Chapter 55: Sudden Homicide

The morning light was warm and gentle, and the lotus flowers bloomed in brilliant splendor.

While the crowd admired the lotuses and chatted animatedly, Ning Chen obediently trailed behind the Empress Dowager like a little tail, deep in thought the entire way.

Anyone with half a brain could deduce that last night’s incident would undoubtedly enrage the Empress Dowager.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, she would surely conclude that the Prince of Jing was the mastermind who had rescued Fan Dayou.

Now, the more serene and radiant the Empress Dowager appeared, the more convinced he became that she was about to strike against the Prince of Jing.

Yet, how exactly would she act?

And when would she make her move?

Furthermore, why had the Empress Dowager suddenly moved up the breakfast with the feudal princes?

Why was the Prince of Jing absent from the lotus-viewing excursion?

An ominous premonition suddenly surged into his heart, prompting him to glance sideways at Ning Feng, the Heir Apparent of Jing.

At that moment, the Empress Dowager’s voice suddenly rang out: "As members of the imperial bloodline, you must not neglect your literary and martial accomplishments. Today, the sky is clear and the autumn air is crisp, with such breathtaking scenery before us..."

"Why don't we hold a small poetry gathering, taking the lotus flower as our theme? Let everyone fully express their talents. It will also serve as a test of your literary skills, princes and heirs. What do you think?"

Hearing this, the people looked at each other, and for a moment, no one responded.

Perhaps sensing it was his home turf, Prince Yong, Ning Xuanzhi, yawned, opened his folding fan, and stepped forward. "Look at you all. They always say you should read more books on ordinary days, but you simply refuse to listen..."

With that, Prince Yong bowed slightly toward the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, composing poetry and matching verses might be a bit too demanding for these gentlemen..."

"Why don't I cast the first brick to attract some jade and set an example for everyone!"

"Though judging by their current state, the jade probably won't be drawn out. What on earth might be drawn out instead, I have no idea. Haha..."

At these words, displeasure flickered across the faces of the crowd, and a few particularly competitive individuals immediately stepped forward to retort!

Yet Prince Yong did not care in the slightest. With a dashing stride and a confident shake of his head, he chanted:

"In tranquil waters where the mist and clouds entwine, a jade-green canopy reflects the ripples fine..."

"Pink petals hide a tender grace with dewdrops shy, a pure heart turns toward the moon as mist drifts by..."

"The breeze stirs up a graceful shadow, sweet scents ring, while gentle rain enhances every lovely thing..."

"Forever pure, untainted by the dust and mire, the master's brush inspires rhymes that never tire!"

Before his voice had even faded, Prince Yong grew quite excited. Without waiting for anyone to critique his work, he shook his fan once more and loudly praised: "Fine poetry, truly fine poetry!"

"Using the lotus as a metaphor for a beauty is simply unimaginably marvelous!"

"Haha..."

He acted as though the poem had not been written by himself, sparing no praise whatsoever!

Finally, he did not forget to sweep his gaze triumphantly over the crowd. "Well, everyone, what do you think?"

"With this poem here, I'm afraid none of you will be able to draw out any jade at all, right?"

"Haha..."

"Come on! Weren't you just refuting me a moment ago?"

"Is there anyone else? Step forward! If any of you can compose something better than my poem, I will submit to whatever punishment you propose!"

Seeing Prince Yong's shameless and utterly punchable expression, the crowd grew increasingly resentful, yet they had to admit that his poem was indeed quite good!

Moreover, improvising on the spot, they truly could not think of anything superior.

Consequently, they all wore expressions as sour as if they had swallowed fly-ridden bait!

Ning Chen, standing nearby, had no heart to care about this trivial poetry gathering. At this moment, his mind was entirely consumed by a single question: If he were the Empress Dowager, what would he do?

To his utter astonishment, the Empress Dowager suddenly called out his name: "Chen'er, step forward and compose a poem. Do not disgrace the name of Master Confucius..."

Ning Chen was momentarily stunned, staring blankly at the Empress Dowager.

It seemed that even the Empress Dowager’s competitive spirit had been provoked by Prince Yong’s punchable demeanor!

Helplessly, Ning Chen muttered, "Yes, Mother Empress!"

Having no intention of playing along with her, he recited without a moment's hesitation:

"The verdant pool ripples and meets the starry sky, as creaking oar-blades softly past the duckweed fly. It must be the Goddess of the Luo River walking on the wave, leaving fragrant dust upon the lotus petals lying high."

The moment his voice fell, a burst of noisy exclamations and praises erupted from the crowd.

No one had expected that the nine-year-old young emperor could casually toss off such exquisite verse.

The Empress Dowager nodded with great satisfaction, turned to Prince Yong, and asked, "Prince Yong, what do you think of Chen'er's poem?"

Seeing this, the others chimed in with lavish praise:

"Prince Yong used the lotus to depict a mortal beauty, but His Majesty has used it to depict a celestial goddess!"

"Indeed! One is an earthly beauty, the other a heavenly deity of the Luo River—they are simply not in the same league!"

"Prince Yong, well, do you still dare to be arrogant?"

"His Majesty is only nine years old, yet an offhand verse of his utterly crushes a renowned talent like you..."

Prince Yong stood frozen in place, staring in disbelief at Ning Chen as the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

The next second, ignoring the amused gazes of the crowd, he hurried over to Ning Chen and whispered plaintively, "Nephew, did you really write this poem?"

"Tell me honestly, did you plagiarize it from someone else?"

Ning Chen smiled and remained silent.

"Nonsense! As the Son of Heaven of our great Ning, how could Chen'er ever plagiarize someone else's work!" the Empress Dowager defended him promptly.

Prince Yong was taken aback, then sighed and said, "Nephew, you really didn't save any face for your imperial uncle at all!"

With that, he puffed out his chest. "Fine, fine, fine! I admit defeat, I admit defeat!"

He looked back at Ning Chen. "Tell me, Your Majesty, what would you have me do?"

Ning Chen scratched his head and smiled. "We'll talk about it another day. Chen'er hasn't decided yet..."

Prince Yong said solemnly, "Very well. Whenever you decide, let me know. Consider it a favor I owe you. Whatever demand you make, I will never go back on my word!"

Ning Chen blinked. Looking at the smile on Prince Yong's face, a bizarre thought suddenly popped into his head: Could Prince Yong have done this on purpose?

Just as he was pondering this, the Empress Dowager suddenly spoke in a loud voice: "Did you all see that? This is the kind of student Master Confucius teaches!"

"Now, none of you heirs are young anymore, yet you are inferior to a nine-year-old child. It really is quite indefensible!"

Hearing this, a sense of foreboding once again welled up inside Ning Chen.

The Empress Dowager continued, "How about this? I am planning to establish a Grand Academy. All you princes may select your children of appropriate age to come to the capital and study at the academy, and all their expenses will be covered by the imperial court!"

"After all, since they are all of our great Ning imperial bloodline, they naturally deserve to enjoy the finest education!"

"What do you all think?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the gathered nobles shifted drastically.

None of them were fools. The Empress Dowager establishing the Grand Academy ostensibly aimed to better educate the royal lineage, but her true purpose was undoubtedly to hold the princes' offspring hostage in the capital, thereby tightening her control over the feudal lords!

The Prince of Ning was the first to step forward in opposition: "We thank Your Majesty for your kind intentions, but as for entering the Grand Academy, let us forgo it. We are quite capable of engaging renowned scholars to tutor them ourselves..."

The other feudal lords chimed in with agreement.

Yet the Empress Dowager did not grow angry. She merely said calmly, "Very well, think it over carefully. I will not force you."

"Let us continue viewing the lotuses..."

However, no one noticed that an unusual gleam suddenly flashed in Ning Chen's eyes.

*Oh no, the Prince of Jing is in danger!*

Indeed!

Having racked his brains trying to figure out what the Empress Dowager was plotting, Ning Chen now understood everything.

Without a moment's hesitation, taking advantage of the crowd's movement as they strolled and chatted, he quietly edged closer to Ning Feng, the Heir Apparent of Jing, and tugged at his sleeve.

In a voice audible only to the two of them, he whispered, "The Prince of Jing is in mortal danger, save him quickly!"

Ning Feng started violently, staring at Ning Chen in shock. Yet Ning Chen acted as though nothing had happened, quickening his pace to catch up with the Empress Dowager.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Ning Feng mirrored his composure and pretended nothing was amiss.

Before long, however, Ning Feng clutched his stomach and hastily departed under the pretext of an urgent call of nature.

Watching Ning Feng's retreating figure, Ning Chen involuntarily clenched his fists.

At this very moment, he was certain that the Empress Dowager had organized this lotus-viewing gathering not only to deal with the Prince of Jing, but more importantly, to tighten her grip on all the feudal lords!

The Grand Academy was the instrument she intended to use to control them!

Naturally, the Empress Dowager knew these princes would refuse, but by making an example of a chicken to frighten the monkeys—eliminating one target and then picking off the rest one by one—these lords would ultimately be forced to yield to the academy proposal!

And the "chicken" to be slaughtered was undoubtedly the Prince of Jing!

As for the specific method the Empress Dowager would employ, he had already roughly guessed it.

She had suddenly invited everyone to a joint breakfast, yet neither the Prince of Jing nor the Princess of Chu had come to view the lotuses.

I'm afraid the isolated Princess of Chu was the tool the Empress Dowager was using against the Prince of Jing!

"Ning Feng, oh Ning Feng, I hope you make it in time..."

Not long after.

The chief eunuch, Li Lianying, came running over in a breathless panic, shouting at the top of his lungs: "This is terrible! A catastrophe has occurred!"

"Your Majesty, a terrible disaster has happened..."

At this, the crowd could not help but freeze in surprise.

Yet Ning Chen noticed that the corners of the Empress Dowager's mouth had already curled upward in a tiny, involuntary smirk.

*Oh no!*

It seemed the Empress Dowager had succeeded after all!

At this realization, a wave of regret washed over him.

He shouldn't have spoken to Ning Feng personally. What if Ning Feng failed to save the Prince of Jing in time, and out of fury and resentment, betrayed the words he had just spoken? Wouldn't that plunge him right back into grave danger?

"What is the meaning of this panic?" the Empress Dowager demanded angrily.

"Your, Your Majesty, it's bad! A, a life has been lost..." Li Lianying stammered, drenched in sweat and shaking with terror.

Upon hearing this, a wave of chaotic whispers erupted among the crowd.

"Whose life has been taken?"

"Who is dead?"

The Empress Dowager pressed urgently.

Li Lianying dropped to his knees, trembling violently as he reported, "It, it is the Prince of Jing. The Prince of Jing, he is dead..."

"What?"

"The Prince of Jing is dead?"

"Th-this is impossible..."

The Empress Dowager widened her eyes in feigned, absolute astonishment.

The others were even more incredulous!

Only Ning Chen stood there, his face as dark and gloomy as a gathering storm...