The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 184 - 183

Chapter 183

If the Third Prince’s suspicions and questions about bringing the poison back to the capital for this purpose were true, it would tie in perfectly with the motive behind the attempted assassination of Ben Yanggong. Since Ben Yanggong supported the Crown Prince, his death would weaken the Crown Prince’s power by removing the backing of the Guogong Manor.

"Brother, what do you think?"

The Third Prince asked his elder brother, his voice filled with worry, as would be expected between siblings from the same mother. The response they received further solidified everyone’s belief.

"I think...it is possible. At this moment, Father favors Fifth Brother and Seventh Sister more than ever. Considering this angle, it is highly likely that Fifth Brother is orchestrating everything to remove me from the position of Crown Prince."

As soon as the Crown Prince finished speaking, everyone exchanged looks of anger regarding the Fifth Prince’s actions. Already favored by the Emperor, the Fifth Prince was still finding ways to harm the Crown Prince by killing his supporter, thus diminishing his power. However, the Crown Prince was not one to act rashly.

"Nevertheless, even though it is possible, I will send someone to investigate this matter thoroughly. After all, Fifth Brother and Seventh Sister are my half-siblings. If it turns out that Fifth Brother is indeed behind this, I fear I cannot let it go..."

The Throne Room

The throne room, expansive and majestic, had long served as the place where the Son of Heaven conducted state affairs, passed down through generations. According to the mandate, the Son of Heaven was the divine light sent by the Jade Emperor[1] to lead mortals toward a life free from suffering and bring peace to all lives in the land until their final days.

In the past, these mandates that were passed down through generations seemed to hold true, as each Emperor sought ways to resolve issues in collaboration with both civil and military officials to find common solutions. However, it seemed that now some issues were emerging that even the Son of Heaven might not be able to resolve.

It was akin to an undercurrent hidden beneath the tranquility.

Especially the tranquility known as power!

Currently, the handsome Crown Prince, the heir to the Dragon Throne of the Daliang Region was awaiting the right moment to present certain matters to his father, who was assigning tasks to the officials in the throne room, with the aim of addressing the livelihood and well-being of the common people, as was the duty of a ruler.

"Regarding the earlier matter reported by the Minister of Civil Affairs and the Commander about the mountain bandits raiding the farmers’ grain in the southern village, proceed as I have instructed."

The authoritative voice of the middle-aged man sitting on the throne echoed once more, having deliberated on the mountain bandit problem since Chen Hour[2] to Wu Hour[3].

Initially, it seemed like a straightforward issue that could be resolved by sending troops to suppress the rebels. However, it was not as simple as it seemed because these bandits specifically targeted supply storage, indicating their audacity. The Emperor’s collaboration in solving this problem was to make both parties cooperate well, with the Fifth Prince always assisting by his side.

"Your Majesty and the Fifth Prince are wise. Using a small troop to surround the mountain bandits and bring back supplies will take no more than fifteen days, as commanded by Your Majesty," the Commander assigned to suppress the bandits said.

"As for the farmers who lost family members protecting the supply meant for the imperial treasury in times of crisis, they have served the army and the nation. I will ensure they are cared for to the utmost," the Minister of Civil Affairs added.

"May Father approve what these ministers have proposed,"

The Fifth Prince concluded respectfully, earning a smile of satisfaction from his father, who praised the plan suggested by his son.

"Good. Very well, if the Fifth Prince agrees, then Zhen too approve. Well...Now that we have resolved the mountain bandit issue harmoniously, does anyone else have anything to present to me?"

As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, silence fell over the officials because all pertinent matters had already been discussed. Although there were things that should not be mentioned, such as the widespread rumors about the Guogong Manor, they lacked the courage to speak up.

"If no one has anything else to report, then you may..."

"Wait, Father. I have something to report," the Crown Prince, who had been waiting for the right moment, stepped forward, capturing the attention of all the officials in an instant. The Emperor narrowed his eyes at his eldest son with an expression that was hard to guess.

"Crown Prince, you..."

"I did not wish to interrupt your time, Father, but I have some matters that must be brought to your attention."

Just as the Emperor was about to dismiss the officials to return to rest in their manor, everyone halted, especially Ben Guogong, who looked more sorrowful than ever. Upon hearing the Crown Prince’s intention to report something, he had a sense of what it might be.

The Emperor, already somewhat aware of the Crown Prince’s thoughts, decided to give him face due to his position as the heir and asked calmly.

“...Say it. What important matter has you so anxious?”

“Thank you, Father. The matter I wish to report is none other than the condition of Ben Yanggong,”

The Crown Prince immediately stated his purpose. He knew well that his father avoided this topic to spare Ben Guogong’s feelings, but he had to address it in the throne room.

As soon as the Crown Prince spoke, the hall fell silent again. Ben Guogong bit his lip slightly, suppressing his sorrow. His son’s condition had worsened to the point where he was on the verge of losing his only son. Unable to accept this, he tried to avoid mentioning it.

When the Crown Prince brought up Ben Yanggong’s condition, the father’s heart, about to lose his son, felt like it was being torn apart. Though he had endured many schemes and sufferings, none pained him as much as this.

While Ben Guogong suppressed his grief to maintain a facade of strength, some officials began whispering among themselves, exchanging opinions on the matter. Each whispered word that reached Ben Guogong’s ears only reaffirmed the harsh reality he faced.

The Crown Prince glanced at Ben Guogong before lowering his eyes slightly. He knew discussing this would deeply sadden Ben Guogong, but he was unconcerned. The most important thing now was to secure his own position and seize opportunities while they were available.

“How is...Ben Yanggong’s condition? And what about the royal physicians? What have they said?”

The Emperor asked his son with a calm voice, sounding as composed as usual. His gaze briefly lingered on Ben Guogong, who was lost in thought, before shifting to the composed Fifth Prince.

“Reporting to Father, Ben Yanggong’s condition is grave. Today marks the fourth day he has been unconscious, awaiting the antidote for Jingkai poison. The direst issue is that the antidote is only available in the northern parts of the region,”

The Crown Prince paused before continuing, “The royal physicians cannot counteract this poison. They have only managed to keep him stable until now. If this night passes, then...”

The Crown Prince’s voice trailed off, feigning sadness over the situation, although in reality, he only regretted losing a valuable supporter. And of course, this added to Ben Guogong’s grief.

While many in the hall were saddened by the news, the Fifth Prince remained skeptical. If the Crown Prince, his elder brother, brought up the matter of Ben Yanggong to seek the antidote, he must be aware that it could only be found in the north, rendering any plea to the Emperor futile.

So, what was the Crown Prince’s true intent?

“I understand. This is truly sad. The culprit is dead, the mastermind remains unidentified, and the antidote is far away. The most afflicted must be you...Ben Guogong,”

The Emperor spoke with a sorrowful tone, his eyes full of sympathy as he looked at Ben Guogong. He then sighed deeply before continuing, “It’s not that Zhen does not wish to help your son. However, the royal physicians can only prolong his life for a while. Even if Zhen sends speed horses to fetch the antidote from the north, it might be too late...”

“Wait, Father.”

The Crown Prince interjected, drawing the attention of the officials in the hall once more. Even the Emperor turned to his son, surprised.

“I recall that Fifth Brother once undertook a mission on Father’s behalf in the northern parts of the region. Is it possible that...Fifth Brother might have the antidote?”

As soon as the Crown Prince finished speaking, all eyes turned to the Fifth Prince. The atmosphere in the hall shifted instantly from somber to abuzz with murmurs among the courtiers. Ben Guogong, the father on the verge of losing his son, was more shocked than anyone, hearing that the Fifth Prince, favored by the Emperor, might hold the antidote of Jingkai poison. The Emperor himself felt a momentary heart sink.

The Emperor narrowed his eyes, looking back and forth between the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince, his expression inscrutable. He was confused about what exactly had happened. It wasn’t like he couldn’t recall what the Crown Prince said, as that year, he himself authorized the Fifth Prince’s mission to the north.

However, he had not considered that the Fifth Prince might have returned with both poison and antidote. If true, this could implicate the Fifth Prince in a way that would jeopardize the stability of the royal court!

But if the Fifth Prince was being falsely accused, it would be difficult to prove his innocence. His northern mission was strong evidence against him, inevitably making him a suspect...

The eyes of the entire court now rested on the Fifth Prince, those eyes from various factions filled with expressions ranging from suspicion and curiosity to disbelief. Right now, even with ten mouths, the Fifth Prince could hardly defend himself.

The Fifth Prince turned to meet the Crown Prince’s gaze with a cold expression. He now understood his elder brother’s intent: to use this issue to eliminate him, hoping that the courtiers’ suspicions would make him a scapegoat for the crime he did not commit. If this escalated, he would certainly lose some of his power.

Courtiers of all ranks were deep in thought about the situation. Some doubted the Fifth Prince, while others believed in his innocence. However, despite the lack of concrete evidence that the Fifth Prince had brought back the poison, everything suspiciously pointed to him, causing all the nobles to be puzzled.

“I...do not have the antidote.”

Amid the turmoil, the Fifth Prince spoke up with a calm face, his voice was firm as if to confirm the truth, and his posture straight, exuding confidence. He did not seem guilty at all.

Seeing the situation unfold as planned, the Crown Prince secretly smirked before pretending to ask in doubt, “Fifth Brother, isn’t your response a bit slow? Could it be that your silence was because you were thinking of an answer...?”

“So what if I was slow? What if I didn’t answer at all? I am innocent and never brought back any poison or antidote. If you, my elder brother, have no evidence, it would be better not to make baseless accusations. Otherwise, you might end up being the suspect. Could it be that you’re the one trying to remove pieces from the board?” The Fifth Prince retorted nonchalantly, even turning the question back on his brother.

“Fifth Brother...don’t speak so recklessly,”

The Crown Prince warned coldly, his previously gentle demeanor now showing a hint of chill. The two brothers locked eyes for a while, neither willing to back down, as their confrontation caused the courtiers to speculate wildly, potentially escalating the situation into a major incident.

The Emperor, seated on the throne, furrowed his brows tightly at the unfolding events. His two sons were causing a disgraceful scene, openly arguing and accusing each other in the throne room as if they were fools, making a mockery of themselves in front of the courtiers!

“Enough! Stop this nonsense in the throne room! The matter has not been thoroughly investigated, so cease this at once and disperse!”

The Emperor’s authoritative voice boomed throughout the hall. The two princes snapped back to their senses and immediately knelt to apologize, followed by the hundreds of officials who also knelt in unison.

“Please, Father, calm your anger. I was wrong!”

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I deserve to die!”

Seeing the situation calm down, the Emperor angrily waved his sleeve and left the hall, his demeanor still fuming. Once the Emperor had departed, the Crown Prince, the Fifth Prince, and all the officials rose and began to leave the hall.

As the Crown Prince walked out, he saw someone waiting for him—it was none other than the Fifth Prince. The Fifth Prince’s face was troubled, still thinking about the balance of power from now on.

“I never expected you to be so impatient, Brother,”

The Fifth Prince said coldly, his eyes glacial as if covered by a sheet of ice. He stepped closer to his elder brother. “Just a few nights have passed, and you already try to corner me in front of everyone and Father. Truly ruthless.”

“I believe it is you who are impatient. After all, this position still belongs to me. I have no reason to hurry...unlike you,” the Crown Prince replied with a faint smile that never reached his eyes.

Hearing this, the Fifth Prince let out a soft laugh, his eyes showing undisguised contempt, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

“Isn’t that uncertain? Heaven does not favor only you. It might be true now, today might be your day, but what about tomorrow, Brother?... You might falter, and that position could fall to me. Those unworthy of their position can always be removed. Never forget that truth.”

The Fifth Prince concluded with a sly smile before turning and walking away. The Crown Prince stood in place, silently watching his brother’s figure until he disappeared from sight. The faint smile on his face gradually faded, his sharp eyes briefly glinting with danger.

It seemed he could no longer let his brother live...

[1] In the myths and folk religion of Chinese culture, the Jade Emperor or Yudi is one of the representations of the primordial god.

[2] Chen Hour starts from 7:00 to 8:59 AM.

[3]Wu Hour starts from 11:00 AM to 12:59 PM.

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