Chapter 29: What’s Owed Will Be Returned

Chapter 29: What's Owed Will Be Returned

When Ran Qinggu returned to the Sinking Fish Pavilion, it was already past the faint light of dawn.

The horizon was tinted with the pale white of a fish's belly, and the blood-red sun had just begun to peek over the edge of the sky. The darkness had yet to fully recede, and the sunrise was still in its infancy.

As soon as he stepped through the door of the Sinking Fish Pavilion, he was enveloped in a warm embrace.

Without even looking, he knew it was Shang Rongyu.

He couldn't fathom what had possessed Shang Rongyu recently, but his treatment towards him had been exceptionally kind, giving him the strange impression that they were a harmonious married couple.

"Who did you sneak off with last night? Your husband has been waiting for you," Shang Rongyu said with a smile, his arms around Ran Qinggu's waist, his tone intimate as he whispered in Ran Qinggu's ear.

When he touched Ran Qinggu's hand, he asked in surprise, "Why are your hands so cold? Are you sick?"

Ran Qinggu tried to escape from Shang Rongyu's embrace, but his arms were like shackles, once clasped, impossible to break free from.

"A new shipment arrived from the south yesterday, only entering the warehouse at midnight. I spent the entire night checking that batch of goods."

He sounded weary, his voice lacking energy.

Seeing Ran Qinggu's haggard face, his eyes filled with red veins, Shang Rongyu rubbed his icy hands gently. "Your husband, after all, is royalty. You won't starve under my care. Why exhaust yourself so much? What's wrong? Has the household neglected you? Is your monthly allowance not enough for your expenses?"

Ran Qinggu denied it outright. "No, both the Prince and Princess have been very good to Yu'er. It's just... since the Princess entrusted me with the affairs of the house, I don't want to disappoint her."

Shang Rongyu chuckled. "What about me? I spent the whole night alone in an empty room."

Ran Qinggu didn't know how to respond.

It sounded as if a husband was playfully complaining to his wife.

Just then, Jia Chu entered the Sinking Fish Pavilion and saw Shang Rongyu holding Ran Qinggu against the veranda... seemingly engaged in something indecent.

Frightened, he quickly turned away, his heart pounding as he said, "I deserve death, sir."

Chun'er rushed in and hastily turned around, saying to Jia Chu, "I told you not to come in, but you wouldn't listen."

Shang Rongyu raised an eyebrow and looked down the veranda, asking, "What happened?"

Jia Chu spoke in a solemn tone, "Your Highness..."

Ran Qinggu tried to break free from Shang Rongyu's restraint. "Your Highness, you should go to the meeting. I'll change my clothes and pay my respects to the Princess."

Shang Rongyu pulled him closer again, his voice clear like a spring. "There's no one else here, speak directly."

Jia Chu: "Yin Ping has been found."

After saying this, his stomach churned. If it weren't for his martial arts training, which gave him greater endurance and composure than most, he would have vomited right then.

Shang Rongyu was puzzled. "Are you drunk?"

Jia Chu restrained his nausea. "Yin Ping was found in the Tianyi Gorge; he offended the mountain bandits and was boiled alive in oil, already reduced to a mass... When we arrived, the body was still warm..."

Before he could finish, he couldn't continue, as his stomach churned violently.

He had seen countless dismembered corpses and rotten bones, but this particular body had made him feel nauseous all night.

Chun'er, upon hearing this, ran to the wall and vomited.

As dawn approached, Shang Rongyu looked at Ran Qinggu, who appeared deathly pale. Although she hadn't vomited, her condition wasn't much better than those who had.

A lady of high birth truly was a lady of high birth, frightened to such an extent yet maintaining her composure—truly worthy of being his Heir's Consort.

He picked up Ran Qinggu, who was bewildered. "Hei... Heir?"

Shang Rongyu smiled and pecked her on the lips. "Scared? It's my fault, dear. I'll be with you, everything will be alright."

Ran Qinggu was full of questions, looking at Shang Rongyu in confusion.

After pondering it over, it seemed that the incident was indeed too horrifying, and Shang Rongyu felt she would be frightened.

But what did her fear have to do with him?

Shang Rongyu said to Jia Chu, "I see. Have you found anything about those mountain bandits?"

Jia Chu replied, "No, but it's evident that the bandits had a grudge against the Yin family, otherwise they wouldn't have used such a cruel method to kill him."

Shang Rongyu sneered. "How many people has the Yin family forced into becoming bandits? Heaven's justice is clear, and retribution is swift."

With that, he kicked open the door, carried Ran Qinggu inside, and laid her on the bed.

Ran Qinggu struggled to sit up.

Shang Rongyu pressed her back onto the bed. "You're exhausted, so don't bother going to greet the Empress Dowager. I'll talk to her later. Rest well in the Sinking Fish Pavilion."

"Thank you, Heir." Ran Qinggu was truly worn out.

She had ridden her horse all night to return to the capital, every part of her body was at its limit, and she was about to fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

In a daze, she remembered something, startled, she grabbed Shang Rongyu's sleeve. "I heard at the shop that the Heir executed Yin Zhong. Will His Majesty do anything to the Heir?"

Shang Rongyu smiled and brushed her hair back with his fingers, removing the hairpins and flowers from her head one by one.

"It's rare for you to worry about your husband. The Emperor ordered me to remain under house arrest for three months, to reflect on my actions behind closed doors."

Ran Qinggu lay down again. "Oh."

She fell asleep immediately, not letting go of Shang Rongyu's sleeve.

Shang Rongyu gently tugged, but couldn't free himself.

He summoned a servant and said, "Go tell the Queen Consort that the Heir's Consort stayed up all night dealing with goods outside the estate last night and is unwell this morning, so she won't be able to pay her respects."

The servant bowed. "Yes, sir."

Shang Rongyu sat by the bed with interest, watching Ran Qinggu.

Though his features could not be described as the epitome of beauty, they were undeniably unique.

Even in sleep, he was distinctively different.

He took hold of Ran Qinggu's hand, which was gripping his sleeve.

These hands were delicate, but not in the usual way a woman's would be; they were delicate with strength.

Seeing these graceful, slender hands with their distinct joints, one would be convinced that Yu'er would grasp anything he set his mind to.

Just like how he was holding onto his sleeve at that moment.

Shang Rongyu often saw his Heir's Consort lost in thought.

Yu'er loved staring at his own hands when he was daydreaming.

He would turn them over and examine them from every angle.

He held Ran Qinggu's hand, finding it icy cold.

When Ran Qinggu woke up, Shang Rongyu was lying half on his side, asleep beside him.

He was resting his head on Shang Rongyu's left hand while tightly clutching the sleeve of Shang Rongyu's right hand.

Shang Rongyu had his arm around him, his right hand holding both of Ran Qinggu's hands, enveloping him in warmth.

"Wake up?" Shang Rongyu's voice was hoarse from sleep.

Ran Qinggu slowly sat up. "Did I offend the Heir? The Heir could have woken me up."

Shang Rongyu leaned against the soft pillow, raising an eyebrow with a smile. "Next time, for sure."

At that moment, a maid named Luo entered, carrying a white jade tray filled with exquisite pastries.

Shang Rongyu got out of bed and straightened his clothes. "I didn't know what you liked to eat. Usually, I see you enjoying glutinous rice cakes and pear juice, so I specially instructed someone to make some pastries with those ingredients. You must be hungry after sleeping, come and taste them."

Ran Qinggu was taken aback by the exquisite pastries on the table.

His mother was very skilled at making pastries.

And the best she made was the glutinous rice cake.

She would mold the glutinous rice cakes into various shapes and colors...

Since glutinous rice cakes could be preserved for a long time without spoiling, every time his father went to war, his mother and several concubines would make them overnight. The next day when his father left home, two large bags of glutinous rice cakes would be tied to his horse.

His father said that the best thing he ate in the frontier was these glutinous rice cakes.

Shang Rongyu looked at Ran Qinggu with a dazed expression, his eyes filled with complex emotions, causing him to inwardly ponder.

Could it be that he hadn't shown enough care to the Heir's Consort before?

Otherwise, why would a few plates of pastries move her so much?

Although he wasn't a model husband, he still considered himself thoughtful and considerate...

He sat down, smiling warmly. "It's just a few plates of pastries. This Heir will give you even better things in the future."

Ran Qinggu asked suspiciously, "Why is the Heir suddenly being so good to me?"

Shang Rongyu smiled. "The Empress Dowager told me to do this. I'm just putting on an act to deceive her; otherwise, she nags me every day, which is incredibly annoying. Moreover, as long as I treat you well, the Empress Dowager won't chase me every day to force me to consummate our marriage with you."

"So, you should also help me put on an act to deceive the Empress Dowager."

Ran Qinggu replied, "Yes."

He had wondered why Shang Rongyu was suddenly treating him so kindly.

Turned out it was the Empress' request.

He could see that despite Shang Rongyu's rebellious nature, he was a filial son.

In a certain villa in the outskirts of the capital, Shang Yuzhou was trimming a hydrangea bush with scissors.

Fang Changgong, holding a secret letter, was pale-faced. "Deep-fried alive?"

Shang Yuzhou showed no surprise, trimming the ends of the branches while looking left and right. "I've always said he wouldn't leave any room for retreat."

Fang Changgong still felt a chill down his back.

This Ran Qinggu was truly terrifying.

Murder and dismemberment were nothing compared to this; he actually deep-fried someone alive.

This person was truly ruthless.

==

Just as Shang Rongyu had mentioned, on the Qixi Festival, Empress Dowager Liu invited imperial relatives, consorts, and ladies with noble titles to the palace to worship the moon and pray for dexterity.

Shang Rongyu shrugged and smiled. "Fortunately, I accompanied you to the lantern festival that day; otherwise, you would have thought this Heir was a man who didn't keep his promises."

Ran Qinggu unfolded the turquoise robe sent by the Empress. "Didn't the Heir say that if he kept his word, people would speak ill of him behind his back?"

When he asked for help with the investigation previously, Shang Rongyu promised to take him out to play on the Qixi Festival.

Now that Shang Rongyu was under house arrest for three months, and he had to accompany the princess consort into the palace,

it was destined that they couldn't leave the mansion to see the lanterns during the Qixi Festival.

Shang Rongyu smiled with his brows arched. "Has this Heir been spoiling you too much these days? You've even learned to talk back."

Ran Qinggu lowered his head in front of the dressing table, selecting accessories.

Shang Rongyu took out a pair of red plum blossom earrings from the jewelry box.

He put the earrings on Ran Qinggu's earlobes.

The earrings were small and exquisite, as red as blood, making Ran Qinggu's skin appear even more fair and delicate.

Strands of hair fell by his ears, the blood-red plum blossom earrings faintly visible, creating an ethereal and enchanting beauty.

Looking at the person in the bronze mirror, Shang Rongyu smiled. "Wear these. They look very nice. I also like them..."

Ran Qinggu replied, "Yes."

After tidying up, he accompanied the princess consort in a carriage from the prince's mansion, heading straight for the imperial palace.

Upon arriving outside the palace, they needed to get off for routine inspections. After the inspection, they boarded sedan chairs outside Xuan Yang Palace and proceeded to the inner palace.

Today's banquet was set by Taiye Pool.

Taiye Pool was adorned with flowers like brocade, its terrain open, perfect for gazing at the moon and praying for dexterity at night.

When they reached outside Xuan Yang Palace, many ladies and young misses of high-ranking officials were already waiting. Among these ladies, the princess consort held the highest rank.

Below the princess consort were the first-rank ladies, followed by the heir's consort.

At a glance, there were only a few first-rank ladies present, and since Ran Qinggu was Jian Zuihuan's "daughter-in-law," his sedan chair almost walked side by side with the princess consort's.

In the vast palace alley, eunuchs carried the nobles forward slowly.

Sitting in the sedan chair, Ran Qinggu looked down at his hands.

Suddenly, the sedan chair stopped, and the young misses behind started whispering.

Ran Qinggu raised his head and looked ahead.

He saw a sedan chair directly turning through the moon-shaped palace gate on the left front, being carried by palace attendants at the forefront.

She leaned comfortably against the sedan chair, her golden hairpin swaying gently. She didn't spare a glance at the people behind her, her posture haughty and detached.

That profile...

It's Cang Jiaojiao.

Clearly, many had already recognized her.

Cang Jiaojiao's reputation for beauty was unrivaled in the capital, and with the previous incident involving the Heir of King Cheng, there were plenty who knew her.

"How did she manage to come into the palace? A place like this, how could it allow a courtesan to parade around as she pleases?"

"You probably didn't know, but the Crown Prince has taken a fancy to her. He bestowed upon her the title of Liangyuan yesterday, so she's climbed up the social ladder."

"I've heard that she's his only favorite in the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince has been neglecting all the beauties in the palace for her sake and even scolded the Crown Princess. Now, the other concubines give her a wide berth when they see her..."

"Look at her seductive appearance. She must have learned some tricks from the pleasure quarters to entice the Crown Prince."

Everyone started talking amongst themselves.

Ran Qinggu looked at the princess consort, whose face was as hard as iron.

She always placed great importance on family background and propriety, and also valued etiquette.

Now, a mere Fifth Rank Liangyuan of the Crown Prince dared to walk ahead of her, completely ignoring the princess consorts, duchesses, and First Rank ladies behind her...

Moreover, this courtesan was of such lowly birth. She had once humiliated her and driven her out of the Wang Manor. Now, she was strutting around arrogantly in front of her. Wasn't this a direct provocation?

Cang Jiaojiao's sedan chair didn't move anywhere else; it deliberately walked ahead of the princess consort.

Furthermore, her sedan chair moved extremely slowly, soon blocking the way for the entire group entering the palace.

She flirtatiously played with her hair, not turning back, and said in a coquettish voice, "Oh, go slower. I'm feeling dizzy and nauseous from the jolting."

The palace servants carrying the sedan chair trembled as they said, "Liangyuan, the princess consort and the ladies are behind you. It might be..."

Cang Jiaojiao smiled seductively. "What's there to fear? I'll walk my path, and they'll walk theirs. The road is wide enough for both of us. Am I getting in their way? Go slower for me. If you make me uncomfortable, be careful that the Crown Prince doesn't flay your skin."

Almost all the ladies and young misses behind them came from prestigious families. Now, they were being blocked by a courtesan in the imperial palace, and none of them were willing to accept this, but no one dared to step forward.

"Indeed, someone from a lowly background. Once she gains power, she becomes so audacious."

"Mrs. Wang, don't say too much. She's currently very favored. The Emperor dotes on the Crown Prince and gives him whatever he wants. Even if taking a courtesan disgraces the royal family, the Emperor still acquiesced to the Crown Prince's wishes."

"It's not just that. I heard that she had a conflict with Princess Langhua yesterday. She cried a little, and the Crown Prince made a scene. As a result, Princess Langhua was confined to her quarters and wasn't even allowed out for the Qixi Festival."

"Isn't Princess Langhua the Emperor's only princess? She's been favored since childhood."

"So what if she's favored? In the end, she can't compare to the Crown Prince, who is the heir apparent. And that courtesan... Liangyuan, she's become the Crown Prince's favorite in one leap..."

As they spoke, several ladies raised their eyebrows at the princess consort and Ran Qinggu.

"I heard that the Crown Prince's Liangyuan was humiliated by the princess consort and driven out of the Wang Manor that day. Her actions now seem to be directed at the princess consort. Look, the princess consort doesn't dare to provoke her either. We'd better not be the ones to stick our necks out..."

"Enough talk. Can't you see even the highest-ranking ladies dare not approach? It's better to offend a gentleman than a villain."

Cang Jiaojiao's sedan chair barely moved, her pace as slow as an old man on his last legs. Even so, she still yelled at the palace attendants to slow down.

Jian Zuihuan's gaze was sharp as a blade, recognizing that this upstart was clearly targeting her.

Cang Jiaojiao caressed the glass bead in her hair and turned her head with a sneer. "Empress of King Cheng, it's you. I'm grateful for your guidance in the past, Empress. Jiaojiao has always kept it close to her heart. Now that the clouds have cleared, I've become the Prince's Liangyuan, and I haven't yet thanked you for your great kindness."

Those slaps and humiliations, she remembered them vividly, the pain etched into her skin.

What did it matter that she came from a lowly background? Now she was the Prince's favored concubine; even the Empress made way for her. What more could be said about a mere Empress?

Now that she had cornered her in the alley, wasn't she still obediently staying in line?

She wanted to humiliate her in front of these noble ladies, make her lose face, disgrace her utterly.

And that damned Heir's Consort.

Looking so gentle and compliant, who knew what she harbored in her heart?

Those three slaps were all thanks to this Heir's Consort.

Jian Zuihuan looked at her coldly. "Becoming the Prince's Liangyuan is your own doing. Why thank me?"

Cang Jiaojiao smiled. "Thank you for your guidance that day; without it, there wouldn't be me today."

Consort Liu laughed. "So the Empress and the Prince's Liangyuan have such a history?"

Jian Zuihuan scoffed coldly. "A history like that, doesn't Consort Liu know about it?"

Consort Liu gloated. "How dare I pry into the Empress's affairs?"

Cang Jiaojiao: "This must be the beloved Consort Liu of the King, truly peerless in beauty. No wonder the King spends every night in harmony with you."

Ran Qinggu frowned.

Cang Jiaojiao's praise of Consort Liu was purely to humiliate the Empress.

Harmony was usually reserved for couples, and while Consort Liu was a consort, as long as the Empress was present, she was merely a concubine.

How could a concubine ever be in harmony with the master of the house?

Liu Xuemo, used to being domineering, had fought with Jian Zuihuan in the King's Manor for years. The happiest moments of her life were watching Jian Zuihuan suffer.

With Cang Jiaojiao handing her a knife, how could she not take it?

She smiled. "Liangyuan jests, the Empress is still here."

Cang Jiaojiao feigned realization. "Oh, my apologies. Empress, why don't I teach you a few tricks on how to please your husband? Though the ways of the brothel may seem lowly, they're effective. Look at me, since I arrived, I'm the most favored in the Eastern Palace. This way, perhaps the King will spare you a second glance..."

To suggest that an Empress learn the tricks of a courtesan, and to mock her lack of favor so bluntly.

Even Ran Qinggu, the "daughter-in-law," couldn't bear to listen, let alone the Empress.

He gripped the handle of the sedan chair and said calmly, "Liangyuan, Yu'er is unworthy, but I've read in books about young crows and sparrows imitating phoenixes perching on paulownia trees, eating refined seeds, drinking sweet spring water. I've never seen a phoenix eat rotten insects and stinking rats like common birds."

Though the Empress placed great importance on etiquette and class, and was somewhat rigid and pedantic, she had been good to him.

Born into a prestigious family, she had never looked down on him, the "Heir's Consort," for coming from a remote village, unworthy of her son.

She had done everything in her power to ensure Ran Qinggu's comfort, considering every detail of his daily life.

Moreover, she had devoted herself to teaching Ran Qinggu how to manage the entire King's Manor, how to interact with high officials and royal relatives.

In a sense, she was indeed a "good mother-in-law."

Though Ran Qinggu was aloof and detached, he was not ungrateful.

The crowd sighed.

This Heir's Consort was truly arrogant and spoiled, actually comparing Cang Jiaojiao to a sparrow.

The Empress glanced at Ran Qinggu.

Indeed, she hadn't doted on this daughter-in-law for nothing. At a time when everyone avoided the villain, she stood up for her.

"Brazen." Cang Jiaojiao shouted coldly. "Who do you think you are? When did it become your turn to speak?"

Ran Qinggu raised an eyebrow, bent down to draw a guard's sword, slowly stood up, and stood atop the sedan chair. "You're just a fifth-rank Liangyuan, how dare a sparrow block a phoenix's sedan?"

As he spoke, he drew his sword and slashed at the ropes of Cang Jiaojiao's sedan chair.

The ropes snapped, and the phoenix seat collapsed with a thud.

Cang Jiaojiao screamed in shock, falling backward onto the ground, bloodied and broken, dislocated and fractured.

Her attendants were shocked, quickly helping her up. "Liangyuan, are you alright?"

Cang Jiaojiao, her leg broken, cried out in pain on the ground. "I'll tell the Prince. You...you bullied me..."

No one expected this scene, and the sedan chair remained motionless.

The Empress didn't even want to look, instructing the attendants, "What are you waiting for? The Mid-Autumn Moon Viewing Banquet was personally arranged by Empress Xian. If we're late, how many heads do you have to lose?"

The attendants had no choice but to carry the sedan chair forward.

Almost every sedan passed by Cang Jiaojiao, giving her ample view of their disdainful faces.

It must be said, the Heir's Consort is truly formidable.

She dared to brandish her sword at Liangyuan in the imperial palace.

This arrogant and domineering courtesan intended to humiliate the Queen Consort but now reaps what she sowed; she will surely become a laughingstock for people's idle chatter.

Indeed, she is a woman favored by the Heir; she is truly different.

Though these women hail from noble families, they treat any gossip in the capital as entertaining talk.

Lately, the most discussed topic has been how the Heir dotes on his consort.

Even when he goes to the Ministry of Justice to handle cases, he brings her along.

When Ran Qinggu arrived at Taiye Pool for the banquet, a palace attendant approached, saying that the Crown Prince had summoned her.

The Queen Consort stood up and said, "I'll go with you."

Ran Qinggu smiled faintly. "Mother, the Crown Prince summoned your daughter-in-law, not Mother. If Mother goes, it might be inappropriate. Moreover, Mother cannot decline this banquet today; we can't let others think that our House of King Cheng lacks propriety."

The Queen Consort said with mixed feelings, "It's truly hard on you for being so understanding. When you go, don't let yourself suffer any loss. As long as our House of King Cheng stands, no one should dare to bully you."

Ran Qinggu nodded. "Yes."

Upon arriving at the Eastern Palace, Ran Qinggu met the Crown Prince outside the hall.

The Crown Prince was obese, weighing over two hundred pounds. Holding Cang Jiao Jiao in his arms, he resembled a noodle draped over a large pancake. Cang Jiao Jiao's legs were wrapped in bandages, her jade-like feet slender and fair, partially exposed. She lacked brilliance but exuded ample charm.

It seemed that her injuries weren't severe.

Ran Qinggu performed a bow. "From the House of King Cheng, Bai Yu pays respects to the Crown Prince."

The Crown Prince lowered his gaze and sneered. "I thought you wouldn't dare come?"

Ran Qinggu feigned innocence. "I wonder what the Crown Prince means by that?"

"What do I mean?" The Crown Prince laughed coldly. "You dared to unsheathe your sword against my Liangyuan. Do you think that with Shang Rongyu backing you, I wouldn't dare to do anything to you?"

If asked who among the imperial clan's offspring he disliked the most,

it would be his younger brother, the Second Prince, who shared the same parents as him, and another person—his cousin, Shang Rongyu.

His own brother wanted to compete with him for the throne and excelled in every aspect.

As for Shang Rongyu, he relied on the power of King Cheng and never took him seriously.

There were even rumors that the future throne might be contested between him, the Second Prince, and Shang Rongyu...

Furthermore, there was another reason he hated Shang Rongyu—he was too handsome.

He was considered the most handsome man in the imperial family, and throughout Da Su, there was no one else as peerlessly beautiful as him.

Meanwhile, he was often used as a stark contrast to Shang Rongyu's good looks.

He had been overweight since childhood and tried countless methods, yet remained a big man.

Already feeling inferior due to his obesity, it was even more unbearable that he wasn't handsome, possessing only average looks.

Ran Qinggu knelt down, showing utmost respect. "May the Crown Prince see clearly, it was actually Liangyuan who acted rudely first. I am a First Rank Heir's Consort, and upon seeing me, Liangyuan did not step out of her sedan chair to pay her respects but instead behaved so impolitely. I was merely enforcing palace etiquette, left with no choice but to act."

Cang Jiao Jiao whimpered. "Your Highness, Jiaojiao is in pain."

The Crown Prince patted her back, consoling her. "Alright, alright, later I'll personally apply medicine for you."

His eyes turned icy as he glared at Ran Qinggu. "What a silver-tongued devil. Liangyuan just entered the palace and didn't understand the rules, but you were relentless, causing her to break her delicate foot. It's truly hateful. You're a Second Rank, so Jiaojiao can't do anything to you, but I can. Since you take palace rules so seriously, then for disrespecting me, I sentence you to kneel here for six hours."

Ran Qinggu bowed her head. "Yes."

This Crown Prince truly knows how to dig his own grave.

Punishing him is fine, but this punishment severs the already thin-as-silk relationship between the Crown Prince and the House of King Cheng.

Regardless, he is still the Heir of King Cheng.

To punish him, a Heir's Consort, for the sake of a courtesan, is undoubtedly embarrassing for Shang Rongyu and the House of King Cheng.

In the current struggle for imperial power, many wish to curry favor with King Cheng, yet the Crown Prince eagerly creates enemies for himself.

This is for the best. In the future, when he takes the Crown Prince's life, King Cheng and Shang Rongyu will certainly not interfere, sparing him a significant headache.

Kneeling for six hours cuts off one of the Crown Prince's future paths.

It's worth it.

The debt of a life owed to Shang Yuzhou.

He will eventually repay it.

The author has something to say: Thank you very much for your support, love you all, mwah mwah.