AWB Chapter 252 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (152)
Chapter 252 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (152)
Lu Yushi had never faced such a situation before, completely isolated and helpless, with no one to talk to or discuss things with.
Although she was the legitimate daughter at home, she was not allowed to get involved in many household affairs.
In her daily life at home, she mostly stayed at home, taking care of herself, learning to play the zither and do embroidery, hoping to marry into a good family in the future.
She occasionally learned how to manage various affairs and run a household, but she didn't like it. Her mother also didn't seriously supervise or urge her on.
At that time, she didn't need to think about anything. The thing that required her most brainpower was to outwit the other girls in and outside the mansion.
After entering the Second Prince's palace, the Second Prince usually ignored her. No matter how self-important Lu Yushi was, she knew that she was not favored.
To please the Second Prince, Lu Yushi took the tasks assigned by the Second Prince very seriously. Last time, she was ordered by the Second Prince to test Lu Luliruan, and Lu Yushi felt that she had done a very good job.
But in the end, the second prince didn't give her a kind look...
Lu Yushi felt uneasy, unsure of where she had gone wrong, or whether she was simply being blamed by the Second Prince.
But she had no time to think, for a sudden and devastating storm swept in.
During his confinement, Lu Yushi lived a life of utter darkness.
Even a prince wouldn't have an easy time if the emperor was angry.
Moreover, as a mere concubine, she not only lacked food and clothing, but also suffered from frostbite on her hands in the winter, a hardship she had never experienced before.
During that period, Lu Yushi had no mood to think about anything else. She sighed all day long, wondering why her life was so bad.
After finally being released, Lu Yushi thought to herself: "Finally, I can have a few good days..."
But to her surprise, her good days didn't last long. When she overheard some news, she felt dizzy and almost made a sound, almost getting caught. Luckily, she managed to cover her mouth tightly and swallow it back down.
When she returned to her room, she couldn't help but burst into tears, her heart pounding, not knowing what to do.
In the past, I would only suffer some hardship, but if this time the truth comes out, I probably won't even be able to save my life.
Not only is his own life in danger, but his family's too...
Lu Yushi simply dared not think any further.
She has no one to talk to; she's completely terrified!
She felt that any news or disturbance meant that her secret had been exposed and that someone was going to implicate and punish her.
This made her lose her appetite and sleep. Originally, she didn't know whether she had been exposed by Lu Liruan, but she just let it go and didn't contact Lu Liruan.
But this time, she had no other choice.
This morning, her eyelids twitched violently. After a moment's thought, she rushed over to Lu Liruan's place.
Seeing Lu Liruan so calm and composed, with a smile playing on her lips, Lu Yushi almost broke down and blurted out the whole story...
For some reason, when she looked at Lu Liruan, she always felt a strange sense of security, as if Lu Liruan was very capable of handling things. This was a feeling she had never experienced with Lu Liruan when she was still young.
She didn't know why, but Lu Liruan seemed to have changed completely in the past few years, but she had no time to think about it.
If I tell her what happened, wouldn't I feel a little more at ease?
At that time, will we be able to...?
Lu Yushi shook her head violently, trying to banish the idea from her mind.
No!
not the right time yet.
She had no choice but to return to the mansion and continue to wait anxiously...
Inside the palace, the atmosphere was tense and anxious. Ji Shuqin, Ji Shumin, and the Second Prince Ji Shuling were all present. Their expressions were unreadable, but only they knew what they were thinking.
Ji Shumin looked somewhat listless, leaning back in his chair with his eyes slightly closed as if trying to rest. His face was a little pale, and he appeared listless and inattentive.
Ji Shuqin sat upright, his expression calm yet serious. His gaze was firm and steady, carrying a subtle sense of authority. Only when he turned to look at Ji Shumin did a hint of concern and gentleness appear on his face.
"Would you like to rest for a bit?" He patted Ji Shumin's hand, feeling that his younger brother's body was cold, and called for a palace maid to bring up a hand warmer.
"No need, I will stay here with my brother." Ji Shumin said softly, his eyes still closed.
"Hmm, if you can't hold on any longer, what will people think? Why are you still so weak? Why don't we have the imperial physician examine you properly in the palace today?"
"No need. I know my own body. Your Majesty, you don't need to worry about me. Besides, I won't die..." he said leisurely, his lowered eyes glancing casually at Ji Shuling, taking in the other's expression.
Ji Shuling, whose mind was on high alert, naturally noticed his deliberate glance.
He thought to himself: Ha, with your sickly appearance, you probably won't live for more than a few years. It would be better if you died, so as not to be a nuisance!
After the account book incident, Ji Shuling's attempt to frame Ji Shumin backfired, and Ji Shumin retaliated in the same way. This back-and-forth cemented their enmity.
When Ji Shumin was still the crown prince, Ji Shuling didn't dare to confront him directly. But after Ji Shumin became disabled, Ji Shuling's unspoken sense of pride was inexplicably satisfied.
In the past, no matter how much he bluffed when facing Ji Shumin, he was always insecure and inferior. Deep down, he always felt that he was no match for Ji Shumin.
But now that it doesn't hurt anymore, no matter how much Ji Shumin debates with the scholars and how resourceful he is, he is still a cripple who will never be able to stand up. If I stand in front of him, he will have to look up to me!
Gradually, Ji Shuling and Ji Shumin became at odds. Just when he was at his most triumphant, thinking he could finally crush Ji Shumin, he was dealt a heavy blow by Ji Shumin and defeated once again, paying a heavy price...
After being released from confinement, Ji Shuling showed no signs of slowing down. On the contrary, his fighting spirit burned at its peak. He was determined to crush Ji Shumin under his feet!
Once he defeats Ji Shumin, no one else will be able to control him; he will take Ji Shumin's life!
In the past, there was a monarch who, after ascending the throne, executed several of his brothers and was regarded as a tyrant by later generations. When the current emperor ascended the throne, his brothers also met with bad ends. Although they fought so fiercely that it came to a life-or-death struggle, if they hadn't gone that far, it would have been the emperor of that time who went that far.
Even so, the emperor was still occasionally criticized, and in later historical records, he would definitely not be considered a benevolent ruler.
History books are so harsh, recording each dynasty in detail, and looking back, they can even be cruel.
But Ji Shuling didn't care anymore. Even if future generations talked about it, he still wanted Ji Shumin dead! If Ji Shumin didn't die, he would always be like a mountain in his heart, which he had never been able to climb over since he was a child. Since that was the case, then he would move that mountain flat!
He was almost obsessed, his gaze, tinged with a hint of ruthlessness, fixed on Ji Shumin.
Ji Shumin showed no sign of backing down, remaining calm and composed, as if he were superior and had victory in his grasp, meeting his gaze.
Ji Shumin curled the corners of his lips, a hint of undisguised disdain flashing in his eyes, which ignited Ji Shuling's anger, making his rage and resentment practically tangible.
He no longer wanted to fight Ji Shumin; instead, he wanted to rush over, grab him by the collar, and lift his frail, paper-thin body from the wheelchair…
Punch him hard a few times on that face that always seems to despise him, until that expression turns into pain and fear!
I want to throw him to the ground, stomp on his ribs to break him so he can never say anything hurtful again, kick him until he kneels like a dog begging for mercy, and make him look up at me.
Ji Shuling was acting neurotically, with the veins throbbing on his forehead, making his expression appear strange and fierce.
As for Ji Shuqin, what is his elder brother, who is currently showing concern for Ji Shumin, without Ji Shumin?
He is nothing...
He really is flexible and adaptable. Even with Ji Shumin riding on his neck, he can still put on this accommodating and concerned face. He's really good at enduring things. In fact, he's also disgusted with Ji Shumin...
Ji Shuling couldn't control his thoughts; he seemed to be in a state where he viewed everyone with malice.
He subconsciously used the most malicious intent to speculate about other people's thoughts. As he looked at the scene of Ji Shuqin and Ji Shumin being affectionate and respectful to each other, he mocked them wildly in his mind: It's disgusting!
He gripped the armrests of the chair tightly, silent, his veins bulging.
But he couldn't control his gaze, and Ji Shuqin noticed it too. At this moment, Ji Shumin had already looked away from his gaze, which was carrying a hint of deliberate provocation, and was now squinting listlessly again.
Therefore, when Ji Shuqin met Ji Shuling's gaze, which was filled with hatred, he only felt that it was Ji Shuling who was unilaterally showing malice towards his younger brother.
Ji Shuling himself was unaware that he was staring at Ji Shumin so intently that his eyes were practically glued to him, until... another figure entered his field of vision, and he suddenly snapped back to reality!
Ji Shuqin turned his body to the side to shield Ji Shumin from the hateful gaze.
His expression remained calm and upright, his movements as straight as a pine tree and as bright as the moon. With the most resolute and protective stance, he steadily and unwaveringly protected his younger brother...
No one can shake him.
Ji Shuling suddenly came to her senses and angrily withdrew her gaze.
When they looked again after a while, Ji Shumin, standing beside Ji Shuqin, tilted his head slightly, his long neck forming an arc. He glanced at Ji Shuling through the gap, as if deliberately mocking her.
He knew everything; he did it on purpose! Ji Shuling almost gritted her teeth.
"Your Highness the First Prince, Your Highness the Second Prince, Your Highness the Third Prince." A man dressed in eunuch's robes, with a pale face and a thin, tall frame like a straw, walked in, bowing and speaking in a soft, feminine voice, and greeted the princes.
"Have the interrogations yielded any results?" Ji Shuling asked first.
Ji Shuqin frowned slightly and nodded to the eunuch who was looking at him, indicating that he should speak plainly.
"That brat insisted that he took advantage of the guards and servants' inattention to sneak in and steal some valuables to sell outside the palace," the eunuch said slowly and sinisterly.
"They said their younger sister was seriously ill, and even if they gave away all the money from their palace allowance, it wouldn't be enough to help her, so they came up with this crooked scheme..."
"Ha! Those guards and palace servants should be held responsible! How dare they not serve the Emperor diligently? They should all be dragged out and beaten to death! As a warning to others, let's see who dares to be negligent in the future!"
Upon hearing the eunuch's words, Ji Shuling rebuked him sternly, his brows furrowed tightly, his words conveying a deep concern and heartache.
“Although Father Emperor is not in any serious danger… he still needs to be punished and cannot be let off lightly!” he continued.
Ji Shuqin turned to look at him, displeased by his intense killing intent: "What are your thoughts, Admiral Lin?"
The man speaking was a chief eunuch in the inner court, specializing in interrogation. Those who passed through his hands rarely lied.
Everyone in the palace knew he was ruthless. After being interrogated by him, even a person made of iron would be crippled. His moods were unpredictable, and everyone in the palace who heard his name felt a chill run down their spine.
Today, he must be the one to take charge. There were still a few splatters of blood on the hem of his dark blue eunuch's robe.
"This servant's filthy appearance has offended the eyes of the princes. This servant begs for forgiveness..." He realized his mistake and spoke in a drawn-out tone, but he did not kneel down. Instead, his tone was stern.
"Nothing, just say it."
"This servant believes there's more to this than meets the eye, but this person... is hard to pry open. I suspect there are other reasons as well." Admiral Lin mused, "Why don't you leave him with me and let me interrogate him properly!"
As he spoke, an interest gleamed in his eyes, as if tormenting such a rare and tough opponent was quite amusing to him.
Ji Shuqin pondered deeply, Ji Shumin seemed indifferent, while Ji Shuling clenched her fists tightly inside her sleeves.
But Ji Shuling dared not speak carelessly again, for too much talk could lead to mistakes. He had to be extremely vigilant in front of Ji Shumin.
"This servant has brought the people up, but there are some... Would the princes like to take a look?" Admiral Lin's voice did not contain any apology.
With the sound of iron chains scraping against the ground, a person... walking with a dripping sound, limp and boneless, was left on the floor.
When we arrived, there was a crimson streak on the ground, and the house reeked of blood.
"Wake up, stop pretending to be dead!" Admiral Lin stomped on the man's limp hand with his toe, his nails curling back. With a cry of pain, the man slowly woke up.
Upon seeing the person before him, the little eunuch, dragging his deformed legs, couldn't kneel up, so he prostrated himself and desperately kowtowed his head to the ground: "Your Highness! I beg you! Have mercy! Let this servant die! This servant was truly bewitched for a moment, this servant is willing to atone for his sins with death! Please have mercy!" he wailed.
Ji Shuqin frowned uncomfortably, but this was not the time for him to soften his heart.
Last night, this young eunuch sneaked into the emperor's bedroom. When he was caught, he had a short knife tucked into his waistband. He was arrested on suspicion of assassinating the emperor and sent to the inner palace for interrogation.
That's how the incident of urgently summoning several princes to the palace in the dead of night came about...