Chapter 168 Happiness Came As a Surprise

Early the next morning, in the imperial court.

Xia Houkun, standing in the hall, looked towards Xia Houmo’s position and found it empty.

Xia Houkun was still wearing a wound on his face. As he turned to look at Xia Houmo’s position, he found him absent.

“Your Royal Highness, what’s the matter with you?” A minister familiar with Xia Houkun looked at the wound on his face and asked him with concern.

Xia Houkun revealed a flicker of anger in his eyes but replied, “I accidentally fell off from the horse last night.” Of course, he would not make it known to anyone that he had been beaten up by Xia Houmo!

The minister suddenly realized something. “Your Royal Highness, be careful.”

“Okay.”

“His Majesty is here.”

Before Xia Houkun could figure out what the minister meant, Xia Hourui, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, was helped by Eunuch Yi to enter the main hall.

“Long may you reign, Your Majesty.”

Xia Hourui sat down on the dragon throne and glanced at Xia Houkun’s face with a faint sight.

“Get up.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Before anyone else could speak, Xia Houkun stepped forward and said, “Father, I have something to report to you.”

Xia Hourui looked at him and nodded. “What’s the matter?”

“Last night, I received a secret letter saying that the King of Jin Xia Houmo secretly colluded with the criminal Xia Housheng. And there was evidence of his collusion with Xia Housheng in his mansion. After careful consideration, I decided to lead the imperial guards to search Jin Mansion.”

Before Xia Houkun could continue, Xia Hourui frowned and said coldly, “You led the imperial guards to break into Jin Mansion without my consent. You are so bold.”

Hearing this, Xia Houkun was stunned. This idea was originally put forward by…

“I was too reckless, father. Please forgive me.” Xia Houkun did not argue but knelt down directly.

Xia Hourui snorted gently, “What did you find?”

Thinking that Xia Houmo was doomed, Xia Houkun couldn’t help being excited.

“I found a secret letter of collusion between Xia Houmo and Xia Housheng in the courtyard of the Rani of Jin.”

“Take it up and show me.”

Xia Houkun took out the letter and handed it up.

“What? The King of Jin actually colluded with Xia Housheng?”

“Really?!”

It was known to all that the King of Jin rushed back in time to keep the Emperor’s throne when Xia Housheng rebelled. If the King of Jin had been a little later at that time, the consequence would be unimaginable!

Xia Hourui took a look at the letter and slowly put it down after a while.

Xia Houkun thought Xia Hourui would get furious, but after a while, it was still tranquil in the hall. He raised his head in doubt and glanced at Xia Hourui.

Xia Hourui was still sitting on the dragon throne with a poker face.

Xia Houkun frowned in doubt.

Xia Hourui tapped the letter on the table and looked at him. “Is this the evidence you have found?”

“Yes.”

“I see.” Xia Hourui said lightly.

Xia Houkun was stunned again.

I see? Nothing more?!

“Father, this matter…”

“Since you found the evidence last night, why didn’t you enter the palace immediately to report it to me?” Xia Hourui looked at him with blazing eyes.

“I was afraid to interrupt your rest.” Xia Houkun was shocked and replied honestly. However, after finishing his words, he thought his excuse so ridiculous. If he had entered the palace last night … Damn it!

He had made a mistake!

After hearing this, Xia Hourui put on a dark and gloomy face. “Zhen’er.”

Xia Houzhen, who had been standing silently in the hall, came back to his sense. “Yes, father.”

“What do you think of the King of Jin colluding with Xia Housheng?”

Hearing this, Xia Houzhen pursed his lips. “I think further investigation is needed. I believe that the King of Jin is innocent.”

Hearing this, Xia Houkun sneered. “Eldest Brother, do you think I have wronged the King of Jin? Are those letters insufficient to prove?”

“The letters can also be fabricated.” Xia Houzhen said lightly.

“You!” Xia Houkun stared at him.

“Well, Mo’er has entered the palace last night and reported it to me.” Xia Hourui interrupted his two sons.

Xia Houkun was startled; Xia Houmo had entered the palace last night?!

“Father…”

Xia Hourui waved his hand. “I know what you want to say. He took the initiative to surrender the other half of the phoenix token. He is also willing to stay in Jin Mansion without participating in any political affairs before this matter was ascertained.”

Xia Houmo would not intervene in politics and hand over the other half of the phoenix token! Xia Houkun couldn’t believe it!

But when he saw the other half of the phoenix token taken out by Xia Hourui, he had to believe it.

“Zhen’er, take over Mo’er’s position temporarily.”

Xia Houzhen was also stunned. The other half of the phoenix token would be given to him?!

“Father, I have never done this job before. I’m afraid that I might not be able to do it well. Please revoke your command.” Hearing this, the ministers supporting him were all stupefied!

What a great opportunity! Eldest Prince, how could you refuse such a great opportunity?!

Xia Houkun gradually clenched his fists.

“Well, in that case, Kun’er, keep it for now.”

Happiness came as a surprise. Hearing this, Xia Houkun was shocked. He tried his best to hold back the smile on his face and stepped forward. “Yes, father.”

The ministers supporting Eldest Prince silently lowered their heads…

After half an hour, Xia Hourui looked at the ministers still blattering in the imperial court, feeling tired and exhausted. They would always talk about trifles endlessly!

“Your Majesty … please decide for me…”

“Your Majesty …”

When Xia Houkun walked out of the hall, he was in high spirits.

Now, both the two halves of the phoenix token were in his hands. Xia Houmo would have no way to be arrogant in front of him again!

After Xia Houzhen walked out of the imperial court, he was stopped by a palace maid just as he was about to leave the imperial palace.

“Your Royal Highness, pay my respects to you.”

Xia Houzhen stopped and recognized the palace maid at a glance.

“Get up. My mother asked you to come?”

“Yes, Her Highness said that she hadn’t had breakfast with you for a while, Eldest Prince. Today, she has ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare many dishes you like. I’m here to invite you to have breakfast with her.”

Xia Houzhen clenched his fist in his sleeve gently and nodded. “Okay.”

In Qinglan Palace.

The Empress, in a loose moon-white phoenix robe, was fiddling with a beautiful orchid in front of the window. Her long black hair was casually scattered on her back, showing a sense of unrestrained laziness.

Jiang Mama lifted the thick curtain and went into the room. “Your Highness, Eldest Prince is here.”

The Empress stopped her hand, turned around, walked elegantly to the dressing table, and looked at her dignified image in the bronze mirror.

“Jiang Mama, come over and comb my hair.”

Jiang Mama lowered her eyes. Eldest Prince was still standing in the courtyard. The snow was smelting now, so it was very cold outside. However, it would take at least two quarters to comb her hair.

Jiang Mama sighed secretly in her heart. Eldest Prince was not born by her after all. She said nothing and walked over. “Yes, Your Highness. What hairstyle do you want for today?”

The Empress stroked her hair and said with a smile, “Just pick one of the few usual hairstyles.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Jiang Mama looked at the phoenix robe set aside and picked up the comb.

After finishing, the Empress frowned slightly, making Jiang Mama’s heartbeat accelerated.

“Well, change another hairstyle.”

“Yes.”

Another quarter of an hour passed.

After spending nearly an hour in front of the dressing table, the Empress looked still the same as she was an hour ago.

“I’m hungry. Let Zhen’er come in.”

“Yes.”

When Xia Houzhen entered the room, his body had already been frozen.

Just as he approached the Empress, she felt a chill.

The Empress twisted her slender eyebrows slightly. “Zhen’er, why are your hands so cold?”

Xia Houzhen walked over to greet her without changing his face. “I’m wearing less today.” He did not mention a word of standing in the yard for an hour.

The Empress asked Jiang Mama to bring him a hand warmer to warm his hands.

“These servants are too careless. I’ll send you some sensible palace maids to your mansion.”

Xia Houzhen nodded softly. “Thank you for the rewards, mother.”

The Empress chuckled aloud. “Don’t be over-courteous. I’m just worried that those people cannot serve you well. Hurry to sit down.”

“Yes.”

After Xia Houzhen sat down, the palace maids carrying hampers entered in succession.

After a while, the table was covered with various dishes.

The Empress picked up the chopsticks and put a bun in Xia Houzhen’s bowl. “I specially ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare the cabbage bun for you. I know you like it the most. “

Xia Houzhen looked down at the cabbage bun in the bowl, revealing a hint of irony in his eyes.

When he was taken to the Empress, he was still a baby and could not remember anything. He grew up with the Empress and really regarded her as his own mother.

However, the Empress…

Why did he like to eat cabbage buns most? Whenever he couldn’t finish the tasks assigned by the Empress, he would be locked up and could not have meals. At that time, there was an old mama who pitied him and sent him cabbage buns secretly. If it were not for the old mama, he couldn’t have survived.

However, the Empress later found out that the mama had given him food. She was furious and directly ordered to kill her…

Xia Houzhen would never forget the horrified scene of the old mama being badly mutilated.

He picked up the bun in his bowl and took a bite. When Xia Houzhen looked up, his eyes were full of smiles. But he knew in his heart that the bun tasted like human flesh in his mouth.

The Empress looked at him with a satisfied look on her face. After drinking a small bowl of porridge, she put down her spoon.

Seeing this, Xia Houzhen also put down the chopsticks in his hand.

“I heard that in the morning court, His Majesty was to give you one half of the phoenix token?”

Xia Houzhen took a sip of the tea from the palace maid.

“I refused.”

After hearing this, the Empress gradually withdrew the smile on her face.

“Why?”

“I have never dealt with the Imperial Guards, so I’m afraid that I cannot do it well.”

Snap!

Xia Houzhen was slapped heavily on his face.

And he was pushed aside slightly with his lips tightened.

“Rubbish!”

“You refused such a rare opportunity?! You have never dealt with it? Has Second Prince dealt with it before? Had the King of Jin dealt with it before he first took in charge of the Imperial Guards?!”

“Your Highness, don’t be mad.” Jiang Mama was left alone to serve. Hearing this, she knelt down instantly.

Xia Houzhen stood up, lifted his robe, and knelt in front of the Empress.

“I’m incompetent. Mother, don’t be mad.”

“I, I’m so mad at you!”

Seeing his cowardly look, The Empress felt extremely sullen.

“Get out of here. I don’t want to see you!”

Xia Houzhen kowtowed to the Empress. “Please excuse my retreat.”

As soon as Xia Houzhen walked out of the door, he heard smashing sounds in the room. He paused and then walked out of Qinglan Palace without hesitation.