Chapter 66: Grand Finale
Deng Bing was almost seventy years old. He was the Vice Minister of Revenue, a primary Third Rank official. His wife had passed away, and back then, he had profusely promised that Sun Jiaojiao could be his successor wife, the main mistress of the house.
Normally, given Sun Jiaojiao’s background, it would be very difficult to become the main wife of an official of that rank. Yet, without considering if there was a trap, she had agreed immediately.
Sun Jiaojiao was only in her thirties. She clearly could have married someone of a similar age who truly loved her, but she insisted on coveting wealth and glory.
“You say he’s at that age, so it’s normal to be powerless in the bedchamber. Isn’t it logical that he has other methods to resolve that? You want to disturb Imperial Father with such a trivial matter?”
Matters like this, no matter where they were reported, would generally be considered domestic affairs. Of course, if Chu Lianmo really wanted to intervene, he could. But Chu Yunxuan did not think Chu Lianmo would stick his neck out for someone like Sun Jiaojiao.
“…Crown Prince, Your Highness, you cannot be this cruel to me!” Sun Jiaojiao knelt at Chu Yunxuan’s feet and begged. “We lived under the same roof for over ten years; I watched you grow up! I beg you, please help me!”
“Heh.” Chu Yunxuan laughed coldly twice. “Watched me grow up? You mean you abused me while I grew up?”
“Concubine Sun, do you remember?” Chu Yunxuan deliberately addressed Sun Jiaojiao by her old title. “When I was six, you insisted I stole your necklace and complained to Father. Father ordered men to beat me severely… I begged you to let me go, saying over and over that I really didn’t know where your necklace was, but you turned a deaf ear… At that time, did you help me? Or were you deliberately harming me?”
“Later, whenever I was beaten by you or Father, I stopped begging for mercy. Because I knew it was useless.”
“Sun Jiaojiao, I didn’t want to take revenge on a weak woman like you, who is strong in appearance but faint of heart. But now you ask me to help you… I’m sorry, I am not that magnanimous.”
“I was wrong! I was wrong!” Sun Jiaojiao knocked her head on the ground repeatedly until blood flowed, “But if you don’t help me, the rest of my life is ruined! Xuan’er, I know you are the kindest. You would even take back a bird injured by a slingshot to treat it, wouldn’t you?! You definitely won’t leave me be!”
Chu Yunxuan said indifferently, “Deng Bing is almost seventy; how much longer can he live? It’s not as if your whole life is ruined. But these days you are living now—that is the atonement you owe.”
“…Lin’er!” Sun Jiaojiao knew it was useless to beg Chu Yunxuan, so she had to turn her tear-streaked face to Chu Tianlin again. “Then you go beg the Emperor for Mom, okay?”
“You are not allowed to go.” Chu Yunxuan looked at his younger brother and said coldly.
“…” Chu Tianlin stood frozen in place for a moment.
The “bird injured by a slingshot” Sun Jiaojiao just mentioned was actually shot by him when he was little. He had been mischievous since childhood. Neither Chu Weide nor Sun Jiaojiao had ever taught him what benevolence was. It was only recently, through Qi Xiaojun and Jiang Yingnan, that he gradually learned benevolence, filial piety, propriety, and trust, and gradually realized how annoying the old him used to be.
Actually, he had known since childhood that his mother was always deliberately targeting Chu Yunxuan, and he knew that many of the beatings Chu Yunxuan received from their father were unjust. But the old him had never interfered.
Perhaps the only compensation he could offer now was to follow Chu Yunxuan’s wishes this time, allowing him the satisfaction of revenge.
“Mom, this was your own choice. You will have to bear the evil consequences yourself.”
“…You… You two ungrateful wretches!”
Sun Jiaojiao stood up, stomped her foot fiercely, turned, and ran away.
“Brother…” Chu Tianlin looked at Chu Yunxuan with red eyes. “I’ve only just realized, belatedly, that you really were so pitiful in the past… Can I hug you?”
Chu Yunxuan was stunned, then nodded.
Chu Tianlin walked over and hugged him gently.
At this moment, Chu Yunxuan’s heart also felt a sour ache.
Although he was now a Crown Prince who could stand on his own and act with decisiveness, he was, after all, still just a tender youth of sixteen or seventeen.
The scars of those years of suffering could not be completely erased from his heart.
Unnoticed, Chu Lianmo and Qi Xiaojun had walked over quietly.
“Ah, greetings to Imperial Father, greetings to Imperial Mother.” When Chu Yunxuan discovered them, he hurriedly bowed to them.
“No need for formalities.”
Qi Xiaojun helped Chu Yunxuan up, noticing the faint tear tracks at the corners of his eyes. “What’s wrong, Xuan’er? Did something happen?”
“…Nothing. It’s all in the past.” Chu Yunxuan tried hard to smile at Qi Xiaojun.
“Mom came just now,” Chu Tianlin interjected. “She made Brother remember some unhappy past events.”
“So that’s it.” Qi Xiaojun understood immediately. He patted Chu Yunxuan’s shoulder lovingly and said softly, “Xuan’er, if you have any grievances in the future, you can tell me. Never treat me as an outsider, do you understand?”
“This son understands.” The sour feeling in Chu Yunxuan’s heart suddenly dissipated a great deal. He thought that Heaven was fair after all. Although the first ten-plus years of his life were miserable, Heaven had let him meet a loving mother like Qi Xiaojun, who was closer than a biological mother. Was this not a great fortune?
“Sorry to interrupt your mother-son bonding,” Chu Lianmo interjected with a smile. “Xuan’er, Zhen came to tell you that Zhen has decided to accompany your Imperial Mother back to the State of Qi for a short stay. During this time, you will serve as Regent.”
“…Huh?” Chu Yunxuan was startled and immediately felt terrified. “This son is still young; how can I be worthy of such a heavy responsibility!”
Chu Lianmo said, “Since ancient times, there have been plenty who ascended the throne at sixteen or seventeen, and there are those who did it well. Zhen believes in your ability; you must believe in yourself too.”
Chu Yunxuan looked at Chu Lianmo in disbelief. Chu Lianmo had always been extremely strict regarding his training, mostly pointing out his deficiencies. This was the first time he had expressed approval of him.
In the end, Chu Yunxuan could only brace himself and say, “Since Imperial Father trusts this son so much, this son swears to the death not to fail your trust.”
“What death or no death, why so dramatic?” Chu Lianmo laughed. “Minister Jiang, Minister Liu, and the others will do their best to assist you. When you encounter major issues, just open up the channels of speech and listen to more opinions. There is no need to worry too much.”
“Yes… By the way,” Chu Yunxuan suddenly recalled the information in Chu Lianmo’s words. “What do you mean by accompanying Imperial Mother back to Qi to live? Imperial Mother isn’t from Qi either, is he?”
Chu Lianmo smiled but did not speak.
His return this time was precisely to discuss this matter with Emperor Qi Dedi.
As it turned out, they hit it off immediately.
A few days later, Emperor Qi Dedi officially announced to the outside world that the current Zhou Yun was actually the resurrected Second Prince of Qi, Qi Xiaojun.
This news naturally caused a massive uproar.
But when those who had contact with Qi Xiaojun thought about it carefully, they realized that he was indeed very different from the former Zhou Yun. Eventually, everyone gradually accepted the matter.
On the day the news was announced, Qi Xiaojun was finally able to visit his own tomb and retrieve the family jade pendant gifted by Xu Ruliang from his skeletal remains. He also took his old sword from the tomb.
Looking at his own corpse, his mood was a bit subtle.
“Lianmo, do you really think this is good?” He turned to look at Chu Lianmo, who was holding his hand. ” The dead are dead; must you insist on making him come alive? Will everyone look at me like a monster in the future?”
“They wouldn’t dare,” Chu Lianmo said domineeringly. “If anyone dares to look at you with strange eyes, Zhen will gouge out their eyes.”
“…But severe punishment alone cannot completely stop gossip and the thoughts in people’s hearts, right?”
“Ah Jun, Zhen is doing this because,” Chu Lianmo stared earnestly at Qi Xiaojun, “Zhen does not want you to live under someone else’s name anymore. Zhen only wishes for you to exist openly and righteously in this world as Qi Xiaojun.”
“I know.” Qi Xiaojun couldn’t help but lean gently into Chu Lianmo’s embrace. “You are thinking wholeheartedly for me; how could I not know? Lianmo, to have a husband like you is the fortune of three lifetimes.”
“Heh, I am the one with the fortune of three lifetimes. It must be that Heaven heard my prayers and let you be reborn as my pillow partner. Ah Jun, you are no monster; you are my most precious treasure.”
Saying this, Chu Lianmo lowered his head to kiss Qi Xiaojun’s lips.
“…Wait!” Qi Xiaojun suddenly pushed him away. “This is a tomb! A tomb!”
“Heh. True.”
Only then did Chu Lianmo realize this was indeed not the occasion for such things.
Better to go to a place suitable for it.
So, he swept Qi Xiaojun up into a horizontal carry and walked in the direction of his room.
“What are you doing! So many people are watching along the way!” Qi Xiaojun tried to struggle.
Chu Lianmo laughed. “Who here doesn’t know that their Second Prince has already married into my State of Chu? Now that Chu and Qi are related by marriage, they are probably secretly rejoicing in their hearts.”
By now, Chu Lianmo had officially abolished Qi’s status as a vassal state.
The entire State of Qi was naturally jubilant.
So, regarding their Prince becoming the Empress of another country, they mostly didn’t mind as much anymore.
Thus, tonight, no one could save Qi Xiaojun.
(End of Main Text)
(Author’s Note: Sprinkling flowers for the completion! Thank you to the little cuties who accompanied me to the end~ (Though I don’t know if there are any left). There might be side stories later, so don’t remove it from your library yet, babies.)
T/n: Completed~ Please support the author. Thank you! side stories are coming!~
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