Who put the yellow robe on me?

Guo Wulie's eyes flickered with slight hesitation, as if he was weighing whether he should have a private conversation with Jiang Chen.

It seemed as if every second was increasing the weight of the conversation, and Jiang Chen was like a silent statue, waiting for the storm to unfold.

Guo Wulie's footsteps echoed in the hall. He slowly approached and when he stood in front of Jiang Chen, he looked more haggard than before.

He already had a thin face, and now he looked even thinner, with a hint of fatigue and anxiety between his brows, and the bloodshot under his eyes made him look as if he had reached his limit.

He was so exhausted mentally that even his body couldn't support his emaciated frame anymore. Every step he took seemed to delay his courage to face it all.

Jiang Chen glanced at him calmly, his gaze as sharp as a sword, as if he could penetrate every layer of Guo Wulie's defenses and see into his heart. "Minister Guo has become thinner. He is no longer the Minister Guo he used to be."

Jiang Chen's voice was calm, but every word was like a knife, piercing directly into Guo Wulie's heart.

Guo Wulie's expression changed slightly, a flash of panic in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He clasped his hands together gently, as if searching for a movement that would calm him.

Jiang Chen's gaze was cold and sharp, piercing his inner defenses. At that moment, Guo Wulie felt as if he were standing on the edge of a cliff, unable to maintain his footing despite the sand and dirt beneath his feet.

He sighed softly, his voice tinged with fatigue and resignation, as if deliberately masking his inner unease. "Your Highness, Sixteenth Prince, to be honest, I have indeed been feeling rather exhausted lately. Due to the busy affairs of the court, coupled with the occasional disturbances at home, I have been unable to sleep at night and have been feeling a bit down. I am truly sorry to have to excuse my behavior, Your Highness."

There was no hesitation in his tone. He tried to hide his tiredness and make Jiang Chen think that all this was just a minor inconvenience.

However, Jiang Chen noticed from the subtle changes in his eyes that it wasn't just the external fatigue that was affecting him. Guo Wulie's heart was clearly filled with more complex entanglements and anxieties.

Jiang Chen did not respond directly, but looked at him quietly, with a cold light flashing in his eyes, as if he wanted to dissect Guo Wulie's heart layer by layer.

He noticed Guo Wulie's reaction and had already seen through it, but he was in no hurry to expose it. He chose to remain silent, as if using this silent confrontation to force Guo Wulie to reveal more of the truth.

The air in the room became increasingly solemn. Only the flames of candles in the distance flickered slightly, making a slight rustling sound, as if playing a prelude to the upcoming conversation.

Jiang Chen slowly put down the teacup in his hand, turned his gaze as sharp as a knife to Guo Wulie, and said in a voice with a hint of coldness that could not be ignored: "Minister Guo, the busy affairs of the court are one thing, but the troubles at home are not something you can solve alone. You should know that there are some things that cannot be avoided."

This sentence was like a pour of cold water, instantly making Guo Wulie's face even more gloomy. He froze for a moment, leaning back slightly, like a wounded beast, unsure how to respond to the impending threat.

Guo Wulie's eyes were a little flustered. He had obviously not expected Jiang Chen to bring up this topic so directly and openly. He swallowed subconsciously, his mouth dry, as if trying to find an excuse to refute, but he couldn't find the right words.

Finally, he suppressed his inner trembling and smiled, trying to calm the sudden pressure. "Your Highness is right. I do feel guilty. However, there are certain things...that shouldn't be discussed too much with my family."

Although his words were steady, Jiang Chen could still discern the underlying meaning within them. His hesitation was clearly due to Guo Wulie harboring an unspoken secret, or perhaps he had realized that Jiang Chen's gaze had already penetrated the lies surrounding him, forcing him to confront the truths he was unwilling to face.

Jiang Chen smiled slightly, his eyes growing more serious, as if foreshadowing a more profound conversation to come. "So, Minister Guo, should we discuss your relationship with the other princes?"

As soon as these words came out, the air seemed to freeze. Guo Wulie's heart suddenly beat violently, and his expression instantly became extremely complicated. One could even see the slight tremor of his Adam's apple.

Jiang Chen's bluntness left him exposed, and for a moment, an indescribable complex expression emerged on his face. A few seconds of silence, like an unspoken contest between the two, finally forced Guo Wulie to lower his head and take a deep breath, as if making some kind of decision.

"Sixteenth Prince," Guo Wulie's voice was low and a little hoarse, "Please understand. The situation compels us, and my family, young and old, to live out our final days in peace and tranquility. I am already at this age, and I don't want to compete for fame and fortune. I just hope that nothing more will happen."

He paused for a moment, as if trying to calm his emotions. But at this moment, he suddenly raised his head, looking at Jiang Chen with a look of determination and frankness in his eyes.

"Besides..." Guo Wulie's lips trembled slightly, as if he had been struggling with something. His voice suddenly became choked. "Besides, Sixteenth Prince, during the time you were away from the capital, the other princes had long regarded us, the veterans who had followed you, as thorns in their eyes and flesh. I was maneuvering between them because I was forced to do so..."

These words struck Jiang Chen directly in the heart. Guo Wulie's confession and pain caused Jiang Chen's brows to furrow slightly. He had never imagined that the period since his departure would bring such great pressure to his former supporters. Guo Wulie had always been smooth and able to navigate the court with ease, but he had never expected that at this moment, he would appear so helpless.

Suddenly, Guo Wulie seemed to have made up his mind, and his eyes revealed a firmness and determination he had never seen before.

He bent his knees and knelt down in front of Jiang Chen, clasping his fists and bowing: "But please rest assured, Your Highness, I, Guo, have absolutely never done anything to let Your Highness down."

His voice was low and sonorous, as if it contained a certain determination and confidence, as if he was promising unconditional loyalty.

Jiang Chen was stunned for a moment. Although he was surprised by the sudden kneeling, he did not speak immediately.

Compared to Guo Wulie's glib attitude, Jiang Chen's guard was slightly lowered by his frankness and sincerity. He hadn't expected Guo Wulie to express his position so directly.

A complex look flashed across Jiang Chen's eyes, and the coldness dissipated slightly. He stood there quietly, as if deep in thought, his gaze becoming softer.

"Whether you have betrayed me or not, I have my own opinion. Tell me, what intelligence have you got recently?" He asked softly. Although his tone was calm, it revealed a kind of pressure that could not be ignored.