Chapter 135: Losing More Than Gained (Part 3)

Chapter 135: Losing More Than Gained (Part 3)

After soaking in a warm bath, Su RAO felt refreshed. As she stepped out of the inner chamber, she saw Su Er waiting for her in the Rao Xiang Pavilion.

In Yun Palace, it was not appropriate to ask too many questions, but now that they were back home, Su Er would surely come. Although he said he wouldn't inquire about her affairs anymore, this time he would have to, and not for any other reason than...

The Su family, upright and honest, with iron wills. If she acted solely for her own benefit and disregarded an innocent child, she would surely disappoint Su Er.

Sure enough, Su Er spoke, "Second Brother won't ask about anything else, but there is one thing: does the fetus in Concubine Shu's womb have anything to do with you?"

Su RAO walked over, looked at Su Er for a moment, sat down, poured herself a cup of tea, took a sip, and then said, "Second Brother, Su RAO is a member of the Su family."

With just these words, without further explanation, she sensed the heavy and indifferent aura around Su Er dissipate, and his demeanor became clear and composed.

"Little Sister, remember this: if others show us an inch, we return a foot; but if they harm us by an inch, we repay them more than a foot. No one can bully the Su family easily."

He patted Su RAO's shoulder and left.

Su RAO curved her lips into a smile.

"Second Brother, I know."

Meanwhile, inside Yun Chen Hall.

Prince Sixth was kneeling before Emperor Yu, his back bare and lashed with a vine whip.

His appearance clearly indicated he had come to confess his sins.

"Father, it was I who ordered the palace maid to drug Concubine Shu, and it was also I who made her spill the wine cup intentionally to obtain Su RAO's sachet and frame her. This matter has nothing to do with Crown Prince Royal Brother. He was unaware of it. I hope Father will not blame Crown Prince Royal Brother; everything was done by me."

Yun Mu Xiao confessed everything he had done without hiding.

On the day before the Lantern Festival, he discovered that Prince Fourth's guard, Xuan Ti, had secretly approached a eunuch and given him a packet of medicine, instructing him to deceive Su RAO into going to the Cold Palace after the Lantern Banquet.

He decided to use this opportunity.

He had the palace maid drug Concubine Shu only to cause her abdominal pain. After Prince Fourth made his move on Su RAO, both the Zhao family and the Su family would assume all of this was Prince Fourth's doing.

He did not intend to harm Concubine Shu's fetus, but the palace maid used too much medicine. Father, everything was done by me.

These words implied that...

Yun Mu Yi must have deliberately mentioned deceiving Su RAO into the Cold Palace for him to overhear. Yun Mu Yi's true intention was to poison and kill Su RAO, harm Concubine Shu's fetus, and then pin it all on Yun Mu Rui.

Emperor Yu could not miss this implication, and his imperial eyes flickered.

Immediately...

"Filthy brat."

He kicked Yun Mu Xiao, sending him sprawling, his anger barely contained.

His imperial eyes filled with rage.

"That is your Fourth Royal Brother and your unborn younger brother or sister. How could you be so cruel? And against the Su family... What do you want? Today, I will beat you senseless, you ungrateful son."

He pulled out the vine whip from Yun Mu Xiao's back and struck him mercilessly, leaving a bloody mark.

"Father, I didn't have any intention of taking the Su family's military power. It was Fourth Royal Brother who had such thoughts. I acted against him only to avenge Third Brother."

Each strike left a bloody wound, but Yun Mu Xiao refused to dodge or flinch, determined to finish speaking.

"Father, do you know that during the snow disaster in Tianguguan County, Third Brother almost didn't make it back? He almost died in the treacherous valley."

Emperor Yu raised the vine whip again but paused upon hearing Yun Mu Xiao's words.

"Father, the Fourth Royal Brother you praise as filial and righteous pretended to go to Wanglu Temple for blessings but actually went to Tianguguan County to assassinate Crown Prince Royal Brother. If it weren't for the eldest son of the Su family intercepting the fatal blow..."

"Sixth Brother, shut up."

Yun Mu Rui rushed into Yun Chen Hall, grabbed Yun Mu Xiao, and tried to silence him.

Kneeling.

"Father, don't listen to Sixth Brother's nonsense..."

"Third Brother, don't stop me. I must let Father know..."

Yun Mu Xiao struggled to break free from Yun Mu Rui's grip, but Yun Mu Rui suddenly shouted in anger and punched Yun Mu Xiao's face to calm him down.

"Sixth Brother, you've caused enough trouble. Don't upset Father anymore."

"Crown Prince, let him speak."

He threw the vine whip to the ground, seemingly calmer. His imperial eyes fixed on Yun Mu Xiao, whose wounds bled as he struggled, staining the floor red. He was still his son.

Yun Mu Xiao pulled down Yun Mu Rui's hand, tears welling in his eyes.

"Crown Prince Royal Brother feared Father would punish Fourth Royal Brother, so he kept silent. Even while rescuing in Tianguguan County, Father, if you don't believe me, look at Crown Prince Royal Brother..."

He pulled up Yun Mu Rui's left sleeve, revealing numerous scars, some still raw and gruesome.

"Father, look, look, these are just a small part. There are more on Crown Prince Royal Brother's body, his back..."

"Sixth Brother, stop."

Yun Mu Rui tried to stop Yun Mu Xiao again, silently pulling down his sleeve, feeling a deep sense of injustice.

"Father, in your eyes and heart, besides Seventh Brother, all our other sons are merely princes. You can have many princes, but I only have one Third Brother..."

Yun Muxiao finished his sentence and glanced at Yun Murui. Despite the pain in his body, he placed his hands in front of him and knelt down to kowtow.

"The actions of this son, I come to confess my sins. But this son does not regret them. If given another chance, I would still choose to do the same. My mother, the concubine, is of humble status. If it weren't for the protection of the Crown Prince, this son might have met the same fate as the Fifth Royal Brother, drowned somewhere with no one knowing..."

"Sixth Brother." Yun Murui interrupted again, placing his hands forward and hastily speaking: "Your Majesty, please don't listen to the Sixth Royal Brother's nonsense. It wasn't the Sixth Royal Brother; it was me, it was all me. Everything was done by me, and it has nothing to do with the Sixth Royal Brother..."

"Crown Prince, you don't need to shield me..."

"Enough..."

Emperor Yu's voice was weak, seemingly affected by the mention of the Fifth Prince being drowned. Looking at these brothers who were vying to protect each other, he finally sighed, bent down to help the Crown Prince up, rolled up his sleeve again, and looked at those numerous scars...

"Crown Prince, do you know why I chose you over the Fourth Prince? Do you know why I dote on the Seventh Prince but repeatedly indulge him?"

Without waiting for the Crown Prince's answer, he continued:

"It's not just because you are the direct son of the Empress and me, and the heir I intended. More importantly, compared to the narrow-mindedness of the Fourth Prince, your heart has conscience and affection. Although the imperial family is ruthless, I am still human. I dote on the Seventh Prince because that is the only thing I can give him, since I have given the power to you."

He then pulled Yun Muxiao up.

"Now that the Fourth Prince will no longer be an obstacle to you, I hope you can still show him some conscience, not as much as you do to the Sixth Brother, but at least spare his life. As for the Seventh and Eighth Princes, show them a little less jealousy! I have already helped you render them useless."

Turning around, Emperor Yu walked into the inner chamber. He seemed to have aged significantly. If one ignored the fleeting glint of imperial scheming in his eyes as he turned, he truly appeared to be a loving father.