Chapter 86

The four corner pillars of the dragon bed were made entirely of pure gold, carved with four elaborate giant dragons. Each dragon held a huge luminous pearl in its mouth, supporting layer upon layer of heavy bed curtains.

Lying on that bed, Jing Shao was covered with a brocade quilt embroidered with coiling dragons, staring intently at the intricate patterns on the canopy above.

Just two days ago, his imperial father had breathed his last here.

As the third son of Emperor Qian Ning, Jing Shao had not been born at the right time. When he was born, Emperor Qian Ning’s beloved Noble Consort Yun had just died, and Emperor Qian Ning was immersed in unbearable grief, paying no attention whatsoever to the affairs of the harem.

Even Jing Shao’s name had been chosen almost casually. After the Hanlin Academy had drawn up a list of names, Emperor Qian Ning had not even looked at them before selecting the first character.

The Empress had harbored a grudge over this, almost treating it as a festering wound in her heart. Thus, from childhood, Jing Shao had constantly heard his mother tell him that although he had the most noble mother in the entire world, his mother did not have his imperial father’s favor.

His mother had told him that he lacked nothing. The only thing he needed to fight for was his imperial father’s heart.

At the time, Jing Shao had been young and ignorant. Whatever his mother told him to do, he did.

But no matter what he did, he could never compare with a dead woman, much less with the woman’s son whose whereabouts were unknown. Besides, when all was said and done, what Emperor Qian Ning loved was only himself. He did not truly care about anyone else.

Jing Shao had understood this far too early.

Thus, his enemies changed from his brothers to his father. Every misfortune in his and his mother’s lives had been brought about by this man. Even the reason he had to live as though walking on thin ice was because of this man.

Now, that man was dead, and Jing Shao was lying on the bed symbolizing that man’s supreme authority.

Yet even though he now occupied this position of supreme power, he still could not have any peace.

Previously, he had used Zhao Langzhi’s scheme to kill Emperor Qian Ning. But that very night, the matter had begun to spread. Zhao Langzhi had actually exposed his identity, and Jing Shao had even been thrown into the imperial prison.

After being released, he had done everything he could to suppress the rumors. Yet instead of being suppressed in the slightest, the rumors seemed to have been fanned by a wind from somewhere unknown, becoming increasingly rampant throughout the court until practically everyone knew about them.

Still, several of the younger princes were too young to be of any use, Jing Mu was away from the capital, and Jing Kuang and Jing Cong, those two useless boys, had already been placed under house arrest in the palace together with their respective consort mothers. Although everyone in court knew about his patricide, no one dared to openly resist him.

But petty troubles came swarming in.

Now he truly understood what was troublesome about the civil officials. They did not dare stand up and oppose his accession, but they would use countless troublesome demands and an attitude of non-cooperation to obstruct him.

From selecting an auspicious date for his enthronement, to the feng shui and arrangement of the palace interiors, to the ceremonial robes he was to wear, there were even numerous officials submitting memorials asking to retire, begging him to spare their old, decrepit bones and let them return home to farm.

In short, these people had adopted an attitude of waging a prolonged war against him, as though they intended to oppose him to the bitter end.

Jing Kuang was now so harried by these matters that he could barely sleep, spending entire nights thinking of countermeasures. And he laid the blame for all of it squarely at Jing Mu’s feet.

Because he knew that a nation could not be without an emperor. If no one besides him was capable of becoming emperor, then these ministers would have no choice but to choose him.

But they had another option.

Jing Mu.

There was only Jing Mu left.

He thought, All of his greatest rivals had either died or submitted to him. Only Jing Mu remained as the thorn in his side. Once Jing Mu died, he could sleep soundly without worry.

Lying on that bed with his hands beneath his head, Jing Shao replayed his past experiences over and over in his mind, like images flashing past on a revolving lantern.

Just then, Cheng Lai cautiously entered.

“Your Majesty,” he said softly. “The Empress Dowager requests an audience.”

From behind the bed curtains, Jing Shao’s voice was calm and utterly without emotion.

“No. Ask her to return.”

Cheng Lai answered, “Yes, Your Majesty,” and withdrew.

Even though the Empress Dowager had the entire Jia family actively supporting him behind her, Jing Shao still did not want to see her.

Although if the Empress Dowager had not taken such a desperate gamble this time and killed the chief eunuch beside the Emperor, he would probably still be waiting in the imperial prison for Jing Mu to return and deal with him.

But Jing Shao found her troublesome. And with all the old grievances accumulated since childhood, he even harbored a subtle hatred toward his own mother.

Jing Shao hated her short-sightedness and indecisiveness. She could be ruthless over trivial matters, yet had not the slightest sense of the bigger picture. She could kill one consort and imperial heir after another, yet her heart had revolved around Emperor Qian Ning alone from beginning to end, as though obtaining his heart meant she would possess everything.

She herself was so foolish, yet she had forced him to be foolish alongside her. Fortunately, he had seen through things early and stopped associating himself with her. Otherwise, how could he ever have accomplished anything great?

And now, she was still getting in his way.

Jing Shao had originally wanted to kill Jing Kuang and Jing Cong outright. But at this time, the Empress Dowager had hesitated, saying that there was still Jing Mu outside. If the two princes were killed, the court’s sentiments would likely shift even more toward Jing Mu.

She even had time now to grieve, grieving that she had actually helped kill Emperor Qian Ning. Sometimes, she would secretly shed tears, crying that her husband had died at the hands of their own son.

Seeing her like this filled Jing Shao with disgust.

Perhaps some faint trace of father-son affection for Emperor Qian Ning still remained in his heart. Seeing his mother in such a state had stirred that hidden emotion within him.

He hated that emotion intensely.

Therefore, he had already decided that until everything had settled, he would not allow his mother to interfere in this matter. Once Jing Mu died and he successfully ascended the throne, even if the Empress Dowager wanted to interfere, she would no longer be able to dictate what he did.

At that time, who would still have the qualifications to control him?

The thought brought Jing Shao immense pleasure. He calculated the time. The imperial edict he had sent out had surely arrived long ago. If Jing Mu moved quickly, he should already have traveled halfway back.

He thought, Those people and matters that have troubled me for more than ten years will all be settled within another two days. By then, I will be able to rest easy and peacefully be my emperor.

Jing Shao closed his eyes.

This pleasure swept away the irritation in his heart. He was even too lazy to concern himself with the rumors currently raging through the court. For once, his heart felt completely open and at ease. Not long after closing his eyes, he fell asleep—the first peaceful, restful sleep he had had in days.

Jing Shao slept until the next day.

The following morning, Cheng Lai hurriedly woke him.

He opened his eyes. It was already light outside, though dawn had not yet fully broken. It was still early morning.

He had finally slept well for once, only to be awakened so early. Irritation rose within Jing Shao, and he was just about to lash out when Cheng Lai suddenly dropped to his knees before him.

“Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!” Cheng Lai said. “The Second Prince is back!”

“Jing Mu is back?” Jing Shao asked with a frown. “What? He returned to receive his orders and assist me. What’s wrong with that?”

Cheng Lai’s voice trembled.

“No, Your Majesty. The Second Prince has issued a proclamation, claiming that he is returning to purge the court of traitors! He has already brought an army of one hundred and fifty thousand troops and fought his way to the capital!”

Jing Shao was startled and nearly fell from the dragon bed.

“He… is purging the court? Whom is he purging?” Jing Shao asked.

Since ancient times, whenever a vassal prince claimed to be purging the emperor’s court of traitors, it was invariably done under the pretext of having a legitimate cause for war, only to ultimately purge the “foolish emperor” as well.

“He says… the Empress has brought chaos to the realm!” Cheng Lai said in a trembling voice. “He claims that the Empress Dowager forged an imperial edict and installed the Third Prince, who murdered the late emperor, upon the throne! His proclamation also says… he has the original imperial edict in his possession!”

“How could he have the imperial edict!” Jing Shao roared. “Didn’t the Empress Dowager say she had burned it!”

Cheng Lai was both frantic and terrified, his throat already choking with fear.

“Your Majesty, this servant doesn’t know… this servant truly doesn’t know!”

“Guards! Guards!” Jing Shao shouted furiously.

More than a dozen private soldiers he had raised immediately appeared at the doorway. These private soldiers had originally been kept hidden. Now that he was living in the imperial palace and had nothing to fear, he had brought them out into the open.

“Go to the Duke of Dingguo’s General’s Residence immediately!” he ordered. “Use the fastest means possible and bring the Duke of Dingguo’s wife to the imperial palace!”

Then he threw on his clothes and went straight to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager had already heard the news and risen as well. She had only heard that Jing Mu had rebelled, but did not know how he had rebelled. Thus, she was anxiously waiting in the palace and had sent someone to find out whether Jing Shao had awakened.

Not long after the messenger was sent out, Jing Shao arrived.

He wore his imperial robes, but his hair had not yet been tied up and hung loose over his shoulders. He had a handsome, gentle appearance like fine jade, but at this moment his expression was cold, fierce, and savage. Walking beneath the morning sun, he looked like an evil spirit emerging from hell.

The Empress Dowager vaguely felt that she no longer recognized him.

In the past, Jing Shao had always appeared gentle and quiet before her, obediently following her every word, a docile and well-behaved son.

But ever since learning that he had killed Emperor Qian Ning, her son seemed to have become an entirely different person.

Seeing him approach, the Empress Dowager hurried forward to greet him.

Before she could speak, she heard Jing Shao demand coldly:

“Didn’t you burn the original imperial edict?”

The Empress Dowager froze.

“Yes… yes, I burned it.”

“Then how did it end up in Jing Mu’s hands!” Jing Shao roared. “The imperial edict in his possession—is it real or fake?”

“This… how would I…”

“How could you not know about the imperial edict you burned!” Jing Shao glared at her with bloodshot eyes.

“I…” The Empress Dowager hesitated. “I had Xiezhi burn it! That was the late emperor’s final… How could I bring myself to burn it personally!”

As she spoke, she hurriedly ordered, “Where is Xiezhi? Someone, go and bring Xiezhi here!”

The palace attendant beside her received the order and hurried away.

A moment later, the attendant ran back, panting.

“Your Majesty, the palace maid who lived with Miss Xiezhi said that Miss Xiezhi requested leave, saying someone in her family had suddenly fallen gravely ill, and left the palace…”

The Empress Dowager’s vision went black.

In the next instant, Jing Shao actually drew the sword hanging at his waist and thrust it straight through the palace attendant’s body.

The attendant collapsed limply.

Blood splattered across the Empress Dowager’s skirt as she stared blankly at Jing Shao.

“The one who ruined my great undertaking was actually my own mother.”

He sneered coldly.

Then he turned and walked away.