The third princess reported Yingying's drowning death directly to the emperor. The emperor had previously intended to conceal the fact that she had abused Qi Changyi for private punishment, but now he could no longer hide it.
Because there were several court officials standing in the hall at that time, including Pei Zheng. It was not until the emperor angrily ordered his men to take the crying third princess away that he lowered his head and curled the corners of his lips.
As far as this matter is concerned, the prince was only confined for three days, but the third princess, who had always been favored, was confined for three months. It is now difficult to tell who is favored and who is not.
All the servants in Qi Changyi Palace were delighted. Although their master was still being punished, they were so happy that they seemed as if they had been rewarded.
During the three days of house arrest, only Doctor Jiang from the Imperial Medical Bureau came a few times to bring some ointments for the wounds and some medicinal herbs for internal use.
The scars on Qi Changyi's body healed quickly and are now beginning to fade, but some pink marks still remain, so he still needs to apply ointment every day.
I have almost finished copying all the things that Qianjia had to say. It was worth it for me to sit at the desk for the whole day.
When the young eunuch at the door came in hurriedly to report, Qi Changyi was sleeping soundly on the table.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, wake up! The Fourth Prince is here!"
Qi Changyi was so frightened that he almost fell off his chair.
"Fourth brother finally came to see me." Qi Changyi was somewhat happy and quickly ran to the yard to greet the Fourth Prince.
Although his fourth brother always seemed indifferent to him, they were brothers from the same mother after all, and Qi Changyi always had a special trust and dependence on his biological brother.
"Fourth brother!" Qi Changyi trotted over, a little out of breath.
Qi Changfeng frowned when he saw his silly look, "How many times have I told you not to shout and run around in the palace like this? It's not proper to be so disrespectful."
Qi Changyi nodded obediently, "Got it, I won't do it again next time."
Qi Changfeng stood still and said, "I have also heard about your relationship with the third princess. Of all the children my father has, the one he loves the most is the third princess. Why do you insist on getting involved with her?"
Qi Changfeng looked at Qi Changyi sternly, "What should I say to you? You have no power or influence in the palace, and you have no one to rely on. You should be very careful in your dealings with others. If you don't tell others about any problems you have, and someone with ulterior motives ties it to me..."
Qi Changfeng saw Qi Changyi lowering his head and listening respectfully, and sighed, "It's useless to say more, you won't understand anyway."
Qi Changyi raised his head, his eyes innocent and pure, "Fourth brother, I understand, you are worried that something might happen to me, you are concerned about me, that's why you said that, right?"
Qi Changfeng turned his body and glanced at the door. He said "hmm" with a little impatience, and then said, "I'm glad to see that you are okay. I'll leave first. Someone else will come to see you later."
After saying that, he walked out the door without looking back.
Qi Changyi stood there looking at Qi Changfeng's back. Before he even had the chance to invite his fourth brother into the house, he left in such a hurry.
Not long after Qi Changfeng left, another figure came in from outside the door. After seeing Qi Changyi standing in the yard, he walked over in a few steps and hugged him.
"Changyi, it's okay, it's okay."
As Zhao Litang spoke, he gently stroked Qi Changyi's black hair. When they were children, he often held him and stroked his hair like this.
But now, Qi Changyi in his arms seemed a little panicked. He kept dodging his hands and even struggling in his arms.
Zhao Litang had been fighting on the battlefield for many years and had killed countless enemies. His arms were like a solid wall of iron and steel, so hard that Qi Changyi, who had thin arms and legs, could not break free from them.
When Qi Changyi thought of Pei Zheng's warning to him, he was so anxious that he almost cried.
"Brother Tang, please let me go. Please let me go first, please. I beg you, please let me go quickly..."
Zhao Litang's body stiffened. After hearing Qi Changyi's crying voice, he quickly loosened his arms. Qi Changyi jumped out of his arms like a rabbit.
"Chang Yi, you, you really don't want to see me?"
Zhao Litang's eyes were filled with grief. He had to put in a lot of effort to get the Fourth Prince to bring him into the palace so that he could rush over to see Qi Changyi.
When he heard that Qi Changyi was sent to the Ministry of Punishment, he was so anxious that he almost broke into the palace. He was suppressed by several of his subordinates who fought desperately.
Now that I finally saw that he was safe and sound, he wouldn't even let me touch him.
At this time, the sound of patrolling guards was heard outside the gate. Zhao Litang hurriedly pulled Qi Changyi a few steps into the hall and closed the door.
As an external official, he was not allowed to enter the palace, so he must not be discovered in the prince's palace.
"Brother Tang, it's not that I don't want to see you, but, can't we just talk like this?" Qi Changyi stood a few steps away from Zhao Litang, his voice soft and small.
"My former master taught me that when I grow up, I can't hug others casually. That's not good."
Seeing his submissive appearance, Zhao Litang couldn't suppress his anger. "Yes, I can't hug you, but Pei Zheng can, right?"
Thinking of how obedient and snuggly he was in Pei Zheng's arms, Zhao Litang was almost going crazy with jealousy. He regretted not keeping Qi Changyi with him all the time. The little man he had been protecting for several years was actually taken advantage of by that bastard Pei Zheng.
"I, that's not what I meant."
Zhao Litang stepped forward and asked, "What do you mean? Changyi, you are simple-minded and don't understand many things. I am very familiar with the way Pei Zheng looks at you."
He reached out and pulled Qi Changyi closer, "Tell me the truth, has Pei Zheng ever done anything to you?"
Qi Changyi looked at Zhao Litang in bewilderment, "What? What did Brother Pei do to me?"
Zhao Litang frowned, unable to explain clearly, "Just, did you take off all your clothes?"
Qi Changyi's ears immediately turned red as if he had thought of something. He lowered his head and whispered, "Yes..."
Zhao Litang clenched his fists and said through gritted teeth, "Pei Zheng! He actually dared!"
He then asked, "Did he take off his clothes?"
Qi Changyi's ears turned even redder and he shook his head, "No."
Zhao Litang finally breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at the little person in front of him steadily and asked in a low voice, "Changyi, are you willing to come with me? I'll take you to the border, and I'll never leave you again, okay?"
Qi Changyi opened his mouth in surprise, "Brother Tang..."
Zhao Litang continued to ask, "Is it okay?"
Qi Changyi frowned, as if he was thinking about something, when suddenly there was the sound of tiles falling from the beams above their heads.
Zhao Litang shouted in a deep voice, "Who is it?"
Then he jumped out of the open window and chased the man on the beam.
Qi Changyi was frightened and stepped back repeatedly, trying to push open the door of the hall and run out, but his back hit a warm chest.
The visitor sneered twice and asked in a low voice, "Where are you going, Your Highness?"