Yunke's voice came from the other end of the cell, and soon he stood in front of Zhao Zhiyan.
The two were dressed in different colors, one in black and one in white.
Their eyes met across the cell. Zhao Zhiyan took a deep breath: "I never intended to scheme against you, Yunke. You have disappointed me greatly. You have failed my expectations."
Yunke disagreed, for their relationship had already been severed from the day he got married.
The atmosphere remained tense. Zhao Zhiyan closed his eyes, took out the pardon from his bosom and threw it out: "I will not compete with you for the throne. I request to leave the capital and go to any of your fiefdoms."
Holding the gold medal, he smiled faintly: "The Eighth Imperial Uncle has lived in the capital for nearly thirty years. How can I send him to his fiefdom? From this day forward, the Eighth Imperial Uncle will remain in the manor."
Zhao Zhiyan suddenly opened his eyes: "You have already achieved your goal, do you still want to imprison me for the rest of my life? Yunke, don't go too far in your actions."
Yunke said, "I am only the Crown Prince. We will discuss this matter when the Emperor returns."
After saying that, he ordered the prison cell to be opened.
"Consort Rou is critically ill. Eighth Prince, you should go back and see her as soon as possible."
Zhao Zhiyan was alarmed and strode out of the prison, heading straight for the Eighth Prince's residence.
The Eighth Prince's mansion was already filled with weeping. Before he even entered, his heart sank. He quickened his pace and saw Consort Rou lying on the couch, barely alive.
“Mother!” Zhao Zhiyan called out.
Upon seeing the person who arrived, Xu Lingqing was overjoyed: "Your Highness, you've finally returned!"
"What exactly happened to Mother? She was perfectly fine before I left," Zhao Zhiyan questioned.
Xu Lingqing lowered her voice: "Mother did all this to save you, following the example of the Empress Dowager, to prove her innocence with her death."
Consort Rou, who was on the couch, was also very excited to see her son return. She mumbled something, and Zhao Zhiyan grabbed her hand.
Consort Rou's eyes were filled with a strong will to survive.
"Your Highness, the rumors circulating outside are really bad for you right now," Xu Lingqing said quickly, while giving Consort Rou a wink.
Gradually, after weighing the pros and cons, Consort Rou looked utterly desperate.
Consort Rou passed away after only one night.
The Eighth Prince's Mansion held a funeral.
To the outside world, they only said that Consort Rou proved her innocence with her death.
Therefore, the rumors and gossip from the outside world have gradually subsided.
Night deepened
Xu Lingqing stood behind Zhao Zhiyan and reached out to wrap her arms around his waist from behind, causing Zhao Zhiyan to tremble slightly.
“Your Highness, you see, everyone except me is targeting you. From now on, you will have no weakness.”
Zhao Zhiyan's eyes were dark, and the hatred in them could not be concealed.
"Let's leave Kyoto and go to Japan. Perhaps there's still a chance for survival there."
“I have some friends in Japan. You are of noble birth, brave and resourceful. You will surely gain the appreciation of the Japanese emperor. Only if the Japanese emperor helps you reclaim the throne can today’s humiliation be washed away and your mother be comforted.”
Zhao Zhiyan's shoulders were trembling.
He never imagined that he would be pushed to this point one day.
Now he is isolated and helpless, and in a very passive position.
“The Crown Prince is keeping a close watch on me and will not allow me to leave the capital city easily,” Zhao Zhiyan said.
Xu Lingqing pondered for a moment: "As long as Your Highness doesn't give up, there will always be a chance. I am willing to accompany Your Highness to rise again!"
Zhao Zhiyan turned around and pulled her into his arms: "Lingqing, I will never let you down."
In the blink of an eye
The funerals for the Empress Dowager and Consort Rou have been completed.
The Eighth Prince's Mansion remains under house arrest.
News also arrived from the border at this time that the Northern Chu and Southern Frontier had gone to war. Han Feng, a fierce general of the Northern Chu, had repeatedly made great achievements, causing the Southern Frontier to suffer repeated defeats and successfully capturing a city.
The Northern Chu's morale has greatly increased.
The Han family thus gained immense prestige in the capital, eager to strut around the city and let everyone know that their纨绔子弟 (spoiled brat) had led the army to victory.
"Han Feng..."
Xu Lingqing muttered to herself.
In his previous life, Han Feng was clearly a subordinate of Zhao Zhiyan, but he gained the appreciation of the Northern Chu Emperor and became famous in one battle.
She clenched her fists and cursed under her breath, calling him despicable.
Xu Lingqing felt it was unfair that her son was acting recklessly because of his reborn identity.
These days, Zhao Zhiyan has been much quieter. Apart from writing and painting, he doesn't even step out of his room. When he hears news, he just smiles and moves on.
Until this day, news came that the words "Prince Qing usurped the throne" had been revealed on the Destiny Stone.
Zhao Zhiyan paused, finally believing what Xu Lingqing had said before: Song Yue had lived two lives.
"She knows what I know too. It's all my fault for holding back. She got the upper hand, and now I can only watch helplessly as Song Yue eliminates those who are standing in the way of Zhao Yunke's ascension to the throne," Xu Lingqing said regretfully.
Zhao Zhiyan smiled slightly: "I have always believed in destiny. Let's wait and see."
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