Fu Rou’s eyes were already fixed on the box by the corner.
Sun Lingshu mocked, “Why? Are you scared? I never thought that there would be times when Court Lady Fu is afraid.”
Fu Rou crawled up from the ground and slowly walked to the front of the box. As soon as she saw the corpse, she closed her eyes in pain. She recalled the first time they met and how this young man had called her “Sister-in-law”. Although he had a glib tongue, his eyes were always clear. Now, those eyes had lost their light.
She closed her eyes for this and turned to the woman standing by the door. Her voice was filled with sorrow and anger. “Did you kill him?”
Sun Lingshu’s mouth pulled up at one side. “Yes.”
Fu Rou asked, “Why?”
Sun Lingshu snorted, “Why again? Before Sheng Chujun passed away, he was like you, he kept asking why.” Her gaze suddenly became dark. “Maybe everyone in the mortal world struggles to reach the end just to ask why.”
Fu Rou blurted, “Why did you kill him?”
Sun Lingshu was so calm it was frightening. “Because he seduced Lingwei and bewitched her wisdom. He made the sister I trusted most in this world, betray me. I had no choice but to clear up my own family. My sister is dead, how can he live freely in this world?”
Fu Rou was shocked. “Clear up your own family? Were you the one that poisoned Sun Lingwei’s jujube cakes?”
“Yes.” There was nothing Sun Lingshu could not admit to. The Eastern Palace was about to rule the world, she would be the mother of this country.
“Then...then Consort Han...you clearly did it yet you framed Consort Han in front of the late Empress and made the Empress kill her wrongly!” This was too frightening! She knew that Consort Han had been framed but she never thought that Sun Lingwei would have been murdered by her own sister!
“Wrongly? She deserved it!” There was no change in Sun Lingshu’s eyes. “Ever since I entered the Eastern Palace, she always went against me. She kept on humiliating me. If she did not go so far, this wouldn’t have happened. I paid with my sister’s life to make Imperial Mother grant her poisoned wine. A life for a life, she is not wronged at all.”
“You are crazy.” Fu Rou shivered even though she was not cold.
“It is okay if I am crazy, as long as I win in the end. I will get back whatever I lost. No matter how difficult it is, I will be the last one laughing. Consort Han was extremely arrogant in the past but isn’t she dead now? Not only does she have to die, the people around her have to die as well. Sheng Chujun is dead. Soon it will be Prince Han and Sheng Chumu.”
“No! I will not let you hurt Sheng Chumu!” Fu Rou lost control and shouted.
“Court Lady Fu, it is too late. It seems like you can’t even save yourself now.” Sun Lingshu smiled as she walked out. She coldly ordered. “Lock the door and guard her properly.”
Fu Rou sat down slowly. She looked through the windows into the sky. All of a sudden, she saw a light ray shoot up into the sky.
In the Secretariat Department, the Crown Prince and Grand Prince Liang saw it too. Grand Prince Liang cried out in joy. “Success! Prince Han is dead! Your Highness, it is our turn now.”
The Crown Prince slammed the table and stood up with determined eyes. He shouted as he walked out of the study room. The guards that he had secretly placed in every corner came out and formed neat rows.
The Crown Prince spoke, “There are despicable people creating trouble in Chang’an. You all shall follow me and enter the palace to protect Great Tang’s Royal Family! After this is over, you will be rewarded for your efforts!”
This was not just a plan to get rid of Prince Han. How could his Imperial Father forgive him if he killed Prince Han? He was sick of always having to fear for his Crown Prince status. Any tiny mistake would get him wronged. His Imperial Mother was no longer around and his Imperial Father had always been strict. If he still doesn't take action, sooner or later, he would lose everything. He just needed to take the first step and obtain the throne. When that happens, who would be able to make him worry about how much he stands to gain and lose? He will no longer have to live everyday in fear.
Moreover, there was nothing he could not do. After all, his Imperial Father had done it first. Back then, his Imperial Father had gotten rid of his own two older brothers and forced the Grand Emperor to give up the throne. That was how his Imperial Father had gotten the world. Besides, he was the Crown Prince and the world should belong to him anyway. He had more right than his Imperial Father back then.
From today onwards, he, Li Chengqian, would be the ruler!
* * *
1. go implies to leave/die, depending on context
Chapter 79.2: Shoot
By the lake on the outskirts of the city, Prince Zhou was lying on a huge rock and suntanning, with his hands tucked behind his head. Unlike the brutal and bleak winter in Chang’an, the weather was good here. The yellow grass was slowly turning green again, spring was about to come.
Someone came to the huge rock and smiled. “Blood is flowing in the city but you are enjoying the peacefulness here.”
Prince Zhou glanced to the side, it was Fu Shui.
“Didn’t you run pretty quickly too? On such an important day, you should be staying by the Crown Prince side and watching the show unfold. If you think you can gain anything from me, I am afraid I am going to let you down. You should look for my mother.”
He was just a chess piece. He was not even as important as Fu Shui. Fu Shui was the chess player.
“Can’t I be like you and occasionally find a peaceful place to enjoy the scenery?” Fu Shui did not mind the snide in Prince Zhou’s tone. “Yan Zifang’s secret message is about to arrive.”
Prince Zhou smiled. “The Crown Prince thinks victory is in his hands. He would never expect that the person he trusted most to betray him right from the beginning. From the start, he was bound to fail.”
Yan Zifang had sent Ma Haihu to send a message to the Emperor in the Hot Spring Palace. In the letter, it was written that the Crown Prince had been bewitched by Grand Prince Liang and was going to kill Prince Han and take over the palace.
Prince Zhou continued, “You really choose the best time to get Yan Zifang to send the letter to the Hot Spring Palace. If you sent it any earlier, Imperial Father would rush back in time to save Prince Han and Prince Han would not die. Any later, the Crown Prince would gain control after killing Prince Han and take over the throne, causing Imperial Father, who is outside of the capital, to lose everything. Then the entire world would belong to the Crown Prince. As long as the letter is not sent too early or too late, it will ensure that Prince Han will die and Imperial Father will rush back in time to gain control. The Crown Prince will not obtain victory. Fu Shui, you are really talented. Everything has been calculated by you.”
“Thank you for your praise.” Although Fu Shui could not hear any hint of genuine praise.
“However, you are also stupid.” Alas, Prince Zhou still had things to say. “There was once a person that was going to be the ruler of the world. He looked to you as a friend and trusted you. However, you conspired against him and betrayed him, causing him to lose everything. Have you ever thought that if Li Chengqian were to ascend the throne, he would bring you riches and power? He might even give you more than what my mother would give you?”
“I have always been planning hard for your future. Now as we are about to succeed, you are saying such words that sway one’s heart. The one that is stupid is not me, it is you.” Fu Shui did not understand Prince Zhou.
“If the Crown Prince is dead, will you be upset?”
“No.” Fu Shui’s expression did not change.