Chapter 115: The Lady of Imperial Favor

After Zhu Hao issued his instructions to Wei Xiaobao, Wei quickly retrieved Qin Hui from the Yuelai Inn. Upon seeing the grand and imposing imperial envoy procession, Qin Hui was immediately dumbfounded. Trembling with fear, he approached Zhu Hao’s palanquin and paid his respects. Zhu Hao waved his hand, signaling Qin Hui to rise, and without saying another word, ordered his men to incorporate Qin Hui into the escort. He then commanded the procession to quicken its pace.

Zhu Hao’s imperial envoy entourage was truly magnificent. Two men led the way, striking gongs, followed by two others carrying placards inscribed with "Imperial Envoy" and "Clear the Way." Next came a guard of thirty mounted soldiers, followed by Zhu Hao’s silver-topped, yellow-canopied, red-curtained palanquin, carried by twelve men. Behind the palanquin rode another thirty guards, followed by three carriages laden with staff and luggage, and finally, a rearguard of twenty mounted soldiers.

No sooner had this grand procession exited the South Gate of the capital than it collided head-on with another group. The two sides reached a stalemate, with neither willing to yield the road.

At first, Zhu Hao did not notice the commotion. It was only when he realized his palanquin had stopped and heard arguing ahead that he curiously lifted the curtain and asked, "What is happening? Why have we stopped?"

Hearing Zhu Hao’s inquiry, a guard hurried forward to assess the situation. Moments later, he returned to report, "Your Highness, the road ahead is blocked by a group of people. We do not know their identities, only that their palanquin is carried by twenty men. Our honor guard is arguing with them, but not only do they refuse to give way, they are demanding that we pull over and let them pass first!"

Zhu Hao thought to himself, "A palanquin carried by twenty men? That must be a royal relative! But even a royal relative cannot block an imperial envoy's procession. Traveling as an imperial envoy means representing the Emperor himself; to block the envoy is to obstruct the Emperor—it is an act of supreme disrespect. Who could be so bold?"

Despite his inner confusion, Zhu Hao’s face was filled with fury. He barked at the guard, "Did you not tell them that this is the procession of an imperial envoy acting under the Emperor’s decree?"

Seeing Zhu Hao’s anger, the guard explained, "Your Highness, the men at the front did tell them, but the other side replied that even if the Heavenly King himself arrived, he would have to make way for them!"

Zhu Hao was incensed. "Lower the palanquin!" he bellowed. "I shall go see for myself who is so lawless. Are they planning a rebellion?"

As Zhu Hao’s order echoed, the palanquin was lowered, and he stepped out. Just as he took two steps forward, he was stopped by none other than Wei Xiaobao, who had emerged from a carriage at the rear after sensing something was wrong. Having heard the guard’s report and seeing his master ready to roll up his sleeves and argue, the loyal Wei Xiaobao rushed over to dissuade him.

"Your Highness, your status is noble; there is no need to lower yourself to argue with such people," Wei Xiaobao advised. "Please wait here. Leave this to your servant. I will certainly make those blind fools move out of your way!"

Zhu Hao listened to Wei Xiaobao and knew he meant well. After all, he was now a Prince; it would be unseemly to engage in a shouting match. Taking a deep breath to suppress his rage, Zhu Hao said, "Xiaobao, go and see for me what kind of dog dares to be so blind! Remember, do not tarnish my reputation. If they yield, fine; but if they refuse, give them a sound thrashing!"

As the saying goes, like general, like soldiers. Taking these instructions to heart, Wei Xiaobao did not bother with pleasantries. He strode forward and shouted, "You bastards! How dare you block my Prince’s palanquin? Are you blind? Get out of the way at once, or else..."

Wei Xiaobao did not expect the other party to have such a short fuse. Before he could finish, he was interrupted by a cold scoff: "Or else what? You spineless, filthy creature, don't you dare wave your hands at me. If I get annoyed, I could crush a eunuch like you with a single finger!" The speaker was a youth of about seventeen or eighteen.

Wei Xiaobao, being a close attendant to Zhu Hao and having managed the Central Intelligence Agency for some time, had never been spoken to like this despite his youth. Furthermore, the insult about being "spineless" cut deep for a eunuch. Recalling his master’s orders, he flew into a rage and slapped the youth hard across the face.

With a sharp *crack*, the arrogant youth clutched his face and collapsed, wailing in pain. Wei Xiaobao hadn't expected the youth to be such a paper tiger, crumbling after a single blow.

Not intending to let the insult slide, Wei Xiaobao kicked the youth repeatedly, shouting, "I'm spineless? You think you're tough? Today, I’ll make sure you’re just as spineless as I am!" He aimed his kicks specifically at the youth’s lower regions, leaving the boy writhing in agony.

Had the youth fought back when Wei Xiaobao first attacked, he might have had a chance, given that Wei was still young and physically weaker due to his condition. But because the youth chose to cower and cry, he suffered this fate.

As the youth wailed, a woman’s sharp voice rang out from the twenty-man palanquin: "What blind fool dares to beat my son? Is there no law in this land?"

The palanquin was lowered, and a beautiful, glamorous woman stepped out, her face twisted in rage. Seeing her son rolling on the ground, she pointed at Wei Xiaobao and screamed, "Whose servant are you? How dare you beat my son! Stop at once!"

Wei Xiaobao ignored the woman’s screeching, continuing to kick the son while cursing, "I'll make you spineless too!"

Furious, the woman barked at her attendants, "Are you all blind? My son is being beaten! Take this filthy creature and cripple him! Otherwise, when we reach the Emperor, I shall have you all charged with failing to protect us!"

The woman’s guards rushed forward, pinned Wei Xiaobao to the ground, and began beating him. Zhu Hao, who had been watching from the back, saw his servant being pummeled and roared, "Men! Seize these thugs who dare to attempt an assassination on a Prince!"

Zhu Hao’s ability to frame people was truly impressive. Merely because they had beaten his servant, he labeled them as assassins of a Prince—a capital offense punishable by death. His guards, already disgusted by the arrogant group, swarmed forward on horseback and quickly captured them all, dragging them before Zhu Hao.

Looking at the glamorous woman who glared at him with fury, Zhu Hao thought to himself, "Oh, come on. Is it really that coincidental?"

Zhu Hao guessed the woman’s identity but played dumb. "Who are you people, and why do you attempt to assassinate a Prince?"

The woman sneered, "You are Prince Xin, aren't you? I know who you are. But today, your subordinate beat my son. I suggest you do not shield him and hand him over to me for punishment! Otherwise, even if I have to take this case to the Emperor himself, I will fight you until the end!"

Zhu Hao scoffed, "Insolent! What kind of creature are you to speak such nonsense? And you dare to refer to yourself as 'this Lady' in my presence? Guards, slap her mouth!"

The woman had not expected Zhu Hao to resort to violence so quickly. "Wait, I am—" she started, but the guards ignored her.

Before she could finish, a sharp slap interrupted her. After a dozen resounding slaps, her face was completely swollen. Only then did Zhu Hao say, "Stop."

He continued, "Who exactly are you? Who sent you to assassinate me? If you do not tell me the truth, I shall send you to the Jinyiwei’s prison right now!"

Having realized the nature of Zhu Hao's temper, the woman feared another beating and quickly stammered, "I... I am the Lady of the Imperial Wet Nurse, Madame Ke, recently bestowed by the Emperor. I am no assassin, Your Highness! This is a misunderstanding!"

Zhu Hao feigned shock and exclaimed, "You are the Emperor’s wet nurse, Madame Ke?"

Finding a shred of confidence, Madame Ke replied, "Indeed, it is I! I expect you, Prince, to give me an explanation and punish the culprit to bring me justice! Otherwise..."