TRBDM -Chapter 124 Carriage Collision

Zhao Jingyan’s hand reaching into the Imperial Academy was already within expectations.

But resorting to poisoning—this was truly a third-rate tactic.

“Your Highness, from now on, anything that enters your mouth, this servant will personally test for poison. I will make absolutely sure such a thing never happens again.”

Jianxi kowtowed repeatedly, swearing his promise.

Zhao Jingheng stared at Jianxi, but remained silent for a long moment.

The art of managing subordinates requires a balance of reward and punishment—but the prerequisite is that the master’s authority must be established.

“Your Highness, Your Highness~” Jianxi begged pitifully.

“Rise.” Zhao Jingheng finally let him go.

“Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Your Highness.” Jianxi let out a long breath; his life had been spared.

Zhao Jingheng’s body hadn’t fully recovered yet. He pressed his temples, a bit fatigued.

Earlier, he thought that hiding in the Imperial Academy would allow him to avoid the imperial succession struggle—without desire or ambition, he could live peacefully as a leisurely prince, enjoying a quiet life.

But from now on, things would be different.

Zhao Jingyan’s use of the Hehuan Poison to control him had failed, and he certainly would not let it go so easily.

As expected, the next day during class, the Ninth Prince, Zhao Jingtian, showed up.

“Tenth Royal Brother, you look pale. During the three days of the Flower Festival, what mischief were you secretly up to?”

Zhao Jingtian plopped himself onto Zhao Jingheng’s desk, casually flipping through his textbooks.

The pages were densely covered with annotations, showing that the book’s owner was extremely diligent.

Zhao Jingheng’s expression remained unchanged. “I had a fever for two days. Today I’m feeling a bit better. Thank you for your concern, Ninth Brother.”

“Hah,” Zhao Jingtian snorted. Who’s actually concerned about you?

“Tenth Royal Brother, these past three days, you weren’t at the Imperial Academy, and Eunuch Jianxi wasn’t there to care for you. That’s completely unacceptable. This servant shouldn’t have been indulged—he should be punished when necessary. A fever is dangerous; what if it damaged your brain?”

“I’ve already punished him,” Zhao Jingheng said calmly.

Zhao Jingtian propped his right hand on the desk, leaning close. In a voice meant only for the two of them, he threatened, “Where have you been hiding these past three days? If Third Royal Brother finds out who helped you, that person will surely meet a grim fate.”

Zhao Jingheng clenched his molars, then quickly relaxed. “Third Royal Brother is all-seeing. Wherever I go, he would surely find out. So, Ninth Brother, no need to trouble yourself.”

Because Zhao Jingyan couldn’t find out, he sent Zhao Jingtian to test the waters.

But Zhao Jingtian wasn’t merely testing—he was like a rooster pecking at anything within reach, striking immediately.

In Zhao Jingtian’s imagination, Zhao Jingheng wouldn’t dare oppose the Third Royal Brother.

But suddenly, Zhao Jingtian realized: the usually tight-lipped Tenth Royal Brother could bite hard when provoked.

“Alright.”

Zhao Jingtian snapped the book shut and pointed at Zhao Jingheng with his index finger. “Just you wait.”

Then, with an arrogant flourish, he left.

Jianxi, waiting nearby, broke out in a cold sweat down his back.

He had witnessed the Ninth Prince’s methods toward servants.

Even being struck with a wooden board was mild—Zhao Jingtian had plenty of ways to torment people.

A young eunuch who had entered the palace with Jianxi had been assigned to serve in the Ninth Prince’s quarters. During the Flower Festival, it was said that the young eunuch had already died.

The Ninth Prince practiced archery on living humans. The young eunuch tried to hide, but ultimately could not escape a sword through the throat.

Hearing this, Jianxi’s hands and feet went cold, and he stood frozen in place for a long time.

They were merely ants—giants could take their lives with a flick of a finger.

Tenth Royal Prince was far better. Though he had no power, he was kind-hearted and had never treated Jianxi harshly, let alone punished him capriciously.

Trembling, Jianxi made a decision at that moment: he would remain loyal to the Tenth Royal Prince, abandoning any ambitions for promotion, and serve him faithfully.

He would not waste the kindness His Highness had shown him.

Around noon, Xie Yu arrived at the Imperial Academy, carrying pastries and cold drinks made by Xie Wanrou.

“I wish to request an audience with Your Highness. Please pass the message.”

Having previously spent ten days as a visiting student at the Imperial Academy, the gate guards naturally recognized Xie Yu.

“Wait a moment, I’ll go notify them right away.”

Zhao Jingheng was about to head to the study hall when the gatekeeper stopped him. “Your Highness, Fourth Young Master Xie Yu of the Mingde Marquis House wants to see you.”

“I won’t see him. Tell him to leave.”

“This…”

Zhao Jingheng didn’t give him so much as a glance and walked off coldly.

Seeing this, Jianxi immediately said, “Make him leave quickly. Our Tenth Prince is busy; there’s no time to deal with him.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll send him back immediately.”

Zhao Jingheng had just fallen out with Zhao Jingtian, and every one of his movements was under Zhao Jingtian’s watchful eyes.

Xie Yu absolutely could not show himself now.

The Crown Princess’s soft spot must not appear in the sight of any other prince.

After the gatekeeper relayed the message, his attitude noticeably changed.

“You may leave. The Tenth Prince doesn’t wish to see you.”

“Ah?” Xie Yu’s smile froze, turning from joy to disappointment. He murmured, “Your Highness promised me…”

“Leave quickly. Don’t block the entrance.” The gatekeeper closed the doors of the Imperial Academy.

Xie Yu slumped and walked away.

He had in his hands the Qilue, pastries that his eldest sister had made that morning, and his mother’s letter—yet he couldn’t deliver a single thing.

A wasted trip.

Xie Yu climbed onto his carriage, mood downcast.

The carriage moved slowly, and his spirits remained low.

He was frustrated, not knowing how to explain this to his mother.

The letter in his hand felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.

He should have realized long ago that the Tenth Prince’s promise might have been casual words, and only he, the fool, had taken it seriously.

He might never get to see the Records of Literature and Arts in this lifetime.

While Xie Yu was lost in thought, the sound of horses whinnying came from outside, and the carriage jolted noticeably.

“What happened? What’s going on?”

Xie Yu steadied himself and lifted the curtain to look outside.

“Fourth Master, two carriages have collided,” the coachman said, still shaken.

Xie Yu looked over and saw that, indeed, at the corner, two carriages had turned at the same time. The horses couldn’t avoid each other, and the carriage canopies had collided. Fortunately, neither team was moving fast, so the impact was minor, causing only a slight shake with no injuries.

The curtain on the opposite carriage was lifted, and Xie Yu instinctively looked.

There was a woman of extraordinary beauty, her entire presence radiating noble elegance, so overwhelming that Xie Yu felt a twinge of awe.

“I’m sorry. Are you hurt?” Xie Yu swallowed nervously, taking the initiative to apologize.

The woman didn’t speak for a long while, but her eyes were filled with tears, and her body trembled slightly, which made Xie Yu’s heart sink.

She must have been injured when the carriages collided.

Xie Yu immediately got down from his carriage, standing awkwardly by her carriage.

With his third brother absent today, Xie Yu had never faced such a situation alone.

He felt utterly anxious.

“Are you hurt? I can take you to a doctor, alright?”

The more he tried to handle the situation, the harder the woman cried. Her beautiful eyes seemed to have endless tears.

Xie Yu panicked, not knowing where to put his hands or feet.

“Madam, please… don’t cry. I… I am Xie Yu, the adopted son of the Mingde Marquis House matriarch. I’ll take you back to the Marquis House so the family doctor can treat you, alright?”

With no other options, Xie Yu revealed his identity, thinking his mother could certainly handle this.

The woman in the carriage, looking somewhat flustered, wiped her tears and spoke softly:

“Come inside. I have something to tell you.”