latelenovela Chapter 218 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (118)
Chapter 218 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (118)
The second prince slammed the door shut, the loud noise echoing in their ears. The fishy smell in the air hadn't dissipated yet, making them feel nauseous.
Ji Shumin had just been thrown hard and had been struggling to hold on, but now he was dizzy and his head was tilted to one side, unable to exert any strength.
This startled Ji Shuqin. His tense nerves prevented him from clearly discerning what was wrong with Ji Shumin, and he instinctively shook him, crying, "Min'er! Min'er! You...you don't scare your brother! Wake up!" His usually calm voice trembled involuntarily...
"Brother... I'm still alive, you're making me want to vomit." Ji Shumin already felt nauseous, and Ji Shuqin's shaking made him dizzy and his stomach cramped with pain.
"Min'er!"
Ji Shuqin let out a long sigh, no longer caring about etiquette, and slumped to the ground, raising his hand to cover his face, not wanting Ji Shumin to see his disheveled state, but even his fingers were cold and trembling.
"How did you manage to find your way here, Your Majesty?"
“I…” Ji Shuqin hesitated to speak when he heard Ji Shumin’s question.
“I have people watching your movements. They are to inform me immediately the moment you enter the palace,” Ji Shuqin answered truthfully, then quickly explained, “I’m not investigating you, it’s just…”
"I understand, Your Majesty is doing this to protect me." Ji Shumin couldn't bear to see him so paranoid and absent-minded any longer, so he answered for him when he didn't know what to say.
Ji Shuqin breathed a sigh of relief. He was worried that his younger brother was sensitive and that he didn't believe him. He didn't expect his brother to be able to sense it and believe his feelings. This warmed Ji Shuqin's heart.
Ji Shuqin did not only learn of the Emperor's actions today; however, he had never imagined that the Emperor would be so heartless and cruel.
Since learning that the emperor believed in the so-called immortals, Ji Shuqin had been paying extra attention, but this secret was not something he could easily glean.
Ji Shuqin even tried to interrogate Decheng, but Decheng refused to say anything.
One day, after the Second Prince was released, a letter arrived.
Although he is no longer confined, he is still not very free to move around. Now that the emperor is suspicious, most of his actions are being monitored, and even the ministers who support him cannot easily contact him.
Ultimately, he chose this method, a desperate and risky move.
In the letter, he recounted with certainty what happened to him during his confinement, how the emperor took his blood to make medicine, what he said, and even worried that Ji Shuqin might think he was talking nonsense, so he attached a blood-soaked handkerchief to show his sincerity.
Others might not believe it, but as Ji Shuqin read the letter line by line, he felt a chill run down his spine...
What the second prince said was almost identical to what he had found out.
He was deeply shaken and did not reply to the Second Prince for two days.
But they seemed impatient. Without receiving a reply and not knowing Ji Shuqin's attitude, they sent a second letter.
The reason was that the emperor still wanted to take his blood, and the second prince was worried that he might even lose his life. Who knew how crazy the emperor would become? He was no match for him alone.
In this letter, he not only spoke of himself, but also mentioned the current plight of the Seventh Prince, which he learned by chance when his mother went to visit Consort Rong...
They said they were visiting, but in reality they wanted to see how the once glorious Consort Rong, who had been above everyone else in the palace, had fallen into such a sorry state.
Unexpectedly, Consort Rong seemed to be possessed by a nightmare.
Since hitting the pillar, although he received timely medical treatment, he has been sometimes lucid and sometimes confused. When he is lucid, he insists on going to find the Seventh Prince; when he is not lucid...
The Second Prince's mother overheard some nonsensical ramblings that made her clothes soaked in the summer heat. Startled, she went outside and tripped, scraping her arm.
She tried her best to tell the Second Prince about this, and only then did he realize that the Seventh Prince had also experienced something similar. He didn't tell his mother anything, so as not to frighten her.
The Second Prince seemed to be in a complete panic. After speaking about himself and the Seventh Prince, he changed the subject and brought up Ji Shumin: "If Father continues like this, who do you think will be next after my seventh brother and I meet with misfortune? Eldest brother, you don't think that third brother can escape unscathed, do you?"
It was this sentence that made Ji Shuqin make up his mind.
Ji Shuqin thought it would be difficult to deceive others in the palace, as he had never planned such a thing before.
However, when it was actually implemented, it went surprisingly smoothly.
Ji Shuqin unconsciously recalled what his mother had once told him: "If you have power and stand high, you can get whatever you want and do as you please. But if you have nothing, you will be at the mercy of others."
"Qin'er... Your mother has already walked that path, and she knows what it feels like. How could she want to see you suffer the same fate as I did? Qin'er, your mother will not harm you."
He himself has not yet truly mastered anything or become anything, yet he can achieve this simply because of the Emperor's favor, which truly confirms the Empress's words.
After making contact with the Second Prince, Ji Shuqin kept a close eye on Ji Shumin's movements, reporting back to him whenever Ji Shumin entered the palace.
Today's events were orchestrated by Ji Shuqin after he learned that the Emperor had set up his formation in that side hall.
When Ji Shuqin devised this plan, he never imagined that he would be able to plan so smoothly and naturally. It was as if, for a moment, he was so calm that he was not like himself!
Power, unchecked power, can lead people astray and even to their destruction!
Ji Shuqin had no time to discern what changes had occurred in his own inner self. He remained incredibly calm, with only one thought in mind: "If this supreme power cannot be contained, my younger brother will inevitably suffer the same fate sooner or later!"
When he casually told the Second Prince about the plan, an undisguised look of astonishment appeared on the other's face. He looked at Ji Shuqin with unfamiliar eyes, mixed with a flustered scrutiny.
"What's wrong? Do you want to come along...?"
"Did you really come up with this yourself?" the Second Prince interrupted him.
"What do you mean?" Ji Shuqin frowned slightly. He knew from various sources what the Second Prince Ji Shuling had done and did not like him. However, he had indeed been tortured for no reason in this incident.
Their goals were the same at this moment, but Ji Shuqin was unwilling to explore or understand the other's thoughts and intentions behind them.
"To me, it sounds more like Ji Shumin came up with this idea," Ji Shuling said, no longer beating around the bush with Ji Shuqin. "Did you tell him about this?"
Ji Shuqin didn't want to hear him mention his younger brother: "What does this have to do with Min'er? Min'er needs to rest now..."
"Heh, if it weren't for Ji Shumin's thoughts, you two would indeed be worthy of being brothers." He pondered for a moment: "Both of you are quite mad." As he made this assessment, his gaze towards Ji Shuqin became even more meaningful.
Ordinary people, even myself, before hearing Ji Shuqin talk about this plan, were thinking about how to protect themselves, so as to avoid being harmed by the emperor and save their lives.
But what was the Crown Prince thinking? He wanted to ensure that his father could no longer harm anyone, nor had the right to do so, and even to strip him of power!
If the king wants the minister to die, the minister has to die.
It's probably the same reason why a father wants his son dead...
Ji Shuqin's ease and naturalness in breaking free from these constraints reminded Ji Shuling of the years he fought against Ji Shumin.
The Crown Prince, who once appeared to be a dignified and beloved figure, was actually quite eccentric. Only those who had experienced his methods knew that he never followed conventions, acted recklessly and without regard for common sense, and was quite insane!
They are indeed from the same mother's womb. Whether they are radiant and virtuous or refined, upright, compassionate, and devoted to Buddhism, their inner essence is the same.
If we could see those two brothers fight, it would surely be an extraordinary spectacle.
Looking at the eldest prince Ji Shuqin, whose eyelashes were lowered and who appeared serene and otherworldly under the candlelight, as if he had truly cultivated a Buddhist heart, Ji Shuling had this thought in her mind.
It's a pity that Ji Shumin is now useless; it's no longer his turn to compete!
Ji Shuling still felt lingering fear when she recalled her battle with Ji Shumin.
Ji Shumin was an unfathomable man, standing in his way like a dark cloud, making him even despair that he would never have a chance to rise above his circumstances.
But then he thought again, since Ji Shumin wouldn't fight anymore, would Ji Shuqin continue to play the role of a good older brother? What should he do if the brothers joined forces?
But now is not the time to think about that; Ji Shuqin's calm and profound gaze was still fixed on him.
Ji Shuling's heart was pounding in his chest. He was incredibly excited and couldn't understand why Ji Shuqin, who had proposed the plan, was so calm.
In the last letter before the plan was implemented.
Ji Shuling feigned concern and mentioned the various things that had happened to Ji Shumin in the palace when he was young.
What appears to be a show of concern is actually a subtle way of telling Ji Shuqin: Between you brothers, the Empress chose you, while Ji Shumin has gone through so much, becoming the Crown Prince and then losing his position. Do you really think he can see you as an elder brother and sincerely plan for you?
The provocative intent practically overflows from between the lines.
"His mind is so small it's not even as big as the eye of a needle..." Ji Shuqin looked at the letter, recalling Ji Shumin's lazy and sarcastic evaluation. He felt that although his younger brother was sometimes unforgiving and harsh, his evaluation of people was always accurate and to the point.
After a brief laugh, Ji Shuqin's mood turned heavy again.
How can this not be the truth?
The Empress Dowager clearly knew about the so-called immortals, but she never mentioned that the Emperor would do such a thing. Was it because she really didn't know, or...? Ji Shuqin didn't dare to think about it.
The longer Ji Shuqin waited, the calmer he became. When someone reported to him yesterday that Ji Shumin had entered the palace and was being secretly imprisoned, Ji Shuqin felt as if a stone had been lifted from his heart.
There's no room for maneuver!
Since his father had indeed turned against his younger brother, Ji Shuqin had no choice but to proceed according to plan.
After it got completely dark, Ji Shuqin did not light any candles. He sat quietly in the darkness, like a tall and imposing sculpture.
He considered going to see Ji Shumin under the cover of night, but ultimately did not get up to go.
Even if I didn't know beforehand, my younger brother wouldn't be scared, right...?
The next day, Ji Shuqin, in his capacity as the eldest prince, conveyed a message to the court officials that the emperor would be handling state affairs in the palace and requested that they come to the palace for an audience.
When these words came out from him, no one doubted them.
Upon learning this, Ji Shuling paced back and forth in her palace, feeling resentful: Why? First Ji Shumin was one thing, but how could this newly returned eldest prince also be able to overshadow her?
But he had no time to think about it anymore, and seeing the time, he hurriedly went out.
Ji Shuqin's heart suddenly began to pound violently when he led his ministers to the palace. It was as if he had a real feeling. The rainy weather could not extinguish the burning fire in his heart.
His sweaty palms made it almost impossible for him to hold the umbrella handle.
The sounds coming from inside the palace made Ji Shuqin dizzy, and even made his vision go black, but he could hear them clearly. He had never been more clear-headed than he was now!
He heard it clearly with his own ears: what his father did, what his father wanted to do to his younger brother, what his father wanted to do to the other princes, and even... what his father wanted to do to the common people!
When that kick went in, Ji Shuqin was furious!
What happened next was like something out of a traditional opera, with everyone taking turns on stage and performing according to a set script and dialogue.
But Ji Shuqin was most concerned about Ji Shumin's condition.
His younger brother lay there in a sorry state, just looking at him. Ji Shuqin felt that his body was as light as a piece of paper, but he was so strong, much stronger than himself.
But what happened next was something Ji Shuqin had never anticipated.
It was within Ji Shuqin's expectations that the ministers would ask the emperor to abdicate, but having him take charge of state affairs was not what Ji Shuqin had planned and desired.
The crowd filed in, then poured out like a flowing river...
Left alone with his younger brother, Ji Shuqin opened his mouth and saw his brother looking at him quietly with a knowing, ambiguous smile, his thin chest rising and falling slightly.
Ji Shuqin wanted to say something, but his throat felt blocked, and he didn't know how to start.
"Does Mother...does Mother know?" Ji Shuqin asked, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion.
With such a commotion, and the Empress, who controls the inner palace, not even coming to check on it, Ji Shuqin's suspicions grew stronger.
“I know.” Ji Shumin raised an eyebrow.
"Then why!" Ji Shuqin looked up, feeling powerless and guilty, making it almost impossible for him to look at Ji Shumin's face. He realized at this moment that his mother didn't care about his younger brother at all; she... hated Ji Shumin.
"That blank imperial edict was sent by the Empress Dowager," Ji Shumin said after a moment's thought.
"what?"
Ji Shuqin had long since stopped associating with the Empress, as if this allowed him to naively express his stance. He had neither placed any people in Ji Shumin's residence nor was he able to. He was only concerned with when Ji Shumin would enter the palace, so he was unaware of the matter concerning the fake imperial edict.
The Empress forged a blank imperial edict not to protect herself, but simply because Ji Shuqin was unaware of the matter at the time, and since he ignored her, she had no way to provoke him.
"My mother wanted to help me avoid my father, but in the end, there was nothing she could do..." Ji Shumin thought to himself that his words were ridiculous and absurd.