Chapter 2: Do You Take Me for a Push-Over?

Zhao Su smiled, reaching out to pinch Jinxiu’s astonished cheek. “Yes, I’m completely recovered.”

“That’s wonderful! I knew His Highness would recover,” Jinxiu sobbed with joy, but as she realized the prince’s hand was still on her cheek, her face flushed bright red.

At that moment, a commotion erupted outside.

Zhao Su didn’t need to ask; he knew for certain that the prince’s favored consort had arrived with her entourage.

Liu Rushi entered the room with a group of palace maids and eunuchs, only to see Zhao Su sitting up in bed. Her face betrayed a flash of shock—she hadn't expected this accursed prince to survive such a fall.

Though she thought this inwardly, her expression showed only feigned concern. She sat heavily beside Zhao Su, acting distressed. “Your Highness, you’re well! These past two days have frightened me half to death.”

The consort was indeed beautiful, and once, she would have been exactly Zhao Su’s type.

If not for the merged memories in his mind, Zhao Su might have already lost control, drawn into a passionate embrace with her. But now, knowing her true nature, he felt only contempt. His gaze swept past the eunuchs and maids at the door. Suddenly, he stood and strode toward the entrance.

Liu Rushi felt something was different about the prince today, but she couldn’t quite place it. Hurriedly, she swayed after him, her steps elegant as she warned, “Your Highness, you’ve only just recovered. Please be careful.”

At the entrance, twenty guards stood lined up in perfect order. These were the Dragon Roar Guards—the emperor’s own, left to protect Zhao Su, skilled in both espionage and assassination.

That the old emperor had left them here showed just how much he valued the crown prince’s safety.

Zhao Su walked up to one of them. Before the guard could salute, Zhao Su abruptly drew the man’s sword from his side.

“Your Highness—!” the guard gasped in shock, unable to believe the prince had drawn his blade. He was about to question Zhao Su when he froze.

Zhao Su, sword in hand, spun around and brought the blade crashing down on a eunuch standing by the door.

The eunuch’s heart leapt; just as he opened his mouth in alarm, he felt a chill at his throat. His head rolled clean from his neck, tumbling across the floor as blood spurted everywhere.

This eunuch was an undercover agent sent by Prince Chu. The day before, he had tampered with the swing’s rope, causing Zhao Su’s accident and subsequent coma.

Everyone was stunned, staring in terror at Zhao Su, now spattered with blood. Some of the more timid maids and eunuchs shrieked in fright. Even Liu Rushi turned deathly pale—who could have imagined the once foolish prince would suddenly draw a blade and kill?

“Your Highness, are you all right?” Several guards, startled at first, quickly surrounded Zhao Su protectively.

Who the prince killed was none of their concern; their duty was to safeguard him. As for the dead eunuch, they could only think him unfortunate.

“Yesterday, when I was swinging with the consort, this man was one of the eunuchs on duty. He failed to check the swing’s rope properly, resulting in my accident—a crime deserving death a hundred times over,” Zhao Su declared coldly, his voice as unfeeling as a god of death.

With a thud, every eunuch and maid in the room fell to their knees, begging for mercy.

The prince could now speak clearly—was it possible his madness and idiocy had been cured?

Astonishment filled every heart in the room as they stared at Zhao Su—some with joy, some in disbelief, and others with hostility.

Liu Rushi’s heart pounded, her face ashen. When Zhao Su’s gaze settled on her, she trembled visibly.

Zhao Su stepped out from among the guards and looked down at the kneeling servants. He commanded, “My illness is cured. From this day forward, if any of you harbor disloyalty, you will not be spared.”

“We obey Your Highness’s command,” everyone answered, still kneeling.

The news that the prince was healed left them all reeling. Were this to spread, the entire court would be shaken.

Zhao Su, though well aware of Liu Rushi’s true character, did not betray his knowledge. He pointed to a few eunuchs and maids who had once bullied the former prince. “These have been negligent and have insulted their master—a crime beyond forgiveness. Take them out and execute them.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” The guards, thrilled at the prince’s recovery, did not hesitate. Ignoring the desperate pleas of the condemned, they dragged them away for immediate execution.

For a moment, everyone in the Eastern Palace was seized with terror, not daring to meet Zhao Su’s eyes.

Zhao Su turned to the guards and asked, “Where is the Emperor now?”

A guard replied respectfully, “To answer Your Highness, His Majesty and the ministers are currently discussing the succession of the Fourth and Sixth Princes…”

He trailed off, afraid to continue.

From this, Zhao Su understood what the emperor and his ministers were deliberating. Still, he barked, “Speak.”

The guard, cowed by Zhao Su’s piercing gaze, stammered, “They are debating whom to appoint as Crown Prince—the Fourth or the Sixth Prince.”

“Very well. Prepare the carriage. I am going to see my father,” Zhao Su ordered.

So, they wanted to depose him and crown the Fourth or Sixth Prince instead? Did they think he would simply stand by and watch?

He was no longer the old Crown Prince, nor the timid Zhao Su of the past.