The meaning behind Feng Jiu’er’s words — how could Zhan Qingcheng and Zhan Luori fail to understand?

Since the Empress Dowager had lived within the deep palace for so many years and had always kept herself removed from affairs of court and inner palace alike, matters such as this should not trouble her.

So if they were to discuss it now, they should not do so in her presence.

The three of them left the room and went directly to the side parlor. Zhan Luori, as before, stepped forward and knelt before Zhan Qingcheng, feeling the weight of his transgressions keenly.

All that talk about two medicines combining to form a lethal toxin — that explanation was nothing more than a pretext to protect everyone’s safety.

Had it not been for the Crown Prince’s assistance, how could things have gone so smoothly in convincing the world?

Yet the Crown Prince, knowing full well that they had poisoned him, was still capable of such magnanimity. Zhan Luori was truly consumed with guilt — he had failed the entire Zhan imperial dynasty!

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, I know this matter has nothing to do with the Crown Prince. His Highness is both humane and virtuous — he is a fine Crown Prince. It was my Imperial Mother who acted rashly and committed this grave error.”

But even if his Imperial Mother was in the wrong, the one most gravely at fault was him!

“I know Imperial Mother has never liked Nanmeng Rong. Only, I never imagined she would move directly against the Crown Prince. But no matter what, my Imperial Mother is a woman alone — she could not withstand severe punishment.”

He looked at Zhan Qingcheng, his expression sincere and earnest. “Ninth Imperial Uncle, the fault is mine. I ask Ninth Imperial Uncle to punish me, and to spare my Imperial Mother!”

Zhan Qingcheng said nothing, only gazing at him with calm indifference.

But Feng Jiu’er found her heart a little reluctant to let this stand. “Even if the problem lies with Noble Consort Jing, that has nothing to do with you. Why must you take this upon yourself?”

“No — it does concern me. If not for my sake, Imperial Mother would not have…”

Zhan Luori looked at Zhan Qingcheng. These words, too, were still addressed to him. “Ninth Imperial Uncle, you know clearly in your heart what Imperial Mother’s intentions were. But this was not my intention. I have absolutely no covetous desires.”

In saying this, he was not trying to evade responsibility — he wanted to convey to Ninth Imperial Uncle that, no matter what his Imperial Mother had done, he himself harbored no ambitions.

Everything his Imperial Mother had done amounted to nothing more than futile effort. Since it was futile — could leniency perhaps be shown?

“Noble Consort Jing’s extermination order nearly cost Zhan Yuheng his life at the hands of Jueyan. As of now, Jueyan may still be lurking somewhere within the imperial city, and there is no telling how many assassins remain within its walls, ready at any moment to take the Crown Prince’s life.”

Zhan Qingcheng’s brow was deeply furrowed. He had always been fond of Zhan Luori, but the error Noble Consort Jing had committed this time was simply far too grave.

“I understand. Imperial Mother has erred greatly this time. I ask Ninth Imperial Uncle to give me a chance — I will certainly persuade her to withdraw the extermination order.”

“I fear that Noble Consort Jing’s extermination order will not be so easily withdrawn.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at Zhan Luori. She was not trying to dampen his hopes — it was simply that she had heard a secret that perhaps even Zhan Luori did not know.

“What… do you mean?” A faint unease stirred in Zhan Luori’s heart — an unease that had accompanied him throughout the entire day.

There were things Feng Jiu’er truly did not wish to say. They were, after all, not pleasant things.

Perhaps after Zhan Luori learned of them, he would grieve, he would be heartbroken — he might even carry resentment.

But the matter already existed. He had the right to know.

“Seventh Imperial Princess… you… you were originally meant to have an elder imperial brother.”

“I already have…”

“No.” Jiu’er shook her head, meeting his gaze — something between helplessness and deep sorrow. “I mean a full blood brother — one who shared the same Imperial Mother.”

Zhan Luori’s heart jolted. He suddenly seized her wrist. “Feng Jiu’er, what do you mean by that?”

Even Zhan Qingcheng was staring at Jiu’er. In that moment, his habitually calm and expressionless face showed the faintest trace of surprise.

“I overheard it at the Crown Prince’s Yuyang Palace. Both Noble Consort Jing and Nanmeng Rong were there. I heard Noble Consort Jing’s words of bitter resentment. Back then, her eldest imperial son was actually born before the Crown Prince — but only a few days after birth, he was…”

It was truly something no one could bring themselves to say aloud. Yet without finding the root of the matter, how could Zhan Luori persuade Noble Consort Jing?

“Only a few days after birth, he was what? Feng Jiu’er, say it clearly!” Zhan Luori shot to his feet, and the fingers gripping Jiu’er’s hand tightened without cease.

Jiu’er felt a sharp sting at her wrist. The strength of the Seventh Imperial Princess was something few ordinary people could endure — it truly hurt!

Zhan Qingcheng’s gaze darkened. He caught the flash of pain in Jiu’er’s eyes, and a pang of tenderness struck him at once. “Luori, let go of her.”

Only then did Zhan Luori realize what he had done. He released Jiu’er’s hand at once. Yet the urgency with which he needed to know what had happened all those years ago was fierce and unrelenting.

Feng Jiu’er rubbed her wrist, then, keeping to the most essential points, relayed to them the conversation between Noble Consort Jing and Nanmeng Rong.

As it turned out, he had indeed had an elder imperial brother — an elder imperial brother who had been born alive and breathing into this world!

Yet only a few days after his birth, because he had arrived in this world ahead of Zhan Yuheng, Nanmeng Rong would not permit him to live. She had even killed that imperial brother with her own hands — right before their mother’s eyes!

So it was that all these years, his Imperial Mother had silently borne such immense pain all on her own. So it was that she had lived with such suffering all this time!

No wonder his Imperial Mother had treated him the way she had. Only now, today, did Zhan Luori understand why his own twenty years had passed as they had.

He had once harbored resentment toward his Imperial Mother — had not understood her, had even rebelled against her. Yet he had not known that all along, she had merely been living within a state of perpetual fear and hatred.

She harbored hatred — yet she also lived in constant terror. She feared that the tragedy of those years might repeat itself, again and again. Was that not it?

That wretched Nanmeng Rong!

“I will kill that vile woman!” Zhan Luori let out a cry — a cry with no ornament, no restraint — and his voice was… so low and deep, so rich in timbre!

Feng Jiu’er was startled out of her senses. She stood frozen where she was, staring at the figure of Zhan Luori as he charged out the door, utterly unable to process what she had witnessed.

The Seventh Imperial Princess was actually… he was actually…

But — what had the Seventh Imperial Princess just said he intended to do? He was going to kill Nanmeng Rong?

Things had only just now calmed down with great difficulty. Noble Consort Jing, the Seventh Imperial Princess — and even she herself — could all be released without charge. If he were to kill Nanmeng Rong now, matters would grow complicated once more.

Was this person out of his mind? Even if he truly intended to kill her, could he not do it in secret later?

Charging over openly like this, in broad daylight — who knew how much ammunition it would give the Nanmeng clan!

“Seventh…”

A flash of white before her eyes — by the time Feng Jiu’er gave chase to the outer side of the parlor, Zhan Qingcheng’s tall, lean silhouette had already positioned itself squarely in front of Zhan Luori.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle!” Don’t stop him — nobody should stop him!

He had to go kill Nanmeng Rong. He had to!

“Your Imperial Mother endured pain and fear for so many years, only to raise a child this reckless and incapable?”

Zhan Qingcheng narrowed his eyes and laid a palm on his shoulder, pushing him back.

“If you go now, how is that any different from walking to your own death? Your Imperial Mother’s painstaking care over all these years — will you let it be destroyed in a single moment by your own hand?”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, I…” He had no desire to ruin her plans. It was only that…

But Zhan Qingcheng said evenly, “If I were you, the better course right now would be to go and see Noble Consort Jing first.”