly refuse, Zhu Youjue became even more suspicious that Zhu Youdun was already dead and they were merely concealing the news, awaiting imperial decree.

However, the imperial court might not agree to establish Zhu Zijin as the Heir. If this matter were exposed now, Zhu Zijin would be illegitimate, and he would be the first in line of succession.

Zhu Youjue wanted to see Zhu Youdun even more.

Princess Zhou couldn't help but say angrily, "Prince of Xiangfu, this is Prince Zhou's Mansion, this is my home. You don't need to worry about our family's affairs. Guards, please escort our distinguished guest to the main hall!"

Zhu Youjue's eyes narrowed. He gave a look to the people he brought with him and remained standing, "Sister-in-law, are you afraid of martyrdom sacrifice, which is why you're concealing Elder Brother's condition? Sister-in-law, this is a capital offense!"

"How dare you!" Princess Zhou's face turned red with anger at being so suspected.

Zhu Zijin couldn't help but say, "Fourth Uncle, please be mindful of your words. My father is perfectly fine! My mother and father have always had a very good relationship. Even if my mother had the desire to follow him in death, my father has never agreed and has repeatedly petitioned the imperial court to abolish martyrdom sacrifice in the mansion."

"Shameless brat, I have no time for your nonsense. Get out of the way, or don't blame me for being impolite."

Princess Zhou: "How will Fourth Uncle be impolite? Prince of Xiangfu is shouting and threatening within Prince Zhou's Mansion. You haven't even become Prince Zhou yet, and you're already trying to take charge of my Prince Zhou's Mansion?"

Zhu Youjue's face turned red, "I am doing this for Elder Brother..."

"You've shown your true colors long ago. Stop using your Elder Brother as an excuse. We both know what you want. You always bring up Zhu Youxian, but in my eyes, you're no different from him. You both covet what belongs to others and want to stuff it into your own pockets. When things don't go your way, you resort to threats and violence.

He just doesn't know how to hide it, so he's a fool, a true villain. But you know how to conceal it, so you're clever, a hypocrite!"

Zhu Zihou and Zhu Zifang listened, their faces turning pale. They immediately knelt and kowtowed, "Aunt, Father was worried about Uncle, so he spoke out of turn. You can hit him or scold him, but please don't speculate about him like this."

Princess Zhou held back many curses, tears streaming down her face. She hugged the heads of the two children and cried bitterly, "How could I bear to scold your father like this, or to see you suffer so much? But he has pushed me too far, bullying us, an orphaned mother and her children, who have no power or influence..."