Chapter 65: Brother Sends Younger Brother to Serve His Sentence

  Ever since he inexplicably thought of Nian Yao, Qin Lei's mood had been somewhat down. He silently followed the female officer into a bathroom called 'Tuotang'.

  It was still that bathroom, still that screen embroidered with a hundred flowers competing for beauty. Turning over the screen was still that three-zhang-square white jade bathtub. The bathtub was filled with misty water vapor, and on the edge were six palace maids with slender figures, barefooted with small white jade feet, wearing soft and thin gauze. They chirped and greeted him in a gentle voice.

  In a daze, Qin Lei seemed to see the little palace maid Nian Yao walking towards him with a gentle smile, and said in a crisp voice: "Your Highness, I'll help you undress..."

  He smiled and nodded, wanting to ask how her injury was healing, and also wondering why she was so different from the others. How dare she confront this fake prince head-on? As he thought about it, a faint smile crept onto his lips.

  "Your Highness, Your Highness..." a timid female voice whispered in his ear.

  He came to his senses and found that it was not Nian Yao, but several unfamiliar little palace maids. It turned out that the girls were going to help him change clothes. Qin Lei expressionlessly accepted the service of the palace maids, letting them take off his outer robe, undergarments, middle garment, and inner garment one by one, revealing a body as beautiful as a marble statue, as well as the wound on his back.

  The soft and smooth hands of the palace maid slid over his body, just like drinking rich milk, and his body naturally reacted. Although he was still a bit embarrassed in his heart, he didn't become as flustered as last time, but instead smiled faintly, lifted his legs and stepped into the bathtub, feeling the slightly scalding temperature, and slowly sat down.

  Two palace maids also got into the water, kneeling on either side of him, using silver water scoops to scoop up pool water to moisten his body, and then gently pinched his arms. The maid behind him untied his headscarf, letting out his hair. Then she stretched out her slender fingers and gave a gentle yet powerful massage on his head.

  Qin Lei closed his eyes comfortably, recalling what Qian Xian had said before: "It's easy to go from frugality to luxury." He sighed in his heart: "Indeed, getting used to this corrupt life doesn't require a process. Overcoming the initial shyness is enough." The comfortable feeling washed over him wave after wave, fatigue gradually released, and he soon fell asleep.

  When he was woken up again, he found himself lying on a soft bed in the bathroom, wearing a silk nightgown. He had no idea how he ended up on the bed just now. He secretly scolded himself for being weak-willed and being corrupted by a single sugar-coated cannonball.

  Qin Lei stood up, and the palace maid helped him take off his outer robe, put on a snow-white undergarment, socks, and then wore a black cotton long gown. Qin Lei had never worn cotton clothes since he came to this world, even his nightclothes were made of silk from Lake Tai. He also tied a headscarf of the same material and wore black cotton shoes. In the copper mirror, the corners of Bai Longyu's mouth slightly curled up, and he whispered something. The palace maids standing beside him looked at each other in dismay.

  As soon as His Highness left, they began to gossip.

  "What did Your Highness just say?"

  "It's like: 'How can you still be so handsome? Can't take it.'"

  The palace maidens thought: "Your Highness is really straightforward."

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  The greatest gift that the two lifetimes have brought to Qin Lei is not some advanced knowledge or a longer lifespan, but rather a much deeper understanding of life than ordinary people.

  This kind of thing sounds mysterious, but it brings an obvious benefit - Qin Lei's mental adjustment is very fast. He rarely gets excited or depressed for a long time, just like an old man who has experienced many things, sees through the world, and is open-minded and knowledgeable.

  A seventeen-year-old body with a thirty-year-old soul, he is truly an old-soul youngster.

  Qin Lei followed the Crown Prince out of the East Palace in an unmarked carriage, heading towards the Imperial Clan Office located east of the imperial city. He found that the Crown Prince was also wearing a blue robe, without the sword bestowed by the Emperor, but still holding onto that green stick.

  Qin Lei suddenly thought of Yang Kang.

  After the horse carriage left the palace, it was about to turn onto Xuanwu Avenue along Wuyi Lane where the royal nobles gathered. Qin Lei opened a slit in the window and saw the small alley opposite Wuyi Lane. He let out a light sigh, closed the window and sat up straight.

  The prince opposite him knew what he was thinking in his heart, patted his hand and comforted him: "Don't worry, Second Brother is there to take care of it, nothing will happen."

  Qin Lei smiled gratefully at him.

  The Imperial Clan Court was originally called the Temple of the Orthodox in the Tang Dynasty, and it managed the genealogy, nobility, rewards and punishments, sacrifices and other affairs of the imperial clan. It was originally under the Ministry of Rites. After the founding of the Great Qin dynasty, in order to elevate the status of the imperial family, the Temple of the Orthodox was upgraded to the Imperial Clan Court, ranking above the six ministries and on par with the prime minister. Its responsibilities were accordingly increased, including supervising criminal members of the imperial clan and educating problematic young men of the royal family.

  Qin Lei and the Crown Prince stood at the entrance of the Zongren Fu, quietly waiting for the report from the guards at the gate. Even if the Emperor himself were to arrive, he would not enter directly into the inner hall, as a sign of respect for their ancestors.

  A burst of hearty laughter came from the inner courtyard, and before long, a tall elderly man with a beaming smile appeared before the two.

  The two of them hastily paid their respects, saying: "Grandfather Emperor."

  This old man wearing a six-clawed dragon robe is the current royal family's highest-ranking relative, King Qin Chen of Jia. He is the younger brother of Emperor Zhao Wu and the younger uncle of Empress Dowager Wen Zhuang. This year he is already seventy-eight years old.

  He has been the head of the Imperial Clan Office for twenty years, but due to his age, he no longer manages much and leaves daily affairs to officials in the office. However, a decree from the Empress Dowager last night had him rush back overnight from his mountain villa on the outskirts.

  Only today did I learn that there is a big deal. A prince and a princess will come to receive punishment. This is the first time in twenty years since King Jiaqin took office.

  He led the two into the main hall and had a conversation with the prince. Qin Lei found that the prince's topic kept circling around the two grandsons of King Jiaqin. Saying things like "This palace grew up with Qin Bi, and our feelings are exceptionally good." "This palace watched Qin Zhen grow up, and I love him the most."

  On the other side, Jia Qianwang, who had become a refined person, couldn't possibly not know what was on Taizi's mind. With a smiling face, he echoed Taizi, without saying much else.

  The crown prince had a fire in his heart, but a smile on his face, and he asked casually: "I wonder what my two brothers are doing now?"

  Qin Lei couldn't help but smile, the Crown Prince had asked about the current situation of these two people this morning before getting on the carriage, knowing that they were idle and had nothing to do, which was a heart disease for King Jiaqin.

  Jiaqin Wang stroked his neatly trimmed snow-white beard and smiled, saying: "These two useless things have long been a joke in our imperial family, so let's not mention it."

  The crown prince murmured, "When they were young, Qin Bi was the most clever and Qin Zhen was the most meticulous. At that time, I had already determined that the two of them were great talents." The crown prince's red lips moved as he spoke nonsense.

  Old Master Wang, however, found it very enjoyable to listen to. Although others teased Qin Bi and Qin Zhen, he treasured his two grandsons the most. Of course, if Old Master Wang hadn't been so fond of them, Qin Bi and Qin Zhen might have turned out differently.

  The Crown Prince saw King Jia's eyebrows with a smile and took the opportunity to say: "The situation in previous years, Uncle Grandfather also knows, so I won't say more. Now Father Emperor intends to let this palace select some loyal, brave, filial and virtuous young men from the imperial clan to do things, this palace has high hopes for these two, at that time, Uncle Grandfather should not hold back talent."

  Jia Qian Wang laughed happily and said: "Won't happen, won't happen."

  The two of them chatted for a while longer, but the prince was busy with his affairs and soon stood up to bid farewell.

  Jiaqin Wang and Qin Lei were sent to the door. The prince pulled Qin Lei aside and whispered, "Li Hun will not dare to make trouble again, you just rest assured, after this month, when things have calmed down a bit, I'll send you out to practice martial arts. It's also good for Second Brother to prepare well during this month."

  Qin Lei smiled and said: "Everything depends on brother's instructions."

  The two brothers bid each other farewell. The crown prince also said goodbye to King Jia after speaking with him, and then got into the carriage and left. The horse-drawn carriage went far away, but he still looked back from the window.

  Jiaqin Wang looked at this handsome and elegant, but without a hint of femininity, the fifth prince, and smiled: "You and the Crown Prince have a very good relationship."

  Qin Lei nodded and smiled: "Although it's been sixteen years since we last met, when I was just a month old, my second brother held me. So the feelings are not bad."

  The two turned back into the main hall.

  After chatting for a while, Jiaqin Wang chuckled and said: "Your Highness is going to rest first before accepting the punishment, or accept the punishment first before resting?"

  Qin Lei smiled and said: "Let's fight first, after fighting, going to sleep will be especially sweet."

  Jiaqin Wang nodded and said: "It's quite generous. Come on! Prepare the flogging punishment for the Fifth Prince."

  Two attendants came in, led Qin Lei behind the screen, and took out a set of clothes for Qin Lei to change into. At first glance, this garment was a yellow robe with a number on it, but when worn on the body, it felt extremely heavy. Qin Lei curiously touched it, the outside was cowhide, and the inside was cotton.

  One of the guards saw him touching the fabric of his clothes and smiled, saying: "Your Highness, don't worry, wearing this garment, even if you're flogged with a whip, you probably won't feel any pain. There's just one thing - we'll really hit three whips at the end."

  Qin Lei curiously asked: "Is there anything particular about it?"

  "Firstly, this is our royal family's ancestral land, if you don't come at all, it would be somewhat disrespectful to our ancestors. Secondly, it looks more realistic, so that no one will wag their tongues unnecessarily."

  Qin Lei thought to himself, "This little soldier is actually a dragon breed, although I don't know how many generations have passed, but being mixed up to this point is enough to show that the clan's days are not easy either." He resented not being the crown prince and had promised King Jia to find jobs for his two grandsons.

  Nodding at the same time: "No problem. Let's go to the execution ground then."

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  Today is weekend, early morning delivery of the first shift, wish everyone a good mood on weekends.

  Well, I won't boast anymore. I'll just update diligently from now on. Everyone, let's work hard and collect/recommend this! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~