Chapter Fifty-Four: The Imperial Guards’ Rape and Murder Case

Upon hearing this, Wei Xiaobao hurriedly bowed and said, "Your servant obeys! I will see to it at once! Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will certainly uncover this person for you."

Zhu Hao nodded at his words, waved his hand to dismiss Wei Xiaobao, and left alone in the room. Zhu Hao pondered silently, "That old witch really isn't one to sit quietly. What is she up to now? She knows she's under house arrest, and yet someone dares to visit her and even argues with her. It seems this mysterious visitor is both influential and daring. The storm is indeed approaching!"

Just as Zhu Hao was deep in thought, the commander of the Imperial Guards, Xie Gang, rushed in. His arrival made Zhu Hao realize what it meant for trouble to come in waves, one after another.

Xie Gang, upon seeing Zhu Hao, hurriedly knelt and cried out, "Your Highness, save me! Please, you must save me! Otherwise, I am doomed this time!"

Zhu Hao listened to Xie Gang's plea, puzzled. "Rise for now. If you want this prince's help, you must tell me what happened. Besides, as commander of the Imperial Guards, the entire palace's safety depends on you. If you panic in the face of trouble, how can you ever take on more important responsibilities?"

After Zhu Hao's reproach, Xie Gang wore an awkward expression, nervous and ashamed, though his earlier panic faded. He took a deep breath and said, "Your Highness, it is like this: for some reason, a maid's corpse appeared among the Imperial Guards, and it was found in my own tent. Now I have no way to prove my innocence! The Emperor heard of it today and has confined me in the camp to await judgment. The Imperial Guards have been taken over by Lord Guo Zixuan of Pingnan. All my trusted men are in the Imperial Guards. I persuaded the soldiers guarding me to let me out, risking their lives, so I could beg Your Highness for help! Your Highness, I know you are just and kind, please save me!"

Zhu Hao thought to himself, "That old witch truly made her move, starting with the Imperial Guards. Is she trying to seize control of the palace? This is tricky. My father probably hasn't realized it yet!"

Though Zhu Hao was convinced this was orchestrated by Empress Guo to seize power over the Imperial Guards, he still stared at Xie Gang, uneasy. Xie Gang, under Zhu Hao's gaze, became increasingly uncomfortable and lowered his head in fear, not daring to meet Zhu Hao's eyes. Seeing this, Zhu Hao assumed Xie Gang was guilty, his fear a sign of his wrongdoing. He snorted coldly and shouted, "Xie Gang, how dare you! You indulged in wine and lust, disturbed the inner palace, committed such heinous deeds, and then murdered the maid to silence her. Now you dare to come before me and play the fool, hoping I will plead on your behalf? You are truly bold! Confess to your beastly acts at once! In consideration of your years guarding the palace, I may plead for leniency with my father!"

At Zhu Hao's words, Xie Gang was so terrified he kowtowed repeatedly, crying out, "Your Highness, I am innocent! I have done nothing! Please investigate, Your Highness! I have truly been wronged!"

Zhu Hao watched Xie Gang, and his demeanor did not seem feigned. Zhu Hao was now almost certain Xie Gang was not the culprit. After thinking it over, Zhu Hao reasoned that if Xie Gang, commander of the Imperial Guards for many years, truly committed the crime, how could he make such a rookie mistake as leaving the maid’s corpse in his own tent? He would have disposed of it quietly in the dead of night.

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Zhu Hao was now almost certain someone had framed Xie Gang. His expression softened, and his tone grew gentle as he said, "Rise. My earlier words were but a jest. From your reactions, I can see you have been falsely accused. Do not worry, I will speak to my father. If you are innocent, I will clear your name. But if I discover you truly committed such a monstrous act, I will be the first to petition my father for your execution! Now return to your quarters; it is not appropriate for you to be seen here under these circumstances."

Xie Gang, hearing Zhu Hao's promise to plead for him and restore his honor, was visibly relieved. He kowtowed in thanks and took his leave.

Once Xie Gang had gone, Zhu Hao intended to go to the Imperial Study to plead Xie Gang's case before his father. Yet he had barely taken two steps when he stopped, standing silent and unmoving, lost in deep thought.

Zhu Hao paused because he had realized something: such a simple frame-up could not fool his father, who had always been wise and discerning. If his father knew it was a setup, yet still confined Xie Gang and handed the Imperial Guards to Lord Guo Zixuan, it must mean that his father was under tremendous pressure and had no choice but to compromise.

Zhu Hao thought to himself, "If that's the case, then going now to plead for Xie Gang would only add to my father's troubles, rubbing salt in his wounds. For an emperor, being unable to control the court and instead being at the mercy of various factions is a great humiliation. And since my father is the monarch, he must maintain dignity. He would never admit to being forced into such a situation, and if I persist in pleading, it may only breed resentment, which would do Xie Gang no good. If my father, for the sake of his reputation, simply executes Xie Gang, I would have truly shot myself in the foot."

With this in mind, Zhu Hao decided not to go to the Imperial Study, but instead made his way to his mother Lady Liu's palace, hoping to glean some information. As he thought this, he started walking toward Lady Liu’s residence.

As Zhu Hao was an underage prince without a royal title, his own quarters were in a side chamber of Lady Liu’s palace. So, after leaving his room and turning a corner, he was already at Lady Liu's palace.

Lady Liu, seeing Zhu Hao arrive, greeted him with a mix of affection and slight reproach. "Well, you heartless child, you finally remember to visit your mother. I thought you had forgotten you even have a mother!"

Ever since Zhu Hao had returned from the imperial prison and, upon waking, immediately asked for his father, he had thoroughly angered his mother. From then on, she called him 'heartless child' every time she saw him, much to Zhu Hao's frustration. He had come to understand the lasting nature of a woman's resentment, and often thought, no wonder people say it's better to offend a petty person than a woman.

Faced with his mother's grudge, Zhu Hao could only smile awkwardly. "Mother, you see, I'm here to visit you now! Please don't be angry with me, alright? I know I've been wrong, I won't upset you again!" Thick-skinned as ever, Zhu Hao began to employ his usual tactic of acting spoiled, shaking Lady Liu's arm as he spoke.

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It must be said, though Zhu Hao’s behavior seemed shameless, it worked wonders with Lady Liu. Her expression, previously stern, softened into a smile. She tapped Zhu Hao's forehead and said, "You and your father are just alike! I can't do anything with you two. Have you eaten yet? Should I have the kitchens send you some pastries?"

Hearing his mother say this, Zhu Hao immediately touched his stomach pitifully, echoing her words. Lady Liu’s smile deepened, and she ordered a nearby maid, "Go inform the kitchens to prepare some snacks for the Fifth Prince and bring them here at once!"

The maid obeyed and left. With the maid gone, Zhu Hao continued to tug at his mother's sleeve, his face full of childlike charm, probing, "Mother, have you heard of any major happenings in the palace recently?"

Lady Liu looked at Zhu Hao with loving concern. "What is it? I haven't heard anything. Is there some news you've picked up? Tell me!"

Seeing his mother's normal demeanor, without any sign of distress, Zhu Hao realized she truly knew nothing of the affair. If his father had told her anything, she would not be so calm. It seemed his father truly cherished Lady Liu and did not wish her to worry. Zhu Hao decided not to press further and continued to play the obedient child.

Zhu Hao refrained from saying more because he reasoned, "Father doesn't want mother to worry, so he hasn't told her anything. As a son, how could I undermine my father's intentions? Besides, if I reveal my suspicions when mother knows nothing, it would only increase her anxiety and do nothing to solve the problem."

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