Chapter 356: Shifting the Disaster Eastward

The Crown Prince returned to the Eastern Palace very late.

He was exhausted and dejected.

The Prince observed him silently for a while. Seeing that he had no intention of explaining himself, he grew impatient.

“Qihuan? Won’t you tell your father about it?”

“Let’s wait until you’ve recovered! I’ve taken care of everything at home.”

Li Qihuan had unleashed a bloodbath in the Eastern Palace. Everyone involved in that matter, or even suspected of being involved, was dead. He had also instructed Fifteen to deal with the Crown Princess. She didn’t die, but she was left in a state of dementia. She would never understand anything again.

Then, he locked Xue Ying in the same place with the Crown Princess, ordering her to “accompany and care for her, fulfilling her filial duty properly!”

He had given the order without hesitation, but after it was done, he felt a sense of sorrow. The Eastern Palace was still just a facade, nothing had been achieved yet, and his own family had become like this…

How could he tell his father about this?

“Since it’s our family matter, I have to know something about it!”

Li Qihuan still refused: “Your most important task is to rest. If what I tell you upsets you, wouldn’t these past few days be wasted?”

The Prince smiled: “How can I rest with worries on my mind? Besides, she is your mother after all, different from others.”

“Father…” Li Qihuan looked at the Prince sadly.

The Prince patted his arm: “After you left, I thought about it too. These past few years, your mother has indeed changed… Although you concealed everything from me, the change in your tone, attitude, and actions, although subtle, was noticeable. But the two of you are the closest people to me, how could I not feel it, not know?

It’s just… Son, there is no perfect person in this world. Demanding too much from others is unfair to them and painful for oneself. Especially your mother, what she has endured with me is far more than other consorts. Especially, she gave birth to you… You don’t know how grateful I am. Even if she makes a huge mistake, I will show her leniency.”

“Father, I have already shown her leniency on your behalf. She will have a comfortable life, someone to care for her, peace of mind, unaware of joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness. She will surely live a long life!”

“Li Qihuan!” The Prince understood, his heart ached…

“Father…” Li Qihuan suddenly knelt down: “Father! Before, I always had a knot in my heart! The Emperor, clearly knowing that your health is failing, insisted on making you the Crown Prince. He openly said it was because he loved you, valued you, and felt extra heartache for you because you shielded him from harm. But secretly, it was because making you the Crown Prince served his interests best.

You are dragging your sick body… to be his shield! After all these years, I finally grew up, able to help you. But then he started to be wary… He has played us with his power several times!

So, I was determined! Since he acted this way, I would show him what I could achieve!”

“But… I haven’t been happy these past two years. That day, seeing you like that, I almost couldn’t control myself, I wanted to kill! Even, to kill my mother and the Emperor…”

The Prince was startled. Although he knew there was no one around, he still quickly glanced around.

“Father, now, you’ve recovered. I suddenly understand: even if I could win this fight, what then? The entire world is not as important as a single hair on your head. I just want to simply stay with you, do nothing, just be with you. I’m also afraid that if I continue down this path, there might be a day when I only see that throne in my eyes…”

After listening, the Prince remained silent for a long time.

✿✿✿

On the fourth day of the New Year, Song Shang sent a letter to Wen Yu, asking her to come over when she was free.

Originally, an old colleague of Marquis Qi and his family were coming to visit, and everyone was supposed to wait at home. Wen Yu discussed with Qi Wu: “Cousin has urgent business with me, why don’t you stay home, I’ll go myself!”

How could Qi Wu agree? He didn’t argue, but silently followed behind.

Wen Yu couldn’t do anything about it and let him follow.

Madam Song’s face was a bit pale. When she saw Wen Yu, she pulled her aside and whispered: “I feel uneasy. Your cousin’s attitude towards Han Bao’er is strange. I asked him about it, but he wouldn’t tell me anything, just told me not to worry. Ah Yu, could you ask your cousin for me?”

Wen Yu patted her hand: “Aunt, don’t you trust Cousin to handle things? He has his reasons for whatever attitude he has. And honestly, Song Chihan’s character does need to change. It might seem amusing to see a little girl act like that. But when she grows up, it won’t do! Think about it, when I was little at the Song Family Estate, I was climbing walls and swimming in rivers. If I were still like that now, my mother-in-law wouldn’t approve!”

Madam Song laughed heartily.

Wen Yu continued: “If she doesn’t straighten up now, her character will be set, and it will be too late to change. What then? Do you want her to stay at home and wait for a man to marry into the family?”

Madam Song shook her head: “That won’t do! She will have a younger brother in the future!”

“Exactly! If she keeps acting like this, which family would choose her as their daughter-in-law? Even if they marry her for Cousin’s sake, who would tolerate her behavior? It would be too late to change then, and she would only suffer and be wronged.”

Madam Song sighed: “Ah Yu, I spoiled her.”

“That’s not entirely true! Which grandmother doesn’t dote on their granddaughter! But now, she really needs to start learning the rules.”

“You’re right. If it were just this reason, it wouldn’t be so bad, but your cousin’s attitude…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll ask. By the way, where is Cousin Tao? I haven’t seen him.”

“Oh, your cousin said he had something to do and went out!” The Song family was always busy, so Madam Song didn’t find it unusual.

✿✿✿

After a while, Song Shang invited Qi Wu and Wen Yu to his study.

Wen Yu asked: “Is it about Song Tao?”

Song Shang smiled wryly: “Not just that. This New Year has been quite interesting! Xu Er tried to get Madam Xu drunk, but I told her to play along. Then Xu Er stole the key, opened the storehouse, and went inside with Song Tao. Before they could come out, I locked them in. It’s been almost two days…”

Wen Yu chuckled: “That’s truly catching a turtle in a jar! Two days! It’s so cold, they didn’t freeze to death inside, did they?”

“They didn’t die, but there’s nothing inside, so it’s not easy for them.”

“He was the one following us when we picked up the medicine that day, wasn’t he?”

“Yes, otherwise, how could he open the storehouse? His residence in the mansion was searched, it’s clean. The guards caught a few people, but some escaped. However, those who escaped usually run away. We checked the outer residence… Look!”

He pointed to several packages on the table, “He had quite a few things prepared, including sleeping drugs and poison…”

Wen Yu shook her head: “Crazy! But, if his people escaped, they would have informed the mastermind, wouldn’t they? Then we won’t be able to catch the person behind this… We should have tortured Song Tao directly, keeping him locked up for two days is a waste of time.”

Song Shang glanced at Qi Wu, amused. This girl spoke of torture so casually… She wasn’t afraid her husband would mind. But he noticed that Qi Wu’s perpetually stoic face showed no reaction.

“He may not even know the mastermind. He followed us for a while, taking many twists and turns.”

“So when are you planning to let him out? We need to see what he’s trying to frame you for, and where he’s planning to strike next!”

“Tomorrow, let’s keep him locked up for three days.”

“Oh, tomorrow we’re going to the Princess’s residence as guests… How about tomorrow afternoon? I want to see!”

Song Shang gave in: “Fine. I’ll open the door when you come.”

“Be careful, don’t let the mastermind rescue him!”

“Don’t worry! Also… Wei Zhikuan has arrived in the capital and has been instigating Song Chihan.” He pointed to a small package, “He prepared something for her too.”

Wen Yu was exasperated: “It’s all the fault of power and money! You figure out how to tell Aunt, she’s worried.”

Qi Wu and Wen Yu came out. Qi Wu looked at Wen Yu and asked: “Ah Yu, why did Song Shang tell you all this? Family scandals shouldn’t be aired publicly, why did he tell you everything? Also, who is trying to harm him? Why are you and your cousin so close?”

Wen Yu thought, oh no! Her way of communicating with Song Shang had become a habit. Previously, Qi Wu was rarely present. How could she explain this?

Qi Wu continued to ponder: “Also, have you settled the money for opening the shops, the shares, everything? Did you calculate the accounts at the end of the year? You two…”

Wen Yu’s heart was pounding, she still hadn’t figured out what to say…

“Also, why do you seem to resent Song Tao? And Song Chihan, I’ve never heard you mention her before. You’re so good to Yuanyuan and Bao’er, why is that?”

Wen Yu deeply regretted bringing him along… How could she explain this?

“Uh…”

Qi Wu turned serious: “Wen Yu, are you hiding something from me?!”

Wen Yu stammered: “Uh… When I was little, I often stayed at the Song family’s, and Cousin and I were like siblings.”

Qi Wu shook his head: “Even siblings don’t talk like that. My mother and uncles have a good relationship, but they don’t talk like you two just did…”

Wen Yu realized things were going south, he was “using his brain” now. If this stubborn man got fixated on something, she would be in trouble.

Her eyes darted around, and an idea came to her: “Actually, it’s like this… Um… Back then, Song Tao… seemed to have taken a liking to me.”

“What?!” Qi Wu stopped “thinking” abruptly.

There’s an opening! Wen Yu smirked inwardly: “He would always come to me for no reason, trying to help me and Zhuzhu when we were working in the garden. He would even wait for me on the road, talking about this and that. He’s a concubine’s son, his status in the family isn’t high, maybe he wanted to marry me and climb up the social ladder through the Wen family. But how could I possibly agree!”

Wen Yu looked at Qi Wu’s darkened face, “Then, I told Fifth Cousin. Fifth Cousin went to deal with him. He lost face and probably resents me, and Cousin too. I occasionally noticed that he was plotting against Cousin. So…”

Qi Wu was furious: A concubine’s son! How dare he have designs on my woman!

Very well… It seems I really need to go there tomorrow!