Sheng Li was glaring at Lei Wanxi, who lowered his head. "Who did this?" Sheng Li asked, carrying an infuriated expression.
Nianzu came forward. "Brother Sheng, Lei Wanxi saved my assistant, Miss Chuntao, from the person who was harassing her in the market. The person did not know that Brother Wanxi is the Royal Prince and hit him," Nianzu explained to Sheng Li. Lei Wanxi wondered how Prince Nianzu found out about that incident.
"Why have you brought a commoner to the Palace, Brother Nianzu? I am afraid I have never objected to any of your decisions but, today I will," Sheng Li pronounced and called a servant in.
"Brother Sheng, I will look into this myself. It was not the mistake of Miss Chuntao, but the man who was harassing her," Nianzu affirmed. Lei Wanxi agreed with Nianzu and looked at Sheng Li with his doe eyes.
Sheng Li ignored Nianzu's words. "Bring that commoner here," Sheng Li ordered the servant whom he called in.
"Brother Sheng, I request you not to do this," Nianzu stated.
"Apologies, Fourth Brother, but I have to ask something from her," Sheng Li proclaimed. Lei Wanxi knitted his brows because he knew that now Sheng Li would punish Chuntao even if she had done nothing.
"Brother Sheng, my injury is minor. Such things happen. Moreover, I let him hit me in the face. I was–"
"Shut up!" Sheng Li loudly said, terrifying Lei Wanxi.
Chuntao came there and greeted the Crown Prince. "How did this happen?" Sheng Li queried, ignoring Chuntao's greetings.
"Your highness, I was being harassed by a man when the Sixth Prince came upfront to save me. Forgive me, your highness," Chuntao fell on her knees and bowed her head further down.
"Since you work for the Fourth Brother, I will not say anything to you. But keep in mind if such a thing happens next time then be ready to die. Don't think just because of the Fourth Prince I will spare you. I do not want you to involve the Princes with you this way. That's why there is a little punishment for you. You are not allowed to leave this Palace while you are here," Sheng Li announced his decision. "What's the name of the person who did this?" He then asked.
"His name is Bingbing," replied Chuntao.
"Leave," Sheng Li commanded.
Chuntao stood up and walked out of the chamber.
"Brother Sheng, why did you get angry at Sister Chun? I was the one who went out to have lunch in the restaurant and encountered Sister Chun. It was my plan to get hit by Bingbing," Lei Wanxi asserted.
"Brother Sheng, the Royal Inspector, has arrested Bingbing. The law will punish him and since he raised his hand on the Prince, he will be given severe punishment," Nianzu pronounced. Lei Wanxi nodded his head in agreement.
Sheng Li looked into his eyes and walked out from there. "Did Brother Sheng get angry?" Lei Wanxi mumbled and looked at Nianzu who shrugged his shoulders.
"Wanxi, you should not have let yourself get a hit. Don't you know the temper of the Crown Prince?" Nianzu muttered.
"I did not think of all this until I got the punch in my cheek," Lei Wanxi answered and lowered his eyes.
"You shall take rest. We will talk about this in the morning." Nianzu left for his chamber. As he reached outside the chamber, he asked about Chuntao from Eunuch Chung.
"Miss Chun is waiting for you inside," Eunuch Chung replied.
"Hmm." Nianzu entered the chamber and saw Chuntao on the floor mattress. He went to her and took his respective seat, facing her.
"Your highness, I am guilty today. Because of me, the Sixth Prince got injured and the Crown Prince got angry," Chuntao said, her gaze lowered. "I should have listened to the advice of his highness not to trust anyone blindly," she added. Nianzu did not say a word as he kept listening to Chuntao.
"Your highness, Bingbing made some defamatory remarks towards you. Forgive me for that as well. Eunuch Chung had told me not to involve your name and tarnish your image in any way. I think I shall leave the Palace," Chuntao asserted.
"Miss, you should not feel guilty because you did not do anything wrong. Why will my image be ruined when I did nothing to you? Instead, it's Bingbing, who has a low mindset. If you want to leave the Palace then I will make arrangements for you. I will not force things on you," Nianzu proclaimed.
Chuntao's eyes filled with tears. "Forgive me, your highness. I could not keep my promise to work here for a year. You always helped me, showed me the right path, and also made me learn the elite language which is hardly known to commoners." Chuntao was grateful towards Prince Nianzu.
"Miss, the main concern I have towards you is safety. I do not want–"
Nianzu had not even completed his words when Eunuch Chung came running there. "Your highness, the Emperor has called you and Miss Chuntao to the Palace Grounds. Someone has reported the incident to his majesty."
"What?" Nianzu immediately stood up from the mattress, followed by Chuntao.
"Let's go," Ninanzu stated.
Reaching the Palace Grounds, Nianzu saw the Empress, and the three Consorts were looking at him with anger. "Father," Nianzu bowed his head and then looked at the Empress.
"Prince Lei Wanxi is injured. I told you not to keep a commoner in the Palace," Weng Wei said. Nianzu lowered his eyes when he heard her. "Chief Inspector, bring the man who hit the Sixth Prince," stated Weng Wei.
Lei Wanxi arrived there, followed by the other Princes as the news had spread in the entire palace.
"Father, why did you call everyone? It is a minor injury! Nothing more," Lei Wanxi stated.
"How can it be a minor injury?" Consort Jinlong angrily said and came towards Lei Wanxi. "Look at your face. It has swollen. Your majesty, punish the ones who did wrong with my son," Consort Jinlong requested to the Emperor.