Chapter 211: He Is Just Too Eager to Advance

"Alright."

Cheng Chengxuan wore a helpless expression.

"You're the best, alright?"

Cheng Qiuluo smiled in satisfaction and looked around.

"Why isn't that good brother of yours here?"

Speaking of this, Cheng Chengxuan turned to look toward the Capital and said slowly.

"He still has some matters to attend to."

……

The next day, another major incident occurred in the Capital.

Upon waking, every street and alley was discussing one thing.

"Have you heard?"

At a street corner, two small vendors huddled together whispering.

"The Prince that Consort Jin gave birth to back then was killed on the Xiyue Emperor's orders."

The person beside them widened their eyes in disbelief.

"What?!"

"Even a tiger doesn't eat its own cubs—how could the Xiyue Emperor be so heartless?!"

The one who had spoken first quickly clamped a hand over their mouth.

"Keep your voice down!"

That person glanced around cautiously, saw no one paying attention to them, and only then continued.

"I heard it from my second uncle's daughter-in-law's third maternal great-uncle's nephew's little aunt's family's neighbor."

"They say their distant relative was the midwife who delivered Consort Jin's baby back then."

"It was she who secretly saved that little Prince."

"This information is absolutely true!"

The person beside them pressed for more.

"So you're saying that little Prince from back then is still alive?"

This person stroked their chin, thinking carefully.

"If that child had survived, he'd be twenty-six this year."

"Come to think of it, it's quite strange—General Cheng's adopted son, Young General Cheng Chengxuan, is also exactly twenty-six this year!"

"Do you think there might be some connection?"

"If you put it that way, Young General Cheng does look a lot like Cheng Old Madam…"

Those with such suspicions were not few.

In no time, the claim that General Cheng's adopted son, Cheng Chengxuan, was a Prince lost outside the palace, spread through every street and alley.

Within an hour, it had reached the Imperial Palace.

Fengyi Palace was a scene of devastation.

"Bang!"

"Crash!"

"Clatter, bang, clank—"

The Empress swept the tea and refreshments off the table onto the floor, and finally flipped the table over too.

"Bastard!"

"Wretched creature!"

"Which reckless wretch spread this rumor?!"

The Empress gritted her teeth hard, a terrifying murderous glint flashing in her eyes, her expression twisted with rage.

"That damned woman! Even in death she won't let Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Bengong))))))))) have peace!"

The Crown Prince beside her also looked very grim.

"Mother, calm yourself. Even if the rumor is true, so what? Cheng Chengxuan is already dead—he poses no threat to us."

Whether he said this to comfort the Empress or to comfort himself, only he knew in his heart.

A trace of doubt crossed the Empress's face.

"Is that so?"

But Cheng Sitao didn't die, so could Cheng Chengxuan have survived as well?

No!

That old thing can't be relied upon!

She had to do something!

"Hua Ru?"

"Where is Hua Ru?"

The Empress instinctively looked for her capable subordinate.

A little palace maid at the door came in trembling to report.

"Replying to Imperial Consort (Gongzhu), Aunt Hua Ru returned to her room last night and hasn't come out since—perhaps she's ill?"

A flicker of understanding crossed the Empress's eyes.

Right, these past days she had been having Hua Ru seduce Shi Gui beside that old thing.

Could something have happened last night?

Just then, the Crown Prince's personal Eunuch ran to the doorway.

"Servant greets the Empress Dowager, greets Imperial Prince."

He hurriedly looked toward the Crown Prince.

"Imperial Prince, the little Chengzi by Your Majesty's side has come to deliver a message, saying to have you go to the Imperial Study."

The Crown Prince heavily exhaled the stale air in his chest, rose, and looked toward the Empress.

"Mother Empress, then your son shall take his leave first."

……

Inside the Imperial Study.

The Shunhe Emperor, who had likewise heard the rumors in the Capital, sat in a daze for a long while.

In his mind, the image of Cheng Chengxuan surfaced.

Thinking about it now, indeed very much like Consort Jin.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived."

That voice brought him back to himself; he reined in the emotions in his eyes and raised his hand.

"Let him in."

"Father Emperor, do you have something to instruct your son?"

The Shunhe Emperor pointed at a chair, gesturing for him to sit.

"The rebel army is drawing ever closer to the Capital; I wish to have you go in my place to pacify the rebel army."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince nearly shook the teacup in his hand right out of his grip.

"What?"

"Father Emperor, but has your son done something poorly somewhere, angered you?"

"You may beat or punish me as you wish, your son has absolutely no objection, but you cannot issue such an Imperial Decree."

Isn't this just sending him to his death?

Seeing his attitude, the Shunhe Emperor's face changed drastically, and he slammed the table heavily.

"What, you are unwilling?!"

He looked at the Crown Prince with a sense of iron unable to become steel.

"Reinforcements will arrive very soon; you need only lead the soldiers to hold out for three to five days—can you not even do this?"

"You truly disappoint me greatly!"

"When will you ever make a little progress?"

The Crown Prince knelt on the ground; hearing these words, he pouted.

Quite the opposite, alright—he was far too eager to progress!

Mother Empress's plan had been advancing in secret all along; if he, the protagonist, were to leave the Capital at this moment, how would this play continue to be staged?

Looking at the timid and cowardly Crown Prince below, the Shunhe Emperor's heart seized.

With no sense of responsibility like this, how could he bear great responsibility?

Back then, how had he just so happened to banish Yuan'er to the border?

If so, Yuan'er also would not have……

Thinking of the painful matter, the Shunhe Emperor seemed to age many years in an instant; he closed his eyes and waved his hand.

"Enough, you may go out."

The Crown Prince respectfully performed a bow, rose, and retreated out.

"Your son takes his leave."

When only he himself remained in the Imperial Study, the Shunhe Emperor leaned his head back against the chair back, raised a hand to cover his forehead, and could not help but let out a bitter laugh.

"Heh."

"I cannot compare to you; even the children I raise cannot compare to those you taught."

"Laughable, truly laughable……"

……

After leaving the Imperial Study, the Crown Prince headed toward Fengyi Palace once more.

With his heart in turmoil, he detoured into the Imperial Garden.

He suddenly heard two little palace maids chatting not far away.

The taller of the palace maids teased.

"Secretly asking someone to buy sour jujubes and dried sour apricots again? If I hadn't seen that your belly hasn't changed much these past two months, I'd have thought you were with child."

The Crown Prince's personal Eunuch prepared to step forward and reprimand the two palace maids who had disturbed the Crown Prince, but was stopped by a single look from Shen Hao.

Over there, the slender, short palace maid, hearing these words, stamped her foot in mortified anger, her face flushed red.

"Aiya, what are you saying?"

"I was just……"

As if thinking of something, she did not continue, and only casually offered an excuse.

"My appetite has been poor lately; don't sour jujubes whet the appetite?"

"I'm going back first, ignoring you."

Having said this, she feared the other would continue questioning, and hurriedly hugged the paper package in her arms as she ran off into the distance.

In the corner, the Crown Prince watched the direction in which she left, slightly narrowing his eyes, his face thoughtful, and turned his head to give an instruction.

"Go investigate and see which palace that palace maid belongs to."

"Yes."

Once again arriving at Fengyi Palace, the hall had already been cleaned and looked completely renewed.

"Mother Empress, your son has returned."

Seeing his furrowed brow, the Empress dismissed the others and asked.

"Why such a long face? Has your Father Emperor said something about you again?"

The Crown Prince slowly shook his head.

"Mother Empress, has there been any good news lately from the Imperial Consorts in the rear palace?"

The Empress had thought it was some major matter, but hearing him ask this, she sat back down.

"Your Father Emperor is already at that age — what good news could there possibly be?"

The Crown Prince hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.

"But…"

At that moment, Hua Ru returned.

"Imperial Consort! Imperial Prince!"

"Last night Shi Gui quietly left the palace. This servant followed him out of the city and discovered…"

The Empress and her son stared at her intently.

"Discovered what?"

Hua Ru's face was grave.

"Your Majesty has secretly been training an elite force!"

"A rough estimate puts it at around thirty thousand Horse and men!"

Mother and son were greatly shocked.

"What?!"