TFWYH – Chapter 817 Shouldn’t have been touched

By the time Ling Yu and Tang Wan arrived, the Empress’s palace was already in an uproar.

Both sides stubbornly insisted they were in the right.

Gu Xiyan was sobbing uncontrollably, while the Empress scolded and mocked people with sarcastic remarks.

Nothing that happened in the palace could remain hidden from those who had ears everywhere.

Before long, Chancellor Gu arrived.

A little later, Huangfu Xiao also rushed over after hearing the news.

Following close behind were Huangfu Yi and Huangfu Que, who had come simply to watch the drama unfold.

After all, it wasn’t every day that one got to witness the Crown Prince’s scandal.

An opportunity like this came once in a lifetime.

Even if the Emperor scolded them afterward, it would still have been worth it.

The three imperial brothers met at the entrance to the Central Palace.

They were all briefly taken aback before quickly regaining their composure.

There were many things that no longer needed to be said aloud.

You know what I’m thinking.

And I know exactly what you’re plotting.

Under normal circumstances, Huangfu Xiao wouldn’t have wasted his breath on these two defeated rivals.

No—

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t even have touched Gu Xiyan.

But ever since learning Ling Yu’s true identity, he had become genuinely anxious and enraged.

Ever since he was ten years old, when he learned that he was the Empress’s son, he had dreamed of inheriting the throne.

Now he was forty-six years old.

He had been waiting for that throne for thirty-six years.

Yet the position he had always believed to be secure had suddenly been threatened.

The Emperor hadn’t revealed a single word, making it obvious that he had already been excluded from consideration.

Who could possibly understand how he felt?

Now, merely seeing these two younger brothers—especially Huangfu Yi—filled him with resentment.

His tone became dripping with sarcasm.

“Second Brother certainly has an impressive information network. Not only do you know everything that happens in Father’s palace, but even nothing that happens in Mother’s palace escapes your notice.”

Compared to Huangfu Xiao, Huangfu Yi was in an excellent mood.

“The feeling is mutual.”

Not only do you know everything happening in Father and Mother’s palaces…

I’m afraid you even know every detail of what’s happening in my own residence.

Hearing that, Huangfu Xiao’s face darkened.

He shot Huangfu Yi a cold, sinister glance before flicking his sleeve and striding into the palace hall.

Only after Huangfu Xiao turned away did the smile on Huangfu Yi’s lips slowly disappear.

His brows furrowed tightly.

Huangfu Que sidled up beside him with a grin.

“Second Brother, you can still smile at a time like this?”

“Hm?” Huangfu Yi had almost forgotten the Third Prince was even there. Hearing him speak, he immediately composed his expression.

Huangfu Que chuckled.

“Come on, stop pretending. I’m not actually stupid.”

“Big Brother getting involved with Gu Xiyan doesn’t really affect me.”

“The one it affects is you.”

“You’d better start thinking about how to firmly hold onto Chancellor Gu’s support.”

“Thank you for the reminder,” Huangfu Yi replied indifferently, giving him a casual glance before stepping into the hall as well.

Huangfu Que had no idea that his good intentions had once again been mistaken for mockery.

He simply followed him inside.

The two had barely reached the entrance when they saw the Emperor hurl a teacup straight at Huangfu Xiao.

At the same time, the Emperor roared,

“You unfilial son! Explain to me exactly what happened!”

Huangfu Xiao immediately dropped to his knees with a loud thud.

“Father, your son has been wronged. I have never touched Miss Gu.”

“Your Highness!”

Before the Emperor could even respond, Gu Xiyan cried out in disbelief.

“I was just in your carriage! Your coachman can testify to that.”

“If Miss Gu insists on saying so,” Huangfu Xiao replied calmly, showing no trace of panic, “then I ask Father to summon the coachman and question him personally.”

Outwardly, he remained perfectly composed.

Inwardly, however, he despised Gu Xiyan to the extreme.

The coachman is my man.

Why would he testify against me?

This shameless woman actually dared to make such a huge scene.

Ordinary women who encountered something like this usually resigned themselves to their fate.

How had this woman dared to expose everything?

If I’d known she was this shameless…

…I never would have touched her.