Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?

Although the sun was bright along the way, the warm breeze gentle, all worthy of being called a scene of spring, the moment one stepped into Xuanzheng Hall, it suddenly felt as if the light before one’s eyes dimmed, and an invisible pressure rushed in from all directions. The excitement that had been mounting all the way because of the imminent chance to march out in command dropped at once in that instant.

Lou Yingxiong even suddenly felt a nameless sense of foreboding rise unbidden in his heart.

And Yu Wenqian, walking half a step ahead of him, looked up and, seeing Yu Wenquan seated on the dais of the great hall with not a single minister around him, could not help but ponder inwardly—if this truly were to be the announcement of Lou Yingxiong’s appointment to lead troops, at the very least there ought to be people from the Ministry of War present.

At this thought, his gaze grew a shade more grave.

But he made no superfluous movement. Stepping forward, he immediately bowed and performed the ritual salute: "I pay my respects, Imperial Father."

Lou Yingxiong also immediately followed and knelt down.

Yu Wenquan sat behind the imperial desk, his expression calm, yet because the doors of Xuanzheng Hall had just been shut, there was not a trace of light in his eyes. Instead, a heavy gloom veiled them, making it impossible to discern any of his emotions. Only his calm voice was heard: "Rise."

"Thank you, Emperor."

Only then did the two of them stand up, and after rising, no one opened his mouth.

Yu Wenquan half narrowed his eyes, glanced at Lou Yingxiong, and in the end his gaze settled on Yu Wenqian, who was keeping his head lowered. He said, "Qian’er, yesterday you recommended General Ningyuan to lead troops on campaign, to rush to the aid of Cijian, is that so?"

"...Yes."

"Then tell me your reasons for recommending him."

"First, General Ningyuan is eager to kill the enemy; he has, on many occasions, expressed to your son his wish to devote his loyalty to the Emperor, to render service to the court. Second, General Ningyuan has long garrisoned Anyang, and has crossed hands several times with the men of Wanggang Village, thus he is well experienced. Should we encounter Xiao Yuansui’s forces on this eastern campaign, only he is familiar with their style of fighting and will surely be able to prevail!"

As Yu Wenquan listened to his words, one hand lightly tapped on the desk. With each tap, it was as if a speck of dust fell upon one’s heart, grain by grain, pressing down until it was almost hard to draw breath.

After a moment, he said, "And today, you still think thus?"

"I do."

"Why?"

"There is a common saying that in recommending the worthy one does not avoid one’s kin. Your son is Crown Prince, and General Ningyuan is your son’s father-in-law; yet if he has the loyalty to serve Imperial Father, and the ability to render service to the court, your son will not, for the sake of his own reputation, disregard Imperial Father and the court."

"Good—what a fine ’recommending the worthy without avoiding one’s kin’."

Yu Wenquan nodded again and again, yet as he nodded, an ever colder chill surfaced in his gaze. Even though he did not lift his head to confront him directly, the two men in the hall could almost feel that piercing cold as if it were about to stab straight through their bodies. Yu Wenquan said, "But the man you have recommended—can he truly be called ’worthy’?"

Yu Wenqian finally raised his head, his expression full of doubt. "Your son does not understand Imperial Father’s meaning."

Yu Wenquan said, "Let me ask you: the case from some days ago, where Pei Xingyuan was intercepted and killed, resulting in his fleeing with the traitors of Wanggang Village—did you pursue the investigation any further?"

Yu Wenqian’s heart sank at once.

Yet there was not the slightest extra expression on his face, only deeper puzzlement and bewilderment. He said, "As for this matter, did Imperial Father not order the Left Guard to investigate? Your son would not dare to take it upon himself and overstep his bounds."

Yu Wenquan sneered, "Then do you know what result the Left Guard uncovered?"

"Your son does not know."

"General Ningyuan, do you know?"

This was the first time since they had entered the hall that Yu Wenquan spoke to Lou Yingxiong, and the moment he opened his mouth it was to press upon the most sensitive, most fearsome spot in Lou Yingxiong’s heart. Though Lou Yingxiong strove to rein in his emotions, the trembling of his voice when he spoke already betrayed his present unease and fear: "This humble minister...does not know."

Yu Wenquan suddenly lifted his head and called out loudly, "Attend me!"

This roar of tiger and dragon exploded within the sealed Xuanzheng Hall like muffled thunder, startling both men in the hall so that their hearts sank yet again.

Immediately after, they heard the doors behind them pushed open, and heavy footsteps came inside. The two of them turned and saw that it was none other than the Left Guard General, Lv Qianfeng.

At the sight of him, Yu Wenqian’s gaze quivered; his eyes swept swiftly toward Lou Yingxiong beside him, whose face had abruptly turned deathly pale, as if he had already grasped something. The expression on his own face shifted from astonishment to doubt, then revealed a hint of disbelief and somberness. He turned at once toward Yu Wenquan and said, "Imperial Father, this is—"

Yu Wenquan said, "Lv Qianfeng, tell the Crown Prince what you have done."

"Yes."

Lv Qianfeng cupped his hands in acknowledgment, then turned to Yu Wenqian and said, "Your Highness Crown Prince, last night this general discovered a group of men at a certain manor twenty li west of the city. Ordinarily they train in the martial arts there, in preparation for critical need. These men numbered one hundred and forty-three; in the past few days, sixteen have died. Last night, one hundred and twenty-six were executed according to law; save for one who escaped, all have now been taken into custody."

"Executed according to law? What did they do?"

"They received a secret order to enter the city and lie in ambush, to intercept and kill the prisoner Pei Xingyuan."

"What?! There was such a thing?"

"Yes. At the manor, this general also found a portrait of Pei Xingyuan, and a route map of the carriage convoy escorting him. Those sixteen were carefully chosen from among these hundred men and more. Apart from the six who were cut down in the city by the guards and by Prince Qin’s close attendants, the bodies of the remaining ten were found by this general in a valley outside the city—the ones who struck them down were also men from the manor. They have already confessed."

Having finished, Lv Qianfeng presented the portrait and route map in his hands before him.

Yu Wenqian took them and glanced through in haste, his eyes filled with disbelief. Once he had confirmed that everything did indeed match the reality, he turned at once to Yu Wenquan and said, "Imperial Father, the one who raised and kept this band of dead soldiers—who is it?"

"..."

Yu Wenquan did not answer, but looked at him, then lowered his head to the confession laid out before him and said, "Do you truly not know who this man is?"

Yu Wenqian said, "Imperial Father’s words—do you suspect your son?"

Yu Wenquan’s brows knitted faintly, as though he were about to say something, but before he could speak, Yu Wenqian had already said, "Your son walks in open daylight. Though he loathes those heinous criminals who colluded with the traitors of Wanggang Village, and loathes still more that they dared plot treason against Imperial Father at the Hot Spring Palace, it is public judgment under the clear law that is the greatest punishment for such men. Your son would never dare to privately dispose of a prisoner on his own accord! May Imperial Father discern clearly!"

Yu Wenquan looked at him for a while and said, "You are my son; naturally I believe you."

"..."

"But have you no one whom you suspect?"

"..."

Yu Wenqian fell silent for a moment, then said hoarsely, "Your son does not dare to believe it—nor can he bear to."

Having spoken, he slowly raised his head, and his gaze turned to Lou Yingxiong standing to the side, whose face was deathly white.