Prince Qi hadn’t set foot outside his residence in a long time. His mother’s attempt to harm Princess Fuqing had incurred the Emperor’s complete disdain, forcing him into seclusion.
Fortunately, he still had the letter his mother left behind. Even though the Emperor had unexpectedly named the Seventh Prince as Crown Prince early on, as long as he could gain Empress Dowager’s support, he’d have a chance to turn the tables.
The steward hurried in, his face grim. “Your Highness, a major incident has occurred.”
Prince Qi’s hand tightened on the Buddhist scripture he was holding. “What is it?”
The steward lowered his head, not daring to meet Prince Qi’s gaze. “News just arrived that the Emperor has abdicated in favor of the Crown Prince—”
Prince Qi abruptly stood up, the scripture falling to the ground.
The book lay open, its teachings of tranquility and equanimity glaringly visible, as if mocking the one who had dropped it.
Prince Qi ran out, stepping on the scripture without hesitation.
“Your Highness—” The steward hurried after him. “Please don’t act rashly!”
In recent days, the Prince had seemed off. Though outwardly calm, his eyes held a terrifying depth.
This version of the Prince made the steward uneasy.
Prince Qi stopped, quickly returned to his study and shut the steward out.
Not long after, Prince Qi reopened the door and strode out.
“Your Highness, where are you going?”
“Since when do I need to report my whereabouts to you? Move aside!”
Prince Qi pushed past the steward, left his residence, and headed straight for the Imperial Palace.
He couldn’t wait any longer.
All this waiting had seen the Seventh Prince transform from an unremarkable prince to Prince Yan, then to Crown Prince, and now to the new Emperor!
He had been foolish to hope for the Empress Dowager’s assistance and plan a gradual approach.
How stupid he had been!
In his agitated state, Prince Qi nearly fell off his horse.
Nearing the Imperial City, Prince Qi dismounted and requested an audience with the Empress Dowager at the palace gates.
By now, the Empress Dowager had been placed under house arrest. The news of Prince Qi’s request didn’t reach Cining Palace but instead reached the ears of Emperor Jingming, who was still temporarily serving as Emperor.
“Fourth Prince requests to see the Empress Dowager?” Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingming’s expression immediately turned cold.
He had no intention of seeing Prince Yu Zhuang again, but the Fourth Prince’s desire to meet the Empress Dowager forced his hand.
Why would the Fourth Prince seek an audience with the Empress Dowager just as he was about to abdicate?
“Bring Prince Qi here.”
Prince Qi hadn’t expected Emperor Jingming would see him. Feeling somewhat excited, he knelt and said with a trembling voice, “Your son pays his respects to Imperial Father.”
Emperor Jingming scrutinized Prince Qi and got straight to the point. “What business do you have with the Empress Dowager?”
Prince Qi, prostrate on the ground, hesitated before replying, “Your son hasn’t entered the palace to pay respects to you and Imperial Grandmother for a long time. I’ve missed you both dearly…”
Emperor Jingming’s gaze deepened. “It’s good that you miss your elders, but things are hectic right now. If you wish to pay your respects to me, you can come after the new Emperor ascends the throne. I’ll have time then.”
If the Fourth Prince had come at that time, he might have been more lenient.
With the throne given to the Seventh Prince, he might have been more forgiving towards his other sons, even those who had erred and hurt him.
Prince Qi hurriedly said, “Your son thought Imperial Father would be busy, so I wanted to visit Imperial Grandmother first.”
“There’s no need to visit the Empress Dowager. She’s advanced in years and needs rest.”
Prince Qi, unwilling to give up, asked, “Has Imperial Grandmother been unwell lately?”
Emperor Jingming, unable to contain his anger any longer, exploded, “You unfilial creature! What are you after, seeking the Empress Dowager so desperately? Are you anxious because I’ve passed the throne to the Seventh Prince? Do you hope to enlist the Empress Dowager’s help in seizing the throne?”
Prince Qi, face pale with fright, hastily prostrated himself. “Imperial Father, your son would never harbor such thoughts—”
“If you have no such thoughts, then get out of my sight!”
Hearing Emperor Jingming’s roar, Prince Qi felt as if an icicle had pierced his heart.
Time and again, he had merely wanted to pay respects to his Imperial Grandmother. Such a simple request, yet why was his father so harsh with him alone?
Why was this happening?
Prince Qi couldn’t understand. He remained kneeling, stiff as a board.
Emperor Jingming grew increasingly furious. He shouted, “Pan Hai, are you all dead? Or is it that I’m about to become Emperor Emeritus and my words no longer carry weight?”
Pan Hai quickly instructed two eunuchs to drag Prince Qi away.
Prince Qi’s mind was in a fog. When the eunuchs began to drag him, he was jolted into struggling. “Imperial Father, your son’s heart is as pure as the sun and moon. I truly have no such intentions. Your words leave me unable to face anyone—”
With a soft thud, a letter fell from Prince Qi’s bosom during the scuffle.
The scene froze.
Emperor Jingming, from his elevated position, reacted fastest. “Bring it to me!”
Prince Qi snapped out of his daze and lunged for the letter.
Pan Hai grabbed Prince Qi’s wrist with one hand and picked up the letter with the other, swiftly presenting it to Emperor Jingming.
Emperor Jingming’s eyelid twitched upon seeing the delicate handwriting on the letter. After reading its contents, his face clouded over, terrifyingly dark.
“So this was your purpose in coming to see the Empress Dowager?” Emperor Jingming held up the letter, his hand shaking.
Prince Qi was utterly silent now, collapsed on the gold brick floor, trembling like a sieve.
Emperor Jingming walked over, kicking Prince Qi while throwing the thick stack of letters at his face.
“Like mother, like son. You beast of poor character, I should have sent you to guard the imperial tombs long ago!”
Prince Qi dodged Emperor Jingming’s kicks. Upon hearing the words “guard the imperial tombs,” his eyes suddenly went blank. He lost all reason and lunged for the letters in Emperor Jingming’s hand.
Pan Hai, alarmed, pulled Emperor Jingming back to protect him and kicked Prince Qi far away.
Prince Qi’s head hit the hard gold bricks, but he continued to shout, “I won’t guard the imperial tombs! I have the letter, the letter Mother left for me!”
Pan Hai covered his mouth.
Oh no, had he kicked Prince Qi into madness?
“Your Majesty, Prince Qi—”
By now, Emperor Jingming had also noticed something was amiss. He coldly ordered, “Gag Prince Qi and send him back to his residence under guard. He is not to see anyone from outside!”
He had planned to turn a blind eye and let this son live out his days as an idle prince, but upon seeing this letter, he realized how foolish that idea was.
He had wanted to show mercy to this beast, but this beast had never understood gratitude.
He had already abdicated to become Emperor Emeritus and didn’t want to stain his hands with his own son’s blood. So let the Fourth Prince be confined for life, just like the Empress Dowager.
From now on, they would never see each other again, in this life or the next.
Prince Qi was quietly sent back to his residence. Soon after, a eunuch reported, “Prince Qi has gone mad.”
While the new Emperor’s ascension ceremony was a joyous occasion, with the entire capital resounding with celebration, Prince Qi’s vast residence was deathly silent as if abandoned.
In a corner of a room, Prince Qi clutched a stack of copied scriptures tightly to his chest. His hair was disheveled, his eyes unfocused, as he muttered incessantly, “My letter, the letter Mother left for me, with this letter I was to become Crown Prince…”
Outside the door, a servant covered his ears and looked to the heavens.
He dared not listen to such words.
Ah, when would this nightmare end?
As time passed, news of Prince Qi’s madness gradually spread. One day, it reached the ears of Princess Qi, who was living a life of quiet devotion in a family temple.
Princess Qi cursed it as karma several times, wept bitterly, and from then on became even more devout in her Buddhist practices.
In this world, one must not commit evil deeds, for karma will surely come, sooner or later.
This applied to her, and even more so to that heartless, fickle scoundrel.
This outcome was fitting.