After arranging everything, Gu Yanxi changed into mourning clothes and knelt before the spirit hall. He didn’t even notice that his father, Ling Wang, was kneeling beside him.
It had been a long time since Ling Wang had last seen his eldest son, and even longer since he had been this close to him. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of unreality—the child who once eagerly awaited his praise had now grown taller than him and become the Regent of Daqing, second only to the Emperor in power.
"Father…"
Ling Wang snapped out of his thoughts and instinctively lowered his head to ask, "Are you feeling unwell? I’ll take you to see the imperial physician right away."
A boy who appeared no older than seven or eight, frail and leaning against Ling Wang as he knelt on a cushion, carefully hid the jealousy and resentment in his eyes. Shaking his head at his father, he kept glancing furtively at Gu Yanxi and whispered, "It’s been years since I last saw my elder brother…"
Ling Wang couldn’t help but glance at his eldest son as well. Under normal circumstances, he would have indulged his younger son’s wishes. But now was not the time. At home, they could quarrel as much as they wanted—even if the entire city knew of their discord, who would dare question him about it? Yet here, in his elder brother’s spirit hall, if he dared to cause a scene, not only would the Empress Dowager disapprove, but even Yanxi would likely show him no respect.
Having lived this long, he knew better than to misread the situation.
Patting his younger son’s shoulder and adjusting his cloak, Ling Wang said gently, "Once this matter is over, I will have your elder brother come to see you."
Dissatisfied with his failed attempt, Ling Wang’s second son, Gu Yanze, responded meekly but then bent over, coughing violently. When he removed his hand from his mouth, his palm was stained crimson with blood.
"Ze’er!" Ling Wang immediately picked up his son to seek the imperial physician. Gu Yanze kept stealing glances at Gu Yanxi, but to his disappointment, despite the commotion he had caused, the man did not even turn to look at him. He would never forget how, years ago, when he complained that he could hardly remember what his elder brother looked like, his father had requested an imperial decree to summon Gu Yanxi before him. The anger and frustration on his elder brother’s face that day—that was the expression his elder brother ought to have.
He stopped coughing and lifted his tear-filled eyes. "It’s just an old ailment. There’s no need to see a physician—it’s always the same anyway. I want to keep vigil for the Emperor here, just like my elder brother. Father, may I switch places with you? I want to be closer to him."
Before Ling Wang could respond, a cold voice came from behind. "Shall I have a coffin prepared for you? Why not lie in it?"
The chanting seemed to falter for a moment, and some people in the front rows turned to look surreptitiously.
Shaoyao, who had entered the palace a step later, approached slowly and looked down at Gu Yanze with a cold, disdainful gaze. She had always wanted him dead, and each time she saw him, that desire grew stronger. Other children might be innocent, but Gu Yanze, with his malicious eyes and brows, was certainly not among them.
"Will you leave on your own, or shall I make you?"
This was the first time Ling Wang had seen his daughter without the horrifying scars on her face. In their few previous encounters, she had deliberately removed her veiled hat to show him her disfigured, torn flesh. Now that she had finally recovered, as her father, he was happy for her.
But his joy was short-lived, shattered by her words. Frowning, Ling Wang said, "He is still your brother. How can you speak like that? This is the Emperor’s spirit hall—do you intend to flaunt your authority here?""Brothers? Him?" Shaoyao's expression vividly conveyed her disdain as she stepped past the two men, picked up a bundle of incense sticks and inserted them into the censer. She knelt and performed the three kneelings and nine prostrations ritual. Though not particularly grief-stricken, she felt a profound sorrow. When envisioning her future, she had always reserved a place for the late emperor. She dreamed of becoming the Great Qing Dynasty's first female general, conquering territories for her sovereign. Whenever she spoke of this, the late emperor would laugh heartily, and throughout the years, his rewards to her had never been less than those given to any princess.
He had been a fairly enlightened ruler back then. Shaoyao lifted her head and gazed through the curling incense smoke for a moment before rising briskly and returning to Yan Ge's side. Watching Ling Wang and his son who remained unmoved, she offered a hollow smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Want me to see you out?"
"Shaoyao." Gu Yanxi threw a prayer mat at her feet. "Kneel."
Ling Wang looked at his eldest son in disbelief. Was this... was this him disciplining Shaoyao on his behalf? How could that be?
Shaoyao had always been obedient before her elder brother. With a cold snort, she turned and knelt properly. At this moment, Gu Yanxi glanced over, his expression indifferent as if facing a complete stranger. "Since the young master is unwell, he should see the imperial physician to avoid affecting others. Guards."
The chief of the Seven Constellation Bureau stepped forward. "At your command."
"Escort Ling Wang and his son to the Imperial Hospital."
"Yes." The chief clasped his fists in salute. "Ling Wang, please."
Ling Wang's face darkened. What had he been expecting? Given his eldest son's attitude toward him, how could he possibly take his side to discipline Shaoyao!
"So this is the authority of being Regent. What, if I refuse to leave, do you intend to lay hands on me?"
"Father, Father, please don't be angry. Elder brother certainly doesn't mean that." Gu Yanze coughed while speaking clearly, unaffected by his coughing fits. He lowered his head, perfectly concealing his smugness.
How could he let him have everything? A healthy body, abilities repeatedly praised by the late emperor, immense power, the devotion of beautiful women... Since he already possessed so much, then he would deny him a complete family. The Ling Wang residence was his, and no one would take it away.
With these thoughts, his feigned cough turned genuine, and once started, he couldn't stop.
Ling Wang hurriedly patted his younger son's back, his anger rising even more by comparison. "Gu Yanxi, no matter what, Ze'er is your brother. Why must you treat him this way?"
Gu Yanxi couldn't bear to look at him any longer, turning away to kneel upright. He feared that looking too long might rekindle his patricidal urges.
Understanding his superior's meaning, the bureau chief immediately bowed in invitation. "Ling Wang, please."
"This is outrageous..."
The bureau chief smiled but remained firm, appearing ready to physically assist them if necessary. Since their leader had given the order, they wouldn't hesitate to knock someone down if required!
"Gu Yanxi!"
"Such commotion before the spirit hall is utterly improper." The Empress Dowager arrived carried in her sedan, her face showing frustrated disappointment. Instead of finding ways to reconcile with Yanxi, he was making their relationship worse!
Ling Wang had always been unruly, especially before his mother. "Mother, it's not that I want to make trouble, but he's simply too unreasonable."
"I could hear your voice from far away, but never heard Yanxi's."
"Mother..."
"Take him to the Imperial Hospital. Can't you see he's coughing up blood?"Ling Wang looked down and indeed saw he was coughing up blood. Without needing any urging this time, he hastily picked the person up and ran outside.
Perched on his father's shoulder, Gu Yanze glanced at the man who had never given him a proper look. He had managed to hold back before, but now tears suddenly welled up from his coughing.
PS: No rush, no rush. Before moving to the next plot point, Kongkong wants to make it as natural as possible.
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