Chapter 216: Mind of Thorn

At first, Zhao Chen paced the floor of his chamber. His thoughts were already a jumbled mess. The conversation with Han Shuying had left him even more confused than people.

What could his exiled half-sisters possibly want with Ru Yi? That was the question he needed to answer first.

The princesses had always been good at plotting against him since they were children. Understanding their motive was the first way to figure out how to bring the woman he loved back to the palace.

Or leaving the palace and starting a new life like he’d originally planned.

He walked briskly to his locked doors and pounded on the hard wood with all his might. "Open the door, I need to speak with my..." the word was bitter against his tongue. "Mother..."

None of the guards outside bothered with a response. They were already used to his antics. Besides, they were already prepared for a long night of having to deal with the erratic Crown Prince. If only he’d act like his title.

Irked at being ignored, Zhao Chen continued his incessant pounding. "Open up! I demand that you unlock this door right now! I need to speak with my mother."

His breath grew heavier, his fists were beginning to hurt. "I will have all of you executed the second I make it out of this room. You dare to disobey my orders?"

The guards outside the door shared a knowing look.

The Crown Prince turned away from the door with a huff and looked around his chamber. A place where he’d once studied imperial scrolls and documents had turned into his own personal dungeon.

Even now the curtains remained drawn, like the atmosphere wasn’t already gloomy enough to make a sane person spiral.

He turned back to the door, about to continue pounding on it when he heard a new set of footsteps. They weren’t heavy like the guards or the maids.

Instead it was light...measured.

He immediately pressed himself against the door. "Mother?"

The sound of locks being opened filtered into his ear before the heavy doors swung outward and had Zhao Chen stumbling back.

Empress Lihua looked perfectly composed, dressed in an elegant dark robe embroidered with silver clouds, her expression calm enough to suggest that she had not just been summoned by a furious Crown Prince who had been threatening to tear the palace apart.

She closed the door behind her. "I was wondering what all the disturbance was about." She looked at him like he was an afterthought. "I was wondering when you’d ask for me."

Zhao Chen’s face was already hardened as he stared at her. "You wanted to see me?"

She gave him a single nod. "Your mind is occupied solely by the thoughts of a maid. I don’t think you’re capable of worrying about anyone else."

He sneered. "And yours only by the throne. Let’s not pretend that we actually care."

Empress Lihua merely shrugged. "Have it your way then. Why did you want to see me?"

He moved towards her with lightening speed and grabbed her arms, startling her. "I need you to bring the princesses back to the Palace. It’s the only way I can see Ru Yi again."

Empress Lihua shuddered with irritation, immediately pushing his hands away. "And how do you know this? The last time I checked, you haven’t had any visitors for the past month."

Zhao Chen blinked severally. "Let’s just say someone with good intentions told me."

Empress Lihua scoffed. "Putting Han Shuying and good intentions in the same sentence is a fool’s play." She raised a brow. "Did you think I wouldn’t know?"

"Oh—" his face fell.

Empress Lihua took a threatening step towards him. "What exactly did she tell you?"

Zhao Chen opened his mouth and closed it without a word. "That the triplets have Ru Yi." He waited for a change in her expression but got nothing. "You don’t even have to give their titles back, they’re willing to live here as commoners."

"I knew you were stupid..." she touched his shoulder light, "but not this stupid."

Zhao Chen flinched like’d been physically hit.

"Let’s say I let them come back to the capital..." she took another step towards him, "then what next?"

Zhao Chen said nothing.

"They’ll certainly come for everyone that stood in their way, my beloved son." Empress Lihua tapped his temple. "That vicious Lieyin will immediately come for your neck. You can’t possibly be inviting wolves through your front door by sheer will."

He hadn’t thought about it that way. "And what if they promise not to come back to the palace?" he asked. "Han Shuying gave me her word."

"Her words mean nothing," Empress Lihua replied simply. "Isn’t it obvious that she’s now on their side? She’s only trying to use you as a pawn in their game. I didn’t think you’d be so simple minded to fall for her tricks."

Zhao Chen’s brows pulled into a straight line. "If there’s anyone using me as a pawn...it’s you."

The Empress wasn’t moved by the accusation. "So what? As your mother, only I can truly protect you."

The Crown prince laughed, holding his stomach as he bent over. There were tears at the corners of his eyes when he straightened. "Do you even believe that?"

Empress Lihua tilted her head to the side. "I’m keeping you here for your own safety. It might not seem like it, but learn to trust me to keep you alive in this cutthroat palace."

"I’d sooner believe Han Shuying you," Zhao Chen said with a smirk. "At least she’s not under any obligation to help me."

Empress Lihua nodded like she really understood. "That’s okay too. But know that whatever you’re planning with her won’t work. I’d rather die than let those wolves come back to the capital."

A smile spread on the Crown Prince’s face. "Why? You’re scared that they’ll want their rightful place back?"

He knew he won when there was a twitch in the Empress’s face.

"Of course..." he shook his head like he was reprimanding a child. "This is what happens when you take what does not belong to you. You live in constant fear that it’ll be taken from you the same way you got it."