The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

”After all, she’s a woman, she doesn’t understand me as well as you do.”

Shang Pu set up a small table on the bed, with a Linglong Chessboard placed on top. He wore only a cloak, holding black pieces in one hand and white pieces in the other, playing chess with himself.

The wind blew in through the window crack, causing the candle flame to flicker.

Dong Da blocked the wind and said solemnly, ”My lord, it’s late at night, you should rest.”

Shang Pu coughed twice and said, ”No rush, there will be plenty of time to rest when I’m dead. Over at Meiniang’s side, there’s no need to keep watch, Xia Houzhe, having become a discarded pawn, won’t create any disturbances, and Meiniang wouldn’t be that foolish.”

”Yes.” Dong Da paused for a moment and then said, ”My lord, since Xia Houzhe has fallen to this point, the others have also decided to abandon him. Why not directly tell Emperor Chu his true identity? That way you can be at ease.”

Shang Pu laughed, ”Don’t you know how suspicious emperors are? He’s been looking for this person for twenty years, and suddenly someone tells him that person is right under his nose. Do you think he’ll believe it? Won’t he suspect there’s some conspiracy involved? Emperors are suspicious, they only trust what they’ve discovered themselves.”

”But...”

”And another thing, why should I tell him?” Shang Pu sneered with a curl of his lips, ”What benefit do I get from telling him? What significance is there in dragging this body back into that position? Since Father established him as Crown Prince and Emperor, let Father see for himself what capabilities he truly has.”

Dong Da remained silent.

”I refuse to say, let him investigate on his own, whatever he discovers is his own credit.” Shang Pu placed another piece, chuckling lightly, ”Not only will I not tell him, but I’ll also enjoy watching him stew in frustration. I’m doing it purely for amusement.”

This capricious and wicked tone, if Song Zhiyuan were present, he might sigh deeply, truly they’re brothers, this mischievousness is identical.

...

When Xia Houzhe woke up, the first thing he saw was the high dome ceiling. He blinked, tried to get up, but felt a profound weakness in his body.

Could a night’s drunkenness have such lingering effects?

He turned his head, his pupils narrowing.

Why was that screen still here?

Damn it, this dog of an Emperor Chu, so petty and despicable, isn’t he afraid of karmic retribution?

”Come, someone come.” Xia Houzhe opened his mouth with difficulty, his voice rough and hoarse.

No response.

Fuming, Xia Houzhe wanted to pound the bed, but he had to close his eyes and compose himself, his mind spinning with thoughts of the next move.

He wasn’t worried about being dealt with, he was Prince Min, and there were still a few old ministers loyal to Emperor Qingwu who cared about his status. Coupled with the Emperor’s actions, he was the only Prince, and having been poisoned for no apparent reason, those Confucians and Saints would surely denounce the Emperor’s intent to eliminate the Vassal King.

When an emperor acts on a whim, that’s a sign of a tyrant.

The most crucial factor, Princess Consort Ji wouldn’t watch him die, after all, she possessed a Death Exemption Token.

As Xia Houzhe pondered, the most likely outcome was him being demoted, perhaps bloodletting, so long as he returned to his fief, he’d raise the flag in two years.

He couldn’t stand it any longer.

Before that, he must perform his role perfectly.

True to Xia Houzhe’s prediction, when he encountered trouble, those self-righteous Confucian scholars emerged to subtly criticize Emperor Chu’s reckless behavior, disregarding brotherhood.

Moreover, Princess Consort Ji knelt before Yangxin Hall, holding high the Death Exemption Token bestowed by the late Emperor, pleading for Emperor Chu’s mercy. She was willing to forgo her title to exchange for her son’s freedom; they pledged to return to their fief and never return to the capital.

”If the Emperor does not permit it, then I have no will to live!” Princess Consort Ji cried out despite her throat becoming hoarse with no response from Emperor Chu, and with resolute severity, she struck her head heavily, blood gushing as she collapsed.