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Nie Huanzhang spoke out everything he knew while Yuhong Xuan and Yu Weiwei remained silent, quietly listening. Finally Nie Huanzhang said:

"So I came to Liangzhou to ask Your Highness for help no matter what it had happened to Wangshi. I'm a ronin who is unfamiliar with any wealthy and powerful person. Now my… Wangshi... Now he is missing. If he is still alive, where he is and if he died, where his body is. I really don't know how to do."

After speaking, Nie Huanzhang left tears behind and knelt down. 

Yuhong Xuan said:

"Get up!"

Yu Weiwei went over to help Nie Huanzhang up and looked at Yuhong Xuan, asking:

"Your Highness, is it..." he glanced at Nie Huanzhang and continued, "Is it the Fifth Prince?"

Surprised, Nie Huanzhang looked at Yuhong Xuan, who shook his head and said:

"Yuhong Zhen doesn't like boy. It seems like it's only the Second Prince as only he has such a preference."

Unable to comprehend, Nie Huanzhang looked at both of them and Yu Weiwei said to him:

"The Second Prince, Yuhong Xun, has a penchant for boy prostitution."

Upon hearing this, Nie Huanzhang sprayed blood and felt a blackout. He was about to fall when Yu Weiwei caught him. With teary eyes, Nie Huanzhang looked at Yuhong Xuan and knelt down again, saying:

"Please, save Wangshi, Your Highness, please help him! You promised him to help him."

After saying, he fainted. Yu Weiwei carried him to a nearby couch and said:

"Your Highness!"

Yuhong Xuan replied:

"But the Grand Marshal warned us not to act recklessly. Now Yuhong Xun is a regent, his authority is like my father's, our Emperor, to take over this country temporarily. We don't fully understand the situation in Jingdu and what we can do is only to wait for the information from my teacher, Xu Xing."

Yu Weiwei argued:

"Your Highness, it is too late for us to wait for the information from Mr. Xu. Even with fast horses, it will take over ten days. The situation in the capital is changing rapidly. Although you don't want that crown. How are other princes? If it falls to a son of Queen Lai's, no matter which one is, the Second Prince Yuhong Xun or the Fifth Prince Yuhong Zhen, neither will spare you and the Grand Marshal. The Grand Marsal's wife is a princess whose elder brother is our emperor and she is the aunt of all your princes. Maybe they don't kill him but you're different. They will definitely kill you."

Yuhong Xuan said:

"Are you also captivated by that boy? It seems he is indeed a fox spirit. Are you so anxious for me to go back and help him?"

"Your Highness, you know what my meaning is. Yes, I value his talent. It would be a pity if he's not an official in the future."

Yuhong Xuan pointed at Nie Huanzhang and said:

"Perhaps it is already too late. It seems this person truly likes that boy."

Yu Weiwei remarked:

"That boy likes him too."

Yuhong Xuan fell silent and paced back and forth. Yu Weiwei understood that he was deep in thought and refrained from disturbing him. After checking Nie Huanzhang's pulse, which showed signs of urgency and exhaustion to cause attacking the heart but no major issues, Yu Weiwei also sat down and pondered, waiting for the decision from Yuhong Xuan. 

About half a hour, Yuhong Xuan said:

"I think your opinion was right when we were in Duanzhou. Both the Grand Marshal and I can't be stuck here. At least one of us needs to be in the capital. We've been away from the central government for a long time and we have no idea about the current situation and connections there. Even if my teacher returns Jingdu now, he will likely attract attention because he is too conspicuous. Just now I thought about it. Yuhong Xun is acting as the regent and he won't allow both the Grand Marshal and me to return the capital. He wants to trap us here so that one day when he holds absolute power, he can manipulate us at will. Take away the power of the Grand Marshal and suppress the Zhao family, including Aunt Yun. As for me, he will find a reason to kill me. Although I have good relationship with Uncle Yang and Aunt Yun, they can't help anyone because now it is a competition among us, the younger generation. Being our uncle and aunt, they can't show bias. We don't know which side the prominent ministers, led by Wang Qing, support. They are all in the capital, cunning with more experience. When I volunteered to serve at the border, it was to avoid suspicion. I'm not afraid of everything but I know Yuhong Xun a lot. Although he appears weak and uninterested in the affairs in the central government, he is crafty and ruthless underneath. He likes to pretend to himself with emotion outside and think more with evil inside. Honestly that boy would suffer in his hands."

After speaking, Yuhong Xuan looked at Nie Huanzhang then at Yu Weiwei and continued:

"You've been with me for many years, loyal and trustworthy. As for Huanzhang, although I've known him for a short time, he is a man of character. I like him so I want to help him and that boy. Yes, we need eyes in the capital. Now that my wife is pregnant and my father suddenly is sick. Being a husband and a son, I should accompany them. Weiwei, you go back Duanzhou immediately and inform the Grand Marshal that I am returning to the capital. You must convince him for me."

"Yes, Sir."

Yu Weiwei bowed and immediately left the room.

About ten days later, four fast horses galloped out of Liangzhou City. Despite Nie Huanzhang's anxious, he had successfully Yuhong Xuan to leave Liangzhou and now they were heading towards the capital. There was nothing more he could do in his haste so he listened as Yuhong Xuan shared gossip about the royal family to pass the time.

The current Emperor, Yuhong Guang, had eight sons and two daughters. Unfortunately, three of his sons had died. Yuhong Xuan was the eldest son born to Concubine De. She had served Yuhong Guang since childhood and came from an official family. However, due to her uncle's committed crimes, her family was confiscated and the male members were executed or sent to labor camps. The female members were taken into the Palace and made to do the dirtiest and most laborious tasks. In a stroke of luck, Concubine De, at the age of ten, unintentionally saved the eight-year-old Yuhong Guang who had fallen into the lake. From then on, she began to serve Yuhong Guang. When Yuhong Guang turned 15 years old, his mother, the Empress Dowager, allowed him to choose a concubine. Without hesitation, he chosen Concubine De. Disobey to regulations, he didn't make her a concoction to avoid pregnant after making love with her. Of course she became pregnant, giving birth to Yuhong Xuan. 

The Second Prince, Yuhong Xun, was born to Queen Lai, making him the legitimate prince. When he was a child, he was physically weak and it was often used as a reason by Queen Lai to keep him in her Palace for care. However secretly, he learned the ways of being an emperor. Queen Lai, with limited knowledge and insight on the political art and how to run a country, taught him some about the art of insidiousness. Yuhong Xun was so normal as not to understand completely what she taught him. Whenever he made a little mistake, she would punish him, either through physical discipline or confinement in a small dark room. To avoid punishment, he began feigning illness and acting pitiful to gain sympathy. This habit persisted into his adulthood and although others may not have noticed this, it was discovered multiple times by his eldest brother, Yuhong Xuan, less than two years oler than Yuhong Xun. Every time Yuhong Xuan tried to expose Yuhong Xun, Yuhong Guang was deceived by Yuhong Xun's various acts, to the point that Yuhong Xuan was even punished a few times. Eventually, Yuhong Xuan stopped bringing it up and the two brothers gradually grew apart. 

The Fourth Prince, Yuhong Lun, was born to Concubine Xian. He was astute, capable and always sought to excel. He had a strong desire to achieve something significant to gain the appreciation from his father, Emperor Yuhong Guang. Currently serving in the Ministry of Works, Yuhong Lun often used his identity as a prince to pressure the Ministry of Revenue to allocate funds for the ministry's projects. Sometimes he even used his own money to complete the project, making the tangible contributions to the people. He had gained considerable influence among lower-level officials and the common people. Due to his mother's past conflicts with Queen Lai, Yuhong Lun rarely had a close relationship with Yuhong Xun. Similarly, Yuhong Xuan, who spent more time in the army, wasn't particularly close to Yuhong Lun either. However, Concubine Xian frequently visited Concubine De.

The Fifth Prince, Yuhong Zhen, is the younger brother of Yuhong Xun. Due to Queen Lai's focus more on Yuhong Xun, she allowed caregivers and maids to take care of Yuhong Zhen, hindering the closeness between the two brothers. Yuhong Zhen, longing for a closer relationship with his elder brother, Yuhong Xun, grew up developing a closer bond with several younger members of the Lai's family, the queen's family. Unfortunately, these children tended to be idle and indulged in alcohol and women, frequenting entertainment venues. It wasn't until after Queen Lai's death that Yuhong Zhen had the opportunity to interact with Yuhong Xun and cut the connection with the Lai family.

The Seventh Prince, Yuhong Fei, seven years old, was born to Concubine Shu. With a gentle and weak personality, the age difference kept him from forming close relationships with his older brothers. However, this didn't prevent him from idolizing his eldest brother, Yuhong Xuan, enjoying chatting with Yuhong Xun, observing Yuhong Lun's manipulation of various architectural styles like toys and listening to Yuhong Zhen recounting curious tales from outside the palace. As the only prince still living in the palace due to his age, Yuhong Fei stayed connected with brothers in this unique way.

Yuhong Xuan has two sisters, Princess Jun and Princess Yi. Princess Jun is only one years younger than Yuhong Xun. At 17, she got married an official, Mei Changqing. Generally the husbands of the princesses' live in the Princess Palace and work in the unimportant position. However, Princess Jun, to avoid holding back her husband's career, requested her father, Emperor Yuhong Guang, to allow her husband take an official outside the capital. Setting aside her royal status, she accompanied her husband to the northern, Longshan Province to serve as its governor. Yuhong Yang made his decision to place his son, Yuhong Ye so he could be controlled by Princess Jun and her husband in Longshan Province. So as the General in charge there, Qi Hui had the responsibility to protect the princess's family and her cousin Yuhong Ye.

Princess Yi, one year older than Yuhong Fei, was 8 years old. Despite being the older sister, she lacked a sense of responsibility. She often bullied the gentle Yuhong Fei. Aware that reporting to his own mother would be futile, Yuhong Fei went directly to Concubine De, Princess Yi's mother. Complaining to Concubine De proved more effective and Concubine De often kept Yuhong Fei at her palace for meals or snacks. Although the two children played pranks and teased each other, the two concubines gradually grew closer.