Chapter 62: A Calamity, Oh What a Calamity

Chapter 62: A Calamity, Oh What a Calamity

Yunzhou, the smallest of King Cheng's fiefs, was also the most prosperous.

Located at the intersection of north and south, it boasted convenient waterways and land routes. However, this very convenience came with a drawback—it was too close to be defensible and too open to retreat into safety.

In short, it was not conducive for stationing troops or engaging in warfare.

Yet, the prosperity of the region had its own advantages, such as abundant resources. The components needed for the Falcon Army's mechanical devices were gathered within three days, and less than half a month later, the first batch of the Falcon Army was ready for experimental deployment!

And the results of the trials were favorable.

Within a month, the first unit of the Falcon Army was officially established. King Cheng, who hadn't felt so spirited in a long time, suddenly regained a hint of his youthful vigor and ordered a feast for all three armies.

That very evening of the feast for the armies was also the monthly family banquet at the Cheng Wang Palace.

They had been in Yunzhou for nearly a month, and everyone was more or less adjusting, perhaps feeling a sense of being away from home.

After such a long period of rest and recuperation, adjustments that needed to be made were mostly complete.

Jian Zuihuan took charge of the palace affairs once again and specially arranged the family banquet at the Yunzhou residence of the Cheng Wang Palace.

Ran Qinggu had been lying down for almost a month. On this day, as he pushed open the window, he suddenly noticed that the withered tree in the courtyard had sprouted new branches. Half of the weeping crabapple trees in the yard were in bloom, little birds chirping on the branches, and in the distance, a small pear tree covered in snow-like blossoms stood out. In the small pond beneath the pear tree, a koi fish flicked its tail, splashing water...

Shang Rongyu approached from outside the corridor and paused upon seeing Ran Qinggu gazing out the window.

This was the first time he truly saw Ran Qinggu dressed in men's attire.

Previously, Ran Qinggu had been lying in bed, wearing only undergarments, occasionally draped in a couple of robes...

But now, he wore a simple white spring robe, the flowing patterns at the collar and cuffs crafted with simplicity. The silver-threaded embroidery was unremarkable, nothing special.

Yet, this common garment transformed on him, becoming extraordinary, akin to the celestial robes worn by deities.

He used to think that Ran Qinggu might look better in men's clothing than in women's, but now he realized that each had its own charm.

When dressed as a woman, Ran Qinggu, despite her splendid attire and jingling accessories, exuded an underlying sense of world-weariness. Thus, even amidst vibrant colors, there was always a subtle sense of plainness.

Dressed as a man, Ran Qinggu wore only black and white. The whiteness of the clothes and the blackness of his hair, such understated hues, appeared so plain at first glance. But upon closer inspection, the person before him was breathtakingly beautiful, making everything around him seem surreal. From the first moment he met Ran Qinggu, he felt that there was something special about him, yet he could never pinpoint what it was.

Now, he finally understood.

What made Ran Qinggu special was that he was a paradoxical individual. Dressed in magnificent garments, he looked so aloof, giving off a sense of detachment. Yet, despite wearing only two colors, he was so captivating that one couldn't look away, and the colors around him seemed to come alive.

Ran Qinggu noticed Shang Rongyu and asked with a smile, "Heir, is the banquet about to start?"

The princess consort had visited him in the morning and inquired if he could attend the family banquet tonight. He had agreed at the time.

Shang Rongyu snapped back to reality, walked over to the window, and with a push against the windowsill, flipped inside. As he did so, he pecked Ran Qinggu on the lips.

"The sun hasn't set yet, and you're already thinking about dinner. What's up? Haven't I fed you enough these past few days?"

Ran Qinggu blushed due to Shang Rongyu's sudden flirtatious remark and hurriedly turned his head to hide his embarrassment.

Shang Rongyu laughed and pecked Ran Qinggu's lips again. "Tonight, I'll feed you properly."

"Prin...Prince..." The maidservant by the princess consort's side entered the room and saw this scene, her face flushing red.

The customs in Yunzhou were conservative, and she didn't expect anyone to be so bold, with the window wide open, doing such things.

Shang Rongyu: "What is it?"

Maid: "The princess consort said that the family banquet is about to begin, and she sent me to invite the prince and the...prince consort."

Referring to the elegant man as the prince consort, yet he was a man. But if he wasn't the prince consort, everyone in the palace called him that.

Shang Rongyu said unhappily, "Understood."

Ran Qinggu chuckled. "The sun hasn't set yet, so the prince mustn't be hungry. So let's not have dinner, missing a meal or two won't hurt."

Shang Rongyu: "..."

Rebellion, rebellion!

He walked over and picked up Ran Qinggu. "Have you heard of following your husband after marriage? If the husband isn't eating, what are you eating? You have no rules..."

Ran Qinggu smiled. "So, are we divorcing?"

Shang Rongyu laid him on the bed. "No, I'm going to take a bite before dinner."

==

The banquet was set up in the central courtyard.

When Ran Qinggu and Shang Rongyu arrived, the princess consort, Consort Liu, and others were already present. The king and Shang Rongque had also returned from the military camp.

As soon as King Cheng entered, he beckoned them to sit. "Sit down, we're all family."

Jian Zuihuan smiled. "Today's family banquet is just for us, there's no need to be formal."

Ran Qinggu glanced at Consort Liu and the others.

It seemed that during this time, the king hadn't neglected Consort Liu much.

Her once radiant and well-maintained face was now filled with exhaustion, unable to be concealed even by thick makeup. Her lips, which used to carry a constant smile, now held no trace of it, her eyes brimming with sorrow as she pitifully looked at King Cheng, like a stray dog waiting to be taken home.

Shang Pianfeng, unseen for a month, also looked haggard. The confidence that once shone in his domineering eyes was gone, replaced by a hint of dullness.

On that day, he was kicked in the vital spot by the Second Prince in the imperial mausoleum, potentially sacrificing his happiness for the rest of his life.

After being rescued by King Cheng, he was punished to face the wall in contemplation.

Perhaps it was a month of quiet contemplation that made him realize he had been used as a pawn by others.

Ran Qinggu sat down with grace, and Shang Rongyu took the seat next to her, placing a chicken leg on her plate and conveniently stuffing the chicken's rear into Shang Rongque's bowl: "Haven't you gone without meat for many days? Eat more."

Shang Rongque shot a cold glance at Shang Rongyu: "Ha."

Liu Xuemo led Shang Pianfeng and his brother to King Cheng's presence, kneeling before him with a thud.

"My lord, I have thought long and hard these past days, and indeed, I have erred. I failed to educate Pianfeng and Piandu properly. I regret my actions, but Pianfeng is already in this state. My lord, please consider the bond of father and son, forgive him this once, just this once. Every time he targeted the Heir, it was because of you, my lord."

After King Cheng rescued them from the capital, he never paid them any heed again.

Every time Liu Xuemo sought an audience, she was dismissed by King Cheng.

Not only that, King Cheng stationed soldiers to guard their courtyard, forbidding them from leaving.

If not for the banquet hosted by the princess consort, she would not have had the chance to see King Cheng.

King Cheng's expression flickered slightly, but remained as cold as iron.

He believed he treated his four sons equally, though he occasionally favored Rongyu, all because Rongyu bore so much, and Rongyu's understanding pained him.

Which parent does not favor one child over another? But no matter how much favoritism there is, it remains within the heart. Can it ever extend beyond the body?

He never expected Shang Pianfeng to commit such a heinous act, nearly endangering the entire Wangfu.

Unable to sway the king, Liu Xuemo turned to the princess consort, sobbing uncontrollably: "Princess Consort, over the years, my discontent with you stemmed from your taking away the king. But I never intended to harm you or the Heir. It was merely a dispute over the authority of the Wangfu, and sometimes, when the king visited you too often, I would cause trouble for you. I know I was wrong, and I will never dare again. I know you are virtuous and magnanimous. Please, intercede on my behalf... I beg you..."

As she spoke, she bowed deeply to Jian Zuihuan, blood trickling down her forehead.

Seeing this, Shang Pianfeng crawled to King Cheng: "Father, I truly know I was wrong. It was Concubine Xian who told me that if the Heir fell off his horse, you would love us a little more. She said the Heir has a title, and even if he were accused of harming the deposed crown prince, nothing serious would happen. She guaranteed with her status as a favored concubine that she would plead for the Heir's life, sparing him, and then exiling him to the border. I never intended to kill the Heir. I knew how much you loved him, how you cherished him like a pearl in your palm. If he died, you would be devastated. I was momentarily bewitched..."

Jian Zuihuan quickly supported Liu Xuemo, who wept pitifully, holding Jian Zuihuan's hand: "Princess Consort, please help me."

Jian Zuihuan could not bear to see her suffer and pleaded with King Cheng: "My lord, now that we have survived this ordeal, Concubine has served you for years, with no small amount of effort. Moreover, she was unaware of this matter. Please forgive her this once."

Liu Xuemo was indeed unaware of Empress Dowager Xian's instigation of Shang Pianfeng.

As a woman, Jian Zuihuan was willing to believe her.

She had fought with Liu Xuemo in the Wangfu for so many years, knowing Liu Xuemo's character well.

Though Liu Xuemo was competitive, what she truly vied for was the king's affection.

She genuinely loved the king, having harbored feelings for him since he was still the sixth prince.

King Cheng was the dream of her noblewomanhood.

For him, she secretly left the hunting grounds and was bitten by a wolf, only to be saved by King Cheng, who carried her back to the capital.

To see King Cheng, she risked wearing her sister's clothes during the imperial selection, nearly punished by the late empress, until King Cheng intervened and brought her out of the palace.

They were no different from young lovers, secretly meeting on the night of the Qixi Festival and exchanging embroidered sachets as tokens of their love.

Before Jian Zuihuan met King Cheng, Liu Xuemo had already experienced multiple encounters, meetings, and getting to know each other with King Cheng.

They lived like a pair of jade beauties, under the blessings of the nobles and princes.

But fate had other plans, and King Cheng's mother arranged a marriage for him in Jiang Nan. Despite his efforts to persuade her otherwise, he was forced to marry Jian Zuihuan.

Thus, Jian Zuihuan was welcomed into the Wangfu, where on their wedding night, she sensed King Cheng's disappointment. Yet, this man was always a true gentleman, discerning right from wrong, aware of his responsibilities as a husband. He did not make things difficult for Jian Zuihuan; instead, he fulfilled his duties as a husband, treating her with care and consideration.

Over time, King Cheng was captivated by Jian Zuihuan's magnanimity, good upbringing, and their relationship evolved into one akin to family, sharing the mundane aspects of life together.

If Liu Xuemo represented Shang Qianzhen's first love and passion, symbolizing youthful infatuation,

Then Jian Zuihuan embodied Shang Qianzhen's maturity and responsibility, representing the blending of families.

Love might fade under the grind of daily life, but responsibility endures, an inherent duty that a true man must bear.

Liu Xuemo's relentless targeting of Jian Zuihuan stemmed from her perspective that she met King Cheng first, shared intimate moments with him, yet he married another as his principal consort. To wed King Cheng, she had to settle for being a concubine.

Jian Zuihuan believed Liu Xuemo could harm anyone, but she would never harm King Cheng.

Had Liu Xuemo known beforehand that Shang Pianfeng would harm Rongyu, she would have certainly stopped him.

Though she targeted Jian Zuihuan and Shang Rongyu, she was not foolish. She understood that if Shang Rongyu were captured by the emperor, the entire Cheng Wangfu would be doomed.

She also knew the emperor had long coveted the Cheng Wangfu, which is why, despite her closeness to her sister, she never divulged any information about the Wangfu to her.

Empress Dowager Xian, seeing through her sister, bypassed Liu Xuemo and approached Shang Pianfeng, inciting him to falsely accuse Shang Rongyu of harming the crown prince.

King Cheng remained unmoved, calmly eating the dishes on the table.

Concubine Liu wept bitterly: "My lord, please forgive us this once."

Seeing King Cheng's unyielding demeanor, Shang Pianfeng panicked and crawled to Shang Rongyu's feet, repeatedly bowing his head: "Heir, I truly know I was wrong. Please, intercede for Second Brother with Father. That day, I never intended to take your life. I was merely jealous of you. Father favored you since childhood, indulging your every whim, no matter how frivolous. But whenever I made a mistake, Father would scold me. I was simply envious of you..."

Shang Rongyu tore open a chicken leg, speaking coldly: "Do you know why Father indulges me?"

Shang Pianfeng hesitated, then nodded: "I realized it these past few days."

He used to think King Cheng was biased, favoring his legitimate son, fueling his intense jealousy towards Shang Rongyu, driving him to compete with him in everything.

Since learning the truth about Shang Rongque's identity, he vaguely understood something.

Father's indulgence of Shang Rongyu stemmed from the private intentions he bore.

Secretly, King Cheng saved the son of the former crown prince, but fearing the emperor's suspicions, he allowed Shang Rongyu to act arrogantly and brutally, drawing everyone's attention.

Due to Shang Rongyu's arrogance and brutality, killing without mercy, no one dared to touch the residence of King Cheng.

Similarly, once the residence of King Cheng falls, Shang Rongyu, who has made the most enemies, would undoubtedly be the first to die.

He looked at Shang Rongyu with sorrow and said, "But it's true that Father favored you more. When you were two or three years old, you insisted on riding a horse but refused to be held by someone else while doing so. Yet, you could barely walk steadily. Who would dare to let you ride a foal for real? So, you rode Father around the house... You always had fun, but only I knew that Father was exhausted after returning from the military camp. I wanted him to rest, so I coaxed you to play, acting as your little horse for you to ride. At that time, I was only seven years old. When you fell off me and hit your forehead, Father came back and scolded me. Then, he watched over you all night. From that moment on, I became insanely jealous of you..."

"Later, when the war with Beiyi intensified, Father was going to lead troops to the border. I wanted to share his worries. I told him that I wanted to go to the front lines with him to fight the enemy, to help him... But he told me that swords have no eyes and ordered me to stay in the capital. The next day, he took you to the border. You rode the foal he gave you, proud like a victorious general. You were only ten years old then, and I was already fourteen or fifteen."

"Rongyu, you have to admit that regardless of whether you shoulder the responsibility of the residence of King Cheng, Father will always favor you a bit more."

"Which family doesn't favor the younger ones?" King Cheng put down his chopsticks and spoke softly.

Shang Pianfeng turned in disbelief. This was the first sentence King Cheng had spoken to him since bringing him back from the capital.

King Cheng said indifferently, "They're both my sons. How much can I possibly favor one over the other? Think about it carefully. Although Rongyu loves to cause trouble, has he ever been wrong on major issues? Has he truly done anything utterly despicable? Your elder brother Rongque delayed military orders and was nearly beaten to death by me. He couldn't get out of bed for half a month. Did he ever complain that I favored my younger son? A bowl of water cannot always remain perfectly balanced; there will always be times when it tilts. But no matter how much it tilts, the water stays in the bowl. It can't tilt too much, or it will spill. You only see me favoring Rongyu. Have you ever seen me favoring you?"

Shang Pianfeng bowed his head low, tears falling: "Father, I know I was wrong."

On that day in the imperial mausoleum, he had been kicked so badly that he couldn't take another step. He thought he would die there, but he never expected that his father would risk his life to carry him out of the mausoleum.

When he couldn't walk, it was his father who carried him out.

Even after such a foolish act, his father still didn't abandon him.

Shang Rongyu said indifferently, "Father, whether you forgive Second Brother or not, we should at least finish this meal, shouldn't we? Seeing everyone kneeling here is quite nauseating."

Ran Qinggu suddenly looked at Shang Pianfeng: "Second Master."

Shang Pianfeng turned in confusion: "Her Highness... What does Prince Ran want?"

Ran Qinggu: "Knowing one's mistakes is just an empty phrase. As the saying goes, time reveals the heart."

Shang Pianfeng understood.

Ran Qinggu meant for him to make amends through his actions, to slowly make up for his past.

King Cheng glanced at Ran Qinggu, and his cold attitude finally softened. He said indifferently, "Let's eat first."

Shang Pianfeng didn't dare to disobey. He quickly stood up, wiped away his tears and the blood on his forehead, and sat down properly.

After the banquet, Shang Pianfeng sought out Shang Rongque.

Shang Rongque asked in puzzlement, "Why have you come to me?"

Shang Pianfeng gritted his teeth: "Elder Brother, I want to go to the battlefield with you tomorrow. Even if I can only be a lowly soldier, I don't care..."

His eyes were fierce: "I want revenge. The Second Prince has ruined me. He destroyed the majority of my life. I can't just let this go."

Shang Rongque said indifferently, "This isn't something I can decide alone. Rongyu needs to agree, as he's responsible for registering new soldiers."

Shang Pianfeng nodded: "I understand."

==

In the courtyard.

Ran Qinggu leaned against Shang Rongyu, admiring the moon: "Are you really going to let your Second Brother join the army?"

Shang Rongyu played with Ran Qinggu's pinky finger, drawing circles in his palm: "He wants to seek revenge and make amends. I can't stop him. Why did you speak up for him tonight? He was so hostile towards you that day?"

Ran Qinggu smiled: "I wasn't doing it for him, but for the king. The emperor, a white-haired man sending off a black-haired one, is in unbearable pain. And in our family, we'll never have the chance for familial bliss again. Although the king blamed the Second Master, he's still a father, and it's hard on him too. The king is a man of deep emotions and shouldn't suffer such hardship. Why not find a way that both father and son are willing to accept, allowing them to reconcile. As for whether your Second Brother's future is good or bad, it's up to him to bear the consequences."

Shang Rongyu pulled Ran Qinggu into his arms: "I don't want to take you to meet the Third Prince tomorrow."

Ran Qinggu: "Huh?"

They planned to persuade the Third Prince to submit together tomorrow. Why did it feel like Shang Rongyu was having second thoughts at the last minute?

Shang Rongyu: "I'm afraid the Third Prince might be tempted by your beauty, leading to a direct confrontation with us instead of persuasion. Do you remember the high monk at the foot of Zhongming Temple who read your fortune?"

Ran Qinggu: "..."

The high monk said that his life would be full of hardships and that he had the fate of a calamity.

Shang Rongyu pondered deeply: "That prediction seems quite accurate. Calamity, oh calamity!"