Chapter 301 Failure

Wen Zhiming's expression remained calm, but he let out a soft sigh.

"Uncle Cao, I owe half of my success to you. If you made any other mistake, even assassinating me, I could forgive you once. But you shouldn't have touched my queen. She is my bottom line. No matter who it is or what the reason, if anyone hurts her, I cannot forgive them."

Just as Wen Zhiming was about to go find Meng Lingge in person, the secret guard sent by Meng Lingge arrived at the right time. Wen Zhiming was very surprised to hear that the person who assassinated Meng Lingge was most likely Cao Ran.

This elder, who was both an uncle and a father figure, was the person he trusted most in the military camp.

Furthermore, he had never hidden his relationship with Meng Lingge from Cao Ran, and Cao Ran had never shown any displeasure. If there was any displeasure, it was when Cao Ran mentioned his future plans to have three palaces and six courtyards before he set off, and he stated that he would not take in any other women, that the two had a few words of argument.

He didn't think this conflict would make Cao Ran take action against Meng Lingge.

Although it was unexpected, he couldn't let anyone who had hurt Meng Lingge get away with it. So he decisively set a trap, making Cao Ran reveal his weakness.

With the man caught red-handed, Cao Ran's motives were no longer important to him. What mattered was that he didn't trust many people to begin with, and now he had lost one more.

Cao Ran lowered his head and said emphatically, "Your Highness, I do not ask for your forgiveness. If my death can make Your Highness understand the difference between an emperor and a prince, I will die without regret. I will not stop Your Highness from ascending the throne and making the princess empress, but the harem cannot be filled with only her. The more Your Highness is reluctant to harm her, the sooner you should make a decision. Otherwise, I will be the first to act, but I will definitely not be the last!"

The emperor's harem is not something he can decide on his own.

With people watching every position in the imperial harem, Meng Lingge, occupying so many positions, was bound to become a thorn in everyone's side.

There is absolutely no way to have peace and stability!

Wen Zhiming looked at Cao Ran and said, "Rules are made by people. If I can't even be the head of the harem after I become emperor, then whoever wants to be emperor can be emperor! To tell you the truth, I want to be emperor so that I can protect her. Anyone who dares to touch her is my enemy. I don't have any great ambitions. I only want to protect one person in my life."

Cao Ran was heartbroken.

"During the Prince's poisoning, the Princess took care of him, so their bond is naturally different from others. But granting her the title of Empress is enough to repay even the greatest favor. The Princess is indeed talented and beautiful, but there are countless talented women in this world. Even that young lady from earlier is a rare beauty. If the Prince gets to know her better, perhaps his thoughts will change. There is absolutely no need to let such a trivial matter affect the stability of the country and cause discord between the ruler and his subjects."

"Enough." Wen Zhiming turned around, his back to Cao Ran. "Our views are different, and there's no point in arguing anymore. I owe my success to your help, and I originally intended to bestow a title upon you after the matter was settled, so that you could enjoy a distinguished old age. But now, before the matter is even resolved, you are so anxious about my personal affairs and have even hurt the Princess Consort. It is destined that we are not destined to be ruler and subject. I will give you some silver, and you may leave later."

Out of gratitude for Wen Zhiming's kindness, Wen Zhiming ultimately did not kill Cao Ran. However, for Cao Ran, having neither persuaded Wen Zhiming nor been expelled from the military camp, it was better to kill him.

Cao Ran burst into tears.

"Does Your Highness really intend to send me away?"

Wen Zhiming nodded. "If anyone else had harmed my princess, I wouldn't have bothered to talk to them, and I wouldn't even see them again. You should be glad you didn't make a move just now. If you had stabbed me with that knife, you wouldn't have had the chance to speak to me right now. But I've already made too many exceptions for you, and I absolutely cannot let you stay and give you another chance to harm my princess."

Knowing he wouldn't change his mind, Cao Ran asked with her last glimmer of hope, "Your Highness, could you please tell me again, is the Princess Consort injured? Is the baby in her womb still there?"

In fact, he already had the answer in his heart. Wen Zhiming's meaning was clearly that it was fortunate that the princess was unharmed, otherwise he would have made him pay for his blood debt long ago.

But he felt he had lost out by causing Meng Lingge to end up in this state while she remained unharmed.

"She's fine." Wen Zhiming looked at Cao Ran and said coldly, "Don't try anything again. I'll have people watching you. I'm letting you go this time, and our feud is over. I don't owe you anything. If you dare to touch her again, I'll make the entire Cao family pay with their lives."

Cao Ran gave a wry smile.

After being expelled from the army, he was no better than an ordinary person, so how could he possibly have the ability to deal with Meng Lingge again?

It's pitiful that he was so devoted to Wen Zhiming, yet Wen Zhiming was always on guard against him.

Having spent his life on the battlefield, he was too exhausted to fight anymore. Now that Wen Zhiming didn't trust him, he might as well leave. However, the Cao family, who could have risen to prominence with him, had fallen to the bottom again because of his one wrong decision.

Especially her daughter, who was still dreaming of becoming an empress, but soon she would just be an ordinary woman.

Thinking of this, he mustered his courage and said, "I have a daughter who loves swords and spears. She is bold and careful, but I'm afraid she won't be able to accept this matter for a while. Would it be alright if Your Highness kept her by your side as a maidservant and took her in for a while?"

After Cao Ran finished speaking, he noticed that the last trace of warmth had vanished from Wen Zhiming's eyes. His tone was cold and unapproachable.

"The people who take care of me are all arranged by the Princess, and I have no say in the matter. But I will not give you another chance to see the Princess, so this matter cannot be arranged. You should pack your things as soon as possible, and I will have someone escort you."

Cao Ran knew that the so-called "sending him on his way" was just sending someone to keep an eye on him, to ensure that he left and would not try to harm Meng Lingge again.

He felt only sorrow.

Wen Zhiming showed no mercy to his former benefactor for the sake of a woman.

They wouldn't even agree to something as small as taking in his daughter.

“Your Highness, you are still young. It is true that you think things simply. But one day you will understand that everything I did today was for your sake, and everything I said today came from the bottom of my heart. Your Highness has told me to leave, and I will not shamelessly try to keep you. I will go forth into the world with hope in my heart, and I only wish Your Highness a speedy ascension to the throne and a peaceful and prosperous reign.”

Wen Zhiming's expression remained unchanged. Cao Ran, having given up all hope, slowly stood up, dejectedly pushed open the door, and walked out.

Wen Zhiming slowly walked to the door, only able to see Cao Ran's back as he walked out of the courtyard with his head down.

Cao Ran's usually upright figure suddenly collapsed and sank in an instant, like a withered branch bending over.

Wen Zhiming felt a chill in his heart. Before even touching the throne, he had already lost his most trusted general. Was this what they meant by the loneliness of being at the top?

No, as long as his wife is by his side, he will not be afraid even if the world is invincible against him.