When Wei Shuxuan arrived at the place where the incident involving Xin Shang and the attendant of the Eleventh Prince had occurred, Xin Yeheng had already been knocked to the ground by Xin Shang, and Xin Shang and that attendant were nowhere to be seen.
There were several eunuchs and maidservants surrounding Xin Yeheng, but none of them dared to step forward to help him up. Wei Shuxuan walked over. "What are you all standing around for? Why don't you help the Eleventh Prince up?"
".....Ah, greetings to Her Majesty the Empress!" The eunuchs and maidservants quickly saluted her as soon as they saw Wei Shuxuan.
"Rise. Answer my question!" Wei Shuxuan was a bit impatient.
"Your Majesty the Empress, this servant originally wanted to help His Highness up, but His Highness forcefully shook off this servant's hand. Moreover, he also refused the help of others and just sat here in silence. Please, please forgive us, Your Majesty. We didn't do it on purpose!" After explaining, the little maid still pleaded for her companions.
"I have no intention of blaming you," Wei Shuxuan realized that her tone might have been a bit too harsh after hearing her words, so she softened her tone. "Also, tell me where Xin Shang has gone."
"They originally fought here. But after Xin Shang knocked His Highness down, they went over there."
Following the direction the little maid pointed to, it seemed to be near the Xingyue Pavilion. Wei Shuxuan summoned a few soldiers and asked them to follow her there.
Walking along that path, Wei Shuxuan didn't see any sign of Xin Shang. However, the sound of fighting that reached her ears gradually became clearer. She looked up and saw Xin Shang holding a sword. He seemed a bit strained.
"Over there! Hurry up!"
They quickly rushed to where Xin Shang was and saw that he was fighting with a tall man. The man's appearance seemed somewhat eerie. Although his features were ordinary, Wei Shuxuan somehow saw a hint of charm in them. This feeling was somewhat... familiar...
"Stop! Don't fight anymore! Are you even ignoring Her Majesty the Empress's words!" Chief Li spoke on behalf of Wei Shuxuan.
As soon as Xin Shang heard that Wei Shuxuan had come, he quickly stopped and with a light tap of his toe, he leaped in front of Wei Shuxuan. "Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress!"
The ordinary - looking man also walked over and saluted Wei Shuxuan. Wei Shuxuan looked down at the two men who had fought because of Xin Yeheng. "The two of you, why on earth were you fighting?"
"Your Majesty the Empress, it was the Eleventh Prince and this attendant who provoked us first. So..." Xin Shang didn't need to continue for Wei Shuxuan to understand his meaning.
"Xin Shang, come here and tell me what happened just now," Wei Shuxuan then looked at the attendant. "You kneel here and don't move. The imperial guards watch him."
"Yes!"
After listening to Xin Shang explain the whole story, Wei Shuxuan knew that it wasn't Xin Shang who had started the fight. It was the Eleventh Prince who had provoked him.
The incident started like this. Xin Shang had originally received an order from Xin Zizhao to go to the imperial hospital to get medicine. But unexpectedly, he met Xin Yeheng head - on on the way. Xin Yeheng's expression when he saw Xin Shang was completely different from last time. This time, he showed a very contemptuous look.
However, Xin Shang ignored him and bowed briefly to Xin Yeheng before leaving. But Xin Yeheng actually blocked his way and demanded that he perform the three kneels and nine kowtows to him on the grounds that he was a prince. Naturally, Xin Shang refused. Xin Yeheng, being rejected, was dissatisfied and ordered his attendant to teach Xin Shang a lesson.
Xin Shang recognized this man who was sent to teach him a lesson. Wasn't he the tall man they had met in the imperial garden last time? Moreover, his figure was very similar to the one he had seen in the Huaman Palace that morning. Xin Shang thought this man was Qiha'er. So when this tall man attacked him, he fought back with the intention of tearing off this man's mask.
But this man's fighting skills seemed better than the first time. Xin Shang found it a bit strenuous to deal with him, which was why the fight continued until Wei Shuxuan came to settle the matter.
"Xin Yeheng actually asked you to perform the three kneels and nine kowtows to him?" Wei Shuxuan murmured softly.
"Yes, this subordinate was just indignant, so I fought with him."
"Did you hit him then?" Wei Shuxuan raised her eyebrows.
Xin Shang's expression looked a bit guilty. ".....Yes, because this subordinate just couldn't stand his actions, so I couldn't help but hit him."
"Let me guess where you hit him... Um..." Wei Shuxuan recalled the scene when she first saw Xin Yeheng. There was a red mark on Xin Yeheng's left cheek, and the palm - print almost covered his entire side face. "You slapped him, didn't you?"
Xin Shang didn't dare to say a word. His silence was a tacit admission.
"I say, Xin Shang, you are really impulsive. Why did you get into a feud with Xin Yeheng? This is not like you usually!"
"It's just because he wanted to harm Your Highness. This subordinate... just got angry and fought with him..."
Wei Shuxuan had already guessed this reason. She sighed. "Xin Shang, it's good that you are loyal to protect your master, but being too blind is not good. It's easy to alert the enemy. You yourself know that Yongheng might be being manipulated. If the manipulator is right here, won't your actions make them vigilant?"
".....Sorry, Your Majesty the Empress."
Xin Shang lowered his head, clearly realizing his mistake. Wei Shuxuan patted him on the shoulder. Although she said so, the matter still had to be resolved. "The two of you openly fought in the palace in broad daylight. Now I will punish you two in my capacity as the Empress. Someone, take them to the punishment room and give them thirty heavy blows with the wooden board!"
"This subordinate accepts the order!" Xin Shang knew that he had made a mistake, so no matter what punishment Wei Shuxuan gave him, he could accept it willingly.
When Xin Yeheng came to his senses, he found himself back in the Huaman Palace. He opened his eyes blankly. The warm glow of the setting sun fell into his eyes. He looked around at the luxurious decorations, and his mind... suddenly went blank. Where on earth was this?
He slowly sat up. The warm yellow glow of the setting sun fell on his hand, passing through his fingers and flowing down beside the bed. He felt that his head was splitting with pain. Whenever he tried to think, his head hurt as if it was going to explode. So he had to lie back on the bed and close his eyes.
In a daze, he seemed to dream about what had happened before...
In the darkness, he felt that the space he was in was bumping up and down, and there was also a regular sound of horses' hooves in his ears. He knew that he was in a carriage. Where was he going now?