Chapter 265：Mercury

Because Qi Jin Yu's injuries were too heavy, Zhou Yun Sheng sent him directly to the palace's medical courtyard for treatment after he returned to the capital. When the Empress Dowager heard of her son's imminent return, she quickly told all the imperial physicians in the medical courtyard to call her. Seeing her son's horrific condition, she almost fainted to death. This, this was her matchlessly handsome, graceful son? How did he become an evil spirit? Is this a mistake?

"Mother Empress, it's me ah Mother Empress!" Qi Jin Yu struggled off the bed and clung to the Empress Dowager's legs, crying bitterly. They said real men don't cry easily, only because they've never been deeply hurt. Currently, his looks were ruined, his fingers were hacked, and he even had a reputation of being incompetent. With the equivalent of having nothing, what could he use to fight Qi Yi Ning? On the journey back, his servants constantly gushed about Qi Yi Ning ordering the Heavens to send down rain, simply worshiping him like a god. Even worse, Luo Zhen and the other officials' reverence for Qi Yi Ning had already become bone marrow deep. Forget about lobbying to bring them into his camp, even if he held a knife to their necks, they wouldn't dare switch over.

The story of the rain miracle quickly spread from the Southwest to across the nation, in this world where imperial power reigned supreme, if the monarch was enveloped by a "Ordained from Heaven" halo, the people's devotion to the monarch would reach a height modern man couldn't even imagine. Currently, many temples dedicated to the Emperor were popping up in one place after another, and the people burning incense in front of the temples were multiplying. There were even different versions of the story, the legend of how the Emperor descended to the world to experience mortal life spread like wildfire, describing him as a wonder.

In these kinds of circumstances, forget about the handicapped Qi Jin Yu, even if he was still physically whole, he wouldn't stand a chance at threatening Zhou Yun Sheng's throne. Thinking of this, deep sorrow boiled up from within, and he couldn't stop himself from weeping.

The Empress Dowager didn't recognize this twisted face, but could recognize her son's voice, after her shocked collapse to the ground, she hugged him and wept. After crying until her tear ducts dried up, she began asking about how his injuries were made. After listening to her son's re-telling, she noticed the inconsistencies, and wisely asserted, "What kind of bandits are these? They were definitely assassins sent by Qi Yi Ning, otherwise, how could even the Zhenbei General's shadow guards be unable to stop them? His mind is so vicious, even after snatching away your throne, he still wants your life. If I'd known this would happen, I would've sent him and that slut to hell a long time ago."

"Mother Empress, what's the use of saying these things now? Think about this another time." Qi Jin Yu wiped his tears and moved to sit on the couch with the Empress Dowager's support, then he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Mother Empress, think of a way to have him set up Cheng-er as Crown Prince, once Cheng-er is slightly older, your son will still have a chance … …"

After listening to her son explain the details of the plan, the Empress Dowager sighed, "At first, I was annoyed that you refused to give up on that slut Zhao Bi Xuan, but looking at our current circumstances, we actually have no choice but to rely on her to stand back up….Never mind, I'll properly advise her, if she doesn't agree, I have ways to make her regret it."

Qi Jin Yu thanked her, then went back to the bed to rest in peace of mind.

When Zhou Yun Sheng returned to the palace, he immediately had the fostered outside Second Prince brought back. During this three month long journey, the Empress Dowager repeatedly sent people to pick up the Second Prince, but he'd already arranged servants to obstruct her, only saying that the Second Prince had chicken pox, and was not fit to be brought out, for fear of infecting the Empress Dowager. Empress Dowager saw many imperial physicians walking in and out of Feng Yi Palace every day, and after inquiring a little, she believed it. Seeing several imperial physicians walking into the side chamber, sitting for a short time, then leaving, Zhao Bi Xuan actually didn't find this odd, she was too distracted worrying about Qi Jin Yu's safety, and occasionally pausing to wonder where her son was taken.

The more her head maid thought, the more convinced she was that the Emperor already knew the truth, and her heart started trembling in apprehension. She knew that Zhao Bi Xuan was beyond hope. The reason she was able to regain favor the first time, was not by using her wit, but by using her devastating beauty. The Emperor protected her very well, so she never got to experience the harem conflicts, to the point that she had nothing in her brain except for lover affairs and bedroom bitterness, she couldn't calculate in the slightest.

Over time, the head maid became desperate. She had a widowed elderly mother and a younger brother living outside the palace, they relied on her monthly salary to survive, what would happen to her family if she died? At this thought, she went through all her connections, and finally left Feng Yi Palace before the Emperor returned. Being a clothes washer was much lower ranked than a palace maid, and the aches were hard to bear, but at least she'd survive. Other maids and attendants were of the same mind, using their connections to seek asylum with new masters. The Feng Yi Palace guards just needed to detain Hui Yi Imperial Consort, if others wanted to leave, they wouldn't question it.

Therefore, by the time the Second Prince was returned, only twenty palace maids and chamberlains remained in the huge Feng Yi Palace. Zhao Bi Xuan, accustomed to having more than 100 people at her beck and call if she went out for a causal stroll, could no longer afford to keep up her Imperial Consort airs. She gradually started panicking, waking up from nightmares almost every night, dreaming about Qi Jin Yu dying, or her son vanishing, but also dreaming about receiving three feet of white silk and poisoned wine.

"My son, you finally came back! Mama missed you!" She hugged the returned Second Prince, tears overflowing, then she looked to the distant palace door, thinking that the Emperor was following behind the chamberlain that delivered the child. However, the palace door remained undisturbed, and when the chamberlain departed, the guards once again locked the palace door.

Even though Zhao Bi Xuan was stupid, she could also faintly sense that disaster was approaching. She was raised in her boudoir, was short-sighted, and as a concubine's child, she never received the education given to true daughters. Except for her face, she really had nothing worth seeing. She wanted to understand why the Emperor took the Second Prince away, but she didn't dare think too deeply, wholeheartedly believing that as long as she apologized to the Emperor, and thoroughly served him in the future, he would once again pamper her.

She was never this anxious to see the Emperor like this before, as if he was her last hope to prevent her from drowning in the palace. However, she also couldn't fit in Qi Jin Yu, and could only hope that he understood her difficulties.

Hoping fervently for a few days, Zhao Bi Xuan was finally summoned by the Emperor. She hurriedly put on her most beautiful set of palace garments, and sat in front of the bronze mirror to polish her makeup, carefully tracing. Slicking up her fluffy hair, she inserted the hair ornaments, after she was very satisfied with her unparalleled looks, she straightened her back and stepped across the previously blocked off palace gateway.

"Imperial Consort here to pay respects to the Emperor, Your Majesty … …"

She gracefully kneeled to proclaim her greeting, but before she could finish, the Emperor just walked straight passed her. Forget about conveying how much he missed her after a long separation, he didn't even look at her. She quickly recovered from her daze and rushed to keep pace with him, staring at his back, tears blurring her eyes. If it was the past, how could this man walk ahead by himself, abandoning her? He used to hold her hand and lead her, flattering her lovingly while paying attention to every place she stepped. He always wanted to walk shoulder to shoulder with her, putting her in an equal position, rather than now, having her humbly watch his back.

Zhao Bi Xuan brooded for a moment before she noticed that the path they were walking was very familiar, and her heart suddenly sped up.

"Your Majesty, where are we going?" She bit the bullet and asked.

"Ci Ning Palace, to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, and to take a look at Younger Imperial Brother's condition while we're there. Imperial Brother's injury has healed quite a bit, he'll be able to leave the palace today, so you and I will go see him off."

Zhao Bi Xuan softly acknowledged him, barely suppressing her excitement. Because she was under house arrest in Feng Yi Palace, and all her keen confidants had disappeared, she was now practically blind. She only knew that the Gong Prince was recovering from injury in the Empress Dowager's palace, but didn't know how much he was hurt.

Zhou Yun Sheng glanced back at her, his mouth hooking into a slight sneer.

The person Qi Jin Yu most didn't want to see now was Zhao Bi Xuan. When he heard that the Second Prince had chicken pox, and she was currently locked up in Feng Yi Palace caring for him, his heart was relieved, and he asked the Empress Dowager to only tell her his plan after he left. But unfortunately, Zhao Bi Xuan came on the day he happened to be leaving, and she even ran into him as soon as she opened the door. Zhao Bi Xuan was not prepared in the least, suddenly, a distorted and revolting face appeared in front of her, she screamed in fright, "Aaaahhh, there's a ghost!"

Dust rained down from the roof beam, disturbed by her voice.

After her scream, Ci Ning palace remained in complete silence. The Empress Dowager was resenting that she couldn't tear this slut's cheap mouth out, and Qi Jin Yu's already extremely fragile heart began hemorrhaging blood.

"Why are you shouting, this is my Imperial Brother." Zhou Yun Sheng impatiently pushed Zhao Bi Xuan away, who was hiding behind him.

"Impossible!" Zhao Bi Xuan sharply refuted. Where was this evil apparition her matchlessly handsome sweetheart, how were they similar? But before her voice faded, she finally noticed that this person was wearing the prince's court dress, and half his face was slightly normal. Her cheeks flushed, her breath shortened, and she began to faintly feel that something extremely terrible must've happened these past three months, and those things would subvert her whole life.

"Imperial Brother was wounded this way by bandits, but a few scars on a man's face doesn't matter, don't be so frightened in the future." Zhou Yun Sheng flicked his sleeve and coldly reproved.

Zhao Bi Xuan nodded stiffly, her line of sight barely touching her sweetheart's ghost-like, unpleasant face, before darting away in a panic. She couldn't accept her sweetheart's new face, it was dreadful.

How could Qi Jin Yu not perceive her conflict? His heart filling with extremely repressed pain, he smiled calmly at them, cupped his hands, and took his leave. Zhou Yun Sheng intended to walk him to the palace gate before returning to deal with governmental affairs. The Empress Dowager took this opportunity to ask for Zhao Bi Xuan to stay behind, saying she felt dejected, and wanted Hui Yi Imperial Consort to accompany her.

Zhou Yun Sheng just smiled, pretending not to notice. This mother and son's little plan, he didn't even need to use his brain to guess it, it was nothing more than a last resort honey trap. Have Zhao Bi Xuan bewitch him to establish the Second Prince as Crown Prince, then slowly poison him, so he'll die after the Second Prince grew up a bit, and Qi Jin Yu could act as regent. This way, he could indirectly achieve his dream of ruling over millions of people. These "lovers" were really very interesting, the man orders the woman to sleep with other men, and the woman doesn't dare glance at the man after seeing his ruined face. If this was the world consciousness' idea of a soul-stirring love, then he could only snicker.

As long as Zhao Bi Xuan closed her eyes, her mind would conjure up the image of Qi Jin Yu's twisted face, frightening her. She unconsciously used the Emperor's peerless face to push out Qi Jin Yu's, her fear quickly becoming admiration. As if a blindfold was suddenly dropped from her eyes, she felt shaken, realizing that the Emperor she has been resenting for so long was the world's most excellent man. The love she scoffed at and threw away like an old shoe, was probably what most women in the world yearned for in their dreams.

She sat beside the Empress Dowager, the hand gripping her embroidered handkerchief constantly trembling, afraid that she had come to her senses too late, that she might no longer be able to regain the Emperor's love. But the Empress Dowager's next words shattered her wild ideas of starting over again.

"Take this, pour some into the Emperor's meal every day." Like Zhao Bi Xuan, the Empress Dowager was also blindfolded, and actually didn't notice the signs that Hui Yi Imperial Consort had fallen out of favor.

"What is this?" Zhao Bi Xuan's eyes were filling with fear.