Time flies, and it's already August 14th. Today, Prince An is returning to the capital. He's just a prince, so it won't be a big deal.
After He'an Palace was left unattended, the Empress Dowager frequently came to visit Nan Zhiyun, but Yu Jingchen stopped coming. He hadn't returned to He'an Palace since that day, but… this was only on the surface. Secretly, Yu Jingchen came almost every night.
However, in everyone's eyes, although Yu Jingchen had never visited He'an Palace, the gifts he sent back were quite numerous. Every day, all sorts of things were delivered to He'an Palace, from small items like fruits and snacks, storybooks and games, to larger items like gold and silver jewelry and silk fabrics. He would even search for interesting trinkets from outside the palace and send them over specially, knowing that Nan Zhiyun was bored and stayed cooped up in her room every day. Yu Jingchen would also go to the common people to invite storytellers and opera singers to He'an Palace to entertain Consort Shu.
At first, many people were shocked by what Yu Jingchen was doing, but over time they got used to it. However, few people really knew what had happened along the way.
Furthermore, Nan Su would frequently visit the palace. Although he had now handed over military power to Yu Jingchen, Yu Jingchen hadn't directly taken away his official status due to his many years of meritorious service. Nan Su still lived in the Nan Mansion, still bearing the title of general and enjoying his original privileges. However, he could choose to leave at any time if he wished.
It's quite obvious that Nan Su can't leave now, because Nan Zhiyun is still in the palace, and he can't bear to part with her.
Mid-Autumn Festival banquet the next day
Yu Jingchen sat in the seat of honor, while Nan Zhiyun was not present.
Looking at the laughter and chatter below, at the clinking of glasses, Yu Jingchen suddenly felt a pang of loneliness. When did he begin to feel alone?
Yu Jingchen picked up the glass of wine beside him, smiled, but there was a hint of bitterness in that smile. He looked at the wine in the glass and drank it all in one gulp.
The Empress Dowager arrived today. Seeing Yu Jingchen's current state, she said nothing. Things were different now, and the outcome was naturally different as well. Everything was, in fact, predetermined, and the result could not be changed. Moreover… this was despite arriving late.
Yu Jingan sat at the lower end of the table, and many people came up to toast him. After he turned them away one by one, he looked at Yu Jingchen sitting at the upper end of the table. He concealed the deep thought in his eyes; that position was indeed very tempting.
Halfway through the banquet, Yu Jing'an, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the alcohol, left to get some fresh air. Yu Jingchen agreed, but he seemed a little unusual today. He drank glass after glass of wine, and before long, his face was slightly flushed, and he was beginning to show signs of intoxication.
"Your Majesty, please take care of your health. You've already drunk quite a bit today; you mustn't drink any more," Xinglai reminded him from the side. His Majesty had never shown this side of himself before. Why was he acting so strangely today? Perhaps it was still because of Consort Shu…
"It's alright," Yu Jingchen said without anger or any other emotion. He was just saying those two words. Fortunately, the person next to him was worried, but there was not much he could do. Besides saying those two words, there was nothing else he could do.
But today, Yu Jingchen really lost his sense of proportion; no matter how much wine he drank, he still wasn't satisfied.
Just as the banquet was about to end, a commotion suddenly arose outside. The guards inside instantly drew their swords, and the target was... Yu Jingchen's side. Some officials and civil servants were also quite frightened by this sudden turn of events and started shouting.
Yu Jingchen looked up and saw someone running in: "Your Majesty, the outside is surrounded! It's Prince An! Prince An has rebelled!"
Upon hearing this, the entire hall erupted in commotion. Prince An was plotting a rebellion? How could it be so sudden? There was absolutely no warning.
Just then, the man who had just come in to deliver the message was slashed from behind and died on the spot.
"Ah!" A scream erupted from inside the room; Yu Jingchen appeared somewhat delirious.
Yu Jing'an walked in from outside: "Your Majesty," he called out.
"Prince An, what do you mean by this?!" Xinglai shouted!
"What are you saying, Eunuch Xing? Isn't it obvious what I'm going to do?" Prince An said confidently.
“To be able to make such a treasonous statement seem so reasonable, Prince An is truly something! With all the officials here, do you still intend to rebel?” Xinglai said.
"Heh, so what? A wise man submits to circumstances. If I really succeed, then I believe all of you gentlemen here will know how to make the final choice, right?" Yu Jing'an spread his hands, seemingly unconcerned about the opinions of others.
Yu Jingchen looked at him, his expression completely unchanged. Yu Jing'an felt uncomfortable under his gaze, and his heart was also filled with unease. He hated Yu Jingchen's aloof and superior attitude the most.
"Yu Jingchen, the people outside are all my men, and I've already made arrangements for the banquet. If you abdicate now, I might consider sparing your life and even giving you a throne to sit on, guaranteeing you wealth and honor for the rest of your life," Yu Jingan boasted shamelessly.
"Do you know why I killed so many people back then, but spared you the only one?" Yu Jingchen finally spoke, but his tone was sarcastic, as if he didn't take the other party seriously at all.
"Because you're stupid enough. Among so many princes, everyone is shrewd, but you're so stupid that it's pitiful. That's why I've kept you here." Yu Jingchen stood up from his seat.
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