After that visit, RongCheng did not appear again, causing Yan Si to watch and wait to the point of utter exhaustion; within his mind, every hour and every moment was entirely filled with the man's image, knowing not what the person was doing, or whether he was truly exceptionally busy.
At that thought, Yan Si suddenly felt a bit of petulance and faintly muttered, "The person is the Eldest Prince, naturally he is busy; could it be that he is as idle as you? Furthermore..."
If he possessed leisure time, he would certainly devote it entirely to the Imperial Consort; would he still have a surplus to go care for him?
At this time, Xiao Yi, knowing not since when, was already right beside Yan Si; happening to overhear, he spoke, "Lately, many major events have occurred within the palace; His Highness is indeed immensely busy. Master, do not sit waiting before the door all day long anymore, the person cannot come... Quickly go inside to partake of some light snacks."
Being struck right at his hidden thoughts, Yan Si indeed felt a bit startled and turned across to look at Xiao Yi, yet afterward he strove to appear entirely calm, replying in a cold voice, "Who... who spoke saying that I am waiting for him!?"
"Oh..." Xiao Yi naturally did not believe it: "If it is so, then for what reason does Young Master sit before the door the entire day?"
"I... I..." Yan Si thought back and forth for a while yet could not come up with any reason, and thus replied, "I like sitting here, is it not permitted? What are you asking so much for?"
Seeing that his master was not pleased, Xiao Yi immediately stroked his back, "Yes... yes, it is this servant's fault. Master, quickly go inside to partake of the meal."
He quickly assisted Yan Si to stand up and walked inside. At this time, Yan Si cautiously asked, "Just now you spoke of what major event occurring within the palace?"
Hearing the question, Xiao Yi hesitated, not yet knowing whether he ought to speak it out. After a moment, he leaned right close to Yan Si's ear, enjoining him, "This matter, after master hears it, you must absolutely keep your mouth tightly sealed, and also must not question His Highness, lest this servant be beheaded."
This matter appeared to be extremely serious; otherwise, Xiao Yi would not possess that kind of expression. Knowing thus, Yan Si instantly nodded his head repeatedly, "I understand, speak quickly."
Xiao Yi by nature inherently liked gathering news; although knowing clearly the rule here was that those who knew little died little, and those who knew much died much, and if by chance one already knew, one must also keep one's mouth tightly shut, nonetheless keeping it forever within his heart caused him to feel uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, this master was truly of a quiet nature, not associating or contacting any other individual; it appeared he was a person with a tight mouth. Thereupon, Xiao Yi recounted the entirety of what he had eavesdropped.
The matter inherently originated from last month, at the time when RongCheng together with Shang Yuan were plotted against by wicked individuals. After escaping the danger and returning, although he appeared not to place any mind upon it, in truth he still silently and resolutely commanded his subordinates to go investigate.
Approaching lately, the man had completely grasped sufficient evidence of the root source, and immediately dragged it all out in a single turn for the Emperor to adjudicate. The mastermind was exposed, and it was none other than the Second Prince, Song Yuan.
This matter inherently was not surprising at all; since childhood that person had been immensely envious and jealous of RongCheng, regarding him like a thorn in his eye that, as long as there was an opportunity, he would definitely and resolutely pluck away. Once the man was destroyed, the royal throne would instantly fall straight into his hands.
In the final analysis, brotherly affection conversely was not equal to the high imperial seat, and in this manner they engaged in mutual slaughter of blood and flesh; the imperial citadel throughout many generations had always been thus.
Even so, the Second Prince, no matter how it was spoken, was after all the blood and flesh of the Emperor; he naturally could not bear to give the order to kill his child, yet with the grave crime of plotting to poison his elder brother to the point of nearly losing his life, it could in no way be tolerated; when everything came to light, it truly caused difficulties for him.
Xiao Yi chattered for a while, then spoke in a small voice, "This servant heard report that, in the end, the Emperor decided to banish the Second Prince out of the Song Kingdom, never to be permitted to return to the imperial citadel ever again."
This truly was a well-deserved punishment indeed; the Emperor adjudicating in such a manner carried both a deterrent effect and yet did not require killing his child, which after all could be considered a happy ending.
Having finished listening to the story, Yan Si knew not what he thought but merely remained silent throughout; he voluntarily turned inside, pulled out a chair, and sat down to partake of the meal.
Seeing this, Xiao Yi also did not disturb him further and silently withdrew.
The Second Prince bore a grave crime and only then was exiled by the Emperor to the distant borderlands, yet what crime had he himself committed to be cast away in such a decisive manner? Was it merely because of a single word from a fortune-teller?
He knew not whether those words of divination were merely boastful talk to terrify people or whether he truly was precisely a harbinger of calamity? At that thought, Yan Si could not help but shake his head and let out a sigh...
During the recent period, RongCheng because of pursuing the individuals who plotted against him had been busy; at present when all matters were finished and settled, he probably would possess much more leisure time.
Having finished the meal, it was already near late afternoon; Yan Si resolutely forced Xiao Yi to bring him to the Zixuan Palace, saying he merely wished to come visit RongCheng for a bit, yet how could the boy believe it? He continually barred him and furthermore demanded to bring him to stroll and play in another place.
After a session of going back and forth, in the final analysis Xiao Yi also could only comply with his wish and bring Yan Si along.
At the time the two people arrived at the place, Yan Si only then knew that RongCheng at present was not there, and so he could only return with a heavy heart.
Noticing that his master appeared not to be pleased, Xiao Yi immediately spoke, "Master, how about going to stroll for a bit to relieve the boredom before returning? This servant knows of this place that is very beautiful and furthermore very quiet, without fear of encountering those imperial concubines or other masters."
"Then... that is acceptable too." Thinking that returning early at present also offered nothing to do, Yan Si then nodded his head and followed in Xiao Yi's footsteps to depart.