Zhong Yutang was in an awkward position. “This...my subordinates demanded to pledge their loyalty to me and gave it to me to celebrate my promotion. I had intended to give them back in a few days. I never thought…”
“Stop talking!” Zhong Yutang had been personally selected by her, now she had no choice but to suffer in silence. “And the issue with Xinnan’s corpse cannot be known to others. Hurry and find a replacement body. General Yan, please oversee this.”
Zhong Yutang’s expression was horrible.
Yan Zifang accepted. “Yes. I will handle it properly. From what I see now, Princess Xinnan might not have committed suicide but she was actually murdered by Official Zhuang. What does Your Highness think about Official Zhuang committing suicide for her crime?”
Concubine Yan smiled. “No wonder Fu Shui always praises you for being capable. You dare to think and act. Let’s go according to your suggestion.”
Yan Zifang took his leave. Zhong Yutang wanted to fight for himself. “Your Highness…”
Concubine Yan’s expression was cold. “Aren’t you leaving! You can’t even do something so small. How can I count on you to do bigger things!”
Zhong Yutang was dejected as he left. Yu He stepped up. “Please don’t be angry, Your Highness, don’t hurt your health.”
Concubine Yan shook her head and let out a deep breath. Ever since Xinnan’s incident, she had been feeling unsettled. However, she did not know why. She hoped that she was thinking too much. Xinnan was just a princess. In the future, the entire world would belong to her son and she would have power. Everyone would be beneath her.
Chapter 95.1: Loyal Traitor
Fu Rou opened her eyes. The candlelight illuminated a tall figure standing in front of her bed.
“Your Highness.” She wanted to get up but Prince Zhou pressed down on her shoulder. “Lie down. Imperial Physician He said that you were extremely upset and have to rest.”
“Shu’er told you.” Fu Rou still wanted to sit up. “It is no big deal.”
Prince Zhou grabbed her hand and his gaze was as gentle as water. “I remember the time when you were very ill and I took care of you the entire time. I was happier than anyone when I saw you slowly recover as the days passed.”
Fu Rou was uncomfortable. “Your Highness, I have made myself clear.”
Prince Zhou only cared about himself. “I want you to become more ill. I want you to be so ill so that you cannot interfere with the things going on in the palace. I wish that you could temporarily fall asleep like Imperial Father. When you wake up, everything will be over and the days that greet you would be the clear days after the storm. I will also always be waiting for you.”
Fu Rou pulled her hand back sharply. “You are deceiving yourself! If it is supposed to be yours, it will be yours. No one needs to fall ill or die for it and you will still get it. If not, it is deceiving! It is a lie! Concubine Yan captured Sheng Chuling and beat Zhenzhu to death. Because of that, Princess Xinnan committed suicide. Do you know that?”
Prince Zhou spoke solemnly, “I know.”
Fu Rou asked again, “She pretended to have captured my family and forced me to take poison to commit suicide. Did you know that?”
Prince Zhou froze. “That cannot be! Mother has promised me that she will not take your life!”
Fu Rou took out the poison bottle. “This was left behind by Yu He. I will not lie to you.”
Prince Zhou took the medicine bottle and turned it over.
“Concubine Yan is your mother and you are filial to her. But is she really telling you the truth about everything?” From what she saw, Prince Zhou was oblivious about a lot of things. “I am just a female official and my life is not worth a mention. Your Highness can choose not to believe what I just said. But I want to ask you, if Concubine Yan has done something to the Emperor, what would be your choice?”
“Mother treats Imperial Father…” Prince Zhou denied fervently, “It is impossible! Although my mother will do extreme things for my future, she is deeply in love with Imperial Father and will definitely not…”
Fu Rou cut him off, “The Emperor’s illness suddenly activated. Following that, Concubine Yan sealed off Ganlou Palace and did not allow Imperial Physician He, who has always been treating the Emperor, to enter. She appointed two Imperial Physicians, Imperial Physician Zhang and Imperial Physician Yang to treat him. Have you never been suspicious about this?”
“When Imperial Father fell ill, Mother needed to control the situation and could only adapt.” Prince Zhou resigned himself to being impartial. “I am not a fool. This cannot be evidence to determine that Mother has done anything to Imperial Father.”
“When His Majesty fell ill, the first thing should be to treat his illness. Why is there a need to change imperial physicians to control the situation?” Fu Rou took out a prescription and handed it over to Prince Zhou. “This was given by Imperial Physician He for His Majesty. He said his medicine is more useful than the ones prescribed by Imperial Physician Zhang and Imperial Physician Yang. Imperial Physician He understands the Emperor’s health best. I trust him.”
Prince Zhou was actually feeling anxious. “You are forcing me to cooperate with you and feed Imperial Father this unknown medicine?”
“Do you really understand Imperial Physician Zhang and Imperial Physician Yang’s medicine?” Fu Rou felt like Prince Zhou was trying to avoid reality. “Moreover, you are in control of the situation now. Who has the ability to force you? There is no point of me holding this prescription. Even if I make it, I can’t give it to the Emperor. Your Highness has it now. As for what to do with it, it is entirely up to you.”
Fu Rou placed the prescription in Prince Zhou’s hands. Prince Zhou closed his fingers over her hands as well as the prescription.
Fu Rou pulled her hands away. “Your Highness should return.”
Prince Zhou's desire to speak was once again stopped by her. In the end, he left without saying anything.
Tonight, he would kill Sheng Chumu. He was not afraid of killing and had no pity for Sheng Chumu. But if he saw Fu Rou upset, he would feel more pain than her. However, he wanted to be selfish for once. Once he obtained the world, how could he not get the lady he loved? Like what his mother said, they had tolerated for so long. There was no need to tolerate any longer!
Fu Shui’s villa was built on top of a mountain. On the other side of the platform that Lian Yan’er had met Fu Shui, there was a cliff.
Sheng Chumu walked up alone. He saw that Yan Zifang had brought a group of men and was waiting for him humorlessly in formation.
Yan Zifang tilted his lips. “You are quite punctual.”
“That’s right. An elder brother is like a father. Not being punctual would ruin my reputation.” Sheng Chumu had a glib tongue. At the same time, he took out a scroll. “I have what you want. I have written down Prince Qin’s location and the way to secretly contact him. It took me two entire days without sleep.”
Yan Zifang could not be bothered with his smooth words. “Hand it over.”
“Do I look like a fool? If Chuling does not appear in front of me, why would I hand this over to you? I have no patience, if you drag on-” Sheng Chumu shifted the firestick nearer to the scroll. “We shall just cancel this deal. After all, my reputation has long been bad.”
Yan Zifang was impatient. “Bring Sheng Chuling out.”
All of Sheng Chuling’s limbs were bound as he was pushed out by someone. “Elder Brother, this is a trap! Don’t try to save me and leave!”
“What’s the point in acting brave now? If you are capable, don’t let them catch you.” Sheng Chumu waved his hand. “Shut up.”
Sheng Chuling immediately shut his mouth. He could offend anyone but he could not offend his elder brother.