Chapter 24
After speaking, Qi Junmu turned his gaze to Consort Dowager Xian and asked slowly, "Consort Dowager, you came to see Imperial Mother today—was it to ask after Second Brother's news?"
Of course that was exactly what she wanted, Consort Dowager Xian thought. But she hadn't expected Qi Junmu to come out and say it so bluntly, and for a moment she was at a loss for words.
She forced a smile and said, "Prince Ping is carrying out Your Majesty's business. As long as he is safe, it matters little whether I know his news or not."
Qi Junmu smiled—a wide smile, but his eyes held no warmth. "Before Second Brother left, he said that you were devoted to Buddhism and paid no attention to matters beyond the palace. Yet now it seems you are very well informed. Even I cannot say whether Second Brother is safe, yet you are so certain—clearly your sources are excellent."
The emperor's sarcastic tone was deeply unsettling. The Empress Dowager could not grasp what he was trying to do, but she refrained from speaking in front of Consort Dowager Xian.
"Your Majesty, such words—" Consort Dowager Xian's smile grew stiff.
Qi Junmu raised a hand to cut her off. "What I mean is this: whether Second Brother returns safely to the capital depends on how well he carries out his assignment. If the matter in Qingzhou is resolved smoothly, then he will be safe. But if it is not—then I am sorry to say, he will certainly not be safe."
"Second Brother and I share deep brotherly affection, and I know that punishing him would easily invite gossip. But I am also the emperor of Da Qi. My conduct is upright, and I do not fear idle talk. When Imperial Father ruled, he had only one brother by his side, and yet he sat securely on the throne."
The implication was clear: if trouble arose in Qingzhou, Qi Junyou would stay there and not return.
Consort Dowager Xian's body swayed, and her face went pale. Qi Junmu gave her a slow, relaxed smile, looking utterly gentle.
His words were a threat—and he meant to teach Consort Dowager Xian a lesson, both for concealing this matter and for scheming against him.
Anyone or anything that made him uncomfortable had better be made even more uncomfortable.
"Your Majesty." The Empress Dowager had not expected that while they were dealing with those obscene books and the filth of the rear palace, the conversation would suddenly veer toward Prince Ping's life and death.
Moreover, the emperor's words were growing increasingly disordered—verging on reckless rambling.
She too had no liking for Consort Dowager Xian and was deeply displeased with Qi Junyou. But regardless, even if the emperor wished to have Qi Junyou killed on the spot, he should not have said so openly.
Was that not handing others a weapon to use against him?
What if Qi Junyou truly had no ambition for the throne? Saying such things would only make him wary.
No one in this world wished to die. For the sake of survival, faced with an emperor like this, Qi Junyou would have no choice but to develop ulterior motives.
So the Empress Dowager spoke in a grave tone: "Consort Dowager Xian, the emperor has sent Prince Ping out of the capital on official business because he values their brotherhood and trusts him. The road is long, and His Majesty has dispatched imperial guards to accompany him—naturally, he wishes to protect Prince Ping well. Consort Dowager Xian need not worry excessively. When Prince Ping returns to the capital having Xian, the Empress Dowager quickly offered her a conciliatory gesture.
The mother and son played their parts here—one the stern face, the other the gentle one—a perfectly coordinated performance.
Unfortunately, Qi Junmu had no intention of playing along with this act. If Consort Dowager Xian wanted to see him make a fool of himself, then she would have to become the fool first.
The emperor turned his gaze slowly toward the Empress Dowager and said calmly, "Imperial Mother, what I mean is this: though I cannot compare to my late father in wisdom, what he could accomplish, I can accomplish as well. As they say, the word of the sovereign is final. I trust Consort Dowager Xian and Second Brother understand that well."
The Empress Dowager: "..."
She stared at the emperor with a peculiar look, finding him utterly unfamiliar.
She wondered if the fever that had gripped Qi Junmu a few days ago had not fully subsided, leaving his mind somewhat muddled.
The Empress Dowager fell silent. Consort Dowager Xian, stirred by these words, didn't know what expression to wear. She studied Qi Junmu's face carefully and saw that he was utterly serious.
For the first time, Consort Dowager Xian felt a flicker of panic. She had always believed she understood Qi Junmu, but now she suddenly realized that none of them truly knew the man who had ascended the throne.
At once, she grew deeply worried for Qi Junyou. Perhaps the Emperor had never had good intentions in sending Qi Junyou out—he was simply waiting for Qi Junyou to fail in his task, and then he'd have a perfect excuse to have him killed.
That way, the Emperor would not only preserve his own reputation but also silence the gossiping mouths of the realm.
Or perhaps the Emperor planned to simply have Qi Junyou murdered outright. Since Prince Ping was away from the capital, it would be easy to arrange an "accident" and then pin the blame on someone else afterward.
One shouldn't let such thoughts run wild—the more you dwell on them, the more terrified you become.
Finally, under Qi Junmu's knowing, half-smiling gaze, Consort Dowager Xian steadied herself as best she could. Her expression turned exceptionally humble and gentle. "Your Majesty speaks truly. Though Prince Ping is Your Majesty's elder brother, he is first and foremost a subject—and he will surely do his duty to ease Your Majesty's burdens."
"Well said, Consort Dowager Xian. I too hope my Second Brother's mission in Qingzhou proceeds smoothly." Qi Junmu replied with a leisurely smile.
He wasn't concerned about what Consort Dowager Xian might think after hearing his words. Some things were better set in motion than left to sit still—and only when put to the test could you tell who was truly loyal and who was not.
Consort Dowager Xian had backed down for now, and Qi Junmu had no desire to linger. He turned to the Empress Dowager and said warmly, "Imperial Mother, I leave the affairs of the rear palace in your capable hands."
The Empress Dowager sighed, her brows cold and stern. "You and I are mother and son—spare me talk of 'capable hands.' Your rear palace is sparse enough as it is. Now that such filth has surfaced, for the peace of the rear palace, I will not let such treasonous ambition go unpunished."
Qi Junmu lowered his brows in a show of respect. "I am indebted to Imperial Mother."
With that, he took his leave of Renshou Hall, citing matters of state requiring his attention. He did not exchange a single word with Wen Wan the entire time. Ruan Jiqing stood there awkwardly, clutching the illustrated book in his hands, not daring to set it down anywhere.
Finally, he stuffed the thing into his robes, muttered, "This servant will see it destroyed at once," and hurried after Qi Junmu, his face burning red.
Qi Junmu had come and gone quickly. The Empress Dowager assumed he was simply shy. She knew the palace better than anyone—the Emperor had yet to touch anyone, and in matters of man and woman, he was still quite innocent.
Given what had happened, it was only natural that he, as Emperor, wouldn't wish to meddle too much. Since the incident had occurred in the rear palace, it was best resolved there as well.
After Qi Junmu left Renshou Hall, Consort Dowager Xian also made her excuses and withdrew. The Emperor's words had been harsh, and with matters having come to this pass, she had to act quickly.
The Empress Dowager knew she was unsettled. She made a half-hearted show of asking her to stay longer, then let her leave.
Watching Consort Dowager Xian's retreating figure—composed on the outside but clearly flustered underneath—gave the Empress Dowager a flicker of satisfaction. Her approach toward Consort Dowager Xian and Prince Ping's faction had always been a careful balance of using them when useful and keeping them in check.
Now that things had turned out this way, she was worried that Qi Junmu's words might provoke displeasure among certain people.
But on second thought, harsh as his words had been, the arrogance of Consort Dowager Xian and Qi Junyou needed to be checked. At the very least, they needed to understand who truly held sway over Da Qi.
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