"This subject, Tan Guang, pays respect to Lord Jingnan."
Without acknowledging their salute, Lord Jingnan went straight into the courtyard, heading towards the Third Prince.
At this moment, Eunuch Wei Zhen, already kneeling, maneuvered himself in front of Lord Jingnan and kept his head down.
"You’re trying to stop me?"
"In response to your question, Lord, I am an inferior servant and naturally dare not obstruct you. However, you arrived here in anger. As His Highness’s attendant, I cannot allow the Prince to be affected by your temper."
"Good. You’re surnamed Wei. What’s your relation to Wei Zhonghe?"
"In response to your question, Lord, Eunuch Wei is my godfather."
"Godfather? You should know that even if Wei Zhonghe himself came, he wouldn’t dare speak to me like that!" This update ıs available on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁
"In this lifetime, I have only one master, and my life belongs to him. I dare to plead with you, Lord, to calm your anger. After you’ve cooled off, I will serve you tea."
"Then this humble servant..." The sleeves of Wei Zhen’s lowered arms began to flutter, and streams of green light flickered from his cuffs.
All the personal guards prepared to step forward but were stopped by a gesture from Lord Jingnan.
Wei Zhen kept his head bowed and continued, "My Lord, I am renowned for brewing tea. The Prince himself has praised my tea-brewing skills."
Legend has it that when the late Emperor seized the throne, he once fell into a perilous situation. He was driven out of the capital and ambushed along the way. A Qi cultivator at his side, one of his bodyguards, desperately fended off the assassins. Thanks to this, he was able to take his family and safely enter Beifeng Prefecture.
That Qi cultivator was seriously injured. Although he survived, he had been castrated during the fierce battle.
After the late Emperor seized the throne, the Qi cultivator transitioned to become the chief steward of the inner palace. Since then, any eunuch in the palace who showed potential was taught Qi refining and revered him as their patriarch.
Master Zhang, who was with the Sixth Prince, was also a Qi cultivator. This Eunuch Wei Zhen was one too.
However, Zheng Fan was not particularly concerned about Lord Jingnan’s safety. He once asked Mr. Chen why he didn’t cause trouble for Lord Jingnan, and Mr. Chen had answered frankly, "I can’t defeat Tian Wujing." This was enough to show that the Lord was definitely a martial arts expert. Zheng Fan even estimated that his Martial Cultivator level might not be inferior to Shatuo Queshi—even Shatuo Queshi in his prime!
Seeing that the eunuch seemed prepared to fight him, Lord Jingnan laughed instead of growing angry and said, "Are you... stalling for time?"
"This humble servant wouldn’t dare, this humble servant..."
Before he could finish speaking, a long cry came from the distance, "The imperial edict has arrived!"
Zheng Fan turned his head and saw the messenger approaching alone. Although walking on the ground, his speed was astonishing. In just a few breaths, the person who had been shouting from afar entered the residence and arrived in the courtyard. The newcomer was not flushed nor out of breath; his complexion was fair and youthful, with a naturally humble demeanor, and his gentle appearance held a hint of firm resolve.
Zheng Fan didn’t know that this was the very Wei Zhonghe, Eunuch Director of the Ministry of Rites of Great Yan, whom Lord Jingnan had mentioned several times, wanting to introduce him to.
"The imperial edict is here! Third Prince Ji Chengyue, receive the imperial edict!" Wei Zhonghe stood in the center, imperial edict in hand.
The Third Prince, Ji Chengyue, took a step forward and knelt. "Your son is here!"
The Third Prince’s tutor, Tan Guang, also knelt to receive the edict.
Standing there, Lord Jingnan turned to face Wei Zhonghe.
Wei Zhonghe hurriedly put on an obsequious smile and said, "His Majesty has proclaimed, ’Lord Jingnan defends the nation’s borders, and his contributions are immense. For the kingdom to have its Zhuguai is a blessing for the common people, a blessing for Yan, and a great blessing for Us. He is exempt from kneeling.’"
Lord Jingnan cupped his fists. "Thank His Majesty," he said calmly.
Then, Lord Jingnan simply walked over to the stone table and sat down on an adjacent stone chair.
Well, Zheng Fan, who along with the personal guards had been watching to see if their Lord would kneel, understood now.
They immediately dropped their weapons and knelt.
Despite having lived two lives, this was actually the first time Zheng Fan had knelt to receive an imperial edict.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: ’Third Prince Cheng Yue has been unfilial to Us and disrespectful to his brothers, his virtue lacking. Effective immediately, he is demoted to a commoner, expelled from the Prince’s Manor, and permanently confined to the Island in the Lake.’"
"Your son, Ji Chengyue, receives the edict! Long live my Imperial Father, may he live for ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!" After kowtowing three times, the Third Prince, Ji Chengyue, raised his hands to signify his acceptance of the edict.
The edict meant that the Third Prince, for being unfilial to his father and unkind to his brothers, was demoted to a commoner and permanently confined to the Island in the Lake.
Zheng Fan wasn’t sure where the Island in the Lake was, but he figured it was probably similar to Ninggu Tower from the Qing Dynasty dramas—a place of exile.
So, this is how it ends?
Zheng Fan, somewhat curious, gently lifted his head to look at the Third Prince. The Third Prince was indeed strikingly handsome, with refined features and a scholarly air. Yet, with this one edict, the Third Prince was finished, with almost no chance of ever staging a comeback.
Just then, Wei Zhen suddenly rose, a peaceful smile on his face. Zheng Fan and the surrounding personal guards immediately grabbed their sabers and stood alert.
Wei Zhen first looked at Wei Zhonghe. Wei Zhonghe avoided his gaze, a slight twitch at the corner of his eye. Then, Wei Zhen looked at the Third Prince, who returned his gaze.
"Your Highness, this humble servant has just offended the Lord. I know that I, a subordinate, have committed a grave offense by overstepping my bounds. It is a pity that I will no longer be able to brew tea for Your Highness."
Then, Wei Zhen added, "Godfather, forgive your son for his unfilial piety. I will no longer be able to care for you in your old age."
With that said, Wei Zhen extended his arms. It was as if silver serpents danced in his palms. Then, he slammed both palms violently against his own chest.