novelhk Chapter 190 190 Mind's Eye
Chapter 190 190 Mind's Eye
Chapter 190 190 Minds
Inside the Taichang Palace, Consort Yu Shu had been holding Chunyu Shan's hand and chattering on and on since he entered, talking about all the trivial things that had happened in the palace recently.
Chunyu Shan was very considerate and let her talk, occasionally handing her a glass of water and peeling a few grapes, his smile as warm as the winter sun.
"...The palace maid who poisoned the concubine was eventually found to be working for Consort Zhao. In a fit of rage, the Empress ordered her hands to be cut off and she and Consort Zhao to be thrown into the Cold Palace..."
Consort Yu smiled, a smile that held a hint of helplessness and indifference.
"In this palace, if you're not careful, you might be the one to suffer. But if you're too cunning, retribution will come faster than ever before."
“Yes, everyone says the palace is as deep as the sea, and I can certainly attest to that,” Chunyu Shan said with a smile.
"Yes, you seem a bit down today. What happened? Tell me quickly so your mother can be happy," Consort Yu said with a smile.
"I'm afraid my days of leisure are coming to an end," Chunyu Shan said with a wry smile. "Today, during the morning court session, in front of all the civil and military officials, Father specifically asked me to take charge of all matters related to this year's autumn hunt."
Consort Yu's smile faltered, and she slowly stood up.
"Has His Majesty assigned you any tasks?"
"Yes, they even had Li Decai personally come to the Prince's Mansion to pick me up, saying that even if I was faking illness, they would carry me to the palace." Chunyu Shan pouted, threw the peeled grapes into her mouth, and earned a glare from Consort Yu Shu.
"My father even asked the Left Prime Minister to assist me in handling this matter. I had originally planned to have a good time during the autumn hunt, but now it seems that's impossible," Chunyu Shan sighed again.
"Left Prime Minister? Gongsun Zhan?" Consort Yu Shu's expression turned serious. She stared intently at Chunyu Shan, a deep meaning hidden in her beautiful phoenix eyes.
“Before entering the palace, I heard your maternal grandfather talk about the Left Prime Minister. He is indeed a man of great strategic vision, profound knowledge, integrity, and loyalty,” said Consort Yu Shu. “Zi Ze, now that your father has given you this opportunity, you must seize it and not continue to drift along as you have before.”
Chunyu Shan lowered his head, a half-smile playing on his lips, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
Consort Yu frowned, her tone suddenly becoming stern: "Do you really want to live your whole life in such a muddled way?"
Chunyu Shan looked up at her and said calmly, "Of course I won't live like this for the rest of my life, but I also don't want to become like Fourth Brother or the Crown Prince."
“What kind of people? They are your brothers. You all have the blood of the imperial family flowing in your veins. What difference is there?” Consort Yu asked.
“At least I don’t live for power struggles. I don’t think about brotherhood every day, but how to take more benefits from the other side. Imperial bloodline? Mother, within the realm of power, there are no brothers, only winners and losers,” Chunyu Shan said with a bitter smile.
"What if one day, for the sake of your maternal grandfather, for the sake of your mother, I must fight for it?" Consort Yu Shu continued to press.
Chunyu Shan looked at his mother quietly, as if he were seeing her for the first time.
Consort Yu was the most beautiful woman in the emperor's harem. She was thirty-five years old this year, but there was no trace of time on her face. Her face was exquisite and beautiful, and she was also open-minded and cheerful. She was especially loved by the emperor, so he also indulged Chunyu Shan.
Chunyu Shan always believed that, given the Emperor's favor towards him and his mother, if his maternal grandfather's family had been more powerful, the position of Imperial Concubine would likely have fallen to Consort Yu, and Consort Min would have had no chance.
Chunyu Shan also believed that, given the emperor's favor towards them, once he began to engage in the power struggles of the court, they would become targets for everyone, with every step leading to an abyss.
“That day will never come,” Chunyu Shan said. “As Mother Consort just said, those who are too cunning will be punished sooner or later. I do not seek great power in this life, but only wish for peace in the world and the health of my family. That will be enough for me.”
Consort Yu sighed deeply, gently stroking his temple, suppressing her worries once again.
——※※※——
"Snapped--"
The East Palace gates were tightly shut, and a loud slap echoed from inside.
"Useless! How exactly did you handle this task? The people of three prefectures jointly pressed their bloody handprints and sent the bamboo slips to the capital, and you didn't receive a single piece of information! As a result, I was severely reprimanded by the Emperor at the morning court and was even confined to the Eastern Palace, unable to participate in the autumn hunt! Tell me, what use are you to me?"
The prince slapped the man kneeling before him hard across the face. The man's cheeks were swollen so badly that his original features were unrecognizable. Not satisfied with the slap, he turned around, grabbed a large porcelain bottle, and smashed it over the man's head, causing him to bleed profusely and faint on the spot.
The crown prince kicked the man's limp body away, his face grim, and said:
"You bastard, Fourth Brother! How dare you scheme against me behind my back! When I ascend the throne, I will turn you into a human stick and hang you on the city gate, so that all the people under heaven will despise and humiliate you!"
Meanwhile, the fourth prince he mentioned had returned to the Prince of Nanping's mansion. Unable to contain the emotions that suddenly surged within him, he held Ye Yingrou tightly in his arms.
"Rou'er, it's been so long since I've seen you. Have you missed me?" Chunyu Jing gently kissed Ye Yingrou's lips, raising his eyebrows and smiling wickedly.
His display of affection to Ye Yingrou at such close range left her completely bewildered. Hearing the pleasant message of her affection level increasing, Ye Yingrou said sweetly:
"Rou'er misses the prince every moment and only hopes that the prince can come back from the palace soon to be with her."
Chunyu Jing smiled and gently flicked her nose before letting go and walking toward the desk in the study.
Do you know what great achievement you've made this time?
Ye Yingrou asked, "What great achievement?"
"Thanks to the assassins from Ronghua Tower, I was able to deliver the bamboo slips and account books to the capital and then to my father so smoothly," Chunyu Jing said. "This morning at court, my father was furious about those items and ordered the Crown Prince to be confined to the Eastern Palace for a month. Although the time is short, it is enough."
"That's wonderful!" Ye Yingrou said. "Rou'er congratulates Your Highness."
"Besides that, I have received some good news. Can you guess what it is?" Chunyu Jing asked with a smile, his smile wicked yet smug, arrogance reaching its peak.
"Rou'er really can't guess, please tell me, Your Highness," Ye Yingrou said.
Chunyu Jing looked down at Ye Yingrou and said:
"Third Brother has tracked down the identity of the assassin who caused trouble in Qionglin Garden during the Mid-Autumn Festival. He is from your Ronghua Tower. It is said that he has sent people to wipe out several branches of Ronghua Tower and even wants to bring the head of the 'Ronghua Tower Master' to see Father Emperor."
What kind of good news is this? Ye Yingrou's heart skipped a beat, and her palms involuntarily became sweaty.
"But don't worry, Father has taken this task from Third Brother and handed it over to me. From now on, the life and death of Ronghua Tower and its owner will be decided by my word."
Chunyu Jing gently stroked the side of Ye Yingrou's face covered in blisters: "How is it, OP? Are you satisfied with this news?"
At the same time, a gray homing pigeon cooed and landed in the pigeon loft at Fuying Mountain Villa.
A gray-clad, mute servant took out a secret letter tied to the leg of a carrier pigeon, walked to the front hall, and handed the letter to Ji Hongbo.
Ji Hongbo could not contain his excitement and eagerly unfolded the secret letter, which read:
"When the letter arrives, the matter will be settled."