In the pouring rain, Fu Qiwen, who had left the imperial palace, hurried back to the Heavenly Brocade Guard Headquarters.
The moment he stepped into the main hall, Yu Jin, the Pacification Commissioner, immediately rose to greet him. Yet Fu Qiwen merely waved a hand and walked straight to Li Musheng, where he bowed.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Seeing this, how could Yu Jin not understand what had happened? After realizing it, he hurried to Fu Qiwen's side and bowed to Li Musheng as well.
"His Majesty has confirmed Your Highness's identity as the Eighth Prince. However, due to being in seclusion for martial cultivation, His Majesty is temporarily unable to summon Your Highness and has specially ordered this subject to handle the matters that follow."
Fu Qiwen spoke slowly, a bright yellow scroll clasped in his hand.
On his way back, he had already roughly reviewed the contents of the scroll and now understood Emperor Yuanwu's arrangements for the Eighth Prince before him as clearly as if they lay in the palm of his hand.
"The Eighth Prince?"
Li Musheng caught the ambiguity in Fu Qiwen's words.
How had his ranking suddenly been pushed down a place?
Fu Qiwen's expression remained unchanged. He then roughly repeated Emperor Yuanwu's explanation to Li Musheng.
"I see. Eighth Prince it is, then."
Li Musheng waved a hand. He did not care much about the matter; he had only asked out of instinct.
Fu Qiwen glanced at Li Musheng and found no dissatisfaction or any other emotion on his face. He still wore that calm, casual expression.
Even after learning that Emperor Yuanwu had acknowledged his identity as a prince, he reacted the same way—neither surprised nor particularly delighted.
Fu Qiwen narrowed his eyes slightly and continued.
"His Majesty has selected a residence for