Chapter 97

  Punishment

  Seven days after Yin Ruofei's disappearance, Rong Jingze had changed from furious to anxious. This kid didn't know what was at stake and went out without bringing anyone with him. Although he kept a low profile, behind the scenes, he helped the emperor eliminate traitors, but having done too many things, it was hard to ensure that no one discovered or resented him.

  As a prince, with so many guards around him, it would be as difficult to move him as climbing the sky. But for Xiaofei, it was much simpler.

  Although his martial arts skills were somewhat accomplished, he was still young, only thirteen years old. If the other side had a large number of people, he really couldn't escape.

  Rong Jingze's face looked worse by the day, and he had even mentally prepared himself to rebel against King Wang and take Yin Ruofei as a hostage.

  The twenty-eight guards have been having a tough time lately, each and every one of them has been scolded by King Ze to the point of being ashamed and vomiting blood. As for Yin Ruo Fei leaving the palace, they did see it during their patrol, especially Gong Jiu, who even exchanged a few words with Xiao Fei. However, they never expected that after this person left the palace gates, he would actually disappear.

  Although the matter was investigated to Jingzhao Yin Feng Jishu, and it was also investigated to the Crown Prince, but afterwards nothing could be investigated, was Xiaofei caught by the anti-king people after she parted with the Crown Prince?

  Rong Jingze couldn't sit still, not having seen Yin Ruofei for seven days, he felt that something was off. He ordered his subordinates to bring over the map and began to deploy.

  Over the years, he has made deployments in places where there were suspected anti-monarchist uprisings at first, of course with the full support of the emperor.

  As for Fan Wang, the Emperor had not been reborn, but he was still deeply uneasy about that matter back then. When he heard Rong Jingze say that Fan Wang might have faked his own death and changed his name, he felt extremely unsteady in his heart. From this point on, the two brothers' goals were extremely consistent - they must eliminate each other's hidden danger.

  Although several staff members felt that it was too early at this moment, the anti-king had not yet revealed his true intentions, and if a large-scale search were to be carried out, it would inevitably startle the snake in the grass. However, they were only ministers, and the true power of life and death lay with the king. They could only begin making detailed plans while feeling their way.

  Rong Jingze was anxious and uneasy, and his days with Yin Ruofei were not easy either. That day when he returned to the East Palace with Rong Zhongming, he still felt quite safe and amused. But once this novelty wore off, his heart became restless.

  If he goes back and apologizes sincerely, I reckon the king won't do much to him. After all, he was also drunk, at most he'll just scold him a few times.

  But he is now hiding in the Crown Prince's place, will the King be even angrier?

  From his understanding of Rong Jingze, this prince is still quite petty-minded. Sometimes he gets angry and it makes people feel inexplicable and very overbearing.

  One day or two... Yin Ruofei couldn't sit still any longer. Now that he's going back, the king's anger should have dissipated by now. He'll just come up with an excuse, saying something's happened at home, and it should be enough to bluff his way through.

  Unfortunately, he wanted to leave, but it wasn't that easy. The prince smiled and persuaded him for half a day, saying that if he went out now, he would definitely be beaten up and all his previous efforts would be in vain. If he wanted to make the young emperor uncle dare not beat him from then on, he had to be ruthless and come up with an ultimate move to let him know who's boss.

  Yin Ruofei felt that something was not quite right, but the crown prince's genuine smile, combined with the prospect of King Ze no longer losing his temper and beating him, was really tempting, and he had a change of heart.

  This time, I was moved, but only persisted for a day. From morning to night, I had nothing to do, eating and sleeping, until finally, I didn't want to eat or drink water, and even the kung fu that I should practice every day made me feel lazy.

  Yin Ruofei still wanted to leave the palace and return to the Wang Mansion, but this time Rong Zhongming was not so easy to talk to, directly refusing him and locking him in the East Palace.

  Yin Ruofei was locked in solitary confinement, and the several guards at the door were specially selected by the Crown Prince. They just happened to be skilled in martial arts, making it difficult for him to escape. Even if he managed to escape from the East Palace, he wouldn't be able to leave the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace had many experts and people inside, and if he was caught, he would be implicated as an assassin, which would even affect Prince Lian.

  Yin Ruofei wanted to use a little trick, but unfortunately Rong Zhongming really understood him and knew he was fierce. He didn't even show up and gave the guards at the door a death order: not to speak, not to move.

  Not allowed to speak, not allowed to move, is not allowed to converse with Yin Ruofei, lest being deceived, nor can listen to his words and leave, that must be a trap. With these two iron laws, the four door gods at the entrance really guarded this door.

  Yin Ruofei was so anxious that she lost her appetite, and before long, she actually fell ill.

  This is the second time Yin Ruofei has fallen ill since he fell into the water at the age of eight. The first time was when he went out to have fun, came back with a cold, and Zewang took care of him for several days without leaving his side, after which he almost watched over him, not allowing him to go out and have fun again, lest he fall ill once more.

  This time, it is a case of internal worry and external fear, with a disease born from an urgent and fiery attack on the heart.

  When Yin Ruofei fell ill, Rong Zhongming rushed over with the imperial physician to examine her carefully. Yin Ruofei had a high fever that wouldn't subside, and she was dazed and couldn't open her eyes. Even the imperial physician said that this illness was too severe and feared it might not be good.

  The crown prince was foolish. He originally wanted to match the two, although the young emperor seemed to like and pamper Xiao Fei very much, but Xiao Fei was too young and probably didn't feel anything.

  He was also poor little uncle, wanting to separate the two, let them feel their own hearts, and then intervene, but unexpectedly, there was no movement from Little Uncle's side after searching for a few days at first.

  Xiao Huang Shu remained calm and collected, but Xiao Fei was anxious to return. However, if they went back now, not only would all their previous efforts be in vain, but also the two people wouldn't understand anything, and he would let him off scot-free.

  Let Little Emperor know he's hiding Xiao Fei, or I'll beat him to death?

  But now Xiao Fei is ill, and he's so seriously ill. If there really were three longs and two shorts, even if he was beaten to death, it wouldn't be enough to vent his anger, let alone the fact that he himself has a guilty conscience.

  The prince now knows what it means to be an outsider, looking at Yin Ruofei lying on the bed with a weak breath, and can't help but grit his teeth, so uncompetitive!

  "Xiao Fei, Xiao Fei." Rong Zhongming shouted a few times, but the other party had just taken medicine and was drowsy, completely unresponsive. "You mustn't have an accident, I...I'll go find Huang Shu right away!"

  "Uncle Emperor, I was wrong. Say something to me." Rong Zhongming stood behind Rong Jingze with a bitter face, and now he knew what it meant to be struck by thunder.

  He had just gone to Ze Wang Fu to inform him of his true intentions, and the uncle's thunderous momentum almost scared him to tears. Although he was a few months older than his opponent, the latter's murderous aura was not something he could withstand.

  Fortunately, the other party was genuinely worried about Xiaofei and looked at the emperor's face, so he didn't really move him, but this also scared him badly.

  "Uncle Huang, Little Fei can't move now." Rong Zhongming had been talking for half a day, but didn't see Rong Jingze respond to him. Instead, the other party used a light and unusual movement to touch Little Fei's face, that gentle strength was really rarely seen in his life.

  Just as Rong Jingze was about to pick up Yin Ruofei, Rong Zhongming quickly blocked him. If something happened because of the emperor's uncle's impulsive actions, what would they do with Xiao Fei's serious illness?

  Rong Jingze paused for a moment, then continued his action of picking him up. He carefully wrapped the person in the quilt, leaving only that pale small face exposed, and turned to leave.

  Rong Zhongming turned around and shouted while chasing, but the other party didn't pay attention to him. Rong Zhongming's face was full of sorrow, "It's over, these people have offended the emperor..."

  Rong Jingze held Yin Ruofei all the way, and even when Rong Shi wanted to take over and let him rest, he refused, and they returned to the Wang Mansion like this.

  Getting on and off the horse carriage, entering the main house, there was always some cool breeze, which made Yin Ruofei feel that his body wasn't so unbearably hot after all, and he slightly opened his eyes.

  "Your Highness..."

  "Hmm." Rong Jingze was busy walking and didn't say much else.

  "I miss you..."

  "Uh... okay, we'll be home soon."

  "Uh... I was wrong, don't be mad..."

  "Don't be angry... close your eyes and sleep!"

  It seems that he has found his mainstay, Yin Ruofei obediently closed his eyes and fell asleep very soundly. For so many days, he had not been eating or sleeping well, and with the added stress of being anxious, his mental state was extremely poor. But now that he was in Rong Jingze's arms, he finally felt truly at ease and fell into a deep sleep.

  She slept all the way until dusk and was woken up by a push from her dream.

  "Hmm..."

  "Have you taken your medicine?" Jingze's voice sounded in his ear, Yin Ruofei suddenly opened his eyes, had he misheard?

  When he opened his eyes, the person in front of him was indeed Rong Jingze. Rong Jingze held a bowl of medicine in one hand and pulled him up with the other, half-sitting up. Tears fell from Yin Ruofei's eyes.

  "Stop crying and take your medicine first!" A large bowl of just-right-for-swallowing medicine was sent to her mouth, and Yin Ruofei didn't hesitate to gulp it down in one breath.

  "Is it better?" Rong Jingze took over the empty bowl and put it aside, asking in a light tone.

  "It's much better..." Yin Ruofei heard the other person's voice and shuddered all over. He wanted to say it was still painful, but his heart and mouth didn't match, and he accidentally told the truth.

  "I guess you're much better now." Rong Jingze nodded, "The medicine left by Master, I've given it to you and you've taken it."

  That was the few pills left by Han Suo, although not a cure-all, but very effective for acute colds. Rong Jingze had the imperial physician examine them and found that they were suitable for Yin Ruofei's condition, so he didn't hesitate to dissolve one pill in water and administer it to him. As expected, he was much better afterwards.

  "Now that things are much better, shouldn't we settle the account?" Rong Jingze's voice started to grit his teeth.

  "I... " Yin Ruo suddenly burst into tears, what was she doing with her mouth so fast?! "I feel especially uncomfortable, my chest is stuffy, I'm dizzy and nauseous, my throat itches... Cough cough cough cough..."

  Yin Ruofei had an especially weak and frail appearance, looking even more pitiful than when he was in the Eastern Palace as the Crown Prince.

  "Does your throat itch?" Rong Jingze sneered, "I think it's your butt that itches!"

  Rong Jingze lifted the quilt and pulled Yin Ruofei out from underneath. Anyway, because he was sick, several braziers had been lit in the room, so even without a quilt, it wasn't cold at all.

  "Ah…… Prince, Master! What are you doing?!" Yin Ruo Fei felt like he had been turned over completely and was now lying on his stomach on the bed. Although his fever had subsided and his condition had stabilized, he still hadn't recovered from his illness and didn't have much strength left in his body.

  "What's going on?" Rong Jingze pulled down the underwear that Yin Ruofei was wearing, revealing his white and plump buttocks. He took a deep breath, and then slapped him hard.

  "Ah——" Yin Ruofei let out a sharp cry, and the several guards outside the main room couldn't help but shudder. Although they had heard that it was Xiao Fei himself who had hidden away, and even the crown prince had gotten involved, they still felt that this little guy was making them worry for nothing, and really deserved to be beaten up. But after all, Xiao Fei was ill, could he really withstand such a beating?

  Everyone looked at Rong Shi, Rong Shi gritted his teeth and knocked on the door, "Master..."

  "Get out!"

  The author has something to say: Sorry everyone...... Lately, physical problems have been getting more and more serious, and this is the second time I've fainted. I estimate that the length of this article won't be as expected.

  This month has a stock of manuscripts and should still be able to achieve daily updates. If it can't hold on, next month will probably end or update every other day.