Chapter 232: Mind Game (1/2)

Qi Yun stayed with the emperor every morning. It pained him to see his father's health deteriorate day by day. Even though the emperor had been absent from his childhood, they were connected by blood. He couldn't bear seeing the traces time left on the emperor.

The more intense Qi Chen and the third emperor's conflict became, the more the emperor's hands shook when he read reports.

A scroll was thrown across the room when Qi Yun entered the emperor's study. He stood silently for a moment before placing the ceramic bowl on the table and picking up the report. There wasn't anything new written in it. Another official was getting tired of the clash between Qi Chen and the third prince. He hoped the emperor would address the issue.

Qi Yun put the report away with a sigh and approached the emperor. ”Please don't be angry, Royal Father.”

”How can I not be? Look at these two sons of mine. What have they been doing lately?!” The emperor broke into a coughing fit. Qi Yun hurriedly went up to him and smoothed a hand over his back. Helplessness made Qi Yun's movement rigid.

”Royal Father has to take care of yourself,” Qi Yun said worriedly, his brows furrowed.

After a lifetime of being in the royal family, the emperor had honed his observation skill. He could tell immediately who among his sons truly cared about him. Qi Yun had been patiently attending to him since he fell ill. Genuine familial love was uncommon in the royal family. He was deeply moved by Qi Yun's gesture.

With a sigh, he took Qi Yun's hand and patted the back of his hand. ”You are the purest man in this imperial court.”

”Please don't say that, Royal Father. This son can't be the only one who cares about Royal Father's health. There are loyal officials in the court still. Royal Father doesn't have to be so pessimistic. The most important thing now is for you to recover. The rest will fall into place on its own.” Qi Yun was genuinely trying to comfort his father. He added, ”Besides, second brother and third brother would like to share Royal Father's burden as well. They just want to improve themselves in hope that one day - ”

”Ha, it'll be best if they can behave themselves,” the emperor cut in. The more he thought about how Qi Chen and the third prince plotted against each other in the court, the angrier he became. His eyebrows drew closer and closer. ”In the beginning their arguments were trivial. Now, though, they're openly attacking each other with no consideration to their familial bond.”

Qi Yun responded with silence. The court was now a chaotic place. However, Jun Huang had told him to not intervene and stay at the emperor's side. He'd let the two princes fight it out.

The emperor paused. ”It's good for men to be bold and ambitious. It's good for the two of them to work hard for the throne. However, what they're doing now isn't so much working for the throne as treading over their brother's body for their goal. It's disheartening.”

”Royal Father's… concern must have reached them.” Qi Yun wasn't sure how he could rea.s.sure the emperor. There were many things he had to keep to himself. He knew the more he talked, the more he risked making a mistake.

He wondered if Jun Huang and Ji Bo had been facilitating the collapse of order in the court. This wasn't the way the imperial court should be. It made him feel chilled to the bone thinking of the mastermind pulling the strings.

The emperor got tired after taking the medicine. Qi Yun left once he fell asleep and walked out of the emperor's bedroom. He went back to his place.

The man he'd sent out to investigate his mother's death came. Surprised, he ordered the others to leave and took the man to his study.

”This subordinate has found some clues, Your Highness.” The man handed a letter to Qi Yun.

Qi Yun unfolded the letter. The more he read, the darker his expression became. Veins popped out from his forehead as he gritted his teeth, his hand clutching the sheet of paper. He took a deep breath and forced himself to let go. The letter fell onto the floor, making a soft rustle.

He knew he must control his emotions, but he couldn't stop himself from shaking. He tightened his jaw without a word. The guard didn't know what to do, but he didn't dare to leave.

A long stretch of time pa.s.sed before Qi Yun waved a hand tiredly to dismiss the guard. He struggled to maintain his balance before he fell to the ground like all his strength had drain out of his body. The letter was within his reach, but he couldn't muster the courage to pick it up again.

He'd never stopped investigating his mother's death. He never expected the emperor to be a part of it. It felt like someone had stabbed him in the heart and twisted the knife. He would never forgive the emperor. He swore he'd do whatever it took to take everything the emperor owed his mother back.