Chapter 77 They Were Once Deeply in Love

Chapter 77 They Were Once Deeply in Love

As Wen Ruan listened to Zhu Yan's recounting, the events of thirteen years ago formed vivid scenes before his eyes, flashing one after another, slowly revealing the truth.

"Empress Nanxing and Crown Prince were too outstanding... The Emperor didn't approve, did he?"

Zhu Yan's eyes darkened sharply as he cast a sharp glance out the window, but he didn't stop Wen Ruan. "You've always been wise."

He drained the wine from his cup.

The light danced in his eyes, bright and sharp. Without saying more, Wen Ruan knew that he must be very distressed.

Wen Ruan rarely saw this expression on Zhu Yan. This man was always proud, never revealing such vulnerability. He used to resent not being allowed to know these things, but now...

He picked up the jug and refilled Zhu Yan's cup.

"In folk tales, many crown princes aren't the emperor's favored choice but rather someone to be guarded against. The less capable an emperor is, the older he gets, the more suspicious he becomes of his crown prince. A mediocre crown prince is questioned for his abilities, while a capable one is seen as a threat. It's hard for someone in that position to be truly loved."

History books also tell the same story. When an emperor first becomes a father, the joy of having a son is genuine. Appointing a crown prince is done with sincere hope for the future. But as the crown prince grows, becoming more talented and adept at state affairs, the emperor ages, losing control...

Unending desire for power eventually gives birth to a distorted relationship. How many fathers and sons turn enemies, meeting on the battlefield, separated by life and death.

Zhu Yan: "I once couldn't understand the relationship between my father and mother. Why did Father's feelings for Mother change so thoroughly?"

Wen Ruan understood: "They were originally deeply in love?"

"Mother was obtained by Father through all sorts of means, after pleading with my grandfather."

Although Zhu Yan didn't live in that era, when he investigated this matter, he learned much about the past. Coupled with his own experiences and memories, he could piece together much of the story.

"When Mother was a young girl, she was the pearl of the capital. She was radiant, brave, and wise. There was nothing she couldn't learn, no unexpected situation she couldn't handle. Regardless of whether it was good or bad, she faced everything head-on, unafraid and unyielding. As an orphaned daughter of a noble family, she carried the dignity of her lineage. Even without the guidance of her clan, she remained graceful and unique. At that time, she wasn't eligible to become a prince's consort, but Father fell in love with her, won her heart, and after much hardship, convinced Grandfather to allow their marriage."

"For a long time, they were a match made in heaven, the ideal couple of the capital. Even after several years of marriage, their love remained as strong as ever, envied by all men and women in the capital. Father doted solely on Mother, even after ascending the throne. He resisted the pressure from court officials to expand his harem, reluctantly accepting only a few consorts, whom he ignored, leaving them in the forgotten corners of the palace. If anyone dared to appear before Mother, Father would deal with them before Mother even showed any displeasure. Even when Crown Prince reached eight years old, Father only then allowed other women to bear children..."

To many, this seemed almost unbelievable.

Indeed, it was somewhat unbelievable. Whether it was the path Empress walked from her youth or ensuring the absolute position of the Crown Prince, it was all led by the Emperor himself, showing his deep affection.

His love for the Crown Prince was also extreme. In this era, having many sons meant great fortune. After all, from commoners to royalty, infant mortality rates were always high. Most emperors, to ensure heirs, would do their best to have as many princes as possible, so that their reign could continue.

Wen Ruan patted Zhu Yan's hand. "It's not your fault you didn't understand."

If it were him, he wouldn't understand either. How could a preference and habit suddenly change so drastically, so decisively, going against everything that had been?

"It was after a southern tour that Father suddenly took many concubines, expanding his harem. Court affairs remained unchanged, but the harem became a stage for song and dance, filled with scheming and harm, pregnancies and miscarriages, growing increasingly dramatic. Yet, none of the court officials dared to remonstrate, as if they feared Father returning to his previous ways, favoring only the Empress."

Zhu Yan spoke calmly: "Not only did he neglect the Empress, he also distanced himself from, or rather, strictly educated the Crown Prince, striving to have more sons, favoring certain concubines, allowing them to challenge the Empress' position..."

Wen Ruan sneered: "Regretted it, but couldn't admit it, so he encouraged others to secretly suppress and bully her, right?"

Zhu Yan: "He was the Emperor, able to act on his whims."

After a moment of silence, Wen Ruan lowered his gaze: "The Empress must have suffered greatly back then."

Everything she had been sure of, everything she had possessed, changed completely. Her loving husband, the comfortable environment of the palace within a certain range, her son's eagerly anticipated growth—all vanished in an instant. She was the one experiencing the storm, the inner pain and mental torment far greater than what others could imagine.

That she could grit her teeth and endure, withstand the pressure of adversity, the ridicule and contempt of others, and handle all matters around her without giving anyone a chance to find fault, remaining Empress until her death, showed her resilience and skill.

She was a strong woman, full of determination.

Zhu Yan: "But I knew none of this thirteen years ago."

"It wasn't that you weren't smart enough; Empress protected you too well."

Wen Ruan held Zhu Yan's hand, gently loosening and tightening each finger: "You grew up under her care. She raised you until you were thirteen, allowing you to enjoy a carefree childhood, permitting your passionate and mischievous youth, not to use you as a weapon or tool, but to raise you as her own son, hoping you wouldn't see a speck of filth. She merely wanted a child to have the bright and lively youth they should."

Zhu Yan knew, yet he regretted.

Why do good people often go unappreciated?

He clasped Wen Ruan's hand, resting his head on Wen Ruan's shoulder, not letting him see his eyes: "Of all the things I've done in my life, I don't regret any, except for one. Why was I so mischievous, leaving home to wander the borderlands, and due to heavy snow blocking the roads, missing my return..."

"How could I have been so mischievous."

"It's not your fault." Wen Ruan reached out, gently patting his back.

Outside the window, the night was deep, stars silent. The rustling of clothes suggested someone was rushing through the night.

Nanxing, guarding outside the tent, soon spotted Lan Tian returning.

Lan Tian stopped abruptly eight steps away from the tent, seeming hesitant, glancing at Nanxing.

Nanxing understood and shook his head cautiously—unless it was an urgent matter that needed immediate attention, it was best not to disturb their masters easily.

Lan Tian hesitated for a moment, then decisively approached Nanxing, whispering: "Third Prince—"

"Don't tell me!" Nanxing quickly covered his ears.

But it was useless. Lan Tian was prepared and immediately pulled down his hand, whispering into his ear: "Third Prince secretly left camp tonight, probably returning to the palace... Good brother, we'll face this together."

"Who's your good brother!"

Nanxing glared fiercely at Lan Tian.

Now he was in trouble, an accomplice!

He had only intended to give a friendly warning, not wanting to pry into any secrets. Although Young Master and the Prince were now a family, Young Master didn't intend to manage the Prince's affairs. Why should he get involved... Now, however, since he already knew, whether to report it or not would be a decision made together by him and Lan Tian. If there was punishment, these two would face it together!

Despicable! Heartless!

Lan Tian rubbed his nose. "But it shouldn't be anything particularly significant. It's fine to report it later. I'm just worried that something unexpected might happen in the meantime. Since it concerns the princess, I thought I should remind you to be cautious."

Nanxing crossed her arms. "Should I thank you then?"

"That won't be necessary," Lan Tian said with a smile. "Just tell me about Gong Rongxue."

How shameless, thinking he's done a great deed?

But Nanxing knew that Lan Tian was genuinely concerned for the prince. The young master and the prince's relationship was visibly improving, so of course, he wouldn't want to undermine his own young master: "The young master has never met him, nor heard of him. There's nothing suspicious about him for now."

Lan Tian: "If it weren't for you stopping him, he would have crawled on his knees to cling to the princess. And you say there's nothing wrong?"

His gaze was scrutinizing. What was going on between this master and servant?

Nanxing: "So you need to be careful next time. Make sure you stop him properly. Otherwise, the one who'll be most angry will be the prince."

Lan Tian: ...

Must you hold a grudge like that?

Seeing the other party's face turn instantly ashen, Nanxing was satisfied. She added, "I've arranged a room for Gong Rongxue. He went straight to sleep when he got back, snoring loudly. I've checked; he's really sleeping, completely defenseless."

Clearly, with the major issue resolved and his wish fulfilled, he no longer feared anything and had no guard up...

His respect and admiration for Wen Ruan were sincere, devoid of any ulterior motives.

Lan Tian stroked his chin, pondering. This matter wouldn't be resolved anytime soon. He'd see how things developed next.

"Then inside..." He nodded toward the room.

Nanxing smiled slightly. "If you're tired, go ahead and get some rest. Come back later to relieve me."

Meaning, everything's fine, the atmosphere is good, but it's not advisable to disturb them.

Lan Tian didn't hesitate. He tossed a small flask of wine over. "Alright, I'll head out first. I'll come back early to relieve you."

Nanxing caught it. It was a tiny flask, barely the size of a palm. The amount of alcohol was enough to warm the body but wouldn't cause intoxication.

He didn't refuse the gesture, stepping aside a few paces. He sat down on a stone behind the tent, gazing at the starry sky above, taking a sip of the wine.

The night was deep and dark.

But dawn would always come.

"So the chaos in the palace was because of that fire?" Inside the tent, Wen Ruan asked Zhu Yan.

Zhu Yan nodded. "The fire started in Empress Xia's Jade Lotus Palace. When the empress fainted, everyone panicked. Imperial Concubine Zhen and Consort Rou were smart; they didn't want to get involved, so they gathered all the empress's people and escorted her back to the Palace of Heavenly Peace. Without anyone in charge, the fire grew more intense, and the efforts to extinguish it became increasingly lackadaisical. The palace servants scattered in all directions, fleeing out of fear of being implicated or due to past misdeeds. All those with guilty consciences or feeling uneasy took advantage of the chaos to disperse, many escaping from the palace."

Wen Ruan: "So this news would inevitably reach the city walls... His Highness the Crown Prince, upon learning of his mother's peril, must have taken action."

Zhu Yan: "Because of the Lantern Festival's festivities, the news spread slower than usual. After the crown prince learned of it, he was frantic. He abandoned the remaining ceremonies and immediately rode back to the palace."

Wen Ruan: "Without consulting the emperor?"

"He was supposedly resting," Zhu Yan said sarcastically. "He claimed to be giving the crown prince the chance to shine, offering him all the opportunities to appear in public. In reality, he wasn't in the room on the city wall. He left, incognito, heading to Willow Branch Lane."

Willow Branch Lane was no place for proper business...

Although Wen Ruan arrived late in the capital, he had heard these three words. They weren't mentioned openly, but privately, they were well-known.

Zhu Yan: "That year, there was a famous courtesan in the capital, known as Willow Waist."

Wen Ruan: ...

Indeed.

"But could the crown prince alone mobilize limited resources?"

"A mere crown prince, not yet the Son of Heaven, couldn't even handle state affairs, let alone command military forces," Zhu Yan said sarcastically. "Without the emperor's token, he couldn't even call upon the Five-City Military Command. He could only rely on his personal guards, avoiding crowded marketplaces and taking difficult side alleys back to the palace. Just as he reached the city gates, he encountered assassins."

Wen Ruan: "An ambush?"

Zhu Yan: "Others wanted the lives of the empress and the crown prince. The trap was set; why would they show mercy?"

Wen Ruan: "But didn't you mention earlier that the crown prince knew martial arts?"

"He did, indeed. My own martial skills were initially honed under his guidance. Later, we hired a specialized teacher," Wen Ruan closed his eyes slightly. "He shouldn't have been ensnared, nor should he have died, but someone told him at that moment that his mother was gone."

Wen Ruan: ...

How ruthless.

"His heart trembled, clouded by concern. He charged into the palace, killing others and getting injured himself. He rushed to the Palace of Heavenly Peace, where his mother..." Zhu Yan's voice wavered. "His mother had already stopped breathing. On the spot, he spat out a mouthful of blood. Another wave of assassins surged forward. Even with his extraordinary martial talent, it was hard for him to withstand the onslaught."

Wen Ruan: "This wasn't merely a palace intrigue targeting Empress Xia. It was clearly..."

Zhu Yan nodded. "Yes, a lack of power and influence prevented a more elaborate plan."

Wen Ruan, despite his disbelief, could only accept this explanation: "Did the emperor tacitly approve?"

It wasn't just dislike or discomfort with such an outstanding empress and crown prince. He wanted them dead, yet didn't want to soil his own hands.

"I wasn't as perceptive as you. At the time, I didn't suspect anything."

He returned hastily from the border, only to find the palace where the blood had been wiped clean, and two coffins placed inside, one after the other.

Everything was draped in white, the heavens and earth mourning.

At that time, he still believed it was a result of palace rivalries, which had unfortunately affected his mother and the crown prince.

Wen Ruan understood: "So you killed many people back then…."

Zhu Yan: "Yes."

Wen Ruan: "When did you start feeling something was amiss?"

Zhu Yan: "When I killed in front of the Emperor his favored concubine who had meddled and secretly done much, and his trusted eunuch, and he showed magnanimity and forbearance."

He wasn't a favored prince; the Emperor had never favored him. Why would he tolerate his insolence unless he felt guilt?

He suddenly realized that perhaps this matter wasn't as clear-cut as it seemed, nor easily resolved. It required a slow approach.

Thus, he fell silent, changed his nature, and found ways to slowly investigate the past without arousing suspicion.

The Empress and the Crown Prince were gone, but he had time—plenty of it. Whenever he avenged them, it wouldn't be too late.

Wen Ruan's voice was low, mirroring his current mood: "So you detest when others mention the Empress and the Crown Prince... such good people, swallowed by time, forgotten under others' guidance and manipulation, even their former kindnesses lost, blamed for not understanding the Heavenly Son, for not being filial to their father…"

"Yes, if one doesn't want others to know they were wronged, don't bring them up again," Zhu Yan's lips tightened. "They aren't worthy of remembrance. Their goodness should be remembered by me alone."

Wen Ruan held Zhu Yan's hand: "I now know, and will remember their goodness."

"I should have returned earlier."

Zhu Yan gently kissed Wen Ruan's hand: "Mother promised she would make Tusu wine for me, to drink together."

"She knew the heavy snow would delay my return, yet she still hoped, starting from the eighth day of the first month, ordering every day for Tusu wine to be prepared, so that when I returned, the wine would be by her coffin."

Tusu wine, also known as New Year's wine, is drunk on New Year's Day by the whole family, symbolizing hope and blessings for the new year.

That year, he lost all hope for the new year.

After that year, he no longer drank Tusu wine.