Volume 1, Chapter 35: The True Heiress Is a Powerhouse
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“Mother, let me go.” Si Chengnian rose and walked straight out.
The moment he pushed open the door of the Imperial Study, the clamor beneath the corridor fell abruptly silent.
The Third Prince, Si Chengyu, folded his arms and cast him a sidelong glance, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. “Well, well. If it isn’t our ‘hostage crown prince’ returned from the Kingdom of Shang. What is it? Having just finished attending to Father, you finally have time to come out and meet us ‘idle folk’?”
The Fourth Prince, Si Chengze, sneered as well. “Third Brother, mind your words. His Highness the Crown Prince is Father’s favorite now. Perhaps he has already forgotten the rest of us. After all, how could the days spent as a hostage in Shang compare with the comfort of being Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Yan?”
Standing atop the steps, Si Chengnian’s expression was as tranquil as deep water. “Father is gravely ill and needs peace and quiet. You have brought guards to make a disturbance outside the Imperial Study. Are you trying to let the whole realm know that the princes of Yan care so little for their father’s safety that they are willing to fight over the succession at his bedside?”
“Stop making wild accusations!”
Si Chengyu charged forward two steps and pointed at his nose. “Who doesn’t know that your so-called endurance of humiliation in Shang was nothing but an act? You must have colluded with Shang long ago, planning to hand Yan’s realm over to them! Oh, that’s right—you’re even going to marry someone from Shang. I hear her family commands military power.”
Si Chengnian gave a soft laugh, his gaze passing over the two of them as though they were nothing more than clowns putting on a foolish performance. “Colluded? I am the Crown Prince personally appointed by Father. Whom would I need to collude with to secure my position? You, on the other hand, have brought guards to blockade the Imperial Study. Are you planning to stage a coup?”
“You’re talking nonsense!” Si Chengyu’s face flushed crimson. “We only came to pay our respects to Father!”
“Pay your respects?” Si Chengnian descended the steps at an unhurried pace. “Father had just taken his medicine and fallen asleep, yet you are shouting and causing a scene here. You call that paying your respects? Or are you hoping he will never wake, so that you may seize power while you have the chance?”
Si Chengze stamped his foot in fury. “You slander us! We are Father’s own sons. How could we possibly—”
Si Chengnian cut him off, his voice suddenly turning cold and severe. “When Father sent me to Shang as a hostage, and you were indulging in wine and women and forming factions for personal gain in the capital, why did you not remember that you were his own sons? Now that Father is gravely ill, you suddenly remember filial duty?”
“What are you talking about? Stop making baseless accusations and produce evidence!”
Si Chengyu grew even more furious.
It had been many years since anyone had dared behave so insolently before him.
“If you want evidence, that can be arranged.”
Si Chengnian beckoned to the attendant beside him, who handed over two account books.
“I prepared these long ago. Originally, because we were brothers, I intended to turn a blind eye and let the matter pass. But since you are so stubborn and unrepentant, do not blame me for showing you no mercy.”
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Si Chengze was so enraged that he drew his sword and swung it at him. “I’ll kill you, you worthless hostage!”
“Outrageous!”
Si Chengnian sidestepped the blow. “Drawing a weapon in the Emperor’s presence is tantamount to treason! Guards, seize these two rebels who have disgraced themselves before the Emperor and attempted to murder their elder brother!”
The Black-Armored Guards, who had been waiting in the shadows, surged forward at once and pinned the two princes to the ground.
Si Chengyu continued to struggle and curse. “Si Chengnian, you bastard! What right do you have to punish us?”
At that moment, Consort Li and Consort Xian hurried over. Their faces changed drastically when they saw their sons held down on the ground.
Consort Li screamed and rushed forward. “Your Highness, please spare them! They are young and foolish. For the Emperor’s sake, I beg you to let them go!”
Consort Xian fell to her knees as well, weeping prettily. “Your Highness, Chengze was merely acting on impulse. He had absolutely no intention of murdering his brother! Please show mercy!”
Si Chengnian looked down at them from the steps. His voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable authority. “Disgracing oneself before the Emperor is a grave offense and cannot simply be pardoned. However, in consideration of the Emperor’s illness, they will be confined to their residences for now and ordered to copy the Classic of Filial Piety one hundred times. If either of them dares set foot outside his residence again, do not blame me for disregarding our fraternal ties.”
With that, he waved his hand. The Black-Armored Guards immediately dragged away the two princes, who were still cursing furiously.
Consort Li and Consort Xian collapsed onto the ground. As they watched their sons being taken away, their eyes brimmed with venom, yet neither dared utter another word.
Si Chengnian straightened the hem of his robe and had just stepped into the Imperial Study when he saw the Emperor struggling to sit up. His withered hands clutched the brocade quilt tightly, and a surprising clarity shone through his clouded eyes.
“You did well.”
The Emperor’s voice was hoarse, but his approval was unmistakable. “You did not allow them to draw their weapons before me, nor did you imitate those foolish rulers who turn brothers against one another for the sake of power.”
Si Chengnian bowed. “Your son would never dare forget Father’s teachings.”
The Emperor coughed twice, and the Empress hurried forward to soothe him.
He waved her away, his gaze settling on Si Chengnian. Then he sighed. “Chengyu and Chengze… were led astray by their mothers. Their nature is not truly evil.”
He paused, a pleading look in his eyes. “Your father knows that you suffered greatly in Shang, and that you harbor resentment. But they are still your brothers. In the future… do not take their lives, all right?”
Si Chengnian was silent for a moment. When he raised his head, the cold severity in his eyes had vanished. “Your son gives you his word, Father. So long as they conduct themselves properly, I will not make things difficult for them.”
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Only then did the Emperor let out a breath of relief. He leaned back against the couch and closed his weary eyes. “Good… good…”
The Empress gave Si Chengnian a meaningful glance, signaling for him and An Qianqian to withdraw.
Once the three of them reached the corridor, she spoke in a low voice. “Your father’s heart is simply too soft. But remember this: mercy toward an enemy is cruelty toward oneself.”
“Mother, from the very beginning, I never intended to let them live. The two of them are too foolish to become my allies. More often than not, they only drag me down.”
“Very well. Even if you intend to act, it would be best to wait until after your father has passed away. When the time comes, just make sure you do not soil your own hands.”
The struggle for the imperial throne had always been waged through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
Consort Li and Consort Xian were ruthless women. They would never let the matter rest so easily.
Today had merely been a test. Everyone knew it perfectly well.
An Qianqian was utterly exhausted after spending the day in the imperial palace.
When she returned to the An residence, she saw An Huantuo staring anxiously at box after box of gifts that had been delivered to their door.
“Little Sister, you’re finally back. Several noble young ladies suddenly came bearing gifts today, all of them for you. They also sent calling cards, hoping to meet you.”
An Qianqian did not even spare the gifts a glance. She asked directly, “We have only just arrived here. Why would they send me gifts?”
“I made some inquiries. Apparently, all of these young ladies wish to marry a prince and become his principal wife. But no one expected Si Chengnian to return so suddenly. Not only has he firmly retained his position as Crown Prince, he has also chosen his Crown Princess. So they decided to come and take a look at you.”
“Take a look at me? Do they want to become his secondary consort?”
“That is probably what they have in mind. After all, if Si Chengnian becomes Emperor, he will eventually have three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two consorts. They cannot hope to seize the position of Empress for now, since that concerns the diplomatic relations between two kingdoms. But the position of secondary consort is still something they can compete for.”
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