The Time Spent In Pretense （造作时光） By Yue Xia Die Ying （月下碟影）

Chapter 3: To Judge by Appearance

At the same time, the secret letter of Lin Huizhi's nearly assassination was sent to the emperor's royal case.

Emperor Changlong read the secret letter with a sullen face and said nothing. The eunuch who served him did not dare to raise his head, fearing that the emperor would be dissatisfied.

The silence can be defeaning but no one can break it.

At this moment, footsteps came from outside the hall, the pace was very brisk.

"Father Emperor."

Hearing this call, the palace attendants relaxed unconsciously.

The young man who came in was dressed in a brocade, standing long and standing tall, and his appearance was even more outstanding. As soon as he appeared, it seemed that the entire hall was lit up.

The court attendants bent over to salute: "His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince."

The prince walked in front of the emperor and looked a bit lazy. He gave Emperor Changlong a salute: "Which senseless person makes Your Majesty angry again?"

"No one is more capable than you." Emperor Changlong said hotly, put down the secret letter in his hand, and looked up at the coming person, "Yesterday, your eldest brother established his own state, did you follow to drink?"

"Big brother wants to toast to Erchen*. In front of so many people, Erchen can't face him." The prince sat lazily on the chair. "The rumor about our brother's disagreement, if heard, you will be the one to feel saddened wouldn't you?"
Erchen 儿臣 - how a prince address himself when facing the emperor / empress.

Seeing his boneless appearance, Emperor Changlong wanted to rebuke a few words, but he couldn't bear to say, "Lin Huizhi encountered an assassination in a station in Huanghuai County."

The prince looked at Emperor Changlong and waited for him to continue.

"Fortunately, there was an accident in this incident, which allowed him to escape."

"Oh." The prince lowered her eyelids, which was a pity.

"Looking like you are still disappointed?"

"He exaggerates big brother in front of Your Majesty every day. He always picks up Erchen's faults, and hopes to pull the Erchen down from the position of the crown prince, and then plug the eldest brother up." The prince said slowly, "Your honored self knows very well, when Erchen have a problem, Erchen bear grudges."

"If he really died, it's you who will be in trouble." Emperor Changlong sighed, "The court knows that you don't like Lin Huizhi. If he died unclearly, other people dare not say that but that doesn't mean they won't think it in their hearts."

The prince laughed softly, and he liked it when the people who hate him were uneasy but didn't dare to say it

Sitting in his position, even if he does nothing, countless people will pick on him.

Seeing his appearance, Emperor Changlong knew what the prince thinking, he was supported by him so he had never considered these things: "You, you..."

The father and son were talking, and an eunuch came in to ask for instructions, saying that it was Consort Xian who asked for audience.

Emperor Changlong was considering the marriage of his eldest son recently, and when he heard a consort was coming, the Emperor let her in. When Xian* Fei* came in, he closed the secret letter on the table.
Xian 贤 - worthy or virtuous person
Fei 妃 - imperial concubine

"Qie* has seen Your Majesty." Although Xian Fei was almost forty years old, her face was still outstanding. She bowed to the Emperor Changlong and she smiled at the crown prince in a motherly smile.
Qie 妾 - this concubine, your servant, address used by imperial consorts in front of the emperor/empress.