I'm Also a Delicate Little White Flower Today

The next morning's court session mainly discussed something anyone could have predicted: the Prime Minister's assassination attempt the previous night.

The officials entered the hall and took their places, civil and military ranks clearly divided. As the Chenghuan Emperor took his seat, another grand drama of factional infighting slowly unfolded.

From every angle and perspective, the officials came up with different versions of the story behind the assassination. If not for the Prime Minister himself being present, they might even have brought up theories like a crime of passion.

Among the officials were those who sincerely wanted to investigate the case and catch the culprit, those fishing in troubled waters, and those with ulterior motives. As they spoke over one another, the various factions launched a new round of large-scale attacks, while the lower-ranking officials who rarely joined such discussions continued to watch the spectacle.

The Prime Minister had suffered nightmares all night and looked terribly unwell today. But compared to him, Shen Tingjue looked even worse, as though he had been badly frightened last night.

Shen Tingjue: I'm a delicate, pitiful little white flower today too.

There was a show to watch. Even if he had to crawl here, he would come.

Seeing that he had come to court despite his frail body and steadfast resolve, the Chenghuan Emperor felt a surge of affection. Worried that Shen Tingjue might suddenly faint, he specifically ordered an attendant to bring him a chair.

Shen Tingjue put up a token show of restraint. "Wouldn't that be improper?"

The Chenghuan Emperor waved a hand. "It is no matter. I permit you to sit, so sit without worry."

Shen Tingjue immediately took advantage of the favor to make demands. "Then I also want a soft cushion and a back pillow."

The officials: "..."

Draped in the fur the Chenghuan Emperor had additionally bestowed upon him, Shen Tingjue happily leaned against the chair back and listened as the officials traded accusations, all trying their best to smear their rivals through the assassination case.

As the fight continued, the pressure suddenly shifted to the Imperial Guard Bureau, which was responsible for the city's security. Then Prince Kang's Faction and Prince Jing's Faction unexpectedly joined forces to pressure the Imperial Guard Bureau.

The Imperial Guard Bureau fell under the Imperial Guard, and the Imperial Guard was commanded by the Crown Prince's cousin, Wen Jingkong. Though no one said it outright, the implication was already clear.

There was no need to investigate the mastermind behind the assassination.

Everyone knew who it was.

It had to be the Crown Prince.

After all, everyone knew the Prime Minister disapproved of the Crown Prince's reckless, brute-like manner of doing things, while the Crown Prince disliked the Prime Minister's scholarly ways. The two had never gotten along.

One official said, "The security of the royal capital is of vital importance. The Imperial Guard Bureau should have maintained strict patrols, yet it allowed assassins to attack the Prime Minister of the realm in broad daylight and escape afterward. By all rights, it should be punished severely."

Lian Su knelt on one knee in the hall and clasped his fists. "Your Majesty, when the Imperial Guard Bureau was patrolling East Shuncheng Street, we saw a thief break into a residence to steal. We pursued him out of the city, and only upon returning did we hear sounds of fighting and rush over. It was not because the Imperial Guard Bureau had neglected its patrols or failed in its duties. I beg Your Majesty to investigate clearly!"

The Chenghuan Emperor tapped the armrest with a bent finger, deep in thought.

"I hold the command token of the Imperial Guard Bureau's Commander. Though it is usually an idle post and I rarely handle its affairs, if negligence is to be punished, I cannot escape blame either."

Shen Tingjue gave a weak cough and spoke unhurriedly. "Why do I feel that you gentlemen do not truly wish to investigate the case and catch the culprit, but are unwilling to accept that I survived this disaster and are trying every possible way to condemn me to death? Though I am favored by His Majesty and that may invite envy, I have never offended anyone, if I search my conscience. Why must you go so far?"

All the officials turned to look at him, their expressions faintly twisted.

"The old steward in my residence once said that I flaunted His Majesty's favor too much and would sooner or later bring disaster upon myself. I did not take it to heart before, but now that I think on it, it is terrifying. Yet those who dare strike at me merely wish to use this opportunity to provoke imperial authority. I fear their schemes are no small matter."

Shen Tingjue suddenly covered his face and began to cry. "Forget it. It is all my fault. I should never have existed in the first place. Not only did I bring harm upon my father, I have also implicated the Imperial Guard Bureau, and I fear I will implicate the Imperial Guard, His Highness, and even Your Majesty as well. They say jealousy makes people unrecognizable. Imperial Uncle, you should stop favoring me in the future, lest others harbor resentment and plot step by step to endanger the empire. Then I would truly be guilty beyond redemption."

Lian Su stared at him in utter astonishment.

Good heavens.

Could he start crying on cue just like that?

With tears in his eyes, Shen Tingjue knelt. "I ask Your Majesty to let the assassination matter rest. I do not wish to pursue it either. In the end, it is all my fault. Blame me."

With such humble self-sacrifice, he redirected the tide of opinion in just a few sentences, turning an assassination case into a treason case involving a provocation against imperial authority.

Watching his own shadow guard deliver that tearful performance, Xiao Hanye felt sincere admiration rise within him.

Very good.

He truly had the ability to debate a whole room of scholars.

If the circumstances allowed it, I would truly like to give you a thunderous round of applause.

"If you have something to say, then say it. Why are you kneeling?" The Chenghuan Emperor was most susceptible to Shen Tingjue's pitiful act. Though he knew there was an eighty percent chance it was fake, that appearance still made him ache with pity. He hurriedly motioned for an attendant to help Shen Tingjue up, then swept his gaze over the officials below, whose expressions were full of complication, and said in a deep voice:

"Then by this reasoning, this assassination was actually aimed at me? Today they dare kill my most favored nephew; tomorrow they will dare kill me. What do you all think?"

The officials immediately dropped to their knees, thoroughly alarmed.

Ji Zhang gave a civil official a meaningful look. The man understood and stepped forward to kneel. "Your Majesty, this old official believes the case has not yet been fully investigated, so no conclusion should be drawn lightly. Moreover, the attack was carried out openly in the street and in such a hasty manner. It seems more like a personal grudge."

The Prime Minister puffed out his beard and was just about to retort when he heard his son cough twice.

The Prime Minister actually understood his meaning at once—let me handle this.

Shen Tingjue glanced sideways at the official kneeling in the hall. "What you say is reasonable, sir. I am simply a straightforward person who has always spoken my mind, and I care for the common people. It would not be strange if I had offended someone and incurred a grudge."

Shen Tingjue rubbed his chin. "Let me think... Hmm... Perhaps building an academy for students displeased quite a few people?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Tingjue turned his gaze toward Xie the Grand Secretary.

The others followed his gaze as well.

For a moment, Xie the Grand Secretary became the focus of everyone's attention.

Xie the Grand Secretary's expression darkened slightly, his cloudy eyes fixed on Shen Tingjue. "Is the Young Marquis implying that I hired someone to murder you?"

Shen Tingjue's voice was gentle. "The innocent remain innocent. Grand Secretary, there is no need to be so quick to anger. Even if you did it, I would not blame you. We can simply speak openly about whatever is on our minds. Causing a scene would only add to His Majesty's troubles. There is no need for it."

Xie the Grand Secretary raised his head and answered steadily, "I have always been honest and devoted to public duty. I would never stoop to hiring someone to commit murder. I only fear that someone with ulterior motives wishes to use the academy matter to sow discord. The Young Marquis is intelligent and will surely discern the truth."

Shen Tingjue propped his chin up. "Oh."

At that moment, Ji Zhang, standing among the military officials, suddenly spoke. "I heard that the Young Marquis's brave fighting last night was what allowed father and son to escape unharmed. For the Young Marquis to possess such formidable skills, his former identity... must have been extraordinary, right?"

Shen Tingjue instinctively glanced at Xiao Hanye and, unsurprisingly, met his gaze.

"Cough, cough..." Shen Tingjue pulled the fox fur more tightly around himself and coughed weakly.

No, he was very delicate and utterly incapable of fighting.

He was merely a little white flower who needed protection.