AWB Chapter 199 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (103)
Chapter 199 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (103)
They transferred all the palace servants away, leaving the hall empty and the courtyard stretching long along the wall, looking extremely grotesque and terrifying, with an eerie and frightening atmosphere.
"Is that enough?" The emperor, as if possessed, muttered incantations as he finished the ritual, then reached out and touched the blood to his forehead.
"Your Majesty is so devout, you will surely gain something," the Empress replied softly, her expression both calm and profound.
"I hope so. My head is always throbbing, and I sometimes even see ghosts, as if I'm falling into an endless hell," the Emperor said in a panic, his fear genuine.
If Lu Liruan were here and heard this, she would know that he had been poisoned to a certain extent and was already hallucinating.
Although hallucinations are caused by poisoning, what one sees and what kind of hallucinations one is trapped by are still related to one's thoughts and ideas. Often, the more one fears something or has done something memorable, the more likely it will appear before one's eyes, tormenting one and preventing one from finding peace.
The emperor desired immortality and to rule forever on the throne; naturally, his greatest fear was death…
The scenes he sees in his hallucinations are what he fears, and they are also what he constructs. The more terrifying and frightening the scenes he sees, the more afraid he becomes.
This cycle tormented him until he gradually lost his mind and did things he would never have done before.
"I see those evil spirits seeking revenge against me! I cannot let them capture me!" The emperor's pupils dilated, and under the stimulation of the bloody smell, the whites of his eyes were bloodshot. He gasped for breath, instantly becoming agitated.
"They all came looking for me! I saw my sixth brother... half of his head was gone. It was me, it was me who sent people to strangle him. He jumped off the tower! His head was smashed to pieces..."
"And...and..."
The emperor counted them one by one; they were all people who had had dealings with him in the past, and in the end, they all died at his hands.
"Your Majesty, do not worry. These are warnings given to you by the gods. As long as you follow the methods given to you by the gods, you will not be trapped by those evil spirits in hell!"
The Empress's voice, falling into the ears of the Emperor who was filled with anxiety, was like a ray of light piercing through the fog.
"The Empress is right... We should mainly do as the immortal says," the Emperor repeated, like a puppet under his control.
At today's palace banquet, the Emperor's demeanor, though slightly tired and absent-minded, was generally normal.
But now, he appears to have lost his mind and is completely under the control of the Empress.
"Did Your Majesty see Qin'er today?" the Empress asked in a low voice.
"Qin'er was able to save his life back then thanks to the guidance and help of the immortal. He is different from ordinary mortals. The more the Emperor spends with Qin'er, the more safe and healthy he will be." The Empress turned the conversation to Ji Shuqin.
"Qin'er is my good child..." The Emperor nodded, agreeing with the Empress's words.
"Tomorrow I will reward him handsomely to relieve my burdens." The emperor was so throbbing with headache that he could not think straight. His words came out in a daze. He wanted to think about it more carefully, but the pain prevented him from concentrating.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The Empress stood up and walked to the door through the mess on the floor. Her long dress was stained, but she didn't care.
As she reached the door, she turned back and glanced coldly and disdainfully at the emperor, who was sitting in a chair with his head in his hands, before walking away steadily.
He was left alone in the terrifying and gloomy palace.
The snow was falling heavily outside. When Granny Ma saw the Empress coming out, she offered her a hand warmer and silently accompanied her back to the palace.
"Has Qin'er arrived?" the Empress asked.
"Your Highness, you must be busy right now," said Granny Ma to the Empress in a comforting tone.
The Empress sighed deeply: "In previous years, I always spent the New Year with Qin'er. This is the first time in so many years that Qin'er is not by my side, and I am still a little unaccustomed to it."
"His Highness the Crown Prince is very filial. Didn't he come to Fengyi Palace early this morning to wish Her Majesty a Happy New Year?" Granny Ma bowed slightly.
"The palace is not like a temple now. If Your Highness wishes to see His Highness, why not have someone summon him?"
The Empress turned her head to look in the direction of Ji Shuqin's palace. Although the palace was very large, it was always possible to get there by palanquin.
Neither the Empress nor Granny Ma explicitly stated that it wasn't because of returning to the palace, but rather because a rift had developed between the current Crown Prince and the Empress.
It's unclear when it started, but the mother and son are no longer as close as they used to be.
"Never mind... There's nothing interesting for me either. It's just me spending this long New Year's Eve alone. Qin'er isn't feeling well, so I'll send someone over to tell him to go to bed early and not to stay up too late."
"Yes, Your Highness's good intentions will be understood by His Highness the Crown Prince," Mama Ma replied, bowing her head.
Ji Shuqin did not leave the palace. He stood with his hands behind his back in front of a table in his own bedroom. Several paintings and calligraphies were spread out on the table.
He tried to calm down, but he just couldn't quiet his mind.
It's always easy to calm one's mind and not be disturbed by the outside world in the mountains, but since returning to the palace, Ji Shuqin hasn't felt that sense of tranquility and serenity for a long time...
The chaos and struggles around him, along with worldly matters, pushed him forward, making him feel powerless to control his own destiny.
Has Min'er been living this kind of life all these years?
"The Empress's official Wenzhong has collapsed, so the Empress sent you some refreshments."
"Let him come in and answer the question."
Ji Shuqin looked at the pastries and milk tea that the Empress had sent, which were placed to the side.
A mix of emotions welled up inside him. He put on his cloak, pushed open the door, and went into the courtyard.
He looked up as the snowflakes fell like goose feathers, but no matter how cold it was, it couldn't extinguish the fire in his heart.
No matter how quiet it is, there is no way to bring him peace.
He wanted to remain silent, but ultimately...
Ji Shuqin clenched his fists tightly, his eyes clear, as if he had made a decision.
The next morning, the Empress heard that Ji Shuqin had arrived.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, according to custom, the princes must pay their respects and offer congratulations to the Emperor, the Empress, and the Imperial Concubine.
However, the Empress was unwilling to deal with it, so she told them not to come.
After paying his respects to the Emperor, Ji Shuqin went directly to Fengyi Palace.
Just now in the main hall, in front of all the princes and court officials, the emperor praised Ji Shuqin extensively.
He sounded very satisfied.
The emperor had never praised or rewarded any of his sons so highly, not even Ji Shumin.
Even the brilliant and accomplished Crown Prince, skilled in both literature and martial arts, had never received such favor and praise from the Emperor.
Everyone looked at the Crown Prince, wanting to see how he would react.
However, he noticed that the Crown Prince's brows were slightly furrowed. He accepted the gift politely, but there was no trace of pride or joy on his face. It was as if the Emperor's praise did not encourage him at all. His eyes were deep, and he bowed in thanks.
If His Highness the Crown Prince's temperament were genuine, it would be far too convincing.
Although it was rare for the Emperor to praise him so lavishly, everyone had seen everything the Crown Prince had done and shown after returning to the palace.
This eldest prince, who has lived in a mountain temple for many years and has never appeared in the court, is so elegant and refined, and his mind is so pure.
He is by no means incompetent, especially with the Empress as his strong backing.
Everyone felt that he was also qualified to compete for that position.
However, the eldest prince himself never showed the slightest intention to compete.
Even after the Second Prince and the Seventh Prince were both disliked by the Emperor, he remained the same as before, not particularly close to the court officials, and mostly dealing with official business.
The only person he was relatively close to was He Diaoyu, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. But what kind of person was He Diaoyu? Some people described him as a big rock in a latrine, smelly and hard...
After the eldest prince returned to the palace, his first involvement in court affairs was to investigate and close the case of official silver together with the Minister of Justice.
In the end, the two impartially investigated and found the Second Prince.
Not only did they make no attempt to conceal it, but they actually went straight to the Emperor…
The emperor was furious and punished the second prince by imprisoning him; he has not been released to this day.
At the time, some people thought that the eldest prince's actions were an attempt to remove the second prince from the competition for the throne.
But to his surprise, he not only didn't make a fuss about it, but he also never mentioned a bad word about the Second Prince to the Emperor again.
He deals with the matter at hand: wrong is wrong, and right is right.
He never speaks much in court, but if someone displeases him, he will never be subservient or dare not speak out.
On the contrary, they are courageous in arguing.
His speech was refined and elegant, every word a gem, quoting classics while retaining his own insights, which impressed many people.
The situation remains unclear, and everyone has their own judgment.
After the Empress finished washing and dressing, she came out and saw Ji Shuqin. The eldest prince was wearing his royal robes today, and the bright red fabric made him look even more handsome and dashing.
"Qin'er seems to be getting more and more mature." The Empress held his hand and looked him over carefully.
"I am still the same person I was before," the eldest prince said meaningfully.
"Have you had breakfast yet?" The Empress did not elaborate further.
“I went to my father’s place early today and ate with him.”
"Mother."
After talking with the Empress for a while, Ji Shuqin suddenly asked, "Are those immortals really that miraculous?"
The Empress was taken aback for a moment, then quickly regained her composure: "What is Qin'er saying?"
Ji Shuqin said calmly, "I've heard my father talk about immortals, but how come I didn't know that my mother had such a miraculous experience?"
"Father said that the immortal had a miraculous medicine that could cure all diseases, make one's hearing and eyesight sharp, and even allow one to see past lives, reincarnations, and evil spirits in hell."
Ji Shuqin looked at the Empress with unusual seriousness, as if seeking her advice: "Can I take that miraculous medicine? Will it make me feel better?"
The Empress's gaze sharpened: "Have you eaten? Did your father give you any?"
He lost his temper and demanded an explanation!
Ji Shuqin remained silent.
The Empress grew increasingly anxious: "That thing is not something you can eat! Qin'er, listen to me, your father is just telling you nonsense, don't listen to him!"
Ji Shuqin remained silent.
The Empress gradually calmed down. She was worried about Ji Shuqin, which was why he could touch her heartstrings.
"Judging from Mother's appearance, she doesn't believe in those things either, so why do you make Father so convinced of that so-called immortal?"
"Mother, what exactly are you plotting?" Ji Shuqin questioned the Empress for the first time, even though he had suspected something before, he had never brought it up like this before.
When he last met Ji Shumin, he voiced his doubts.
Ji Shumin didn't even raise his head, but just looked down at the chessboard, saying casually, "If you want to know something, go and find out for yourself. If you want to confirm something, go and pursue it yourself. Otherwise, what are you waiting for? To wait for someone else to figure it out and feed it to you?"
"You are my elder brother..." Ji Shumin said slowly and deliberately, teasingly recounting Ji Shuqin's remarks about his elder brother.
"Or do you actually not want to know the truth, and just want to vent to me and then let it go? Your Majesty, don't be so cowardly." Ji Shumin's words were like knives, leaving him no room for embarrassment.
"I'm not..."
Ji Shuqin realized halfway through his sentence that he couldn't refute Ji Shumin with a righteous and convincing argument.
But later Ji Shumin stopped seeing him. He went to his younger brother's residence twice, but was stopped by Lu Liruan both times.
"His Highness the Third Prince doesn't want to see anyone these days, Your Highness, please go back first."
Fortunately, Ji Shumin's eccentric personality was already well-known, so Ji Shuqin said a few words to Lu Liruan and then went home.
Without Ji Shumin's advice, he pondered for a long time before finally making up his mind to ask the Empress directly.
"Qin'er..."
Facing Ji Shuqin's gaze, the Empress gradually calmed down: "Your father's health is very poor."
"how come?"
"If I were to tell him the truth, your father would probably not be able to bear it. That's why I resorted to this desperate measure, using the so-called immortal as an excuse, so that your father would take the medicine. As long as he believes in the immortal, he won't know the state of his body," the Empress said calmly.
"How could Mother know so much about Father's health?" Ji Shuqin frowned.
He was not surprised. When he was with the emperor, the emperor often felt unwell and in pain. The imperial physicians could not find the cause and could only say that it was a false illness.
"Your father and I were married when we were young, so I naturally know more about many things than others. If I said I had no ulterior motives for resorting to this desperate measure, that would be a lie. Qin'er, your mother would never harm you."
The Empress spoke to Ji Shuqin, half-jokingly and half-seriously.
"Mother, what I desire is not in this palace," Ji Shuqin said clearly, word by word.
"No matter what you plan to do, my thoughts will not change." Although Ji Shuqin did not have the same shrewdness as Ji Shumin, he was still very insightful.
After the Empress returned to the palace, Ji Shuqin was not unaware of all her actions.
However, as a son, Ji Shuqin couldn't bring himself to speak, nor could he say anything harsh to the Empress.
Having made do until now, Ji Shuqin is no longer willing to procrastinate.
"Qin'er, you are a prince. Now that your father is in such a state, you should share his burdens. Look at all these princes, who can compare to you?" the Empress said earnestly.
"Qin'er, your mother is fighting for you."
“Min’er is more suitable than me,” Ji Shuqin said firmly.
“He’s crippled now! How could he possibly take that position! Qin’er, even for Min’er’s sake… if someone else takes that position, how will you protect him! Are you just going to watch him suffer?”
The Empress subtly used Ji Shumin to threaten Ji Shuqin.
"Why not? Does governing a country require making decisions with your legs?" Ji Shuqin raised his head and looked directly at the Empress!
He is serious!
Ji Shumin was determined to fight, and he had no reservations.
But Ji Shuqin was the first person besides himself and Lu Liruan to say these words.
He never told Ji Shumin what he was thinking: So what if he was disabled? He never thought that Ji Shumin would lose his integrity or his strategies just because he was unable to walk properly.
He never wanted to compete for that position. He was sometimes rigid towards Ji Shumin because he felt that the position should still belong to Ji Shumin.