After the banquet ended, Li Jin was detained by Gu Rushuang for a casual conversation.
The two of them were now sitting opposite each other. The palace attendants had already been dismissed by Gu Rushuang. Ying Yuan had also wanted to stay here with them, but Gu Rushuang did not agree and directly had Zhiqiu send Ying Yuan back.
Li Jin first poured a cup of tea for Gu Rushuang.
Gu Rushuang took the tea and, looking directly at Li Jin sitting across from him, said straightforwardly, "Jin'er, do you want to ask why This Palace suddenly have this intention?"
Li Jin nodded and said, "Yes."
Although Gu Rushuang had not yet stated it clearly, Li Jin, having observed Gu Rushuang's actions just now, had already guessed that this matter was undoubtedly related to Ying Zhengjing.
Sure enough, Li Jin guessed correctly.
"It was His Majesty's idea."
As Gu Rushuang spoke, his eyes fixed intently on Li Jin.
Gu Rushuang so readily told Li Jin something Ying Zhengjing had specifically instructed not to be divulged because he intended to both cultivate and test Li Jin. If Li Jin could not keep the secret and accidentally leaked the news, Gu Rushuang had countermeasures prepared, but simultaneously, he would no longer have any expectations of Li Jin and would only ensure his lifelong well-being.
Li Jin asked with confusion, "Your Majesty, why would His Majesty want to do this?"
Ying Zhengjing in his previous life was a suspicious and deeply scheming emperor. Li Jin did not believe Ying Zhengjing would make such a decision without reason, because in his previous life, Li Jin had expended great effort to help Ying Ziqi eliminate Ying Zhengjing's suspicions of him.
"This Palace is also unclear." Gu Rushuang shook his head, "But This Palace thinks His Majesty's move has the intention of suppressing the Helian and Shen families. Their influence has been too prominent recently."
Because Ying Zhengjing had been on the throne for several years without appointing a Crown Prince, the court officials had recently been submitting memorials requesting Ying Zhengjing to establish one. The most prominent contenders were the eldest son, Ying Zihui, born of Consort Shu, Helian Yuxi, and the second son, Ying Ziheng, born of Consort Chun, Shen Qianxue. The Helian and Shen families were supporting these two princes respectively.
Li Jin pretended not to understand and asked, "Your Majesty, which Shen and Helian families are you referring to?"
As a reborn person, Li Jin was well acquainted with the enmity between the Helian and Shen families. However, his current identity was that of a six-year-old child who had never met those people, and it was certain that no one in the Prince of Dingbei's mansion would discuss such significant matters with him. Therefore, if he had just now responded directly in line with Gu Rushuang's remarks, it would undoubtedly have aroused his suspicion later on.
"Ah... This Palace was distracted, telling you these things when you are so young." Realizing what he had said, Gu Rushuang shook his head, both helpless and amused, "How about this, This Palace will now tell you about some matters in the palace, so you will not be uninformed."
Li Jin bowed and said, "Your Subject is willing to hear the details."
Since Gu Rushuang was willing to take the initiative to tell him these things, Li Jin would naturally not refuse.
Gu Rushuang coughed lightly, "Including the ninth prince, just one year old, born to Consort Chun's side, plus the third, fifth, and seventh princes you have met, there are a total of nine princes, three princesses, and two royal shuang in the palace. Among them, the ones most worthy of your careful attention are the second prince born of Consort Chun and the eldest prince born of Consort Shu. In the future, if any of them becomes the Crown Prince and tries to win you over, you must not agree..."
Fearing that Li Jin, due to his young age, might not understand, Gu Rushuang explained in great detail, even informing Li Jin about the fact that Lan Xiwei and Lan Yingying were friendly on the surface but at odds in their hearts.
"Your Majesty is afraid that if Your Subject were to align with one of them, it would provoke His Majesty's suspicion?"
"Correct."
Li Jin's intelligence in understanding immediately made Gu Rushuang nod with satisfaction.
He liked dealing with smart people.
"Your Subject will be careful to maintain distance from them in the future."
Gu Rushuang asked in return, "You don't blame This Palace for making you lose the chance to render service by supporting the future emperor?"
Li Jin looked up and met Gu Rushuang's gaze, saying word by word, "Your Subject trusts Your Majesty."
Gu Rushuang fell silent. After a long while, he finally spoke, "If only Rulan back then could have been like you... Enough, what is past cannot be undone. Jin'er, This Palace is tired. You should go back now... By the way, Jin'er, before you leave, go see the seventh prince. This Palace thinks he seems to have something to say to you."
Li Jin took his leave, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty."
____
Ying Yuan looked stubbornly at Zhiqiu.
"I want to see Li Jin."
If Zhiqiu hadn't posted two guards outside the door strictly watching, Ying Yuan would have already found a way to escape.
"The Heir Apparent and His Majesty the Empress have important matters to discuss. Please be patient, Seventh Prince." Zhiqiu still repeated this phrase, with no intention of letting Ying Yuan leave this room.
"You said that if I became Mother Empress's adopted son, you would let me see Li Jin."
"Yes, but the Heir Apparent cannot see you now... Uh... Quick, stop the Seventh Prince, don't let him go out!"
No sooner said than done.
To Zhiqiu's astonishment, Ying Yuan moved a stool next to the window, stepped onto it, and intended to climb out. However, the window was a certain distance from the ground, if Ying Yuan jumped out, he would certainly fall.
The guards, hearing this, hurried to stop him.
Alas.
Ying Yuan's movements were faster, and the moment they tried to stop him, he had already jumped out of the window.
Zhiqiu cried out in fright, "Seventh Prince..."
Li Jin, outside the door, happened to see Ying Yuan fall from the window, roll twice, and look dazed.
Ying Yuan also saw Li Jin and immediately got up and ran towards him, "You said you would come back to see me soon. You broke your promise."
"Seventh Prince, are you alright... Uh... Your Highness, you have come?" Zhiqiu, who had chased out afterwards, was momentarily stunned upon seeing Li Jin and didn't know what to say.
Li Jin glanced at the slightly disheveled Ying Yuan and at Zhiqiu, who hadn't yet recovered from his panic, "Let's go inside to talk."
In a short while.
The three of them entered the room.
Li Jin spoke first, "Can you tell me what happened?"
Zhiqiu knew that Gu Rushuang intended to place great importance on Li Jin, so he did not dare to hide the truth and recounted everything that had just happened to Li Jin, "It was this servant's dereliction of duty, failing to watch the Seventh Prince properly..."
"..."
After hearing Zhiqiu's explanation, the corner of Li Jin's mouth twitched involuntarily.
Climbing out a window just to see him?
Li Jin's gaze at Ying Yuan was indescribable, because Li Jin simply couldn't imagine Ying Yuan doing something so childish. Yet, it had happened right before Li Jin's eyes, making it impossible not to believe.
"Zhiqiu, you should go to His Majesty first. I want to speak with the Seventh Prince alone."
"Yes."
Zhiqiu nodded and turned to leave.
After Zhiqiu closed the door, Li Jin took out some wound medicine from his robe and looked at Ying Yuan's right arm, "Seventh Prince, pull up your right sleeve. I will apply some medicine for you."
Ying Yuan shook his head and refused, "I am not injured."
"The sleeve is a little stained with blood, how can you say you're not injured?" Li Jin walked over and personally lifted Ying Yuan's sleeve.
Instantly, the large area of abrasion on Ying Yuan's arm was exposed to the air.
"I..."
"Don't move around. Endure it for a moment."
Li Jin, brooking no refusal, scooped out some ointment and applied it to Ying Yuan's wound.
"Hisss..."
The moment the medicine touched the abraded skin, it caused Ying Yuan to instinctively cry out in pain.
"Weren't you just saying you weren't injured? What is this?"
"It really didn't hurt before."
"Not hurting at first doesn't mean it won't hurt later." Li Jin shot Ying Yuan an exasperated look, "Blast it, I forgot to have you clean the wound first. Wait a moment, I'll have someone bring a basin of clean water."
"I'm fine. Don't go."
Ying Yuan tightly grabbed Li Jin's right hand, not letting go.
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