By the time Ying Shenchu hurried into the other side hall with his younger brother in his arms, Ying Chengqi had already had both hands bound behind his back by imperial guards and was being forced to kneel on the floor.
The Emperor was enraged. Holding the Sword of Imperial Authority, he pointed it at his son on the floor and cursed,
“Rebellious son! Evil wretch! You dare attempt matricide? Heartless little beast, ungrateful wolf cub that can never be tamed—are you trying to anger Us to death?!”
Yelü Zhenzhu’s gaze was sharp as a knife and her face was full of anger, yet her eyes still could not conceal her guilt toward this son, her cherishing, concern, and admiration.
If Northern Di’s two heirs possessed even half this son’s resolve, decisiveness, and ruthlessness, then when her hundred years were over she could die at ease, no longer fearing that the vast realm she had fought so hard to build would be lost by those who came after her.
Yet she also knew perfectly well that the child’s toughness and ruthlessness had been forged through countless narrow escapes from death, through nine years of hellish tempering. An ordinary person would have died countless times over.
If this child did not carry the blood of Great Ning’s imperial clan, she would have found every possible means to take him back to Northern Di and have him inherit the throne one day. Unfortunately…
The Emperor pointed his sword at his son’s neck and roared,
“Wretch! You were born to collect debts from Us! Are the skills We taught you meant for you to use against your own parents?
“Today you dare commit matricide. Tomorrow perhaps you will dare commit patricide. Rather than let a wretch like you commit such a monstrous crime and condemn yourself beyond redemption, We might as well finish you right now!”
Ying Chengqi showed not the slightest fear. His gaze only became colder, more ruthless, and more sinister. He stiffened his neck and glared at the Emperor.
The Emperor’s right hand shook violently around the sword hilt, veins standing out beneath the skin. The blade trembled like a cicada’s wings and gave off a ringing hum like a dragon’s cry.
Yelü Zhenzhu merely watched coldly. She did not ask the Emperor for leniency, deliberately intending to let her son learn a lesson. With such impatience for quick results, what great undertaking could he ever accomplish?
Ying Changle stared dumbly. Once he recovered, he became frantic and began crying and shouting incoherently,
“Sob, don’t kill Aqi! No! Sob, sob, Brother, Mother, Father, hurry and save Aqi! Aunt Zhenzhu—Mother, hurry and save Aqi…”
Ying Shenchu hurried over with his younger brother in his arms, knelt beside Ying Chengqi, and kowtowed as he pleaded,
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This subject boldly asks permission to say a few words on behalf of the Nineteenth Prince. The Nineteenth Prince is indeed stubborn, but his nature is pure and good!
“If he truly harbored intentions of rebellion and disobedience, why would he not conceal his edge, pretend loyalty and filial devotion, quietly accumulate strength, and wait for the proper moment?
“The Nineteenth Prince has simply suffered too much injustice, yet does not know how to disguise himself or endure in silence. He has no scheming heart, no deep political calculations, and none of an adult’s greed for profit or status. He possesses only the sincere heart of a child.
“Even if his actions were extreme, he was only begging Your Majesty and Khan Yelü to show him a little more care. He has nothing with which to test his parents’ love except his own life, so his own life was the only stake he could place…”
Even the Emperor, whose heart was hard as iron, was somewhat moved by Ying Shenchu’s words.
The current Emperor had once been the very prince whom the late Emperor guarded against and suppressed at every turn. He had never received the slightest parental affection. His father had controlled and oppressed him, while his mother consort had died of illness not long after giving birth to him.
The difference was that although the late Emperor feared and suppressed him, he had never deliberately tortured him. He had merely been cold and distant. The Emperor had always endured in silence, honored the late Emperor, maintained harmony with his brothers, cultivated his conduct, and never revealed the slightest sign of disobedience.
Only when the late Emperor had become old and frail did he act after careful planning. He placed the late Emperor under house arrest, killed the Crown Prince and every opposing force, intimidated the court with iron-blooded methods, inherited the throne, and granted the late Emperor the title of Emperor Emeritus so he could spend his remaining years in comfort.
He did not consider that usurping the throne.
As the saying went, conquering a realm was easy; preserving it was hard. The Crown Prince chosen by the late Emperor had been weak and incompetent. Forget being a ruler capable of preserving what had been won—even as Crown Prince he could not suppress the founding meritorious officials. How could such a man govern a nation?
Moreover, after taking the throne, the Emperor had personally devoted himself to state affairs and treated the Emperor Emeritus with filial respect until the old man died three years later.
Now, looking at a son who resembled him far too much, how could he not guard against and fear him?! He had no desire to become some Emperor Emeritus himself!
If this little beast truly intended rebellion, he should have hidden it and endured as the Emperor had once done, not acted so wildly and insanely as though a donkey had kicked his brain.
Attempting matricide in the imperial hall and spouting such outrageous words was simply deranged self-destruction!
Without pausing much at all, Ying Shenchu recounted one example after another of Ying Chengqi’s behavior since arriving at their home—his poor way with words, his stubborn aloofness, how no amount of warmth from them seemed able to make him respond, and so on.
The Emperor had already lost patience with listening and snapped,
“Hmph! You think saying all this will absolve the wretch?! This little beast harbors such deep hatred and resentment toward his parents. If We continue indulging him, would We not be raising a tiger to bring disaster upon Ourselves?!”
Ying Shenchu drew a deep breath and asked in return,
“Your Majesty, ask your own conscience: have you treated the Nineteenth Prince fairly all these years? He is also Your Majesty’s son. The other princes may openly enjoy supreme honor, while he could only hide in darkness and never see the light, much less enjoy anything else.
“And in all these years, has Khan Yelü ever shown this child even the slightest true care? She may have felt guilt and concern, yet she has never actually done anything for him!
“If the Nineteenth Prince pretended to harbor no resentment and pretended to be endlessly grateful, would Your Majesty truly believe him?
“When resentment exists, only by venting it can one finally let it go. That is what truly moving on means.”
The Emperor was left speechless by the questions. He had to admit that if this little beast were too good at enduring and hiding himself, it would only make the Emperor even more suspicious.
Ying Changle had been badly frightened earlier. After hearing everything his brother said and seeing that the Emperor’s expression had softened considerably, he finally became less afraid. Summoning his courage, he suddenly hugged both of the Emperor’s legs and cried incoherently,
“Imperial Uncle, sob, please, don’t be mean to Aqi. Don’t…
“Aqi doesn’t know how to talk. He’s bad with words, and stubborn, and his brain doesn’t work very well. He’s just dumb-dumb, not smart like me. Please don’t argue with him, okay?”
The Emperor almost laughed from sheer exasperation: You are smart? In what way are you smart?
[Sob, sob, sob, Aqi, I know you’re really miserable. Your father and mother have treated you terribly, terribly badly. You’re especially hurt, but you don’t know how to cry or make a fuss. You only know how to stubbornly confront them like an idiot.
But you’re so stupid and so naive! Why fight them head-on? If you stubbornly challenge them out of anger, the only person who’ll die is you. They don’t even care about you!
They’re sovereigns. They have lots of children, and they have the whole realm. How could they possibly put you first?
Can’t you learn from the other princes and princesses? No matter how badly wronged you feel, you have to pretend to be filial. Make the stinky Emperor happy and you can get whatever you want!]
Emperor: …Little bastard. You have a new insult for Us now? “Stinky Emperor”? In what way do We stink?
Ying Shenchu hurriedly picked his younger brother back up. Using his sleeve to wipe away the child’s tears and runny nose, he soothed him softly,
“Ale, don’t be afraid. There, don’t cry. The Nineteenth Prince will be fine. His Majesty is magnanimous and benevolent, and dearly loves his son…”
The Emperor threw aside the Sword of Imperial Authority and sighed.
“There is no need to flatter Us. This wretch is audacious beyond measure and committed the crime of attacking his mother. He may escape death, but he cannot escape punishment. Guards! Take him to the imperial prison and keep him under strict watch!”
[Sob, sob, sob, why does he still have to go to the imperial prison??? That place isn’t fit for human beings!!!
Aqi already suffered so much before. Can’t that count against his punishment? Scumbag father, can you please stop torturing him?
Why won’t Aunt Zhenzhu say anything to help him either? I’m never going to like Aunt Zhenzhu again. I don’t care how many good things Mother says about her. She’s not good. She just isn’t!]
Emperor: Brat, so only now have you realized your Aunt Zhenzhu treats your Brother Aqi badly too? Yelü Zhenzhu is no different from Us! This little wretch is a prince of two nations. He is destined to bear more than others. That is his fate.
Ying Shenchu set his younger brother down and respectfully kowtowed.
“Since Your Majesty has entrusted the Nineteenth Prince to the Ying family to raise, this subject will presume upon that responsibility.
“This subject has unworthily taken the position of his elder brother and therefore bears responsibility for guiding and teaching him. Whether now or in the future, whenever the Nineteenth Prince commits an offense, it is this subject’s fault! I beg Your Majesty to punish me!”
Ying Shenchu understood perfectly well what calculations lay behind the Emperor sending Xiao Chengqi to be raised by the Ying family.
First, a prince sent to be raised by a minister would forever lose any possibility of inheriting the throne, preventing him from developing further ambitions.
Second, the Emperor needed a means of restraining the Ying family and intended to use the Ying family to control Xiao Chengqi. Even if Ying Shenchu did not ask for punishment, any act of rebellion or insubordination committed by Xiao Chengqi could be blamed on Ying family instigation, dragging the entire family into collective guilt.
[Sob, sob, sob, Brother, what are you saying? Father and Mother already have enough trouble trying to save Aqi. At least you can still help from outside. If you get punished too, Father and Mother will have to save both of you!
Why has Brother become stupid too?
Stupid Emperor, you have to distinguish right from wrong! My brother didn’t do anything wrong. You’re not allowed to punish him!
Aqi didn’t do anything wrong either. You were the ones who treated Aqi badly first. Isn’t Aqi even allowed to throw a little tantrum?
What do I do? What do I do? Sob, sob, sob, what am I supposed to do…]
Ying Changle was frantic and cried until he could barely breathe. No matter how Ying Shenchu tried to soothe him, it was useless. He only cried harder.
“Brother, I don’t want this, sob, what do we do, Brother, Aqi, sob, sob…”
Ying Shenchu was just as anxious and kept coaxing him.
“Ale, stop crying. Don’t cry and Brother will let you eat frozen cream. You are not allowed to keep crying. What if you make yourself ill from crying too hard?”
Ying Chengqi suddenly wrenched himself free of the guards’ restraint, picked up the Sword of Imperial Authority, slashed both palms deeply, then raised the blade to his own neck. He said word by word,
“Your Majesty, I alone did the deed, so I alone will bear the consequences. If innocent people must be implicated because of me, I am willing to die this instant!”
Ying Chengqi had cut far too ruthlessly. Blood immediately poured from both palms.
Thick blood streamed down and pooled on the mirror-bright marble floor, glaringly vivid.
Ying Changle froze, eyes wide, sobbing so hard he hiccupped.
The Emperor’s face remained cold, but he could not fully conceal his satisfaction.
The Ying family had now become this little wretch’s weakness. From now on, the little beast would no longer act without restraint. As long as a person had a weakness, he was easy to control.
Yelü Zhenzhu still looked angry, yet her eyes were full of gratification.
The Emperor gave a cold snort, though his tone held a trace of heartache.
“Wretch, are you threatening Us? Put down that sword! Have you never heard that one’s body, hair, and skin are received from one’s parents and must not be damaged?”
[Sob, sob, sob, scumbag father, you’re so good at pretending!
You were about to lock Aqi in the imperial prison, yet now you’re acting like you can’t bear to see him hurt?
My father once oversaw the imperial prison. I know everyone who goes in first gets a hundred initiation strokes. That alone can beat plenty of people to death!]
The Emperor sneered and asked, “In Khan Yelü’s opinion, how should this child be punished?”
Yelü Zhenzhu sighed.
“He has already punished himself, so there is no need for additional punishment. I see the wounds in both palms are deep. If his grip is weakened in the future, would that not cripple his martial arts by his own hand? His crime does not warrant that. Treating the wounds quickly is more important.”
The Emperor waved his hand, and palace attendants immediately sprinted off to summon the imperial physicians.
Ying Changle instantly struggled free of his brother’s arms. He wanted to take Ying Chengqi’s hands and inspect them, yet was afraid touching them would hurt. He could only cry,
“Sob, you’re so stupid, really. That has to hurt so much!
“You’re so stupid you should just—sob, no, ptooey, ptooey, ptooey! Not die! Never die! I have a crow’s mouth. Aqi isn’t stupid. Aqi will always be fine, really, really fine, sob…”
Ying Chengqi instinctively hid both hands behind his back and soothed him softly.
“I’m fine, Ale. Stop crying. Be good, you are not allowed to cry anymore. What if you make yourself sick from crying? Ale, I really am fine. Stop crying…”
Ying Changle did not want Aqi to have to divide his attention to comfort him, and only then did he gradually stop.
The Emperor said gravely, “Why are you still kneeling? All of you, get up.”
Ying Shenchu hurried to help him, but Ying Chengqi had already stood on his own.
“Eldest Brother need not worry. I am fine. It is only a minor injury.”
Ying Shenchu understood this adopted younger brother’s temperament too well to force care upon him. He merely picked Changle up so the little one would not recklessly bump into the wounds by accident.
As the chief eunuch led Xiao Chengqi onward, he said respectfully,
“Your Little Highness, this way, please. Hurry and sit on the couch. The imperial physicians will arrive at once.”
Palace attendants had already wiped away the blood and restored the hall until it looked as though nothing had happened. Others brought in a complete set of washing supplies and stood waiting to serve.
Before long, a stream of imperial physicians filed into the hall. Every physician currently on duty at the Imperial Medical Bureau had come.
The Emperor looked toward Chief Eunuch Ling Hong and rebuked him. “It is only a minor wound. Is there any need for such an enormous commotion?”
Ling Hong had served at the present Emperor’s side for decades and was the best of all at discerning the sovereign’s thoughts. He immediately replied,
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This servant had no choice but to presume to act. Your Majesty insists on playing the stern father before others, yet afterward worries through whole nights without sleeping. You must take care of the imperial body.
“Your Little Highness is injured this badly. If we misjudge the wound, delay treatment, and affect the use of his hands in the future, this servant could die ten thousand deaths and still not atone.”
[Hmph. I don’t care whether you’re pretending or acting. As long as you’re good to Aqi, fine. Fine!]
The Chief Eunuch held a proper fourth-rank official post, so naturally he could hear Ying Changle’s thoughts. He thought only: Little ancestor, as long as you understand that principle.
The Emperor coughed and said nothing, merely watched the physicians treat the injuries with great attention.
The pale flesh of Ying Chengqi’s palms had turned outward. The physicians disinfected the wounds, stitched them, and applied medicine, yet he never made a sound. Beads of sweat as large as soybeans rolled down his neck, but he did not even furrow his brows.
[Hiss, hiss, hiss, sob, sob, that looks so painful! Aqi, you really are ruthless—to yourself too—and way too honest. Couldn’t you have cut a little shallower and just pretended? Did you have to cut this deep?!
You love using swords and blades so much. What if this can’t heal completely—ptooey, ptooey, ptooey, it definitely will heal…]
Emperor: Brat, do not worry. Your Brother Aqi has received death-sworn guard training since childhood. The first rule for a death-sworn guard is that without Our command, they may not harm themselves. They are like the tables and chairs in your house. What table or chair would dare destroy its own usefulness?
Seeing that the treatment was finally complete, Yelü Zhenzhu immediately fired off three questions in succession. “Were the tendons damaged? Can he recover completely? Will the use of his hands be affected in the future?”
The chief imperial physician hurriedly answered with utmost respect,
“Your Majesty, Khan, please rest assured. Your Little Highness’s wounds look frightening, but neither bones nor tendons were damaged. They are injuries only to flesh and skin. He will certainly recover completely, and the use of his hands will not be affected at all. Scars will remain, but we will do our utmost to keep them faint.”
The imperial physicians all marveled inwardly.
They had practiced medicine for decades. Cleaning wounds with a blade, scraping bone, repairing tendons and vessels—those were all tasks requiring the utmost precision. Even if they worked slowly, they could not guarantee cutting fully through flesh until the tendons were exposed without injuring the tendons at all. What astonishing control!
Only then did Yelü Zhenzhu nod with great satisfaction.
The Emperor snorted and said with pointed sarcasm,
“Khan Yelü, now you have seen it for yourself. Do you still blame Us for not knowing how to teach him?
“This little wretch has a temper like a stone in a latrine—hard and foul. Leave everything else aside. His greatest talent is infuriating people!”
Yelü Zhenzhu said helplessly, “I understand.”
…
The imperial physicians saw that it was no longer appropriate for them to remain. After giving instructions on what to watch for, they immediately bowed and withdrew.
Yelü Zhenzhu knew her son did not want to spend time with either of them. Their presence would only make it harder for the child to rest, so she said,
“Emperor, Imperial Academician Ying can care for him here. Come outside with me and accompany the Turkic ruler. We must not neglect an honored guest.”
The Emperor experienced the absurd sensation of a guest taking over as host.
No one dared speak to him this way. But guilt weighed on his heart, so naturally he said nothing and merely instructed the brothers to rest well.
The moment the Emperor and Northern Di ruler left, Ying Changle hurriedly asked, “Aqi, it hurts a lot, doesn’t it?”
Ying Chengqi said, “It doesn’t hurt. This little wound is nothing. Don’t you love the palace’s frozen cream most? You may eat a little. I already sent someone to fetch it.”
“Hehehe, Aqi, how did you know I wanted some? When did you tell someone to get it? How come I didn’t hear you?”
Ying Chengqi said, “Since summer began, when have you entered the palace without fussing about wanting some? Just now you were staring only at my hands. Naturally you didn’t notice when I gave the order.”
“I knew it! Aqi, you’re the best! Brother isn’t good. He always makes me beg him!”
Ying Shenchu rubbed his younger brother’s little head, tilted in defiance, and shook his own helplessly.
Before long, attendants brought over frozen cream in all kinds of flavors, each dish giving off curls of cold mist and looking exquisitely prepared.
Ying Changle immediately stood, picked up a spoon, and scooped a mouthful for himself first. The rich milk fragrance was sweeter than honey, and the chill sank straight into his heart. Nothing could have been more refreshing.
Then he scooped another spoonful and held it to Ying Chengqi’s mouth, smiling. “Aqi, your hands aren’t convenient right now. I’ll feed you.”
Ying Chengqi ate one bite, then said, “Too sweet. I don’t want any more. Eat it yourself.”
Aqi disliked sweet foods most, so Ying Changle did not press him. He simply took one spoonful of every flavor himself.
When his younger brother reached the final dish, Ying Shenchu ordered the attendants to remove it and said sternly, “Ale, no more.”
Ying Changle was desperately tempted, but unlike usual he did not make a fuss and insist on more. He only muttered pitifully,
“Fine, I won’t eat any more. Why are you being so fierce? You only know how to be fierce with me.”
Ying Shenchu’s heart ached for his younger brother, who had suffered so much fright and cried for so long that day. Naturally he could not bear to lecture him further and hurriedly coaxed,
“It was Brother’s fault. I should not have been fierce with you. You’ve eaten your frozen cream now. How about taking an afternoon nap with Aqi?”
…
By the time the garden outing ended that day, Ying Changle was still asleep. The Emperor personally returned to see his son, gave Ying Shenchu several more instructions, and only then allowed them to leave the palace.
After returning to the residence, Ying Shenchu told Ying Ding and Yu Huan everything that had happened that day.
The two were both shocked and deeply moved. Naturally they did not question Ying Chengqi about it and simply pretended they knew nothing.
Over the next three to five days, one imperial decree followed another.
First, Ying Chengqi was ordered to restore his original surname and become Xiao Chengqi. Then he formally acknowledged his ancestors and was entered into the imperial genealogy. His identity as an imperial prince was proclaimed throughout the realm. Finally, the Emperor ordered that he continue to be raised in the Marquis of Xuanping’s residence.
Xiao Chengqi showed little reaction, but Ying Changle was delighted beyond measure.
The Emperor’s rewards had not stopped arriving in recent days. That proved the Emperor probably would not torment Aqi the way he had before. That alone was already wonderful.
Seeing that the rulers of Northern Di and the Turks were about to leave the capital, while Yelü Zhenzhu had never come to see Aqi again, Ying Changle begged his elder brother to take him and Aqi to the Bureau of Foreign Envoys to play.
Although the Bureau of Foreign Envoys was a government office used to receive foreign envoys, it resembled a bustling marketplace even more.
The entire Foreign Envoys Street belonged to the bureau. Countless foreign merchants traded there, and everyone in Shengjing—from powerful nobles and high officials down to commoners and street peddlers—loved coming there to browse and shop.
Ying Shenchu specifically took a day’s leave to bring his two younger brothers.
Since they wanted a chance to see Yelü Zhenzhu, naturally they did not wander around the outer streets. They rode their great canopied carriage directly into the government compound, sat in a corner of a side hall drinking tea, and waited patiently.
The Bureau of Foreign Envoys was laid out much like a palace complex, but it contained public spaces specifically intended for envoys from various states to meet, talk, and drink tea. The side hall where they sat was one such place.
Ying Changle looked around curiously. The foreigners’ clothes, ornaments, hairstyles, and accessories were all so different. The exotic atmosphere fascinated him.
The side hall was lively. Turkic and Northern Di envoys and guards were all present. Some drank tea and chatted. Others haggled as they exchanged local products and treasures from their respective states.
When the Interpreter Secretary of the Bureau heard that Imperial Academician Ying had arrived, he hurried out to welcome him. Ying Shenchu merely said he had come to sit for a while and told the official to return to his own duties.
Before long, a fierce conflict erupted in the center of the side hall. Taking advantage of his drunkenness, a Turkic envoy overturned a table and cursed at a Northern Di envoy.
“Damn it! Do you not understand human speech or what? I said kneel down and lick my shoes!”
For many consecutive days, the Turkic envoy had invited the Northern Di envoy here to drink, and every time he inevitably became drunkenly violent and demanded that the Northern Di envoy kneel and apologize before everyone.
The Northern Di envoy had accepted each invitation, but no matter how wildly the Turk behaved, she had remained neither servile nor overbearing.
At first, whenever they caused a scene, everyone crowded around—some trying to break up the fight, others egging it on. Later everyone grew accustomed to it. Most could not even be bothered to gather around anymore and merely watched from their seats. Some had even learned to ignore it entirely.
This was Ying Changle’s first time seeing it, so he craned his neck toward the commotion.
The Northern Di envoy Axibao remained as composed as always and said coldly, “Tus, you’re drunk. I truly have no time to entertain your nonsense today.”
Axibao clenched her fists. She had long been grinding her teeth with hatred, but Northern Di and the Turks were currently allies, so they could not openly fall out. She could only endure.
Tus grabbed Axibao by the collar, spittle flying as he roared, “Kneel down and lick my shoes, and I’ll let you leave immediately!”
At that moment, the rulers of Northern Di and the Turks returned together from outside. Passing the side hall, they naturally saw the scene.
Tus had long since sent people to determine when the two sovereigns would return and had deliberately dragged things out until now. He could not force Axibao to kneel through his own power, but he could use the two rulers to help him.
More importantly, Tus knew perfectly well that his khan hated anyone daring to mention his past. Axibao had spoken of it before so many people. She had to pay a terrible price!
Of course, Tus was not acting only because of a private verbal dispute. More than anything, he wanted to please his own khan, Banbur, and demonstrate his loyalty.
When the two rulers entered the hall, the Turks and Northern Di all dropped to their knees and performed grand salutations. Officials of the Celestial Dynasty naturally only stood and bowed.
Yelü Zhenzhu immediately spotted the three people in the corner of the side hall, but pretended she had not seen them.
[Hmph, still pretending you didn’t see us. Anyway, we only came here to play around. We definitely didn’t come to see you!
Fine, we did come to see you. You’re about to leave. I’m just afraid Aqi might regret it later. Looking at you once isn’t going to cost him a piece of flesh. We can just treat it like we came to have fun.]
Xiao Chengqi & Ying Shenchu: …
Banbur, ruler of the Turks, walked to Tus and knowingly asked, “What happened?”
Tus lowered his voice so only the two rulers could hear and repeated what Axibao had said that day.
Banbur flew into a rage and immediately drew his blade to kill Axibao.
Axibao did not want the alliance they had finally established to collapse because of her. She immediately prepared to kneel and accept death.
Yelü Zhenzhu said in a deep voice, “Stand up!”
Axibao feared only that her ruler would be placed in a difficult position and immediately said, “Your Majesty, this subject is guilty. I failed to guard my words and actions and committed a grave error. I beg Your Majesty to grant me death.”
Yelü Zhenzhu was fiercely protective of her own people. How could she let a foreigner bully one of her subordinates? She merely leaned over and whispered a single sentence to Banbur.
Banbur instantly erupted in fury and slammed a heavy fist into Tus’s chest. Tus spat blood and collapsed to the ground.
The list contained the names of all the members of the Turkic royal clan and prominent aristocratic families Banbur had once coerced, with details down to exactly how he had forced each father-and-son pair.
Only Tus here could possibly know all of it so clearly!
Yelü Zhenzhu had merely mentioned the “special list” the Emperor had given her, deliberately causing Banbur to believe Tus had betrayed him.
The Emperor had told her how he obtained the list, but in order to protect Changle, she would bury that secret in her heart forever.
Thinking of the child’s long-term future, she had even asked the Emperor to draft a secret decree on the spot, granting Changle a marquisate when the proper time came as reward for this achievement.
Today Yelü Zhenzhu was simply making convenient use of Tus. She intended to send spies to use that list to stir chaos among the Turks, yet for now she did not want to lose the Turkic alliance. This gave her the perfect chance to place the blame on Tus and his close associates.
Axibao stood stunned, utterly unaware of what had just happened.
Banbur strode away, leaving only one sentence behind. “Take him for treatment. Do not let him die. I still have questions for him!”
Turkic guards immediately carried away the unconscious Tus.
Yelü Zhenzhu merely glanced at Ying Changle, then left without looking back, surrounded by the crowd.
Axibao hurried after her and asked softly, “Your Majesty, what did you say to Banbur? Your Majesty, are you truly not going to say a few words to Your Little Highness?”
Yelü Zhenzhu said gravely, “You talk too much.”
Axibao gathered her courage and continued, “Your Majesty, even if you do not wish to speak with Your Little Highness, you like Changle so much. Aren’t you going to speak to Changle either?”
Yelü Zhenzhu’s razor-sharp gaze instantly softened with affection, only to turn cold again a moment later. She merely quickened her pace as she left.
By the time Ying Changle came back to his senses, everything over there was already finished, and Yelü Zhenzhu had disappeared from sight.
[Hmph. The Northern Di ruler really is as protective of her subordinates as the rumors say. She looked so cool just now, but I still hate you!
Hehe. You protect your subordinates that fiercely, but you just won’t protect your own son, right? I finally see you clearly now.
Hmph, fine, fine, fine. It’s actually better that you’re this heartless. Once you leave, Aqi won’t regret anything or feel even the tiniest bit sad.]
Thinking this, Ying Changle became happy at once and said with a smile, “Brother, Aqi, let’s go home. I’m hot. I want just a tiny bit of frozen cream. Only a tiny bit.”
The Emperor had long known that Ying Changle loved the frozen cream made by the Imperial Kitchen. Not long after Xiao Chengqi formally returned to the imperial clan, he had conveniently bestowed the Imperial Kitchen cook responsible for making frozen cream upon the Marquis of Xuanping’s residence. He merely declared that the cook was responsible for the Nineteenth Prince’s meals, so it did not count as exceeding the household’s rank.
Seeing his younger brother so happy, Ying Shenchu did not spoil his mood and readily agreed.
Ying Changle fell asleep on the way home. Summer afternoons were perfect for napping. It was nearly evening before the sound of torrential rain woke him.
Ying Changle opened his eyes blearily, turned over, and muttered, “Brother, it’s still not light yet. I need to pee…”
He had slept until he could no longer distinguish day from night and assumed it was morning. Sometimes the need to urinate woke him early.
No matter how early it was, his brother would already have risen and gone to the adjoining room to read. But as long as Ying Changle spoke, his brother always heard him and came over immediately.
Ying Shenchu was currently sitting on the couch beside the window writing a memorial. Hearing movement from the bed, he immediately put down his brush, walked over, lifted the bed curtains, and picked up his younger brother.
“You’re finally awake. Sleep this much during the day and you won’t sleep tonight again.”
Ying Changle rubbed his eyes. Hearing the raging wind and rain outside, he finally remembered it did not seem to be morning.
His bladder was painfully full, and he had no mind for anything else. He urged, “Brother, hurry. I can’t hold it.”
Ying Shenchu quickly carried him to the rear service room.
The young maids specifically responsible for attending their masters at the toilet heard the approaching footsteps and had already prepared everything necessary.
Their little master disliked having a crowd watch him use the toilet. Once the maids prepared the needed items, they immediately withdrew.
The chamber pot contained fragrant pine ash. Waste dropped into it was immediately covered by a thick layer of ash. Incense burned throughout the room, and the ventilation was excellent, so there was not the slightest unpleasant odor while using the toilet.
Ying Changle was now fully awake and hummed comfortably.
“Brother, the rain is so heavy, and the wind is so strong. No wonder I dreamed I was on a huge ship at sea. The storm almost flipped the whole ship over…”
Ying Changle loved telling the people around him about his dreams after waking. If his elder brother was not there, he told Aqi instead.
“Brother, where’s Aqi? Why didn’t he nap with me?”
“Look at what time it is. Aqi woke long ago and went to the study to do his lessons.”
“Brother, I want to use the osmanthus silk. That one is comfortable.”
“Why are you so particular? Even paper this soft isn’t good enough for you. If Aqi ever stops living in our house, let’s see what you do then.”
[Hehehe, wiping your butt with silk is a level of comfort you can’t even imagine. Even the softest paper can’t compare. Ancient royalty really knew how to enjoy life! No wonder everyone wants to be Emperor!]
Ying Shenchu: …
It was not that he was unwilling to let his younger brother use it, but silk of this kind far exceeded the privileges of their rank. Only the Emperor, Empress, princes, and princesses were permitted to use it. Even commandery princes were not entitled to such a thing, much less a mere marquis’s household.
Ying Shenchu feared that one day the Emperor might become displeased and stop supplying it, leaving his younger brother unable to readjust. As the saying went, it was easy to move from frugality to luxury and hard to move from luxury back to frugality.
“But the Emperor already said I can use the same things as the Nineteenth Prince! Aiya, Aqi isn’t going to stop living with us. I want the silk. It’s super comfortable!”
[Hmph. Just because Aqi lives in our house, everything I eat and use is exactly the same as his. The Emperor issued a decree allowing it, but all those civil and military officials are still sour about it, saying I’m not a prince so I shouldn’t receive princely treatment.
Do their families live in the ocean or something? Why are they sticking their noses so far into other people’s business? Yeah, yeah, that’s right, I’m a dog who won by lying down. I get to enjoy princely treatment. Stay mad!]
Ying Shenchu:
