535 Take The Crown (1/2)

Yu Shisheng wondered if it was possible for her to be wiser with age. It scared him how sharp her words were, and how quickly she caught on.

”I'm sure you heard it by now,” he said. ”I know Lady Ge Beining is your favorite lady-in-waiting, just because she is the last memory you have left of Aunt Lin. But it is time for you to let go of the past and face the truth. Ge Beining does not love you as much as you care for her.”

The Empress's gaze sharpened. She was not irritated by him. She was disappointed. ”I already know,” she angrily said.

”Then why were you rushing out of your estate after hearing those guards had dragged her to the town square? What were you planning to do, Mother? Save the girl who bad-mouthed you? Guard the girl who spilled your darkest secret? What did you plan on doing, Mother?”

The Empress was stunned speechless. In all honesty, she had not thought that far ahead.

The Empress was just so shocked by the news that her body moved on its own. It waltzed her out of the door, and towards the exit of her estate. She had planned on figuring out what to do with the situation once she was seated inside of the carriage that would take her to town.

”I—”

”Please don't hurt Ah-Zhen more than you already have.”

The Empress gawked at her son. Did he lose his sanity when painting? What has gotten into him today? ”Why would I hurt my own son? Why would I choose this girl who is not related to me by blood over my son whom I've birthed and raised?”

”From what I know, you once chose the side of this girl who shares no blood relation to you.”

The Empress always knew Yu Shisheng had eyes and ears everywhere in the palace. But even in Lady Ge Beining's estate? It was shocking. How much did he know? Had he always been watching in the background, silently observing everything unfold?

”I know you still hold influence in the court, Mother. You've been dissatisfied with how uncontrollable Ah-Zhen is, thus, have been gathering people to oppose his regime,” Yu Shisheng revealed.

Yu Shisheng knew everything. His spies were everywhere, and nothing escaped him. He was well-acquainted with the Empress's faction, for she had introduced him to them all. They doted on him and viewed him as the better choice for Crown Prince.

But it was a title he no longer fought for. Yu Zhen, his brother, had won fair and square, when he put his life at risk for nearly a decade on the frontlines of war. He had protected his country and lost his humanity along the way. It was a heavy price to pay to ensure the safety of the entire kingdom.

Yu Shisheng would not take the crown from Yu Zhen's hands. It was unlike his style.

Yu Shisheng clasped his hands over his mother's hands. He offered her a pleading smile and prayed she would listen.

”Don't push your own son away, for he is already standing at the edge of the cliff, and one more push, you'd lose him forever. You would know. It was exactly what happened to Royal Father.”

- - - - -

Yu Zhen quietly slipped back onto Xiao Lizi. His identity was kept hidden. With great certainty, no one had figured the Crown Prince had personally witnessed the humiliation. If so, people would've dropped to their knees and greeted him by now.

”We're heading back,” he solemnly said.

With a flick of his wrist, Xiao Lizi began to trot onward. Eventually, she broke into a thunderous sprint that captured everyone's attention. But she raced through the streets too quickly for anyone to catch sight of the rider. He was a whirlwind of blurry black.

Yu Zhen was the first to make it back to the Imperial Palace. Coming in second place was Lu Tianbi who didn't seem fazed by the speed of Xiao Lizi, for her horse was also well-built and quick.

Hu Dengxiao was last. He had broken into a sweat despite being on a horse. ”X-Xiao Lizi is too fast for me,” he groaned whilst hopping off his stallion.

They were at the entrance of the Imperial Palace. At the word that the Crown Prince had returned, all the servants rushed forward. The guards straightened up. Instantaneously, everyone lowered themselves into a deep bow.

”Welcome back, Your Highness!”

Yu Zhen strolled through the lines of people without a word. He had a business to tend to, especially after catching wind of where his Wangfei went to. The reason he came back to the Imperial Palace earlier than planned was because one of his spies had quickly run up to him, and whispered the news.

But that was fine. Ge Beining's punishment was coming to an end anyway, since she was already limp on the platform. Whether or not she was alive was up to Heaven's fate. He'd deal with her later.