Chapter 343: Chapter 341: Lu Ying Did What He Didn’t Dare To Do
She leaned dependent on Noble Consort Liu’s arms: "Father Emperor only has eyes for Noble Consort Zhang and Lu Zhengliu. How could he ever consider me? Instead of asking Father Emperor to arrange a marriage, I might as well wait until Crown Prince Brother ascends the throne, and then ask him to choose a suitable match for me. Mother Consort, I’ve come to understand now—although Crown Prince Brother is cold and indifferent, at least he’s not as ruthless as Father Emperor... At the very least, I am still his sister in name. He wouldn’t throw me into a pit of fire."
Noble Consort Liu, not having much of an opinion herself, embraced her and said, "Mother Consort will follow your lead!"
At another corner of the Imperial Palace, Noble Consort Zhang was trimming a bouquet of peonies in her opulent and resplendent chamber.
Though she originated from the Music Workshop, years of luxurious living had imbued her with a refinement not seen in ordinary women.
As she trimmed the flower branches, she spoke in a gentle and soft tone, "Shen Yan has been stripped of his military power, Shen Yunxi is no longer Crown Princess Consort, and Lu Ying has essentially lost an arm. Liu’er, the current situation in the capital works greatly to your advantage."
Lu Zhengliu sat at the side of the chamber, his long legs stretched out casually.
He toyed with a peony flower that had been clipped, lost in thought, and did not respond.
A hint of ambition spread across Noble Consort Zhang’s usually serene and graceful face: "Years ago, your elder brother was defeated under Lu Ying’s hand—not only losing the position of Crown Prince, but even being crippled in both legs, forever losing the chance to ascend the throne... Liu’er, this is your brother’s revenge, and it’s ours as well. The position of Crown Prince must not fall into the hands of others!"
Thinking of Lu Shiyan’s crippled legs, Lu Zhengliu silently tightened his hold on the peony flower.
He said, "Your son knows well. The harm Lu Ying inflicted upon my older brother, I will make him pay back a hundredfold."
"Good child." Noble Consort Zhang was deeply comforted.
As the mother and son continued their conversation, a trusted attendant hurried in and spoke in a low voice: "Reporting to Noble Consort, Prince Duan—our men have been searching along the river for the whereabouts of Yan Crown Prince Yan Zheming. His corpse was discovered near Swallow Rest Cliff, showing signs of having been pierced through the abdomen with sword energy, his time of death estimated to be in the early hours of today."
Noble Consort Zhang lost her grip, suddenly snapping a thick branch.
The branch, laden with peonies and buds, fell to the ground, and Lu Zhengliu bent down to pick it up.
Noble Consort Zhang knitted her brows tightly, trembling all over as she exclaimed in disbelief, "Was it Lu Ying who killed him?! How dare he murder the Crown Prince of Yan Country?! The two nations have just signed an alliance—he takes it upon himself to execute the heir of the opposing country, violating the agreement unilaterally. Is this a declaration of war? He’s gone mad!"
Yan Country boasts fifty thousand curved-blade cavalry known for their strength and might.
If angered, the Yan Royal Family would surely send troops south to invade—at that point, Great Zhou would be finished!
Lu Zhengliu stared at the peony branch in his hand.
He knew well that Lu Ying had never harbored any regard for peace negotiations with Yan Country.
Lu Ying, with his towering pride, would never settle for ceding territory and paying taxes, bowing his head to Yan Country.
It was Lu Zhengliu who had signed the alliance behind Lu Ying’s back, believing he had tied Lu Ying’s hands. But he hadn’t anticipated that Lu Ying would act so boldly—directly executing Yan Zheming, flipping the entire chessboard of the realm!
Lu Zhengliu gripped the branch tightly; even as the soft thorns pierced his fingers, he remained oblivious.
He should have been as furiously enraged as his mother consort...
But for some reason, an overwhelming and resolute sense of awe echoed repeatedly in the young man’s chest.
It was as if his heart was shouting loudly: Well done! Those unreasonable and insatiable Yanians deserved to be struck down!
As a part of Great Zhou, why must they bow their heads to foreign lands?!
As a prince of the Central Plains Dynasty, why should he be expected to treat a foreign prince as a brother?!
Lu Ying had done what he dared not do.
The shadows of peony flowers fell across his palm.
For a brief moment, Lu Zhengliu experienced an illusion that he was merely the green leaf set against Lu Ying’s vibrant bloom. He would one day lose to Lu Ying, just as his elder brother had suffered a complete defeat.
"Liu’er," Noble Consort Zhang’s voice brought Lu Zhengliu back to his senses, "since Lu Ying did this, we can find evidence and make his crime of murdering the Yan Crown Prince public! Such a deed is punishable by death. His Majesty would have no choice but to hand him over to the Yan Royal Family for punishment. Then, at that time, wouldn’t you be the only one left who could claim the position of Crown Prince?"
Lu Zhengliu remained silent for a moment before quietly saying, "Mother Consort, rest assured. I will do everything in my power to avenge my brother."
Elsewhere, Shen Guogong Mansion was brightly lit.
Shen Yan, Mrs. Qin, and others were waiting in the Hanging Flower Hall, having sent a steward to inquire about news from the palace.
When the steward finally returned with news that Shen Yunxi had been deposed, Mrs. Qin’s vision darkened, and she almost fainted but was steadied by maids.
She cried out inconsolably, "Everything was fine during the day, how could she suddenly be deposed?! Husband, what are we to do now?!"
Shen Yan’s face turned ashen as he slammed the table with clenched fists: "Your so-called well-raised daughter! Even faking a pregnancy to win favor—what hasn’t she dared to do?! This is an unforgivable crime of deceiving the Emperor!"
Mrs. Qin sobbed miserably: "At the start of the year, she claimed to be pregnant, and the palace’s Imperial Physician confirmed it as well. I even prepared plenty of medicine to secure the pregnancy, and had seamstresses sew baby aprons meant for the little Crown Prince. How did it turn out to be false?!"
She had flaunted Shen Yunxi’s pregnancy at length among her wealthy peers.
But in the end, it turned out to be fake!
Her cries were sorrowful, casting a heavy gloom over the Hanging Flower Hall.
Concubine Tao gently comforted her: "Sister, Miss Xi’er being able to keep her life is already thanks to His Majesty’s mercy. Don’t grieve too much. Now that Miss Xi’er is confined to the Eastern Palace, perhaps in the future, there will still be a chance for her to be reinstated."
Mrs. Qin flew into a rage upon hearing this, grabbing a teacup and hurling it violently at her: "Wretched woman! What nonsense are you spouting here?! Are you trying to mock me?! Don’t think that just because my Xi’er can no longer be Crown Princess Consort, your daughter will suddenly have a chance! I’ll tell you now—you can forget it!"
The teacup shattered upon impact, splitting open Concubine Tao’s forehead. Crimson blood trickled down in delicate streams.
"Mother!" Shen Xinya hurried forward to check on her, a brief trace of malice flashing in her eyes before she turned to gaze at Mrs. Qin with an aggrieved expression. "My mother was merely offering kind words of comfort. Was it necessary for you to vent your anger on her?"
"You little wretch!" Mrs. Qin, furious beyond measure, raised her hand to strike her. "What business is this of yours—"
"Enough!"
Shen Yan erupted in fury: "This incident is entirely Xi’er’s own doing—why are you blaming Concubine Tao and her daughter?! Instead of tearing each other apart at home, you should think about how to extricate our family from this matter! Eldest son, what are your thoughts?"
Shen Xinghan sat poised, calmly sipping tea. Dressed in sapphire-blue robes and adorned with a jade hairpin, his demeanor exuded elegance and nobility, entirely unperturbed by the clamor of the Hanging Flower Hall.
Shen Yan’s gaze settled on his composed eldest son, and only then did the suffocating rage in his chest begin to subside.
He had lived his life as an unremarkable man, laboring tirelessly without achieving much—fortunately, he had this child.
Years ago, he had desperately coveted the title of Duke but didn’t dare act against his elder brother. In the end, it was Xinghan’s schemes that enabled him to frame and falsely accuse his brother of treason, allowing Shen Yan to claim the Duke title as a merit, despite being a son born of a concubine.
Xinghan’s brilliance and cunning were unparalleled. So long as he was around, the Shen Family would not collapse.
Shen Xinghan skimmed away the foam from his tea surface and remarked calmly, "Drive them to death, and then survive."
Shen Yan paused in astonishment, "What do you mean?"