Help! The innocent prince always tries to seduce me clumsily

"Little Seven!"

Chu Shiyu felt so distressed when he saw Chu Shitong like this, and hurried forward to ask with concern: "How are you? You are not burned!"

Chu Shitong looked up, his amber eyes filled with tears, and when illuminated by the moonlight, they looked like glittering gems.

"Father..."

Chu Shitong propped himself up and knelt in front of Chu Shiyu, saying, "I thought I would never see my father again..."

"What are you talking about, you silly kid!"

Chu Shitong was kneeling on the ground, looking like he had suffered some terrible psychological damage in the fire.

Bishui cried and said, "Your Majesty, His Highness choked on the smoke in the house and is still drowsy. When I led people in to rescue His Highness, the fire broke the beams and crashed down. Xiao Shuanzi died in the fire to save His Highness. If His Highness had not been lucky enough, Your Majesty would never have seen His Highness again."

Chu Shiyu had thought Chu Shitong's condition was not serious when he saw that he was fine. He had never expected that Chu Shitong would survive this. No wonder he was so scared that tears came out. He could not help but shout angrily, "Where are the Imperial Guards? Get over here!"

The leader of the Imperial Guards, Zhang Chunying, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I am Zhang Chunying."

"What on earth is going on with this fire? Why did the East Fifth Institute catch fire out of nowhere? If something happens to my prince, are you able to bear the blame?!"

Concubine Li immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, calm down. The Imperial Guards have been working very hard to guard the palace day and night. I think they were careless for a moment and did not notice the fire in the East Fifth House, which led to the fire spreading so far."

On the surface, he was comforting the emperor, but in fact he was adding insult to injury and making things worse.

It is already well known that Concubine Li and the Queen do not get along. The commander of the Imperial Guards, Zhang Chunying, is the cousin of the Queen's mother. He has often made things difficult for Concubine Li because of the Queen. Now Concubine Li has found his fault.

Because of Concubine Li's words, Chu Shiyu became even angrier.

"Zhang Chunying! I want to see how you are going to explain to me! I have entrusted the safety of the entire palace to you. Today, there was a fire in the East Fifth Office, and Xiaoqi almost died in it! If anything happened to the Seventh Prince! Can you afford to pay for it with your life?!"

Queen Zhang Sinuo arrived late, and before she even reached Chu Shiyu, she had already started pleading for mercy.

"Your Majesty, calm down!"

The Queen walked over quickly, knelt in front of Zhang Chunying, and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Your Majesty, I feel that this matter is quite strange. The East Fifth House has always been fine, why did it suddenly catch fire? Your Majesty, please investigate it before dealing with it. If it is Chunying's fault, Chunying is willing to be punished for it."

"Empress." Concubine Li said sarcastically, "Do we need to investigate this matter? No matter what caused the fire in the East Fifth House, the guards under Zhang Chunying noticed it so late, causing the fire to become so big. The whole palace knows about it. The Empress Dowager has been in poor health. The imperial physician said that she needs to rest. The fire in the middle of the night has caused panic among the people. If the Empress Dowager is worried and anxious because of this and something goes wrong, I wonder if the Empress Dowager can bear the blame?"

"Your Majesty, that's not what I meant!" Seeing Chu Shiyu's face getting darker and darker, the Queen hurriedly explained, "I just think this matter is quite strange. Although Xiaoqi is young, he has always been cautious. This fire is definitely not caused by Xiaoqi. It is very likely that someone deliberately set the fire according to the patrol time of the Imperial Guards!"

Chu Shitong glanced at Zhang Sinuo from afar. If she had not been childless, simply comparing the queen's intelligence and her mother's family background, she would probably have been given the position of Crown Prince.

Concubine Li was unwilling to be outdone and said, "Why does the Queen keep giving Zhang Chunying the blame? Forgive me for being so nosy, but the Queen is probably protecting Commander Zhang."

The queen finally couldn't help herself and said angrily, "Concubine Li! Is this the etiquette for you to talk to me?"

Concubine Li bowed and said without any respect, "I am just worried about His Royal Highness the Seventh Prince. After all, if the fire had been put out a little later, His Royal Highness the Seventh Prince might have... Hehe, I spoke my mind too quickly. It was an unintentional mistake. I hope the Queen will not blame me."

The Queen didn't buy her tricks and asked, "You are blocking the investigation of this matter. Did you send someone to set the fire?"

Concubine Li's face turned a little unhappy, and she hurriedly tried to distance herself from the matter, "What does this have to do with me? Why did I order people to burn down the East Five Houses for no reason? Your Majesty, you have to provide evidence when you speak. His Majesty is still here!"

The queen wanted to say more, but Chu Shiyu couldn't listen any more.

"Shut up! What are you making so much noise for!"

The queen immediately shut her mouth, and Concubine Li curled her lips and dared not speak again.

Chu Shiyu said to Zhang Chunying, "What the Queen said makes sense. The fire at the East Fifth Office is quite strange. I give you three days to find out the truth, or you will no longer be the commander of the Imperial Guards!"

"Sir, obey the order."

Chu Shiyu took a look at the burnt-out East Fifth Institute, his expression horribly grim. No one around him dared to speak, and the atmosphere was as serious as a taut string.

Wang Zexu reminded Chu Shiyu quietly.

"Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince was just frightened and has been kneeling all the time. I'm afraid something might happen to his body."

Chu Shiyu then remembered that he had forgotten to ask Chu Shitong to get up.

"Xiao Qi, please stand up." Chu Shiyu said, "You are not in good health to begin with, why are you kneeling all the time?"

"Thank you, Father."

Chu Shitong was helped up by Bishui. Her face was pale, like a piece of fragile paper. The faint red at the corners of her eyes added a bit of vitality, but also made her look more haggard and pitiful.

Chu Shifeng and Chu Shihan didn't say a word after they finished their ceremony. The courtyards of the East Five Houses were all connected, so there was no way they didn't know about the commotion from Chu Shitong's side. Even if they didn't want to come out, they came out after the emperor arrived.

"Father." Chu Shifeng took the initiative to say, "It is definitely impossible to live in the East Fifth Residence in this state. Why not let Xiaoqi live with me first? It happens that I go to the Imperial Academy with him every day, so it is convenient."

Chu Shifeng thought that Chu Shiyu would agree directly after hearing this. After all, it would be too troublesome to arrange for Chu Shitong to live somewhere else at such a late hour. It would be convenient and save trouble to let Chu Shitong live with him. He could also leave the impression of a friendly brother to Chu Shiyu.

Unexpectedly, Chu Shiyu kept a gloomy face and did not agree.

Concubine Li smoothed things over for Chu Shifeng, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty, isn't it just right to let Xiaoqi live with Feng'er? The two brothers are close in age, have a good relationship, and are both studying at the Imperial Academy. Isn't this killing two birds with one stone?"

Chu Shiyu still didn't say anything.

The Third Prince Chu Shihan suddenly spoke up, "I don't think this is appropriate. The Sixth Prince is a playful person, and it's fine for Xiao Qi to play with him for a while on weekdays. But the East Fifth Institute has been burned to such a state that it will probably take a year or so to repair it. If Xiao Qi really wants to live with the Sixth Prince, it will be very inconvenient."

Chu Shifeng's face originally had a smile on it, but after hearing Chu Shihan's words, his smile deepened, and his eyes silently turned into a poisonous snake in the dark and stared at Chu Shihan.

"What do you mean by that, Third Brother? Are you saying that if Xiao Qi stays with me, I will lead him astray?"

Chu Shihan had a blank expression on his face, and his cold tone revealed some disdain.

"You still have some self-awareness."

Chu Shifeng clenched his fists suddenly, but because of the presence of Chu Shiyu, the smile on his face almost broke but did not fade away. He gritted his teeth and maintained a facade.

Chu Shiyu glanced at Chu Shihan unhappily and said, "What the third brother said makes sense. Xiaoqi is already fourteen years old after all. The East Fifth Institute is not very big. If Xiaoqi lives with you, I'm afraid there won't be enough space."

Chu Shifeng smiled and said, "Father is right. I was not thoughtful enough."

When Concubine Li saw that her son's proposal was rejected, she began to look around, and suddenly, she seemed to discover something strange.

"Eh? Why isn't Concubine Yun here? Isn't Xiao Qi her biological son? It's been so long and even the Empress has come, why hasn't she come yet?"

Chu Shiyu and everyone else seemed to have just realized that Yun Xiangrong was not there.

Chu Shiyu was already unhappy, and when he heard that Yun Xiangrong didn't come, he became even angrier.

"Someone, call Concubine Yun over here! Xiaoqi has suffered so much, where is she as a mother?"

Chu Shitong could have found an excuse to exonerate Yun Xiangrong, but she didn't.

Since Yun Xiangrong was unwilling to even put on a show, she deserved to be punished.

Wang Zexu, following the emperor's order, took a few young eunuchs to Luhua Palace to find Yun Xiangrong. A few guards passed by them and stopped to salute in front of Chu Shiyu.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the First Prince requests to enter the palace."

Chu Shiyu frowned slightly, "It's already this time, what is he doing in the palace?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the eldest prince Chu Shixuan had already quickly walked into the crowd. He glanced at Chu Shitong, turned around and saluted Chu Shiyu.

"Greetings to the Emperor, Father. I was worried that there was a fire in the palace, so I broke into the palace without your permission on impulse. I beg you to punish me."

Chu Shiyu stared at him for a few seconds and said, "Forget it. Considering your filial piety and your timely confession of guilt, I will waive the punishment."

"Thank you, Father."

Chu Shifeng grumbled quietly not far away: "Big Brother is still favored by the emperor. He was spared from such things as barging into the palace during curfew. Tsk."

Chu Shitong didn't say anything, she just felt vaguely strange.

Chu Shixuan's temperament is calm and steady. In his previous life, he had never caught any mistakes from him in the court for a whole year. Why did he suddenly break the rules now?

Coupled with the look he gave him when he first came over, Chu Shitong became even more confused.

"How is Xiaoqi?" Chu Shixuan asked, "Has the imperial physician come to see him?"

Bishui said: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Our Highness choked on the smoke and was nearly hit by the burnt beam. He was quite frightened, but fortunately he was safe. It was thanks to Xiao Shuanzi who pushed His Highness away when the beam fell. It's a pity that Xiao Shuanzi was only thirteen years old this year and died in the fire..."

Chu Shixuan said, "It's good that Xiaoqi is okay. As for the eunuch who saved Xiaoqi, he is indeed a loyal servant. However, Xiaoqi does not need to feel sad for him. This prince will send some rewards to his family."

"On behalf of Xiao Shuanzi, I would like to thank His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Bishui said.

……

Wang Zexu rushed back soon.

"Your Majesty, Concubine Yun's old illness has relapsed. She fainted due to anxiety after hearing about the fire in Dongwuso, so she didn't come. The imperial physician is treating her in Luhua Palace. I'm afraid she won't wake up tonight."

Chu Shiyu said: "Since she is sick, then forget it. Remember to send someone to tell Yunpin tomorrow that Xiaoqi is safe, so that she won't worry about Xiaoqi and her health will get worse."

"The slave obeys the order."

"Okay, it's getting late, don't just stand here."

Chu Shiyu waved his hands irritably.

Chu Shixuan suddenly said, "Father, the East Fifth Residence is in such a state that it is definitely uninhabitable. Why don't you let Xiaoqi live in my residence first?"

Chu Shifeng sneered and said, "Forget it, brother. Just now, when I asked Xiao Qi to live with me, my third brother said he was afraid that I would lead Xiao Qi astray. My eldest brother lives outside the palace, and there are many court officials coming and going. I'm afraid it will be even more inconvenient."

"What's the inconvenience?" Chu Shixuan said, "I haven't married or taken a concubine yet, the mansion is very large, and it's close to the Imperial Forest Academy."

"How would I know?"

After Chu Shifeng finished speaking, he also asked Chu Shihan a question specifically.

"Third brother, why don't you tell me?"

Chu Shihan gave Chu Shifeng a cold look.

The moment their eyes met, it was as if lightning flashed through the air, exploding into golden sparks.

Chu Shitong knew that it was time for him to speak, so he patiently said, "Thank you for your kindness, my brothers. I appreciate it, but the restoration of the East Fifth Institute will take too long, and I don't want to cause too much trouble. I'd better find a place to live by myself."

Chu Shixuan completely ignored Chu Shitong's refusal and asked Chu Shiyu directly.

"What do you think, Father?"

Everyone's eyes instantly focused on Chu Shiyu.

Chu Shiyu looked at their expressions which were full of indescribable meanings. He was silent for a moment and said, "Xiao Qi is indeed very pleasing to you, but it is not appropriate for a prince to live in someone else's place. How about this, Wang Zexu, you order someone to clean up the Qun Yu Tower in the east of the city, and Xiao Qi will live there first."

Everyone was shocked, even Chu Shitong was shocked.

The Qun Yu Tower was not a building of the Beiqing Dynasty, but a residence granted by the emperor to the princess Xuan Wu Yue of the previous dynasty.

Legend has it that the princess Xuan Wu Yue of the previous dynasty was so stunningly beautiful that the emperor of the Tian Xuan Dynasty at that time built the Qun Yu Tower specifically for her.

The Qun Yu Tower is eight stories high, and the decoration inside is extremely luxurious, even the imperial palace was not as luxurious. Later, after the Tianxuan Dynasty was overthrown and the Beiqing Dynasty was established, the Qun Yu Tower was not demolished, but was sealed up. No one has ever mentioned it for all these years.

No one expected that Chu Shiyu would suddenly say that he wanted Chu Shitong to live in Qun Yu Tower.

Chu Shitong was stunned. This had never happened in his previous life.

The Qun Yu Tower remained sealed until his death.

The Queen immediately knelt down, followed by Concubine Li, the surrounding princes, and servants.

"Your Majesty, think twice. Qun Yu Tower is where Xuan Wu Yue, the evildoer of the previous dynasty, lived. How could Xiao Qi, a prince, live in a place like that?"

The reason why she was said to be the source of disaster for the previous dynasty was because Xuan Wu Yue was so beautiful at the time. The surrounding countries all demanded Princess Xuan Wu Yue to marry them, but the emperor of Tianxuan Dynasty at that time was reluctant to do so. Facing the pressure from many neighboring countries, the emperor of Tianxuan Dynasty chose to turn a blind eye and even ceded land in exchange for stability. As a result, Tianxuan Dynasty became worse day by day.

It was not until later that the former Emperor Beiqing led his troops to overthrow the rule of the tyrant. Xuan Wu Yue, who was the root cause of misleading Emperor Tianxuan and provoking wars among the countries, finally drew his sword and committed suicide on the Qun Yu Tower.

From then on, Xuan Wu Yue became a synonym for beautiful women who bring disaster.

Chu Shixuan said: "Father, please think twice. Xiaoqi must not live in that kind of place!"

Even Chu Shifeng, who had killed Chu Shitong in his previous life, began to plead for mercy.

"Father, that kind of place is so unlucky. Xiaoqi was already frightened by the flood. Why did you let Xiaoqi live in that kind of place?"

Chu Shitong raised his eyes and glanced at Chu Shiyu, and found that he had been constantly scanning the people around him. Chu Shitong understood that Chu Shiyu said this just to test him, but he had no idea what he was testing.

"I just suddenly remembered that there is such an empty place. What's auspicious or not? Don't I love my own son?" He said a few words in a pretentious manner, then changed the subject and said, "But it's true that Xiaoqi, a man living there, will inevitably attract criticism. Then I will give her the house in the south of the city as her residence. She doesn't have to live in the palace anymore."