Chapter 1272: The Emperor’s Malice
Chapter 1272: Chapter 1272: The Emperor’s Malice
Crackling sounds as fireworks exploded in mid-air, and the sound of firecrackers was incessant.
A new year has arrived.
In the Heavenly Prison, Prince Min sat cross-legged in cell number Jia Yi, his eyes slightly closed, but his heart was somewhat unsettled, lightly clutching the hand placed on his thigh.
The sound of footsteps came from afar, mixed with a distinct scent of ambergris belonging to someone.
Someone stood still in front of the Heavenly Prison, Prince Min opened his eyes, meeting the gaze of Emperor Chu outside who was wearing a tiger skin cloak, and he rose to offer a respectful salute: "Dear elder brother, wishes for a peaceful New Year."
"A peaceful New Year." Emperor Chu stepped closer, looking at his youthful face, his lips curling slightly: "You seem calm, entering here without a hint of panic."
Prince Min also stepped forward, feigning helplessness as he spoke: "I have long said, if a ruler wishes a subject to die, a subject cannot but die. You are the ruler, I am the subject, my life and death hang on your whim, being unsettled is futile."
Emperor Chu’s brows raised: "What now, you no longer claim injustice? Are you aware of the true origin of the New Year’s gift screen sent from your mansion?"
Prince Min looked at him steadfastly, showing a bitter smile: "Dear elder brother, I was born in the Great Qing, and have never left Great Qing in this lifetime. My past days were all in Xuzhou, as for that screen, I only know it as a rather beautiful stone, said to nourish people."
Emperor Chu laughed, a trace of sinister amusement suddenly emerging in his mind.
"If that’s the case, it seems I have wrongly accused you."
Prince Min: "???"
A bad feeling arose.
"As you say, just a rather beautiful stone, for viewing, for nourishing, quite nice."
Prince Min’s breath became hurried.
"The New Year has come, and I have no gifts for you, someone, bring the screen here for Prince Min to admire." Emperor Chu said, instructing those behind him while looking at Prince Min.
"Yes."
Prince Min showed slight astonishment, then bowed deeply: "Thank you, dear elder brother."
His lowered eyes flashed with a cold, sharp gleam that disappeared when he raised them again.
Emperor Chu: "No need to thank me, your temporary stay in the Heavenly Prison is dull, since the screen can be both admired and nourishing, it is fitting for it to be sent to you as we are brothers."
With that, he turned to leave.
Just as he turned, he looked back and said: "Oh, did you know, the official from your mansion, Master Wu, is dead."
Prince Min displayed a look of shock.
Emperor Chu observed his astonishment and said: "You must have seen him in the past couple of days? These days, the so-called Master Wu was someone posing as him, did you know? Coincidentally, the one posing as him was the previously ’deceased’ Ning Cabinet Minister from Xia, which is indeed interesting."
"Dear elder brother, what are you saying?"
"The screen from your mansion was procured from Zhengyang Trading Company, which seems to harbor remnants of the previous dynasty. Now this Ning Cabinet Minister from the Xia household pasted the face of your mansion official and hid in your mansion for a while, don’t you find it intriguing? Quite a coincidence."
"This, this..."
Emperor Chu laughed: "Anyway, I find it amusing, searching high and low, these specters were right under my nose, the proverbial darkness under the lamp. Tsk tsk, truly entertaining."
He dropped these words and walked away without glancing at Prince Min’s expression.
The cell returned to silence, and shortly after, someone delivered the screen, precisely the one from Prince Min’s mansion, accompanied by a pot of wine and a few plates of small snacks.
Prince Min stood before the screen, his expression of calm finally starting to crack.
That Emperor is a real bastard!