Chapter 55: Counterkill

Chapter 55: Counterkill

"What do you mean, wretch?" Shang Jue asked sternly.

Ran Qinggu raised her eyebrows indifferently. "Your Highness, what do you think is your trump card?"

Shang Jue's gaze flickered as it rested on Ran Qinggu, waiting for him to continue.

Ran Qinggu stood up and slowly removed the white veil draped over the Buddha statue, wiping the altar where the incense burner was placed. After cleaning it, he sat on the desk, turning his head to smile. "Your trump card has always been that you are the Emperor's eldest son, and he dotes on you. But you never seem to understand that even if he indulges you countless times, the moment he doesn't indulge you, you feel wronged and thus harbor thoughts of rebellion. Yet, you're incredibly foolish. Do you really think that Chancellor Li would be as foolish as you, unable to see through this?"

Shang Jue's features twisted together, but Ran Qinggu could see suspicion, dullness, and confusion in his eyes.

Ran Qinggu said calmly, "Chancellor Li, a grand old man of two dynasties, holds an exalted position. If someone like him couldn't discern the situation, he would have been toppled long ago. Yet, he has always navigated the court with ease, not only protecting himself but also safeguarding his subordinates. Do you truly believe that he can't see through your only bargaining chip, which is the Emperor's favor? Since he sees through it, why does he repeatedly encourage you to rebel?"

Shang Jue argued, "You're lying. Chancellor Li couldn't protect himself, so he came to rely on me, plotting great deeds together."

Ran Qinggu laughed as if hearing a good joke. "That's why you're stupid. He couldn't protect himself or his daughter, but you could. From the beginning, he has been using you. Moreover, what confidence do you have that you can control Chancellor Li?"

Shang Jue looked at Ran Qinggu half-believing, half-doubting.

Ran Qinggu smiled indifferently. "You are talentless and virtuous. Why would he entrust the lives of his entire family into your hands? Let me tell you the truth. Before Chancellor Li turned to you, he sought out the Third Prince."

Shang Jue was taken aback.

Ran Qinggu saw his expression as expected. "After his daughter's disfigurement, Chancellor Li, in a fit of rage, used court officials to pressure the Emperor to send Princess Langhua to marry the Turkic prince. Then, he deliberately arranged for his daughter, Fei Luan, to confess her love to Prince Shang Rong of the House of Wang, who was riding in a carriage, indirectly revealing her disfigurement to the Turkic prince. The Turkic prince, fearing that the Emperor would send such a woman to him as a bride, rushed to the palace, claiming he loved Princess Langhua. From that moment on, Chancellor Li completely broke ties with the Emperor."

"In the past, to preserve himself, he treated the Emperor's words as divine whispers. In the end, he couldn't even protect his own daughter. Think about it. If he were to find someone to rely on, who would it be? Who could give him supreme power while he could firmly control them?"

Before Ran Qinggu could finish, Shang Jue blurted out, "The Third One."

Ran Qinggu gave him an approving smile.

The Third Prince had no power, influence, or the Emperor's favor.

Unlike the Second Prince, who was independent and cunning, making him hard to control.

Nor like the Crown Prince, who, despite hating the Emperor for killing Cang Jiaojiao, heavily relied on him. As long as the Emperor gave him a slap and then a sweetener, where would the Crown Prince go?

Furthermore, unlike the Sixth Prince, who was incompetent, nor like the Crown Prince, who couldn't see clearly.

To put it bluntly, he was somewhat clever, but not enough to escape Chancellor Li's grasp. That's why Chancellor Li had his sights set on the Third Prince from the start.

Supporting a puppet without a trump card, who was smart but not too smart, was far easier than supporting one with a trump card.

But Chancellor Li miscalculated the existence of Ran Qinggu, so he went ahead without hesitation.

Ran Qinggu stood up and strolled leisurely in front of the Buddhist hall. The two people lying on the ground were covered in blood, leaving splotches all around.

His green floral skirt and silver-thread embroidered robe dragged across the blood, like a brush, casually painting chaotic artwork on the ground. The bottom of his white robe was already stained red, like a gradient fabric.

"On the thirteenth day of the fourth month, the Crown Prince's advisor Du Ming went to Jianghuai to investigate the case of corrupt officials. In reality, he went to meet General Yuwen, a loyalist of the deceased Empress, asking him to lead troops to assist the Crown Prince."

"On the fifth day of the fifth month, the Crown Prince met with bandits from Tianyi Gorge, arranging the meeting on a pleasure boat in the capital."

...

"On the twelfth day of the seventh month, due to the Second Prince's house arrest, the Crown Prince took over his affairs, meeting with all his advisors."

"Before the Chongyang Festival, the Crown Prince secretly arranged to hide his personal guards within the Dragon Scale Army, plotting rebellion..."

Shang Jue asked dumbfoundedly, "How did you know?"

All his important schedules, meeting locations, and people he met in recent months were correct.

As if Ran Qinggu had been present personally.

Ran Qinggu smiled. "It seems that the information Chancellor Li passed back wasn't false."

Shang Jue questioned again, "I ask you, how did you know?"

Even if Chancellor Li initially relied on the Third Prince, here he was merely lurking. But how did Bai Yu learn all this?

Could it be that the House of King Cheng was also supporting the Third One?

Ran Qinggu smiled indifferently. "Didn't you always say that there was someone guiding the Third Prince behind the scenes?"

Shang Jue was astonished. "You...?"

He didn't believe that the young woman before him, barely seventeen or eighteen years old, could guide the Third One flawlessly in the court.

Ran Qinggu said, "I am that mastermind."

"I planned step by step, calculating for you, leading to your successful rebellion. Oh, wait, I should say that everyone was actively helping you rebel, planning for you, afraid that you wouldn't take this step." Ran Qinggu raised her eyebrows slightly.

"Hasn't your journey been smooth? When you mobilized troops in Jianghuai, the Second Prince turned a blind eye, not exposing you, because he hoped you would rebel right in front of the Emperor, allowing him to strike you down decisively. Next, he would be the best candidate for the crown. When you met with bandits, Prince Shang Rongque of the House directly let the bandit leader into the city. Did he not want to capture the bandits causing trouble for the people? No, he very much wanted to, but he preferred to catch all of you ants in one sweep... Oh, and when you planted your troops within the Dragon Scale Army, the Heir pretended not to see, allowing you to bring in large numbers of sharp swords and crossbows into the imperial city unchecked. He didn't even bother to investigate, neglecting his duties to buy glutinous rice cakes for me... Yes, the Third Prince, he has been secretly colluding with Chancellor Li, enticing you to rebel, often mentioning Cang Jiaojiao, touching on the Second Prince whom you most despise..."

The Crown Prince roared, "You're lying. Do you think you won't die just because of this? I am the Crown Prince, the future emperor... I am..."

Ran Qinggu retorted sternly, "I'm not lying. Everyone treats you like a clown. Only you don't know, taking step after step until you reached this point of no return."

The Crown Prince drew his sword. "If I can't live, neither will you. I will kill you!"

Ran Qinggu remained dignified. "If Your Highness kills me, you truly won't have any way out."

The sword stopped at Ran Qinggu's neck, cutting a small wound that instantly bled, a strand of hair severed and falling onto the bloodstained ground.

Ran Qinggu didn't blink, smiling motionlessly. "Do you dare to make a move?"

The beggars huddled together, too frightened to utter a sound. They were promised beauties to enjoy, but this beauty was terrifying.

Despite her visibly frail figure, with a waist thinner than the Crown Prince's arm, she had single-handedly left him in utter defeat.

Ran Qinggu spoke icily, "Your trump card has always been the Emperor's favor, but do you think King Cheng and the Heir would let you off if you killed me?"

"Furthermore…" His voice paused momentarily as he turned the ring on his finger.

The Crown Prince's hand holding the sharp sword trembled slightly. "I will kill you. My guards are right outside, and at my command, you'll have no place to hide. I don't believe your ring can hide millions of poison needles."

Ran Qinggu smiled faintly. "Who said only rings can hide poison needles?"

He reached up to touch his head.

Due to his recent miscarriage and exposure to blood, it was inappropriate for him to kneel before the Buddha Hall, so he hadn't fasted.

He still wore the makeup from the Wang Palace.

Two pink hairpins, a golden hair ornament, some hairpins, two blood-red plum blossom earrings, and a pair of white jade bracelets on his left wrist…

He twisted one of the gold hairpins on his head.

The Crown Prince immediately dropped the sword, which clattered to the ground.

He hid behind a Buddha statue. "Wretch, what do you want? Do you think you can escape if you kill me?"

He had seen Ran Qinggu use poison needles to kill two beggars, who died without even a word, their veins bursting.

If a ring could hide many poison needles, how many could this wretched person hide with all these accessories?

That explained why all the ladies of high society wore plain clothes, while this wretch chose to jingle with jewelry; it was to hide poison in her adornments.

The surrounding beggars also scrambled under tables and behind statues, leaving Ran Qinggu standing alone amidst the gods and Buddhas, speckled with bloodstains, with two corpses at his feet, like a beautiful yet dangerous Asura, both perilous and enticing.

"Is everything alright, Your Highness?" The guards outside heard strange noises and asked from the door.

Ran Qinggu walked to the Maitreya Buddha where the Crown Prince was hiding and said calmly, "If he takes another step forward, Your Highness, you will die more miserably than those two on the ground. You're so fat, you'd need at least ten poison needles, turning you into a bloody mess…"

The Crown Prince's eyes filled with rage. No one had ever dared to insult his weight. Now, Ran Qinggu not only called him fat but also likened him to a blood ball.

If not for his current predicament, he would have already dismembered Ran Qinggu.

The guard outside took a step forward, ready to push the door open, when the Crown Prince suddenly shouted urgently, "I'm fine. All of you, retreat. Don't come in without my order."

Suddenly, Ran Qinggu cried out toward the door, "Help… Help me… Crown Prince, what are you doing…"

The guard hesitated, exchanging glances with a lecherous smile.

The Crown Prince was known for playing with beauties. The Heir's Consort was no less attractive than Cang Jiaojiao, perhaps even more beautiful. When the Crown Prince said he wanted the beggars to play with her, it was merely after he had his fill and then tossed her to them.

One wondered what that tyrannical man, who thought himself invincible, would feel upon learning that his wife was being toyed with in such a manner, that he wore the dirtiest green hat in the world.

Shang Jue watched Ran Qinggu act out being forced for a while and sneered, "I thought you had some extraordinary abilities, but it turns out you're afraid too? I don't believe you won't leave this Buddha Hall today. Once you step out, my guards will tear you apart."

Ran Qinggu scoffed. "Leaving or not is my skill, but now, you won't be able to leave. Since we're just waiting here, boringly, Your Highness, let me show you something."

Shang Jue was puzzled. "What is it?"

Ran Qinggu looked around and noticed some deities placed on the left side. Among them, the statues of Lei Gong and Dian Mu were small, placed after the Three Pure Ones, but Dian Mu held a large mirror in her hand. The bronze mirror shone with a golden light, reflecting an unusual glow.

Ran Qinggu approached it.

The beggars hiding behind Dian Mu quickly scrambled away in terror, as if Ran Qinggu were a man-eating monster.

Ran Qinggu remembered that when they first entered, these people had lecherous smiles on their faces, eager to strip him bare and enjoy him.

He picked up Dian Mu's bronze mirror and walked towards the Crown Prince with the composure of someone strolling through a garden.

Seeing Ran Qinggu approach, the Crown Prince recoiled in fear.

Ran Qinggu smiled and held the mirror up to the Crown Prince's face.

The Crown Prince immediately dodged. "What are you doing?"

Because of his obesity and unattractive appearance, he hated looking in mirrors, so there were no mirrors or pools in the Eastern Palace.

Ran Qinggu forcefully shoved the mirror in front of the Crown Prince's face. "Look, look at yourself. Do you resemble a pig?"

Shang Jue's face contorted with anger as he pushed Ran Qinggu away. "Get lost, move aside. You're the pig… you're…"

Ran Qinggu stumbled a few steps.

He didn't give up but continued to hold the mirror in front of the Crown Prince, forcing him to look at himself. "Look at your fat, disgusting self. Do you really think Cang Jiaojiao would fancy you? She only sees your status as Crown Prince. If you weren't the Crown Prince, she'd find you repulsive, for who would love a pig? And the Emperor, he's utterly disappointed in you, this pig. Can your political essays match those of the Second Prince? Can your horsemanship surpass that of the Third Prince? Oh, wait, you can't ride horses because you crush them under your weight before you even mount them. Do you know how disappointed the Emperor feels every year during the hunt? Da Su values literature and martial arts, but you excel in neither. All you do is eat. Besides eating, what else can you do? He's extremely disappointed in you…"

Ran Qinggu's gaze fell on the beggars. "Tell me… isn't he a fat pig?"

Shang Jue had pushed his mother, who was searching for her son, calling out "Fat Son," into the icy lake in winter, where she froze to death.

At that time, Shang Jue was only about eleven or twelve years old.

How much he must have detested the word 'fat' since then.

People must pay a price for their actions.

He survived because of how the Third Prince's mother died.

He should do something for her!

This was his promise to the Third Prince.

The beggars, hiding in the shadows, dared not say yes or no.

They feared that if they said yes, the Crown Prince would take their lives; but if they said no, this vixen beauty would end them.

Ran Qinggu glared fiercely at the beggars.

The beggars shuddered at his icy gaze and hastily nodded, their voices rising and falling in assent: "Yes, yes..." "Like pigs." "Right, just like stupid pigs!"

The Crown Prince looked at his face, too large for the bronze mirror, his features squeezed together by layers of fat, his oily visage grotesquely ugly.

He pushed desperately against the mirror: "No, it's not true, take it away, remove it..."

With a bang, the mirror fell to the ground.

The guards outside stirred, calling out, "Your Highness."

In a low voice, Ran Qinggu instructed the beggars, "Laugh for me, all of you. Those who laugh the least, I'll kill."

The beggars exchanged glances before bursting into laughter, their cackles piercing through the redwood door veiled with gauze, reaching the ears of the guards.

The guards chuckled maliciously.

It seemed the beggars were having a grand time. How could the lofty Heir's Consort possibly survive such an onslaught? Could she handle so many beggars?

They glanced at each other before returning to their posts, remaining motionless.

"Hear that? The beggars are laughing at you, mocking you as a pig. Opening your granaries would feed them for three years. Listen, how loud they laugh. A Crown Prince, laughed at by these weak and crippled beggars, isn't that pitiful?" Ran Qinggu whispered provocatively in the Crown Prince's ear.

The Crown Prince's mind was flooded with words like "fat pig" and "fool".

He couldn't control his trembling body, muttering, "Stop laughing, don't laugh, you're not allowed to laugh..."

Unfortunately, the laughter continued unabated.

Ran Qinggu smiled. "Look up. The Buddha above your head is laughing at you too. He says you're fatter than him, your belly bigger. How much food do people like you waste?"

The Crown Prince looked up. The golden Maitreya Buddha above him grinned widely, his hands holding prayer beads, the tassels brushing against his round belly.

He recoiled in terror, falling to the ground with a thud, sprawled on his back, unable to rise due to his excessive weight.

The last rays of the sunset filtered through the small skylight at the top of the temple, casting beams of light upon him, reminding him of a distant afternoon...

He was only five then, chubby and rosy-cheeked, holding a scroll as he recited carefully: "Therefore, without ascending a high mountain, one does not... know the... heavens..., without approaching... deep ravines..."

He stuttered over the lines, never able to remember what came next.

He saw his father's sharp gaze fixed on him, filled with disappointment, and watched the court ministers shake their heads and sigh beside him...

He knew he had disappointed his father once again.

His father spoke coldly, "Hold out your hand."

Then came the sound of rings slapping against his palm, one after another.

He heard whispers all around him, blaming him for being an unworthy Crown Prince...

He feared seeing the disappointment in his father's eyes, replacing the hope he once held. He dreaded the ministers' shaking heads and sighs. Day and night, he faced mountains of books, learning archery and much more...

He had to excel in everything other princes learned, for he was the Crown Prince.

Even what other princes didn't need to learn, he had to master, because he was the Crown Prince.

A single mistake would be magnified by the ministers, with all eyes on him, pushing him relentlessly.

So, whenever he felt down, he turned to food, eating more and more until he became round like a ball.

He recalled a particular archery lesson where his father drew the bow and released an arrow with a swift motion.

Looking at him with anticipation, his father said, "Crown Prince, it's your turn."

He ran over but slipped and fell flat on his back, struggling to get up for what seemed like an eternity...

He saw the palace maids and eunuchs trying hard not to laugh. He noticed the other princes and consorts covering their mouths. He had never seen such disappointment in his father's eyes before...

He was too fat to even stand up.

No one came to help him; they just laughed at him.

As the Crown Prince, he had to rise with dignity, but he couldn't. His body was too plump, and his limbs too short...

His father commanded him coldly, "Stand up. You're the Crown Prince, the cornerstone of our future nation, the very essence of our state."

Yes, he was the Crown Prince, and he had to live up to the expectations of countless subjects. As the essence of the state, he had to be proficient in everything, under constant surveillance by the entire realm. He couldn't cry, for he was the Crown Prince. He couldn't make mistakes, for he was the heir apparent. He had to be both scholarly and martial, understanding the art of balance... And there was so much more he needed to learn...

He was the Crown Prince, but he was also human.

Despite his best efforts, everyone saw him as incapable and unworthy...

Even his weight became a sin, for a monarch represented the face of the nation, and he was both fat and unappealing...

He often heard people calling him a fat pig, saying he wasn't fit to be the Crown Prince.

They all blamed him.

After he killed them, more people came to mock him.

He was losing his mind.

Ran Qinggu looked at the Crown Prince lying on the ground, flailing like a turtle trying to right itself.

He laughed and cried, snot and tears streaming down his face as he mumbled accusations, "It's all your fault, Father Emperor... you've forced me... Whenever I do something wrong, you blame me, saying that I'm the Crown Prince and I must do well... It's all of you, it's you... Hahaha, only Jiaojiao understands me... She says that I'm the Crown Prince, and I can do whatever I want... Only Jiaojiao..."

The Crown Prince had clearly lost his mind.

As he rolled around, he felt the sharp sword on the ground. He picked up the sword and crawled for what seemed like an eternity before finally standing up.

His body was stained with blood, his eyes red, his face smeared with tears and snot. He raised the sword and swung wildly at his surroundings, "Don't laugh, I'll kill you... Don't laugh..."

The beggars scattered in fear.

In the Crown Prince's eyes, they were like pigs running in a pen.

They were so happy, laughing at him.

Don't laugh, don't dare to laugh...

Thick blood splattered over his body, but he was oblivious, hearing only laughter and words mocking him.

Ran Qinggu watched coldly, dodging when the Crown Prince's blade came towards him.

The Crown Prince was too obese and deranged, moving with unusual slowness and clumsiness.

With a clang, the sword fell from his hand.

Seeing Ran Qinggu covered in blood, he suddenly burst into tears, "Jiaojiao, tell me, do you love me... Am I not ugly or fat, right? I have my merits, don't I... They don't understand me, only you do. You know how hard I try to be a good Crown Prince... Jiaojiao..."

He reached out to Ran Qinggu with a pleading, pitiful gesture, his hands stained crimson.

It was as if he wanted to grasp onto something.

No one understood him, no one knew how difficult it was for him. Only Jiaojiao knew; he was her hero.

Ran Qinggu's pink attire today was similar to what Cang Jiaojiao wore on the day she died.

The Crown Prince, seeing him covered in blood, mistook him for Cang Jiaojiao.

He laughed cruelly, "No, you're a fool, unworthy of being the Crown Prince. You can't compare to your younger brothers in anything. The Emperor regrets most in this life is having a son like you..."

Pfft— A mouthful of blood spewed from the Crown Prince.

His eyes were bloodshot, his body drenched in blood, as he shook his head muttering, "No, it's not true... You're lying! You're not Jiaojiao..."

Ran Qinggu approached, placing the bronze mirror in front of the Crown Prince, "I didn't lie to you, look at yourself, do you resemble a pig? Look..."

The Crown Prince retreated in fear, crawling under the table, "I won't look, I won't look..."

Ran Qinggu discarded the bronze mirror in his hand, watching the Crown Prince coldly.

Blood pooled around his feet, forming a small stream that flowed quietly.

Before the Buddha Hall, the deities were stained with bright red blood, and corpses lay strewn about.

Ran Qinggu stood facing the gods...

He looked so ruthless, gorgeous, and intense!

"Ahh—" Screams echoed from outside.

Had the Emperor's army arrived?

Ran Qinggu glanced at the Crown Prince, kicking the bronze mirror at his feet towards him.

The Crown Prince, as if seeing a demon, huddled tightly, repeating hurriedly, "I won't look... won't look..."

Ran Qinggu changed his expression instantly, disheveling his hair, and stumbled out the door in panic, "Help, the Crown Prince is killing people..."

As soon as he stepped out, he was embraced by a warm chest.

Shang Rongyou looked at him anxiously, "Yuer, are you alright?"

Behind Shang Rongyou were the Crown Prince's thousands of troops, countless blades pointed at the two of them.

Ran Qinggu: "..."

He thought the Emperor's army had arrived, intending to put on a show for the Emperor. However, it turned out to be Shang Rongyou alone, breaking into Zhongming Temple.

Author's Note: PS: This chapter uses the term 'pig' to describe obesity due to plot requirements, as it is a sore point for the Crown Prince, causing his inferiority complex.

It's not that you're not beautiful because you're fat, nor that you're necessarily attractive because you're thin. You are beautiful just the way you are, and happiness and health are most important! Fat or thin, these are merely others' perspectives. Don't worry about them so much. Your happiness and health matter most. We live for ourselves, and nothing can buy the joy we find in our own contentment!

I'm afraid I might have misled everyone, so I'll say this here:

Remember, you are unique in this world. You are beautiful just the way you are, and health and happiness are most important. Don't care about others' opinions! Thank you to the little angels who cast their votes or watered the nutrient fluid for me between September 4, 2020, 01:15:40 AM and September 5, 2020, 01:35:28 AM.

Thank you to the little angel who launched a rocket: Zai 1;

Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient fluid: Qi Chi 75 bottles; Jiqirumeng 40 bottles; Huyue Xin 🙂 25 bottles; 18th Floor Elder Sister 10 bottles; Shen Bieti 6 bottles; Nan Cha Qingci, Tusanyuexi, Qingyan Feise 5 bottles each; Ye Yinlan 3 bottles; Cong Huayu 2 bottles; Xiao Xiao 1 bottle;

Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!