The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 110: Chapter 110: An Audience with the Emperor

With Feng Zhang holding its reins, the horse grew restless, pawing at the ground and periodically throwing its head back, trying to break free.

After a careful inspection, Feng Zhang had already reached a tentative conclusion.

He gave the reins a sharp tug, and the horse finally quieted down, giving a disgruntled snort.

Feng Zhang turned and said, ”Your Majesty, there is indeed something wrong with this horse. If I am not mistaken, it has been drugged.”

His words sent an immediate uproar through the crowd.

Emperor Muwu’s brow furrowed. ”Drugged?”

”That’s right. These horses are normally cared for by dedicated staff, their temperaments well-trained. But this one is clearly far more agitated and violent.” Feng Zhang paused. ”I know of a method. If the leaves of the castor plant and horny goat weed are crushed and mixed into the fodder, a horse will become excitable and aggressive.”

When Feng Zhang first joined the army as a teenager, his duty was to manage the cavalry’s horses and provisions, so he was well-versed in such matters.

If he was saying this, then...

Emperor Muwu’s expression turned grim.

”So, this was done deliberately?”

Each word was heavy with cold authority.

”Your Majesty!” Zhao Hanguang fell prostrate. ”I have failed in my duty! I did not notice anything amiss! Please, Your Majesty, grant me punishment!”

Xiao Chengxuan frowned as well.

’Zhao Hanguang has always been a reliable man. How could something like this happen?’

Emperor Muwu remained silent, and Zhao Hanguang and the others didn’t dare lift their heads, staying prostrate on the ground.

Xiao Chengxuan chose his words carefully. ”Father, Lord Zhao has always been loyal and diligent. He would never do something like this. Most likely, someone else did this in secret to frame him.”

After all, if this matter escalated, he would be the first to be held accountable.

Emperor Muwu said in a grave tone, ”Whether this was negligence or a deliberate act remains to be seen. We cannot know until it is thoroughly investigated.”

Xiao Chengxuan’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately fell silent.

Zhao Hanguang grew frantic and pleaded, ”Your Majesty! I am innocent! I swear on my life, I knew nothing about this at all!”

Consort Ru gently placated, ”Your Majesty, please calm your anger. You mustn’t let it take a toll on your health. As I see it, Lord Zhao can certainly no longer be in charge of this investigation. Lord Han, however, as the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Rites, is quite familiar with these matters and holds the proper authority. It would be much more convenient for him to investigate. Why not... give the task to him?”

With the Central Palace vacant for many years, Consort Ru helped manage the imperial harem. Her status was exceedingly high, and her words carried significant weight with Emperor Muwu.

This time, however, Emperor Muwu did not take her suggestion.

”Su Wei.”

”Present.”

”I am entrusting this matter to you. You have three days. You must bring me a satisfactory answer!”

Su Wei immediately accepted the command. ”Yes, Your Majesty!”

The smile on Consort Ru’s face faltered for a moment.

’His Majesty is actually handing this over to the Ministry of Justice to investigate and handle entirely?’

’Even though it involved the Eldest Princess, she wasn’t even hurt. Is it really necessary to raise such a fuss?’

But she would never dare say such a thing. Her eyes flickered before she smiled and said, ”With Lord Su and his men on the case, I’m sure it will be resolved quickly. Your Majesty can rest easy.”

”Enough. I’m unharmed, and if we delay any longer, we’ll hold up the polo match.” The Eldest Princess seemed unconcerned about the incident and tried to placate Emperor Muwu. ”We only have this much excitement once a year. Why let such a small thing trouble you?”

Emperor Muwu sounded a little helpless. ”Sister.”

He understood that the Eldest Princess didn’t want the matter to escalate further, so he took the graceful way out she had offered him, waving a hand to signal for the polo match to resume.

Su Wei led his men from the grounds, accompanied by Feng Zhang.

The horse and all relevant personnel were, of course, also taken into custody.

Ye Heng watched this unfold with complicated feelings.

’He was an official of the Ministry of Justice, yet now he didn’t even have the authority to participate in the investigation.’

’He had made a series of mistakes recently, earning Su Wei’s displeasure. After taking just a few days of sick leave to recover, he had already been completely sidelined.’

’He had schemed and struggled so hard to reach this position, only to face a problem like this. Who could have known?’

Ye Shixian sensed his resentment and frustration and whispered consolingly, ”Father, don’t let it bother you. This case is complicated. It’s better that you’re not involved.”

Her words seemed to improve Ye Heng’s mood somewhat.

He glanced back at the stands. Zhao Hanguang, Han Tong, and the others had returned to their seats, but he knew they must be on pins and needles, in no mood to enjoy the polo match.

Catching sight of Murong Ye out of the corner of his eye, Ye Heng leaned toward Ye Shixian and asked in a low voice, ”By the way, what’s been going on with you lately? A moment ago, when we were outside, Murong Ye came over to greet you. Why were you so cold to him?”

Ye Shixian’s brow twitched slightly at the mention of his name.

She lowered her eyes and said softly, ”Father, we’re in public, with so many people watching. It’s best to avoid arousing suspicion.”

Realization dawned on Ye Heng, and he nodded repeatedly.

”Of course, of course. You aren’t formally engaged yet. It would be improper for people to see you being too familiar with each other.”

He seemed chagrined. ”It was my oversight. Your mother should be the one worrying about these things, but...”

At the mention of Mrs. Gao, he trailed off.

’In Mrs. Gao’s current state, she can’t even attend an event like the polo match, let alone manage such affairs. Not only is she no help to him, but she also throws things and has tantrums, vexing him to no end. It has reached the point where he can’t even stand to see her; all he feels is disgust.’

He suppressed these thoughts and added, ”That’s true, but you can’t be too distant, either. I’ve noticed you two haven’t interacted much recently. If that goes on for too long, it could—”

”Father, rest assured, I know what I’m doing,” Ye Shixian said, cutting him off impatiently.

With other people around, it wasn’t appropriate to say more, so Ye Heng had no choice but to swallow the rest of his words.

...

”I heard,” Emperor Muwu began as soon as he sat down, returning to the earlier incident, ”that the one who tamed the horse was a new student at the Imperial College, one who took first place in both Imperial Archery disciplines right after enrolling?”

The Eldest Princess’s smile bloomed. ”That’s the one. The boy isn’t even thirteen yet, but he is remarkably courageous.”

As she spoke, she smilingly called Ye Yunfeng over.

”Come here.”

Emperor Muwu sized up Ye Yunfeng and nodded. ”To have such skill at his age is rare indeed. By the way, sister, you said his surname is Ye?”

”Yes.” Admiration was written all over the Eldest Princess’s face. ”And coincidentally, his older sister is the one who treated me before.”

Emperor Muwu was taken aback. ”Oh?”

He knew that a seventeen-year-old girl had saved the Eldest Princess when she suddenly fell ill, but he had never met her.

The Eldest Princess beckoned. ”Chutang.”

Ye Chutang stepped forward and gave a graceful curtsy.

Emperor Muwu’s gaze lingered on the siblings’ faces for a moment before a flicker of surprise crossed his own.

”They look... somewhat familiar...”

The Eldest Princess hesitated for an instant.

Ye Chutang kept her eyes lowered, her voice clear and tranquil.

”Your Majesty has a discerning eye. My father was the former Minister of the Ministry of Justice—Ye Zheng.”