Chapter 7 Madness

Chapter 7: Madness

If Jiang Yanzhou were to rank the people he disliked, Xiao Fengjin would undoubtedly be at the top.

Among Emperor Yonghe's adult sons, only the Second Prince, the Prince of Jin, Xiao Fengjin, and the Crown Prince, Xiao Yunlang, attended court.

Xiao Yunlang was the sixth son; by age, he should address Xiao Fengjin as his second elder brother.

The Prince of Jin's mother was Consort Wei, from the Wei family, which was second only to the Jiang family.

During the previous emperor's reign, the Jiang and Wei families were evenly matched rivals.

At that time, Emperor Yonghe, then still a prince, was born to a low-ranking consort. He wanted to compete for the position of Crown Prince but lacked support. Thus, he formally recognized the then Empress, later Empress Dowager Jiang, as his mother.

The Empress Dowager had no sons of her own, and the Jiang family, aiming to back the winning prince, found their interests aligned perfectly with Emperor Yonghe's.

Emperor Yonghe acknowledged Empress Dowager Jiang as his mother and married a daughter of the Jiang family. Upon his ascension, the Jiang family soared to prominence, soundly eclipsing the Wei family.

To counterbalance Chancellor Jiang and his faction, Emperor Yonghe brought the Prince of Jin, backed by the Wei family, into court. To keep both the Prince of Jin and the aristocratic families in check, he established Xiao Yunlang as Crown Prince.

The aristocratic families criticized Xiao Yunlang for flouting ritual and law, but it was the Prince of Jin who was truly without scruples and utterly treasonous.

He contributed nothing to the grand affairs of state and cared not for them, yet he was a master of infighting and intrigue.

Historical records condemned him as "recklessly treacherous, undermining the state's foundation," denouncing him point-blank as a traitor with increasingly severe terms.

Because Xiao Fengjin—

He had committed treason. He had colluded with the enemy.

This was exactly why Jiang Yanzhou particularly detested him.

Since ancient times, treason has been a disgrace nailed into the annals of history, eternally infamous and universally despised.

If you, as a member of the imperial family, contend for power, you should settle it behind closed doors. What kind of madness is it to invite foreign enemies to ravage the nation's rivers and mountains?

Everyone under heaven would scorn it.

Records related to the Prince of Jin were not extensive, primarily focusing on his treason. Later generations boldly speculated that the Prince of Jin might have been unhinged.

Seeing the dangerous smile on the Prince of Jin's lips now, Jiang Yanzhou felt this man might indeed be a bit mad.

Jiang Yanzhou had no desire to tangle further with the Prince of Jin and had no wish to deal with him, offering only a perfunctory acknowledgment: "Prince of Jin."

He turned to the eunuch guiding him: "Her Majesty the Empress is still waiting. Let us proceed."

Unexpectedly, the eunuch lowered his head even further, not daring to respond, merely trembling as he stood to the side.

Deliberately leading him here to encounter the Prince of Jin.

Since that was the case, there must be more to this plot.

Understanding the other party's malicious intent, Jiang Yanzhou instead became oddly calm.

He no longer looked at the eunuch, only coolly met the gaze of the Prince of Jin, waiting to see what sinister wind he intended to stir.

The Prince of Jin was accompanied by four or five palace attendants, including maids and eunuchs, two of whom were tall and strapping, appearing quite strong.

In contrast, Jiang Yanzhou stood alone, frail and delicate as a willow swaying in the wind.

If they were to resort to force, Jiang Yanzhou certainly stood no chance.

Jiang Yanzhou schooled his features. The wind brushed against the hem of his robe, fluttering like a blossom, further accentuating his ethereal, otherworldly aura. Sensing his wariness, the Prince of Jin wasn't angered but smiled wider.

How could Jiang Linque possibly have raised such an immortal? He would tear off Jiang Yanzhou's pretentious facade.

He didn't advance on him; instead, tucking his sleeves, he voluntarily took two steps back, then revealed a grin full of gleaming white teeth.

Just as Jiang Yanzhou's alarm bells rang, suddenly, the Prince of Jin leaped and plunged into the adjacent lake.

"Splash!"

The koi carp in the lake scattered in fright from the impact, water splashing high.

Witnessing the Prince of Jin throw himself into the water, Jiang Yanzhou widened his eyes in astonishment.

The maids and eunuchs on the bridge immediately cried out: "Oh no! His Highness the Prince of Jin has fallen into the water!"

They shouted loudly, but their faces showed no panic; their performance was rather unconvincing.

One eunuch jumped into the water, making a show of rescuing the Prince of Jin, but Jiang Yanzhou saw clearly: the Prince of Jin could swim. He had only just gotten his clothes wet when he reached out toward the shore.

In a flash of insight, Jiang Yanzhou instantly understood the day's trap—a frame job!

The Prince of Jin never intended to harm him.

All the palace attendants present were the Prince of Jin's people; they would say whatever he told them. So, how did the Prince of Jin fall into the water?

It couldn't be that he jumped in himself; then it could only be... Jiang Yanzhou pushed him.

Within the imperial palace, plotting against a prince was a crime punishable by death.

Even if the Emperor could not move against Jiang Yanzhou now and would let it slide publicly, he could certainly note it down and settle the score later when the time was ripe.

Now he understood the Prince's scheme. His astonishment gradually faded. Over the servants' shouts, he remained exceptionally calm, tilting his head slightly as he silently watched the Prince of Jin's performance.

Emerging from the water, this was the gaze the Prince of Jin met.

Honestly, it seemed strangely innocent and pure; the Second Young Master Jiang's eyes were clearer than the lake water itself.

But why such a reaction?

Shouldn't he be panicked and flustered? At the very least, anger would be expected. Why was he quietly observing, as if appreciating some actor's performance?

The Prince of Jin was displeased, but he kept smiling. Wiping the water from his face, he leaned close to Jiang Yanzhou and announced in a loud voice: "I was minding my own business feeding the fish on the corridor bridge. Why did the Crown Princess push me into the water?"

He lazily spread his hands, gesturing toward the palace attendants beside him: "See, look at these soaked clothes. Fortunately, I am blessed with great fortune and a strong fate. You all witnessed it."

"Yes," a nearby palace attendant promptly chimed in with a shrill voice, "the Crown Princess suddenly struck out. We didn't react in time. Thankfully, Your Highness is safe and sound!"

As they performed their lively drama, Jiang Yanzhou's snow-white cheeks grew somewhat cold from the wind. He continued to watch silently, not uttering a word.

After finishing his act, the Prince of Jin flicked his sleeve: "I shall immediately seek justice before His Majesty the Emperor—Crown Princess, do you have anything to say?"

Jiang Yanzhou finally gave a slight reaction.

He raised his hand, indicating for the Prince of Jin to look. His fingers were long and slender as jade, delicate, and the exposed wrist was as white as porcelain—beautiful, fragile.

"I am an invalid," Jiang Yanzhou said slowly, "where would I find the strength to push you?"

The Prince of Jin thought it was laughable. "I was standing right at the water's edge—how much force does it take to push someone? Even a three-year-old could do it."

Jiang Yanzhou lowered his lashes, pursed his lips, finally appearing a bit at a loss. The fingers holding his wrist trembled slightly. "But I was far away from you."

Seeing Jiang Yanzhou finally show a hint of fear, Prince of Jin felt a wave of satisfaction and puffed up even more arrogantly. "Hahaha, Second Young Master Jiang, let's get one thing clear—who's in charge here today? If I say you pushed me, then you pushed me. If I say you were close, then you were close!"

As he spoke, he swaggered triumphantly, closing in on Jiang Yanzhou until he was right before him. A chill, carried from the water by the wind, brushed past Jiang Yanzhou's temples. Prince of Jin narrowed his eyes. "Understand?"

Jiang Yanzhou's trembling fingers suddenly stilled. He slowly lifted his gaze to meet the Prince of Jin, now mere inches away. "I didn't push you."

Jiang Yanzhou continued, "This... is me really pushing you."

Before Prince of Jin could react, he felt a heavy weight against his chest, and then the world spun around him!

A loud splash erupted as Jiang Yanzhou grabbed Prince of Jin by the collar, yanking him forward and dragging him down, and both of them plunged into the water together!

This time, it truly caught everyone off guard. The palace servants stood frozen for a moment before letting out genuine, panicked shrieks.

"Your Highness! Quick, save His Highness!"

Jiang Yanzhou's strength was indeed no match for Prince of Jin's, but he was still a young man of eighteen. At such close range, even just his weight was enough to force Prince of Jin under the water.

As the Crown Prince's Consort, he could not afford to be charged with harming an imperial prince. He couldn't let this matter remain ambiguous, giving them a chance to drag the Crown Prince's household into it.

The lake water instantly engulfed Jiang Yanzhou. The chill from the recently thawed ice seeped into his bones, the cold rapidly spreading through his limbs. His jet-black hair, soaked and soft, clung to his cheeks. He choked on water with every breath, the misery overwhelming.

But Jiang Yanzhou, from somewhere deep within, mustered a surge of strength. He clung tightly to Prince of Jin's neck, dragging him deeper into the water.

Prince of Jin thrashed and struggled. "Let... cough... let go! You damned—"

Even the most skilled swimmer fears being dragged underwater. The eunuchs quickly jumped into the water, trying to pry Jiang Yanzhou's hands loose, but for a moment, they couldn't budge them.

Despite his frail constitution, Jiang Yanzhou displayed a startlingly fierce determination in his grip, a stubbornness that was unnerving.

The eunuchs were terrified—was this man trying to get himself killed?

Jiang Yanzhou had initially intended only to soak himself to clear his name. But the moment he successfully dragged Prince of Jin into the water, a sudden thought flashed through his mind:

What if he drowned Prince of Jin right here?

If he could eliminate Prince of Jin here, it would be a tremendous benefit for both Xiao Yunlang and the people of Daqi.

Prince of Jin had delivered himself right to his doorstep. Taking him down with me wouldn't be a loss.

Jiang Yanzhou had never in his life felt capable of accomplishing anything truly significant. But if he could rid the world of a scourge, if a few people might remember him for it... then perhaps...

His time in this world might finally leave a trace, imbuing his existence with some meaning as a human being?

Jiang Yanzhou's vision grew increasingly blurred, his consciousness gradually scattering.

Black and white light and the undulating water intertwined. The strength in his hands grew weaker and weaker. Just as he was on the verge of suffocating and losing consciousness, a bright light suddenly pierced his vision, and a great gulp of fresh air rushed eagerly into his lungs.

Jiang Yanzhou: "Cough, cough, cough, cough!"

He coughed up water violently, his ears ringing. It took a while for his vision to clear, and he found himself slumped on the ground, propped up weakly by his hands.

The eunuchs had rescued both him and Prince of Jin, bringing them ashore.

Jiang Yanzhou had wanted to drag Prince of Jin to their deaths together, but Prince of Jin didn't dare actually kill him at this moment.

Jiang Yanzhou coughed so hard his shoulders shook uncontrollably. Between coughs, he stared blankly at the puddle of water on the ground, still not fully recovered: So, he hadn't died...

Over there, Prince of Jin had already regained his composure, cursing with lingering fear. "You lunatic!"

The color had completely drained from Jiang Yanzhou's face. He was shivering uncontrollably from the cold, his hands too weak to support his body. The intricate court robes, soaked through, clung to him. He trembled as if on the verge of fainting at any moment.

Yet, he lifted his head and, in his dazed state, actually offered Prince of Jin a faint, gentle smile.

His face was deathly pale, fragile as if about to shatter. His eyes were moist, soft, and misty. That smile was breathtakingly beautiful, enough to stir pity in anyone's heart.

But Prince of Jin felt a bone-chilling cold from that smile.

—Jiang Yanzhou was expressing regret.

Prince of Jin's rage was doused as if by a basin of midwinter ice and snow, leaving him utterly chilled to the core.

His lips quivered for a long moment before he finally gritted out through clenched teeth:

"...Lunatic."

*

Xiao Yunlang was speaking with the Emperor in the Minghui Hall, his expression one of clear impatience.

Once Jiang Yanzhou had left, regardless of whether the Emperor offered him a seat, Xiao Yunlang simply sat down boldly and imposingly to the side. The Emperor, long accustomed to his rudeness, endured it and tapped on a few memorials.

"These past few days, there have been more memorials urging you to move back into the palace. I've rejected them all."

Xiao Yunlang showed not a shred of gratitude. "Isn't that what you should do?" He summoned a eunuch to serve tea himself, his tone firm and resounding. "Wherever I am, that place is the Eastern Palace."

This wasn't an empty boast; it was a fact.

Why did the Emperor allow him to live outside the palace? Because the palace was fraught with hidden dangers and treachery.

When Empress Dowager Jiang was alive, she firmly controlled the inner court. Everyone in the palace obeyed her commands. In the late Emperor's final years, his health never improved, and the Empress Dowager had played her part diligently in that.

After Empress Dowager Jiang passed away, she left Empress Jiang with many capable personnel. In his early years, Emperor Yonghe had found living in the palace utterly unsettling.

He had spent considerable time and effort reorganizing the inner court, placing his own people in key positions, barely managing to carve out a relatively safe space.

But it was impossible to cover everything. Hidden arrows still lurked everywhere in the palace. Empress Jiang and Consort Wei were both formidable figures. If Xiao Yunlang dared to move into the Eastern Palace within the palace walls, he'd likely meet his end without knowing how.

Living outside the palace, his household guards were his own men, and he could select servants with clean backgrounds. He could fortify his residence into an impregnable stronghold.

The conversion of the Prince's residence into the Crown Prince's residence had the Emperor's approval.

And now, was the Emperor trying to use this as a favor?

Xiao Yunlang took a disdainful sip of the tea from the Minghui Hall. "Speak plainly. You're keeping me here because you're afraid that after this marriage, I might truly form an alliance with the Jiang family."

The Emperor remained silent.

That was indeed his concern.

The Crown Prince could only be his weapon, not a tool for the powerful families.

What if they really joined forces?

Xiao Yunlang sneered coldly. "You know perfectly well it's impossible. I was the one who proposed establishing the Grand Secretariat. Jiang Linque would love to skin me alive. There's absolutely no room for reconciliation between us. Isn't that exactly what you wanted?"

Xiao Yunlang, this living target, was incredibly useful.

He finished, and impatiently set the teacup down with a crisp clink on the wooden table. "If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."

The emperor, having bitten back his response for a moment, also sneered, "Even if you go to the empress's palace now, they'll find a way to send you away. What's the rush?"

"Why should I let them have a proper conversation?" Xiao Yunlang made no attempt to hide his arrogance. "The less the Jiang family talks, the better for me."

Before Xiao Yunlang could move, a eunuch hurried in from outside, his face beet-red from panic.

Xiao Yunlang frowned. What could be so urgent?

The eunuch knelt with a thud, not daring to breathe too loudly, his sharp voice ringing out, "Your Majesty, disaster! Something has happened at Qionghua Terrace!"

"The Crown Princess and the Prince of Jin—they've fallen into the water!"