Chapter 36 The Mastermind
Wen Yuanru admitted to the crime of deceiving the emperor, and Emperor Chu Wen sentenced him to death after autumn. His family was not implicated.
Upon hearing the verdict, Empress Chu was so distraught she nearly fainted. She rushed to the imperial study to plead for him.
But Emperor Chu Wen refused to see her, and from that day on, he stopped summoning Empress Chu at night.
Having no other recourse, Empress Chu approached Prince Chu Ziqian: “Only you have the chance to see your father in court! You must save your uncle!”
“Mother, are you confused?” Chu Ziqian was exasperated by the request. “It’s fortunate that Father hasn’t suspected me; why would I actively seek trouble?”
“Nonsense!” Empress Chu flew into a rage. “Your uncle suffered for your sake, and you want to stand idly by? He’s your uncle who loved you since childhood!”
“Mother, this was your idea!” Chu Ziqian was also angered. “I warned you it was risky, but you insisted your brother was trustworthy and wouldn’t cause trouble… Now what?”
“You dare to accuse me?!”
Empress Chu, unable to contain her anger, slapped Chu Ziqian.
“If it weren’t for your position as crown prince, would I have schemed to frame Chu Lianmo? It’s all your fault for being incompetent and allowing Chu Lianmo to threaten you!
“I tell you, if you can’t save your uncle, I’ll disown you! You’re not my son, and you’ll lose your claim to the throne!”
“…” A bitter smile touched Chu Ziqian’s lips –
In truth, his mother didn’t need to add that last threat. She had always used a ruler to force him to study diligently, to surpass Chu Lianmo, and to secure his position as crown prince, to prevent Chu Lianmo from taking it.
From a young age, whenever Chu Ziqian was outshone by Chu Lianmo at school or anywhere else, he faced a beating.
Later, when Chu Ziqian grew older, Empress Chu couldn’t beat him as often, but when Chu Lianmo returned victorious from the border, she berated him, demanding to know why he hadn’t volunteered for the campaign.
Chu Ziqian wanted to say: What if I died on the battlefield? If I died, I’d never be able to help you achieve your ambitions. I strive to survive, all for your approval?
“Fine, Mother, since you want me to save Uncle, I’ll risk my life to do it.”
At the next court session, Chu Ziqian knelt before Emperor Chu Wen and pleaded, “I beg Your Majesty, considering my uncle’s years of service to the country, to show mercy and spare his life!”
“Crown Prince, you have the leisure to intercede for others?”
Emperor Chu Wen stared intently at his eldest son, whom he had always trusted. “I’ve found it strange. Your uncle and Lianmo had no grievances; why would he risk deceiving the emperor to target him? Tell me, was he acting on your behalf?”
“I have a clear conscience,” Chu Ziqian had anticipated this question and didn’t avoid the emperor’s gaze. “If Your Majesty believes I orchestrated it, punish me, but please spare my uncle!”
“Heh!” Emperor Chu Wen sneered. “This constant talk of ‘uncle,’ you only remember he’s your relative, do you remember the law? The punishment for deceiving the emperor cannot be easily forgiven!”
“Please show mercy, Your Majesty!” Chu Ziqian kowtowed. “Otherwise, I shall kneel here until death!”
Emperor Chu Wen roared, “Then kneel!”
And Chu Ziqian truly began to kneel, without food or water.
The crown prince kneeling in the Golden Hall was a major scandal.
Emperor Chu Wen was nearly enraged to death.
Chu Ziqian knelt for three days and nights.
During these three days, Jiang Yingnan, in the crown prince’s residence, was extremely anxious, constantly worrying about Chu Ziqian, yet helpless.
Meanwhile, Liu Min, the crown princess, had long since replaced her affection for Chu Ziqian with resentment. She thought this was an opportunity, while Chu Ziqian was preoccupied, to deal with Jiang Yingnan.
So Liu Min claimed she wanted to practice her whip technique, placed an apple on Jiang Yingnan’s head, and raised her whip, pretending to hit the apple.
Obviously, she missed the apple and struck Jiang Yingnan. The whip lashed down repeatedly, tearing his clothes and flesh, the pain escalating from stinging to excruciating, finally to numbness.
Finally, he could bear it no longer and said, “Don’t forget, I am still the third young master of the Jiang family!”
“Oh, you want to run back to your family and complain?” Liu Min sneered. “A grown man crying and running back to his family to tattle, aren’t you ashamed? Go ahead then.”
Despite her words, Liu Min still feared the Jiang family somewhat. She put down the whip and left.
Jiang Yingnan looked down at his blood-soaked white robe, embraced himself, and his eyes welled up.
He didn’t go to the Jiang family, but continued to anxiously await Chu Ziqian’s return.
On the fourth day’s court session, Emperor Chu Wen, to prevent further national disgrace, finally relented: “Your uncle certainly has a loyal nephew! Very well, the sentence is changed to one hundred lashes, demotion to commoner, confiscation of all Wen family property! Whether he lives or dies is up to him!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Chu Ziqian used his last strength to kowtow, then fainted.
He was carried back to the crown prince’s residence.
Jiang Yingnan, still smarting from his wounds, hurriedly summoned a physician and diligently cared for him.
Wen Yuanru, after receiving one hundred lashes, was left with half a life.
Wen Shan used his meager savings to hire a laborer to carry his father to an unoccupied hut.
He wanted to find a doctor for his father, but he had no more money.
He went to the palace to see Empress Chu, seeking her help.
But Empress Chu felt she had done enough for her brother. This incident would surely cause Emperor Chu Wen to be dissatisfied with Chu Ziqian and shake his position as crown prince.
Sometimes, Empress Chu didn’t know how to balance power and family. When she realized the great cost Chu Ziqian had to pay to save her brother, she regretted her harshness.
Therefore, Empress Chu refused to have anything to do with Wen Yuanru and refused Wen Shan’s request.
As Wen Shan despaired, he met Chu Tianlin, visiting his grandmother in the palace.
Chu Tianlin immediately understood Wen Shan’s plight and gave him all his money. “This is all the money I have now, is it enough?”
“…” Wen Shan wanted to refuse proudly. After all, Chu Tianlin’s father was responsible for his father’s misery.
However, for a poor man, pride was meaningless. Saving his father’s life was paramount.
So Wen Shan silently accepted the money.
“Is it enough?” Chu Tianlin asked again.
Wen Shan scoffed, “A few hundred taels, how long will that last? It’ll probably only cover one doctor’s visit and a few prescriptions.”
“…But I don’t usually save money, that’s all I have.”
Chu Tianlin was troubled. He lived in the Rui王府, and Chu Lianmo didn’t give him money like his father, so his money was quickly running out.
“Then I’ll ask Grandmother for some money?”
Wen Shan sneered, “I’ve seen through that woman. Though I don’t know what she and my father talked about, he certainly did it for her. Now she doesn’t care if he lives or dies.”
“Um…” Chu Tianlin thought, even if he didn’t mention Wen’s family, Empress Chu might not give him money. Since Chu Yunxuan was adopted out, Chu Tianlin was her only grandson. She wanted to strictly raise him to be a future ruler, not a wastrel.
“Then I’ll borrow from Fourth Uncle, wait for me.”
“…” Wen Shan didn’t reply and turned to leave.
Chu Tianlin understood his coldness and didn’t mind, hurrying back to Rui王府.
Chu Lianmo was working in his study as usual, with Qi Xiaojun grinding ink.
Since discovering Qi Xiaojun’s true identity, Chu Lianmo didn’t want him to do such menial tasks, but Qi Xiaojun smiled, saying he was used to it.
In fact, he wanted to spend more time with Chu Lianmo this way. Even if they were busy, being able to glance at each other during short breaks was enjoyable.
Chu Tianlin opened the study door and smiled ingratiatingly at Chu Lianmo, “Fourth Uncle, I need a favor.”
Chu Lianmo looked up and coldly glanced at him. “Who allowed you to disturb me at this hour? If your brother were so discourteous, I would beat him.”
Chu Tianlin stuck out his tongue. “Fourth Uncle is still nicer to me.”
Chu Lianmo sneered, “You’re mistaken. It’s just that you’re someone else’s son, and beating you is troublesome.”
“…” The smile on Chu Tianlin’s face froze for a moment, but he still shamelessly said, “Fourth Uncle, lend me some money.”
“Borrow?” Chu Lianmo sneered. “What will you use to repay me?”
“I’ll repay you when my father is released from confinement!”
“No. I find his money unclean.”
“…”
“Alright, alright,” Qi Xiaojun smiled and mediated, “Lin’er, tell us what you need the money for. We don’t lack food or clothing here. If you’re going to spend it on women, we won’t give it to you.”
“I’m doing something serious!” Chu Tianlin said solemnly. “Wen Shan’s father was injured and needs a doctor, but Grandmother refuses to help them.”
“…” Chu Lianmo didn’t expect Empress Chu to be so callous.
He hesitated for a moment, suddenly remembering Qi Xiaojun’s method of subduing Ying Dong.
Perhaps a mouth unyielding to torture could be persuaded otherwise.
So Chu Lianmo agreed: “Do you know where they are? I’ll go give them the money myself.”
“Really?!” Chu Tianlin was overjoyed. “I’ll take you there now!”
Qi Xiaojun said, “I’ll go with you.”
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