Only now did Prince Gong realize his princess consort’s composure was excessively abnormal. Ordinary people hearing such news would at least be frightened for a while. Even if not frightened or panicked, they should at least worry. But she showed neither of these, and didn’t even ask a single superfluous question. This made her seem somewhat terrifying. Although his heart was currently in utter chaos, he still knew this wasn’t a normal person’s reaction. He couldn’t help asking: “Why don’t you ask me more about it?”
Yang Shi was helping him pack the remaining medicine into a chest. Hearing this, she turned to look at him. After a long while, she smiled gently and softly: “Your Highness is already suffering enough. My asking more won’t change anything. Moreover, Your Highness could have avoided falling into this trap—you did it for me and the children. It’s just that Elder Du and Crown Princess Lu were somewhat too ruthless.”
Prince Gong’s face completely darkened. He rarely showed his emotions openly, but the closer they got to the capital, the more those past grievances and humiliations burrowed into his mind, making it impossible for him to remain calm.
Throughout this entire journey, even now his mind couldn’t recall anything clearly. It was chaotic as a bowl of mush. Even today’s conflict with Emperor Jianzhang and the rupture with Empress Lu seemed like nothing more than a dream, not the least bit real.
But the neatly arrayed Imperial Guards outside reminded him that all of this was real. His brows and eyes darkened, and the wound on his forehead ached faintly: “Yes, speaking of it, my teacher truly saw me off one last time.”
This statement had a double meaning. Princess Consort Gong finally stopped smiling, looking up at Prince Gong: “I’ll wait for you to return.”
Prince Gong fell silent for a moment, then shook his head at her: “Father Emperor originally only planned to make me stay in my fief and never return. He didn’t plan to humiliate me like this before all under heaven. Once I submit this letter, it will be like a death warrant.”
Princess Consort Gong’s complexion grew cold bit by bit. A moment later, she smiled again, straightening his collar: “What overnight grudge exists between father and son? Father Emperor is just venting his anger verbally. Once you return from this trip, everything will be fine.”
Seeing Prince Gong’s defeated expression, she couldn’t help reaching out to smooth his forehead, softly and gently persuading him: “If Elder Du won’t help Your Highness, we still have others. Your Highness must not lose heart.”
This time Prince Gong finally became clearheaded. He grabbed Princess Consort Gong’s hand tightly, staring at her with furrowed brows for a long while. After a long moment, he spat out a sentence: “Don’t act recklessly!”
Emperor Jianzhang’s patience had reached its limit. He had always valued brotherly harmony most, yet the Crown Prince and he had quarreled so fiercely they nearly came to blows, almost killing Zhou Weizhao. He was furious to the extreme—otherwise, he wouldn’t have completely severed his hopes. A prince wearing the considerable infamy of disobedience—if nothing unexpected happened, even if all the Zhou family’s descendants died out, he still wouldn’t have a share of ascending the throne. Just the eight characters “justified cause” and “popular support” could nail him dead—where would he have any opportunity to emerge?
With matters reaching this point, if he truly cared for his wife and children, he should obediently go guard the imperial mausoleum for three months, tuck his tail between his legs, accept his demotion, and return to his fief. Perhaps he could still keep his life. Otherwise…
Princess Consort Gong lowered her head, her hand sliding from Prince Gong’s grasp, looking at him: “Your Highness, if we don’t make a move, how can we continue living?”
Outside, Wu Feng was already knocking on the door to urge: “Your Highness, the Grand Prince is asking if you’ve finished packing. The city gates are about to close.”
Prince Gong thus rarely showed a fierce expression, pinching Yang Shi’s hand so hard it hurt, unable to care about that. He sternly and severely warned her: “You understand nothing—absolutely do not act recklessly! Otherwise, once you take one wrong step, there will be eternal damnation!”
He frowned, fearing Princess Consort Gong wouldn’t listen and would act recklessly. He added: “Whatever matters there are, wait until safely returning to the fief to discuss them. If you cause trouble now, I fear we truly won’t be able to return to the fief.”
He straightened his clothes. Seeing Princess Consort Gong nod, he forced her to swear an oath before finally feeling at ease to go out. Upon leaving, he saw the Chief Administrator following closely at his heels. After thinking for a moment, he instructed him: “You needn’t accompany me. Stay at the prince’s mansion and help the princess consort make some decisions.”
He had completely fallen out with his parents, but his wife and son couldn’t be taken away. The Mid-Autumn Festival and Emperor Jianzhang’s birthday celebrations still required arrangements and gift-giving. At this moment, if they made even one misstep, there truly would be no road back.
The Chief Administrator stopped and acknowledged the order. Seeing everyone around was far away and the Imperial Guards were still waiting at the courtyard gate, he lowered his voice to ask: “Regarding Elder Du…”
Regarding Elder Du—Prince Gong stopped in his tracks, looking at the Chief Administrator. He wanted to say something but held back, letting out a long breath: “Don’t think about those things for now. Someone will deal with him.”
Hearing him say this, the Chief Administrator knew they were thinking along the same lines—Elder Du was so enthusiastic. His former master had barely fallen before he went seeking a high platform to climb. But at his advanced age, having mixed in officialdom for so long, how could he not understand that once a person was branded with a mark, it wasn’t so easily removed?
Never mind whether those political enemies would accept an elder whose backing had already collapsed, even Crown Princess Lu—having used him this once, would she really reuse him? Who would dare greatly employ someone who switched allegiances so readily?
Having finished speaking, both looked toward the gate. This Grand Prince clearly wasn’t someone muddled and ignorant. Elder Du thought he could rise by stepping on his former master, but didn’t consider whether the Grand Prince would offend the Song family and Cui family for someone like him.
In just this brief glance, someone outside had already come to urge again. This time, it was Chiliarch Hong Fa who came. He was also a capable person. Although Prince Gong had now fallen on hard times, he still courteously prostrated himself in obeisance—even a fallen prince was still imperial clan, wasn’t he?
The Chief Administrator was somewhat surprised, never expecting there would still be such sincere people in the Imperial Guard. He accompanied Prince Gong out the door, watching him board the carriage before finally stopping and sighing deeply.
One wrong step led to step after step being wrong. Who would have thought such bright prospects would turn to nothing in an instant? When entering the capital, he had thought they could sweep away the Eastern Palace in one move and take over themselves. But now, forget about taking over—they’d lost even their pants.
He entered the room, preparing to go to Prince Gong’s study to sort out what remaining things couldn’t be kept. Then he heard Princess Consort Gong had summoned him. Upon going, he learned Princess Consort Gong was asking about gift-giving matters for the Song family daughter’s wedding day.
The Song family marrying off their daughter was a major recent event in the capital. She was marrying the legitimate son of Li Yu. Recently, everyone in the capital had been discussing it. Bringing it up now, the Chief Administrator understood and furrowed his brows, thinking for a moment: “Would Your Highness not inquire with Princess Consort Lu and Princess Consort Su? Whatever they send, we’ll follow suit and send the same.”