Chapter 106: Yang Qi Ascends the Throne

Yang Rui watched in surprise as Zhongli Yu and Zhan Yan walked away, unable to help but marvel at just how much the Prince of Chun doted on his wife. This was the first time he had heard of someone who only allowed the mother to receive nourishment, forbidding the baby in the womb from doing so.

The others, however, wore expressions of nonchalance, as if Zhongli Yu’s indulgence of his wife was the norm. After all, they had witnessed his doting firsthand. Consider this: just because his wife casually mentioned something, he had uprooted a cassia tree that had grown by the lake for decades and transplanted it back home. If he suddenly stopped pampering her, that would be truly abnormal.

Meanwhile, Meng Tao was in the herbal preparation room that Zhan Yan had arranged for him, fiddling with various medicines. Seeing Zhongli Yu and Zhan Yan rush in hurriedly, he anxiously asked, “Yan, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Zhan Yan awkwardly shook her head.

Zhongli Yu paid no mind to her embarrassment and addressed Meng Tao seriously, “Grandfather Meng, I have an important question for you.”

Seeing Zhongli Yu’s solemn demeanor, Meng Tao responded earnestly, “Oh? What is it?”

“Grandfather Meng, is there any way to ensure that the baby in Yan’s belly doesn’t compete with her for nutrients?” Zhongli Yu asked with grave concern.

Meng Tao looked puzzled. “Yu’er, does the baby inside Yan bear you any ill will?”

“No.”

“Then why not let the baby absorb the nutrients?”

“Yan says that if the baby grows too large in the womb, the birth will be difficult. I don’t want him to grow too big.”

“If you don’t want the fetus to grow too large, why not just reduce Yan’s supplementation?”

“No, Yan has endured so much in pregnancy; she deserves to be nourished. Haven’t you noticed she has grown thinner?” Zhongli Yu insisted.

Meng Tao looked Yan over carefully. Her face was round now; her once sharp chin had softened. Her arms had thickened, and her body had become plump. He sighed helplessly: “Yu’er, my eyes deceive me; I really don’t see that she’s lost weight.”

Zhan Yan cleared her throat awkwardly. “Husband, let’s go back. I’ll just drink some tonic soup.” She was mortified. She was round and chubby, yet her husband kept telling others she was thin. It made her feel so self-conscious.

Zhongli Yu frowned. “But didn’t you say that drinking too much tonic soup would make the baby grow too large?” This was a serious issue; he could not take it lightly.

Zhan Yan laughed nervously. “I’ll only drink an appropriate amount, so the baby won’t be too big, and I won’t get thinner.”

Zhongli Yu looked at her doubtfully. “Really?”

She nodded emphatically. “Yes, really. I’ll only take the right amount.” At that moment, she wished she could bite her tongue for having tried to scare Zhongli Yu by refusing the tonic soup. Instead, she had embarrassed herself terribly.

“Alright, then let’s hurry home and drink it,” Zhongli Yu said, turning to Meng Tao. “Grandfather Meng, please think carefully about what I asked earlier. Maybe there is a way after all.”

Zhan Yan sighed. “Husband, let’s go. I’m hungry.”

“Yan is hungry? Then let’s go back quickly.” Zhongli Yu no longer paid attention to Meng Tao and pulled Zhan Yan toward Lixiang Court.

Meng Tao wiped the sweat from his brow as he watched their retreating figures. This was truly astonishing. The thoughts of a genius were indeed unlike those of ordinary men. This request was rather novel, making him feel his own skills somewhat inadequate. Silently, he returned to his medical texts, determined to find a method to nourish only the mother and not the baby. Yet, as Zhongli Yu’s child, would the baby be too pitiful?

Meanwhile, when Zhou Lan returned to the Thousand Poisons Sect, the Eight Elders had yet to come back. Upon learning the full story, Zhou Lan angrily smashed a teacup.

“Sister, you’re really something. Good, good, good,” he muttered, the repeated words betraying his fury.

For centuries, the Thousand Poisons Sect had abstained from external conflicts. Sister was an exception because she married the Crown Prince of the Western Territory, who later became King of the West Territory. She should have been expelled from the sect, but Zhou Lan loved her and insisted she remain the Sacred Maiden of the sect. The Eight Elders had objected but were overruled by him. Over the years, she had privately established the Poison Cult, which Zhou Lan had tacitly tolerated. But this time, she had dragged the Eight Elders into royal power struggles. How could he not be furious?

“Send someone,” Zhou Lan ordered sternly outside the door.

“Sect Master, what orders do you have?” a guard asked.

“Find the Eight Elders and bring them back. If they don’t return within three days, banish them from the sect forever.”

“Yes, Sect Master.”

No sooner had the guard left than another arrived, shouting, “Sect Master, the Eight Elders have returned.”

“Let them in to see me.”

The Eight Elders, surprised by the summons, wondered if the news of the Sect Master’s capture had been false. Nervously, they approached Zhou Lan’s courtyard.

Seeing their disheveled appearance, Zhou Lan’s anger deepened. He slammed down his teacup and demanded, “Explain yourselves.”

“Master, the Sacred Maiden said the Sect Master was captured by the Prince of Chun from Dongling. She ordered us to help her son seize the throne so we could launch an army to rescue the Sect Master,” Elder Xie spoke first.

He chuckled bitterly. So that was her motive—to have her son seize the throne so she could become Empress Dowager.

The Elders exchanged nervous glances, shuddering at Zhou Lan’s sinister smile.

After a long laugh, Zhou Lan’s fury settled. “Isn’t it stipulated in the sect rules that the Thousand Poisons Sect must not involve itself in external conflicts? Have you all knowingly broken this rule?”

“We accept the punishment willingly,” the Eight Elders knelt. They knew they had erred; it was wiser to submit now.

“Very well. You are confined for three months and must fast for half a year.”

“Yes, Sect Master,” the Elders breathed a sigh of relief. The punishment was lenient.

They left with heavy steps.

“Wait,” Zhou Lan called out suddenly.

Their hearts skipped a beat. “Master, any further orders?”

“Who did this to you?” Zhou Lan asked, noticing their injuries. He knew their martial skills well. Who could have hurt all eight of them? Even the Sacred Maiden should not be capable.

The Elders relaxed, thinking he might reconsider their sentence.

“It was the greatest martial artist of the Jianghu from forty years ago, Gu Yan,” Elder Xie replied.

“You encountered Gu Yan?” Zhou Lan was shocked. Years before, Zhou Xiang had killed Gu Yan’s wife and was in turn killed by Gu Yan. The sect knew nothing about avenging Zhou Xiang’s death, as he was at fault. Gu Yan was said to have turned his hair white overnight in anger. If anyone from the sect had dared to confront him, Gu Yan might have destroyed the entire sect in fury.

“Master, Gu Yan saved King Yang Rui of the Western Territory then. The Sacred Maiden ordered us to pursue, but we ran into Gu Yan and fought him.”

“You eight united still couldn’t defeat Gu Yan?” Zhou Lan was astonished.

“Not just us eight, but the Sacred Maiden too. Nine of us together still lost.”

“Enough. I understand. From now on, cause fewer troubles. As of today, Liang Wei is no longer the Sacred Maiden of the Thousand Poisons Sect. No one is allowed to let her enter the sect. I will rearrange the sect’s barriers.” Zhou Lan had given up on Liang Wei. She offended everyone, even Gu Yan and Zhongli Yu. If she continued, she would ruin the sect, and how could he face the ancestors?

“Yes, Sect Master,” the Elders were puzzled. Zhou Lan had always favored the Sacred Maiden. Why exile her now? But they dared not question and obeyed silently. They had never truly approved of Liang Wei’s role anyway.

“Go now.” Zhou Lan waved them off.

Once alone, he collapsed onto the soft couch, weary and reflecting on his blindness all these years, letting out a bitter smile.

A month later, Consort Liang had fully recovered, her martial prowess restored. Her restless heart stirred once more. Carrying a bowl of five-colored dumplings, she headed to the Imperial Study. She entered without announcement, for Yang Yuxiong had decreed she could come and go freely; the guards dared not stop her.

Yang Yuxiong was busy reviewing memorials when Liang Wei gently placed the dumplings down and began massaging him. He sighed contentedly, inhaling her unique fragrance. Over the past month, they had been deeply affectionate. With other concubines gone, Liang Wei was his sole companion. She did everything to please him, and without palace intrigues, he found this life quite agreeable.

After a long massage, she spoke softly, “Your Majesty, are you hungry? I personally cooked these five-colored dumplings. Would you like some?”

Yang Yuxiong was touched. “My beloved, you’re not fully recovered. Why trouble yourself? The Imperial Kitchen can prepare them.”

“But Your Majesty, none can match my cooking to your taste. You prefer mildly sweet dumplings, but the kitchen makes them too sweet, and you tire of them quickly.”

He laughed. “You truly know my preferences.”

“Of course. We’ve lived together over twenty years. If I didn’t know you by now, I’d have wasted my life.”

Yang Yuxiong playfully tapped her nose. “Your words always make me happy.”

“Your Majesty, your happiness is mine. When I please you, I please myself too,” she quoted her son’s words.

He laughed heartily.

“Your Majesty, have you grown tired over the years?”

Yang Yuxiong pondered. Indeed, he was weary. His ambitions had been great—to conquer the world—but Western Territory was no match for Dongling. In the end, he was betrayed, even by his own son who placed him under house arrest.

He sighed. “Yes, I am somewhat tired.”

“Your Majesty, then leave it to Qi’er. Let us live for ourselves, travel the world. We are not young anymore; it’s time to enjoy life,” Liang Wei gently urged, resting her head on his chest.

Yang Yuxiong hesitated but, seeing her hopeful face, nodded.

Liang Wei beamed. “You agree?”

“Yes, I agree. We will travel the world together.”

Overjoyed, she embraced him. “I knew you loved me most. After all these years, being with you fills me with no regrets.”

Yang Yuxiong lightly tapped her shoulder, feigning displeasure. “Nonsense. How could I let you die? We will grow old together.”

Tears shimmered in her eyes as she smiled. “We will. Let’s leave tomorrow, shall we?”

“Tomorrow? Isn’t that too soon?”

“No, I can’t wait. I wish to leave the palace now and see the world outside.”

Yang Yuxiong thought she must have grown restless cooped up in the palace. He was used to concubines obsessed with status, but she was different—unattached to power or luxury. This made him love her even more.

“Very well. I will issue an edict naming Qi’er as heir.”

Liang Wei hugged him tightly, her excitement known only to herself.

After issuing the decree and sealing it with the imperial jade seal, a triumphant smile flickered in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it. Yang Yuxiong noticed nothing.

The next day, Yang Yuxiong announced to all the realm that his second son, Yang Qi, would succeed the throne. The news shocked the world. People had always known Yang Yuxiong’s ambition, so why had he abdicated suddenly? Speculations abounded.

Some said Yang Yuxiong was forced to abdicate by his son.

Others claimed he was gravely ill and unable to govern.

Still others said he was incompetent and ashamed to rule.

No matter the rumors, none diminished Yang Yuxiong’s resolve to travel the world with his beloved.

That day, Yang Yuxiong and Consort Liang rode in an unassuming carriage, flanked by loyal guards, leaving the city. No one suspected that a former emperor had quietly departed the Western Territory.

Consort Liang breathed in the fresh air with delight, nestling in Yang Yuxiong’s arms. “Husband, I feel so happy.”

He smiled at her radiant face. “As long as you’re happy.”

“I’m happier than ever,” she said.

Yang Yuxiong saw genuine joy in her expression and was grateful he had found such a woman who loved not power. He cherished her deeply.

That night, after washing, they lay down. Liang Wei ordered calming incense lit. Soon, Yang Yuxiong fell into a deep sleep. Watching him rest peacefully, a sly smile curved her lips. She had mixed a sedative into the incense, enough to keep him asleep all night. Quietly, she rose, dressed, and slipped out, using qinggong to fly toward the capital.

At the Yan residence, Wang Xueru was preparing for bed. Since Yan Kuan’s death, she and her child lived in the former general’s mansion, now simply called the Yan residence. The new general, Yang Yuxiong, had built a new home for himself.

Just as Wang Xueru lay down, she heard an unusual noise. She rose quickly, and a figure slipped in through the window. About to scream, she stopped once she recognized the visitor.

It was Liang Wei. Surprised, Wang Xueru called out, “Miss, why have you come?”

Wang Xueru was Liang Wei’s personal maid. Years ago, when Yan Kuan impersonated the Southern Protector King, Liang Wei had arranged for her to kill Zhan Tianyi’s wife and orchestrated Yan Kuan’s chance meeting with her, leading to their marriage. She had been undercover in Dongling until Yan Kuan’s exposure, then returned to the Western Territory.

Liang Wei gave her a faintly mocking look. “What’s wrong? Can’t I visit? Have you forgotten who your true mistress is?”

Wang Xueru bowed low. “I would never forget.”

“Good. You’ve enjoyed comfort enough. Now it’s time to serve.”

“Anything you command, Miss.”

“Excellent. After all these years, your martial skills are still sharp?”

“I have never slackened.”

…