Chapter 337: Chapter 307: I have never made a mistake in my life!
When he returned home, Wang Shaoji’s smile on his face showed no signs of diminishing. He even laughed brazenly while saying, "In his current state, let alone returning to the Eastern Capital or Daxing; I fear that he won’t be able to stay in Jiangdu for much longer."
Following him off the carriage was Wang Shaoqiu.
He was frailer, and stumbled as he got off the carriage. Thankfully, the attendants immediately came up to support him. Wang Shaoqiu coughed twice before waving his hand to gesture that he’d continue walking on his own.
Wang Shaoji glanced back at him impatiently and said, "With your health, you should be resting at home. Why bother attending court? You only go there to witness some pointless jokes."
"I don’t exactly feel that those jokes are pointless."
Wang Shaoqiu covered his mouth and coughed lightly twice. Although the weather had warmed up, especially in the South where the climate was far more pleasant than in the North, he was still wrapped in a thick fox-fur coat. The fluffy fur encased his gaunt face, emphasizing his frailty.
Yet, his astute eyes shone exceptionally bright.
Wang Shaoji couldn’t help but ask, "What do you mean?"
Wang Shaoqiu didn’t speak immediately but walked into their family mansion and, confirming that there were no outsiders nearby, he calmly said, "Elder brother now only thinks about tomorrow’s big event, but what I need to consider is after the big event."
"After the big event?"
"If tomorrow’s big event succeeds, and we indeed manage to get rid of him—after that, what plans does elder brother have?"
"...?"
Wang Shaoji was momentarily stunned, and seeing his expression, Wang Shaoqiu shook his head as if he already guessed that Wang Shaoji hadn’t thought that far ahead. He said, "Actually, tomorrow’s matter can be called a big event, but once it’s over, it’s over. What truly matters is how elder brother plans to manage Jiangdu Palace afterward and handle the tens of thousands of people Your Majesty brings to Jiangdu."
"..."
Wang Shaoji’s steps suddenly halted.
Only then did he realize that he’d been so focused on arranging the matters of tomorrow that he hadn’t even thought about what would come after.
But upon reflection, maybe that is the true life-or-death—big event!
He hurriedly asked, "You—"
Wang Shaoqiu said, "Today after court, I went to talk with Hu Ben Lang Jiang and several other generals in the army. They are basically all very dissatisfied with this trip to Jiangdu; moreover, their families are left in the North. Now with the Eastern Capital fallen, they all want to return. Most of them are within manageable control."
Wang Shaoji replied quickly, "That’s good."
Wang Shaoqiu added, "But there’s one more point that elder brother must remember."
"What, tell me."
"No matter how things develop tomorrow, elder brother, you must not act personally."
"Why?"
"Because, assassinating that person, no matter who he is, will surely become a subject of public criticism and could potentially incite rebel armies to rise against us in numbers. Thus, if elder brother still wishes to control power after the big event, this Thunder Pool can never be crossed!"
Wang Shaoji said, "Alright, I’ll listen to you!"
But he pondered again, asking puzzledly, "But when the time comes, who should take action? This is also a problem."
"..."
Wang Shaoqiu did not respond immediately but covered his mouth and coughed twice. Then he looked up at Wang Shaoji, a nearly sinister smile flickering in his eyes as he said, "I will—no, heaven will arrange it."
"...!"
For some reason, even though he had thousands of bloodstained hands, and his heart was not cleaner than anyone else’s, when facing his brother’s cold gaze, Wang Shaoji felt a chill in his heart.
At this moment, a fragrant breeze drifted by.
The two brothers paused for a moment, then they heard a soft and charming voice coming from beside them—
"My lord, you’ve finally returned."
Wang Shaoji’s heart stirred immediately. He turned around and saw that familiar enchanting figure striding gracefully towards him—none other than Lu Xiao.
Ever since capturing this woman who had caused him to fail in romance and lose face, he initially wanted to humiliate her to make up for past grievances. However, he couldn’t resist her seductive allure. During this journey with the Emperor to Jiangdu, he left all his wives and concubines in the Eastern Capital, bringing only her with him.
Now, seeing her, he fell into a daze and the important matters he had been discussing were instantly blown away by the fragrant breeze enveloping her.
He walked forward with a smile, "Little enchantress, you miss me that much?"
As he spoke, his hand moved inappropriately to touch her slender waist.
Wherever he touched, Lu Xiao laughed coquettishly and fell softly into his arms, whispering, "My lord is so naughty!"
After a playful exchange, Wang Shaoji hastily turned around and instructed, "Second brother, I have some matters to attend to. You ponder over what we discussed just now, and be sure not to overlook anything..."
With that, he quickly embraced Lu Xiao and left.
Wang Shaoqiu stood motionless, quietly watching them leave amid teasing laughter. Finally, when their laughter faded into silence, he turned and headed towards his room.
As soon as he lifted his foot, he noticed something soft and pink on the ground. Upon closer inspection, it was a woman’s silk handkerchief.
It was exactly when Lu Xiao turned around to leave, she accidentally dropped it.
Wang Shaoqiu quietly stared at the pink handkerchief, blown by the wind as if it were the gentle, frail body of a woman, slowly landing at his feet. He looked at it for a long time before crouching down to pick it up. He kneaded it between his fingers for a moment, then brought it to his nose for a deep breath.
The scent felt like an invisible poison, instantly spreading through his limbs and body.
He maintained a calm expression, slowly putting the handkerchief into his bosom.
Then, he stood up and walked away.
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Meanwhile, Shang Ruyi’s hands remained on the heavy palace doors after she personally closed them, seemingly trying to gather some strength. But before she could muster enough courage, Chu Yang’s voice rang out behind her—
"What do you want to tell me?"
The voice was intensely close.
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and turned around, only to find that he was standing almost pressed against her. Facing each other, he was nearly embracing her, with eyes like phoenixes gazing down at her, almost penetrating her pupils.
Shang Ruyi’s breath was suddenly taken away.
Chu Yang continued to approach her, their faces getting closer and closer. His nose was almost touching hers, those smiling phoenix eyes nearly overflowing with laughter.
He said, "Whatever you need to say, say it."
"..."
Though she knew she had done nothing wrong, facing his innocent childish smile, Shang Ruyi felt somewhat tongue-tied.
However, she could not remain silent any longer.
She took a deep breath and met those smiling eyes.
Then, word by word, she said, "Your Majesty, you must stop killing people like this."
As soon as these words were spoken, Chu Yang’s expression immediately darkened. His eyes showed not only disappointment but also growing irritation. Yet, facing Shang Ruyi’s cautious gaze that steadfastly met his, he took a deep breath and turned away, saying, "I don’t want to hear you say that!"
"Ruyi also doesn’t want to say this to Your Majesty."
"Then why do you say it!"
"But Ruyi can’t stand by and watch Your Majesty murder loyal ministers."
"Loyal ministers?"
Chu Yang sneered, turning around to glare at her. The warmth in those phoenix eyes completely vanished, leaving only endless disappointment and anger. Gritting his teeth, he said, "These people exaggerate gloom and fabricate battle reports every day to earn military merits; they advise me to return to the Eastern Capital, return to the Western Capital every day. Is this loyalty?"
Shang Ruyi said, "Your Majesty may not wish to return to the Eastern Capital or the Western Capital, but that doesn’t make their words wrong."
Chu Yang’s eyes widened: "Their words aren’t wrong, so the wrong is mine, right?!"
"..."
At that moment, Shang Ruyi’s throat choked, leaving her speechless.
Yet Chu Yang seemed utterly provoked, unwilling to let her go. He stepped closer, lowering his head to look at her, his hot, rapid breath gusting onto her face, causing her to shrink back. Chu Yang said, "You avoided discussing this with others to talk to me alone, just to tell me I’m wrong, huh?"
"..."
"I’m the supreme ruler, am I wrong?!"
Seeing him growing angrier and holding onto this point, Shang Ruyi bit her lip, looking up at him: "Your Majesty, are you not wrong?!"
Even though separated by the heavy palace door, though unable to see the situation outside, Shang Ruyi could almost feel that Eunuch Yu would certainly gasp outside hearing this, possibly already scared to death.
Who dares say such things in front of the Emperor?
Even though she was supposedly his confidante, he was the Emperor after all, and pointing out his faults was touching his ticklish scale!
Shang Ruyi could even smell the intense scent of blood outside the palace seeping in through the door cracks.
Perhaps in the next moment, her blood might be added to it.
Indeed, as soon as these words fell, Chu Yang’s eyes turned red.
He gritted his teeth, viciously staring at this pale, slender girl before him, who could not withstand even a single word from him but dared to utter words that could earn her a thousand cuts. Chu Yang paused for a long time, laughed in anger, and nodded, saying, "Fine, fine, fine!"
He said "fine" three times and then turned around to pace the great hall, but such futile actions could not dispel the anger in his heart, nor alleviate the pain those words pierced in him. He returned angrily to Shang Ruyi, pressed heavily against the palace door behind her, and said word by word, "I’m not wrong!"
"..."
"I’ve never been wrong in my life!"