Chapter 66: Bandit Spouses

Chapter 66: Bandit Spouses

Ran Qinggu smiled faintly, lightly placing the handkerchief on Emperor Xianyuan's bedside. "Do you still need me to kill you in this state? The fire will soon reach here; can you even crawl to the door? I've trampled over countless bones and my hands are stained with blood, all just to see how you struggle to survive... It's truly not worth it!"

His words were laced with mockery as Emperor Xianyuan frowned tightly, coughing violently.

Ran Qinggu turned around, rummaging through Emperor Xianyuan's chambers.

He threw everything out from the drawers, flipping through them one by one. Precious vases and valuable jewelry were scattered across the floor at his every toss.

Wasn't the imperial seal supposed to be in Emperor Xianyuan's quarters?

No matter how rebellious the Second Prince was, he wouldn't have forcibly taken Emperor Xianyuan's imperial seal, would he?

He continued searching, overturning every cabinet.

Suddenly, he pulled open a cabinet, its contents glittering under the candlelight, emitting an unusual glow.

It was his father's coral jade official seal.

The one he had shattered that day, unexpectedly collected back by Emperor Xianyuan.

Emperor Xianyuan, lying on the bed, coughed so hard he couldn't catch his breath. "Bring the box over to Me."

Ran Qinggu furrowed his brows. "What use is there keeping this thing when the person is gone?"

Emperor Xianyuan smiled, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "Are you asking if I regret it?"

Ran Qinggu didn't respond.

Emperor Xianyuan struggled to prop himself up, leaning against the thick cushions behind him. His weathered gaze met Ran Qinggu's, a myriad of thoughts swirling within him.

"I don't know if I regret it or not," he murmured. "I often wonder, if I were born into a commoner's family, would we have had a different outcome? We three grew up together. My elder brother was five or six years older than us, he took care of me, loved me. Yi'er was the same age as me but a month younger. Although I was a prince, it was always him protecting me..."

If he said he regretted it, indeed, he did have regrets.

Haunted by nightmares, his elder brother Yi'er's face would twist into grotesque expressions, glaring at him with hatred.

They were the ones who once brought warmth to his life, the ones who genuinely cared for him.

But if he said he didn't regret it, he hadn't truly regretted it either. If given another lifetime, he might still choose this path.

He could only keep moving forward.

As the fourth prince of Emperor Zhengyuan, when he reached the age of three, his mother was accused by the Empress of having an affair with a guard and was beaten to death right before his eyes.

That year, the peonies in the palace bloomed splendidly, their color as vivid as the blood that flowed from his mother after she was beaten to death.

From then on, his father despised him, and the other palace concubines, each with their own children, had no need for an extra child to burden them.

Thus, he became the most superfluous one, cared for by nannies and eunuchs.

Those old nanny and eunuch were sycophants, appearing kind to him on the surface for show, but secretly, they withheld his food and clothing. They would ridicule and mock him daily, calling his mother a slut and a whore in front of him, taunting him as a bastard and telling him his life was over.

Later, they discovered that abusing him could curry favor with the Empress and other concubines who had competed with his mother for the emperor's affection. So, they stopped even providing basic care. His meals were often spoiled, his clothes unwashed, and even the parts of his body hidden by his clothes were pinched until they were red and purple.

Shang Qianxian had to learn to dress himself at the age of four or five. He couldn't distinguish between summer and winter clothes, only knowing to wear more when cold and less when hot. Occasionally, when he wore the wrong clothes and was mocked by other ladies in the palace, the Palace Affairs Bureau, fearing the matter would reach the emperor's ears, punished the nanny and eunuch by docking their monthly stipend for several months. Upon returning, the nanny and eunuch would take out their anger on him.

He often went hungry, sneaking into the imperial kitchen to steal steamed buns.

His brothers would often treat him like a dog, throwing fruit peels and leftovers on the ground, making him bark like a dog, imitate eunuch salutes, and only allowing him to eat after performing these acts.

In the dead of winter, they forced him to jump into the icy river to catch koi fish, and made him climb unstable artificial mountains to catch cats...

He had reached school age, but every time he attended lectures by the Grand Tutor and other scholars, he would encounter his brothers.

They would bully him, so he rarely attended. The scholars didn't care about him anyway. What did it matter if he learned or not? No one checked his studies. By the age of five, he couldn't even recognize a single character.

There was a young palace maid named Xiaoqiao in the palace who pitied him for being bullied. She secretly brought him food and told him to report his suffering to the emperor. She assured him that if he told the emperor, he would surely intervene on his behalf.

That day was when the emperor came to inspect the princes' studies.

When it was his turn, he gripped the blank paper tightly, trembling. He was afraid, he dared not speak to his father, but he could no longer bear the bullying from his brothers, eunuchs, and nanny.

Gathering his courage, with the mindset that he would die tomorrow, he decided to speak up today.

He didn't even manage to call out "father" before his father's gaze fell upon the blank paper in his hand. With a single glance, he was branded as worthless and scolded harshly.

His courage dissipated instantly, tears silently falling onto the blank white paper in his hand.

That day, he maintained that posture, standing from the early morning sun until the moon rose high.

After he returned, Xiaoqiao was also taken away by the palace attendants. They said she stole honey from the imperial kitchen.

Later, he never saw Xiaoqiao again. He asked many people about her, and they told him she had died.

In this vast and deep palace, he grew up to the age of seven.

At seven, unlike other princes who were vibrant and full of childlike spirit, he lacked any youthful liveliness.

He was numb and indifferent, not even making a sound when bullied.

If others told him to crawl, he crawled. If they told him to roll, he rolled.

Later, the passing Crown Prince saw him being bullied and stood up for him.

Not only did he reprimand those princes, but he also ordered the execution of the nanny and eunuch who had mistreated him.

On the day the eunuch nanny was beaten to death, the sky suddenly brightened.

Not only did the Crown Prince protect him, but he also introduced him to his best friend and study companion, Qing Yi.

He was a boy carved from jade, like a golden child.

The Qing family held great prestige in Da Su, generation after generation serving as distinguished ministers. Qing Yi moved freely through the imperial harem, where other princes dared not trouble him, greeting him respectfully as Young Master Qing upon seeing him.

Qing Yi wielded a fine sword, his fencing skills producing beautiful displays. He often taught him swordsmanship for self-defense, even sparing time from his leisure to tutor him, teaching him to read and write.

Whenever anyone bullied him in the palace, Qing Yi would stand up for him.

Unlike the benevolent Crown Prince, Qing Yi sought revenge for every slight, making him more reliant on Qing Yi, who was a month younger than him, compared to the Crown Prince.

Or perhaps there was another reason he dared not rely on the Crown Prince—the Empress.

He could never forget the gruesome sight of his mother being beaten to death, nor could he forget how he had fallen into such a plight. While he was cared for by the Crown Prince, he harbored resentment and distanced himself from him in his heart.

It was the Crown Prince's mother, the Empress, who had killed his mother, and it was she who had orchestrated his tragedy.

Despite the Crown Prince's kindness to him, how could he forget the ghastly sight of his mother's death, or the countless days of oppression?

Later, he meticulously plotted a witchcraft disaster that burned the Empress alive.

On the night the Empress died, he was terrified yet exhilarated.

He feared the Crown Prince would find out, for if he did, he would surely seek revenge for his mother. Yet, he couldn't control his murderous impulses; he not only burned the Empress but also used others to kill her maternal family one by one. With each person he killed, he felt an intense excitement.

Eventually, the truth could no longer be concealed, and it reached the Fifth Prince.

The Fifth Prince, favored by the Emperor next to the Crown Prince, threatened him, demanding that he help frame the Crown Prince for treason. Otherwise, he would expose the truth to the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

Shang Qianxian was terrified.

If this matter were known, he would certainly be executed, killed by the Crown Prince's own hand.

Thus, under the Fifth Prince's orders, he planted evidence of treason in the Eastern Palace.

The Crown Prince trusted him, and when he left the Eastern Palace that night, the Crown Prince, fearing he might be cold on his way back, gave him a pair of sleeves he had warmed for some time to keep him warm.

A few days later, news spread that the Crown Prince was plotting rebellion, shocking the court and the country.

On the day evidence of the Crown Prince's treason was found, he was inspecting the frost disaster in Ye City, unable to defend himself.

The Emperor did not believe the Crown Prince was rebelling and ordered him to be brought back for questioning.

The Crown Prince could not be returned, for if he were, his collusion with the Fifth Prince to frame the Crown Prince would be exposed.

So, he decided to go all out and incited the Fifth Prince to kill the Crown Prince in Ye City.

The Fifth Prince agreed, and on the Crown Prince's return to the capital, he ambushed and killed him. The Crown Prince died with a thousand arrows piercing his heart.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

After the Fifth Prince killed the Crown Prince, he shifted all the blame for framing the Crown Prince onto the Fifth Prince, killing him in Ye City and bringing his head back to the capital.

Thus, he became the loyal and righteous younger brother, avenging his elder brother, the Crown Prince.

After the Crown Prince's death, his consort perished in a fire at the Eastern Palace, losing both her life and her unborn child, resulting in the deaths of both husband and wife.

The Emperor, struck by this blow, fell gravely ill and never recovered.

Taking advantage of the situation, he seized control of the entire court, forcing the Emperor to abdicate the throne to him within days.

On the night of the abdication, the Emperor passed away, and he ascended to the throne as the new Emperor, changing the era name to Xianyuan.

On the day of his enthronement ceremony, Qing Yi hurriedly returned from the border.

He tearfully told Qing Yi how the Crown Prince had been murdered by the Fifth Prince and how he had struggled to ascend to the throne.

Qing Yi did not forget the promise he had made in his youth, solemnly declaring, "Now that the Crown Prince is gone, I will be by your side."

Shang Qianxian had never felt such guilt in his life, nearly too ashamed to proceed with the enthronement ceremony.

At the time, everyone condemned him for killing his brothers and father, branding him a traitor and usurper, claiming his throne was illegitimate. Only Qing Yi believed in him.

In Qing Yi's eyes, he was still the weak, pitiful child who was bullied, and he wanted to protect him.

Remembering this friendship, he repaid his debts to the Crown Prince and Qing Yi by lavishing everything on Qing Yi.

After ascending to the throne, he took action against his brothers who had once bullied him.

Some were falsely accused and killed, while others were assassinated by his agents, their children and wives also slaughtered without mercy.

Qing Yi had disagreements with him over this matter, but since Qing Yi spent most of his time on the border and was unaware of the court's dynamics, Shang Qianxian easily framed a few scapegoats. Qing Yi once again believed him and apologized for wrongfully accusing him.

Look, Qing Yi was always so easy to placate. Everyone had grown up, but he remained stuck in the past, still that sincere young man.

In fact, Shang Qianxian spared King Cheng and Yi Wang not just because King Cheng held significant military power, but because they had never bullied or ridiculed him...

Later, somehow, Qing Yi learned of his involvement in the Crown Prince's death and confronted him before dawn.

No matter how he tried to explain, Qing Yi no longer believed him, unable to forget the look in Qing Yi's eyes as he left...

He was afraid.

He feared a falling out with Qing Yi.

He feared Qing Yi would seek revenge for the Crown Prince, that Qing Yi would kill him.

Under the urging of his trusted ministers, he made his move against Qing Yi.

Initially, he intended to eliminate only Qing Yi, but the Qing family had far too many outstanding descendants, each capable in both literature and martial arts, figures who could stir up storms. The generals personally groomed by Qing Yi were fiercely loyal to him, renowned commanders who could take on a hundred foes single-handedly...

There was no turning back once he embarked on this path of slaughter. For every one he killed, a hundred more awaited; for every hundred, ten thousand more followed...

Once he picked up the butcher's knife, he could never put it down.

The number of significant people in his life was few, most either slain by his own hand or dying because of him.

All believed that he and the Empress shared a loving harmony, that after her early demise, he found Consort Liu Xian, who bore a resemblance to her. But that wasn't entirely true. He loved the Empress because she reminded him of that little palace maid, Xiao Qiao, and Consort Liu's features also echoed those of Xiao Qiao...

And indeed, Xiao Qiao did steal the tiger vortex honey candy that night, doing so for his sake.

Those who had once warmed his heart departed from him one by one.

Emperor Xianyuan's aged eyes welled with tears, the fine lines at the corners glistening with a single drop, a sorrowful expression on his face, unclear whether it was regret or reflection.

As he watched Ran Qinggu approach calmly with the redwood box in hand, he felt as if he saw that graceful young man wielding a sword walking toward him.

He extended his hand warmly toward Ran Qinggu. "Yi'er!"

Ran Qinggu came before him and offered the redwood box.

Emperor Xianyuan reached out to accept it, but just as his hand touched the redwood box, Ran Qinggu suddenly let go. It fell to the ground with a thud, the fragments of coral jade within scattering everywhere.

He smiled faintly. "What use is there in keeping things when the person is gone?"

Emperor Xianyuan was jolted into a coughing fit.

The fire soon reached the Yangxin Palace, the crackling flames outside illuminating the scene. The screen, blown over by the scorching wind, revealed the palace entrance to Emperor Xianyuan's peripheral vision.

With the screen no longer obstructing his view, he immediately saw the palace gate.

His illness had blurred his vision, but squinting, he vaguely discerned two children standing beside the imposing vermilion sandalwood door, the older one a head taller than the younger.

They waved at him. "Come here, come here..."

Emperor Xianyuan gazed at them.

He vaguely recalled it was an afternoon when he was ten years old.

Back then, bullied by other princes and unable to read, the Crown Prince allowed him to attend classes with him.

Due to his seniority and status as heir apparent, the Crown Prince's studies were far ahead, conducted separately.

Emperor Zhengyuan placed high hopes on the Crown Prince, thus the teachers assigned to him were exceptionally strict. Within just a few days, he had been punished four or five times with the ruler, his hands swollen from the beatings.

That afternoon, the sunlight was bright and warm, bathing the room in a soft glow.

The old tutor instructed them to read, but soon dozed off, leaning on the desk.

His long beard quivered with each breath, while the pages of the book on the desk turned one by one in the breeze.

Qing Yi cheerfully tossed a paper ball to him and the Crown Prince.

It read: There's a temple fair outside the palace today.

The Crown Prince mumbled his reading but smiled at Qing Yi.

Then, he bent over his desk, writing something. When finished, he held up the paper for the two of them to see, three large characters written in ink—Let's go see.

Qing Yi raised his eyebrows at him, Shang Qianxian recoiling in fear, shaking his head vigorously, indicating he didn't dare.

Indeed, he didn't dare. He feared punishment from the teacher, feared that if discovered, his father would scold him.

Qing Yi ignored him, put down his book, removed his shoes and socks, and tiptoed out of the study.

The Crown Prince's reading grew softer, and he too took off his shoes and socks, tiptoeing toward the door.

Standing outside the door, leaning against the redwood, they beckoned to him. "Xian'er, come quickly!" "Fourth Prince, come here."

He glanced at the sleeping old tutor, shook his head, and whispered pitifully, "I don't dare."

The two laughed and called from the doorway. "Xian'er, come here!" "Fourth Prince, it's alright, we'll just go take a look...come here!"

They stood by the redwood door, peering inside, beckoning to him.

The afternoon light was so warm, enveloping them tightly...

Mouth saying he didn't dare, yet involuntarily removing his shoes and socks, he tiptoed nervously toward the redwood door.

At that moment, they stood at the vermilion sandalwood palace gate, the firelight as warm as the afternoon sun.

They waved to him. "Come here, Xian'er." "Fourth Prince, come here..."

While searching for the imperial seal, Ran Qinggu suddenly noticed Emperor Xianyuan's face breaking into a childlike, innocent smile. As if experiencing a last burst of vitality, he slowly rose to his feet, walking toward the raging inferno...

He tiptoed, as if afraid to make a sound. In the moment he reached the palace gate and was engulfed by the all-consuming flames, he smiled.

"Imperial Brother, Yi'er, I'm coming!"

In the summer of the twenty-fourth year of Emperor Xianyuan's reign, he passed away.

Historical records recount—

Emperor Xianyuan, Shang Qianxian, skilled in manipulation and ruthless, faced numerous hardships in his youth. As an adult, he was suspicious and prone to murder, forcing his father to abdicate. After assuming power, he slaughtered the entire royal clan. In the winter of the twenty-third year of his reign, he provoked his brother, King Cheng, to rebellion. The following summer, rebel forces stormed the imperial city, and he died in the palace fire!

Further biographical accounts record.

After Emperor Xianyuan assumed the throne and took control of governance, he lightened the levies, prioritized the people's livelihood, extensively connected the transportation between the north and south, and opened up major trade routes in all directions. This allowed Da Su's economy to flourish and continue the prosperity of the Zhengyuan era under Emperor Da Su! He was adept at employing capable individuals, consolidating his royal authority. During his reign, the barbarians never set foot on Da Su's land, and the imperial power became highly centralized!

However, he was stubborn and self-willed, refusing to listen to loyal advice, unjustly executing countless court ministers. In his later years, he became even more muddled and ungrateful, ending up with the outcome of being abandoned by everyone close to him!

==

Whoosh—

The fire engulfed the Yangxin Palace, flames spreading and billowing within.

Ran Qinggu searched every nook and cranny but couldn't find the jade seal.

"Qinggu." Shang Rongyu, carrying a sack, dodged the licking flames and entered.

Ran Qinggu turned around, "Heir? Has the king entered the capital?"

Shang Rongyu: "When I left, he hadn't entered yet, but he should have by now."

As he spoke, he rummaged through Emperor Xianyuan's bedroom, seeing precious vessels and jade scattered carelessly on the ground. He sighed, "Who is so heartless, throwing these good things around?"

He picked up several exquisite and priceless jewels, stuffing them into the sack he was carrying.

The sack was heavy, making it somewhat difficult for him to carry, indicating that he had indeed plundered quite a bit of valuable items.

Ran Qinggu: "…"

Why did the heir look more like a defeated soldier or a bandit, taking away all the valuable treasures before leaving?

Wasn't this battle won by his father and elder brother?

Could it be that he was expelled from his home by his father and brother, and they were pursuing him?

Shang Rongyu didn't notice Ran Qinggu's astonished gaze, pointing to the pot of orchids behind him, "Qinggu, hold that pot of orchids, let's go."

That orchid was the masterpiece of the floral art master Mo Feizi, capable of blooming twelve petals of various colors, layer upon layer, extraordinarily beautiful, unique in the world.

Ran Qinggu: "…"

Seeing Ran Qinggu unmoving, Shang Rongyu walked over and thrust the orchid into Ran Qinggu's arms.

Ran Qinggu held the plant, puzzled, "Shouldn't we be looking for the jade seal right now?"

Shang Rongyu: "I found the jade seal; it's in this sack. The situation was urgent, so I threw it in there. Let's hurry, the Yangxin Palace is about to burn down…"

With that, he pulled Ran Qinggu out of the Yangxin Palace.

Once outside, the entire Yangxin Palace was completely ablaze.

Ran Qinggu: "When did the heir enter the palace?"

Shang Rongyu smiled, "Not early, I came in the afternoon."

Ran Qinggu was taken aback; he arrived earlier than Shang Rongyu.

His gaze flickered towards the large sack on Shang Rongyu's back.

Shang Rongyu explained with a smile, "There are many valuable treasures in this imperial palace, which I really like. They used to belong to the emperor, and I never had the chance to enjoy them. Now that I have the opportunity, I found four or five thousand-year-old lingzhi mushrooms. I'll stew two big hens for you when we get back, to nourish your body."

Ran Qinggu asked in confusion, "But it's already a certainty that my elder brother will ascend the throne. He dotes on you so much; whatever you want, he would grant you. There's no need for you to…"

To act like a thief, plundering the palace in advance.

Shang Rongyu chided, "You used to be very understanding. Where did that virtuous and considerate person go after you regained your male identity? When my elder brother ascends the throne, he must set an example for the world. He can't reward all the good things to his family members. To be a wise ruler, he must distribute favors equally without favoritism. If I ask him for anything, wouldn't I be putting him in a difficult position? It's better if I take what I want in advance. This way, he won't be embarrassed in front of the court ministers. Isn't this a win-win situation? One should always consider others more."

Ran Qinggu was actually convinced by Shang Rongyu.

Shang Rongyu said calmly, "Hold the orchid well. Let's go see other palaces. I remember there was a pearl necklace before, my mother liked it very much…"

When King Cheng and Shang Rongque entered the palace, they saw this couple… no, this pair of husbands, both carrying a sack out of the palace.

Shang Rongyu carried the sack, which was more than half full. Ran Qinggu held a pot of orchids in his left hand, a vase in his right, and two jade pendants hung around his neck.

Shang Rongque: "…"

He had reason to suspect that these two had emptied his palace, making him the poorest emperor in history.

Upon seeing King Cheng and Shang Rongque, Ran Qinggu knelt on one knee, "Your Highness, Eldest Young Master, I deceived the two of you…"

Shang Rongyu urgently shouted, "Be careful with the orchid and vase, they'll be gone if they hit the ground!"

Ran Qinggu stood up, speaking sincerely, "Deceiving the two of you was out of necessity, but the revenge for the murder of my father and the destruction of my clan cannot be ignored. Please forgive me, Your Highness and Eldest Young Master."

Shang Rongque sighed, "You've also avenged me in a way. Honestly, if not for you, I wouldn't know if I could bring myself to do it. You contributed to the construction of the Falcon Army, and now your merits and demerits balance each other out."

Ran Qinggu: "Thank you for your understanding, Eldest Young Master."

Shang Rongyu said indifferently, "Talking is exhausting right now. Let's return to the mansion first, and we'll explain everything later."

Shang Rongque: "Wait, you can leave, but leave the things behind. Choose some that you like to take with you."

Shang Rongyu: "…"

Shang Rongque said earnestly, "You can't leave me with an empty palace. At the very least, there should be some semblance of grandeur, right?"

Shang Rongyu regretfully said, "Alright, someone who's about to become an emperor is indeed different."

He rummaged through the sack, picking out some items he liked, wrapping them in clothes, "Done. The jade seal is also here, you can search for it yourself."

Shang Rongque nodded, then apologetically said, "Rongyu, I'm about to ascend the throne, and my considerations are different now. In the past, if you liked something, you could take it freely, but now these things must be added to the national treasury."

Shang Rongyu showed regret, "Understood, Qinggu and I will head back first."

Ran Qinggu carried the orchid and vase as he followed Shang Rongyu out of the palace.

He remarked in surprise, "You really know your brother well."

Shang Rongyu raised an eyebrow. "Naturally so."

He had brazenly taken these items knowing full well that his brother would put on a show for others and inevitably detain some of them publicly.

His favorite treasures were only a few, but he deliberately filled up most of a bag. His brother would surely let him choose from within, and then, he could simply pick out what he liked.

Smiling, he said to Ran Qinggu, "Look how thin you've become. Let's go back and stew this thousand-year ginseng with an old hen, and you can have a good nourishing meal."

When they reached the carriage and lifted the curtain, Ran Qinggu was speechless. It turned out that Shang Rongyu had already made one trip, and this was his second!

The carriage was fully loaded, not just with rare treasures, but also with various amusing trinkets. Even the seven-colored parrot kept by the old eunuch beside Emperor Xianyuan was moved, and even the exquisite steamer baskets from the imperial kitchen couldn't escape!

Ran Qinggu pointed at the particularly plump chicken with his chin, "This chicken doesn't seem very special?" It was just an ordinary old hen. What did Shang Rongyu want it for?

Shang Rongyu replied, "Isn't a fat chicken required to stew ginseng? The Prince's Mansion has been sealed for a long time, and I haven't had time to clean it up, so I took everything handy, including the scallions, ginger, and garlic below!"

Ran Qinggu said, "Alright then!"

Shang Rongyu exclaimed, "Oh no, I forgot the soy sauce! Look at my memory, I got so busy I forgot. Wait for me, I'll go back and get it."

(End of translation)