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Chapter 822: Ridiculous and Absurd
Xiao Changqing stopped and stared blankly at Xiao Changying, who was striding toward him.
His mind was in turmoil. Looking at his spirited younger brother before him—one of the rare few in the imperial family who had sailed smoothly through life—Xiao Changqing realized that the only setback in his life was perhaps Shen Xihe not marrying him.
Most of this carefree existence was something he had bestowed upon his brother.
In that moment, he wondered if Xiao Changying, like Pingling, knew everything—if, like Pingling, he feigned reverence on the surface while secretly mocking his foolishness.
"Brother, what's wrong with you?" An inexplicable panic surged in Xiao Changying's heart. Xiao Changqing had never looked at him with such complexity, even strangeness, in his eyes, and it frightened him. "Did Mother say something harsh? Brother, Mother is struggling to accept His Majesty's punishment and spoke recklessly. Please don't take it to heart."
Every word from Xiao Changying felt like a piercing needle to Xiao Changqing at that moment, the buzzing sound drilling sharply into his mind, causing a splitting headache.
He raised a hand to his forehead, his voice icy. "Step aside!"
Xiao Changying froze in place. He clearly saw the murderous intent and disgust in Xiao Changqing's eyes, like freezing cold water drenching him in the dead of winter, instantly paralyzing him.
It was as if all his thoughts had been drained away in that instant. He didn't understand what had happened—why his closest brother now regarded him as a sworn enemy.
By the time he regained his senses, Xiao Changqing had already staggered away, swaying unsteadily. Xiao Changying wanted to follow but, recalling the cold hostility and hatred in his brother's eyes, found his feet rooted to the ground. "Follow him," he instructed his men.
He could only order others to keep an eye on Xiao Changqing while he rushed into Hanzhang Hall. Surely, he would find answers after speaking with Mother.
Xiao Changqing wandered aimlessly, moving forward like a puppet along the path. Sensing someone behind him, he stopped and spoke coldly, "Step back."
He didn't want to be disturbed by anyone at that moment, nor did he want to hear anyone's voice.
He walked further into seclusion, his mind flooded with memories of the past. For this mother, he had curried favor with His Majesty.
For this mother, he had striven to become the prince and eldest son she expected, sacrificing many of his own preferences.
Because of this mother, he had lost his beloved.
He knew that Qingqing no longer wished to live. Even if his mother hadn't provided the fragrant spices that could be concocted into poison, she would have found another way. Yet, aside from his deeply trusted mother, how could he have failed to detect anyone else's schemes?
When Qingqing collapsed in his arms, he watched helplessly as her body grew cold and his unborn child dissolved into a pool of blood. He hated!
He wished he could destroy the world. He had exacted revenge on everyone involved, even His Majesty, sparing no one.
Only his mother remained. As her child, he felt he had no right to seek revenge against her, so he tormented himself instead.
He was constantly constrained by His Majesty, all because he had a birth mother who wholeheartedly sided with the emperor.
Though she had never been as attentive to him as she was to Xiao Changying and Pingling, she had shown him care and affection. Aside from providing Qingqing with the fragrant spices, she had never wronged him in any way, and he had always respected her.
He knew how important His Majesty was to her. This decree would shatter her, which was why he had hurried over—to comfort her, to assure her that in his princely residence, she would live more freely than she ever had in the palace.He had always striven to be a filial son. In this world, he dared not claim he had treated everyone justly, but regarding his mother, he could declare without hesitation that as her son, he had committed no wrong.
Yet it turned out he had been protecting the very person who murdered his mother!
For this enemy, he had nearly exhausted everything he possessed.
How laughable and absurd!
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced his chest. Xiao Changqing coughed up a mouthful of blood, his legs giving way beneath him. Fortunately, he managed to brace himself against a corridor pillar just in time to avoid collapsing.
For some reason, his vision blurred. The clear, cold notes of a zither melody began to play—a tune so deeply ingrained in his bones that it made him vaguely envision her.
He blinked several times, straining his eyes, and it seemed as though he truly saw her aloof figure drawing nearer. He struggled to see more clearly, as if she were whispering something in his ear, but he couldn’t make out the words. In the end, he could hold on no longer and collapsed headlong.
When he regained consciousness, he found himself in Hanzhang Hall. The first person he saw upon opening his eyes was Xiao Changying, his face etched with worry and anxiety, while Pingling stood nearby, equally uneasy.
"Brother, you're awake?" Xiao Changying hurried over to support Xiao Changqing.
Xiao Changqing allowed himself to be helped up. "Why am I here?"
"You argued with Mother, stormed off in anger, and fainted from rage. Thankfully, the guards found you in time. It's bitterly cold now—what if you caught a chill?" Xiao Changying chided gently.
"Fainted from rage?" Xiao Changqing was bewildered. Over the past few years, he had cultivated his temperament to the point where almost no one could provoke him to anger.
How could he have fainted from rage?
"What did Mother say?" Xiao Changqing asked.
"You... you don't remember?" Xiao Changying exclaimed in shock.
Xiao Changqing tried to recall, but only fragmented images flickered through his mind, slipping away before he could grasp them.
Pingling, however, was overjoyed.
"Chief Imperial Physician—" Seeing this, Xiao Changying turned and called out urgently.
Xiao Changqing tried to stop him, but it was too late. The Chief Imperial Physician had been waiting outside.
"Chief Imperial Physician, please examine my brother. He—"
"This prince is fine," Xiao Changqing interrupted Xiao Changying.
The Chief Imperial Physician nevertheless dutifully checked Xiao Changqing's pulse and confirmed that he was indeed unharmed before taking his leave.
"Brother, why didn't you tell the Chief Imperial Physician?" Xiao Changying fretted.
"If I had, wouldn't the entire palace know?" Xiao Changqing had no desire to arouse suspicion. "I remember everything. I came to fetch Mother and bring her back to Prince Xin's Residence. I just forgot the argument we had earlier. This is a family matter—no need to make it public."
Xiao Changying had always deferred to his elder brother. If Xiao Changqing said so, then it was settled.
"Fifth Brother is right. Ninth Brother, you stay with Fifth Brother. I'll go help Mother pack her belongings." Pingling maintained her composure, bowed to them, and hurried off to find Noble Consort Rong.
"Mother, Mother!" Pingling approached cautiously, rushing to Noble Consort Rong's side, her face filled with trepidation, and clasped her icy hands. "Fifth Brother doesn't remember. He doesn't recall what he heard earlier."
"Amnesia?" Noble Consort Rong could hardly believe it.
"Not amnesia—he just doesn't remember what we said. He only remembers coming to fetch you. Perhaps those words were too much for him to bear, so he forgot." Pingling cautioned gravely, "Mother, I observed Fifth Brother's expression—he truly doesn't remember. Mother, when you go with Fifth Brother to Prince Xin's Residence, remember not to test him."Xiao Changqing was far too clever. If he had suddenly forgotten something, he would grow suspicious. If they probed even slightly, it would inevitably arouse his doubts, and he might extract the entire truth with just a few words.
"Even if he has truly forgotten, if I follow him to the prince's residence, and one day he remembers..." Noble Consort Rong hardly dared to imagine the consequences.
(End of Chapter)
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