The cold wind rustled, and as evening approached, the shadows of the trees gently swayed.
Wei Zhao and his entourage walked for the ti it takes half an incense stick to burn, finally stopping at a courtyard.
All around was desolate, the white lanterns hanging there looked ancient, emitting a faint and dim light, quite desolate.
The servant who brought them made a gesture of invitation, gently pushed the door open, seemingly afraid of disturbing those inside.
Wei Zhao quietly instructed Shunzi to stay outside, stepped inside, and the door closed once more.
Inside, candles were lit.
Not bright.
The enveloping heat was like a stear just opened, waves of heat rushed in, making one uncomfortable.
The room was heated with charcoal, with no windows open, making the air stuffy, and had a strong scent of sandalwood.
Gurgling was the sound of tea being brewed.
Wei Zhao did not pause, walked around the screen with four happinesses, and headed inside.
A man draped in a thick fur sat inside, his figure was thin, with charming eyes that were gloomy, sitting in front of a small square table.
He did not look up.
But as Wei Zhao approached, he pushed the brewed tea towards the empty seat opposite.
"Try it."
Wei Zhao sat down. His slender fingers lifted the cup and took a sip.
"How is it?"
Wei Zhao glanced at the tea color: "Old tea, poor flavor."
Also bitter.
"It’s good enough to have sothing to drink, don’t be too picky."
Wei Zhao finished it in one sip, even though he had just co in, by now he was already sweating. But the person in front of him was still holding a warming pot.
"Your body..."
Ying Fuyan poured himself another cup, his sleeves slightly slid down during the motion, revealing a bit of a pattern on his arm, he savored it slowly: "After the exile, the labor ruined my body over those years."
"Whenever it’s rainy or cloudy, the old cold leg acts up, and I’m exceptionally afraid of the cold."
"Not enough to kill ."
That pattern...
Seed to be the word for prisoner.
Wei Zhao squinted his eyes, understanding fully.
A brutal punishnt of branding, used to humiliate prisoners.
They would heat an iron stamp with inscriptions until it was red-hot, pressing it onto the skin. The piercing sound would cause severe burns, leaving scars that were hard to remove unless the entire piece of flesh was cut off.
Ying Fuyan followed his gaze, looked down at his wrist, not feeling there’s anything to hide, spoke with calmness: "It was supposed to be branded on the face, but my good imperial uncle cares for his reputation."
If word got out, it would be seen as harming the surviving child of King Yan?
Wei Zhao swept his gaze around the room.
This place, not only secluded, but also simply furnished.
Inside the room was empty, aside from the small square table and a bed, there was only that folding screen, nothing else.
Wei Zhao: "Princely Heir, may I see your hand?"
Ying Fuyan, though unsure of his intentions, still extended his hand.
Wei Zhao lowered his eyes, feeling the pulse.
Not sure how much ti passed.
"After the late Emperor’s death, Emperor Ying took the throne nervously, fearing instability, he concocted a charge and exiled the Prince Yan Mansion a thousand miles away."
Under the flickering candlelight, Wei Zhao’s eyes reflected the light, he spoke slowly.
"During the exile journey, Princess Consort Yan gave birth to a girl but died due to excessive bleeding. In the freezing cold, under harsh conditions, the child did not survive past half a month."
Ying Fuyan’s expression turned cold.
Wei Zhao: "Indeed, Emperor Ying feared King Yan."
Back then, when the late Emperor was gravely ill before his death, officials discussed passing the throne to King Yan.
"After losing his beloved wife, King Yan’s health declined. In the barbaric land, soldiers harshly following orders from above."
Later, King Yan also died.
"From the grand Prince Yan Mansion, only the Princely Heir was left."
Ying Fuyan listened calmly until he finished, "You went to great lengths to find , not just to say these things."
Wei Zhao slightly smirked.
Indeed, it required a lot of effort. The person sent to the exile lands using Ying Fuyan’s identity was an impostor.
In such a short period, the Wei Family Army couldn’t mobilize openly, they could only search secretly, having only a portrait of Ying Fuyan from when he was in Shangjing, it was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
If not for...
Wei Zhao’s black eyes turned dark.
If not for Ying Fuyan intentionally leaving clues for him to find, he wouldn’t have made it here so quickly.
Furthermore, since leaving the cave, Wei Zhao sensed many hidden unfamiliar presences around, the Hidden Guards.
Wei Zhao spoke straightforwardly: "I want to support you to the throne."
Ying Fuyan frowned: "I don’t want to."
Wei Zhao: "No, you do."
Ying Fuyan pondered briefly: "I can lend you a hand, with your skills, you can stabilize the empire."
He wanted the life of the Royal Family to be worse than death, not to beco the emperor.
Wei Zhao leaned back: "Am I so idle?"
General Wei Zhao didn’t want to be one, he just wanted Emperor Ying dead.
How many people live in peace and contentnt right now? To sit on that seat, one must toil and bear responsibilities.
Ying Fuyan: ...
The discussion stalled.
Wei Zhao: "You hate Emperor Ying, so do I."
"Princely Heir cultivated power, wasn’t it to slice that man into pieces?"
Though there were differences, it was indeed tempting.
Both wanted to blow up the Imperial Palace; joining forces, Ying Fuyan had long hoped to use blood to honor the departed.
Wei Zhao watched him remain silent, but did not rush him.
"To calculate, it’s the first ti I’ve t the Princely Heir in person. I didn’t inform you before coming, yet there was a maid waiting at the cave entrance. I assu the Princely Heir knew I was coming."
"Being able to escape from the barbaric exile land and cultivate power, if you say you don’t want revenge, I don’t believe it."
"The Princely Heir... has probably been waiting for for a long ti, right?"
"Wrong."
Ying Fuyan thought for a mont: "I’m five years older than you, once attended your full month banquet with my mother."
We’ve t before.
Back when the late Emperor passed away not long, Wei Zhao was born. His mother had said that this was the younger brother of the Wei Family, and he would take him to play in the future.
When Wei Zhao was still in the Duchess Shun’s belly, the two families often interacted.
There was a ti when the Duchess Shun and his mother were in a pavilion enjoying tea.
Princess Consort Yan was quite chatty, from General Jing Yuan being stationed at the border for over half a year and hadn’t returned, being all alone, having established his career, it was ti to settle down, ntioning Ning Suxuan of the Duchess Shun.
["I heard that the Duke had already early on invited three midwives to the house? He’s particularly attentive to you."]
Having heard enough teasing, Ning Suxuan only smiled lightly.
She raised her eyes, her gaze seemingly unfocused.
["I’ve been feeling uneasy these days. Just hoping the child is healthy, the Duke is also fine."]
["And you?"]
["If they’re well, I’ll be well."]
Princess Consort Yan shook her head upon hearing this.
["Listen to you, are you afraid because you’re about to give birth? Well, it is true, giving birth is like taking a step into the Ghost Gate, especially with the first child. When I was pregnant with Ah Yuan, I suffered from severe morning sickness, and on the day of labor, the pain lasted a whole day, scaring everyone around, but fortunately, there was no danger. This child of yours is well-behaved, from the mont you got pregnant, there’s been no discomfort over these months, hasn’t troubled you, which shows the child cherishes the mother. Labor won’t let you suffer much."]
Suxuan Ning placed a hand on her belly.
Perhaps sensing the mother’s touch, the child inside gently patted back, giving so response.
Her expression suddenly softened.
Ying Fuyan was called over by his mother at that mont.
Princess Consort Yan pointed at the Duchess Shun’s belly.
["Ah Yuan, what do you think, does your Aunt Ning have a sister or brother in her belly?"]
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