The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Mr. Cui hesitated for a moment before saying, "His Majesty wants to take the Empress away."

Fanghua was greatly shocked, and even Song Wei was full of disbelief.

At this moment, there was a sudden "thud" from outside. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Mr. Cui, with keen ears, immediately went out upon hearing the sound, and when he saw Zhao Xi kneeling on the cold floor, he suddenly found himself speechless.

Zhao Xi slowly raised his head, looking at Mr. Cui, his voice somewhat hoarse, "Is what the eunuch said just now true?"

Mr. Cui lowered his eyelids.

Zhao Xi only heard Mr. Cui’s last sentence, and his mind was in chaos.

It turns out that Father truly intends to kill Mother.

His ten fingers tightened, and Zhao Xi could not describe his feelings at this moment.

Inside, Emperor Guangxi’s weak but angry voice came out, "Rebellious son, do you know your crime?"

Zhao Xi clenched his palm, "Son, acknowledge the guilt."

Mr. Cui: "Your Highness..."

Zhao Xi stared straight ahead, "With the border in crisis, as the Crown Prince, I should have known about this before Father. At the hunting ground, it was due to my poor skills that I injured Father. I ask Father to pass judgment."

"Your crimes are far more than these two." Emperor Guangxi’s voice was filled with anger.

Zhao Xi steadfastly replied, "Apart from these, I do not know of any other crimes."

His answer only fueled Emperor Guangxi’s wrath, "You wicked creature!"

Mr. Cui softly reminded, "Your Highness, Wan Qiu."

Zhao Xi understood Mr. Cui’s lip movements, yet he refused to admit guilt.

Mr. Cui was so anxious that he almost stomped his feet, "Oh dear, my dear ancestor, just admit it already, His Majesty doesn’t have many days left."

Zhao Xi looked puzzled, "What are you saying?"

Mr. Cui hesitated as he glanced behind, then moved closer to Zhao Xi and quietly repeated the words he had said to Song Wei and Fanghua earlier.

Zhao Xi deepened his frown, "You mean, Father is truly ill?"

"Otherwise, Your Highness, why do you think the Holy Emperor hasn’t been to court for so long since returning?" Mr. Cui looked worried, "Yet, the troublesome Yang Family chose this moment to stir up chaos, worsening His Majesty’s condition."

Zhao Xi truly hadn’t expected this. After being confined in the Imperial Clan Court for several days, he received secret intelligence that Bei Yan was assembling troops to attack Chu Country. At that time, he had a vague suspicion that Father’s goal was not to depose the Crown Prince, but to use the illness to bring Uncle Lu Xingzhou, far away in Ningzhou, back and entrust him with the task of leading the troops northward.

Therefore, he made a decisive move, letting Dong Han help, sending a message to Ningzhou using Hai Dongqing.

The facts were indeed such. Emperor Guangxi intended to bring Fanghua back in these last limited days, but his suggestion was rejected by the Crown Prince and the officials. The Yang Family conveniently caused trouble, so he seized the opportunity for Fanghua to save the day and make achievements. Once she had merits, he could suggest bringing Fanghua back to the Capital, and surely no one would dare oppose.

Zhao Xi predicted all this accurately, except for Emperor Guangxi’s intention to take Empress Qi away as well.

Remembering the words Mr. Cui said in the inner hall, Zhao Xi’s heart ached slightly.

Mr. Cui looked at Zhao Xi, who appeared deeply grieved, sighed, and shook his head.

Zhao Xi said, "Eunuch, don’t hesitate to speak your mind."

Mr. Cui said, "In this old servant’s heart, Your Highness is the most outstanding Crown Prince. No matter in literature or martial arts, few can surpass you. Yet, such a prince is not favored. Have you ever wondered why?"

"Probably, it’s because my birth mother is not favored."

Mr. Cui shook his head directly, "Your Highness is wrong."

Zhao Xi raised his eyes to him, "Wrong about what?"

"This old servant wishes to ask Your Highness, do you know how Mr. Song Wei came to the Capital?"

Zhao Xi did not understand why Mr. Cui’s topic shifted so much, but still responded, "Song Wei is remarkably talented in literature and has unique insights in his essays, naturally passing the exams smoothly all the way."

"Wrong again," Mr. Cui said. "Mr. Song was personally selected by the Emperor from Ningzhou and was protected all the way up. Although he is extraordinarily talented, without the Emperor’s protection, he might not have lived to reach the Capital."

Zhao Xi showed a hint of surprise on his face, "Father once went to Ningzhou?"

"Back then, Your Highness was only eight years old," Mr. Cui recalled the past, an indescribable melancholy in his voice, "at that time, Your Highness was the only Prince in the Imperial Palace and the chosen future successor by the Emperor. He went to Ningzhou to find a wise and loyal Assistant Minister for Your Highness, and finally chose Song Wei."

Zhao Xi had never known these things. Hearing it now, he felt utterly shocked.

"Perhaps in Your Highness’s heart, you have always felt that the Emperor did not favor you, unwilling to give you a good face, but in fact, when the old servant accompanied the Emperor to Ningzhou, he often praised Your Highness. To find a suitable Assistant Minister, he humbled himself, disguised and personally went to the streets, visiting one mansion after another, even in each county and village from north to south, all for Your Highness. Song Wei is a gift from the Emperor to Your Highness."

Zhao Xi lowered his eyes silently, unsure of what he was thinking.

Mr. Cui continued, "The Emperor’s concern for Your Highness has never ceased since you were a child. His distancing of you, even wanting to take the Empress away, was merely to temper Your Highness. Are you aware of the immense impact caused due to an incident with Wan Qiu, which severely hit Your Highness, leading you to go south to recuperate? During those days, if it weren’t for the Emperor’s firm stance, the court would have been turned upside down. It’s exactly because Your Highness places too much importance on emotions that the Emperor became angry. He doesn’t want you to be sentimental, whether it’s romantic feelings or familial ties. He hopes you can hone yourself to be emotionally detached, only this way, in the days without the Emperor’s protection, Your Highness can better protect yourself."

Before Zhao Xi could speak, Mr. Cui added, "Today in the Political Discussion Hall, Chief Minister Yang used the Wan Qiu incident to attack Your Highness, with many ministers wavering. Even if Your Highness didn’t personally witness it, the spies must have reported it. This is very dangerous. If similar incidents happen in the future, it would be like exposing Your Highness’s weakness to others in the shadows. If you can’t steel your heart, you will certainly fall into others’ traps. Your Highness, rulers are lonely, you must learn to adapt early, and learn to get accustomed, or else when the Emperor is no longer..."

"Cui Fuquan, what are you mumbling about to him outside, get in here this instant!"

Inside the inner hall, Emperor Guangxi’s face was dark.

He didn’t hear Mr. Cui’s conversation with Zhao Xi, but he could guess that the old eunuch ignored his warnings and told Zhao Xi everything.

Mr. Cui, upon hearing, immediately stopped the topic and whispered, "Your Highness, reflect well on your own, I’ll go in first."

"Xixi is still a child, with his elder brother so ill, why needlessly harm yourself with anger?" Fanghua advised softly, looking at Emperor Guangxi, who looked haggard and unlike himself.

Emperor Guangxi waved his hand and instructed Song Wei, "Go out and get that disgraceful son out of my sight. I do not wish to see him."

Song Wei stood up, bowed, and withdrew from the inner hall.

Zhao Xi was still kneeling outside the hall door.

Song Wei bent down to help, "Your Highness, the ground is cold. Please rise."

Zhao Xi asked, "Father still refuses to see me?"

"Not seeing you might actually be a good thing," Song Wei said. "Seeing each other might make things awkward."

Zhao Xi neither agreed nor disagreed. His father was such a strong-willed person, hiding his illness and orchestrating this grand play. When the truth finally emerged, he didn’t even care to lament openly, nor did he seek pity from others’ eyes, not even his own son’s.

"Song Wei, may I ask you a question?"

As they walked out of the Qianqing Palace, Song Wei followed behind Zhao Xi, "What does Your Highness wish to ask?"

"Were you really a person my father personally sought?"

Recollecting the past, Song Wei couldn’t help but smile, "To my embarrassment, back then I did not know he was the Emperor." Therefore, he spoke somewhat sharply at times.

Zhao Xi asked again, "In your opinion, should a ruler place importance on emotions and righteousness?"

Song Wei could hear what Zhao Xi truly wanted to ask. Over the years, he had somewhat felt that Emperor Guangxi was deliberately being cold towards Zhao Xi, probably to temper him. Earlier, in the inner hall, Mr. Cui’s words confirmed his suspicion—Emperor Guangxi indeed wanted to mold Zhao Xi into an emotional sword without hesitation, hence daring to suggest hunting and leaving the Empress behind to kill her.

Pulling his thoughts back, Song Wei answered, "A ruler may indeed be lonely, but this principle does not apply to everyone. I believe Your Highness can find a balance between the two. That balance is the position most suited for Your Highness."

Listening to Song Wei, Zhao Xi felt enlightened, much of his inner gloom dissipating, "I will remember this."

Not far from Qianqing Palace, the two encountered Lu Xingzhou.

"Uncle."

"Father-in-law."

Zhao Xi and Song Wei spoke simultaneously.

Lu Xingzhou walked over, glancing at Zhao Xi, "How is the Emperor’s condition?"

"It seems not very well," Zhao Xi said. "Uncle, you should go in and see for yourself."