Chapter 99: CH 90

This operation technically didn’t count as directly harming Xuan Qiong. Either way, Yu She was currently in charge of the Cabinet. Even if others wanted to investigate after everything, Yu She would be there to take the blame. Senior Cabinet Official Sun wasn’t worried about avoiding responsibility. He nodded and agreed.

Yu She thought about it, then summoned his own subordinate. He secretly ordered a palace servant to find a way to send Tang Qin, the old thing, a message. 

The Court was working hard on Xuan Qiong’s behalf. The imperial harem couldn’t remain idle either.

Xuan Qiong had been under house arrest for quite long. Yu She didn’t believe that his cheap aunt wasn’t agitated.

Three days later, as if by plan, Imperial Consort Yu of the imperial harem, Xuan Qiong’s allies in the Imperial Censorate, and Yu She and Zhong Wan’s people in the Court all acted together. A large number of pamphlets got sent to the Cabinet.

The senior cabinet officials sighed in relief. This couldn’t be considered them siding with a certain prince anymore. So many people were also begging for mercy on Xuan Qiong’s behalf. The uproar was endless; it couldn’t be ignored. The senior cabinet officials organized the old and new pamphlets and sent them to the emperor together. 

“Can what he’s doing be considered reflecting on his mistakes?!!”

Emperor Chongan looked furious. He swept the small mountain of booklets off of his desk. “I was just worried that he didn’t have a brain and would thus get tempted by his foolish mother and used by his uncle. Previously, I didn’t believe that he did all those things, which is why I only put him under house arrest in the palace. And I also told my trusted palace subordinates of many years to keep an eye on him! My biggest fear was that he would try to right his wrong with another mistake, stepping deeper into the mud. In the future, I wouldn’t even be able to protect him if I wanted to. This kid…” He coughed.

Emperor Chongan started a coughing fit. He rested one hand on his desk. His chest was like a broken box bellow. It wheezed incessantly. His deathly pale face quickly became purple.

Yu She expressionlessly stood off to the side, as if he hadn’t seen anything.

The old eunuchs swarmed over. Some patted the emperor on the back while others fed him tea. After a long time, Emperor Chongan finally caught his breath.

Yu She emotionlessly stated, “Emperor, take care of your dragon body.”

Emperor Chongan stared at the numerous pamphlets, dazed. He softly said, “You blame me for always protecting Xuan Qiong, right?”

Yu She didn’t say anything. 

All of a sudden, Emperor Chongan realized something. He looked up at Yu She. Slowly he asked, “You told the senior cabinet officials to bring these pamphlets to me, right?”

Emperor Chongan hadn’t gone completely senile. In only an instant, he had seen through the little tricks involved. Yu She hadn’t expected to ruin Xuan Qiong so easily either. He generously admitted, “Yes.”

Yu She’s expression was calm. “The court officials have started passionate discussions and criticisms regarding this matter. The Cabinet naturally can’t ignore it. Publically, this is my official responsibility. Privately… I naturally don’t want him to live an easy life.”

Yu She’s words were straightforward. Because of this, Emperor Chongan didn’t get angry. 

“What predestined sins…” Emperor Chongan shook his head. “I’ve truly become old. I, too, have started becoming hesitant and overly cautious.

“Imperial Consort Yu’s only goal is for me to release Xuan Qiong. For what?” Emperor Chongan asked tiredly. “Release him so that you brothers can start killing each other?

“After all, Xuan Qiong has actually never made a mistake that’s unforgivable. I’m keeping him in the palace so that he won’t be used by anyone else. In the future…” Emperor Chongan looked at Yu She. His voice was hoarse as he said, “I can also make the decision to have you spare him, right?

“I’m the son of Heaven, but I’m also a father.” Emperor Chongan sighed heavily. “I want to keep a few more children alive too. That’s my only wish. Why can’t these people understand it?” 

Emperor Chongan’s speech was emotional, but Yu She didn’t feel touched at all.

Yu She believed that Emperor Chongan had just told the truth. He also believed that the other was leaving Xuan Qiong alive to keep him in check. The fact that the other was keeping a backup crown prince around was the truth too.

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Emperor Chongan gazed at Yu She. “Ziyou, what do you say?”

Emperor Chongan was already suspicious. Yu She didn’t drop a stone on a man who had fallen into a well. In accordance with what he and Zhong Wan had agreed on in advance, he calmly answered, “I don’t know.”

Emperor Chongan furrowed his brows. Yu She coldly stated, “I’m a major suspect in this matter too. I don’t dare to implicate others.”

“You!” Emperor Chongan’s eyebrows were knit together. “Why are you throwing a tantrum? Just now, I was only casually asking a question. If I really felt suspicious about you, would I still leave you to take care of political matters in the Cabinet?” 

Yu She stopped responding again.

Emperor Chongan burst into laughter. “Nevermind… This is your personality.”

Emperor Chongan muttered to himself, “I actually like your personality too. You wear your heart on your sleeve and won’t try to fool me with fake emotions.”

Emperor Chongan offhandedly picked up a booklet. He lowered his voice and said, “A few days ago, Prince Yu feigned inactivity, but in actuality, he made a lot of moves in secret. His plan to collude with the Imperial Astronomy Department failed, so now he’s causing such a mess. As of now, I can still take care of him. What about in the future, though?” 

Emperor Chongan observed Yu She in contemplation. He asked, “Ziyou, if you were tasked with taking care of this mess, how would you punish Prince Yu?”

A thought struck him. Yu She forced the “remove the problem at its roots” he had originally been intending to say down and remained silent.

Yu She was usually like this too. He only gave one answer every three questions, but Emperor Chongan wasn’t planning on letting him off so easily today. He continued to ask, “Ziyou, what would you do?”

Yu She’s heart skipped a few beats. Suddenly, he reached a realization. 

Emperor Chongan was hesitating about whether he should immediately take care of this problem or leave it to Yu She.

A thin sheen of cold sweat formed on Yu She’s back.

Yu She’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down slightly. He still refused to say anything.

Emperor Chongan’s expression was dark. With furrowed brows, he asked, “What bad habit is this?! I’m asking you a question!” 

Yu She kept his teeth clenched together. A while later, he directly knelt.

Emperor Chongan’s expression became completely foul. The inside of the palace grew dead silent at once. The old eunuchs made eye contact with one another and rushed to leave.

Emperor Chongan was too old. These past few years, he had grown several age spots on his face. Juxtaposed with his deathly pale facial complexion, this looked a bit terrifying. He lowered his gaze and asked, ice cold, “What? These days, you’re taking care of political matters in my stead. All the senior cabinet officials are willing to follow your orders and help you step on Xuan Qiong. With such great skill, you still don’t know how to deal with Prince Yu?”

Yu She held his breath. A moment later, he said, “When I was ten, Princess Royal took me out of the palace.” 

Emperor Chongan froze.

“Princess Royal originally intended to raise me at the Princess Estate. It was Prince Yu who said that unpolished jade is useless. He feared that the princess would spoil me, so took me back to his own estate.

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“Since then, until I became an adult, I spent the majority of my time at Prince Yu’s estate. Prince Yu was the one who taught me my morals and checked on my homework. Once, I fell ill. The person who took care of me the entire time without getting any rest of his own was also Prince Yu.”

Emperor Chongan’s expression stiffened. His tone didn’t sound so natural anymore. “That was because…” 

“I know. He treated me well with other intentions,” Yu She calmly stated. “There’s no need to say anything else about the interests involved in this matter, right?”

Emperor Chongan’s gaze sheepishly flitted back and forth. “Stop speaking.”

Yu She ignored this. He stared at Emperor Chongan. “But didn’t you also have other intentions, which is why you’ve treated me well all these years?”

Rage coursing through his veins, Emperor Chongan yelled, “How dare you!” 

Yu She calmly said, “I’m only telling the truth.”

The thing Emperor Chongan wanted to avoid the most was Yu She bringing up the matters of the past. Instantly, he lost some confidence. Displeased, he said, “Why are you bringing these matters up?”

“Emperor, you asked me how I would deal with Prince Yu,” said Yu She in a composed manner. “These are my intentions. These days, I’m already willing to let go of the past. I won’t think of what Princess Royal has done to me or what you’ve done to me. As for Prince Yu… as long as he doesn’t try to harm me again, I won’t bind myself to old history.”

Emperor Chongan was furious. “Given the way I’m treating you now, if you’re still hung up over the past and intend to hold me responsible for my previous behavior, isn’t that a waste of all my energy?!” 

Yu She scoffed in his heart. He lowered his head and stopped speaking.

Emperor Chongan was exactly like this. He arrogantly believed in Yu She’s current “submission.” He felt that between him and Yu She, blood was thicker than water. Since he had recognized Yu She as his son, Yu She ought to be thankful and grateful. Everything that had happened in the past no longer needed to be brought up.

On one hand, he wanted Yu She to treat him wholeheartedly. On the other hand, he also wanted Yu She to continue being sworn enemies with Yu Mucheng.

Almost as if this could prove that those dirty deals from back then weren’t related to him at all. 

For a long time, Emperor Chongan didn’t say anything. Yu She suddenly recalled something that he had heard from a spy, a phrase Yu Mucheng had used to describe him.

“Greedy and never satisfied.”

As of today, who was the one who was actually greedy and never satisfied?

Inside the palace, neither of them spoke again. They remained silent for a whole ten minutes. 

Emperor Chongan leaned against the back of his chair, dejected. “Nevermind. Stand up.”

Bitter laughter escaped Emperor Chongan’s lips. “Who do you actually take after in regards to your temper?”

Yu She didn’t answer. Emperor Chongan said to himself, “Nevermind. My original reason for relying heavily on you was because I liked the way you place importance on relationships… I understand. You aren’t capable of doing certain things.”

Emperor Chongan looked at Yu She. His gaze was kind, but also strangely frightening. He softly said, “The things that you can’t do, your imperial father will do for you. 

“For you and for Qiong’er.”

Yu She secretly sighed in relief. He slowly stood up straight.

Yu She knew himself well. He clearly understood that he didn’t have the power to usurp the throne or ruin Yu Mucheng by himself.

Thus, he and Zhong Wan could only borrow someone else’s power. The mantis was stalking the cicada. If he wanted to be the oriole, right now, he needed to be cautious with every step and do a few things he usually would never do. 

For example, acting out a scene of having a good father-son relationship with Yu Mucheng, like he had done just now.

“The spring light is just right…” Emperor Chongan lowly said. “I suddenly want to take a trip outside of the city.”

A few thoughts flew through Yu She’s mind. Out of caution, he didn’t say anything.

Emperor Chongan continued, “It has been a very, very long time since I’ve stayed at the temporary imperial palace.” 

Emperor Chongan chuckled with nostalgia. “Speaking of, the temporary imperial palace to the south of the capital was actually built for me by Prince Yu back then, when he was still young.

“I’m going to go live there for a few days…” The murderous glint faded away from Emperor Chongan’s eyes. He muttered, “I’m going to bring Xuan Qiong, Xuang Jing, the princesses, and… and Princess Royal Anguo. I’m going to bring my sparse relatives there with me and stay there for a while.”

Yu She tensed. Emperor Chongan wanted to leave Prince Yu in the capital—he would act in the capital, completely ending the other.

After months of planning, Emperor Chongan and Yu Mucheng were finally going to start officially acting out against each other. 

Emperor Chongan looked at Yu She. There was additional kindness in his eyes. “Good child. Rest assured, I won’t leave you to be troubled in the capital. Come with me, okay?”

Yu She fell silent for a moment before nodding. “Okay.”

Emperor Chongan nodded, pleased. He smiled dismally, “Even now, you still refuse to call me Imperial Father. And how have I treated you? I worry that you’ll be too softhearted and be at someone else’s mercy in the future. I’m towing my injured body to clear the path for you. To you, it can be said that I’ve been wholehearted and done my best, right?”

Yu She’s lips twitched. He wanted to say something, but stopped himself. 

Emperor Chongan gazed at the son that he currently relied on the most. Suddenly, a flicker of hope ignited in his heart. He moved. “What do you want to say?”

Yu She lowered his gaze. He was still hesitating. There was something really important that he needed to say, but no matter how bad he was at reading situations, even he felt that this father-son moment was a bad time.

Emperor Chongan couldn’t help rushing him, “Say it!”

Yu She was hesitant for a moment. He knelt down once more. 

Emperor Chongan’s bony fingers trembled. He gazed at Yu She with anticipation.

Yu She seriously said, “Emperor, if we’re going to a temporary imperial palace, I need to bring Zhong Wan.”

Emperor Chongan was rendered speechless.

Yu She also realized that he was very disappointing, but he had to say what needed to be said. “Emperor, you know too that he can’t be without me. Who knows how long this trip will last? I fear that Guiyuan will fall ill because of longing. He’s already in poor health. If something else happens to him because he misses me, I’ll really…” 

Very impatiently, Emperor Chongan said, “Okay, okay, I know. Bring him!”

Yu She kowtowed. “Thank you for your grace, Master.”

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