Chapter 3: The Emperor’s Critical Illness

At a single command, the eunuchs and palace maids of the Eastern Palace began to bustle about. Each and every one of them moved with utmost caution, barely daring to breathe for fear of disturbing the crown prince in his current state.

The bloodstains on the floor, still not yet dry, served as a constant reminder to all. The prince now was no longer the half-mad youth of before, but rather a dragon-in-waiting, ready at any moment to devour men and drink their blood.

“Your Highness…” Jinxiu’s delicate figure stood behind Zhao Su, gazing at the prince whose body was still bathed in blood, fear flickering in her eyes. The prince standing amid the pool of blood, sword in hand, was utterly transformed from the man she once knew.

Zhao Su turned, blood still smeared upon his face, making his appearance all the more terrifying. Yet he offered a gentle smile, reaching out to clasp Jinxiu’s small hand. She tensed and instinctively tried to withdraw, only to find his grip unyielding.

“Don’t be afraid. With me here, no one will ever harm you again,” Zhao Su said.

Jinxiu, nervous only moments before, seemed to forget her struggle at these words. Her tear-filled eyes gazed at Zhao Su with deep emotion.

“I… I thank Your Highness,” Jinxiu replied, her voice hoarse with emotion.

Zhao Su said, “From now on, do not call yourself a mere servant. I shall petition the Emperor to take you as a consort.”

A murmur of astonishment rippled through the crowd. The other maids cast envious glances at Jinxiu, while she herself stood dazed, as if in a dream, unable to believe her own ears.

“Your Highness, this must not be!” Liu Rushi interjected.

A cold light flashed in Zhao Su’s eyes as he looked down at Liu Rushi, who was just rising from the ground. Knowing she was a spy sent by the Sixth Prince, he could not suppress his rage. He lashed out with a kick, sending her delicate form crashing to the floor.

“How dare you,” Liu Rushi began, pointing at Zhao Su and about to hurl curses. But before a word escaped her lips, a bloodied sword was pressed against her throat.

She turned pale, her body trembling violently, hatred for Zhao Su burning in her eyes.

With a cold smile, Zhao Su ordered without looking back, “Jinxiu, take everyone and wait outside.”

Jinxiu led the other maids out, tactfully closing the door behind them.

Zhao Su drew Liu Rushi into his arms, his hand caressing her delicate face.

“Impudence—” she began to protest, raising her hand to slap him. But before she could strike, a burning pain flared on her cheek. She clutched her face, staring at Zhao Su in disbelief.

Never had she imagined that the fool who once obeyed her every command, who would never dare defy her, would now dare to strike her.

Shock flooded her gaze, a hysterical voice screaming within: “Zhao Su, one day I will repay this slap. When you are deposed and the Sixth Prince ascends, I’ll pay you back double.”

Zhao Su’s blade flashed, and Liu Rushi’s robe fell away. She scrambled to cover herself, glaring at him with venom in her eyes. “Bastard, what do you think you’re doing?”

Though only seventeen, two years younger than Zhao Su, Liu Rushi’s figure and beauty were unrivaled. Her skin was as white as snow, her waist slender enough to be encircled by a single hand, and her long, shapely legs could steal the very breath from one’s chest.

Before transmigrating, Zhao Su had been a humble food delivery man, never having encountered such beauty. Now, heat surged through his veins.

“You’re the Sixth Prince’s favorite woman. He’s truly ruthless, sending a temptress like you to me,” Zhao Su sneered.

Liu Rushi shuddered, terror in her eyes. “Nonsense—I have nothing to do with him.”

Zhao Su seized her slender wrist. She struggled desperately, clutching her body in a futile attempt to preserve her modesty. Yet in such a state, a single hand could hardly conceal her. The half-revealed beauty only fanned the flames of his desire.

“You’ve been in the Eastern Palace a month, but I’ve never slept with you. As my secondary consort, you should fulfill your duties.” With that, Zhao Su tossed the still-struggling Liu Rushi to the floor.

“If you won’t drink the wine offered, you’ll be forced to drink the penalty wine,” he sneered.

Before long, Jinxiu’s voice called from outside, “Your Highness, the palanquin is ready.”

Zhao Su, though not yet satisfied, knew the urgent matter at hand was to attend court in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. He could not allow the Sixth Prince to be named crown prince.

“Sixth Brother truly is generous, sending you to me untouched,” Zhao Su laughed lewdly.

Liu Rushi’s pale skin was mottled with bruises. The once white sheet now bore traces of crimson.

Zhao Su had not expected that the Sixth Prince’s gift, Liu Rushi, would still be a maiden.

This was a windfall, one with nothing to lose.

With that, he called out, “Jinxiu, have them wrap the secondary consort in blankets and bring her to the palanquin.”

Several eunuchs carefully wrapped the motionless Liu Rushi in a quilt and carried her to the palanquin. Her face remained ashen, her eyes lifeless, like a wooden doll.

The spacious palanquin, which required twelve men to lift, was even more comfortable than a modern-day business vehicle.

Zhao Su reached inside, touching her as he mused, “If Sixth Brother could see us enjoying ourselves in his gift within this palanquin, what would he think?”

Liu Rushi, who had shown no sign of life, shuddered at his words.

“I advise you to obey me, or I won’t hesitate to have my way with you in front of Sixth Brother himself,” Zhao Su said coldly.

Though he left the threat unfinished, Liu Rushi understood all too well. Two streams of tears traced down her cheeks, tears of humiliation and rage.

Just as the palanquin left the Eastern Palace gates, several eunuchs ran up.

“Your Highness, His Majesty has taken gravely ill. You are summoned at once to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.”

“My father was fine just moments ago—how has he suddenly fallen ill?” Zhao Su demanded, striding to the palanquin and lifting the curtain.

The eunuch bearing the decree was stunned, for the prince’s words were clear and orderly, not at all like the idiot he once was. The eunuch stared, as if in a dream.

When the eunuch hesitated, Zhao Su slapped him hard across the face, his expression darkening. “Speak! What happened to my father?”

Cheek burning, the eunuch had no time to ponder the prince’s change and quickly recounted the events.

That morning at court, every official had pleaded with the Emperor to depose Zhao Su as crown prince and appoint another in his place. The strongest voices were for the Fourth, Sixth, and Eighth Princes.

The Emperor, however, rejected every petition. But the ministers of all six bureaus knelt in the hall, refusing to rise and crying out for the crown prince’s removal. The Emperor, already weakened by years of indulgence, was so enraged that he fainted.

Though revived by the imperial physicians, he was left unable to move. Thus, the eunuch had been sent to summon the crown prince.

“They dare to force the Emperor’s hand—do they mean to commit treason?” Zhao Su’s face darkened, his entire being radiating a terrifying, murderous intent.