Chapter 17: To kill or not to kill?

Chapter 17: To Kill or Not to Kill?

Huo Ling wasn’t about to play by Prince Duan’s script.

She ripped right through the careful words he’d been weaving.

The unresolved tension between them now tangled in such blunt speech, unable to hide the cold truth beneath.

However much he adored her, however pleased he was with her, the position of a secondary consort was his unshakable bottom line.

Prince Duan, so assertive moments before, went dead silent.

He’d always liked Huo Ling’s sharp wit, but now, faced with such a sensitive topic, it felt painfully awkward.

After shutting him up with one line, Huo Ling didn’t press her advantage or vent her indignation. Instead, she waited until his silence had stretched long enough before asking, "Cat got Your Highness’s tongue?"

Prince Duan pushed aside an annoying branch between them and took a step forward.

From a distance, he looked like he was pulling her into his arms.

"A Ling, ever since you arrived in Changle County, there's been a connection between us, hasn't there?"

A prince rushing to oversee Changle County wouldn’t just stop for nothing on a deserted official road.

If he hadn’t meant to catch her eye, why would he have shot the prey she missed?

He had once disdained playing games for love, yet he had repeatedly schemed and nudged her closer.

This relationship had begun with him.

And she had never called for it to stop.

She engaged with him in a back-and-forth of testing each other.

A man as self-assured as he, once he was in too deep to hold back—unwilling and unable to restrain himself—would pull her down with him.

He would never let go.

He *would* have her.

Yet, for the first time in his life, he found himself hung up on a woman, convinced of her countless virtues, even her stubbornness, moods, and soft spots.

And so, he wanted her to give in more freely.

"Yes."

Huo Ling nodded, not embarrassed to say so.

From the moment she had chosen to use Prince Duan’s clout to deal with He Tai, she had had it all figured out.

What could be fought for, and what could never be obtained—she knew exactly where the lines were drawn.

She could make Prince Duan kill He Tai for her, could capture his heart, could secure the position of deputy general at Xingtang Pass for her father…

But she could never undermine the Princess Consort’s position.

Because behind the Princess Consort stood the sheer might of the Duke of Liu’s house.

Because the Princess Consort bore Prince Duan’s heir, Ji Yuanwan.

And Ji Yuanwan is the most likely candidate to be named heir apparent.

A beautiful lover is like a pet—something to dote on and indulge.

Testing boundaries, acting willful and capricious, occasionally baring sharp teeth and claws—these are merely playful banter.

But if the games go too far, if one covets what should not be coveted, then amusement turns into annoyance, and the pet loses its charm.

Just now, it was Huo Ling who waited for the other to speak. Now, the tables turned, and it was Prince Duan's turn.

He waited with a hint of exasperation and a touch of headache, unable to resist lowering his gaze to meet Huo Ling's eyes.

In moments of passion, those clear black-and-white eyes held unspoken longing.

When she looked at him and softly said, "Your Highness makes my heart glad," he, too, would feel joy.

But now, the warmth in her eyes had faded, leaving only still waters, as if she understood everything in the world.

Under the scrutiny of such piercing clarity, Prince Duan felt utterly vulnerable, a sense of disarray creeping over him.

Unable to bear it, he raised a hand to cover her eyes, feeling the flutter of her lashes against his palm.

"A Ling."

Prince Duan finally stopped evading: "The Princess Consort comes from a noble family. Since marrying me, she has always followed the rules, never committing the slightest fault. I have no reason—nor could I—set her aside."

"Moreover, I must consider Yuanyuan's feelings as well."

Huo Ling arched a brow, as if she had heard something outlandish: "When did I ever ask Your Highness to set the Princess Consort aside?"

Such an absurd idea had never even crossed her mind—why would she say something so laughable?

"In fact, I well grasp Your Highness's choice. If I were in your position, I, too, would side with the Princess Consort and the eldest son."

However...

The greatest difference between her and Prince Duan was this:

She would never be so greedy as to pursue another during such a critical moment in the struggle for the throne.

Prince Duan faltered at her cold logic: "...Then what are you worried about? Are you afraid the Princess Consort will cross you?"

"You and the Princess Consort are kin by blood, after all. Besides, she has always been generous and kind. With your intelligence and wit, I’m sure you can handle everything and live in harmony with her."

Huo Ling didn’t understand why Prince Duan kept dragging the topic back to the Princess Consort.

"Your Highness, though the Princess Consort and I are called cousins, we’ve never actually met. For the first decade and more of her life, she probably didn’t even know someone like me existed in this world."

"Isn’t it too early to start worrying that the Princess Consort will make a foe of me?"

"My rival was never

the Princess Consort."

All along, she had only one opponent.

The man before her now.

Prince Duan finally understood the meaning behind her words and chuckled softly, "So it was me who made A Ling worry?"

He took a deep breath, his tone turning solemn and earnest, with no trace of insincerity.

"A Ling, I can only offer you the position of a concubine, but that doesn’t mean you are lesser than anyone else in my heart."

"I cannot give you a higher status, but I will compensate you in every other way I can."

"You’re beautiful, clever, and capable—deserving of the best the world has to offer. If I were your opponent, you’d have already won. You’ve long since captured my heart. I truly admire you and sincerely wish to grow old with you."

Under his hand, Huo Ling’s lashes fluttered faster, as if stirred by his words.

But her hidden eyes were undeniably cold.

Huo Ling suddenly grasped Prince Duan’s hand, which covered her eyes, and gently moved it to her cheek.

She looked at him and couldn’t help but think—how shallow and ridiculous a man raised in the imperial city’s endless power and luxury could be.

He treated his love like a prize for her efforts.

But his love was merely her trophy.

Just one of many.

"Your Highness, as you said, when I first met you, I already knew you had a main wife."

Huo Ling’s tone was unhurried, every word measured.

No matter her reasons for responding to Prince Duan, for enticing him—once he was set on having her, there was no clean way out for her.

"It’s not that I’m unwilling to follow Your Highness back to the capital."

"But I won’t have people say I came back thanks to your favor."

"I can only accept going to the capital as the daughter of a meritorious official, not as a woman Prince Duan brought back from Yanxi—someone who might be made a concubine, only to be drowned in rumors, sneered at, and despised."

If she could go to the capital with dignity, she would.

Otherwise, she’d always just be Prince Duan’s shadow.

"Nor am I unwilling to accept the position of concubine."

"As long as it is the best you can offer, the best I can get."

Before Prince Duan could smile, Huo Ling released his hand first.

"But before that, I need to see your sincerity."

Prince Duan knew what she meant. A smile tugged at his lips, spreading like ripples on water, filling him with warmth and delight.

"A Ling, give me some time. I’ll take care of it soon."

Huo Ling asked, "How soon is that?"

"Soon enough to bring me back for New Year’s?"

Prince Duan chuckled. "Not quite that fast."

Now that his biggest worry was settled, he didn’t mind her joking. "Handling He Tai won’t be hard, but getting you back to the capital needs more thought."

"Then I'll wait for Your Highness's good news."

She'd said everything she needed to say, and now Huo Ling only had to wait for Prince Duan to fulfill his promise.

"Wait."

Before she could take two steps, Prince Duan stopped her.

"Don't you wonder if I'll return to the capital alone for the New Year?"

Huo Ling paused mid-step. "Will Your Highness return alone?"

"No," Prince Duan said firmly. "This year, I'll remain in Yanxi. When spring comes and flowers bud, I'll take you back to the capital with me."

As promised, Prince Duan followed through.

The next morning, when the Courier came to pay his respects, he learned of this decision directly from Prince Duan.

"These are letters I've written for the Princess Consort and our eldest son. Deliver them."

Prince Duan handed over the letters he had prepared the night before and waved the courier away.

Though the courier didn't dare question the prince’s decision, inwardly, he was stunned.

Even with the Princess Consort bringing up their eldest son, she still couldn’t persuade His Highness to return to the capital?

Was the situation in Yanxi so dire that the prince couldn’t leave even briefly?

Or was it because…

Recalling the rumors he had gathered the previous night, the courier got chills.

Prince Duan barely noticed a mere courier.

The courier’s covert activities hadn’t gone unnoticed. Far from stopping him, the prince had even let some information slip intentionally.

Letting the Princess Consort find out about A Ling through the courier’s reports would give her time to prepare.

After sipping his tea, Prince Duan turned his attention to the evidence of He Tai’s crimes, thinking how to strike hard and bring him down.

Just then, a Royal Guard hurried in to announce that He Tai had asked to see him.

Prince Duan frowned. "Why is he here?"

The guard replied, "General He claims to have urgent matters to discuss privately with Your Highness."

The prince tapped his fingers lightly on the documents detailing He Tai’s crimes, his eyes lingering on the words "embezzlement of military funds."

Had He Tai gotten wind of something? Did he suspect that he and Zhou Jiamu were plotting against him?

It was entirely possible.

He Tai had been entrenched in Yanxi for years. No matter how discreet he and Zhou Jiamu had been, it was unlikely He Tai remained completely unaware.

If so, his purpose here was easy to guess.

Was he here to beg for mercy?

To ask for leniency?

Prince Duan had no desire to waste time on a dead man: "I'm busy with official matters. Tell him to leave."

Yet before long, the Royal Guard returned, looking troubled.

Prince Duan frowned, his right hand resting on a document of evidence: "He refuses to leave?"

The Royal Guard hesitated before replying, "General He said the matter directly involves Your Highness. If Your Highness is truly too busy, he asks for only a cup of tea's worth of time."

Prince Duan's sharp, narrow eyes narrowed further, his tone icy: "Let him in."

By the time He Tai entered the study, the evidence on the desk had already been put away.

Prince Duan leaned back in his chair, studying He Tai before him.

The prince remained composed.

The general, however, looked haggard, as though he were the one being looked down upon.

"General He, you have only a cup of tea's worth of time."

He Tai dispensed with formalities: "I have always treated Your Highness with the utmost respect. Why must you hound me so relentlessly, leaving me no path to survival?"

A barely-there smirk played at Prince Duan’s lips: "General He is a court-appointed official, the commander of Yanxi. If you have done nothing wrong, no one could possibly drive you to desperation."

He Tai understood the implication and ground his teeth in anger.

He had indeed crossed some lines.

But if Prince Duan were willing to cut him some slack and not pursue him so doggedly, who could truly hold him accountable?

"What does Your Highness want?"

He was asking Prince Duan to state his demands.

Prince Duan cut him off: "If General He has nothing further to say, you may leave."

Won't even negotiate—is he truly determined to see him dead?

He Tai’s bloodshot eyes were wild, giving him the look of a cornered beast.

Even a beast, sensing death closing in, would fight tooth and nail.

Let alone a man.

Thus, He Tai had no choice but to make his last stand.

"Your Highness is targeting me because you desire the position of commander at Xingtang Pass."

He Tai took a deep breath.

His military prowess was far inferior to Zhou Jiamu’s, but after years on the battlefield, he was still a decisive man.

He began to cut his losses.

"I am willing to give up the post of commander at Xingtang Pass."

At this, Prince Duan gained new respect for He Tai.

Now that's decisive.

Seeing Prince Duan’s interest piqued, He Tai pressed on.

"I’ve spent over a decade building my influence in Yan’s western region. Surrendering my post as Xingtang Pass’s commander means giving up all my efforts of the past ten years."

"All I ask is Your Highness’s mercy—to drop the investigations into my past missteps and the trade market matters, allowing me to return to the capital with what I’ve gained in Yan’s west."

"This arrangement only benefits Your Highness. Does this satisfy Your Highness?"

Prince Duan knew this was He Tai’s bottom line.

Unfortunately...

"This matter is mine to decide. General He has only to wait."

He Tai was taken aback. After all his concessions, Prince Duan still gave him evasions rather than a clear answer.

Was Prince Duan really set on a fight to the death?

He was no nobody, nor had he built his power in Yan’s west in vain. If Prince Duan pushed him into a corner, did he not fear a cornered beast’s retaliation?

"The Duke of Chengen’s house stands behind me."

"General He, you’ve lost your senses," Prince Duan sighed. "Did you think I didn’t know of your ties to the Duke of Chengen?"

The title of Duke of Chengen was first granted by Great Yan’s founding emperor to the maternal clans of the emperor and empress.

Since then, the maternal clans of Great Yan’s empresses were almost always bestowed the title of Duke of Chengen.

Though both were dukes and held the highest rank, this title, granted by imperial favor, paled in comparison to hereditary dukedoms like that of Liu Guogong, which endured through generations alongside the state itself.

Moreover, the late empress who had bestowed the He family with the title of Duke of Chengen was already dead.

Thus, Prince Duan paid no heed to He Tai’s threat.

He Tai’s face contorted in rage, but he quickly forced himself to calm down.

Something was off.

Nobles in the capital never acted so ruthlessly. They preferred to leave room for maneuver, rarely resorting to scorched-earth tactics.

This kind of approach was more characteristic of those who had risen abruptly from obscurity.

A stunning face flashed in He Tai’s mind.

A suspicion took root in him.

It was ludicrous.

But at this point, no matter how ridiculous, it was likely the truth—

Huo Shiming’s daughter had not only won Prince Duan’s favor but had also influenced the prince’s stance toward him.

It wasn’t Prince Duan who wanted him dead—it was Huo Ling!

So, surrendering the position of Xingtang Pass commander was not enough.

Because the position was for Prince Duan, not Huo Ling!

At this moment, He Tai truly felt the urge to spit blood.

Who could have imagined that merely disciplining a disobedient subordinate back then would land him in such a desperate situation today?

"If the Duke of Chengen's estate means nothing to Your Highness, what about the Duke of Liu's?"

As Prince Duan issued his final order to leave, He Tai finally played his trump card.

The previously indifferent Prince Duan immediately had his face turn grim. "What connection do you have with the Duke of Liu's estate?"

He Tai sneered. "Isn’t Your Highness investigating the frontier market? Have you not uncovered the ledgers? Did you not notice irregularities in the accounts?"

Prince Duan’s heart sank.

He had indeed found them.

The irregularities were enormous. He’d thought He Tai was skimming profits, but who would have guessed the real culprit was from the Duke of Liu’s estate?

Seeing Prince Duan’s reaction, He Tai regained some confidence, his tone turning smug.

"Even if Your Highness is unaware of what the Duke of Liu’s estate is doing behind the scenes, you must have heard of their above-board enterprises."

"The Duke of Liu’s estate owns the largest horse trade in Great Yan. Since Great Yan lacks quality horses, most are purchased from Qiang Rong merchants. And then there are other... shadier operations—all of which I’ve quietly smoothed over for them."

"If Your Highness insists on backing me into a corner, I cannot guarantee I’ll keep the Duke of Liu’s secrets any longer."

The Princess Consort of Duan was born into the Duke of Liu’s estate—she was the Duke of Liu’s favorite granddaughter.

And the Duke of Liu was Prince Duan’s key ally in court.

With the throne still undecided, Prince Duan’s faction was pulling out all the stops to elevate Ji Yuanwan. If, at this critical juncture, the Duke of Liu’s estate were rocked by scandal...

If the Duke of Liu’s estate learned that this secret was exposed solely because of Prince Duan’s obstinacy...

He Tai’s threat had hit Prince Duan where it hurt.