Rebirth: The Fourth Lady Wants to Lie Down

The atmosphere in the hall of the Dali Temple was solemn and depressing, and the flickering candlelight stretched Yinzhen's figure. As soon as he stepped into the threshold, his eyes met with the prince who was sitting on the side of the main seat.

Yinzhen hurriedly stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Your humble servant Yinzhen pays respect to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

The prince smiled slightly and waved his hand to signal Yinzhen to stand up. There was a bit of brotherly intimacy in that smile, but it also seemed to hide a subtle deeper meaning.

"When did fourth brother return to Beijing? Why did he cause such a big fuss as soon as he came back, causing chaos in the Dali Temple?" His tone was relaxed, but every word was precious, revealing his concern and temptation about the purpose of Yinzhen's visit.

Yinzhen stood up with a steady look. He knew the prince's intentions very well and understood that he had to respond with caution.

"Reporting to Your Highness the Crown Prince, I have just returned recently. As for this matter, it is out of helplessness to eliminate the treacherous officials in the court and maintain the peace of the country." His words were tactful but firm. He tried to explain while also making his position clear to the Crown Prince.

However, the prince did not give up. He sighed softly and said earnestly, "The emperor is not in the capital. As the crown prince, I am responsible for the government. How can I stay out of this matter? Fourth brother, you and I should work together to help our father, but now you are shutting me out. What's the reason for this?"

Yinzhen frowned when he heard this. He knew that the prince would not give up easily. But he also knew that this matter involved the stability of the court and there must be no mistakes.

"Your Highness, what you said makes sense, but I have received the secret order from the Emperor and am fully responsible for this matter. There will be no problem in meeting Soetu, but please do not interfere with my right to handle the case." Although his tone was firm, he was respectful, and every word he said revealed his unquestionable determination.

After saying this, Yinzhen said no more. He turned to the Dali Temple official beside him and ordered: "Take the Crown Prince to see Soetu and make sure his safety is guaranteed." After saying this, he turned around and was about to leave, leaving the Crown Prince with a resolute back.

The prince looked at Yinzhen's departing figure with mixed feelings. He knew Yinzhen's temper very well, and once he made a decision, he would not change it easily.

But thinking that Suo Etu was not only his uncle but also an important official in the court, how could he sit idly by? So he suppressed his anger and followed the officials to the cell where Suo Etu was imprisoned.

Along the way, the prince had a lot of thoughts in his mind.

……

In the backyard of the Dali Temple, inside the torture chamber, the air seemed to be frozen. Only the faint candlelight flickered in the corner, illuminating two solemn faces.

As soon as the prince stepped into this cold and gloomy space, his eyes immediately locked onto the imprisoned Suo Etu. He quickly stepped forward and whispered, "Uncle, what is going on? Why are you imprisoned?"

Suo Etu quickly glanced around and confirmed that no one was eavesdropping. Then he slowly approached the prince and said in a low voice: "Your Highness, this is a long story, but I did do some stupid things. I accepted bribes and even had the audacity to buy and sell official positions for personal gain. I thought I could hide it from the world, but I didn't expect..."

When the prince heard this, his face changed suddenly. Although he had some doubts about Soetu's financial source, he had never expected the truth to be so shocking.

"Although I know that the source of your silver is unknown, I didn't expect you to be so bold! How did Yinzhen know about this?" the prince asked anxiously.

Suo Etu smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I don't know the specific reason, but when I cried out for justice just now, Yinzhen mentioned a name - Li Fengshen. This person is the prefect of Hangzhou, and I have had dealings with him. I guess he betrayed me in order to protect himself."

Upon hearing this, the prince's eyes flashed with a fierce look, "Li Fengshen! This ungrateful man! But now, we can only think of a way to deal with the current predicament."

"Your Highness, the situation is critical now. I can only rely on you temporarily."

Suo Etu said helplessly, his eyes full of worry, "If the emperor returns, I am afraid I will not be able to escape. Yinzhen is a ruthless man. If I fall into his hands, I am afraid I will not be able to escape unscathed."

The prince nodded heavily, "Don't worry, uncle. I will do my best to buy you time. But you also know Yinzhen's character. He will handle this matter impartially. The future of the Hesheli family now depends on me. I must act more cautiously."

Upon hearing this, Soetu felt mixed emotions. He knew that he had no way out and could only place his hope on the prince.

"Your Highness, the rise and fall of the Hesheli clan depends on your thoughts. You must be careful and cautious, and don't let others use you as a handle. Only when you ascend to the throne can our clan be revived."

The prince clenched his fists, his eyes firm, "Don't worry, uncle, I will keep it in mind. You should also take care of yourself and wait for the opportunity."

After saying this, the prince looked at Soetu deeply, then turned and left the torture room.

Outside the door, the night was deep, but his heart was like a turbulent sea, with anger and disappointment towards Soetu, as well as worry and determination about the future. He knew that he had to move forward more firmly, for the future of the Hesheli family and for the supreme throne.