Phoenix Hairpin

Chapter 112

"Ah Yi, why don't you speak?" Emperor Yongjia aired his grievances, and his mood eased a lot, turning his head to look at the dazed Eldest Prince.

The Eldest Prince settled down and replied carefully: "I have never seen my father so angry before."

Emperor Yongjia said lightly: "You are all my sons, and I can be considered a good father when I ask myself. It is not surprising that you have your own thoughts when you grow up day by day. However, I never want to see your brothers turn against each other." 

The meaning of these words is simply unfathomable.

The Eldest Prince's heart trembled, and he replied with a smile on his face: "Father is too worried. We are brothers, and we have always been harmonious and friendly."

Emperor Yongjia took a deep look at the Eldest Prince: "You are my eldest son, and you know how I treat you. Everyone can see it. You have to act like the elder brother and set an example for the younger brothers." 

The eldest prince responded with a calm expression: "I will obey my father's order."

On the other side, the Fourth Prince left the Wenhua Palace with red eyes.

It was almost noon, and the sun was particularly glaring. As soon as the Fourth Prince raised his head, his eyes hurt from the glare of the sun, and he had to lower his head again.

This damned life of bowing your head everywhere.

The Fourth Prince silently forced himself for a while, sighed, and went to Chengqian Palace first.

Li Jing got the news one step earlier and greeted him at the door.

The Fourth Prince's steps were stiff and slow, and he could tell at a glance that his knees were numb after kneeling for a long time.

Li Jing stretched out his hand and helped the Fourth Prince.

This subtle action made the Fourth Prince feel warm in his heart: "Thank you, second brother." Then he apologized guiltily: "Second brother, I came to apologize to you." 

Li Jing smiled lightly: "Between us brothers, there is no need to say these things. The betrothal gifts that day were all the idea of ​​the Royal grandmother, and you didn't know about it. If you knew, you would have stopped our Royal grandmother."

The more magnanimous Li Jing was, the more ashamed the Fourth Prince became and said in a low voice: "Actually Royal Grandmother hinted at it. I am just too greedy and wanted to save face so pretended that I didn't know anything." 

Li Jing: "..." 

The Fourth Prince sighed: "Now I really regret it. People really shouldn't have greed. Once they are controlled by greed, they will do things that they can't even think of. Father punished and scolded me, it should be so."

"I am here now, first to apologize to my second brother, and second, to tell my second brother, this kind of thing will never happen again in the future. I shouldn't have passed the second brother."

The Fourth Prince apologized sincerely, and Li Jing felt a little bit embarrassed when he heard it.

In the previous life, the eldest prince died in battle, and he also died on the battlefield. The third prince, Li Hao, took the position of crown prince. As soon as Su Zhaorong became Empress Dowager, she showed a sinister face.

Empress Qiao, Concubine Meng, and Concubine Qing died of illnesses one after another. Princess Hui'an was sent to the nunnery. The Fourth Prince was crowned as a vassal king, and the vassal land was on the remote southern border.

Prince Jin, the Fourth Prince who had never experienced hardships, couldn't adapt to the humid, hot, insect-infested, and poor southern Xinjiang. In just one year, he died of a serious illness.

No one did it secretly, he really died of illness.

His endless anger and unwillingness were slowly worn away.

The battle for the position of Crown Prince was so cruel. The winner was the Emperor, and the loser belonged to Jiuquan. (1)

Now the Great Wei has not yet unified the country, and Emperor Yongjia's dragon body was healthy. Even though the brothers had some petty schemes, they competed privately, but on the surface, they all got by.

"My brother, let's not talk about this." Li Jing said with concern: "I am sure your knees must be swollen after kneeling for a long time. I will ask someone to call the imperial doctor to see you." 

The Fourth Prince was very grateful: "Thank you, Second Brother. However, I have to go to Jinren Palace to apologize to my third brother."

Li Jing said casually: "What's the matter. I'll send someone to deliver the letter and let Li Hao come over too. At noon today, let all our brothers eat here."

Emperor Yongjia indeed wished for harmony among his sons, but it was not as simple as it seemed. Sibling rivalries, power struggles, and the complexities of imperial politics often created tensions and challenges within the royal family. The emperor's desire for harmony may require careful management and diplomacy to achieve.

The Fourth Prince understood and nodded in response.

The doctor came soon. The Fourth Prince's knees were red and swollen. It looked like a major problem, but it was actually some skin trauma. He just needed to apply some medicine.

As soon as the cool medicine was applied to his knees, the Fourth Prince gasped.

Li Jing looked amused: "Does it hurt too much?" 

The Fourth Prince sighed bitterly: "I have never knelt for so long since I was a child." 

At this moment, frowning pitifully and sighing, Li Jing couldn't help reaching out and stroking the Fourth Prince's head: "Be careful in the future, don't ask for trouble." 

After turning ten, his second brother no longer treated him in the same way.

The Fourth Prince's heart was slightly hot, and he nodded in response: "Second brother, don't worry, I have learned my lesson, and I will not dare again in the future."

...

After a stick of incense, Li Hao also came to Chengqian Palace.

The Fifth Prince, Li Chang, also came here with him.

The Fourth Prince solemnly apologized to Li Hao. Li Hao didn't take it seriously and said with a smile: "Such a trivial matter is in the past, so it's not worth mentioning. "

The Fourth Prince was grateful again.

Li Chang interjected: "The apology is over, let someone prepare a meal! I'm hungry!"

Everyone laughed.

Li Jing also smiled, making people prepare meals. Li Hao still didn't forget to ask: "Do you want to invite Elder Brother to come here for the meal?"

Li Jing slightly nodded: "You and I thought of the same thing. I just sent someone to invite the elder brother, but the elder brother was in Wenhua Palace, maybe he had already had dinner with our father. Let's wait for a while!"

Li Hao nodded happily.

Fourth Prince: "..."

For Lu Mingyu before, the second brother and the third brother almost turned against each other. When they met each other, they each had a cold face, with knives flying in their eyes.

Why did they reconcile all of a sudden?

He was only grounded for five days, why did he feel like the sky had changed?

The Fourth Prince glanced at Li Hao and then at Li Jing.

Li Jing looked over with a smile: "Fourth brother, why are you looking at me like this? I haven't seen you for a few days, has my appearance changed?" 

Li Hao's eyes flashed, and he also joked with a smile: "Fourth brother, don't be surprised. The second brother is very happy these days, let alone you, even if he sees a dog on the side of the road, he will smile." 

The Fourth Prince was amused: "What Third Brother said was too much! How can you compare me with wild dogs." 

"Yes Yes, it was the third brother who said something wrong." Li Hao said with a smile: "Later the third brother will toast you two glasses of water and wine, and apologize to you." 

The Fourth Prince was secretly amazed.

It's only natural that the second brother was in a good mood. If you are the winner in love, you will naturally be proud of yourself. But the third brother, after losing his beloved woman, let go of it so quickly... Even if it was just a facade, he has to put on a convincing act!

No, he cannot be left behind.

The Fourth Prince pulled himself together and chatted happily with his brothers.

Li Chang couldn't speak for a while, he looked at this and that, then silently lowered his head.

Forget it, he'd better wait for lunch!

1. Netherworld. Basically, the winner prince becomes Emperor, and the loser prince dies.

T/N This chapter reminded me so much of the birthday scene in the Kdrama Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. All the princes together having fun and that was the last time they were together amicably. BTW if you haven't watched this Kdrama, and do watch Kdrama, then I highly recommend this one. It also has a Chinese one (which is the original) but this one was much better due to some really good casting.