Chapter 43: Bonus Chapter for Six Thousand Reviews

The Empress and Yongchang walked out together.

There were hardly anyone on either side, save for the two most exalted figures in the Great Liang dynasty today.

Palace lanterns hung high, casting a glow that made the entire night as bright as day.

One wore a graceful smile, casually appreciating the nocturnal scenery of the palace, while the other wore an ugly expression, looking as though he had more to say.

In the end, Yongchang spoke first: "The Crown Prince, devoid of all reason, actually fancies men?!"

"Whom he fancies is hardly something outsiders can control," Chang Hezhu said casually. "Back then, after we were married, you took a fancy to Tao Bingyu. Of your imperial father and mother, and myself, who was ever able to control you?"

Yongchang’s expression shifted slightly. He subconsciously took two steps back, his tone defensive: "A man having three wives and four concubines is only natural..."

"How is it unnatural for the Crown Prince to like men?"

"You can actually tolerate such a thing?!" Yongchang raised his head again and said, "That Wen Biesang, can he carry on the family line for Chengyun?!"

"Chengyun cannot carry on the family line for him either. It balances out, perfectly fair."

"You..." Yongchang looked as if he had heard something utterly preposterous. "How can you utter such words?"

"You surely didn't think I gave birth to Chengyun just to carry on your family line, did you?"

The Empress looked over with a face of feigned astonishment. Yongchang's expression froze, then turned even more unsightly.

The Empress’s voice carried a hint of amusement: "How fascinating, Gong Ji. To think that in your eyes, I am such a self-sacrificing and magnanimous person."

"Chang Hezhu..."

"I gave birth to Chengyun because your imperial father promised me that the moment Chengyun was born, he would be the Grand Imperial Grandson. Even if the Tao woman were to bear eight or ten sons, they would never be able to shake his position. Aside from that, he also promised to hand the Bureau of Pacification over to me to manage, and bestowed upon me the Roaring Waves Staff, allowing me to wield absolute power in Shengjing."

Mentioning this, Chang Hezhu’s gaze was laced with a smile, yet filled with wild ambition: "The foundation of the Chang family lies entirely in the northern border. I knew very well what I was coming to the capital to do. The goal of the Bureau of Pacification is to pacify troubles internally and defend against threats externally. With the Bureau of Pacification in my hands, I hold the vast majority of intelligence concerning both myself and my enemies. That is far broader than commanding battles in the northern border."

Yongchang had no desire to discuss this topic with her: "What I am talking to you about right now is Chengyun! If he takes a male consort, then we will simply have to depose the Crown Prince!"

As he spoke, his expression carried a trace of resolute determination, bordering on a threat. Yet Chang Hezhu remained entirely unruffled. "Haven't you always wanted to depose the Crown Prince? The Prince of Chu is your firstborn son after all, I can understand."

Yongchang had not expected that even this statement could not rattle her. He said, "Do you not care about his future at all?!"

"My son's future..." Chang Hezhu said softly, "naturally relies on me, his mother, to fight and seize for him."

Amidst Yongchang's stunned expression, she turned squarely around, the corner of her eye filled with both contempt and disdain: "Surely you didn't expect to hand it to him yourself?"

After taking a few steps, she stopped with her back to Yongchang, and as if she had just remembered something, she dropped casually, "This is a splendid opportunity to depose the Crown Prince. Don't worry, this palace has its own counter-measures waiting for you."

After the family banquet concluded, Yongchang strode forward at a rapid pace. The Noble Imperial Consort hurried after him, calling out, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! What on earth is wrong? Did that unhinged Empress provoke your ire once more? Your Majesty!"

She was forced into a trot, catching the edge of his sleeve as she pleaded, "If they insist on acting willfully, Your Majesty need not endure it. Since he is dead-set on having a male consort, why not issue a decree proclaiming this to the world and select a different heir—"

"You have quite the imagination!!" Yongchang flung her hand away, enraged. "He is the Grand Imperial Grandson enfeoffed by the late Emperor! To depose the Crown Prince, unless he commits some heinous crime that outrages both gods and men... Just a man, nothing more... I haven't even made a move, and that unhinged Empress has already prepared her countermeasures! She is practically itching to tear off her facade with me!"

A flash of panic crossed the Noble Imperial Consort's face, but steeling herself, she gritted her teeth and said, "Then tear your faces off with her... Prince Pingxi is, after all—"

"Do you think this is a game of house?!" Yongchang interrupted. "What is it you people want? The Chang family of the northern border and Prince Pingxi mobilizing troops over the succession struggle? Have you lost your mind?! What do you take the common people for? Are the wars of this realm something you can initiate just because you feel like it? Can anyone afford to live their lives anymore?"

"Your Majesty... I did not mean it that way..."

"From the very beginning, I told you not to meddle in Chengyun's affairs... I do not wish to tear faces off with her, and even less do I wish to resort to weapons against her. As for you..." Yongchang pointed at her, gazing at the delicate and lovely face before him with a mix of fury and bitter amusement. "You... Bingyu, you truly are..."

The Noble Imperial Consort twisted her fingers together, listening as he rebuked: "A frog at the bottom of a well, harboring fantastical delusions, utterly overestimating oneself, and completely absurd!"

She stood rigidly in place, breathing heavily as she watched his retreating figure with his hands clasped behind his back.

Clenching her fingers tight, her expression was flooded with bitter jealousy and resentment.

Inside the Changle Palace, the moment Wen Biesang stepped in, he caught sight of several snow-white rabbits.

Bending down to touch one, the rabbit immediately gave a kick with its hind legs and darted three feet away.

Wen Biesang paused in surprise, then slowly walked closer. The rabbit chewed unhurriedly on a vegetable leaf in its mouth, looking as though it cared not a whit about his approach.

Yet the moment he reached out his hand again, the rabbit bounded away with a leap, hopping three or four times to put a greater distance between them, though remaining close enough to be easily seen.

The Empress let out a sudden chuckle. "These rabbits are quite the seducers. Every time, they just stand there blankly, looking as though they are earnestly eating and paying you no mind whatsoever. But the moment you make a move to catch them, they instantly become exceptionally nimble. Truly, one cannot help but both hate and love them."

Chengyun remarked with a trace of emotion, "Indeed so."

"What, do you keep a rabbit as well?"

Wen Biesang straightened up and looked over. Chengyun averted his gaze, saying, "Watching him try to catch it just now, isn't it obvious?"

"Sit." The Empress took a seat casually on a chair. Wen Biesang walked over and sat beside her, speaking with proper decorum, "Actually, I am not the Crown Prince's fiancée."

The Empress first glanced at her son, whose expression remained cool, looking as though he had long since grown accustomed to this.

With a smile, the Empress turned her gaze back to Wen Biesang. "Of course I know you aren't."

Wen Biesang was enlightened. "You knew I was coming to see you?"

"That I didn't know," the Empress said with curiosity. "What is it you are here to see me for?"

"Mother," Chengyun interposed in time. The Empress collected her thoughts and waved her hand, prompting the female officials to immediately lead everyone else in withdrawing.

Wen Biesang looked at Chengyun, and only after receiving a subtle nod from him did he speak: "We discovered that Zhou Cangshu is colluding with the enemy and committing treason!"

Chang Hezhu raised an eyebrow. Chengyun added, "The news was brought by Xie Lingshu of Gentleman's City."

In concise terms, Chengyun recounted the whole affair. Chang Hezhu nodded, saying, "Actually, I discovered something was amiss seven years ago, but that old fox is too cautious; we were never able to catch him by the tail."

"Since he acts with such caution, why don't we strike at him through Shen Rufeng's side?"

"Shen Rufeng, the ruler of the Qi State?"

"Precisely," Chengyun said. "Zhou Cangshu has served as prime minister for many years now, with deep roots entrenched in the imperial court and an armor of absolute immunity. Moving against him is as difficult as scaling the heavens. But Shen Rufeng is different. He is suspicious, hot-tempered, and intolerant of any infringement. If we can force his hand, Shen Rufeng will undoubtedly have to reactivate this spy, Zhou Cangshu."

"You mean..."

"Our current problem is that we cannot accurately ascertain how Zhou Cangshu and Shen Rufeng are secretly communicating, nor do we know what transactions they have made over the years, leaving us no room to strike. But what if we help them manufacture a transaction and probe from that angle?"

Wen Biesang looked at Chengyun as if meeting him for the first time today. Chang Hezhu also wore a look of approval. "Not bad, my son. The student has surpassed the master."

Chengyun straightened up, casting a sideways glance at Wen Biesang to find him equally astonished, which immediately made him feel immensely vindicated. He said solemnly, "However, these matters will require the cooperation of my uncle and cousin."

"Speak," Chang Hezhu said with keen interest. "Let's see if there is any place where this mother of yours can lend a hand."

The long candles burned, emitting crackling sounds. As the wax grew shorter, the Empress personally escorted them out of Changle Palace. "Regarding the matter between you and Ah Sang, I have already spoken of it with your Imperial Father. Barring any accidents, he should issue an imperial decree bestowing a marriage..."

Wen Biesang said, "But we agreed to only be fiancés for a single day."

Chengyun's expression dimmed. Chang Hezhu smiled once more. "I haven't finished. This move is also intended to see how he responds. If the decrees for the marriage and the deposition of the Crown Prince are issued together, Chengyun, we and your Imperial Father will be locked in an irreconcilable struggle."

Chengyun’s gaze turned heavy, and he emitted a soft "en."

Wen Biesang seemed to dawn on the realization. "You are testing him?"

"Precisely." The Empress made no attempt to conceal her intentions from him. "This matter is my scheme. I want to see whether he still cares about Chengyun as the Crown Prince, to give him a choice on whether or not he truly wishes to depose Chengyun."

The look she cast over carried a faint trace of apology. "Dragging you into this was unavoidable. I truly hope it does not affect your relationship with Chengyun."

"It's fine," Wen Biesang shook his head immediately. "Actually, I don't care much about these things either."

The Empress chuckled softly, and Chengyun could not help but be amused. Wen Biesang continued, "Since this involves a scheme, then by all means use me as you see fit. Anyway, I don't like him, and that's that—no imperial marriage decree can sway my mind."

Unaware of the complex expressions on the faces of the mother and son, Wen Biesang added, "What if he issues the marriage decree and yet doesn't depose the Crown Prince?"

"That would indicate..." The Empress watched her son's expression, answering somewhat absentmindedly, "that he still retains affection for Chengyun."

"Hard to say," Wen Biesang reasoned. "Perhaps it's like boiling a frog in warm water? After all, he has already taken a male consort, and everyone will assume he has no chance at the throne. What if many talented people end up flowing over to the Prince of Chu's side instead?"

The Empress was slightly startled, then fell into deep thought. "Ah Sang has considered this very thoroughly. I hadn't even thought of that."

Wen Biesang lifted his chin with a hint of small pride. "Then you must make proper preparations. Even if he does issue the marriage decree, it might not be out of goodwill. I've noticed he always deliberately picks on Chengyun; he's quite wicked."

The Empress burst into laughter, nodding repeatedly. "Alright, alright, we will be on our guard. The hour is late, hurry back and rest."

Wen Biesang replied with an "en" and said, "Goodnight, Empress."

He turned and hopped into the carriage with brisk footsteps.

Chengyun's mood fluctuated between light and dark, growing rather complicated by this point. "Hasn't Mother always said that Imperial Father dislikes us, and the more pampered and arrogant I act, the more at ease he is? Why, all of a sudden..."

"I was just speaking off the cuff," the Empress said, glancing toward the carriage. "Ah Sang is a good child, clean and untainted. Even though he doesn't fancy you right now, he is still looking out for you. Make sure you never fail him."

Chengyun nodded. "Lately, I've had a persistent sense of unease. That dream from before..."