Fu Rou froze. “The Emperor fainting, could it...could it be that you…”
Prince Zhou was furious. “Is that how you think of me? After knowing each other for so long, I treat you like one of my own, yet you look at me as if I am cruel? No, I have never hurt my Imperial Father and will never hurt him!” However, his tone changed to one of helplessness. “But things have already turned out this way. I am on a path that I did not choose for myself. At the end of this path, it is Great Tang’s most precious throne. If I cannot sit on it, me and my closest kin will die on this path.”
“You can also brave the torrent and retreat.” He had other choices.
“Retreat where? Tell me. Who would let me and my mother go after becoming the crown prince? Li Chengqian? Prince Han Litai? No matter which of them becomes the crown prince, my mother and I will die.” He had long ago seen this clearly. Those biological brothers had never thought of him as a brother.
Fu Rou was determined. “There is Prince Qin.”
“If Prince Qin did not go missing, maybe there is a chance. But he is missing. If he has been captured by someone or harmed, my mother and I won’t be able to prove our innocence even if we jumped into the yellow river. If he purposely hid…”
Fu Rou spoke, “If he purposely hid himself, he will be able to prove your and Concubine Yan’s innocence when he comes back.”
Prince Zhou suddenly reached out and gently held Fu Rou's face. He laughed bitterly, “Rou’er, you are really not suited for the palace. You are too na?ve. If he purposely hid, it means that he is fearful of me and suspects that I would hurt him. With that premonition, the distance between me and Prince Qin will never disappear. When he ascends the throne, he will kill me.”
“No. Prince Qin will not. I will properly guide him.” Fu Rou was confident in Prince Qin.
“He listens to you now because he is still young. When he grows older and has the power to kill and overlook life, do you think he will still listen to your advice? His mother is Empress Zhangsun and his biological brothers are Li Chengqian and Li Tai. Will he forget that we were born on two different sides?” This was their predestined fate.
Fu Rou opened her mouth but could not say anything.
“I have to become the Crown Prince and the next ruler of Great Tang. I promise you that I will treat Imperial Father better than Li Chengqian and I will not kill my brothers. I will be more diligent and lenient than any other ruler.” Prince Zhou pleaded sincerely, “Rou’er, will you tell me where Prince Qin is? He cannot become the Crown Prince but I promise to let him live and at least become a rich noble.”
Fu Rou hesitated, struggling internally. In the end, she shook her head. Although she believed him, she could not trust the ones behind him.
Prince Zhou looked hurt as he let go of Fu Rou’s hand. “I did all of this in order to let my mother live comfortably in the palace. Rou’er, what about you? In order to let your parents live, would you be willing to pay any price?”
“So you planned all of this!” Fu Rou’s eyes were filled with shock.
However, Prince Zhou turned to leave. Whether he knew or not, whether he did it or not, he no longer had energy to dispute. Because he could only choose his mother. Her decision was equivalent to his decision. It was this pathetic!
Chapter 92.2: Sorrowful Fate
Fu Rou tossed and turned in bed. She could not fall asleep. She looked at the hazy light that shone in her pitch black room. Sighing, she sat up.
After begging Prince Zhou yesterday, she went to look for Linghu Deguan. Unexpectedly, Linghu Deguan coughed out blood in front of her. Although Chumu was around, it was still chaotic and they were all busy trying to rescue Linghu Deguan. There was no chance for her to speak and she returned without achieving anything.
Later on, the bad news arrived. Linghu Deguan was dead. He had gotten injured during the journey with Prince Qin. In order to fulfil his duties, he had delayed getting treatment and his injury had worsened. In addition, his chef at home added herbal medicine to his food. Although the medicine was not poisonous, it clashed with the prescription given to him by the imperial physician, causing him to cough out blood and die.
It is obvious who instructed the chef. However, now that the general in charge of the imperial guards was gone, Fu Rou understood that she could only count on herself. Although she was already used to bearing the burden, she had never felt so helpless and indecisive.
There were voices outsider her door. In the beginning, Fu Rou did not bother about it. However, as soon as she recognised the voice, she stood up and walked out.
Yu He was in the courtyard.
The light from daybreak shone on his features. His dark palace robe was blown by the wind, like a whirlpool. It was scary and dark.
This internal attendant was always smiling superficially, polite and soft-spoken. When he obtained power, he was extremely wild and malicious. He would root out any outsiders and not care about taking the lives of innocents.
“Chief Yu, what do you want?” With both of them taking standpoints, she could not be bothered to be polite.
Yu He placed the tiered box that he was carrying down. He slowly opened each layer. There were items like a rattle-drum and handkerchief. They were items belonging to her family.
She was extremely frightened internally but maintained a strong exterior. “You can’t prove that my family is in your hands just with these items.”
“Court Lady Fu, what do you want as proof? Your father’s finger? Your mother’s tongue? Or an eyeball from that child of your sister? But even if I bring it over, it will be drenched in blood. Would you be able to recognise it?” Power could make someone turn ugly.
“If Concubine Yan dares to touch even a strand of their hair, I will report you to the Justice Office!” Her words were empty but she did not want to relent.
“Court Lady Fu, you must be joking. Her Highness is kind and would never hurt anyone. Her Highness sent people to visit your second uncle’s house only because Her Highness looks highly upon you. Who would have known that your entire family would be missing. Apparently they went back to their hometown to visit relatives. Hopefully, they will not get attacked by robbers on the way and be locked in some unknown place, waiting to be slaughtered like pigs and dogs.” Yu He could hide for so many years because he was good at playing with people’s emotions. “If you understand things clearly now, tell me where Prince Qin is. Maybe Her Highness will help you find them and ensure their safety.”
Fu Rou fell silent for a long while. “I don’t know where Prince Qin is.” She was not going to exchange a life for a life.
Yu He laughed, “You don’t know?”
Fu Rou became anxious. “I swear on my life, I really don’t know!”
“Then prove it for Her Highness.” Yu He took out a bottle and threw it on the handkerchief lying in one of the boxes. “Aren’t you swearing with your life? If you can do it, perhaps heaven will pity your family.” Even if they found out Prince Qin’s location, they did not want Fu Rou to continue living and becoming a stumbling block.
“If you are still alive past midday, Her Highness will believe that all the things you said were true.” Yu He turned and left.
Fu Rou stood in the wind for a long time. She bent down to pick up the bottle. She had to think! She had to think properly!