Chapter 5: Whoa, intense! Brothers turning against each other

The appearance of Cheng Jin alongside Chu Chengye did indeed surprise the officials waiting in the Taihe Palace.

Not to mention that Chu Chengye’s harem had remained empty ever since he ascended the throne, there were even rumors in the palace that the Emperor never spent the night with either of the two concubines he had conferred the titles of Noble Consort and Noble Lady.

There were already many rumors in the palace claiming that because the Emperor had been accustomed to being around men on the battlefield since he was young, he likely had no interest in women.

Yet today, he had actually brought Noble Consort Rong with him.

Who didn't know that Noble Consort Rong’s father, Grand Tutor Cheng, was the one who most loved to contradict the Emperor in court? He couldn't go three sentences without threatening to go and bash his head against a pillar.

The crowd couldn't help but cast their eyes in Cheng Jin’s direction.

What kind of magic did this Cheng daughter possess? It was hard to say if the winds in the court were about to shift.

As soon as Cheng Jin entered the hall, she was extremely nervous. Sensing that many people were staring at her, she instantly felt a chill run down her spine.

She looked left and right, terrified that someone might suddenly appear and stab or shoot an arrow at Chu Chengye, who was standing beside her.

*If you’re going to kill someone, aim properly!*

Chu Chengye, however, remained expressionless, though his eyes were fixed intently on the side entrance.

But as the banquet neared its end, there was still no sign of Li Shen, nor even anyone who looked suspicious.

Chu Chengye even began to doubt whether Cheng Jin’s claim about knowing the color of these old fogies' undergarments was just something she had made up in her head.

He glanced at Cheng Jin beside him with some impatience.

Cheng Jin was still on high alert, though she hadn't stopped the motion of using her chopsticks to feed herself.

[Since things have come to this, I might as well eat.]

Chu Chengye stared at Cheng Jin with a dark expression, as if he could bore a hole through her. "Noble Consort Rong, you have quite an appetite. Are you full?"

"Half-full."

Chu Chengye: "..."

He must have truly lost his mind to have believed Cheng Jin’s completely nonsensical inner thoughts.

Once he returned, he would have someone throw Cheng Jin into the Cold Palace.

Just as Chu Chengye was pondering this, Wei An suddenly leaned in to whisper in his ear

"Your Majesty, General Li has entered the palace."

"He brought an attendant with him. The palace guards detained them, and he is currently throwing a fit."

Chu Chengye’s expression changed; it was exactly as Cheng Jin’s inner voice had predicted.

Cheng Jin noticed Chu Chengye’s gaze, and the food in her mouth instantly lost its flavor. She stopped her movements and returned to her usual, well-behaved demeanor.

"Let Li Shen in only after the banquet disperses."

Seeing that most of the people had left and Cheng Jin hadn't noticed anyone acting strangely, she thought that since it was over, she should leave this dangerous place as soon as possible.

But just as she tried to leave, she was held back by Chu Chengye.

"Stay and sit with me a while longer."

Cheng Jin wore a look of horror.

[Everyone’s gone, no one is assassinating you anymore. You’re not happy even when you’ve been spared your life?]

[If you want to die, go die on your own. Before you die, you’d better issue an imperial decree to send all your concubines home. If they don't want to go, just send me away.]

Just as Cheng Jin was thinking this, someone approached from outside the hall, bowing slightly with an extremely perfunctory gesture.

"What is the meaning of this, Your Majesty? Having people block me outside the door."

The man was dressed in battle armor and questioned him directly, showing absolutely no regard for Chu Chengye.

Chu Chengye raised his cup and took a small sip, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, though there was no warmth in his eyes. He did not answer the question directly.

"Li Shen, you told me you had matters to attend to at your manor. Have they been handled?"

"Naturally, they have been handled." Li Shen asked again, "Why did Your Majesty block me outside? Are you worried that I have ulterior motives?"

"I have always felt I treated you well." Chu Chengye lowered his head, rubbing the wine cup in his hand. His voice was low, and it was unclear whether he was asking Li Shen or muttering to himself.

Suddenly, Chu Chengye slammed the wine cup onto the floor, creating a loud crash.

"Li Shen! I didn't expect you to be so bold! To actually bring death warriors into the palace—what is your intent?"

Seeing Chu Chengye fly into a rage, Li Shen immediately knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I am wronged."

"Wronged?"

Chu Chengye stood up from his seat and walked over to Li Shen. Outside, someone immediately dragged in a corpse.

He crouched down and tore open the corpse’s clothes, revealing a tattoo on its shoulder.

"Then tell me, since when do your servants have death warrior tattoos?"

[Whoa, spectacular! Brothers turning against each other!]

[This is way better than harem drama.]

Hearing Cheng Jin’s inner voice, Chu Chengye shot her a cold glare.

Seeing Chu Chengye look at Cheng Jin, Li Shen seemed to understand something. He kowtowed to Chu Chengye and pointed at Cheng Jin, saying

"Your Majesty, did this woman say something? I fought alongside you and helped you obtain the throne. Have you forgotten, Your Majesty? It was I who blocked that blade for you back then, which allowed you to return to Southern Qi safely."

Suddenly being cued, Cheng Jin pointed at herself: "Me???"

[What does this have to do with me? I’m just a bystander.]

"Of course I haven't forgotten! It is precisely because I remember that you now harbor thoughts of killing me, isn't it?"

"Your Majesty, how long have you known this woman? I am the one who shared life and death with you. How can you so easily believe her words? I am wronged."

"Wronged, wronged, you only know how to say you're wronged. If you are truly wronged, why can't you produce evidence? You were betting on the fact that I wouldn't suspect you, weren't you? I will give you one last chance: who ordered you to do this?"

Chu Chengye pressed him step by step. He knew it was Li Shen, but he desperately hoped it wasn't, yet he couldn't produce the evidence.

"It was her!"

Li Shen suddenly pointed at Cheng Jin: "Did she say something in your ear? Your Majesty, she is from the Cheng family, and I am a sworn enemy of Grand Tutor Cheng. It must be because of this that this woman holds a grudge against me. Your Majesty, you must believe me."

[Are you okay? Are you okay? Are you okay?]

[It looks like I really should have a physician check you out. Logically speaking, a weak woman like me shouldn't be able to carry such a huge pot of blame.]

Chu Chengye was furious. He hadn't expected Li Shen to refuse to admit it even with the evidence laid out before him.

"Still quibbling!"

He kicked Li Shen in the shoulder.

Chu Chengye had practiced martial arts since he was young, and the force of his kick was surprisingly great; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to fight his way out of the bloodbaths in the Southern Frontier.

Li Shen flew several meters away, his shoulder dislocated as if struck by an iron hammer. He knelt on the ground, not daring to make a sound.

Chu Chengye waved his hand. "Men, Li Shen has committed treason and attempted to assassinate the monarch. Throw him into the dungeon."

After Li Shen was dragged away, Chu Chengye felt exhausted. He waved his hand to have Cheng Jin sent back by palanquin.

Cheng Jin still hadn't recovered from the force of the kick Chu Chengye had delivered to Li Shen.

[Good thing that kick landed on the warrior Li Shen.]

[If it had landed on me, I would’ve been kicked all the way to Malaysia.]

When Cheng Jin was delivered to the entrance of her palace, Wei An specifically instructed her, "Your Ladyship, what you saw today..."

As someone who studied ancient history, was well-versed in harem drama novels, and could recite harem dramas by heart, Cheng Jin naturally knew that the more one knew in this palace, the faster one died.

She immediately made a gesture of zipping her lips. "Don't worry, my mouth is tighter than a dead person's."

As soon as Cheng Jin entered the palace, she saw all the eunuchs and palace maids waiting for her return.

And Chun Tao was already kneeling on the ground. The moment she saw Cheng Jin, she looked as if she had seen a savior, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Your Ladyship, please spare me. This servant knows she was wrong. Your Ladyship, please spare me, this servant knows she was wrong."