Chapter 49

The emperor wished to keep the verdict from the Qianyuan Palace trial under wraps. After all, whether it was the Seventh Prince killing someone on the spot to avenge his mother, the former Noble Consort beaten to death with clubs, or the Grand Empress Dowager’s demand to "witness the ceremony"... each of these revelations would cause a tremendous uproar both inside and outside the court.

The emperor truly felt distressed and hoped to take a breather.

It was worth noting that the night before the Third Prince’s fall from his horse, the emperor had been so angered by Xue Jin’an that he couldn’t sleep, rising in the middle of the night to get some fresh air and catching a chill. He barely managed half a morning court session before noon. Feeling somewhat better after lunch, he summoned officials of third rank and above for a small meeting in the palace. However, before finishing the memorials, a series of bad news came flooding in.

The emperor had thought carefully; since the last purge, the Qianyuan Palace had been much cleaner, with no leaks. Yet this matter had become too big—everyone in the palace, whether they should know or not, had heard some whispers. There were many channels through which news could spread.

When the emperor ordered the princes to be detained, the officials in the small meeting were still present. Their keen interest in the matter led them, against the emperor’s wishes, to learn the outcome of the handling.

Even more against the emperor’s will, they immediately demanded an audience with the emperor. Even members of the imperial clan came to stir up trouble. When the emperor refused to see them, they knelt for a long time at the Meridian Gate. The emperor’s brief command, “Discuss this during morning court,” shut them down, and the Imperial Guards forcibly sent them home.

After sending them away, the emperor did not feel any relief. Their memorials had been left behind and brought in by the guards.

Though the emperor claimed he would neither read nor respond to them, tossing the memorials aside, he tossed and turned on the dragon bed. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Xiao Shu scolding him for incompetence, the Grand Empress Dowager’s words filled with hidden dissatisfaction and reprimand... it was as if he had been transported back to his childhood.

The late emperor had favored Consort Hui and wished to make her empress and her son crown prince. The Grand Empress Dowager, harboring resentment over the empress’s tragic death, strongly opposed Consort Hui. This led to a bitter power struggle between mother and son, almost causing a split in the court.

In the end, the Grand Empress Dowager prevailed. Consort Hui and her two sons from a previous marriage were executed after losing the military conflict. Consort Hui fell ill and never recovered, losing the unborn heir she carried.

The Grand Empress Dowager then chose Xue Sheng, whose birth mother had died early, as crown prince, raising him by her side—he was now the reigning emperor.

Because of this background, the late emperor treated him coldly and harshly, often summoning him to the study for reprimands. The Grand Empress Dowager also maintained strict demands, rarely showing him praise or approval.

Since taking power, he had not faced such turmoil for a long time. But what truly robbed him of sleep was his fear that the Grand Empress Dowager would meddle in the succession again.

After all, this was not the first time such matters had arisen.

The emperor was deeply grateful to the Grand Empress Dowager. Without her, he would have remained the neglected little prince who lost his mother, perhaps destined to be granted a mere princely title or to die unnoticed in some corner.

When the Grand Empress Dowager relinquished power and confined herself to the Cining Palace, his reluctance to let her go had been sincere.

Yet, he was no longer the boy he once was. The powerless Grand Empress Dowager was the most respected imperial grandmother in his heart.

The emperor’s eyes gazed deeply at the canopy above, his thoughts tangled and restless. Unable to sleep, he called out softly, “Li Hechun, light the lamps!”

Rising from the bed, the emperor had the Qianyuan Palace illuminated well into the late night.

“Long-winded memorials, either condemning the wanton killing of palace consorts as a violation of rites and lineage, or criticizing Bao Ning’s cruel and vicious actions, demanding severe punishment... Do I not know this?” The emperor snapped irritably, tossing the memorials aside as he paced the room with hands behind his back.

Glancing at the time, knowing he would have to face those ministers soon and listen to their complaints, he impulsively decided to suspend court for two more days.

“If they want to make a fuss, let them wait until after the burning of Consort Zhen’s body—then let them make all the noise they want, to stop the endless disturbances,” the emperor resolved to let things slide.

Li Hechun, observing the emperor’s expression, stepped forward quietly to massage his temples, easing the headache. “Your Majesty, I have a calming incense that ensures a night of peaceful, dreamless sleep. Shall I use it? You must rest a while.”

“It’s past the hour; a short rest will suffice.” The emperor waved a hand dismissively with eyes closed, then suddenly asked, “What of the Cold Palace?”

Li Hechun whispered, “She still clings to life, but seems delirious. I fear there’s little to be learned from her.”

“Feigning madness,” the emperor replied coolly, eyes opening sharply with clear, cold light. “Since she refuses the wine of courtesy, give her the punitive cup. Summon the Discipline Office and treat her as they do in the palace interrogations—by any means necessary, pry open her mouth for me.”

“Yes.” Li Hechun swallowed the chill in his heart and nodded. With a glance, two junior eunuchs silently slipped away.

The emperor closed his eyes again, suddenly asking, “How about the side hall?”

After yesterday’s affair concluded, the other princes had returned with their mothers, but the Fourth and Fifth Princes, bereft of their mothers, looked utterly lost. The emperor had them stay in the side hall overnight.

“This...” Li Hechun’s face turned awkward. “The Fourth and Fifth Princes seem to have fought.”

“Fought?!” The emperor’s eyes flew open in surprise. “Over what?”

“Apparently the Seventh Prince...” Li Hechun gave a brief account. “The Fourth Prince, grieving, sought revenge on the Seventh Prince. The Fifth Prince overheard and they quarreled. The Fifth Prince made the Fourth Prince cry, then the Fourth Prince tried to strike the Fifth Prince but was pinned down and insulted as a useless weakling.”

The emperor twitched his mouth, rubbing his forehead, unsure whether to blame the Fourth Prince’s weak strength or the Fifth Prince’s explosive power for the outcome.

“Did they cause any further trouble afterward?” the emperor inquired.

Li Hechun shook his head. “They returned to their rooms separately. The Fourth Prince cried himself to sleep, exhausted. The Fifth Prince seemed to have nightmares, waking and sleeping multiple times.”

The emperor nodded and asked no more.

Li Hechun relaxed in secret, wiping sweat from his brow.

Though he had spoken lightly of the princes’ quarrel, their exchanges had been far more brutal.

At that moment, the Fifth Prince had just bathed and was drying his hair, paying no attention to the filthy Fourth Prince sitting dazed in a corner.

Suddenly, the Fourth Prince stood up, clutching a dagger, and dashed out.

The Fifth Prince glanced over. “What are you doing?”

The Fourth Prince said fiercely, “I’m going to kill Xue Jin’an. He claimed ‘a life for a life.’ I must avenge my mother.”

“You?” The Fifth Prince chuckled dismissively, nodding perfunctorily before turning away. “Go ahead.”

The Fourth Prince halted, turning his tear-swollen red eyes to glare at the Fifth Prince. “Why didn’t you stop me?”

“You’re going to die by your own hand.” The Fifth Prince’s expression was indifferent, clearly unwilling to engage.

But the Fourth Prince stubbornly advanced, dagger in hand, standing before him. “Why do you think I can’t kill him? If I can’t do it once, I’ll try twice. Twice fails, I’ll try thrice! Someday, I will kill him. I will, I will…”

He couldn’t finish.

“You can’t even fool yourself.” The Fifth Prince sneered, ruthlessly exposing the lie, pushing the Fourth Prince’s face aside. “You’re blocking the light.”

The Fourth Prince sobbed angrily, “From now on, I’ll train hard. Though I can’t kill him now, I will be able to in the future!”

“No chance. Give up.” The Fifth Prince spoke bluntly.

This casual dismissal made the Fourth Prince burst into tears.

Growing weary of the conversation, the Fifth Prince spat venomously, “Xue Xuanyue, if you want to die, then just do it. Don’t stand here whining like a coward! You want to kill Xue Jin’an? If you really meant it, you wouldn’t ask why I didn’t stop you—stop fooling yourself.”

“Didn’t you already know how the Tenth Prince died? Didn’t you ask Xue Jin’an about it?” Seeing the Fourth Prince’s sudden pale face, the Fifth Prince raised an eyebrow and let out a slow laugh. “—Ha, so it really is like that?”

So, despite knowing that Xue Jin’an was indeed guilty of killing Consort Zhen, and that his own bullying of Xue Jin’an had been wrong... he had cowardly found an excuse to comfort himself into abandoning revenge.

“That’s why I say, Xue Jin’an is truly a living Bodhisattva.” The Fifth Prince smiled and gently patted the Fourth Prince’s cheek. “Fourth Brother, play the coward and the useless fool well; it’s not shameful.”

These words utterly broke the Fourth Prince’s defenses. Without knowing where he found the strength, he lunged at the Fifth Prince from the windowsill, attempting to strike him.

Caught off guard, the Fifth Prince staggered but managed to dodge the Fourth Prince’s blows with surprising luck.

“That’s right, you’re right. I am useless. I couldn’t even protect my mother’s body. I can’t avenge her. I’ll never defeat Xue Jin’an in this lifetime. I’m guilty, I’m anxious, I’m scared—I’m trash!”

The Fourth Prince stopped flailing, standing helplessly.

As the Fifth Prince instinctively paused, the Fourth Prince suddenly seized his collar.

“And you? What about you, Xue Junjue? How noble are you? Your mother died too, yet you never show any grief or sorrow. You cough—”

Before he could finish, a heavy fist struck his abdomen. His eyes bulged painfully like a fish’s, and he almost vomited.

Then the world spun. A hand covered his face and pressed him to the ground. The Fourth Prince struggled weakly, his cheek scraping the ground, burning painfully.

The Fifth Prince looked down at him with a harsh voice full of rage, “Xue Xuanyue, I’ll be honest with you. My mother always wanted me dead. I want her dead too. Not everyone is as lucky as you. Your mother, though a venomous woman, still retained some humanity toward you.”

“Xue Xuanyue, I can show you a clear path. After today, Xue Jin’an’s status changes. He is now the sole legitimate prince and the rightful crown prince. Many want him dead. You can go find them, bet your life on his death. Do you dare?”

“Coward, if you don’t dare, then stop acting crazy here.” The Fifth Prince released him, stood up, and turned away without another glance.

The Fourth Prince lay on the ground for a long time. When the spies hiding in the servant’s quarters wondered if he had fallen asleep, he finally shivered and staggered to his feet, dragging his steps through the dark courtyard and into his room.

*

Xue Jin’an, usually punctual in waking, had rare luxury of sleeping until noon. His first act was to check his health app. Seeing the data showed no issues, even some improvement, he paid it no further mind.