Chapter 292 Li Mu's Side Story: The World as a Chess Piece (Part 1)

When he was born, Li Mu was standing curiously at the entrance of the Forbidden City.

It was late summer and early autumn, and the elm trees in the Forbidden City were turning yellow, their leaves hanging precariously on the branches.

The scene was completely different from what he saw every day at Yunning Palace.

As cries of pain echoed from the inner courtyard, palace servants walked quickly past him with solemn expressions.

Li Mu, holding the football in his hands, peered curiously inside.

Then a loud baby cry was heard, as if piercing the sky and soaring straight to the heavens in an instant.

The old women from the Forbidden City rushed out excitedly, disregarding all etiquette and Li Mu's presence, heading straight for the Taiji Hall.

"She's given birth! Consort Shu has given birth! It's a prince! A prince!"

At that time, young Li Mu only felt that he had gained a half-brother, and did not know what the birth of this child really meant.

He stared blankly at the old woman's back, gazing at the golden sunlight and the stunning autumn colors against the backdrop of the crimson palace walls, when suddenly he felt a chill down his spine.

Looking back, inside the Forbidden City, the woman was pale, her fingers gripping the latticed window, staring intently at him.

That was the second prince's birth mother, Consort Shu at the time.

That year, Li Yi, who had just implemented new policies and was beginning to see results, was not happy about the birth of the second prince.

He stood with his hands behind his back in front of the Taiji Hall, gazing at the ever-changing weather, his face as still as a deep, cold pool, as if covered with a thin layer of frost.

"Things have come to this point, Your Majesty should make plans as soon as possible." Yan Zhao stood behind him and sighed deeply.

No one could have imagined that Xu Weiyou, who was just a vice minister of the Ministry of Justice at the time, would send his daughter into the towering palace of the Great Wei Dynasty, and seeing that she was not favored, would actually instigate her to use such despicable tricks.

Out of consideration for the royal family's reputation and the fact that the prince had already been born, Li Yi had no choice but to swallow his anger.

After a long pause, he looked at Eunuch Chen beside him and said, "Since she asked for the character '尭,' then give it to her!"

With the name bestowed upon him by the Imperial Pavilion, the name "Yi Qu Ge" was drawn and placed. Like a star descending to earth, this first piece, which would determine the rise and fall of the world in the future, landed on the chessboard called "The World."

But things did not spiral out of control.

Everyone thought that the Crown Prince Li Mu, born to Consort Xiao, and the Second Prince Li Yao, born to Consort Shu, were bound to fight each other openly and secretly, and were irreconcilable enemies.

Everyone thought that a bloody battle for the throne was inevitable.

The two children, who were the focus of everyone's attention and trapped in the so-called struggle for the throne, unexpectedly lived like children born of the same mother.

"I failed to memorize the Thousand Character Classic last night, and Mother was angry, saying I'm a good-for-nothing." Li Yao sat in the corner in front of Yun Ning Palace, sobbing uncontrollably. "Brother, am I really a good-for-nothing? I can't do anything right, and no matter what I do, Mother will never be satisfied!"

Seven-year-old Li Mu pursed his lips sadly and sat down against the palace wall.

He couldn't invite Li Yao to Yun Ning Palace, otherwise, if the gossipy palace servants told him when he returned to Zi Jing Palace, four-year-old Li Yao would surely suffer a beating.

"No way, you're so smart." Li Mu looked at him with snot running down his face from crying, and wiped the tears from his cheeks with his sleeve. "You're only four years old, and you can already recite so many poems. When I was four, I didn't even know a few characters."

As he spoke, he sighed, and like a little adult, he wrapped his heartbroken younger brother in his arms, gently patted his back, and, imitating his mother, coaxed and comforted him.

Consort Xiao, who was seven months pregnant, peeked through the crack in the door and saw the two princes huddled together. She then brought out some snacks, squatted down with some difficulty in front of Li Yao, and asked softly, "Are you thirsty?"

Li Yao shook his head and remained silent, pursing his lips.

She smiled faintly, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons, and looked at Li Mu: "...How about taking your younger brother to the Imperial Academy?"

Looking at her gentle appearance, and remembering that his mother always said "not enough," Li Yao felt both sad and frustrated.

Only Li Mu understood Consort Xiao's words.

The only place in the entire capital that could keep Li Yao from getting beaten up and also help him relax was the Imperial Academy.

Only in this way could he tell Consort Shu when he returned that he had gone to consult a teacher because he was eager to learn.

At such a young age, they were already in such a predicament. Watching the two of them leave hand in hand, Consort Xiao took the blanket from Granny Xi and draped it over her shoulders, her heart filled with indescribable emotions.

Although they were not born of the same mother, Li Yao was still Li Yi's son. Although Consort Xiao disliked Consort Shu and tried to avoid any interaction with her, the child was innocent and should not be used as a tool on her stage of power.

She lowered her eyes, looked at the boundless sky, and sighed.

Ultimately, they could not escape the fate of royalty.

After Li Jin was born, Consort Shu's anxiety became increasingly apparent.

To appease her, Consort Xiao discussed with Li Yi the possibility of raising Consort Shu's rank.

"Make her feel better, so that all the attention in the harem will be on her, and that child Li Yao will suffer less." Consort Xiao coaxed the young Li Jin while glancing at Li Yi, who was deep in thought beside her.

“I think this is inappropriate.” The candlelight flickered slightly, making Li Yi’s face appear even more solemn. “You have never liked palace intrigues. If Consort Shu gains power, given her nature, she will inevitably divide the palace into two factions and turn around to suppress you. This is unacceptable.”

After a long silence in the room, Consort Xiao laid the sleeping Li Jin down and sat beside Li Yi, smiling slightly: "Since that's the case, why not bring in the Grand Chancellor's eldest daughter..."

"No!"

Before she could finish speaking, Li Yi interrupted her: "One Consort Shu is already an accident, sending another one in here..."

He was somewhat annoyed. Looking at Consort Xiao's appearance, he snorted coldly after a long while: "No, I do not want to give away even a little bit of the heart I gave you."

After Li Yi finished speaking, seeing that Consort Xiao had been silent for a long time, full of melancholy, he lost interest in looking at the book in his hand, put it aside, and laughed angrily: "Are you that concerned about Li Yao?"

He rubbed his temples: "You care so much, you wish you could squeeze a few more people next to your husband?"

Glancing at Li Yi and seeing the smile on his face, Consort Xiao knew that he was truly angry.

“It’s not that I care,” she said. “I just feel that if the two brothers can continue to maintain this friendship, they might be able to avoid the bloody struggle for the throne.”

She looked at Li Yi with deep emotion: "The struggle for the throne has been experienced by two generations of princes in the Great Wei Dynasty." Consort Xiao shook her head, "In terms of national strength, financial resources, and public support... Your Majesty, can we afford a third one?"

Her words were like an arrow, hitting the nail on the head.

"You are first and foremost the Emperor of Great Wei, and only then your husband."

"As for me, I am first and foremost the Imperial Concubine of the Great Wei, and only then your bedmate, and only then the Crown Prince's mother."

"I know exactly what should be prioritized."

These words were clearly heard by Crown Prince Li Mu, who was looking for Li Yi because he missed his father, the Emperor. He was standing outside the door.

He suddenly realized that his younger brother was being scolded, beaten, and not recognized all because of his existence.

From that moment on, the words "concealing one's talents" were etched into Li Mu's mind.

Only by concealing his talents can Li Yao make his life a little easier.