Su Jin continued: "And also, Your Highness, please… don't use those powders and rouge on your face again."
Yue Mingxuan paused in surprise, then seemed to understand and he nodded slightly.
Su Jin was taken away.
Even though Prince Rong arranged guards to escort Yue Mingxuan back to the palace, those guards stayed far from him, as if they feared catching bad luck from the Fifth Prince.
He gave a faint sigh as he looked at Xie Lianhua who had already disappeared and Rong Tieshan who had gone far away.
Yue Mingxuan knew better than to place any hope in them. To return to the palace, he would have to rely on himself. Step by heavy step, he followed the guards toward the imperial palace.
What was left behind were the whispers of ignorant commoners.
"A person like that, Prince Rong will never want."
"Of course not. Prince Rong is a cloud in the sky, and he, he is just dirt on the ground. Who would want him?"
"Truly shameless. Look, showing his thighs in broad daylight."
"Last night… who knows how many times he did it? Though he's ugly, his body isn't bad."
"What, you want him?"
"Haha, I heard someone saw him running out of the brothel this morning. Who would want him?"
"Really? Really? A brothel!"
Just as the group stepped into the main gate of the palace, another troop of men came toward them. The leader who is spotting Prince Rong from afar quickly dismounted while rushed forward and bowed deeply: "Greetings to Prince Rong."
The soldiers behind him also half-knelt to pay their respects.
When Rong Tieshan saw the formation of the approaching men, his brows tightened slightly.
He seemed to already know what this was about, yet he had not expected that even the Emperor's Imperial Guards would be disturbed. His heart sank as he asked, "What is the matter?"
The leading commander bowed with full respect and replied, "By His Majesty's order. According to Concubine Hua, the Princess of Dongyue Kingdom, Yue Mingxuan, did not return all night, bringing shame to the royal family. His Majesty wishes to question this matter personally. I have been ordered to take the Fifth Prince. I ask Prince Rong to hand him over to me."
...
Inside Rouqing Palace, the carved beams and painted pillars glowed with luxury, every corner filled with soft and charming beauty.
A group of women, all dressed in splendid clothes with glittering hair ornaments, clearly ladies of high status, sat encircling the Emperor of Beirong Kingdom, Rong Shengtian.
Their gazes were filled with disgust, disdain, and mockery as they looked at Yue Mingxuan, who stood there in disheveled clothing.
Even the palace maids and eunuchs nearby showed looks of scorn when they saw him.
They feared that if they were careless and stained by this infamous prince's bad reputation, their own good names would be ruined.
"Greetings to Your Majesty, greetings to Concubine Hua."
"Greetings to Father Emperor, greetings to Mother Consort."
Following behind Prince Rong, Yue Mingxuan bent his knees slightly and bowed according to the rules, showing proper courtesy.
"Rise," the Emperor said. His gaze swept casually over Yue Mingxuan's figure, but his brows knit together faintly.
That single careless action, however, was noticed by everyone present.
It instantly became the excuse to step on Yue Mingxuan. "Kneel down!" a harsh and commanding voice rang out while carrying a weight that could not be resisted.
Yue Mingxuan raised his eyes, letting his gaze slide past the fierce face of the old servant woman, before finally locking onto the eyes of Concubine Hua, which were full of disgust and hatred. His voice was calm as he said, "I have already paid my respects."
Concubine Hua was Rong Tieshan's mother and she's ranked third among the Emperor's favored concubines.
In the harem of Beirong Kingdom's Emperor, many beauties and talented women and men lived.
Yet, only a few of them held real power, one was Noble Consort Yan, another was Concubine Du and then came Concubine Hua.
As for the Empress of Beirong Kingdom, she had long passed away, leaving the middle palace empty.
The powerful concubines supported their own sons, fighting endlessly against each other.
None of them were easy to deal with.
For example, Concubine Hua, she had risen from the lowly position of a palace maid to the high rank she now held.
Naturally, she was not a woman to provoke.
But the Emperor never loosened his grip on the Empress's seat.
He coldly watched the concubines plot and scheme, tearing each other apart.
At this very moment, he also sat in silence, watching the show.
In other words, all these women who enjoyed wealth and power were nothing more than playthings in the hands of the man at the center. Looking at them made one feel both pity and scorn.
"How bold of you, Yue Mingxuan! You dare to come before His Majesty and Concubine Hua while carrying crimes upon your name and still you refuse to kneel and admit guilt!" The old servant woman named is Madam Zhen, she's stood behind Concubine Hua while shouted at him again.
Finally, under her aggressive manner, Yue Mingxuan let his gaze truly fall upon her. His fine brows lifted slightly as he asked in a steady tone, "May I ask, Madam Zhen, what crime has I committed?"
Madam Zhen's wrinkled face tightened and with full righteousness she declared, "You have been betrothed to Prince Rong, although you are a men but still you cannot lose your virtue before marriage, yet you do not guard your virtue. You consorted with others in secret. This is a grave crime!"