In the Imperial Palace, Xie Xun heard from Zhang Boxi that Xie Jue had let Zhang Lingzheng treat his eyes. He immediately summoned Zhang Lingzheng to inquire. Xie Jue had already instructed Zhang Lingzheng to lie, so Zhang Lingzheng tactfully told Xie Xun about Xie Jue’s eye condition. He did not exaggerate the condition, deliberately downplaying it, saying that Xie Jue was too tired in Pingnan County and had some eye-nourishing prescriptions. He would be examined again in a month, and currently, he had not gone blind. Xie Xun couldn’t help but curse the decapitated County Magistrate, thinking that if it weren’t for him, Second Brother wouldn’t have worked so hard in Pingnan County and hurt his eyes.

"Someone, pass a decree to Prince Yan, let him rest well in the manor these days, and there’s no need to attend morning court." Xie Xun immediately sent someone to deliver the verbal decree.

If it were a regular emperor and prince, and especially the only prince of the royal family, such a decree would make others suspect that Prince Yan had committed some crime and lost the emperor’s favor. But with Xie Xun and Xie Jue, people would think that Xie Xun must be caring for his brother and can’t bear to see him attend morning court.

Some officials who lived further away had to get up at three in the morning to prepare to enter the palace. Even those who lived closer had to get up early, always arriving at the Jinluan Palace before the emperor. Some officials dined and waited in the palace next to Jinluan Palace. Spring and summer were somewhat bearable, but winter was particularly torturous. Some elderly officials even nodded off in Jinluan Palace often. With Xie Jue’s eye condition recurring, Xie Xun couldn’t bear for him to get up in the middle of the night just to attend morning court. It was better for him to rest at home and play with Ruyi and Mingzhu.

"What, Fang Chuning is staying at the Prince Manor? Why is he staying there? Doesn’t he have his own residence? If he doesn’t, I can grant him one. Why is he at the Prince Manor?" Upon hearing that Fang Chuning was staying at the Prince Manor, Xie Xun couldn’t contain his temper. With such unpleasant rumors already hard to suppress by the Jinyi Guard, him staying at the Prince Manor would only fuel more gossip.

"General Fang said that the Prince doesn’t like to take his medicine, so he’s overseeing him taking it in the Prince Manor to help his eye condition recover more quickly." Zhang Boxi tried to say something that would sound pleasant, knowing what Xie Xun liked to hear.

"Well, at least he’s considerate. Didn’t he have amnesia? How come he’s so attentive to Second Brother? Even with amnesia, his cunning heart still hasn’t died?" Xie Xun looked at Fang Chuning unfavorably, always finding faults to pick.

Zhang Boxi once again sighed at how difficult it was to be a close minister to the emperor.

"I don’t know, Your Majesty. Should we continue investigating? The Prince Manor is heavily guarded, and the shadow guards are sharp. If our people get too close, I’m afraid the Prince would..." Zhang Boxi left his sentence unfinished.

Xie Xun wasn’t interested in the matters between Fang Chuning and his Second Brother, so naturally, he wouldn’t let people snoop around. He gestured for Zhang Boxi to withdraw his men, to avoid displeasing Second Brother.

Zhang Boxi also breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that the emperor didn’t act willfully. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for them to manage.

Upon returning to the palace, Xie Xun, filled with righteous indignation, told Fengyu about Fang Chuning staying at the Prince Manor. Fengyu ordered someone to prepare some chrysanthemum tea to clear the mind and reduce anger.

It is only a matter of time, and it would become more challenging in the future to handle.

Fengyu reminded him, "Back then, the Great General would rather announce Fang Chuning’s death than have Fang Chuning associate with Second Brother. Now that he has returned to the capital, the Great General surely won’t sit idly by. Such matters can be as big or small as you make them, so you shouldn’t interfere. Consider it a family matter. Second Brother will handle things well, so don’t worry."

Xie Xun just felt uneasy. Fengyu laughed and teased him, "You’re just like those mean mothers-in-law in storybooks."

Xie Xun, "..."