Chapter 113

Chapter 113

[After Five of the Prince’s Wives Died – 1]

Ying Zheng’s thoughts had barely cleared when a woman’s quiet sobs reached his ears, mingled with aggrieved complaints.

“The Eldest Imperial Son married a great general’s daughter. The second prince’s Princess Consort came from an illustrious clan. As for the third prince, there is even less need to say-his wife’s maternal family has produced high officials for generations. Only our fourth prince has no one to cherish him, no one to love him. And now he has been widowed again…”

At that point, her sobbing grew heavier. “Those petty wretches in the palace say nothing aloud, but inwardly, every one of them is laughing at us, mother and son. Your Majesty, Mingde is your son. You cannot simply ignore him!”

Ying Zheng lowered his gaze. A richly dressed noblewoman sat kneeling in the hall. Her magnificent palace robes proclaimed wealth and rank. Her hair was arranged in a high coiffure, adorned with a golden seven-phoenix buyao set with precious stones. Its brilliant pendants swayed as she wept. Ruby earrings glittered beside her cheeks, dazzlingly luxurious.

Her face was a beauty capable of toppling cities. Though no longer a girl of sixteen, she possessed the breathtaking splendor of a peony at the absolute height of its bloom.

Ying Zheng had once ruled all beneath Heaven. What kind of beauty had he not seen?

Her appearance did not move him in the slightest. He merely reviewed what she had just said, studied her clothes more carefully, and analyzed the information they provided.

The original host was the reigning Son of Heaven, and apparently not a powerless one.

He had at least four sons.

This woman was probably the fourth prince’s birth mother.

The first three princes had all married. The fourth had married as well, but his Princess Consort had died not long ago, leaving him a widower.

The woman claimed others were mocking her, complained of her grievances, and wanted the original emperor to select another bride of noble birth for her son.

Ying Zheng nearly sneered aloud.

*Only our fourth prince has no one to cherish him, no one to love him. And now he has been widowed again…*

Did she know what it actually meant to have no one to cherish or love you?

Could the birth mother of a truly disfavored prince dress herself in such dazzling luxury and march straight to the Emperor to demand another marriage for her son?

Did she think We had no experience with an inner palace?

Judging by her clothing and ornaments, Ying Zheng knew her rank could not be low. Her delicate complaints, her expression, and the tone of her voice all suggested that she was deeply favored. How could a woman like this ever suffer a disadvantage?

Most likely, the entire performance-from singing to speech to gesture-was designed to extract some benefit for mother and son from the original emperor.

Ying Zheng had only just arrived. He knew nothing about affairs of state and understood even less about the original host’s consorts and children. Unwilling to make a rash decision, he let his face turn cold and ordered, “We are tired and have no wish to say more. Withdraw.”

Noble Consort Wang had fully expected the Emperor to call her to her feet, draw her close, and coax her with a few tender words. She had even chosen her next daughter-in-law. All that remained was for the Emperor to open his golden mouth and bestow the marriage. Never had she imagined that after she spent so long weeping in grievance, the Emperor would not soften in the slightest and would simply dismiss her!

Tears still clung to Noble Consort Wang’s lashes, and her face remained as lovely as ever. But disbelief, shock, and wounded indignation showed clearly in her expression. “Your Majesty?”

Her eyes reddened. Sobbing, she asked, “Do you no longer cherish this consort?!”

Ying Zheng: “…”

Ying Zheng pointed toward the door and replied with admirable brevity. “Get out.”

Noble Consort Wang: “…”

She could scarcely believe her ears.

Nor was she alone. The palace attendants and eunuchs in the hall briefly forgot every rule. They darted a glance upward, then hurriedly lowered their heads again.

There was only one reason: this was Noble Consort Wang, whose imperial favor had never waned in more than a decade!

Earlier, Noble Consort Wang had only been pretending to cry in hopes of gaining something. Now she was genuinely hurt. She wanted to weep for real, but one glimpse of the Emperor’s eyes above the throne forced her to choke it back. She bowed in thanks and withdrew with impeccable respect.

Ying Zheng propped his chin on one hand and tried to settle his emotions. Then the shared space abruptly grew noisy, as though the white silk representing the origin of this world had descended.

His thoughts jolted. He hurriedly extended his consciousness into the space and, sure enough, found Emperor Gaozu, Li Shimin, and the others crowded around the stone table, their heads pressed together as they studied the words on the white silk.

Ying Zheng sent his awareness closer and read:

*A sinister prince who wields supreme power and possesses incomparable status; a wealthy magnate who controls the economic lifeblood of the realm and reigns as an uncrowned king; and a Prince Consort who commands vast armies and holds military power in his hands. The realm is divided among three. Who will contend for all beneath Heaven, ascend to the summit, and claim supremacy?!*

Ying Zheng’s face darkened, pride and disdain rising within him.

*While We still live, who dares contend for the realm?!*

The white silk was quite long. Liu Che noticed more writing below and unfurled it. He laughed. “Hey, there’s a detailed explanation underneath!”

The emperors leaned their heads closer again.

“The Prince of Chu’s newly married Princess Consort has died again. That makes five.”

“What? Her legitimate elder sister refuses to marry him and orders her to serve as the substitute bride? For the sake of the concubine who gave birth to and raised her, she has no choice but to agree through her tears.”

“But who can tell her why the Prince of Chu is the devastatingly handsome man she encountered on the street?!”
“My lord, don’t come any closer!”

Liu Che: “…”

Ying Zheng: “…”

The other emperors: “…”

Liu Che rubbed his nose, his head full of question marks. “Is this serious? Five Princess Consorts died one after another?”

Emperor Gaozu said, “Is there an assassin hidden in the prince’s residence who specializes in killing Princess Consorts? Were his parents murdered by some woman named Wang Fei, so now he has sworn vengeance on anyone whose title sounds like her name? No, that can’t be right. Other princes have Princess Consorts too. Why target only the Prince of Chu’s wives?”

Zhu Yuanzhang said, “Is the Governor of Jingzhao that useless? Five Princess Consorts died, and he still couldn’t solve the case?”

“Wait.” Li Shimin suddenly thought of another possibility and said woodenly, “The Prince of Chu didn’t kill all five himself, did he?”

Even Ying Zheng was startled by that theory. “Surely not.”

Liu Che curled his lip. “Kill five Princess Consorts in a row? Does the Prince of Chu have no brain? Didn’t that woman just say the imperial sons all marry daughters of great houses? If he kills five of them, does he plan to keep living afterward?”

Then his heart tightened. “Don’t tell me the Prince of Chu has such a deadly fate that he doomed all five wives to death?!”

Ying Zheng, elderly victim of fraudulent immortality schemes: “Very possible.”

Li Shimin, elderly victim of toxic elixirs: “Very possible.”

Emperor Gaozu and Zhu Yuanzhang had not believed in such things at first. But on second thought, the Underworld existed. Perhaps this was possible too!

Emperor Gaozu stroked his chin and began doubting reality. “The Prince of Chu: a sinister prince who wields supreme power and possesses incomparable status. Five Princess Consorts die in succession, yet he remains deeply favored and commands enormous authority?”

He asked his old companions, “If this were your son, what would you think?”

Ying Zheng said, “Born beneath a baleful star. A great ill omen. He must die!”

Liu Che said, “Born beneath a baleful star. A great ill omen. He must die!”

Li Shimin said, “Born beneath a baleful star. A great ill omen. He must die!”

Zhu Yuanzhang said, “Born beneath a baleful star. A great ill omen. He must die!”

Emperor Gaozu exclaimed, “Wow, you’re all so cruel!”

The emperors looked sideways at him and asked in unison, “Then do you want such a fine son?”

Emperor Gaozu answered sheepishly, “If his bad luck can kill five wives in a row, he’s too ominous. Better kill him.”

The emperors spent ages mocking the first story. When they moved to the second, their brows instantly furrowed.

“Transported to another world, he depends on his younger sister as they struggle to survive. He makes cement, fires glass, cuts open mountains and digs mines, seizes control of the economic lifeblood of the realm, and becomes an uncrowned king!”

“You look down on this wastrel? With *Bring in the Wine*, *Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng*, and the finest works of Li Bai, Du Fu, and Su Shi at his command, won’t he crush every mediocre fool among you?”

“Princess? County Princess? He wants neither. He simply breaks the engagement. Why not enjoy himself with a lovely wife and beautiful concubines?”

“Later, the Emperor appoints him State Preceptor. The Crown Prince kneels and begs to marry his younger sister. Great nobles and high officials compete to curry favor, while talented beauties come one after another to confess their love. Watch how he rises to glory and lives magnificently in another world!”

Ying Zheng: “…”

The emperors: “…”

“Ah, my eyes!”

Liu Che screamed in pain, “Offering a fortune for a pair of clean eyes that never read this bullshit!”

“None of us has a pair,” Zhu Yuanzhang said. “You may as well gouge yours out.”

“Does this fool have any common sense? A merchant wants to control the economic lifeblood of the realm and become an uncrowned king? Even Lü Buwei entered politics after making his fortune in trade. Does this man think he’s more capable than Lü Buwei?!”

Liu Che sneered. “Does he think everyone in ancient times was a fucking idiot?!”

Li Shimin said quietly, “He may genuinely believe we were idiots. He writes poems without any purpose or occasion. Does he not know poetry has metrical rules, that some poems must answer others, that regulated verse has five- and seven-character forms, or that allusions require proper sources?”

Emperor Gaozu sighed from the depths of his heart. “I beg these people to leave the princesses alone. Their lives are too miserable. In their first lives, a Prince Consort beats them to death with a rod. In later generations, a Prince Consort breaks their engagement. Could they torment someone else for once?”

“They did,” Zhu Yuanzhang reminded him kindly. “The Prince of Chu already lost five Princess Consorts.”

Emperor Gaozu: “…”

Then there was the part where the Emperor appointed the man State Preceptor, and the Crown Prince knelt and begged to marry his sister…

The emperors remained silent for a very long time before finally summoning the courage to read the last few lines.

Oh, this one was short. Only three lines!

“Princess, the Prince Consort has brought back a pregnant woman. She looks like…”

“Like whom?”

“Like your younger sister, Princess Jiangyang.”

The emperors: “…”

“No,” Liu Che said with difficulty. “They already divide the realm among three. Could any of them act like a normal person?”

Emperor Gaozu said, “Sure enough, they still refuse to leave the princess alone!”

Zhu Yuanzhang scratched his head. “This… this has problems of both logic and morality. Princess Jiangyang, you are still a princess. Are all the other men beneath Heaven dead? Must you fool around with your own brother-in-law?!”

Li Shimin gave an exhausted laugh but said nothing.

Emperor Gaozu bumped his shoulder. “Brother, why aren’t you saying anything?”
Li Shimin said with undisguised schadenfreude, “Thank goodness I’m not the one experiencing this world!”

Liu Che came back to himself and quickly joined in. “Thank goodness I’m not the one experiencing this world either!”

Emperor Gaozu and Zhu Yuanzhang exchanged a look, then chuckled wickedly together.

Ying Zheng: “…”

Silently, Ying Zheng withdrew his consciousness and sat on the dragon throne rubbing his forehead.

One of his trusted attendants saw him and approached with concern. In a low voice, he asked, “Your Majesty, what is wrong?”

Ying Zheng said without expression, “Our head hurts.”

…

Ying Zheng sat on the throne for some time as the original host’s memories gradually returned.

This was a fictional world that did not exist in the historical record. The original host was named Zhuang Xinghong and was forty years old. He was the seventh Son of Heaven of the Great Qin dynasty. Three years earlier, the former emperor had passed away. Zhuang Xinghong, then the Crown Prince, had succeeded naturally to the throne.

“The Great Qin dynasty…”

Ying Zheng silently repeated the name of the realm, feeling somewhat comforted.

Zhuang Xinghong had nine sons and seven daughters. His eldest son had been born to his deceased first Empress. However, the young man’s temperament displeased his father, so he had been sent to Jiangnan to oversee the construction of canals.

Ying Zheng’s thoughts paused there.

He could not help wondering: in the worlds the others had experienced, they had all encountered people they loved and cherished. What about him? Whom would he meet?

Fusu, would it be you?

The eldest son’s identity stirred one of the few traces of tenderness in Ying Zheng’s heart. He remained silent for a moment before continuing through the original host’s memories.

After the eldest came the second son, born to Noble Consort Liu. The third son was born to Consort Shu. The fourth son was Mingde, Prince of Chu, born to Noble Consort Wang-and the male protagonist of the first thunderously absurd story they had just read.

The original host and his first wife had not shared a love that transcended life and death, but they had always respected one another. After the first Empress passed away, he neither remarried nor elevated a Secondary Consort to principal wife. When he ascended the throne, he posthumously honored her as Empress and ordered Noble Consort Liu and Noble Consort Wang to manage the inner palace together.

Thinking of Noble Consort Wang inevitably brought the Prince of Chu and his five violently deceased Princess Consorts to mind.

Ying Zheng was still frowning in thought when Liu Che dragged a stool over to eat melon seeds in the front row. He had even found himself a full handful. “Shi Huang, have you finished absorbing the memories? How did the Prince of Chu’s first five wives die? Were they murdered by assassins? Poisoned? Killed by the Prince of Chu? Or did his fate doom them to death?”

Ying Zheng’s brows drew together. He intended to ignore the question, but the others had also dragged over stools and gathered around to crack melon seeds. His head began to ache again.

After several moments of silence, he said, “We do not know.”

The emperors: “????”

“We simply do not know,” Ying Zheng said truthfully. “There is only a vague impression in the memories. Within a single year, the Prince of Chu married five Princess Consorts, and every woman died after the wedding. Noble Consort Wang was deeply distressed. People inside the palace gossiped endlessly. Outside, noble and official families avoided the Prince of Chu as if he were Yama incarnate. There is nothing else. As for the original host himself… he apparently did not find the matter especially strange. He merely pitied this son.”

The melon seeds fell from Liu Che’s hands and scattered across the floor.

The seeds in the other emperors’ hands fell as well.

The air remained frozen for a full quarter of an hour before Liu Che finally closed his mouth. He grabbed another handful of melon seeds and resumed cracking them. “That makes sense. The whole thing is so illogical that this is the only way to gloss it over. They can’t exactly say everyone in this world is brain-dead-watching five Princess Consorts die without explanation and acting as if nothing happened. And he has the nerve to call himself the Prince of Chu. Hah! He can’t even figure out how his wives died!”

The emperors: “…”

Zhi’er failed at everything except mockery, where he always ranked first!

Ying Zheng found the situation equally absurd. After pondering for several moments, he ordered an attendant to summon the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and the Commander of the Imperial Guards.

The Court of Judicial Review stood within the imperial city, while the Commander of the Imperial Guards was already on duty in the palace. When the Emperor summoned them, both men arrived quickly. They bowed respectfully, then stood below with lowered heads and waited for orders.

Ying Zheng matched the faces before him with the images in the original host’s memories. He waved the attendants away and told the Vice Minister, “We have decided to investigate thoroughly the sudden deaths of the five Princess Consorts of Chu. You will take charge. Select several experts in examining physical traces from the Court of Judicial Review, along with a few experienced coroners. First investigate and question everyone in the Prince of Chu’s residence. Then open the coffins and examine the bodies. Determine exactly how those women died. You must give Us an explanation!”

The Vice Minister had been wondering why His Majesty had summoned him. He never expected it to concern the violent deaths of the five Princess Consorts. After a stunned moment, he bowed and accepted the order. Yet when he straightened, embarrassment showed on his face. “This subject would never dare disobey Your Majesty’s command. However, the Prince of Chu is an imperial prince whose rank stands above all ordinary grades, while this subject is merely a vice minister of the Court of Judicial Review. I truly…”

Ying Zheng said, “We will give you a secret decree granting full discretion. Even the Prince of Chu must cooperate.”

Then he turned to the Commander of the Imperial Guards, killing intent gathering between his brows. “Select five hundred men and surround the Prince of Chu’s residence. Assign specific servants to procure whatever the household needs so that it lacks neither food nor clothing. But understand this: without Our command, no one inside the residence may leave, and no one outside may enter. If anyone resists, kill them without mercy!”
The Commander of the Imperial Guards served inside the palace and was among the Emperor’s most trusted confidants. Naturally, he knew exactly how deeply favored Noble Consort Wang and the Prince of Chu were.

Noble Consort Wang was a cousin from the Reigning Emperor’s maternal clan and came from an eminent family. The Empress Dowager doted on the Prince of Chu even more. After the Eldest Imperial Son was rebuked and driven from the capital, the Prince of Chu had become the most powerful contender for the position of heir apparent.

Yet His Majesty was now ordering the Commander to surround the Prince of Chu’s residence and forbid anyone from entering or leaving without an imperial decree?

The political weather in the imperial capital was truly about to change!

The Commander proceeded with utmost caution and asked quietly, “May this subject ask whether His Highness the Prince of Chu is also forbidden to leave without a summons?”

Ying Zheng said, “He is.”

The Commander’s heart tightened. He dared ask nothing more and respectfully accepted the order. He watched as the Emperor personally wrote two secret decrees, stamped them with his seal, and gave one each to the Commander and the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review before sending them from the palace to carry out their duties.

Both men were covered in cold sweat. When they left the Imperial Study and the wind struck them outside, their backs felt icy.

The Vice Minister was a trusted subject of the Emperor, but unlike the Commander, he did not remain constantly at His Majesty’s side. Once they had walked some distance, he quietly sounded out his colleague. “What happened? The fourth prince was riding so high only days ago. Why would His Majesty suddenly…”

The Commander was equally baffled. He replied in a low voice, “I don’t know either.”

Fortunately, both men were loyal servants of the throne alone. Neither had attached himself to any of the imperial sons at court. Obeying the decree placed them in no personal difficulty.

After mustering his men, the Commander rode from the palace and galloped to the Prince of Chu’s residence. The Imperial Guards surrounded it inside and out, while the Commander carried the handwritten decree into the residence to meet the Prince himself.

The Prince of Chu was discussing affairs with several advisers in his study when he heard the Imperial Guards had surrounded his home. His expression changed abruptly. The advisers looked at one another, alarm plain in their eyes.

In all the vast realm, only one person could order the Imperial Guards to encircle the Prince of Chu’s residence.

The Reigning Emperor!

But why?

After the Commander had waited in the front hall for a short while, an attendant announced that the Prince of Chu had arrived.

He raised his eyes. A young man approached in a purple robe embroidered with a four-clawed python, his hair secured beneath a golden crown. His face was cold and arrogant, and the dark, murderous air surrounding him was intensely intimidating.

The Commander lowered his gaze slightly. The Prince of Chu walked up with his hands clasped behind his back and gave a cold laugh. “Grand Commander Xin, what performance is this? What awe-inspiring authority you wield!”

The Imperial Guards had always answered to the Son of Heaven. Any movement on their part must obey the Emperor’s command. As an imperial prince, the Prince of Chu could not possibly fail to understand that.

The Commander knew the Prince was deliberately trying to intimidate him. Displeasure stirred in his heart, but none showed on his face. He raised the secret decree in both hands and declared in a ringing voice, “His Majesty’s secret decree is here. Prince of Chu, receive the decree!”

The moment the Prince of Chu glimpsed the decree’s pale golden paper, his eyes trembled. He obediently dropped to his knees and answered, “This son receives the decree.”

The Commander slowly read it aloud. As he watched cracks spread across the Prince of Chu’s ice-hard expression, secret satisfaction filled his heart. His face, however, remained perfectly calm. “Your Highness, receive the decree.”

The Prince of Chu knelt rigidly, nearly grinding his teeth to pieces. “This son… receives the decree!”

He accepted the decree with both hands and stared at it over and over, but the answer remained the same every time.

The seal was genuine. The handwriting belonged to his Imperial Father. This truly was a secret decree placing him under confinement!

How could this be?!

How could Imperial Father treat him this way?!

…

After the Vice Minister and the Commander left, Ying Zheng had no desire to remain in the Imperial Study. Wanting to look around the inner palace, he rose and walked outside.

The eunuch serving closest to him had attended this Son of Heaven for many years. He knew how His Majesty had favored Noble Consort Wang and valued the Prince of Chu. Watching their tower rise and then collapse before his eyes had left him truly stunned.

Seeing that the Emperor’s mood was not bad, the eunuch offered a few amusing remarks. Only then did he probe cautiously, “How did His Highness the Prince of Chu offend Your Majesty? Your Majesty seems quite angry this time.”

Ying Zheng stood beside the balustrade and said indifferently, “Five Princess Consorts died one after another without explanation. He is unlucky. We never wish to see such an ominous person again.”

The eunuch: “…”

“By the way.” Ying Zheng turned to look at him. “What was your surname? We remember your given name, but the surname escapes Us for the moment.”

The eunuch replied, “This old slave’s surname is Zhao.”

Ying Zheng raised one sharp brow, then waved a hand. “You are unlucky too. Leave the palace. We never wish to see you again either.”