Chapter 36: Terminal Stage of Love-Stricken Mind? Beyond Saving—Just Wait for Death, Then

“Are you not afraid that I might be playing tricks, pretending to value you, my royal nephew, while never truly considering abandoning the crown prince, my own son?” Qin Ye asked, his tone tinged with mischievous amusement.

Qin Ming’s expression remained unchanged. “From the moment Your Majesty brought me into the palace, it was impossible for things to remain peaceful between the crown prince and myself.”

Indeed, the original bearer of this body had feared the Moon Prince for years, all because of a rumor that the late emperor planned to depose the crown prince in favor of the Moon Prince. Perhaps the late emperor had entertained such thoughts, but he abandoned them, and yet the original still kept this matter close to heart.

As for Qin Ye, he had spoken with authority, bringing the Moon Prince’s heir into the palace that very day.

Whether Qin Yun would truly relinquish his claim to the throne, Qin Ye doubted. Yet, since the man himself had made it clear he had no desire for it, Qin Ye could hardly force him onto the throne.

But Anguo could not go without an heir, and fortunately there was the Moon Prince’s son. Pity that the Moon Prince had three daughters and only one son—his lineage too was thin. Other distant royal relatives had many children, but given Qin Ming’s outstanding performance, Qin Ye had no need to summon these relations to the capital and make a spectacle.

Because of Qin Ming’s excellence, Qin Ye began to keep him close, bringing him everywhere. Those in the know were discreet, not daring to speak recklessly. Those unaware were left bewildered.

Why was His Majesty always accompanied by the Moon Prince’s heir? They didn’t understand, but as time passed, they grew accustomed to seeing the Moon Prince’s heir whenever they saw the emperor. If, on any occasion, the heir was absent from Qin Ye’s side, they found it odd.

Some keen-minded individuals, having discerned something, hurried to Egret Academy in the outskirts of the capital, seeking an audience with the academy’s master late at night—the crown prince’s maternal grandfather, Qiu Ruhai, a man once coveted by two emperors.

After the meeting, Qiu Ruhai resigned as master of Egret Academy the very next day and set out to travel the world, making it clear he would not involve himself in the struggle for the throne, even for his own grandson.

The empress remained unmoved. Firstly, she knew her father’s temperament and understood that even if she went in person, she could not persuade him. Secondly, she did not believe the emperor would truly abandon his own son in favor of the Moon Prince’s heir, whom she had feared and envied for so many years.

If it were the original, it would indeed be impossible to give up. But for Qin Ye… his obsession lay in destroying Yun Kingdom and raising his children well. With the destruction of Yun Kingdom postponed, he sought first to bring prosperity to Anguo.

Examining his own motivations, Qin Ye could find no intention to make Qin Yun emperor of Anguo. Since that was the case, for Anguo’s future, he would cultivate the most suitable emperor; surely the original would understand, wouldn’t he?

Little Third: …

You have the nerve to ask so boldly—do you have the nerve to release the sword energy in your body?

Qin Ye had not lifted the shield on Little Third, so the silence, however deafening, could only remain unbroken.

A year passed in the blink of an eye. At the end-of-year palace banquet, overseen by the empress, Qin Ye saw the hostage prince from Yun Kingdom for the first time.

Frankly, though the Yun Kingdom’s hostage prince resided in the palace, his freedom was restricted, and he could not leave his allotted space. Qin Ye, unable to recall anyone of his type, would not have heard mention of him unless prompted.

Indeed, he had forgotten the existence of the hostage prince until now, when he finally saw him—a particularly frail youth.

He was a year older than Qin Yun, yet appeared even more delicate, his face sickly, coughing incessantly during the audience.

Yang Lao intended to reprimand Yun Loutai for his impropriety before the emperor, only to find Qin Ye, intrigued, asking, “Have you seen the imperial physician?”

If Yun Loutai had a mind to bide his time, cold-hearted and calculating, using everyone and everything for his great ambition—if he ultimately broke free from captivity, returned home, ascended the throne, and led an army of ten thousand to crush his enemies—Qin Ye would have admired him as a true hero.

But… well, best not discussed.

As an enemy, Qin Ye found Yun Loutai’s romance-obsessed mind delightful. He merely wanted to see what manner of man could forsake his country’s hatred for the sake of love.

One had to admit, Yun Loutai was quite handsome. Even in sickness, his beauty was undiminished, lending an air of exotic allure.

It was said Yun Loutai was not originally the crown prince, but when the former body overcame the Yun Kingdom’s palace, slaughtering the royal family and leaving only an insignificant, overlooked prince, circumstances forced a retreat due to failing health. Knowing his end was near and medicine could not save him, he hurried to pave the way for his son, allowing Yun Kingdom to survive.

Anguo demanded a hostage prince, and after much searching, Yun Kingdom produced Yun Loutai, whose half-foreign blood made him an outcast.

Yun Loutai’s mixed heritage was evident in his striking features, which gave his face an intense, dazzling beauty. His eyes carried a hint of gray, making his gaze particularly cold and detached, as if devoid of emotion, even chilling after prolonged observation.

Despised since childhood, he never learned to humble himself; even while dependent on others, he held his head high, full of unyielding pride.

When faced with Princess Huayang’s provocations, he showed no sign of restraint, leading her to target him relentlessly. In the depths of winter, she falsely accused him, forcing him to kneel in the snow.

His legs were frostbitten, illness followed, and she forbade the imperial physicians from treating him.

Early on, Princess Huayang played the role of a villainess with great confidence.

Yet, somehow, she fell in love with Yun Loutai.

Qin Ye could not understand: did this foolish child have no self-awareness, no comprehension of how her actions fostered hatred?

Previously, Huayang had ordered Yun Loutai to kneel in the snow as penance, nearly crippling him. It was Xie Fanghua, accompanying her family into the palace, who pitied him, stole her father’s token, and summoned the imperial physician, preventing Yun Loutai from becoming a cripple.

Qin Ye had no interest in tormenting a child. After questioning, seeing Yun Loutai clench his fists and lower his head stubbornly, he understood.

He did not mind Yun Loutai’s attitude, and turned to instruct Yang Lao, “Summon the imperial physician to treat him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Having handled this, Qin Ye called Princess Huayang forward.

Though favored, Huayang’s father was the emperor, and when he grew angry, even she, her mother, and her brother had to kneel in silence. Thus, Huayang feared Emperor Yong’an somewhat.

Especially as she had reached marriageable age this year, and the empress had asked several times whether she fancied anyone.

Yet, having lived a life free from constraint, with others always currying her favor, Huayang was inexplicably resistant to marriage.

Perhaps it stemmed from her childhood attendance at her aunt’s wedding, where she had witnessed the consort, once radiant and dignified, humbly begging forgiveness from the errant groom caught in an illicit affair with a servant girl. The sight left Huayang deeply opposed to marriage.

What was the point of being a princess? Before marriage, she was noble; after, she became a wife. If her husband strayed, the world would mock her—what use was her status, if she could not win his heart?

Huayang had watched her aunt’s transformation from vibrant bride to sorrowful wife. Now, as her turn approached, she instinctively resisted.

But such thoughts could not be shared. The empress would scold her for rebellion, even resorting to corporal punishment. The emperor would find her absurd, then reflect that perhaps he had been too indulgent.

Huayang’s anxiety deepened with each day, making her temperament increasingly erratic and prone to anger.

At the palace banquet, Huayang tried to avoid her father, fearing he would broach the subject of marriage.

When the emperor’s attendant found her, Huayang wore a pained expression, but had no choice but to follow the attendant, smiling, to present herself before her father.

“It’s been some time since I managed you. You’re like a kite with a broken string, flying farther and farther away.”

“Father, who says such things to their daughter? A broken stringed kite is hardly a flattering metaphor.”

Though somewhat fearful, Huayang deeply respected and admired her doting father.

Compared to Qin Yun, who had been taught from childhood the responsibilities of a crown prince, Huayang could afford to act coquettishly, hoping to charm her way out.

Qin Ye grinned, but his face quickly returned to its usual impassive expression.

Before Qin Ye could reprimand her, Huayang knelt. “Your daughter admits her fault.”

“Admits fault? I recall never neglecting your education, even inviting renowned female scholars to the palace for your instruction. Yet your education has led you to punish servants and torment a boy your brother’s age, disregarding life?”

Huayang blanched, but stubbornly raised her chin.

“I have been spoiled, and have punished servants, but I have never disregarded life. As for Yun Loutai, he is the hostage prince of Yun Kingdom, enemy to Anguo. As the defeated side, he carries the blood feud of Anguo’s soldiers. I may have humiliated him, but I do not believe I was wrong.”

“Blood feud of Anguo’s soldiers?”

“Is it not so? Yun Kingdom, a small nation, dared to allow its people to cross borders and kidnap Anguo’s citizens. Father, you led the army personally and could have destroyed Yun Kingdom, but you did not—that was your mercy. The hostage prince remains arrogant even in captivity; I sought only to teach him a lesson.”

“Or was it because he refused to flatter you like others, prompting your retaliation?”

“There is indeed a bit of personal grievance, yes.”

Huayang was forthright, admitting her motives included a touch of personal vendetta.

Qin Ye had no intention of punishing her, only to give the troublesome child a warning.

Yet, after this admonition, Qin Ye found Huayang not quite as hopeless as she seemed.