Chapter 167

Chapter 167

On this night, as the Emperor and Empress slept soundly, many were destined for a sleepless night.

Grand Princess's Residence.

Ever since the Fu family was stripped of their title, Fu Kui had become like a subservient grandson before Yong Kang—daring not talk back when scolded, nor fight back when struck. Each opportunity to share her bed required him to serve with utmost effort, hoping to reclaim even a sliver of Yong Kang's former affection. This state of affairs had persisted for eight years. Eight long years! So, when Yong Kang entrusted him with her cherished, imperially bestowed purple jade flute, Fu Kui felt a surge of surprise and delight even more intense than when he was first granted the marriage by the late emperor. But what was the outcome?

Fu Kui found it impossible to describe the complexity of his emotions. Had he hesitated even for a moment before apprehending Qin Liang at the imperial mausoleum, the Emperor would surely have taken note. This was a matter of life and death, yet Yong Kang hadn't breathed a single word of it to him!

Having received the Emperor's affirmation and commendation, much of Fu Kui's lingering fear had dissipated on the journey back to the capital. What remained was solely the issue of his marital relationship with Yong Kang.

After the children had retired, Fu Kui retrieved the purple jade flute from his embrace—it had remained untouched by the scuffle—and, looking at Yong Kang, extended it to her.

Yong Kang's expression was as indifferent as it had always been when facing Fu Kui. Taking the purple jade flute, she prepared to instruct the maids outside to draw bathwater.

Fu Kui spoke first, his voice tinged with bitterness: "Weren't you afraid that if I had reacted a step too slowly, the Emperor might suspect me of aiding the traitors?"

Yong Kang cast a glance at him and replied, "If you had, it would be only right for the Emperor to suspect you. On the contrary, your unwavering support for the Emperor precisely allows him to set aside the old scores of your father and brother colluding with Biao State. So, you should be thanking me for lending a hand, not complaining."

Whether in matters great or small, she held the right to conceal things from Fu Kui. He had no standing whatsoever to question her.

Fu Kui nearly choked on her words!

Yong Kang walked directly towards the inner chamber.

Her retreating back was even colder than her face. Fu Kui moved his lips and, just as Yong Kang was about to lift the curtain and enter, explained: "It all happened so suddenly. It was only because I heard you denouncing Prince Yong and his son for rebellion that I didn't hesitate at all."

Was he loyal to the Emperor?

In times of peace, Fu Kui was undoubtedly loyal. After all, the great victory against East Hu was entirely due to the Emperor's strategies, and Fu Kui had to concede that. But if Prince Yong and his son had truly stood a chance of success in their rebellion, and had approached him to win him over, Fu Kui couldn't say for certain what he would have chosen. Yet, he was Yong Kang's Imperial Son-in-law. At that critical juncture, whatever Yong Kang wished him to do, Fu Kui did.

Therefore, Fu Kui hoped Yong Kang would understand his heart.

Yong Kang's hand, poised to lift the curtain, indeed paused for a moment. Then, with her back to Fu Kui, she let out a cold, mocking laugh.

She would never forget that Fu Kui only began acting like a subservient grandson after the fall of the Fu family and a stern warning from her imperial father.

Today, it was only because her younger sister and Zhang Su had taken precautions that they avoided Qin Liang's hidden attack, and because Zhang Jie wasn't successfully ambushed by Deng Kun and Deng Tai. If Zhang Su and Zhang Jie had been instantly killed as Qin Liang had planned, if Prince Yong had succeeded in killing her younger sister, and if Qin Liang had then seized her as a traitor and sought to kill her—would Fu Kui still have stood by her without hesitation?

Yong Kang did not believe it.

It was only because her younger sister had suppressed this rebellion, and because she was a Grand Princess who had rendered meritorious service, that Fu Kui now offered such sweet words.

Turning around, Yong Kang looked at Fu Kui, who stood a few steps away. Just as Fu Kui's eyes brightened with deep affection as he gazed at her, Yong Kang doused him with a bucket of cold water: "Are you implying that if I hadn't spoken, you wouldn't have supported the Emperor? If you truly harbor such thoughts, I shall write you a letter of divorce tonight, lest your future treachery implicate me."

Fu Kui: "..."

As the image of the Emperor's steady sword thrust into Prince Yong flashed in his mind, Fu Kui's knees buckled, and he sank to the ground: "Your subject would not dare!"

Prince An's Residence.

Nine-year-old Zheng Geer returned by carriage with his mother, Lü Wenrong. As they first departed the imperial mausoleum, Lü Wenrong's mind was consumed by thoughts of Prince Yong's death. Zheng Geer sat quietly beside her, appearing remarkably sensible, so Lü Wenrong remained immersed in her own thoughts. It wasn't until halfway through the journey that Zheng Geer suddenly vomited violently, his small face pale and tears streaming down.

Only then did Lü Wenrong remember that her son was merely nine years old. How could he possibly endure having witnessed such a bloody scene?

She held her son in her arms, gently comforting him for the remainder of the journey.

Zheng Geer did not tell his mother that what truly frightened him was not the bloodshed, nor Prince Yong's death, but the fear that one day his imperial aunt might also plunge a sword into his heart.

Although Zheng Geer had moved out of the palace over a year ago, he had never forgotten that he was once only a step away from the position of Crown Prince, nor that his father had been forced to voluntarily resign because his imperial aunt had overwhelmed him. Though Zheng Geer was but a child, his ambitions were vast. Lying alone in bed, Zheng Geer had often fantasized about the day he would grow up, rebel, and usurp the throne.

Yet, just recently, his vigorous and formidable Granduncle Prince Yong, who had won countless battles, had indeed rebelled. The result? Not only did Prince Yong lose his own life, but all five thousand of his secretly arranged rebel troops were utterly annihilated—slaughtered by his imperial aunt's forces before they even reached halfway to the imperial mausoleum!

How could Zheng Geer not be afraid?

He was terrified to the point of being unable to walk when dismounting the carriage; his father had to carry him back to his room.

Lü Wenrong could not fathom her son's ambitions, but Qin Hong saw through them. Like a loving father, he silently wiped his son clean and tucked him into bed.

Zheng Geer, feeling guilty, both hoped his father would gently comfort him and worried that his father might discern his thoughts and scold him.

Qin Hong did not scold his son. He merely sat by the bed, watching Zheng Geer for a while, until tears began to fall from his own eyes.

Zheng Geer: "..."

Qin Hong touched his son's face and said with a bitter smile, "Only today did your father truly understand the late emperor's profound concern in repeatedly warning your Granduncle and the Deng Kun brothers before his passing."

Zheng Geer began to tremble slightly.

Qin Hong, seemingly oblivious, continued, "Even the late emperor could not stop them from walking down the path to destruction. If you still resent your imperial aunt, your father can do nothing. I only hope you will be patient and wait until your mother and I are gone before you take action, so that we won't have to bury our own child."

In terms of affection, Granduncle had countless times held his younger sister aloft, and she had often playfully teased her little nephew Zheng Geer.

But what did that matter? His younger sister could decisively kill Granduncle, and in the future, she could just as easily kill a nephew who sought his own ruin.

Qin Hong knew he was useless. He could not control his elder sister or younger brother, and his son, having long witnessed his cowardice, would certainly not listen to him.

Qin Hong could only advise his son in this manner.

Zheng Geer, who feared not even his father's slaps, was instead reduced to tears by his father's tearful, soft words. He threw himself into his father's arms, swearing that from then on, he would be utterly loyal to his imperial aunt and never again harbor any disrespectful thoughts.

Qin Hong closed his eyes and said into his son's hair, "Your father is only grateful that you are still young, and that they haven't yet set their sights on you."

If Granduncle and Qin Liang had been more patient for a few more years and had bypassed him and his elder sister to win over Zheng Geer directly, Zheng Geer would certainly have been taken in.

"You... take care of yourself."

Prince Jing's Residence.

Qin Bing's left arm had been slashed by Prince Yong, nearly down to the bone. Meng Yao summoned the residence's physician to re-bandage and apply medicine to the wound.

Once everything was done, the couple lay side by side in bed, both unable to sleep.

Meng Yao shifted to lie on the outer side, resting her head on Qin Bing's uninjured right arm, occasionally stroking his chest. Still fearful, she said, "Thank goodness older sister didn't listen to Qin Liang. Otherwise, if Fu Kui had truly ambushed you from behind, you might not have been able to avoid it."

In a one-on-one fight, Fu Kui was no match for Qin Bing. But if Fu Kui had suddenly plunged a dagger into Qin Bing's back, could Qin Bing have survived?

At any other time, Qin Bing would have mocked Fu Kui, perhaps saying that even if Fu Kui tried to ambush him, he wouldn't succeed. But tonight, he was not in the mood. He was both angry at Granduncle for his treachery and heartbroken over his death. Among the five siblings, Qin Bing had spent the most time with Granduncle. When he was young and his father was away at war, it was Granduncle who taught him martial arts. When he grew up, since his eldest and third brothers did not care for drinking, Qin Bing often went to drink with Granduncle and Qin Liang.

He remained silent for too long. Meng Yao looked up and was shocked to see tears streaming down Qin Bing's face!

Meng Yao sat up in disbelief: "You... you actually feel sorry for Prince Yong?"

Qin Bing said hoarsely, "He was still my second uncle!"

Meng Yao lightly slapped his face: "He was your second uncle, but he was also a second uncle who wanted to kill you! Never mind that he wanted the Emperor's life—just think about our family. If you had really died, what would have become of me, Ying Er, and Zhen Geer?"

Did frequent drinking signify deep affection between uncle and nephew? Clearly, Prince Yong had been drinking with his second nephew while simultaneously plotting the death of his nephew's entire family!

Qin Bing's heartache was slapped out of him by his wife.

Meng Yao gave him another kick and ran off to sleep with their daughter. Her husband still felt sorry for their enemy, so he didn't need her comfort. Instead, their daughter, who had witnessed Prince Yong's death, might have been frightened and needed her mother's company.

Prince Xian's Residence.

Qin Ren and his wife, who were usually fond of good food and sound sleep, also found themselves unable to sleep tonight. Qin Ren sat leaning against the headboard, his expression grave.

Yan Zhenzhen rarely saw her husband like this. Even when the late emperor passed away, Qin Ren had only grieved, not with such seriousness.

Yan Zhenzhen nestled close to him, holding his hand, and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Qin Ren glanced at his wife, lowered his eyes, and said, "I'm thinking about what a waste I've been for the past twenty-plus years."

Even his eldest sister had shared their younger sister's burdens and made contributions, while he could only be pushed aside by his elder brother to stay with their mother and other civilian officials, watching from afar as their uncle, like a fiend, charged at their sister. If he hadn't been lazy and slack in his youth, if he had also mastered martial arts, he could have stood in front of their sister like his second brother.

The forged edict left by their uncle stated that their sister and mother were to be executed—he was merely an afterthought.

When their father appointed their sister as Crown Princess, he hadn't lifted a finger to help. When their sister suppressed the rebellion and protected the family, he, as an elder brother, contributed nothing.

Over the past year, the court had been stable, and their sister had ruled smoothly as emperor. Qin Ren held a ceremonial post in the Ministry of Rites, feeling quite pleased with himself, yet he failed to notice that someone was plotting against their sister's throne and life.

Today, their uncle's faction was defeated, but what if others emerged tomorrow? Could he remain a lazy, good-for-nothing prince forever?

Qin Ren wasn't that thick-skinned!

"Tell me, where should I serve to better share our sister's burdens?" Qin Ren mused aloud, casually asking his wife.

His martial arts were mediocre, but he was fairly well-read. He didn't dare claim he could pass the imperial exams, but he could certainly pass the provincial exams. He could ask Her Majesty for a substantive position to gain experience, and someday, he would have his chance to make contributions.

Yan Zhenzhen didn't know how long her husband's determination would last, but she was greatly reassured by his newfound resolve.

"Find a time to ask Her Majesty. She surely knows your strengths best."