Chapter 56: Grasping at Shadows
Lord Ju Nanyi, serving as an Academician at Hanlin Academy, had just arrived at the Imperial Palace from the Traveling Palace and dealt with the relevant matters before heading straight to the Crown Prince’s Mansion without stopping.
Although he had not personally participated in the events at the Traveling Palace, it was not difficult to deduce what had happened.
"Lord Ju, right this way," Qi Yu led him to a reception room in the outer courtyard. From the row upon row of wooden windows of the reception room, one could see the expansive Sunken Water Lake. In spring, thick and luxuriant, the corridors were built alongside the lake, leading directly to the Crown Prince’s study. The courtyard was small, yet it captured the ingenuity of divine craftsmanship perfectly. Behind the study was an artificial hill, and through another side along the lake, vaguely visible was the inner courtyard of the Crown Prince.
However, although the Crown Prince was now sixteen, his marriage had been delayed. The Emperor was severely ill, and Master Huo Yi had divined that from the celestial signs, inheriting from a distant place was ill-timed for early marriage. The Empress, deeply devoted to praying for the Emperor, had neglected the Crown Prince’s marriage as well. Thus, the Crown Prince’s inner courtyard, other than some cleaning old women, was left empty year-round, and even the doors from the study to the inner courtyard were perennially locked.
Ju Nanyi withdrew his gaze and refocused on the study, dismissing these rumors as unreliable.
The Crown Prince usually met his subjects in this reception room of the outer courtyard, and only core ministers and trusted aides of the Crown Prince could enter the study to discuss affairs. Lord Ju Nanyi calmly withdrew his gaze and emotionlessly stood by the window, still looking out over the lush green waters of the lake.
"Has Nanyi arrived?" Ju Nanyi immediately turned around respectfully upon hearing the voice, only to be promptly assisted by Zheng Congyuan before he could bow.
"No need for excessive formalities."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Ju Nanyi frowned slightly, noticing bite marks. How could there be a row of bite marks on the back of His Highness’s hand, and each mark was small and rounded, not seeming like those of a... man...
"The matter you were looking into, any progress?" Zheng Congyuan got straight to the point, the letter in his hand not yet put down, casually sitting at the table and gesturing for Ju Nanyi to also take a seat.
Ju Nanyi shook off the thoughts of those bite marks in his head.