The Capital City.
The news of the Crown Prince’s return had already reached.
The Crown Prince, now forty-four, had finally matured and took the initiative to apply for disaster relief, successfully handling the matter, which made the Emperor very happy.
He was advanced in years, having passed the age of sixty, and knew his days were numbered. If the Crown Prince continued to be incompetent, he would be uneasy handing over Nanxia to him; but if not to him, he didn’t want to see his sons fighting for the throne either.
Therefore, as soon as he heard of the Crown Prince’s return, the Emperor instructed the Ministry of Rites to take charge of the welcoming ceremony.
After all, it was just disaster relief—a duty within the Crown Prince’s role—yet the Emperor was already this pleased, as if he accomplished a triumphant return from battle, signifying how poorly the Crown Prince had been performing; rely fulfilling his duty was already beyond expectations, reflecting low hopes for him.
The Minister of Rites understood the Emperor’s sentints and made efforts to handle this matter.
However, this matter persisted until yesterday.
In a rush, they finally hurried back to the capital on the expected day of the Crown Prince’s return. At the city gate, Huangfu Yuxuan said, "Let’s go around to the West Gate. I want to personally welco my father!"
Fei Liang said, "Young master, the Emperor was delighted upon receiving the Crown Prince’s morial and had already ordered the Ministry of Rites to handle the welcoming matters, fearing that most courtiers would be at the West Gate to welco him, so we should arrive early to secure a good position."
These words greatly pleased Huangfu Yuxuan. Indeed, he intended to arrive early to claim a good spot, so instead of entering the city, he headed straight for the West Gate. The success of his father’s work was significant. As long as he didn’t make major mistakes henceforth or anger his grandfather, the position of Crown Prince would be secure. As for cockfighting, horse racing, indulgence in pleasure, those were minor issues.
The vigorous horses took only half an hour to bring Huangfu Yuxuan and his companion to the West City Gate.
The West City Gate was wide open, flags for welcoming distinguished accomplishnts fluttering, red, green, yellow, orange... waving in the wind, looking especially grand.
However, the place where courtiers were supposed to stand and welco was sowhat empty, as there was no one there.
Not even staff from the Ministry of Rites.
Even for the lowest-scale welcoming, the Ministry of Rites should have representatives present.
Even if the Minister of Rites, Duan Hongyu, didn’t co, surprisingly, neither the Left nor Right Vice Ministers were present.
Huangfu Yuxuan’s eyes grew deep, his glance turning sinister and cold. His handso brows knit and twisted with this nace, anger burning in his eyes.
These people, how dare they? Even if it were a regular courtier, the Ministry of Rites would organize a welco, let alone for the Crown Prince?
Could it be that they saw the Crown Prince was increasingly losing his grandfather’s favor, and the Emperor valued Prince Zhuang and Prince Li more, so they uplifted so while suppressing others?
At this mont, Fei Liang dared not say a word.
He was the second steward of Huangfu Yuxuan’s residence, primarily responsible for gathering information within the capital and handling so trifles, his roles clearly defined. He knew the young master had others handling more important matters, but those were in the shadow; for matters requiring exposure, he was the one to act.
When he left the capital, it was filled with jubilation over the Crown Prince’s beautifully handled disaster relief, which delighted the Emperor, and clearly, a grand welco was anticipated at that ti. Why is it now that the grandeur remains with flags, yet no one is present?
Surely, sothing had changed in between.
However, he had been out of the capital for several days and hadn’t had a chance to inquire even after returning with the young master. He was clueless about recent developnts.
Watching Huangfu Yuxuan’s somber face, he felt anxious and finally whispered, "Young master, sothing seems amiss, shall I go probe for information?"
"Wait!" Huangfu Yuxuan replied expressionless.
No need for Fei Liang to say; he certainly knew sothing had changed. Fei Liang would neither lie nor exaggerate. Yet now, it was entirely different from the way he described it. Would the Ministry of Rites dare defy the Emperor’s orders?
Fei Liang dared not speak further and could only stand by the city gate with Huangfu Yuxuan to wait.
As the sun shifted its shadow, in the distance appeared the silhouette of the Crown Prince’s carriage.
Fei Liang, shielding his eyes from the sun, squinted and looked, expressing joy, "Young master, the Crown Prince’s carriage is here!"
Huangfu Yuxuan seed not to hear, his face still grim.
So what if it arrived? There was no one to welco, not even officials from the Ministry of Rites. This must be no minor matter. Yet, not knowing what happened, he had no response strategy.
He regretted trusting his father so much that he didn’t send soone to follow along; this was his deepest regret.
The entourage of the Crown Prince’s carriage was grand, following the highest specification of the Crown Prince. Even just in this regard, Huangfu Yuxuan felt an urge to curse.
How did his father live past forty, did his age grow on a dog instead? Even if credited for disaster relief, why flaunt so much? Humility and prudence, he could never learn. The greater the deeds, the more should one maintain a low profile. Such fanfare and pomp, it was fortunate no courtiers were there; otherwise, the Imperial Censorate might have recorded multiple morials against him.
How could he have such a foolish father?
Huangfu Yuxuan’s face was livid, his eyes emanating a cold, sinister chill, and even the surrounding air grew colder.
The carriage gradually approached, the Crown Prince’s coach was a large one pulled by four horses, squeezing the originally wide road a little narrower, and the attendants accompanying the Crown Prince noticed Huangfu Yuxuan, leaned close to the carriage window and whispered sothing.
The Crown Prince lifted the curtain of the carriage, revealing a round, fair face. Indulged and pampered, his face bore no signs of the weariness of travel. Naturally, with such a spacious carriage, filled with fine wine, good tea, snacks, and plush silk, the interior padded with soft cushions, providing utmost comfort whether sitting, leaning, reclining, or lying.
This wasn’t a carriage; it was a mobile palace.
What nearly made Huangfu Yuxuan gnash his teeth was the split-second when the curtain was lifted, revealing a beauty leaning on the Crown Prince’s knee inside.
The Crown Prince’s indulgence in beauty was no secret in court.
For this, grandfather had reprimanded him countless tis.
But was this the ti for indulgence? He was ant to be delivering disaster relief!
A fiery rage roared within Huangfu Yuxuan, yet decorum could not be discarded, he dismounted, approached the carriage, bowed, and saluted, "Your son greets Father! Father, your disaster relief efforts were labor-intensive!"
Fei Liang had long since knelt at the side.
The Crown Prince’s lazy, indifferent voice resonated, "Xuan’er, is that you? Why are you the only one here?"
It was only then that Huangfu Yuxuan realized it was just him, none of his brothers, not even Huangfu Hongyi, was present.
Huangfu Hongyi inherited all his father’s vices—indulgence in pleasure, love of play, fondness for drink. His absence wasn’t particularly surprising; he might be in a drunken stupor sowhere, oblivious to his father’s return that day.
However, considering all courtiers’ absence, could there be another reason for Huangfu Hongyi’s absence?
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