latelenovela Chapter 387 Shenshi (3-5 PM)
Chapter 387 Shenshi (3-5 PM)
The following day at Shen time.
Li Mo arrived at Fanghua Palace carrying memorials categorized as urgent: "Your Highness, the young master instructed yesterday that these urgent memorials be sent to His Majesty for approval, but His Majesty is unwell..."
How could Li Mo dare to disturb His Majesty? He could only come to find An Liangchen.
Luo An said yesterday that he would come again at Shenshi (3-5 PM), but An Liangchen specially sent someone to check this morning and found that Luo An was not in the Imperial Study.
Li Mo said, "Young Master said yesterday that he was tired these past few days and needed to rest. He will come again after his afternoon nap at Shenshi (3-5 PM)."
Luo An was always true to his word; if he said he would come at Shenshi (3-5 PM), he would definitely come. An Liangchen didn't say anything then, but now that the time had come, he asked, "Where is the young master?"
Li Mo met An Liangchen's questioning gaze: "The young master has not yet arrived. I thought it was getting late, so I brought these memorials over for Your Highness to review."
An Liangchen stared at the folded document in Li Mo's hand, remaining silent for a long while.
Li Mo was a veteran official of Dongyang, who was not intimidated in front of the emperor, but he was somewhat timid in front of the young crown prince: "Your Highness, why don't you take a look at these memorials first?"
An Liangchen raised his hands and brought Jingzhe and Qingming over: "You two go and take a look at Xizhai."
Just as Jingzhe and Qingming were about to leave, An Liangchen stopped them again: "Wait, Nanhua."
Nan Hua responded and came over: "What's wrong?"
An Liangchen said, "Luo An hasn't arrived yet. Why don't you go with the two of them to Xi Zhai and take a look?"
As Nan Hua stepped out the door with Jingzhe and Qingming, An Liangchen said again, "Wait, let me go."
De'an said anxiously from the side, "Your Highness, your injury has not healed yet. The imperial physician advised you to rest."
Nan Hua looked at An Liangchen, her heart skipped a beat, and said softly, "I'll go, you rest."
Nan Hua left quickly and returned just as fast, followed by the dejected Xiao Man and Dong Zhi. Then came the city gatekeeper. Finally came Jing Zhe and Qing Ming.
When the city gate guard saw An Liangchen on the day of Xiaoman and the winter solstice, he knelt down with a thud: "Your subject has failed in his duties and is willing to accept Your Highness's punishment."
Luo An put tranquilizers in the water bottles for Xiaoman and Dongzhi, knocked out the guards at the back gate, and left Xizhai while the patrolling guards were not around.
An Liangchen's gaze fell on Lu Qing, the city gate guard: "Lord Lu, I personally told you that day that without the Crown Prince's edict, Luo An and the other three were not allowed to leave the city. I even gave you their portraits. What explanation do you have now?"
Lu Qing said tremblingly, "Your Highness, I specially posted the portraits of the four people on the city wall and carefully examined them against everyone who left the city, but I really did not find the four people leaving the city. All the soldiers at the city gate can testify to this. I beg Your Highness and the Crown Princess to investigate thoroughly."
An Liangchen remained silent, and naturally, no one else dared to speak; the atmosphere was as heavy as a dark cloud looming over the city.
Nan Hua pushed the booklet in front of An Liangchen, her voice soft, trying to break the tension: "It's on Xi Zhai's desk, it should be for you."
The cover read: "Thirty-Day Health-Preserving Medicinal Diet Recipes," with the words "Exclusively for the Crown Prince" added in small print next to it. That day, Luo An promised to write him a medicinal diet recipe, and he kept his word and did so.
An Liangchen took the booklet, tore it in half, and threw it on the ground: "The city gate captain has neglected his duties and is to be fined half a year's salary."
Overjoyed to have saved his life and job, Lu Qing kowtowed repeatedly in gratitude and scrambled away.
An Liangchen added, “Without the abilities of the Shadow Guard during Xiaoman and Dongzhi, you are demoted to an ordinary soldier and are to report to the Beida Camp immediately.”
Xiaoman knelt straight on the ground, clearly displeased: "Your Highness..."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Dongzhi interrupted Xiaoman and forcibly dragged Xiaoman away.
An Liangchen's gaze shifted to Li Mo, who was so stiff he almost forgot to breathe. This matter shouldn't have anything to do with him, but if the Crown Prince wanted to take his anger out on him, there was nothing he could do.
Nan Hua placed his hand on An Liangchen's arm and applied slight pressure.
An Liangchen lowered his eyes and raised his hand to signal them all to leave.
De'an picked up the medicinal recipe from the ground and followed Jingzhe, Qingming, and Li Mo out of Fanghua Palace. All of them were covered in cold sweat.
An Liangchen scoffed, saying incredulously, "He's actually learned to lie, and he even lied to me. I wonder who he learned it from?"