SBMT Chapter 74

The Imperial Preceptor made a visit to Cining Palace to treat Shen Ziqin. After returning, Emperor Cheng’an’s dose of immortality pills increased by two with each meal.

 

As people age, they should pay attention to certain indicators, such as blood pressure. People with high blood pressure are prone to various acute conditions.

 

The immortality pills delivered from Prince Qin’s residence to the Imperial Preceptor couldn’t be considered pure poison. When prescribed appropriately, they could treat illness, but excessive consumption not only damaged internal organs but also raised blood pressure, causing many side effects.

 

Medicines, indeed, should not be taken carelessly.

 

Emperor Cheng’an had been feeling increasingly unwell these days, though it didn’t seem like a major illness-just occasional chest tightness and head heaviness, with momentary dizziness after sitting for long periods, but these episodes were brief and seemingly negligible.

 

These discomforts made Emperor Cheng’an somewhat anxious, but not overly so. He would scold both the imperial physicians and the Imperial Preceptor, but wouldn’t go so far as to behead the Imperial Preceptor.

 

Until he became gravely ill with no hope of recovery, he still needed the Imperial Preceptor to prescribe medicine, continuing to believe in the elusive dream of immortality.

 

With the imperial physicians administering Chinese medicine and the Imperial Preceptor continuing with immortality pills, this two-pronged approach left Emperor Cheng’an increasingly lacking in energy.

 

Shen Ziqin observed it all.

 

Every day, he led Dongning to pay respects to the emperor, truly acting like an obedient daughter-in-law, with impeccable etiquette.

 

Emperor Cheng’an was much more pleasant toward his daughter than his sons, not because he loved his daughter more, but because daughters posed no threat to him, and once grown and married, they could help him consolidate power.

 

The princesses who had previously married all had husbands personally selected by him.

 

Emperor Cheng’an, who took concubines and beauties into his harem, loved none of his children-only himself.

 

Emperor Cheng’an looked at Dongning. After not seeing her for some time, this daughter had grown taller. Though only seven years old, she would surely become a beauty in the future.

 

“Dongning, the Empress Dowager let you stay at Prince Qin’s residence for a while. Did you enjoy yourself?”

 

Facing Emperor Cheng’an, Dongning felt a natural fear. After all, since she became aware, the most important lesson the Empress Dowager had taught her was how to survive in the palace, and the threat to her life came from her own father.

 

So whenever she faced Emperor Cheng’an, Dongning always lowered her head when answering, hiding her fear: “Yes, my royal brother and sister-in-law treated me very well. I was happy.”

 

The emperor didn’t know why the Empress Dowager had arranged this previously, but he didn’t think much of a child staying outside for a few days.

 

However, seeing Dongning growing day by day, she couldn’t always stay at the prince’s residence. Shen Ziqin wasn’t an ordinary sister-in-law; he was a man-what could she learn from him?

 

“You’re getting older now, and someday you’ll marry and manage a household. Ask the palace matrons about household affairs, attend poetry gatherings or banquets held by noble ladies, and learn from them about being a wife and mother. When you marry and manage a household in the future, you’ll need to oversee an entire estate.”

 

Even if Dongning were truly a girl, she was still so young-how could she learn about being a wife and mother!?

 

Shen Ziqin’s anger flared instantly. Under Emperor Cheng’an’s gaze, Dongning’s fingers trembled as she said with difficulty: “Yes, I will heed Your Majesty’s teachings.”

 

The emperor had little time or inclination to spend with them, so after they paid their respects, he dismissed them.

 

Shen Ziqin held Dongning’s hand as they walked back to Cining Palace. Only when they were away from the emperor’s ears and eyes did Shen Ziqin say: “Dongning, listen to me.”

 

Dongning looked up.

 

Currently, Dongning didn’t know that Shen Ziqin was already aware of his male identity, so Shen Ziqin had to speak circuitously about certain matters.

 

“You don’t need to learn about being a wife and mother. To establish oneself in the world, one must first cultivate oneself. Reading the classics and understanding the ways of the world should be your priority. Whether man or woman, one can have a family, but it’s not a necessity.”

 

Dongning’s eyes widened slightly.

 

He knew that his royal sister-in-law never forced him to read women’s conduct manuals just because he was a “girl.” As long as he wanted to learn, Shen Ziqin would teach him. Having pretended to be a girl for many years, Dongning understood that life as a woman was not easy.

 

But today, Emperor Cheng’an’s words carried more malice than usual, making Dongning feel suffocated. For a moment earlier, he had even felt like retching, but had forcibly suppressed it.

 

At court banquets, he had seen his married princess sister, adorned in gold and silver treasures, yet she sat there without a trace of a smile, clearly not living happily.

 

Shen Ziqin’s words came like a gentle breeze, sweeping away the dust before their eyes.

 

“If there is no one in your heart, your path remains beneath your feet. If you meet someone you care for, you will learn to cherish each other through compromise, learn how to grow closer, and if you eventually form a family, it will be a destined meeting of gold wind and jade dew, gifting each other a good fate, rather than being locked in by some broken rule about having to be a dutiful wife and mother.”

 

Shen Ziqin rubbed his head: “Form a family if you wish, build a career if you desire. This applies to men, and equally to women.”

 

Regardless of gender, is it truly the same for all?

 

Dongning felt as if something had struck his heart heavily. A new principle he had never known before howled past like a fierce wind at a cliff’s edge, suddenly dispersing distant clouds and mist. With a sweep of the sleeve, a brand new world opened up.

 

“Royal sister-in-law,” Dongning’s eyes cleared like skies after rain, “Dongning will remember this.”

 

Shen Ziqin rubbed his head.

 

Having finished explaining principles to the child, it was time for his own matters.

 

“Good Dongning, help me with something. Say you miss the second prince and send a message asking him to come see you and the Empress Dowager.”

 

Dongning had grown very close to Shen Ziqin by now, so such a small favor was easily done.

 

The next day, Chu Zhaoyu entered the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and stayed for a meal.

 

As for what Shen Ziqin and Chu Zhaoyu discussed privately, even Dongning didn’t know.

 

They simply wanted to add fuel to Emperor Cheng’an’s fire, to make his already precarious health burn more intensely.

 

Strong emotional fluctuations, combined with Emperor Cheng’an’s deteriorating physical condition, could easily trigger an acute illness.

 

After seeing Chu Zhaoyu off, Shen Ziqin’s mind was still on their earlier scheming, reviewing the details once more, and then inevitably… his thoughts turned to Chu Zhao.

 

Calculating the journey time, Chu Zhao should be nearing Yueshan Pass by now, traveling day and night, likely without proper rest.

 

He wondered how things were going there.

 

Shen Ziqin pressed his lips together.

 

Though originally an atheist, these past few days in Cining Palace, he had lit several sticks of incense before the Buddha statue.

 

When the heart worries about someone beyond reach, one seeks to make wishes.

 

Any beautiful blessing, one hopes to give to the person they care about.

 

As Shen Ziqin pressed his palms together, he sincerely prayed: if there truly are gods and Buddhas, please bless Chu Zhao with victory in every battle and a safe return.

 

The blue smoke from the incense altar slowly rose, carried by the breeze beyond the window lattice toward the distance. Chu Zhao, who was resting, lifted his head in a gust of wind.

 

He was lying with his head against a tree, taking a brief rest, one hand behind his head, the other holding the matching jade pendant up before his eyes.

 

The sunlight passing through the jade became gentle.

 

Chu Zhao caressed it carefully. When traveling, he dared not wear the jade pendant at his waist, fearing it might get scratched or damaged, so he kept it safely tucked in his robe.

 

When resting, he would take it out to look at it, to think of his person.

 

With war breaking out, he had little time to miss his beloved, wishing for forty-eight hours in a day and two hearts.

 

One heart for country and world, one heart for love and romance.

 

Chu Zhao pressed the jade pendant to his heart, closed his eyes for a moment, then sat up.

 

Yueshan Pass was not far now. The sky here was higher, the light more intense. After the battle at Yuanwang Camp, Great Qi had temporarily retreated, not even having time to bring back the remains of fallen brothers.

 

His beloved and his country-he had to take care of both.

 

Chu Zhao mounted his horse, secured the jade pendant, and pulled the reins: “Rest is over, let’s move!”

 

The warhorse carried the marshal toward his battlefield.

 

In the capital, Shen Ziqin also had his own battlefield.

 

During these days in the palace, he had not appeared in court again, but on the second day after meeting with Chu Zhaoyu, he reappeared.

 

The news that the emperor had kept Shen Ziqin in the palace was common knowledge, with everyone making their own conjectures. Emperor Cheng’an thought it would be good to let Shen Ziqin make an appearance, to prevent people from thinking he had imprisoned Prince Qin’s consort and poisoned or tortured him.

 

Use your brain-how could he possibly harm Shen Ziqin during this time?

 

Emperor Cheng’an sat on the dragon throne. The bickering and arguing of the court officials below, which he normally enjoyed and was accustomed to, had become increasingly intolerable lately. Today, it was giving him a headache.

 

Emperor Cheng’an supported his forehead, as if merely finding it tedious, without making a sound.

 

The second prince, Chu Zhaoyu, standing in the front row, gave his biological father a deep look.

 

Emperor Cheng’an’s ears were buzzing, but he forced himself not to show it. After a court official’s presentation, he waved his hand, about to announce the end of court, when unexpectedly Chu Zhaoyu suddenly raised his hand: “Your Majesty, I have a matter to present.”

 

Emperor Cheng’an was already quite impatient: “We’ll stop here for today. Whatever you have can wait until-”

 

But this son, who had always been the most obedient, interrupted him for the first time since his legs were crippled.

 

“I have a matter to present,” Chu Zhaoyu emphasized each word. “The case of Crown Prince Jingde’s murder has hidden details. I request a reinvestigation to reveal the truth to the world and comfort the Crown Prince’s spirit in heaven!”

 

Emperor Cheng’an’s ears rang loudly. For a moment, he seemed to hear all sounds recede, leaving only the beating of his own heart.

 

Yet clearly everyone was talking.

 

Because the sudden uproar in the court was enough to lift the golden roof.

 

Emperor Cheng’an’s heart jolted violently. His vision began to blur, but he still gripped the armrests of the dragon throne tightly. Suspecting he had misheard due to the ringing in his ears, he asked word by word: “What did you say?”

 

Chu Zhaoyu looked up, his eyes no longer gentle and obedient. This broken body supported sharp eyes that pierced directly at Emperor Cheng’an.

 

“I request a reinvestigation of Crown Prince Jingde’s murder case!”

 

After the Crown Prince’s death, he was posthumously titled Jingde. Accomplished in both civil and military affairs, he could have had the opportunity to continue making contributions in court and pave the way for Great Qi, but his life ended early, buried in the imperial tomb with a simple title.

 

Emperor Cheng’an was already struggling to breathe. Though burning with rage, it was all trapped in his chest, unable to reach his mouth. His hand trembled as he raised it: “You, you-”

 

Shen Ziqin, observing the emperor’s complexion, knew this fire had been set at just the right moment. Whatever acute condition the emperor might develop today, as long as he collapsed in the Golden Hall, he would never sit back on the throne again.

 

They won’t give him another chance.

 

Chu Zhaoyu ignored how Emperor Cheng’an’s finger trembled as he pointed, and continued: “The former head of the Court of Judicial Review personally investigated the Crown Prince’s murder case, capturing several bandits. The coroner’s examination stated that the bandits’ blades matched the wounds on the Crown Prince and his guards, thus identifying the true culprits.”

 

Chu Zhaoyu took a light breath, his eyes reddening: “But it wasn’t until he retired and left official circles that the former head of the Court of Judicial Review suddenly realized, fearing his conscience would trouble him, and has now revealed the truth to me. The confessions and testimonies from that year were all false. The murderers who killed the Crown Prince were not mountain bandits, but someone else!”

 

Emperor Cheng’an: “St-stop, you! Come, come-”

 

If he had been in good health today, he might have been able to stop Chu Zhaoyu’s next words, but unfortunately, he couldn’t even speak properly, struggling to squeeze out a few sounds that didn’t form coherent words.

 

“The former head of the Court of Judicial Review is willing to stake his life on this accusation that the current emperor, in his confusion and stupidity, harmed loyal subjects and privately dispatched assassins to kill Crown Prince Jingde in the outskirts of the capital. How wronged was the Crown Prince, how innocent were the loyal subjects!”

 

Chu Zhaoyu’s words were filled with blood and tears. People were accustomed to seeing him gentle and elegant, a refined gentleman. Perhaps the more gentle a person is, the deeper the voice that breaks from their lungs. In this heavy murder case buried for many years, the entire court of civil and military officials stood solemn at Chu Zhaoyu’s crane-like cry.

 

His legs were broken; he was no longer a crane but had forged his broken body into a knife.

 

Now this knife had finally pierced Emperor Cheng’an’s heart.

 

Emperor Cheng’an could no longer hold on. His eyes darkened, and he spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot.

 

Eunuch Quan rushed forward in alarm: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty!! Summon the imperial physicians and the Imperial Preceptor-!”

 

The court fell into chaos. Shen Ziqin stepped forward, pushing Chu Zhaoyu’s wheelchair, quietly leading him away from the confused crowd.

 

In the wheelchair, Chu Zhaoyu had tears streaming down his face, wetting his collar.

 

“Second Brother, rest assured,” Shen Ziqin said softly. “Leave the rest to me. He will never have the chance to harm anyone again.”

 

He promised.

 

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