The Emperor continued reviewing memorials, seemingly unconcerned about the incident with the Ninth Prince's horse going mad.
After a short while, Noble Princess Consort Rong requested an audience outside the Imperial Study.
The Emperor was not surprised at all by Noble Princess Consort Rong's arrival.
Upon seeing the Emperor, Noble Princess Consort Rong tearfully recounted how the Ninth Prince was frightened, crying that someone was trying to kill him, and urged the Emperor to investigate thoroughly.
The implication in her words was that Empress Xie and the Seventh Prince had poisoned the Ninth Prince's horse.
Just as Noble Princess Consort Rong was lamenting, Empress Xie also arrived.
Empress Xie came to the Imperial Study to inform the Emperor that the matter with the Ninth Prince's horse being poisoned had nothing to do with the Seventh Prince.
Princess Consort Shu, Princess Consort De, and Princess Consort Liang also came to the Imperial Study, pleading with the Emperor to stand up for their sons.
The Emperor said he had already sent someone to investigate this matter thoroughly and asked Empress Xie and the others to return.
Seeing the Emperor was still busy, Empress Xie and Noble Princess Consort Rong discreetly left the Imperial Study so as not to delay the Emperor's official matters.
As soon as they left the Imperial Study, Noble Princess Consort Rong mocked Empress Xie coldly, "Empress, I never expected you to use such despicable means."
Empress Xie, with a cold demeanor, replied, "Noble Princess Consort Rong, watch your words."
Noble Princess Consort Rong disregarded Empress Xie entirely, saying, "Empress, as the legitimate daughter of the Xie family, doing such vicious and despicable things really opened my eyes; it seems the Xie family's upbringing is just like that."
"Outrageous!" Empress Xie reprimanded angrily.
Unafraid of Empress Xie's fury, Noble Princess Consort Rong said coldly, "Empress, I will not let this matter rest!"
Empress Xie watched Noble Princess Consort Rong's departing figure with a grim expression.
Princess Consort Shu said, "It's pitiful that my son got innocently caught up and frightened. I hope His Majesty can quickly find the mastermind behind this."
"Someone dared to poison a prince; they really have guts," Princess Consort De said. "I hope His Majesty can quickly find the mastermind, or who knows what might happen."
"Someone who dares to poison the Ninth Prince's horse today might dare to directly poison the princes tomorrow." Princess Consort Liang, who detests such sinister people the most, said with a dark look, "Once His Majesty finds the mastermind, there must be severe punishment, no leniency."
Empress Xie cast a cold glance at Princess Consort De and the other two, then, supported by a palace maid, left.
Princess Consort Shu approached Princess Consort De, looking at Empress Xie's departing back, and asked Princess Consort De, "Do you think the Empress did it?"
Princess Consort De said, "The Empress isn't that stupid, but the Seventh Prince? That's uncertain."
Princess Consort Shu was surprised, "You think the Seventh Prince did it?"
"The Seventh Prince doesn't get along with the Ninth Prince and was humiliated by him before. It's not impossible he acted out of anger to harm the Ninth Prince." Princess Consort De continued, "Of course, this matter might not be simple."
Princess Consort Liang said, "Regardless of who did it, this matter is too vicious. Fortunately, Xiao Liu and the others are alright."
Princess Consort De remarked, "The mastermind will surely be found out by His Majesty. We shouldn't worry."
Princess Consort Shu thought of the tension between Noble Princess Consort Rong and Empress Xie and smiled meaningfully, "No matter who did it, Noble Princess Consort Rong will surely believe it's the Empress's doing."
Princess Consort De understood what Princess Consort Shu meant and smiled, "Didn't Noble Princess Consort Rong just say she won't let it go? Let's watch the drama unfold."
In Kunde Hall, Liang Zhaoyi felt relieved to see her son safe and sound.
Having heard about the incident at the horse stable, Liang Zhaoyi and Yu Meiren were very worried about Zhao Yao, fearing he was also in trouble. Now that they saw him unscathed, their hearts were at ease.
Zhao Yao recounted the horse stable incident to Liang Zhaoyi and the others, "Luckily, Eighth Brother took me to practice riding in the corner, or I would've been in trouble too."
"How did the Ninth Prince's horse go mad?" Yu Meiren asked.
"It was likely poisoned," Zhao Yao said. "Father has already sent someone to investigate."
"Poisoned?" Yu Meiren was surprised, "Who would dare to poison the Ninth Prince's horse?"
Pan Cairen speculated, "Could it be the Seventh Prince?"
Liang Zhaoyi looked at her son and asked, "Was only the Ninth Prince's horse poisoned?"
Zhao Yao nodded and said, "Yes, only Ninth Brother's horse was poisoned."
"Could it be the Empress and the Seventh Prince?"
Liang Zhaoyi shook her head slightly, "Whether it was the Empress and the Seventh Prince is none of our concern."
Yu Meiren and Pan Cairen understood Liang Zhaoyi's meaning, nodding in agreement and dropping the subject.
"Mother Consort, I need to send some apples to Lie Huo."
"Go ahead."
Zhao Yao brought some apples to the horse stable to "thank" Lie Huo for its help earlier.
Lie Huo thoroughly enjoyed the feeding. After finishing the apples, it remarked disdainfully: [Not sweet enough.]
"These are the best apples from Kunde Hall," Zhao Yao said. "Lai Qian and the others like them."
Lie Huo haughtily said: [Not as good as the ones I regularly eat.]
As the Emperor's beloved horse, it was accustomed to the best. Be it grains or apples, they were always fresh.
"If you're dissatisfied, I won't bring you apples in the future."
[I wasn't complaining,] Lie Huo quickly said. [Make sure you bring me apples often.]
"Alright." Zhao Yao thought of the Ninth Prince's horse and asked Lie Huo, "Who poisoned my Ninth Brother's horse?"
Lie Huo said: [An eunuch.]
"An eunuch, do you know who? Who is it?" Zhao Yao asked again.
[A small eunuch in charge of feeding the horses.]
"Do you know who ordered him?"
[I don't know.] Lie Huo added, [I've never seen that person at the horse stable.]
"What about the small eunuch in charge of feeding the horses?"
[He's been taken away.]
"Your food wasn't poisoned, right?"
Lie Huo glanced sidelong at Zhao Yao and said: [Who would dare poison my food, are they tired of living?]
"True, no one would dare poison your food."
Though a horse, Lie Huo held a very high status, and the staff at the stable treated it like an ancestor. If anything happened to it, those at the stable would be in deep trouble.
[You're friends with Lingyun, right?] Lie Huo suddenly asked.
"Yes, why?"
[I'm friends with Lingyun too.]
"So, you want to be good friends with me?"
[For Lingyun's sake, I'll reluctantly be your good friend.] Lie Huo and Lingyun had been at the Emperor's side for many years. They both had saved the Emperor on the battlefield before.
"Alright, from today on, you're my good friend."
[Since you're my good friend now, you must visit me often from now on.] Lie Huo said, [I'll reluctantly let you ride me.]
Seeing Lie Huo's "you should be grateful" expression, Zhao Yao chuckled, "I don't dare to ride you."
[I'll let you ride,]
"Even if you let me, I wouldn't dare to ride you."
Lie Huo was a bit displeased: [Why?]
"Because you're Father's horse and nobody dares to ride you besides him." Although Zhao Yao wanted to ride Lie Huo—after all, it was a renowned warhorse—he said, "Second Brother wanted to ride you before and was thrown off. If I succeed in riding you, wouldn't that mean I'm better than him? I can't be better than Second Brother."
Lie Huo snorted lightly: [Not just anyone can ride me, don't be ungrateful.]
"I'll ride you secretly, without anyone else knowing." Zhao Yao thought for a moment and added, "By the way, I'll have to secretly visit you in the future too."
[Why is that?] Why must visiting it be sneaky? Can't it be seen by others?
"Because I don't want anyone to notice our closeness." Zhao Yao suddenly remembered what Hei Yu had said earlier and changed the topic, asking Lie Huo, "Hei Yu said you've been to Yangzhou. Is that true?"
[I used to travel to many places with the Emperor, of course, I've been to Yangzhou.] Lie Huo boasted slightly, [The Emperor fought battles in Yangzhou before. What do you want to know about Yangzhou?]
"What's the situation with the rebels in Yangzhou?"
[When I accompanied the Emperor to Yangzhou to fight, there were many rebels; they were remnants of the previous dynasty. But the Emperor soon drove them out...]
Talking about the pacification of that year, Lie Huo became quite eloquent, and there was a strong sense of pride in its tone.
Zhao Yao didn't interrupt Lie Huo, listening patiently.
"You and Father drove out the remnants of the previous dynasty from Yangzhou, so how come there are rebels again now?"
[Back then, a remnant of the previous dynasty escaped, and the Emperor didn't pursue.]
Zhao Yao became contemplative; could the one causing trouble in Yangzhou now be the remnant that escaped back then?
[Do you want to know anything else?]
"Do you know the current situation with the rebels in Yangzhou?" Yangzhou had been peaceful for years but suddenly saw many rebels emerge late last year.
[I don't know.]
"Do you know anyone from Yangzhou?"
[I used to, but not anymore.]
"Then never mind." It seems as like he thought, Lie Huo did not know the current situation in Yangzhou. He could only wait for Lai Xi's friend's return. "I'm leaving now; I'll visit you when I have time."
[Keep your word and remember to come play with me.]
"I will." Zhao Yao rubbed his face against Lie Huo's face as he said, "I'm leaving."
Lie Huo greatly enjoyed the affection, and it licked Zhao Yao's small face with its tongue.
"Your Highness, you are amazing," Tong Xi said, amazed at how friendly Lie Huo was with Zhao Yao. "Even the Emperor's horse likes you."
Indeed, His Highness was always liked by animals—whether birds in the sky, running creatures on land, or swimming ones in the water, they were all friendly with His Highness.