Chapter 103 Leaving the Capital.

The Empress Dowager said nothing, of course. She dared not meet Chu Heng's gaze, but looked elsewhere, her hands nervously stroking the jade ruyi in her hands.

The Empress and Yongkang were too shocked to speak, while Hejia's words were vague. Their minds raced with speculation: What poison? What did the poison have to do with Chu Heng? For so many years, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor had consistently favored Chu Heng—was there some hidden reason? It turned out that Chu Heng's serious illnesses all those years were caused by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor feeding him poison!

Daiyu grasped Chu Heng's hand, and Chu Heng squeezed it tightly for a moment before releasing it and looking at the Emperor: "Could Your Majesty enlighten me?"

The emperor said nothing, only saying, "There is nothing else to discuss today, you may all leave."

Chu Heng was silent for a moment, then said, "I wish to go with Fifth Sister."

The emperor placed his hand on the table and stared at Chu Heng, who simply lowered his eyes and treated him with respect.

After a long pause, the emperor said, "Go, all of you."

After they had all left, the emperor turned to the empress dowager and said, "Mother, those around you should know how to keep their mouths shut."

The Empress Dowager responded weakly, "I know."

The emperor was not very satisfied and said with a dark face, "If Mother is unable to handle this, I am willing to do it for her."

The Empress Dowager suddenly perked up: "No need! I will take good care of it!"

In the imperial court and the inner palace, the Empress Dowager has lost much of her power; even Renshou Palace cannot be allowed to be dominated by the Emperor!

The emperor nodded stiffly and was about to get up and leave when the Empress Dowager asked again, "Ying'er... and Man'er, what do you plan to do?"

The emperor paused, then said cryptically, "Ying'er..."

Hejia was the emperor's childhood name. It had been many years since the emperor had called his own sister that. Now, thinking back, he realized that it was lonely at the top and that the emperor was destined to be a lonely man.

The Empress Dowager's heart sank: "Emperor, you are all my children. You should at least have some consideration for our sibling bond."

The Emperor turned to look at the Empress Dowager and smiled: "Mother, you're thinking of your children now. But that matter back then wasn't my idea."

The Empress Dowager flinched. A moment of ruthlessness cannot last a lifetime. In fact, over the years, the Empress Dowager has never been able to let go of what happened back then.

The Emperor shook his head: "Mother, rest assured, I will not kill all the people in this room today. It would be difficult to explain to the Empress, the Prince, and the Princess."

The Empress Dowager nodded slowly, very slowly.

"I will pretend that nothing happened today." A strange light flashed in the emperor's eyes. "I am fine, but I'm afraid my mother will not be able to get over it."

It's one thing for others, but the Empress Dowager truly didn't know how to face Chu Heng, who already knew the truth.

"Emperor..." the Empress Dowager blurted out, "Send Prince Duan to his fiefdom, grant him permission to go!"

By the end, the Empress Dowager's tone had become pleading.

The emperor pondered.

The Empress Dowager continued, "Now that Heng... knows all this, even if he didn't explain it clearly, that child has been intelligent since childhood, surely he can guess the cause and effect? ​​Even if you can face him, what about him? In the long run, can you really trust him?"

“Prince Duan almost died for our mother and son back then, and he is also your own brother. At least… give him a way out.”

Upon hearing these words, the emperor suddenly smiled: "Mother, although I am ruthless, I have never thought of taking the lives of my own brothers and sisters. You can rest assured."

"I already said that," the emperor said with a soft sigh.

The Empress Dowager is right. The Emperor can no longer face Chu Heng with equanimity, and it is even more impossible for him to employ and trust him as before.

However, the emperor did not want to bear the reputation of harming his own brother. Therefore, the best course of action was to send Chu Heng to his fiefdom, keeping him far away.

The emperor thought reluctantly, but in the end, he had granted Chu Heng's wish.

...

Chu Heng escorted He Jia to the front of the Princess's residence, with the carriage of the Prince Duan's residence following beside them. When he saw that they had arrived, he was about to get out of the carriage, but He Jia stopped him.

"After today, if you are able to leave the capital as you wish, have you ever thought about what I should do?" He Jia asked.

Chu Heng said calmly, "Fifth Sister will also get her wish, and you and your children will be far away from the court."

In the emperor's eyes, there would never be anyone from Princess Hejia's household again.

He Jia questioned, "Didn't you ever consider that the Emperor would want to get rid of me as soon as possible?"

Chu Heng countered, "His Majesty knows about Gu Xun's matter. Do you think you and your son will have a good ending?"

Gu Xun's affair with the Second Prince has nothing to do with He Jia. Will the Emperor believe that?

Unlike the court officials who each took sides, the emperor suspected that He Jia was involved in the struggle for the throne, and he would be furious.

The emperor had two standards for his court officials and relatives. Like Jia and Chuheng, they could not show any favoritism towards the princes. This was the emperor's bottom line.

From the emperor's perspective, Chu Heng and Jia's involvement in the struggle for the crown prince position was a betrayal.

“You…” He Jia said bitterly, “How do you know if Gu Xun’s matter is true or false?”

Chu Heng rolled up his sleeves and smiled faintly: "I knew Fifth Sister would be so suspicious. Even if Gu Xun admitted it, you would still suspect me, but..."

"Do whatever you want to doubt, I don't care." Chu Heng shrugged, lifted the curtain, and got out of the car.

He Jia pressed him for an answer, asking, "You still haven't said anything..."

“No.” Chu Heng stood in front of the carriage and said softly, “His Majesty would not kill your whole family. That would attract too much attention. He never does such a thing.”

"Besides, haven't you noticed? The one who really cares about this is the Empress Dowager. His concern is limited."

He Jia slowly lowered her hand from the carriage curtain, and finally said, "We're even now. After you leave the capital, we'll see each other less often."

Chu Heng smiled and said, "Take care, Fifth Sister."

He Jia did not reply, but simply lowered the curtain and ordered the coachman to enter the mansion.

Chu Heng boarded his carriage, where Daiyu was waiting.

"It's alright." Chu Heng hadn't even settled down properly when he took Daiyu's hand.

Daiyu, still shaken, nodded and ordered, "Return to the manor."

As the coachman cracked the whip and the carriage moved forward, Chu Heng gently rubbed Daiyu's face: "Don't be nervous, everything's alright now."

Daiyu shook her head: "This is just the beginning. Once this matter is exposed, I wonder what the Emperor and Empress Dowager will do in the future."

“Even in the worst-case scenario, we will all survive,” Chu Heng reassured us. “Besides, such an outcome is impossible. I know His Majesty; he will summon me to the palace tomorrow and he will bring this matter to a halt.”

Daiyu was still somewhat apprehensive: "I hope so."

Chu Heng stroked her arm, trying to calm her down. After they got home, he carried Xiao Chu Yang to bed, and the three of them played around for a while before Daiyu's emotions gradually calmed down.

The next day, after breakfast, someone from Haiyan Palace summoned Chu Heng.

Chu Heng held Daiyu's hand and whispered, "See what I'm saying? Don't be afraid. Once I come back, we can set a date to leave the capital."

Daiyu watched Chu Heng leave with worry.

In the Haiyan Palace, the emperor ordered tea to be served.

Chu Heng said, "I have never liked drinking tea."

The emperor did not take Chu Heng's rudeness to heart, but simply smiled and said, "As the eldest brother, I do indeed have many shortcomings."

"I dare not." Chu Heng lowered his head. "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven is without fault."

The emperor said, “I wasn’t the emperor from the beginning. If I hadn’t become the emperor, your mother, your fifth sister, you, Yongkang, and you would all be in a different situation.”

Chu Heng was silent for a moment, then he cracked his knuckles and said, "What Your Majesty says... I understand."

The emperor took in his subtle movements, and a smile reappeared on his face: "In life, many things are beyond our control. Heng'er, you are not a child anymore, and you should understand this principle."

Chu Heng remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Your subject understands."

The emperor was increasingly pleased: "I am very pleased that you understand. Fifth brother, just relax and continue as before."

Chu Heng said, "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Your Majesty. I feel deeply inadequate for this important mission to the south. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me and relieve me of my post, and allow me to... live as a leisurely prince in the capital."

In the capital... the emperor pondered these three words, "Fifth Prince," and he was very satisfied with this term, which meant that the emperor had submitted to him.

The emperor said regretfully, "You are still lazy after all, what a waste of your abilities. Well then, how about this..." He seemed to have made a great decision, "I promised you before that after you finish this task, you will be allowed to go to your fief. Since you are not comfortable in the capital, after the New Year, you can go to your fief to relax. I will summon you back to the capital in a few years."

Chu Heng looked at him in shock: "Your Majesty, have you allowed me to leave the capital?"

The emperor nodded and smiled, "Of course I grant your request. You are already in your twenties. Even though I am the eldest brother, I should let you go out and see the world."

He appeared to be a kind older brother, but Chu Heng hesitated, "Brother...where is Fifth Sister?"

The emperor smiled. That was just the fifth prince's temperament. He had never seen him and Hejia be particularly close as siblings before, but when she got involved in his affairs, the fifth prince would protect her.

Everything was as the emperor had anticipated.

The emperor had no intention of doing anything to Hejia. He was not the empress dowager and was not afraid of Chu Heng's gaze. Just look at today, would Chu Heng dare to disrespect the emperor?

"When you return to the capital next time, I will host a family banquet and invite your fifth sister and her children to come. Yongkang should have children by then," the emperor said with a smile.

Chu Heng bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

After the emperor told his court officials about Prince Duan's enfeoffment, Daiyu finally felt relieved, since the emperor's words were never considered law in her eyes.

It is now November. Chu Heng has resigned from his official post and spends his days at home discussing New Year's matters with Daiyu and packing his luggage to leave the capital after the New Year.

They are moving their entire family this time, and they have so many boxes and carts to carry all their belongings.

By December, the two had finally reached an agreement: after the New Year, they would have someone carry their luggage to Qingzhou, while they would bring their own necessities. They would travel slowly by boat and then by carriage, enjoying the scenery along the way.

In early February of the following year, after bidding farewell to everyone, Chu Heng and Daiyu took little Chu Yang and boarded a ship to leave the capital. At this time, they did not know that the next time they would return would be when the Empress Dowager was seriously ill.