Chapter 57: Wedding Night

Chapter 57: Wedding Night

"Her Highness the Heir's Consort, are all these clothes to be given to the refugees outside the city?" Chun-er neatly folded the clothes taken from the wardrobe and packed them into a bundle.

Many of these clothes were gifts from prestigious families who were on good terms with the Wang Manor, or they were purchased by the manor during festivals. Ran Qinggu hardly wore them, so many were still new.

Chun-er felt it was a bit of a waste.

Ran Qinggu also helped with the sorting: "Yes, I can't wear so many. Winter is approaching, and there are still many children outside the city without winter clothes. Tomorrow, I'll talk to the Wang Consort about taking some unused fabrics from the manor's textile shops to the outskirts and giving them to those children..."

Chun-er cheerfully tidied up: "Your Highness, you're truly beautiful inside and out, far superior to those two from the Full Moon Court."

Ran Qinggu smiled without speaking.

It was just that he suddenly woke up in the middle of the night, feeling as if he had killed too many people, his sins too heavy, and an impulse to atone for them.

He never used to think like this.

In the past, human lives were like weeds to him; who lived or died had nothing to do with him?

The Third Prince once asked him if he had any attachments.

He said he didn't.

The Third Prince smiled warmly and said that it was better not to have attachments. The more attachments one had, the more constraints, leading to overthinking and superstitions about cause and effect. Only by being unencumbered could one be invincible.

Now, he was afraid that he had killed too many people, his hands stained with too much blood, and would suffer retribution.

Shang Rongyu arrived at the Sinking Fish Pavilion, and the door to Ran Qinggu's room was not closed. From afar, he saw Ran Qinggu and Chun-er packing luggage together.

Ha, they were packing quite quickly, eager to leave the Wang Manor, weren't they?

He stood there, watching in the autumn breeze for quite a while.

They were taking quite a lot of clothes. The Third Prince was really stingy, not even willing to buy a few decent clothes for Ran Qinggu, having to scavenge from the manor instead.

After watching for a while, he left the Sinking Fish Pavilion dejectedly, feeling unusually upset.

He didn't know how he ended up at his treasure vault.

Opening the door to the treasure vault, the heavy stone door swung open.

The interior was brilliantly lit, filled with the luster of pearls and treasures. There were over ten chests full of priceless jewels and gold bars.

These were all things he had plundered here and there, or embezzled a little from the east and the west, then thrown here.

He hadn't realized that over the years, he had accumulated so much. He thought he was a clean official.

He casually picked two or three pieces of priceless jewelry and stuffed them into a golden silk pouch. Although these jewels were expensive, they were not rare enough to be unique in the world, making them convenient to pawn when short on money.

After stuffing two or three pieces, he grabbed four or five light and precious earrings and other jewelry. These were easy to carry and could be exchanged for a considerable amount of silver whenever he was short on funds.

After filling a bag with jewels, he said to Jia Chu: "Bring me paper, pen, and ink."

Jia Chu understood and respectfully replied: "Yes."

The Heir couldn't bear to let the Heir's Consort leave, but he didn't want to make her sad either, so he painfully let go.

After letting go, they should have parted ways, each going their separate ways happily. But he was afraid that the Heir's Consort wouldn't live well, so he came to select some easily pawnable jewels to give her as travel expenses for the future, just in case.

He had been with the Heir since childhood.

The Heir was domineering, ostentatious, and unfeeling, never considering others' feelings, only caring about his own happiness.

Now, he seemed to have poured all his life's tenderness and care onto the Heir's Consort.

Jia Chu brought the paper and pen, and Shang Rong took them, slowly writing the divorce document.

With this divorce document, Ran Qinggu would no longer be constrained or criticized for being indecent when she was with the Third Prince, coming and going freely.

This might be the last thing he could do for Ran Qinggu.

After Shang Rong finished writing the divorce document, he returned to the Sinking Fish Pavilion.

Ran Qinggu had finished packing the unused clothes and items and was leaving with two servants, including Chun-er.

As soon as he stepped out, he ran into Shang Rong, and he called out: "Heir."

Shang Rong raised his eyes to see the luggage in the servant Chun-er's hand, his brows slightly furrowed.

Was the Third Prince that poor? Letting Ran Qinggu take so many things away?

What did Ran Qinggu see in him?

Poor? Stingy?

He couldn't figure it out.

He raised his eyebrows and said: "Your eyebrows aren't drawn well. You're disgracing the Wang Manor."

Ran Qinggu was puzzled: "Huh?"

It was already evening, and he was just sending these things to the carriage in the backyard, then entrusting the steward to deliver them to the ruined temple outside the city and distribute them to the refugees and beggars...

The night was so dark that no one would look at whether his eyebrows were drawn well or not. He was just going to the backyard and would be back soon, not even leaving the manor. How was he disgracing the Wang Manor?

Shang Rong pulled him: "Come in."

Ran Qinggu was dragged by Shang Rong into the room.

Chun-er closed the door for them considerately and said with a smile, "The servants will wait in the corridor for the Heir's Consort. The Heir's Consort should have a good talk with the Heir."

As she spoke, she made the guards and attendants outside move further away from the door.

Shang Rongyu returned to the room, picked up the eyebrow ink on the table, lifted Ran Qinggu's chin, forcing him to tilt his head slightly.

Shang Rongyu then meticulously outlined Ran Qinggu's eyebrows with the eyebrow ink.

He actually quite wanted to see him dressed as a man.

He had never seen it before.

Perhaps there would be no opportunity in the future, even if he saw it again, Ran Qinggu would only be by the Third Prince's side, facing him in battle.

Shang Rongyu drew very carefully and slowly, but Ran Qinggu felt it was unnecessary, after all, he would wash up and sleep soon.

He said, "Heir, can we stop? It doesn't need to be that perfect."

Shang Rongyu was reluctant to let Ran Qinggu leave and wanted to prolong the time: "No, you cannot disgrace the Wangfu."

Ran Qinggu: "I won't disgrace anyone, I just..."

Shang Rongyu interrupted him: "Don't forget your identity as the Heir's Consort, you are the face of the Wangfu, you must maintain your appearance at all times."

Ran Qinggu: "..."

He was just going out of the Sinking Fish Pavilion to deliver something, how could he not maintain his appearance?

What was wrong with this person? He was a little off again!

Time passed quickly.

No matter how carefully Shang Rongyu drew, there was a time when he finished, after finishing the eyebrows, he put down the eyebrow brush: "Done."

His voice was indistinguishable between joy and sorrow, but one could always hear a faint sense of loss and helplessness.

Ran Qinggu smiled: "Thank you, Heir."

These eyebrows were indeed well-drawn.

Shang Rongyu took out the bag of jewels from his chest and placed it in Ran Qinggu's hand: "Take it with you, just in case you need it."

He didn't know the specifics of Shang Yuzhou's plans, but it was certain that Shang Yuzhou's sights were set on the throne.

If Shang Yuzhou lost the battle, then Ran Qinggu would have to wander with Shang Yuzhou.

When he was thirteen or fourteen years old, he followed his father to the border city and knew the hardships of military life. These jewels could at least ensure that Ran Qinggu had enough to eat.

Ran Qinggu felt the weight of the jewels in his hand, through the silk pouch, he could feel that they were of great value.

His family had once been bestowed the rank of marquis and prime minister, what good things had he not seen? But so many good things, he had only seen once at Yin Zhong's residence, this was the second time.

Why did Shang Rongyu suddenly give him these jewels? Could it also be to encourage him to do more good deeds and cleanse some of his sins?

He thanked him, "Thank you, Heir, I'll do it for..."

Shang Rongyu waved his hand angrily, "No need, this is for you."

Ran Qinggu would certainly give these jewels to the Third Prince to win over people's hearts, after all, the Third Prince was too poor.

Wanted to thank him on behalf of the Third Prince?

Ha, not needed, not needed for that poor and stingy waste to thank him.

He was just afraid that Ran Qinggu would suffer.

Ran Qinggu had originally wanted to thank Shang Rongyu on behalf of the children and refugees outside the city, but he didn't expect Shang Rongyu to be so angry. He was momentarily confused, "Okay."

He held the bag of jewels and said with a smile, "Heir, rest early tonight, I still have something to take care of."

Shang Rongyu nodded.

Ran Qinggu walked towards the door.

Just as he reached the door and opened it, he was suddenly hugged from behind by Shang Rongyu, "Can you not go? I don't want you to leave."

Ran Qinggu: "??"

He was just going to the backyard of the Sinking Fish Pavilion to instruct the steward of the mansion about some matters, he hadn't even left the Wangfu, such a short distance, why did he suddenly not want him to leave?

If he didn't want him to leave, he could have come along? It wasn't far, just a few steps.

Shang Rongyu rested his head on Ran Qinggu's shoulder and murmured, "Qinggu, I like you."

Ran Qinggu was stunned.

This person had said that he disliked men and despised homosexuality, how could he suddenly...

Shang Rongyu hugged Ran Qinggu tighter, squeezing him uncomfortably until he struggled a bit, then he relaxed slightly: "Didn't you already know that I liked you?"

Ran Qinggu said calmly, "At that time, I was still the Heir's Consort, but..."

Shang Rongyu said calmly, "You are still the Heir's Consort now, until the day I give you the divorce papers, you are still the Heir's Consort."

Ran Qinggu: "But you said yourself that you found homosexuality disgusting. How could you..."

Shang Rongyu was surprised, "When did I say that?"

Ran Qinggu: "That Lantern Festival, Bai Yu dressed up as my cousin and entered the capital, you saw him with the Third Prince and told me rather repulsively that you thought they were abnormal and that homosexuality was disgusting."

Shang Rongyu remembered and defended himself in a muted voice, "No, you're wrong, everything is wrong."

Ran Qinggu: "Huh?"

Shang Rongyu hurriedly said, "That day, I thought you liked your cousin, and your cousin was flirting with the Third Prince. At that moment, I thought your cousin had deceived your feelings, and you must be very sad. So when you asked me if I found it disgusting to be in love with someone of the same sex, I nodded without thinking. I assumed that after being deceived, you would also find it disgusting, so I just wanted to stand on the same side as you, I just wanted to make you happy. I never think anyone is disgusting, as long as they don't do anything against heaven and reason, everyone has their own way of living. But I can go against my usual principles to comfort you for your sake."

"Qinggu, I really like you. On the second day you entered the Prince's Mansion, under that plum tree, when I first saw you, I couldn't take my eyes off you. You were wearing red clothes, not exactly heavenly beautiful, but every part of you suited my eye, as if nose, eyes, mouth... all of them were pieced together in the way I liked. After knowing you were a man, I did have a period where I couldn't face it, but then I resigned myself to fate. I like you as a person, regardless of whether you're male or female. Because I think you're very special, there's always one person in this world who is so special that everything related to him becomes special... to me, you're such a person."

Special—

When one person is special to another, everything related to him becomes different.

Because of him, you can see different landscapes, different people, a different vast world, a different bustling red dust.

Shang Rongyu bit Ran Qinggu's earlobe, his tongue playing with the earring, whispering, "So, don't leave, okay?"

Ran Qinggu hesitated for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

He was just going outside the Sinking Fish Pavilion to find the steward to entrust these things to him, which would take no more than the time of an incense stick burning.

Shang Rongyu murmured, "Didn't you say you liked me? And now you're not taking responsibility?"

Ran Qinggu: "Heir, this has nothing to do with liking or not."

He was just going inside the mansion to find the steward to arrange some matters, how did it suddenly become about liking and taking responsibility?

Shang Rongyu said angrily, "If you like me, you can't leave."

Ran Qinggu: "Otherwise, why don't you come with me?"

Shang Rongyu calmly replied, "No, I have my own affairs."

He never thought that one day he would have to separate getting married from starting a family.

He liked Ran Qinggu, but he couldn't go with him to help the Third Prince ascend to power. The Third Prince was poor and stingy; helping him ascend to power would mean drinking the northwest wind, wouldn't it?

Ran Qinggu said, "Why don't you wait for me here?"

Shang Rongyu asked sadly, "Are you really leaving? Are you still so obsessed with Shang Yuzhou? You've already repaid his life-saving grace, what else does he want?"

Ran Qinggu was surprised, "What's wrong with the Third Prince?"

Shang Rongyu said dejectedly, "Aren't you leaving the Prince's Mansion to find Shang Yuzhou? Didn't you previously discuss that after the Crown Prince's matter was settled, you would leave me? Your luggage is packed, quite a lot actually. You're indeed quite considerate of Shang Yuzhou, that poor ghost."

Ran Qinggu: "..."

Chun'er whispered outside the door, "Her Highness the Heir's Consort, this servant has already handed over those unused clothes and utensils to the steward of the mansion. They said that tonight is almost curfew, and they won't be able to get out of the city gate in time, so they can only wait until tomorrow to send them to the temple outside the city for those children. The steward of the mansion is afraid that Her Highness the Heir's Consort will make a trip for nothing, so he specially instructed this servant to return and tell Her Highness the Heir's Consort, letting Her Highness the Heir's Consort and His Highness the Heir rest well, and he will personally come to the Sinking Fish Pavilion to meet Her Highness the Heir's Consort tomorrow. Whatever Her Highness the Heir's Consort wants to entrust, she can explain clearly to him tomorrow."

Ran Qinggu said, "Understood."

Chun'er happily said, "Then this servant won't disturb His Highness the Heir and Her Highness the Heir's Consort anymore. This servant takes her leave."

Shang Rongyu couldn't believe it, "You weren't packing up to run away?"

Ran Qinggu clicked his tongue, "So in the Heir's eyes, I'm the kind of person who runs away and even moves the master's money and goods, taking advantage of small benefits?"

No wonder he gave him that bag of jewels, seeing him as too shabby, so he gave him something good to protect himself.

Shang Rongyu wanted to slap himself to death, quickly saying, "Qinggu, listen to me explain, I...I..."

Ran Qinggu turned his head and kissed him.

Shang Rongyu was stunned, petrified on the spot.

After he had been randomly kissing Ran Qinggu for so long, this was the first time Ran Qinggu had kissed him.

He felt like he was dreaming.

"Qinggu, I'm not dreaming right now, am I? I'm not living in a dream, am I?" Shang Rongyu couldn't believe it.

Ran Qinggu smiled, biting Shang Rongyu's lips hard when he kissed him again, not stopping until there was a sweet, bloody taste in his mouth.

Shang Rongyu winced in pain, frowning at Ran Qinggu.

This person was truly vengeful, still remembering the days when he bit him.

He held Ran Qinggu's lips, wrapping his arms around Ran Qinggu's waist, kissing him until he couldn't catch his breath.

Shang Rongyu picked up Ran Qinggu horizontally and walked towards the bed, laying him down.

The person on the bed was breathtakingly beautiful.

Tonight's candlelight was beautiful, the night was beautiful, and the two autumn orchids blooming splendidly on the windowsill were also beautiful.

If it wasn't for the lack of moon tonight, he would even praise the half-moon light as beautiful.

Shang Rongyu flicked his finger, sending a pebble flying, and the candle went out with a whoosh. A wisp of smoke lingered and rose into the air, dissipating in the air.

This night was particularly quiet, amplifying the intimate whispers that leaked out of the room infinitely...

When he woke up the next day, the sun was already high in the sky.

Ran Qinggu slept dazedly, suddenly waking up when he realized the bright sunlight outside the window.

Shang Rongyu woke up leisurely, stretching his hand under the quilt to pull Ran Qinggu into his arms, burying his face in his neck and taking a deep breath, "Smells nice, it's my scent."

Ran Qinggu struggled to sit up, "Heir, it's already noon, I haven't gone to pay respects to the Princess yet."

Shang Rongyu restrained him, "I haven't gone to morning court yet, I'm not afraid, so why should you be? Since you're injured, just lie down properly, what are you fussing about? If you go to pay respects to Mother Consort, you can't walk in a coy manner, Mother Consort would think you lack decorum. Besides, can you even sit?"

Ran Qinggu's face instantly turned half as red as the sky.

He never expected that one day he could make someone skip morning court.

Even more unexpectedly, this person, who in daily conversation spoke of intimate matters without a blush, as if well-versed in such things, was actually quite exhausting in practice.

He was like Zhao Kuo reborn, only good at talking strategy but not executing it.

Shang Rongyu chuckled lightly, "So, lie obediently here. I'll send someone to Zui Feng Pavilion to announce that today is our first night together, our wedding night. What a precious day it is, and I want to cherish it for a while. I've decided to spend the entire day holding you in bed. We won't wash these sheets and quilts ever again; they hold the scent of our first time, which I want to preserve as a keepsake."

Ran Qinggu said helplessly, "Why don't you burn incense and enshrine this bed as well?"

Shang Rongyu nodded, "Good idea. Let's do it!"

Ran Qinggu: "…"

Shang Rongyu smiled, "The handkerchief I used to apply medicine to your wounds last night is also good; I'll keep it. The pillow you gripped when you couldn't bear it is nice too; I'll keep that as well, and I won't smooth out the claw marks on it… Hey, why do you keep burrowing under the covers? Isn't it suffocating?"

Ran Qinggu's face was flushed red, "Because there's no crack in the ground for me to crawl into."

Shang Rongyu laughed softly.

Even though Ran Qinggu didn't have to pay respects to the princess, he couldn't really spend the whole day in bed.

He still had to meet with the steward of the prince's manor later.

After he struggled to get up and put on his shoes, he saw a neatly folded letter tucked among Shang Rongyu's disheveled clothes.

Last night, the two of them had been so wild that their clothes were torn to shreds, so most of the garments on the floor were no longer wearable.

Since the letter appeared on Shang Rongyu, it might be something important.

He squatted down with difficulty to pick it up.

On the letter, written in bold strokes, were the words—Divorce Agreement!

Shang Rongyu wanted to go back to sleep, but he didn't want to miss the moment when Ran Qinggu changed his clothes.

This was the first time they had been completely open with each other.

He wanted to watch him change; last night, the lights were out, and he only heard sounds but hadn't seen Ran Qinggu's body.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Ran Qinggu holding that divorce agreement, and the drowsiness of his nap instantly vanished in terror.

He jumped out of bed and snatched the divorce agreement, tearing it to shreds immediately, "No, don't misunderstand. Yesterday, I thought you were going to leave, so I wrote a divorce agreement for you. I was thinking that if you wanted to appear in public with the third prince in the future, it would be convenient for you, and you wouldn't be criticized by others…"

Before he could finish speaking, he was hugged by Ran Qinggu.

Shang Rongyu was stunned for a moment before reaching out to embrace Ran Qinggu as well.

==

Inside the Royal Clan Temple, a servant carrying a food box approached a side hall.

Imprisoned inside was the deposed Crown Prince, Shang Jue.

The servant opened the food box, revealing dishes that were both visually appealing and fragrant. The guards tested the food with silver needles for poison.

Once they confirmed it was safe, they allowed the servant to enter the hall.

Although it was called a hall, it was essentially a comfortable prison cell with all the necessary facilities.

Shang Jue's hair was disheveled, his eye sockets sunken, and his eyelids darkened. He sat at a writing desk, desperately scribbling on paper.

It wasn't accurate to say he was writing anything.

The desk was covered in ink, and the paper was filled with scribbles. But his brush was now inkless, and the paper was already ruined.

At that moment, he was like a machine, drawing on the scribbled paper with an inkless brush, muttering, "I haven't finished today's homework. Father will be unhappy, and the officials will criticize me. I must finish it."

The servant walked over and laid out the food on the table, "Crown Prince, it's time to eat."

The food was delivered from the imperial kitchen, consisting of dishes that Shang Jue usually enjoyed.

It seemed that the emperor truly loved this deposed crown prince. Even in this situation, he still sent people to serve him delicious meals.

Apart from lacking freedom, he had everything.

Smelling the aroma of the food, the crown prince moved towards the table unconsciously. Reaching the table, he grabbed the food and stuffed it into his mouth, smearing it all over his face and body.

The servant smiled, "Your Highness, the way you eat really resembles a pig. Pigs eat just like you do."

Shang Jue's eyes turned to the servant, filled with panic and confusion.

The servant mocked coldly, "You're already so fat, why are you still eating? Eat less, okay? If you eat less, you won't be fat anymore. Starve yourself a little, and you'll become thinner. Then the Emperor will like you even more."

Shang Jue's eyes suddenly sparkled with hope, "Really?"

The servant nodded, "Yes, my mother was very fat, like a big fat worm. She didn't eat or drink for three or four days and became thinner. I can't describe how beautiful she looked after losing weight… just as handsome as Shang Rongyu."

Shang Jue silently put down the chicken leg in his bowl, "If I'm thinner, it will be better. If I'm thinner, I'll be a good crown prince, and Father will like me even more. I'll be able to ride horses again, and I won't be scolded by the officials as a useless drunkard… I…"

The servant smiled, "Yes, as long as you lose weight, you'll still be the crown prince. How dare those officials criticize you then? How can the second prince surpass you? The Emperor will love you even more because you are the crown prince. You are the face of the country. You must lose weight."

Shang Jue nodded solemnly, "Yes, I am the crown prince. I must lose weight. I am the face of the nation. Take away these dishes. I won't eat. Not eating will be fine."

The servant smiled as he cleared the table, "If the crown prince isn't eating, I'll take them away then."

His sister was originally a palace maid in the Eastern Palace, and she was six months away from leaving the palace. The whole family was waiting for her to come out so they could live happily together.

His scholar brother-in-law had waited for his sister for seven or eight years, just for her to leave the palace so that they could finally be together as lovers.

As a result of the Crown Prince's aversion to his own obesity, mirrors and water basins were forbidden in the Eastern Palace. Even the water for morning and evening ablutions and bathing had to be concealed under a thick layer of flower petals.

When his sister delivered toiletries to the Crown Prince and the petals failed to cover the basin of washing water, the Crown Prince berated the palace maid for her negligence and had his sister beaten to death.

Now, the Third Prince offered him the chance for revenge. How could he let it slip away?

Over the years, Shang Jue had killed countless palace maids and eunuchs. Such people did not deserve to live, wasting food on this earth.

"Hahaha, look at that, he's even eating apple peels."

==

"Oh, does he eat shit too?"

A child around seven years old sat on the ground, his face blank with ignorance. His fine clothes were poorly fastened, askew and twisted.

He mechanically picked up an apple peel from the ground and stuffed it into his mouth, bewildered. The standing child, holding a freshly peeled apple, took a bite and tossed the apple in front of the child on the ground, teasing him like a dog: "Bark three times before you can eat..."

The child didn't know what "bark" meant, so he imitated it: "Woof woof woof—"

The surrounding children burst into laughter, while the eunuchs and maids all cast looks of disdain.

"What are you all doing?" A child around eleven or twelve approached, carrying a sword. His face was dotted with beads of sweat. Eunuchs and maids served him cautiously, fearful of losing their lives with any misstep.

He carried himself with innate nobility, handsome and graceful. Though he looked young, every move he made was composed and unhurried, bearing the air of a future emperor, as dazzling as the yellow four-clawed robe he wore.

Beside him stood another child, half a head shorter. This child, no more than seven or eight years old, held a short sword, his features relaxed and confident.

He was his companion.

Everyone in the garden knelt down. "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

The child referred to as the Crown Prince said, "Rise."

Everyone stood up.

Those naughty children approached, one smiling. "Your Highness, we were just joking with the Fourth Prince. We were playing a game where the loser has to eat apple peels and bark like a dog..."

The others nodded in agreement. "Yes, yes, exactly that."

The Crown Prince's eyes sharpened. "What game? Let me join in."

They exchanged glances, unable to come up with an explanation on the spot.

The Crown Prince sternly rebuked them. "It's time for morning lessons. Instead of attending your studies, you're neglecting your education and bullying your siblings here?"

The children pleaded pitifully, "Your Highness, we were wrong. It was just for fun. We won't do it again. Please don't tell Father Emperor..."

Father Emperor doted on the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince reported them, they would surely face punishment.

The Crown Prince said indifferently, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. To acknowledge a mistake and correct it is a great virtue. Don't bully your siblings again next time."

The children thanked him repeatedly. "Yes, we understand. We'll go back to our lessons now."

The Crown Prince and his companion approached, crouching down gently. "You're a prince, not a palace maid or eunuch. How can you allow yourself to be mocked like this?"

The seven-year-old child didn't understand. He stared blankly at the apple peel in his hand, his exposed hands red from the cold.

He had reached the age to begin his studies, but due to his perceived dullness, the grand scholars ignored him.

So, he still couldn't read even simple characters.

Years later, he would realize that it wasn't because he was dull. Without a mother, everyone bullied him. Even the grand scholars looked down on him, and the maids and eunuchs who served him were insincere, forcing him to learn how to dress himself at four or five, often resulting in his clothes being crooked.

The Crown Prince straightened the buttons on his misaligned robes, only then noticing that he wore only a thin autumn jacket, with summer clothes underneath. Perhaps due to the cold, he had haphazardly layered over twenty pieces of clothing on himself.

The Crown Prince scolded the servants. "Drag out all the maids and eunuchs serving the Fourth Prince and beat them to death with rods. How dare they treat their master with such neglect."

Then, he said to him, "From now on, stay by my side. No one will dare to bully you when you're with me."

The seven or eight-year-old companion handed him a freshly peeled large apple, placing it in his hand with a warm smile. "I'll protect you too. My name is Qing Yi."

He gripped the apple, taking a bite. His voice was low. "My name is Shang Qianxian."

Suddenly, the apple in his mouth transformed into a human head. The rotting flesh was gnawed upon, brain matter mixed with blood oozing out.

The two children before him changed.

One was covered in blood, pierced by countless arrows. He accused him fiercely, "Why? Wasn't I good enough to you? In the vast, icy palace, I helped you, cared for you...and had Yi'er protect you. And you treated me like this for a throne?"

The other held his severed head, reprimanding him, "Everyone betrayed you, but I believed in you. When the whole world stood against you, I was the only one who stood by you until the end. Whatever you said, I did. Why did you deceive me? I helped you defend the country, secure the borders, and repel foreign enemies. Is this how you repay me?"

Behind them stood thousands of fierce ghosts, each covered in blood...

Terrified, he threw away the head. Looking down, he saw countless skeletons beneath his feet. Stumbling backward, he ran, "No, Yi'er, Brother...I didn't want this either, I had no choice...Don't come near me, don't find me..."

No matter how far he ran, he could see those two people, questioning him, chasing him...

Exhausted, Shang Qianxian couldn't run anymore. Picking up a sword from the ground, he swung it furiously at the two. "It was all your fault, Brother. If it weren't for your Empress Mother, I wouldn't have been like this. If I didn't kill you, you would have killed me. You all would have killed me...Yi'er, your loyalty to me was only because of Brother's instructions. You wanted to kill me, so I had to kill you first...Stay away..."

"Emperor, Emperor—" The eunuch on night duty in the Yangxin Hall saw Shang Qianxian writhing in nightmares and cautiously called out beside the bed.

"Don't come near me, Yi'er. You wanted to kill me, I didn't want this!" Shang Qianxian suddenly screamed, springing up from the bed. He drew the sword beside him and stabbed the little eunuch. Blood splattered onto Shang Qianxian instantly.

Boom!

Thunder exploded, illuminating Shang Qianxian's vicious face with startling clarity. Blood mixed with cold sweat dripped down his chin. His eyes were filled with terror, fear, and determination.

The little eunuch was so frightened that he spat out a mouthful of blood before he could scream.

The sharp sword pierced his chest, dripping blood from the tip as it hung down.

Hearing the commotion, the guards rushed in, lighting the candles that illuminated the room brightly.

Shang Qianxian immediately regained his composure and released his grip.

An old eunuch who served the emperor also entered, taking in the scene before him, he ordered, "Quickly remove the body. Fetch a basin of water; His Majesty needs to wash up."

The palace attendants hurried to comply with his command.

Shaking off the eunuch supporting him, Shang Qianxian strode over to a cabinet, opened it, and retrieved an intricately carved sandalwood box.

He opened the box to reveal shattered pieces of coral jade.

This was once a gift he had bestowed upon Qing Yi. When he first ascended the throne, the realm was unstable, beset by internal strife and external threats. Standing by his side, Qing Yi's expression was resolute as he vowed, "Your Majesty, do not be afraid. I will always be by your side!"

At that time, the entire world stood against him, accusing him of tampering with the imperial edict and seizing power unjustly. Only Qing Yi believed in him, standing steadfastly at his side, accompanying him through...

In the end, however, he killed him.

He caressed the shattered jade, the only gift he had ever given to Qing Yi. After Qing Yi's death, unable to face the reality, he bestowed this item upon the Crown Prince. Later, Bai Yu shattered it.

He had the fragments collected and kept them in this very box.

Trembling, he touched the shattered coral jade, whispering, "Qing Yi, it wasn't Myself who wanted to kill you. It was out of necessity; I could not wait for you to come after me!"

Qing Yi, Bai Yu!

Suddenly, a realization struck him.

He had always felt that he had met Bai Yu before, finding his features strangely familiar, yet unable to recall where.

Upon closer reflection, Bai Yu's facial features bore a striking resemblance to Qing Yi's. However, while Qing Yi exuded warmth and grace, his eyes reflecting the vitality of life, Bai Yu's countenance was marred by a lifeless, somber aura.

There must be some connection between these two individuals.

He vowed to uncover the truth.

A palace attendant rushed in, "Your... Your Majesty..."

Shang Qianxian demanded sharply, "What is it?"

The attendant fell to their knees, sobbing, "The Crown Prince... The Crown Prince... has passed away. News just arrived from the Royal Clan Temple. Four days ago, he suddenly refused food and drink. When they tried to force-feed him, he would eat a little but then vomit it all up later. He even hid his food under the bed. Tonight, at the stroke of midnight, he suddenly took a turn for the worse. By the time the imperial physicians arrived, it was too late. He had starved to death."

With a violent cough, Shang Qianxian spat out a mouthful of blood. The weight of the box in his hand felt like a thousand pounds, and with a clatter, it fell to the ground, scattering the coral jade shards everywhere. Illuminated by the lightning and candlelight outside the window, they shone with an eerily beautiful brilliance.

He dashed out of the room into the pouring rain, pointing at the thunderous sky and questioning, "Is this retribution? Why didn't it fall upon Myself?"

A deafening clap of thunder exploded in his ears, rumbling loudly.

Shang Qianxian coughed up another mouthful of blood, nearly collapsing. Staggering, he was caught by the eunuch behind him, who pleaded, "Your Majesty, take care of your health."

With trembling hands, he roared, "Order the Three Ministries to investigate this case. We must find the one responsible for the Crown Prince's murder."

The attendant replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

In the autumn of the thirty-second year of Xianyuan, the deposed Crown Prince Shang Jue passed away.

The deposed Crown Prince Shang Jue was the only crown prince in history to have been starved to death. The emperor, mourning the loss of his beloved son, fell gravely ill for several days, unable to attend court. He decreed that the entire court observe a seven-day mourning period for the Crown Prince, and the nation mourned deeply.

Author's note: Third Prince: I saved your wife, and yet you still diss me every day for being poor, stingy, and useless? Where is justice?

I've started another story featuring a venomous, cold-hearted beauty cross-dressing as a powerful male lead versus a sharp-tongued, domineering love interest.

Check out my column for "When the Demon Lord Becomes a Foot Washer," please consider adding it to your pre-order list. The summary is too long, so I won't include it here.

It's about a fearsome demon lord who becomes the foot washer of a sharp-tongued immortal lord, only to be criticized for doing a poor job!

PS: A real foot washer! Washing the feet of the love interest!

Dear readers, please take a look and see if you like it. If you do, please add it to your pre-order list. This story has a large setting in a cultivation world, so bear with me as I hone my skills. I promise I will start writing it soon!

Lastly, please consider pre-ordering from my column. In the future, I plan to explore various genres and write many stories. Who knows, there might be something that suits your taste?

Thank you for your support during the period from September 6th, 2020, 01:03:00 AM to September 7th, 2020, 01:30:25 AM. I will continue to work hard!