Chapter 75

Chapter 75

Back then, during the Battle of Zhuoyang, the man who stole the battle map and troop movement plan was named Han Yong. He had been in the Flying Cavalry Camp for eight years and, as his name suggested, was brave and skilled in combat.

Chen Yingchou had always believed in trusting those he employed and never doubting them. Before stealing the map, Han Yong had shown no abnormal behavior, so Chen Yingchou had been caught off guard.

After returning from the battlefield, he sent people to investigate Han Yong, but Han Yong’s wife and child had disappeared without a trace, and after searching for a long time, they were nowhere to be found. Chen Yingchou never understood why, given how generously he had treated Han Yong, the man would betray him.

Prince Rui shouted, "Shut up!" This matter was no trivial offense; assassinating Chen Yingchou was a grave crime but still offered a slim chance of survival. However, the Battle of Zhuoyang involved thousands of commoners and the stability of the empire; his father would never forgive him.

"You are spouting nonsense! You cannot produce evidence of my assassination plot, yet you utter such absurdities!"

Recalling the fallen soldiers from the Battle of Zhuoyang, Chen Yingchou controlled his anger and walked over to Prince Jing. "Speak clearly!"

Prince Jing stood up, his face calm, as if he had long prepared himself for death. "The man who stole the troop movement and battle maps was indeed named Han Yong. Prince Rui threatened him with his wife and child's lives, forcing Han Yong to steal the maps that very night and hand them over to the Rong Kingdom general. His goal was to make sure you never returned from the battlefield."

No wonder Han Yong had shown no unusual behavior before—it all happened within a single night.

Prince Rui shouted, "Evidence! Produce the evidence!"

Prince Jing gave a bitter smile. "Second Brother, you know I am nothing but your dog, living by wagging my tail for mercy. Someone like me—how else could I survive except by following you? I was utterly loyal to you, so why would I leave any evidence?"

Prince Rui’s heart trembled. This younger brother had followed him since childhood, like his shadow, more like his punching bag, enduring his beatings and scoldings without ever resisting, as if born solely for his existence.

And he had never truly looked at him, despising his birth and his stupidity. He would reward him with small favors when pleased and scold him when displeased, treating him worse than a dog at times.

He had never considered that Prince Jing was his own flesh and blood, his brother, a human being with blood, flesh, joy, and sorrow.

How ridiculous—for the first time, he felt both anger and pain over a dog.

"Since there is no evidence, this is slander!"

Prince Rui continued, "Father, Prince Jing has long harbored resentment against me. He tried to sow discord between me and Ninth Brother. I know nothing of what happened during the Battle of Zhuoyang. As for the assassination of Ninth Brother, it was orchestrated by Prince Jing himself. We have a witness here, so Prince Jing cannot deny it."

"There is no evidence for the Battle of Zhuoyang, but for the assassination of Ninth Brother, I have proof!"

A voice came from the entrance of the council hall. Everyone turned to see a young eunuch pushing a wheelchair slowly toward the center of the hall. Sitting in the wheelchair was Prince Kang.

The wheelchair stopped, and Prince Kang said, "Father, I am willing to testify. The assassination of Ninth Brother was ordered by Second Brother and carried out by Seventh Brother."

Prince Kang never participated in political affairs and rarely associated with court officials or other princes. If anyone had a slightly closer relationship with him, it was Prince Rui, who occasionally sent gifts like ginseng and deer antlers.

If Prince Jing’s lone testimony was insufficient, adding Prince Kang made Prince Rui’s suspicion much greater.

But everyone was puzzled: why would Prince Kang help Prince Yu?

Chen Yingchou was also confused and looked at Prince Kang.

Prince Kang nodded at him, signaling him not to worry, and said to the emperor, "Father, Second Brother was arrogant. In my presence and Seventh Brother’s, he personally said he wanted to eliminate Ninth Brother."

Prince Rui shook his head, his face full of disbelief. "When did you hear that?"

Prince Kang smiled faintly. "I said I heard it, so I did."

Prince Rui fell to his knees. "Father, I am wronged!"

The emperor had long grown impatient. "Enough! Strip Prince Rui and Prince Jing of their titles and banish them as commoners, never to enter the capital again. Court dismissed."

"Father, I am wronged! Father..."

"Your Majesty!"

Amid Prince Rui’s repeated pleas for mercy, an elderly voice rang out. The emperor stopped and turned around.

Grand Tutor Zheng Yao knelt slowly. "Your Majesty, I have something to say. Since my daughter married into Prince Rui’s household, she has spent every day in tears. She knew nothing of Prince Rui’s actions. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy and allow my daughter to divorce Prince Rui."

According to the dynasty’s rules, when a prince was banished from the capital, his princess consort had to follow. He would never see his beloved daughter again in this lifetime—how could he not be anxious?

Upon hearing the Grand Tutor’s words, Prince Jing immediately said, "Father, I dare to beg you: also allow me to divorce Princess Jing. I have lived twenty-two years in humiliation. Only after marrying Princess Jing did I feel life had some meaning. I only ask for death in exchange for her freedom."

Being reduced to a commoner was no different from a death sentence—merely a longer period of suffering. Death was better, why endure further torment?

No one in this world had ever treated him sincerely. Even his princess had not married him out of love, but through daily life together, she had shown him a trace of warmth. That scant warmth was enough for him to trade his life for her freedom.

Chen Yingchou felt a pang of compassion. "Father, the women are innocent. Please grant the Grand Tutor’s and Seventh Brother’s requests."

The emperor waved his hand. "Old Nine, you handle it."

Grand Tutor: "I thank Your Majesty for your boundless grace."

Prince Jing: "I thank Your Majesty for your boundless grace."

Seeing the emperor about to leave, Prince Rui shouted, "Father, I am wronged! Father, don’t go! I am wronged!"

The emperor glanced back at him with displeasure.

The eunuch beside him called out loudly, "Drag them away!"

Soon, armored soldiers of the Yulin Army dragged Prince Rui and Prince Jing away. Prince Rui wailed and struggled, still shouting threats. Prince Jing was unusually quiet. He glanced calmly at everything in the Zichen Hall, then closed his eyes, letting the soldiers drag him off.

The eunuch on the steps, seeing the emperor had left the hall, announced loudly, "Court dismissed—"

The crowd slowly filed out of the hall. The Grand Tutor bowed to Chen Yingchou. "I thank the prince for pleading on my behalf."

"Grand Tutor, there’s no need for formalities."

The Grand Tutor left, and Chen Yingchou approached Prince Kang. "Thank you for testifying today, Sixth Brother. But I don’t understand—why did you..."

Prince Kang smiled. "Ninth Brother’s sight is restored; you will surely be a wise ruler. My life will soon end. I only ask that Ninth Brother treat my mother with kindness in the future."

So that was it. Over all these years, he had neither refused Prince Rui’s gifts nor deliberately gotten close to anyone. He had offended no one and fawned over no one—he had been biding his time, wanting only the new emperor’s kindness toward his mother.

"Rest assured, Sixth Brother. By the way, Divine Doctor Bai is still at my residence. Another day, I’ll have him take your pulse."

"No need. Thank you for your kindness, brother, but I know my own body. No need to trouble yourself."

Indeed, unlike Chen Yingchou, Prince Kang’s body was riddled with ailments. No amount of treatment could extend his life by much.

Perhaps he was already tired of suffering and longed to leave soon.

"Alright, as you wish. Then another day I’ll visit your residence for a cup of tea."

Prince Kang nodded. "You are welcome anytime."

*

After the morning court session, Chen Yingchou rushed straight to the Duke’s mansion. Unexpectedly, Wei Yalan refused to see him, saying she did not want to meet him.

"Your Highness, my daughter is throwing a tantrum. It would be best for you to come pick her up in a couple of days," Wei Chun advised outside Wei Yalan’s room. "She fell into the water and was frightened. Last night, she had a nightmare, ran out of her room, slipped, and hit her head. After waking, she can’t remember many things. Also, the water damaged her throat, so she cannot speak for the next few days."

Chen Yingchou’s breath caught. "What do you mean? Are you saying Lan’er has lost her memory? What has she forgotten?"

Looking at Chen Yingchou's anxious eyes, Wei Chun felt a hint of smug satisfaction. "After you and the princess married, Lan'er has forgotten everything that happened."

Chen Yingchou's face turned ashen. His legs went weak, and he couldn't help but step back. "Forgotten?"

No wonder the look Lan'er gave him just now was so unfamiliar, and she even kicked him out. Why did heaven treat him like this?

"Even if she has forgotten the past with me, Lan'er is still my princess. I must take her away today!"

Wei Chun quickly said, "You cannot! If you go in now, you'll frighten Lan'er. Please give me a few days, let me and my wife console her properly."

Chen Yingchou's eyes reddened with desperation. He grabbed Wei Chun by the collar. "Wei Chun, you'd better not play any tricks!"

The usually composed and restrained Prince Yu actually grabbed his father-in-law's collar in public. It was clear he was completely flustered and distraught.

But Wei Chun remained completely unbothered. He calmly looked at Chen Yingchou. "Lan'er is my own daughter. What are you trying to do? Don't tell me you think I would use my own daughter for something."

Even if Jiang Mo hadn't said anything, Wei Chun could predict that Prince Yu, being cautious, must have discovered Jiang Mo's sneaking a look at the roster. Then he must have guessed Wei Chun's intention of rebellion, only lacking evidence to do anything about it.

Thinking of the roster, Wei Chun was furious. He handed it over to An Shengwu's people that very night, and this morning came the news that the names on the roster didn't exist—it was a fake.

Truly a case of going for wool and coming home shorn.

But Chen Yingchou didn't make a fuss over the stolen roster, presumably because he couldn't bear to punish Jiang Mo.

Chen Yingchou understood his implication. He released Wei Chun's collar and fixed a cold, sharp gaze on him. "I'll make this clear today. Lan'er is the love of my life. No matter what happens in the future, I will protect her with my very life. Whether you stop or keep going, it won't drag Lan'er into it. For her sake, as long as you change your ways in time, I'll spare your life. Otherwise, even if it breaks Lan'er's heart, I won't spare you."

They say those without desires are invincible, but Wei Chun knew that Prince Yu was no longer the Ninth Prince who only cared about court affairs and military matters.

Ah, people just can't have a weak spot. Once there is a fatal softness in the heart, it gives others an opportunity to hurt him. Wei Chun knew that feeling all too well.

"Rest assured, Your Highness. As long as you treat Lan'er well and don't mind her amnesia, I will certainly not let your kind intentions go to waste."

Wei Chun could spout half-truths and half-lies effortlessly.

After all, he was already a reed swaying in the wind; whichever way the wind blew, he would lean.

Chen Yingchou reluctantly glanced at Wei Yalan's door. "Fine. Three days it is. Not a single day more."

Seeing him leave, Liu Yingrong, who had been hiding behind the door, opened it. "Husband, I didn't expect Prince Yu to be so deeply in love with that girl Jiang Mo. If you anger him, what then?"

Wei Chun sneered. "Precisely because his feelings are so deep, we should delay their meeting. Prince Yu hasn't spoken a single word to Lan'er since regaining his sight. He must be gnawing at his heart with longing. So we must not let him see her easily. Only when the process is more difficult will he cherish her more and be more tolerant of Lan'er."