Chapter 68

Chapter 68

A minister scrutinized the woman standing at the entrance, finding her somewhat familiar. After pondering for a while, a sudden realization struck him.

His eyes widened in shock, and he stammered fearfully, "Ah! This... isn't this the Marchioness of Xuanping?"

The court officials erupted in murmurs.

The Marchioness had always worn luxurious attire in the past, but today, with her hair tied up with a wooden hairpin and dressed in plain clothing, she looked every bit like an ordinary elderly woman from a common family.

Recognized, the Marchioness's eyes filled with fury. Suppressing her emotions, she bowed respectfully to the court officials and said, "The widow of the Lu family pays her respects to all the esteemed officials."

Her demeanor was humble; she did not refer to herself as the Marchioness of Xuanping but merely as the widow of the Lu family. As she finished speaking, choked sobs instantly echoed through the hall.

The minister closest to her couldn't stand to see a woman weeping. Frowning, he scolded, "This imperial hall is no place for a woman's tears."

The Marchioness immediately knelt and bowed her head, her voice hoarse and choked with tears. "I implore the esteemed officials to grant me justice."

The Second Prince smiled, crossed his arms, and turned to Lu Yu. "The Marchioness has suffered an injustice. You need not fear. Here, not to mention a trial by the three highest judicial authorities, it would only be right for the Grand Secretariat to help resolve your grievance as well."

Lu Yu twisted the thumb ring on his finger, coldly watching the Marchioness's performance.

The Marchioness suddenly lifted her head, her eyes filled with fury, and pointed angrily at Lu Yu. "He is not the real Lu Yu. Lu Yu died long ago."

The court officials were stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.

Lu Yu let out a derisive snort and said calmly, "I grew up in the capital since childhood. Whenever I encountered the ministers of the Northern Palace, it was only proper to address them as uncles or elders."

"Madam, could it be that you've taken leave of your senses and have not yet recovered?"

The Marchioness, her eyes red, addressed the officials, "You are all unaware. Lu Yu has always suffered from amnesia. Six years ago, he went missing for a period of time. When we found him, Lu Yu was already dead."

"And he is nothing but an impostor, just a villager from Yun County in the northwest."

Lu Yu chuckled softly.

So that's how it is.

"The Marchioness's imagination is truly remarkable."

The Marchioness curled her lips slightly. "The esteemed officials can go and ask the servants of the Marquis of Xuanping. Five years ago, when the impostor first returned, a woman claiming to be his wife came to the Xuanping Marquis Manor carrying a child."

"Unfortunately, the woman could not endure her husband's cold treatment. Watching as he was about to marry the legitimate daughter of Duke An's Mansion, she became disheartened and decided to return to Yun County. But her carriage fell off a cliff."

"I presume the esteemed officials have also heard that Crown Prince Lu galloped wildly on Vermilion Bird Avenue six years ago."

Prince Ding took a deep breath, his eyes filled with tension.

What is this madwoman saying? If she drags his daughter into this, he would make her regret it.

Lu Yu chuckled lightly. "Madam, are you now questioning His Majesty? Would he not know whether I am his own son?"

"Were you able to rise from a Concubine to the Marchioness solely because His Majesty wanted someone to manage the Marquis household and care for me?"

"Are you going to slander the imperial bloodline based solely on your one-sided account?"

The Marchioness clenched her fingers, her face already pale. As she raised her head to retort, a scholar with a limp staggered into the hall.

He kowtowed heavily, his turbid eyes filled with hatred. "I can testify!"

As soon as the scholar finished speaking, Prince Ding, enraged and clutching his chest, stepped forward. "How dare you!"

This scholar was Zhou Siang, who had sought to climb the social ladder by becoming the son-in-law of Princess Ding'an.

Zhou Siang's eyes were full of hatred. "Your Highness, it would be best if you remained silent."

"Crown Prince Lu had already been secretly meeting with Princess Ding'an. Back when they met privately at the temple, I personally heard Crown Prince Lu tell the Princess that he came from Yun County in the northwest."

"Just because I discovered their secret meetings, Crown Prince Lu tried to kill me and even ensured I would be incapable of fathering children in my next life."

Prince Ding explained to the court officials, "This man is the son of my old servant. Because he is unscrupulous and abused his wife and children, he pretended to pledge allegiance to the Ding Manor but ended up stealing private belongings from the estate and was driven out."

"The words of an unscrupulous individual cannot be trusted."

Lu Yu raised his head, his eyes icy cold, and turned to the Second Prince. "Second Brother, you must have taken leave of your senses. You keep company with those who reflect your own character."

The Second Prince smiled and crossed his arms. "Then take a look at these others."

At that moment, a blindfolded peasant walked in through the door. The Second Prince smiled and walked over to ask, "Tell the officials who you are."

"I'm Liu Laosan from Shitou Village in Yun County, northwest."

"Is there someone named Lu Yu in your village?"

"Yes, yes. When Old Man Yun died, the husband of the Yun family girl was named Lu Yu. His name is even engraved on the tombstone."

The Second Prince asked, "Where did this Lu Yu go afterward?"

"He died. He was beaten to death."

The Second Prince asked, "How do you know them?"

"I... I wanted to marry the Yun family girl, but he got to her first..."

Prince Ding's eyes were already red. His precious daughter had suffered so much, and now she was being coveted by a gap-toothed, leering man.

"Come, take a look and identify which of these officials is the Lu Yu from your village."

The Second Prince clapped lightly, and the guards immediately removed the blindfold from the old man.

After a brief moment of dizziness, Liu Laosan looked around. The moment he saw Lu Yu, his eyes widened enormously, and he instantly collapsed to the ground. Supporting himself with his legs, he trembled and said, "You! Weren't you beaten to death?"

He immediately shook like a sieve, too afraid to speak.

Because he had been one of the people who beat Lu Yu back then.

Lu Yu raised his head and said coldly, "I have never seen you before."

At this moment, Lu Yu was deeply trapped in the dilemma of proving his own identity.

On one hand, if he openly spoke of the events in the northwest back then, the truth that Lin Shuyun was Yun Wan would be exposed.

Princess Ding'an had clearly been found in the northwest, yet the Ding Manor had falsely claimed she was discovered in Jiangnan—this crime of deceiving the emperor, once exposed after the emperor awoke, would be enough to bring the entire Ding Manor crashing down in an instant.

On the other hand, after he went missing back then, it was also the emperor who secretly ordered imperial guards to impersonate him, maintaining the deception in the capital for months to mislead the court officials.

If he revealed the truth now, the emperor's authority in the eyes of the court officials would inevitably plummet.

Even if he were the emperor's most beloved son, in the face of supreme imperial power, this favor would seem insignificant.

Before confirming whether the emperor would awaken, he absolutely could not make the truth public.

The First Prince, observing Lu Yu’s grim expression, addressed the court ministers: "Can you still be certain that Lu Yu is the Third Prince?"

Under this mounting evidence, some ministers seemed to grow suspicious, but due to the emperor’s high regard for Lu Yu, they dared not jump to conclusions.

The First Prince crossed his arms and said calmly, "Since no one is speaking, let us first have Lu Yu detained in the dungeon. We will discuss further once His Majesty awakens."

But would the emperor ever truly awaken?

Meanwhile, the Marquis of Xuanping’s residence was surrounded by a detachment of soldiers, with everyone inside forbidden to leave.

"Third Prince, your meal is served."

A eunuch, head bowed, respectfully carried a tray into Lu Yu’s cell.

As Lu Yu took the tray, a small paper packet was surreptitiously transferred between their fingers.

The jail warden glanced over, and in that instant, Lu Yu’s expression changed. He raised his hand and overturned the tray, snapped angrily, "Get out!"

"You worthless eunuch, how dare you provoke the Third Prince?" The jail warden, still wary of Lu Yu, said coldly, "Why are you still here? Get out at once!"

The eunuch trembling, kowtowed deeply, and stumbled out of the dungeon. Once he had distanced himself from the prison, he passed through the imperial garden and handed the paper packet to another maid.

The maid then turned and sprinkled the powder from the packet into a bowl of medicinal broth in a meal container before hurrying toward the Qianyuan Hall.

She respectfully addressed the eunuch guarding the door: "The medicine for His Majesty is ready."

At that moment, the emperor’s personal eunuch emerged, hearing her. He scooped a spoonful of the medicine with a silver spoon, his piercing gaze fixed on the maid.

"Drink."

The maid drank from the spoon without changing her expression.

The personal eunuch, Lv Yi, seeing she showed no reaction, nodded, taking the medicine. "You may go."

Meanwhile, Lu Yu sat composed in his cell, watching the moonlight streaming through the barred window. His thoughts were filled with worry for Lin Shuyun and their children.

Now, he could only wait for the emperor to awaken.

His two elder brothers were determined to see him dead, but as long as the emperor lived, they dared not act.

With the Qianyuan Hall now tightly guarded by the emperor’s most trusted aides, it was impossible for them to administer any more poison.

Instead, Lu Yu had sent an antidote to the emperor, hoping to hasten his awakening.

He did not know how long it would take to counteract the accumulated poison, nor was he certain this plan would work.

Success or failure, victory or defeat—everything hinged on this moment.

Lu Yu took a deep breath, his deep-set eyes filled with anxiety. He closed his eyes and carefully calculated his next moves.

Five days later, the emperor remained unconscious.

The capital was gripped by unease. Suddenly, news came from the imperial court that another court session would be held without the emperor, this time to discuss the First Prince’s regency.

The court officials had become like startled birds fearing the bow, with the more timid among them carefully instructing their families on final arrangements before leaving home.

The Second Prince, reckoning the emperor was near death, stood with arms crossed in the grand hall, eyeing the officials coldly. "Why has the First Prince convened another court session?"

The First Prince frowned slightly. "It wasn't me."

"Since we are both sons of the emperor, why can’t I serve as regent? Why can’t we take turns ruling?"

In recent days, the empowered First Prince had been urged by his advisors to move against the Second Prince.

Life had not been easy for the Second Prince either, and he now seized the opportunity to openly confront the First Prince.

The First Prince said coldly, "Because I am your elder brother. If His Majesty were to pass—"

"Outrageous!"

A raspy, weighty voice suddenly rang out. The court officials turned toward the entrance of the hall, their eyes widening in shock.

There, Lu Yu supported the frail emperor as they slowly ascended to the Nine-Dragon Throne.

A wave of ceremonial greetings erupted instantly:

"Your servants pay respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!"

The two princes immediately dropped to their knees, bowing their heads in fear, their backs drenched in cold sweat.

The single word "outrageous" had drained the emperor’s strength. Supported by Lu Yu, he sat on the Nine-Dragon Throne, gasping for breath, and bellowed in fury: "You treacherous sons! How dare you poison me!"

"Is Wang Haiyi present?"

The named cabinet minister stepped forward respectfully. "Your servant is here."

"Read the edict drafted by the court before I fell unconscious."

Eunuch Lv Yi hurriedly knelt, holding an imperial yellow scroll in both hands, and presented it to Wang Haiyi.

"By the decree of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims:

To secure the nation’s foundation and ensure the stability of the realm, I fear failing the grace of Heaven and the expectations of our ancestors. Now that the land is at peace and the world tranquil, I observe that my third son, Gu Yu, has been diligent in learning and inquiry since childhood. Having previously served in the court and later pacified the north, leading our troops to victory, I find him decisive in action and endowed with the virtue to govern and bring peace to the nation.

In accordance with ancient tradition, the Third Prince, Gu Yu, is hereby established in the Eastern Palace and enfeoffed as Crown Prince.

Let this be announced throughout the land, so all may know.

So it is decreed."

After the minister finished reading the edict, the officials knelt and bowed toward Lu Yu beside the emperor, proclaiming loudly: "Your servants pay respects to the Crown Prince. May the Crown Prince live a thousand years!"

Lu Yu exchanged a look with the emperor, then turned and said solemnly, "Rise."

The emperor nodded in satisfaction, then glared at his two trembling sons kneeling on the ground. Struggling against his illness, he roared: "Guards! Take the First and Second Princes to the dungeon. Strip them of their titles, demote them to commoner status, and forbid them from ever entering the capital again!"

"This court is dismissed!"

The emperor, using his sleeve for support, staggered as Lu Yu helped him back to the Qianyuan Hall.

As the First Prince was led away by the guards, his cold eyes met those of the commander of the imperial guards standing outside the hall.

Their gazes locked, and they nodded slowly.

Meanwhile, inside the Qianyuan Hall...

The bitter scent of medicine filled the hall, while a few wisps of smoke, carrying the fragrance of dragon's incense, curled from the incense burner. The chamber was as silent as a celestial pavilion on Penglai Island.

"Cough, cough... In the end, I still have to rely on my 'Cheng Yu'."

The emperor lay on his sickbed, his murky eyes filled with approval.

Lu Yu sat quietly by the emperor’s bedside, lightly tapping his fingers before turning his gaze to the water clock in the hall. Softly, he said, "Rest now. I will wake you later."

The coldness of the dragon throne had left the emperor lonely for a long time. Hearing Lu Yu’s comforting words, his eyes instantly glistened with tears.

Perhaps weakened by illness, he murmured softly, "I thought long and hard about your courtesy name back then."

"Later, I dreamed of the characters 'Cheng Yu.' After waking, I pondered them repeatedly and was very satisfied."

Lu Yu asked, "Why?"

"'Cheng Yu, Cheng Yu'... My hope for you has always been to inherit my throne."

The emperor’s eyes shone with a father’s pride. "You have truly lived up to my expectations."

Lu Yu lowered his gaze and smiled. "I merely... did what my parents wished—to become a person of ambition."

The emperor’s eyes seemed to hallucinate as he whispered, "Nuonuo, our son has grown up so well. You raised him wonderfully."

The weight of his eyelids dragged the emperor into a deep slumber.

Lu Yu cast a cold glance at the emperor, glanced once more at the water clock, and turned to leave the hall.

By then, the imperial capital was in chaos.

After Lu Yu was released from the high-security prison by the emperor, his forces had already taken full control of Anhua Gate. He urgently summoned 40,000 soldiers of the Zhenbei Army to swiftly enter the imperial city.

The eldest prince still commanded a unit of imperial guards. With this advantage, he would never admit defeat easily.

Lu Yu listened as Officer Sun, disguised as a eunuch, reported that the imperial guards and the Zhenbei Army had already clashed at Anhua Gate.

Without delay, he donned his armor, mounted a swift horse, and gripping a long spear, hurried to the scene.

Upon Lu Yu’s arrival, the Zhenbei Army’s morale surged. He brandished his spear, charged at the forefront, and issued sharp commands, to which the soldiers responded instantly.

The imperial guards, long accustomed to the comforts of the capital, were no match for the battle-hardened Zhenbei Army.

In less than two hours, the imperial guards were at a disadvantage. Strangely, however, Lu Yu’s Zhenbei Army began retreating toward the imperial palace.

The eldest prince, thinking Lu Yu was fleeing, immediately gave chase on his horse.

By the time he reached Qianyuan Hall, he found himself alone—his guards dead or wounded, with no one left by his side.

Scanning the eerily quiet surroundings, he roared in fury, "Lu Yu, show yourself if you dare!"

"Heh."

A soft chuckle echoed around him.

The eldest prince, like a bird scared by a bowstring, frantically looked around. Suddenly, a cold-glinting arrow sliced through the air, heading straight for his heart.

Before he could even react, the arrow pierced his heart. His eyes widened in shock, and he fell dead outside Qianyuan Hall.

Lu Yu lowered his bow and calmly walked into the hall.

---

The emperor seemed to sense the commotion outside and slowly opened his eyes to find Lu Yu still seated by his dragon bed.

As if sensing his awakening, Lu Yu picked up a bowl of ginseng tea and said softly, "It’s time for your ginseng tea."

The emperor nodded in satisfaction, gazing affectionately as Lu Yu fed him spoonful by spoonful with a white jade spoon.

"Why does the ginseng tea taste different today?" the emperor asked casually.

Lu Yu smiled, feeding him the last spoonful. "Because it’s time to send you on your final journey. It’s time for you to ascend to heaven."

The emperor’s eyes widened in horror. He knocked the porcelain bowl from Lu Yu’s hand, but when he tried to cry out, only a faint, breathy sound escaped his throat.

"You—!"

Lu Yu watched as the emperor’s face turned purple with rage. Drawing a dagger from his sleeve, he said coldly, "As you command, Your Majesty."

"I am... your... birth father... How dare you... commit patricide... regicide!"

Lu Yu replied icily, "My father died when I was eight, betrayed and killed by you in collusion with foreign tribes."

The emperor struggled to sit up, snarling, "How... dare you..."

"You forced my mother to take an abortifacient, killing my elder siblings, then made her bear your child. Did you know she never wanted to bear a child for you?"

"If not for my father’s pity, holding her and saying, ‘Let this child be ours,’ you would never have seen me born."

"You caused my father’s death in battle, my mother’s suicide out of grief, and six years ago, you nearly killed my wife and child."

"Crime after crime, Your Majesty. It’s time to repay your debts." Lu Yu moved closer, the cold blade of the dagger tracing slowly along the emperor’s cheek.

By now, the emperor could only stare wide-eyed, his pale lips trembling as he gasped, "All these years... I raised you... groomed you as Crown Prince..."

"Is this... how you repay me?"

A shadow crossed Lu Yu’s eyes, his voice turning hoarse. "The throne? I would rather have been a son with both parents alive."

He quickly regained his composure. "I won’t grant you a quick death. The poison is still taking effect."

"Did you secretly bury my mother in the imperial mausoleum? Once you die and the tomb is opened, I will move her remains."

"She never wished to lie beside you in death."

The emperor’s eyes bulged, a surge of blood rising within him. Seeing him gasping for breath, on the verge of death, Lu Yu swiftly plunged the dagger into his abdomen.

Blood instantly stained the bright yellow silk covers of the dragon bed.

Lu Yu brushed off his sleeves.

He stood up, his tone flat and icy, each word like frost: "The eldest prince, Gu Quan, defied the imperial decree and led the imperial guards in an assault on the imperial palace. While Crown Prince Gu Yu led the Zhenbei Army to resist, Gu Quan stormed Qianyuan Hall and assassinated His Majesty. Crown Prince Gu Yu acted decisively, shooting him dead, but the emperor had already ascended to heaven."

With that, he strode out of Qianyuan Hall, mounted his horse, and galloped away without looking back.

----

By then, the capital was in utter chaos.

The gates of the Marquis of Xuanping’s residence were tightly shut. Lin Shuyun had gathered her three children in the bedroom of the Listening Snow Studio and was pacing anxiously in the courtyard.

The steward reported that it seemed a great upheaval had occurred in the palace.

Ever since Lin Shuyun learned that Lu Yu had been thrown into prison, she had been anxiously restless, unable to sleep through the night.

Upon hearing of the palace turmoil today, Lin Shuyun felt as though an invisible hand were clenching her heart, and a heavy stone seemed to block her chest.

Suddenly, Ming Yue rushed into the Listening Snow Pavilion, calling out loudly, "My lady, someone is knocking at the main gate!"

Everyone tensed instantly.

Lin Shuyun lifted her skirts and hurried into the room, ushering the three children into the hidden chamber Lu Yu had prepared long ago.

Zhang'er stood inside the hidden chamber, tears immediately streaming down his face. His small hands reached urgently toward Lin Shuyun outside the door as he cried out, "Mom!"

Lin Shuyun bent down and pressed a kiss to each child's forehead, her voice choked with emotion. "Zhang'er, from now on, you must take good care of your younger siblings."

"Ying Ying, listen to your brother."

"Little Lin Er, be good and stay quiet."

Lin Shuyun shut the door of the hidden chamber firmly and turned to hurry outside, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest.

With a creak, the main gate suddenly swung open.

Lu Yu, in black armor, sat astride a sleek black horse, steadily stationed at the entrance. A stark crimson bloodstain marred his composed, handsome face, yet his presence remained commanding.

He reached out his hand to her, a tired but clear smile curling at his lips as he said softly, "Wanwan, it's all over now. Let's go home."

Lin Shuyun's eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up in her eyes. She nodded emphatically and replied, "Yes, let's go home."

At that moment, the overcast sky slowly parted, allowing a ray of sunlight to break through. The clouds dispersed, the fog lifted, and the sun emerged once more.

It was yet another season of promise.