Troublemaker Prince Chapter 6
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 6
"What are you standing there for?" You Yusui glared at Huo Xiling, who was standing foolishly in place. "Put me in."
Huo Xiling silently stared at the coffin placed in the middle of the room. It was made of fine golden nanmu wood, coated with gold lacquer, and one could faintly smell the fragrance of the nanmu.
But no matter how precious the materials or how exquisite the craftsmanship, this was not where the person in his arms should lie.
Thinking this, Huo Xiling couldn't help but hold You Yusui tighter. This body was soft and warm; it shouldn't go to that cold, icy place.
Seeing Huo Xiling still in a daze, You Yusui kicked him and said, "If you won't listen to me, then get out of the Eastern Palace."
The next moment, Huo Xiling took a deep breath, then carefully placed the person into this spacious and expensive golden nanmu coffin.
You Yusui lay in the coffin contentedly. The scent of nanmu wood enveloped him, involuntarily bringing a smile to his face.
This coffin had high-grade wood, solid materials, and the nanmu could even prevent the body from decaying. It was simply the most luxurious coffin he had laid in throughout his many lives.
However, Eunuch Fubao, standing to the side, was heartbroken. Where in the world would there be a young man who would prepare a coffin for himself so early?
Huo Xiling clenched his fists, his gaze fixed tightly on You Yusui lying in the coffin. His eyes were closed tight, his complexion pale, his raven-colored long hair scattered around his shoulders. The crimson tear mole at the corner of his eye was the only splash of color. Especially as You Yusui's breath was shallow, almost nonexistent, making one feel as if he had truly died.
Huo Xiling felt that You Yusui shouldn't be lying here. He should be riding horses with the noble sons in spring, he should be served by everyone as their Crown Prince.
Just as Huo Xiling couldn't resist wanting to pull him out of the coffin, You Yusui opened his eyes and sat up from the coffin.
Huo Xiling secretly sighed in relief. He didn't know why he suddenly felt relieved, perhaps because this person wasn't dead yet.
"Fubao, go find me a soft pillow. It's uncomfortable to lie without a pillow," You Yusui said, gently rubbing his neck.
Seeing this, Fubao wanted to speak but held back, and finally obediently went to find a pillow for You Yusui.
Huo Xiling, standing to the side, was silent for a moment, then sincerely said, "Would Your Highness like to lay down some bedding as well?"
After these words, Huo Xiling received a look from You Yusui as if to say "you really understand me." Then he heard You Yusui say to Eunuch Fubao who was bringing the pillow, "Fubao, bring some bedding too, the softer the better."
Huo Xiling: ......
The next moment, You Yusui reached out to Huo Xiling and said, "Carry me to the bed."
This time, having learned from previous lessons, Huo Xiling didn't dare to let his thoughts wander. He honestly placed You Yusui on the bed and covered him with blankets that had already been warmed with a brazier.
At this time, Eunuch Fubao also came over carrying bedding and pillows. You Yusui, lying in bed with half-closed eyes, said to Fubao, "Find some bedding for the small couch by the window."
Then, You Yusui opened his eyes and looked at Huo Xiling, saying, "From now on, you will sleep here."
Although the position of Crown Prince's Attendant was only a seventh-rank nominal official position, the person holding it must be from a good family. If they had noble character and exceptional learning, that would be even better. At the same time, the Crown Prince's Attendant also shouldered the responsibility of guarding the Eastern Palace, and had to constantly be by the Crown Prince's side, occasionally doing small tasks like serving tea and grinding ink.
However, You Yusui previously disliked having others follow him, so the Eastern Palace had not yet appointed a Crown Prince's Attendant. Huo Xiling was the first Crown Prince's Attendant in the Eastern Palace.
Quickly, the palace servants prepared the small couch with bedding and pillows. Before leaving, Fubao carefully instructed Huo Xiling about the Crown Prince's habits.
"Since the Crown Prince saved you, you must treat the Crown Prince well," Fubao admonished before leaving.
After everyone withdrew from the Crown Prince's chambers, the lights were extinguished, and everything returned to darkness.
Huo Xiling lay on the small couch by the window, watching the moonlight through the window gauze, and all his concerns surfaced in his mind.
He hadn't expected that his desperate gamble would actually make the Crown Prince take him away. Everything felt unreal, like a dream.
Huo Xiling closed his eyes and recalled the events of the past year. First, his sister died inexplicably from illness, then the Emperor arranged a marriage between the Princess and his brother-in-law. After his brother-in-law left Chang'an to guard the frontier, the Princess secretly made a move against him. Combining the abnormalities he noticed before his sister's death and his sister's words before she died, he suspected that the Princess was the one who harmed his sister.
However, he had no evidence. Even if he had evidence, how could a deceased general's wife with no background compare to a powerful princess? She was even the Emperor's younger sister, the Empress Dowager's own daughter.
Undoubtedly, Huo Xiling wanted to avenge his sister, and the Princess seemed to have sensed something, constantly moving against him in secret. If the Crown Prince hadn't saved him today, Huo Xiling would have left the palace by more drastic means.
The reason he chose the Crown Prince was because the First Prince belonged to the humble faction and would definitely not accept someone like him who was connected to the imperial in-laws. Only the Crown Prince, who was not familiar with either the humble families or the imperial relatives, would be most likely to accept him.
Thinking this, Huo Xiling couldn't help turning to look at You Yusui's silhouette behind the curtain. Although the Crown Prince saved him because he liked his face, if this person was the Crown Prince, Huo Xiling could accept it.
There was a faint scent of bitter winter plum in the room, as if emanating from You Yusui's body, stirring the young man's thoughts and preventing him from falling asleep.
Just as Huo Xiling's thoughts were drifting toward You Yusui, a slender, fair hand pulled back the bed curtain, and then a soft pillow accurately hit Huo Xiling in the face.
"Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, is the bed biting you?" You Yusui, sitting up in bed, scolded.
"No, thank you for Your Highness's reward," said Huo Xiling. Then he hugged the pillow that You Yusui had thrown, turned over, and hugged the pillow to take a breath of the bitter winter plum fragrance, deciding to go to sleep immediately.
You Yusui, sitting on the bed, was stunned by this scene. Why did it feel as if someone else had taken advantage of him?
You Yusui gritted his teeth. Damn it, he had gotten a taste of the benefit.
In the end, helpless, You Yusui pulled over a pillow nearby and lay back down. His body was weak; he needed to rest well.
Hugging the pillow, Huo Xiling quickly fell asleep. The nearby scent of bitter winter plum made him sleep very comfortably.
Meanwhile, in Cuiyu Study, Imperial Consort Ning and the Sixth Prince were not sleeping as well as Huo Xiling and You Yusui.
The Sixth Prince, You Yulin, lay prone on the couch, grimacing in pain, while Imperial Consort Ning applied medicine to his wounds.
Looking at the Sixth Prince's open wounds, Imperial Consort Ning said tearfully, "Even if he is your elder brother, the heir apparent, he shouldn't have been so heavy-handed!"
Imperial Consort Ning had heard from the eunuchs present that the Crown Prince's whisk had broken, showing how mercilessly the Crown Prince had treated her son, with no regard for brotherly affection.
"Come, let's go find Noble Consort Xian to help us appeal to His Majesty," Imperial Consort Ning said, holding You Yulin's hand. "This justice, I must get it back for you no matter what."
However, You Yulin, lying on the couch, couldn't understand why the usually kind-hearted Crown Prince would be so harsh with him. When he heard Imperial Consort Ning's plan to find Noble Consort Xian to approach the Emperor, he quickly stopped her. "No, please don't go!"
Of course, he didn't dare to bring this matter before his Father Emperor. He had obstructed the Crown Prince's carriage and been disrespectful to the Crown Prince. If this alone became known, the censors would continuously impeach him.
"The Crown Prince not only beat me but also beat the maternal relatives of Noble Consort Xian and the Empress Dowager. We shouldn't take the lead in this matter," You Yulin said. Those who had attacked Huo Xiling with him also included the maternal relatives of Noble Consort Xian and the Empress Dowager. If someone were to confront the Crown Prince, it shouldn't be them taking the lead.
Imperial Consort Ning was somewhat reluctant upon hearing this. How could she watch her son being bullied?
You Yulin comforted Imperial Consort Ning. "Once we bring down the Crown Prince, then we can deal with him however we want. Why rush?"
His Crown Prince Second Brother was not favored by their Father Emperor and did not associate with the noble families. Sooner or later, he would lose his position as Crown Prince. At that time, he could humiliate him however he wanted.
"My poor son," Imperial Consort Ning said, looking at You Yulin's wounds.
As You Yulin and Imperial Consort Ning were fantasizing about life after the Crown Prince's downfall, a small eunuch entered Cuiyu Study and whispered something to You Yulin.
Upon hearing this, You Yulin exclaimed with joy, "Is what you're saying true?"
"It's true, this servant saw it with his own eyes!" the small eunuch said. "Such a large thing sent into the Eastern Palace, they couldn't hide it from anyone."
He wasn't on duty at the Eastern Palace that night, and after the Eastern Palace was locked up, he had hurried to Cuiyu Study to tell the Sixth Prince what he had discovered that day.
You Yulin took out a reward for the small eunuch and said, "Serve this prince well, and there will be plenty of benefits for you in the future."
"Thank you, Your Highness." The small eunuch took the reward and left happily.
"What exactly happened?" Imperial Consort Ning asked You Yulin.
You Yulin smiled and looked at Imperial Consort Ning, "Don't worry, Mother. This time, the Crown Prince won't get away with it."
What was the Crown Prince planning to do with a coffin in his palace? Was he hoping for someone's death?
So, as soon as dawn broke, You Yulin eagerly went to Xuande Hall to report that the Crown Prince was hiding a coffin in his palace.
Because of You Yulin's actions, You Yusui, who had wanted to sleep in, had to get out of bed and was invited by Eunuch Anhai to go to Xuande Hall.
Along the way, You Yusui yawned, wearing a cloak and holding a hand warmer, his eyes barely open. Looking at the distant Xuande Hall, he thought being an emperor was truly tiring, having to deal with family matters even before the morning court.
Entering Xuande Hall, You Yusui faced the emperor’s expressionless face, showing no hint of anger or joy.
After entering Xuande Hall, Eunuch Anhai walked methodically to You Fengyu's side and asked on behalf of You Fengyu, "Crown Prince, is it true that there is a coffin hidden in the Eastern Palace?"
To the side, You Yulin couldn't help but show a schadenfreude expression. The Crown Prince privately hiding a coffin, possibly hoping for the Emperor's demise—the Crown Prince would either die or at least suffer severe punishment.
Hearing Eunuch Anhai's question, You Yusui thought that You Yulin was truly foolish to report him by name. It would have been better if this matter had been reported by a censor than for You Yulin to personally take action. Wasn't this clearly telling everyone that the Sixth Prince was eyeing the Eastern Palace?
Unfortunately, the Emperor didn't like princes having too close relationships with officials, so You Yulin had no way to contact officials outside the palace. Therefore, You Yusui was stunned by You Yulin's stupidity.
You Yusui looked piercingly at You Yulin and said, "Before answering this question, I would like to know how Sixth Brother came to know there is a coffin in my palace? Now that Sixth Brother dares to spy on the Eastern Palace, will the next step be to spy on the Imperial Palace?"
After saying this, You Yusui smiled at You Yulin. The charge of spying on the emperor is all yours, you're welcome.