A cold smile curled Zhou Cheng's lips. "Really? You spent a precious night with a beauty just drinking? Could it be... you're not a man, Young Master Fan?"
[Negative emotions from Fan Xian +66!]
Fan Xian felt speechless and aggrieved. Why does everyone have to make this about whether I'm a man?
Si Lili had needled him with that in court earlier, and now Zhou Cheng was doing it too! Suppressing the urge to complain, he explained, "Your Highness, of course I'm a man! But at the time... I really did have something more important and urgent to take care of."
"Oh?" Zhou Cheng deliberately raised his eyebrows. "What could be so important that you'd leave a beauty like Si Lili behind?"
Fan Xian smiled sheepishly and rubbed his nose. "Well... I went to beat up Guo Baokun. I'm a petty man. I clearly won at yesterday's Poetry Gathering, but he slunk away with his tail between his legs. That left me annoyed, so I went that night to... to 'reason' with him."
Zhou Cheng nodded as though enlightened. "So Young Master Fan is the sort who repays every slight. I thought you were a warmhearted, upright man who went out that night especially to help Brother Teng Zijing find his family!"
[Negative emotions from Fan Xian +120!]
At the words "upright man," Fan Xian flinched as though a needle had pricked him, the corner of his mouth twitching involuntarily. He forced an awkward smile, cursing Zhou Cheng eight hundred times in his head while keeping his expression under control.
Meanwhile, Guo Baokun, who had wisely chosen to play dead on his stretcher all this time, heard Fan Xian personally admit to beating him. Two trails of tears slipped from the corners of his eyes.
See! I said I hadn't accused the wrong man! It was that bastard Fan Xian who beat me!
But now... the official presiding over the case had smashed himself to death right there in court. Guo Baokun wished he had seen and heard nothing from the start, let alone dared to demand justice! He could only swallow his tears and grievances in silence.
Watching Fan Xian's conflicted expression, aggrieved yet afraid to lash out, Zhou Cheng smiled freely. "I've always known there was nothing improper between you and Si Lili, Young Master Fan. I was only teasing you."
[Negative emotions from Fan Xian +110!] [Negative emotions from Si Lili +99!]
Zhou Cheng glanced at Si Lili, whose head sank even lower. Then he turned to Fan Xian, an appropriately troubled and conflicted look appearing on his face. "There may be nothing improper between you and Si Lili, but outsiders don't know that. If this gets out, it will damage my good name to some degree. That puts me in a difficult position."
Your good name? Your Highness Prince Cheng, you actually have such a thing as a 'good name' to damage?
The moment Zhou Cheng finished speaking, everyone in the courtroom silently scoffed.
Fan Xian did not find it particularly "difficult." He had already prepared for this. "Rest assured, Your Highness! Miss Si is perceptive. Out of consideration for your reputation, she only sent a small boat to bring me aboard quietly, without any fanfare. Apart from those who accompanied me that night, very few people know about it."
As he spoke, Fan Xian's gaze drifted, seemingly casually, toward Li Hongcheng, the Heir of Prince Jing, who had been trying to make himself invisible from the outset and was practically shrinking into a corner.
Li Hongcheng stole a glance toward the Crown Prince, then saw Zhou Cheng looking over with a faint, ambiguous smile. He groaned inwardly.
Zhou Cheng dared to slap even the Second Prince when displeased. Li Hongcheng would hardly be surprised if he walked over and beat him up.
Not daring to pretend he had heard nothing, he hurried forward and bowed deeply to Zhou Cheng, making himself as humble as possible. "It was thoughtless and ill-considered of me to take Young Master Fan to the Glazed Crystal River! I offer you my apologies, Third Brother!"
He raised his head and spoke earnestly. "Please rest assured, Third Brother! I know there is nothing improper between Miss Si and Young Master Fan. I would never dare spread nonsense or a single false word that might damage your good name!"
Zhou Cheng nodded, stepped forward, and personally helped Li Hongcheng straighten up. "You weren't to blame for this in the first place, Hongcheng. Of course I trust you."
Seeing that Zhou Cheng sounded sincere rather than affected, and genuinely seemed to have no intention of holding it against him, Li Hongcheng finally let out a long breath once he stood upright.
After Li Hongcheng stepped back, Fan Xian said to Zhou Cheng, "The heir has given his assurance, and I've cleared things up as well. Provided no one spreads malicious rumors in the future, neither your good name nor Miss Si's will suffer! If anyone still dares circulate rumors in secret to ruin your reputation, they'll be targeting you, Your Highness. It will have nothing to do with me!"
Zhou Cheng nodded slightly.
By this point, Eunuch Hou, who had been smiling silently throughout, felt he had seen enough of the show.
He made a point of approaching Zhou Cheng and reminding him quietly, "Your Third Highness, although Mei Zhili killed himself out of fear of punishment, he had not undergone the Three Judicial Offices Joint Trial or been formally convicted. Moreover, he died here in the courtroom... If word gets out, it will tarnish the court's dignity and reflect poorly on the imperial family's prestige. Please... handle the matter appropriately."
Zhou Cheng cupped his hands. "Thank you for the reminder, Eunuch Hou. That's easily handled."
He turned to Chen Quan and ordered, "Have the Government Office find a physician, then send men to take Lord Mei to him. Say Lord Mei labored for the country day and night, and being old and frail, accidentally lost his footing during today's hearing and collapsed. Tell the physician to do everything he can to save him. Lord Mei is not allowed to 'die' before the Government Office closes for the day! Understood?"
"Understood, Your Highness!" Chen Quan cupped his fists and accepted the order, grasping his meaning perfectly.
With a few words from Zhou Cheng, Mei Zhili's death became an "accident." No one objected.
Although the "process" was wrong, the "result" was better, after all.
Eunuch Hou nodded silently, an almost imperceptible trace of approval flashing through his eyes. He said nothing more and bowed to each of the princes present.
"Everything here is settled. This old servant will return to the palace and report to His Majesty."
Everyone returned his farewell.
As Eunuch Hou disappeared through the courtroom doorway, the Crown Prince could no longer contain himself. Every extra moment in this place felt like torture. He could not even be bothered with appearances anymore; his face darkened as he turned to leave.
"Wait, Your Highness!"
But just as he moved, someone stepped ahead and blocked his path-it was Fan Xian!
The Crown Prince frowned and looked at Fan Xian.
Fan Xian took a deep breath. "Someone attempted to assassinate me in Danzhou. Did you know about it, Your Highness?"
At those words, everyone remaining in the courtroom looked at Fan Xian in shock.
Even Teng Zijing, who was closest to Fan Xian, thought he was being far too arrogant and reckless.
Questioning the Crown Prince, the heir to the throne, right here in court?! Asking whether he was involved in the Assassination Case?!
Had Prince Cheng possessed Fan Xian?
"..."
Disbelief entered the Crown Prince's eyes, then he gave Fan Xian a long, penetrating look.
Without answering, he stepped aside and walked around Fan Xian.
Following behind the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, still sporting a red handprint on his face, very much wanted to give Fan Xian a thumbs-up. But after his earlier humiliation, he could not bring himself to do it.
He merely entertained the thought, gave Fan Xian an admiring glance, and followed the Crown Prince out of the courtroom.
Soon after the Crown Prince left, a squad of Silver-Armored Guards poured in through the doorway. Silently and swiftly, they "escorted" both Guo Baokun, who was playing dead on his stretcher, and his already terrified Legal Adviser outside.
Zhou Cheng merely glanced at them without interfering.
Although Guo Baokun had heard quite a few things he should not have, he was the Minister of Rites' son, after all. The Crown Prince would not go so far as to silence him permanently.
As for the Legal Adviser... he could only pray for good fortune.
Li Hongcheng came over to say goodbye next, and Zhou Cheng nodded.
Once Mei Zhili had also been carried away for emergency treatment, only a handful of them remained in the vast courtroom.
An amused smile returned to Zhou Cheng's face as he looked at Fan Xian. "Your courage is truly commendable, Young Master Fan. Quite extraordinary. You're the first man to dare question the Crown Prince like that!"
Fan Xian smiled awkwardly and waved his hands. "You flatter me. I'm only a country bumpkin who doesn't know enough to be afraid!"
"Ha!" Zhou Cheng laughed. "You're too modest, Young Master Fan. I think you had a plan in mind and another purpose behind those questions."
"What makes you say that, Your Highness?"
"You failed to get a reputation for frequenting pleasure quarters, so you wanted a reputation for arrogance instead! You really are going all out to break off your engagement."
"So you saw through me, Your Highness." Fan Xian scratched his head sheepishly.
Zhou Cheng patted Fan Xian's shoulder. "You act according to your convictions and have no desire for power. Admirable. But you asked the wrong person just now. The Crown Prince is heir to the throne. Even if you ask, he won't answer. Me, though, I never lie, and I'm particularly fond of clearing up people's doubts."
At this, Fan Xian's eyes suddenly lit up. "You mean... you know something about... what really happened in the Danzhou Assassination Case?"
Zhou Cheng nodded frankly, his tone casual. "Yes. Not just something, either. I know it very well. Extremely well."
Fan Xian's heart jolted, and a bad feeling rose within him. "How could you... know so much about it?"
Zhou Cheng laughed, the sound jarring in the empty courtroom. "Why do I know so much? Naturally, because... I personally 'made' all those assassination attempts 'happen.'"
The expression on Fan Xian's face froze.
It took him two or three full breaths to react. Then his face abruptly darkened, his eyes filling with shock, confusion, and the anger of someone who had been toyed with.
"It was you? Why? We had no quarrel! Before His Majesty arranged the marriage, we had nothing to do with each other!"
"How could we have nothing to do with each other? You simply didn't know. Our relationship is far closer than you realize. Fan Xian, I value you greatly!"
Fan Xian nearly laughed in fury, pointing at his own nose. "Closer? You value me? So you sent people to assassinate me?"
"I trusted that you wouldn't die," Zhou Cheng said lightly.
"Ha! Trusted? I didn't die! But what if I had? What if I'd died?" Fan Xian raised his voice, his chest heaving.
Watching his agitation, Zhou Cheng's smile faded slightly. "Then, naturally... you'd have died."
[Negative emotions from Fan Xian +748!]
Chapter 23: Emperor Qing Decrees a Marriage
Fan Xian stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly as though he were seeing the man before him clearly for the first time.
During their previous two encounters, Zhou Cheng's eccentric speech and unpredictable behavior had not made Fan Xian dislike him. On the contrary, he had found him unexpectedly "genuine," different from those lofty imperial scions with their hypocrisy and inscrutable schemes...
But now he realized he had been far too naive.
The imperial family really were all cut from the same cloth!
"What do you take human life for?" Fan Xian's voice was low, every word heavy with suppressed fury.
Zhou Cheng merely gave him a sidelong glance and did not answer. The contempt in his eyes made his answer perfectly clear.
Fan Xian drew a deep breath. "You sent people to assassinate me, then told me without even trying to hide it. Aren't you afraid... I'll throw my full support behind the Crown Prince or the Second Prince and do everything I can to oppose you?"
Zhou Cheng smiled, utterly unconcerned. "Fan Xian, oh, Fan Xian. Don't you understand? Getting you to cooperate with me willingly and sincerely would be difficult. But threatening you and forcing you to cooperate... that would be very easy."
"Impossible!" Fan Xian said firmly. "I won't give in to your threats!"
"Nothing is impossible," Zhou Cheng said leisurely. "You have a younger sister named Fan Ruoruo, don't you? If I ask Father for her hand, I could have her pregnant this year and giving birth next year. When that happens, will you help me, Brother-in-Law? Even if you're desperate to kill me, could you really bring yourself to kill your sister's husband, the father of your future nephew?"
Before Zhou Cheng finished, a torrent of savage, scorching true energy erupted from Fan Xian's body!
"Don't-you-dare!!!"
The air hummed under the unbearable strain. A violent shock wave burst outward from Fan Xian, making Zhou Cheng's robes flap and his hair whip wildly behind him.
Enveloped by murderous Overlord True Energy, Zhou Cheng merely narrowed his eyes and made no move to defend himself.
"Fan Xian! Calm down! Don't do anything rash!" Terrified out of his wits, Teng Zijing rushed forward and locked his arms around Fan Xian from behind.
Si Lili also shot to her feet in alarm, her face pale as she watched helplessly.
"Can't stand hearing the truth, so you want to beat me up?" Zhou Cheng seemed not to feel the killing intent that was almost tangible. He even reached out and patted Fan Xian's shoulder again. "A martial arts expert, huh? You're good at fighting? What damn use is that?"
He leaned close to Fan Xian's ear. "This is the Capital! Unless you're a Grandmaster, what matters... is your backing. You're only Count Sinan's illegitimate son, while I am Prince Cheng. Even your father, Fan Jian, must treat me with the utmost respect. If I ask to marry Fan Ruoruo, your entire Fan Family will probably have to be 'grateful for my favor.' Fan Xian, what do you have to take me on with? Hmm?"
Fan Xian's eyes were bloodshot, the true energy coursing through him like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
For the first time in his life, he wanted to kill someone with such urgency, with such pure intent.
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