◎The Reason◎

When the Grand Prince Imperial emerged, there was blood on his mouth and a clear shoe print on his chest. Prince Qi’s heir didn’t need to think much to know what he had endured.

He entered the rear hall anxiously and knelt. Before he could kowtow, he heard the Emperor ask: “A’Zhi is also eight years old now, isn’t he?”

Hearing his son’s name, Prince Qi’s heir’s heart immediately leapt. He nodded: “Yes, he just turned eight last month.”

The Emperor leaned back in his chair, slowly exhaling a breath, speaking with pointed meaning: “The Grand Prince just told me his health is poor and he wants to send A’Li here for me to raise. I thought, raising one child is raising, raising two is also raising. Are you willing to send A’Zhi here to me?”

Prince Qi’s heir was stunned for a long while before slowly understanding—Imperial Grandfather had already negotiated terms with the Grand Prince Imperial.

Which meant… Father had been abandoned?

Why?

Prince Qi’s heir felt cold all over. Trembling, he asked: “This matter clearly shows someone is framing him. Imperial Grandfather, you must investigate thoroughly. Father would never—”

But before he could finish, the Emperor seemed somewhat displeased. He waved his hand. “A’Bai, I’m asking you about A’Zhi’s studies.”

Prince Qi’s heir swallowed the words in his mouth bit by bit. He realized again that Imperial Grandfather asking this question not only meant abandoning Father, but was also demanding his pledge of allegiance, and moreover asking his attitude toward “Father’s confession.”

He began to hesitate. If the Grand Prince Imperial was willing to use A’Li as a pledge of allegiance to please the Emperor, naturally he was also willing to let A’Zhi go.

But… he didn’t know how to choose Father’s life or death.

If the true culprit of the Shu Province case fell upon Father, then in the end there might truly be only death.

Even if he didn’t die, he would certainly be reduced to commoner status. For the prideful Father, this would be no different from a fate worse than death.

Prince Qi’s heir’s complexion grew increasingly pale. Though Father wasn’t good and was unwilling to hand over military authority to him, and the two indeed had many disagreements, no matter what, he didn’t want to see Father defeated like this.

His heart grew anxious. He wanted to find a way to break through, yet discovered he stood before the Grand Prince Imperial’s trap completely unaware.

He didn’t understand why, among all the many things that had happened these past years, only this matter at this time made Imperial Grandfather so concerned as to follow the Grand Prince Imperial’s wishes.

Because he didn’t know why, he couldn’t resolve it, much less make a choice. After a long while, he even felt Imperial Grandfather was truly executing him by tormenting his heart.

If Father was guilty, then convict him. If he wanted to kill Father, then kill him.

Why make him take a stance?

This was simply torture.

Kneeling there, he suddenly thought back to many years ago when the late Crown Prince died—had the Grand Prince Imperial also once made such a choice like he was now?

What did he choose?

Was it the late Crown Prince’s death?

What should he choose now?

Prince Qi’s heir’s whole body began trembling. His eyes reddened and he immediately choked up: “Imperial Grandfather… this grandson, this grandson… this grandson is willing to let A’Zhi study together with A’Li. But…”

But what about afterward?

When A’Li and A’Zhi grow up, would A’Zhi also face such a choice?

How A’Zhi would choose, he didn’t know. He only knew he couldn’t make this choice.

He raised his head to look at the Emperor, murmuring: “But Imperial Grandfather, this grandson has you and has support in his heart. But if A’Zhi loses his grandfather, what should he do?”

The Emperor smiled. “A’Bai, A’Zhi still has you. As long as you can distinguish right from wrong, A’Zhi will naturally grow into a good child.”

Prince Qi’s heir’s heart sank deeper and deeper. Distinguish right from wrong?

What did distinguishing right from wrong mean? Should he show complete indifference toward Father’s death?

Prince Qi’s heir thought of the Grand Prince Imperial again.

When he went to study at the Eastern Palace, the late Crown Prince had just died. How the Grand Prince Imperial’s expression was at that time, he could no longer recall clearly, but he remembered the Grand Prince’s face didn’t show much sorrow.

He had smiled cheerfully and said to him, “A’Bai, remember to review your lessons when you return today. A’Bai, when you come tomorrow, remember to help me buy some trinkets.”

Was this the “distinguishing right from wrong” Imperial Grandfather required?

Prince Qi’s heir felt cold all over. Though it was already summer, he felt as if it were the dead of winter.

He didn’t know if he could do it. Whether he could be like the Grand Prince Imperial and achieve “distinguishing right from wrong.”

…

On the other side, the Grand Prince Imperial returned to the great hall and continued kneeling properly. Prince Qi turned his head to look at him, his gaze inscrutable. “What did you just say to His Majesty that made him summon A’Bai?”

The Grand Prince Imperial remained silent.

Prince Qi narrowed his eyes. On the surface he revealed nothing, but his heart began to panic.

He was an intelligent person. If the Emperor’s attitude in the great hall earlier had been ambiguous, then now there should be a difference.

His heart began pounding. For the first time he felt he had reached a life-or-death crisis. He demanded sternly: “Grand Prince, what nonsense did you spout before His Majesty?”

The Grand Prince Imperial remained silent in response.

But the more he didn’t speak, the more violent and anxious Prince Qi became. He asked through gritted teeth in a low voice: “What exactly did you do?”

By rights, even if the Emperor was weary of him, he wouldn’t be so fooled by the Grand Prince Imperial’s faction.

And as long as he used the four words “forming factions for personal gain” to refute the Grand Prince Imperial’s party, there wouldn’t be too many problems. At most he’d be confined a few more years.

But looking at it now, it seemed the Emperor had completely abandoned him.

Where was the problem?

His expression changed unpredictably, many thoughts in his mind, yet unable to sort them out. He could only look fiercely at the Grand Prince and say: “Don’t be too smug…”

The Grand Prince Imperial looked at him quietly. “Uncle Prince Qi, you killed so many people. Imperial Grandfather also feels you should confess.”

Prince Qi scoffed, about to say more, when he saw his son return to the great hall.

But the Emperor didn’t return.

The mockery on Prince Qi’s face slowly stiffened, then he clenched his fist and asked Prince Qi’s heir: “Where is His Majesty?”

Prince Qi’s heir lowered his head. “Father, His Majesty said your case will be handed over to the Court of Judicial Review for trial.”

Prince Qi first froze, then understanding the meaning, his body swayed. He looked toward the inner hall in disbelief, suddenly striding forward.

The eunuchs on both sides saw this and hurried to stop him, finally restraining him. Though Prince Qi was restrained, he remained unwilling. He shouted loudly: “Imperial Father, hear your son’s explanation—at least hear your son explain once—”

“Are you abandoning your son? Imperial Father, no matter what your son has done, toward you he has been utterly loyal—”

But no matter how he shouted, the Emperor never emerged.

Yu Qingwu had been kneeling to the side watching. Only when Prince Qi was led away by people from the Court of Judicial Review did he breathe a sigh of relief.

However, immediately after, he too would be taken to the Court of Judicial Review for confinement.

Though the Emperor had sided with the Grand Prince Imperial, he also detested this method.

The Emperor always needed to vent his anger.

Yu Qingwu wasn’t flustered. It wasn’t the first time he’d been confined.

He only looked toward Magistrate Sun before leaving.

Magistrate Sun was indeed a shrewd character and immediately came over eagerly. Having watched such a great drama today, knowing the Grand Prince Imperial’s faction had temporarily won, how would he dare offend them?

Thinking of the lamp Liu Guan had sent to Lan Shanjun last time, he fawned: “Court of Imperial Stud Minister Yu, rest assured. When I return later, I’ll send a lamp to Madam Yu.”

Yu Qingwu shook his head. “Magistrate Sun is too kind. My wife isn’t afraid of the dark.”

Magistrate Sun: “Then what is it?”

Yu Qingwu: “My household steward is surnamed Qian. She’ll send food over. I hope you’ll accommodate this.”

Magistrate Sun: “Accommodate, accommodate—certainly.”

How would he dare not accommodate?

He was also good friends with the Imperial Academy’s chancellor and had heard of Nanny Qian’s great reputation.

—

On the road back to the Eastern Palace, the Grand Prince Imperial was blocked by Prince Qi’s heir.

He wasn’t surprised.

A’Bai was sometimes quite naive.

He smiled. “Have you come to scold me again?”

Prince Qi’s heir shook his head. “No.”

He just couldn’t figure out no matter what why things had suddenly become like this.

He also didn’t know what he should do now, or with what face he should confront Father.

He asked: “Even if it’s death, I should die understanding clearly.”

The Grand Prince Imperial laughed. “A’Bai…”

He said with emotion: “Since you asked, let me also ask you… do you still remember what I looked like as a child?”

Prince Qi’s heir nodded hesitantly.

The Grand Prince Imperial: “How do you think my health was then?”

Prince Qi’s heir: “…It was never good.”

The Grand Prince Imperial: “But I wasn’t born unhealthy.”

He asked: “Don’t you understand yet? Uncle Prince Qi reaching this point was absolutely not achieved in a single day.”

“My body, Yuanniang’s body… he dared to harm both. His courage is so great, he’s always taken extreme measures. Reaching this point now, why would you find it incomprehensible?”

Prince Qi’s heir remained silent, yet also understood.

So that was it.

The Grand Prince Imperial continued: “Moreover, from the Marquis Boyuan case to the Wu Qingchuan case, Uncle Prince Qi lost everything… he retreated step by step until he was confined—hasn’t he been losing all along? It’s not as if this suddenly happened. What is there for you to not understand?”

Prince Qi’s heir felt suppressed by the momentum of these words, feeling that after this incident, half his fighting spirit was already gone.

He was very confused now.

These past years, Father had indeed been retreating step by step. Several confrontations, yet not once had he won.

Could he himself win then?

Or rather, could he keep up the pretense before Imperial Grandfather?

He murmured: “Back then, did you truly not resent Imperial Grandfather?”

The Grand Prince Imperial paused, shook his head and walked forward, unwilling to say more. Prince Qi’s heir’s gaze followed him, also knowing he’d asked the wrong question. Then he suddenly asked: “Big Brother, is your health… truly poor now?”

The Grand Prince Imperial paused briefly, lightly nodded. “Yes, it’s poor.”

Didn’t dare be well.

He returned to the Eastern Palace where the Grand Princess Consort was anxiously waiting for him. Seeing him return safely, she breathed a sigh of relief.

She said: “His Majesty didn’t suspect anything, did he?”

The Grand Prince Imperial shook his head. “No.”

“But he should send imperial physicians over to confirm my physical condition.”

Their stratagem—the Shu Province case was ultimately just the introduction. The real case was his body.

When initially discussing the Shu Province case, the Grand Prince Imperial had begun privately damaging his health.

The Grand Princess Consort and others all disagreed, but the Grand Prince Imperial felt since they were gambling, they should gamble big: “Shanjun can gamble everything, why can’t I?”

He said: “My health is poor. Back then I suspected Prince Qi. But because there was no evidence, and His Majesty favored Prince Qi at the time, it went nowhere. But with Yuanniang’s poisoning incident, whether there’s evidence or not is no longer important. What’s important is I may not live long, yet can’t determine the cause.”

This was what the Emperor worried about.

It was also most critical.

He feared he too would be poisoned and killed.

The Grand Prince Imperial said to the Grand Princess Consort: “From the moment you didn’t die from poisoning, everything completely changed. But Prince Qi and A’Bai seem to have never realized this. Today neither understood the principle within.”

The Grand Princess Consort’s forehead kept beading with fine sweat. She said softly: “You never dared be so ruthless with your own body before.”

Those in power care most about their own lifespan. The Grand Prince Imperial had cared before, yet now actively damaged himself.

The Grand Princess Consort’s eyes reddened. She turned away. “A’Hu, you’re certain you’re alright?”

The Grand Prince Imperial smiled, consoling her: “I’m fine. Yu Qingwu’s medical skills are actually quite good.”

But his chest kept aching faintly. He didn’t dare speak of it, only lying down on his side. “Yuanniang, next, let’s see what Prince Qi thinks.”

He said quietly: “When I returned, Yu Qingwu gestured toward my shoulder.”

It looked like concern for his injury, but the Grand Prince Imperial thought of Liu Guan.

He closed his eyes. “When walls fall, everyone pushes…”

He said: “I still need to find an opportunity to test him.”

—

In the Court of Judicial Review prison, Prince Qi’s heir knelt on the ground being severely scolded by Prince Qi. No matter how Prince Qi scolded, he didn’t utter a word. He felt guilty, ashamed, pained, yet unable to refute Father’s every sentence.

He truly was worthless.

Prince Qi grew tired of scolding, his heart utterly cold. Then he said: “You’ve already been frightened senseless by his momentum, become a useless waste. This is my fault—I failed to teach you properly.”

“Since that’s the case, then help me do another thing.”

He said: “I’ve used thirty years to reach this point. I cannot possibly give up.”