Chapter 657

Hu Xiaotian originally wanted Xiong Tianba to leave first, so this brat wouldn't stay in Yongdu and cause trouble, but Zhou Mo's reasoning also made sense—aside from Zhou Mo and himself, no one else could really control this brat, so keeping him nearby was more reassuring.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Then let Zhao Chongwu go with you."

Xiao Tianmu said, "No need to worry about this; I'll have Gao Yuan accompany them to Hailing Commandery—this kid is clever enough to arrange everything properly."

Hu Xiaotian said, "The rest of us will return to Rising Sovereign Palace to see how things develop, then act accordingly."

After everyone left, Xiao Tianmu kept Hu Xiaotian behind; knowing he had something important to say, Hu Xiaotian whispered, "Second Brother, what are your orders?"

Xiao Tianmu said, "Third Brother, in fact a war between Da Yong and Dakang is inevitable sooner or later; even if that witch kills Xue Daoming, it merely sparks the war earlier."

Hu Xiaotian startled inside—he had long understood this as well. Dakang daily weakened, having fallen from its former Central Plains hegemony to become a piece of fat everyone wants to devour. This marriage alliance might buy a little time, but it absolutely cannot bring lasting peace. Xiao Tianmu is right; even if Xi Yan kills Xue Daoming, this debt will still be charged to Dakang's account, and he himself suffers little loss in this matter. As long as the marriage alliance is completed satisfactorily, he will have fulfilled his duty and answered to Dakang.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Even so, if she succeeds, the Dakang Emperor will surely need a scapegoat."

Xiao Tianmu said, "I'm only stating the worst-case step; if we can persuade her to change her mind, that would be best."

Outside, a dull spring thunder suddenly boomed; the whole world seemed to tremble. The two stopped talking, and moments later a torrential downpour poured down, dense spring rain instantly enveloping the world. Hu Xiaotian walked to the window and reached to close it.

Night wind mixed with rain mist had already seeped into the room at this moment, wetting the tabletop and blowing out the candle.

Xiao Tianmu walked over familiarly, found the flint and relit the candle; to him, light and dark were originally no different.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Second Brother, you should also prepare to leave Yongdu soon."

Xiao Tianmu said, "I will leave Yongdu tomorrow."

Hu Xiaotian hadn't expected him to leave so quickly, and couldn't help but feel surprised.

Xiao Tianmu said, "I want to return to Kangdu first; the situation here is murky, and if anything changes, Uncle Hu and the others must have someone to look after them."

Hu Xiaotian felt moved and pressed his lips; Xiao Tianmu had considered things far more thoroughly than he had.

Kangdu was also raining, but not as heavily as Yongdu; refreshing and pervasive, Kangdu in the night lay bathed in a light misty rain, bleak wind and bitter rain, lingering and sorrowful. As midnight approached, the Dakang Emperor Long Yelin still had not slept. He sat silently at his desk, his face full of worry, the files on his desk already piled up like a mountain, yet he had no heart to read them. For he understood that among those piled-up memorials and files, there was not a shred of good news.

Little Eunuch Yin Sun knocked and entered; Empress Jian followed his steps inside.

Long Yelin felt something different; he had not visited the Xining Palace for a long time, and the Empress rarely came to disturb him, yet this midnight visit—what could it be? Thinking of his recent worry over the succession matter, Long Yelin inwardly sighed; it seemed she had come again for this affair.

Empress Jian lifted a bowl of ginseng soup from the tray held by the palace maid behind her, walked slowly to Long Yelin's front, and spoke softly: "Your Majesty, I have just brewed a bowl of ginseng soup for you to nourish your body."

Long Yelin said with an indifferent expression: "Just leave it here."

Empress Jian sighed and said: "I know, Your Majesty, that you are busy with state affairs all day, but you must also take care of your health."

Long Yelin frowned slightly, impatient, and said: "My health is fine; go rest and don't meddle in my affairs."

Empress Jian gave a glance, and the several palace attendants all withdrew.

Long Yelin lifted his head, coldly staring at Empress Jian, and said: "What? Didn't you hear my words?"

Empress Jian bit her lower lip, spoke dimly: "Your Majesty, I am only concerned about your health……"

Long Yelin's gaze fell on the bowl of ginseng soup on the desk; he reached out, lifted it, drank it down in a few gulps, and slammed the empty bowl onto the desk: "Now you're satisfied—may I go?"

Empress Jian felt as if pierced by needles in her heart; she shook her head and said: "Your Majesty, do you have no place for me in your heart at all?"

Long Yelin stared at Empress Jian, then his dragon visage flared with rage; he seized the empty bowl and hurled it to the ground, where it shattered instantly, then he rose abruptly and roared: "Do you think I'm not troublesome enough? I am constantly laboring for state affairs; you not only fail to share my worries, but only add to my annoyance."

Empress Jian knelt on the floor, trembling voice: "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty; I merely brought the ginseng soup to nourish your imperial body, with no other intention……"

"Vile woman! What do you think I don't know? You merely want me to make your son the crown prince!"

"Your Majesty, Ting Sheng is also your son."

Long Yelin gave a cold chuckle: "So what? What virtue or ability does he have to deserve the crown prince position? Dakang faces crises on all sides, the nation's strength wanes; what ability does he have to save the people from fire and water?"

Empress Jian lifted her head: "Your Majesty, the order of seniority has always been the rule since ancient times."

Long Yelin glared at Empress Jian as he stepped toward her: "Rules? You don't realize rules are set by people; my word is the imperial decree, my word is the rule!"

Empress Jian, tears in her eyes, said: "In your heart you have always favored the third son more; you have never properly looked at Ting Sheng."

Long Yelin said: "Yes! My mind is made up; I have decided to make Ting Zhen the crown prince of Dakang. How about it? What objections do you have?"

Empress Jian's tears streamed down as she spoke tremulously: "Your Majesty, you are being utterly unfair to Ting Sheng."

"There is no such thing as fairness in this world."

"Your Majesty, over these years, how I have treated you—though I may have no merit, I have certainly endured hardship; how did you promise me back then? Have you now forgotten it all?"

Long Yelin chuckled: "It all comes down to you clinging to your position. How have you treated me? Over these years, have you ever regarded me as your husband? What you care about is still your own interests; now you understand completely—you may go."

Empress Jian nodded: "I will leave now; since Your Majesty does not regard me as your wife, how could I regard you as my husband?"

Long Yelin, hearing this, flew into a rage, raised his hand and slapped Empress Jian hard across the face, swelling her cheek, and shouted: "Vile woman! Bold! Do you believe I would depose you?"

Empress Jian slowly rose, chuckling: "Believe me! Of course I believe—what in this world could you not do? Even your father the emperor you dare to depose, let alone me."

Long Yelin, completely enraged by her, charged at her like a furious lion: "Bold…" Suddenly his chest felt tight; he instinctively covered his chest, and his steps faltered.

Empress Jian gazed at Long Yelin: "Your Majesty, what's wrong with you?"

A familiar sensation surged into Long Yelin's body; he shook his head hard, struggling back to his desk, wanting to sit back in his chair, but his hands and feet suddenly trembled uncontrollably; he gripped the edge of the desk with both hands and quavered: "You… you…"

Empress Jian took a medicine bottle from her sleeve, unscrewed the cap, and a faint herbal aroma spread through the room.

Long Yelin tightly shut his eyes, held his breath, and struggled not to smell that tempting scent, but his nostrils flared uncontrollably; finally he drew a deep breath, as if trying to inhale the air's scent fully into his lungs. Immediately he felt a gripping pain in his chest, so severe he could hardly stand; his legs gave way and he fell to his knees with a thud. Long Yelin clutched his chest and cried out loudly: "Someone… save the emperor…"

Outside, however, no one answered; Empress Jian stared coldly at him, her eyes devoid of any feeling, not even a trace of pity—only resentment and hatred remained.

Long Yelin wailed: "What… what did you put in the ginseng soup?"

Empress Jian looked down arrogantly at Long Yelin; for the first time in her memory she gazed down upon her husband, the Dakang emperor, prostrate at her feet, and a strange delight welled up inside her. She stepped slowly before him and said softly: "Your life has only a double hour left."

Long Yelin lunged to grab Empress Jian, but midway he collapsed from the chest pain and cried out: "Poisonous woman! You poisonous wretch, I will have you executed by lingchi and exterminate your nine clans!"

Empress Jian sighed: "I ask for little; since marrying you, I have shared your storms and rains for many years, weathering hardship together, living and dying as one. When you were in despair, who stood by you unwavering? I do not ask you to stay by me unfailingly; I only ask that you properly support Ting Sheng and fulfill your former promise—but you cannot even grant this simple request."

Long Yelin gritted his teeth: "Vile woman, I will have you and your bastard offspring executed by lingchi…" Before he finished, Empress Jian bowed low, raised her right hand, and slapped him hard across the face, making him see stars and blood trickle from his lips.

Empress Jian's brows furrowed, her phoenix eyes widened: "He is not a bastard; he is your son. Even a tigress does not eat her cub—are you human?" She went on, shaking her head: "You are not human; you can usurp your birth father's throne, slaughter your own brothers, and yet in your heart there is not a shred of familial affection."

Long Yelin trembled: "Vile woman, do you know what you are doing?"

Empress Jian chuckled: "I know, I am certainly aware that everything in this world will meet its retribution; I give you a chance—you know what to do, need I teach you?"

Requesting Monthly Ticket! (To be continued…^_^)