ASTRP -Chapter 223 So He Was a Foolish Emperor

The Crown Prince let out another sigh.

He directly lifted the curtain.

Cheng Yu only felt that it was fine to just stay like this quietly.

The Crown Prince didn’t need to speak.

As long as she could look at him, that was enough.

If her father had not died, and her mother was still alive…

Then perhaps one day, would she have truly ended up marrying the Crown Prince like this?

She had known the Crown Prince for three years. They had mutual affection for each other, but the Crown Prince said he could not belong to one woman alone for his entire life.

He also could not marry her, because his life had already been arranged by his imperial father.

He could not disobey.

Even though the Crown Prince had said all that, Cheng Yu still liked him.

She just hadn’t expected that her feelings would bring about a death sentence.

It was all because that damn emperor had taken a liking to her. When she rejected him, he decided to take her by force instead.

Her parents, in order to protect her, actually chose death to shield her.

Only then did that damn emperor let her go.

After a long while, Cheng Yu walked out and took the pole herself.

A maid nearby said, “My Lady, this is inauspicious.”

“I live only for revenge in this life. Whether it is auspicious or not has nothing to do with me anymore.”

Then she looked at the Crown Prince.

“Arrange a place for me to stay.”

The Crown Prince exhaled. “It’s already arranged. It’s next to Consort Yun’s room.”

“Is there somewhere quieter? Somewhere not next to anyone else?”

“Sigh… you’ve seen my residence. It’s not very large.”

“And Consort Yun is rather simple-minded. She sleeps early, her mind isn’t very complicated, she won’t be noisy, she won’t disturb you.”

Cheng Yu turned and left on her own.

She did not look back.

The Crown Prince stared at her back, feeling somewhat powerless.

He knew he was weak, but he did not want to turn against his father.

No one knew that as the Crown Prince, he actually longed for a free and unrestrained life.

He did not like power at all, but he could not escape it.

After standing there for a while, the Crown Prince also left.

Xi Liyue and the Prince Yu walked out.

“Liyue, why do I feel like the Crown Prince and that lady are hiding something?”

Regarding the Crown Prince and Cheng Yu’s matter, Xi Liyue was not very clear either.

After all, she had been away for so many years.

“I’m not very clear about my royal brother’s affairs, but his character has always been rather indifferent to worldly matters.”

“Since childhood, he has been gentle and has never lost his temper with any servant.”

“Even when his concubines fought for favor in front of him, he would only scold them a little at most.”

Prince Yu had also seen the Crown Prince’s gentle side before.

A Crown Prince without any temper—either he was too weak, or he truly had a detached personality.

But for a Crown Prince, such a personality was instead a kind of misfortune.

Prince Yu’s stomach suddenly growled twice.

Xi Liyue looked at him. “My Lord, are you hungry?”

Prince Yu nodded. “Yes, I didn’t eat dinner.”

He hadn’t eaten much at lunch either.

“Then I’ll take you to eat.”

Prince Yu hesitated slightly. “I’m not very used to the food here.”

“I heard that Sister-in-law cooks very well. It would be nice if I could eat her cooking.”

Just then, Feng Jingge and Xiao Jinghan were also out strolling in the garden.

Hearing Prince Yu’s words, Feng Jingge immediately said, “If you want to eat, I’ll cook for you.”

“Anyway, His Highness and I are also not used to the food here.”

Xi Liyue looked troubled. “My Lord, Princess Consort, you are guests. We cannot let guests cook…”

“Oh, it’s only the four of us. We just won’t tell anyone.”

Feng Jingge said frankly, “Liyue, the food here is too sweet. We really can’t get used to it.”

“How about going to your place? I’ll cook, and you can help me out?”

Xi Liyue thought for a moment and still agreed.

“Alright then.”

However, just as they were eating after the meal was prepared, a maid ran over with a grave expression.

“Princess, Eunuch Hai has arrived.”

Everyone froze.

Then they saw Eunuch Hai walking in with an imperial decree.

Xi Liyue quickly knelt.

Xiao Jinghan, Feng Jingge, and Prince Yu were guests, so they only stood and did not kneel.

Feng Jingge cursed inwardly: Can’t even let us finish a proper meal?

“By the decree of Heaven, the Emperor declares… The Princess has come of age. I hereby appoint a teaching man to accompany her and instruct her in matters between men and women.”

Xi Liyue bit her lip.

So the Emperor had bypassed Fang Dijun entirely and directly arranged someone for her.

These matters originally fell under Fang Dijun’s jurisdiction.

There was only one reason.

The Emperor wanted someone to monitor her.

Xi Liyue felt she had not exposed any flaws.

The only explanation was that, because of the presence of the Regent Prince and Princess Consort, the Emperor was wary of her.

He wanted to know her movements.

“Princess, receive the decree.”

“Long live the Emperor, may he live ten thousand years.”

She kowtowed first, and the attendants and maids behind her all followed.

“Princess, that person will arrive from the palace tomorrow.”

“I’ve seen him before—he’s delicate in appearance, gentle and mild in temperament, suitable for you.”

Gentle and mild… huh.

Thinking of what she had personally seen the Emperor do to her royal uncle, even using needles to torture him—what kind of person could the Emperor’s people possibly be?

And how much blood had this Eunuch Hai’s hands already stained?

“Eunuch Hai, has the Emperor’s health been checked by imperial physicians recently? What is the cause?”

“Ah, His Majesty is burdened with state affairs. His health is indeed not what it used to be.”

Since learning those things, Xi Liyue no longer fully trusted the imperial physicians in the palace.

Back when her royal uncle was alive, every physician said his paralysis was incurable.

Was it truly incurable… or was it the Emperor’s decree not to treat him?

At this moment, Feng Jingge spoke.

“Eunuch Hai, I know some medicine. I am no worse than the imperial physicians. May I take a look at His Majesty?”

“The Emperor is fine. It’s just age catching up; there is no need for the Princess Consort to worry.”

Feng Jingge thought: She’s worried?

She just wanted to understand the situation—and hope that the Emperor would die sooner.

“Eunuch Hai, will Father be able to attend the royal uncle’s memorial ceremony later?”

“He should have no problem. Princess, as long as you are filial, His Majesty’s health will improve.”

“Then please send my regards to Father when you return. I wish him great blessings, everlasting fortune, and prosperity for ten thousand generations.”

Xi Liyue felt that her father had become increasingly obsessed with women lately.

After Eunuch Hai left, Feng Jingge spoke.

“Liyue, I think there are some things that need to be said.”

“I think your father is too obsessed with women. He’s acting like a foolish emperor.”

Prince Yu immediately agreed. “He already is a foolish emperor. Look at his surroundings—either concubines or women serving him.”

“He even stuffed so many concubines around the Crown Prince.”

“He’s foolish himself and wants his son to be foolish too.”

“Tsk, at his age, he’s not afraid of dying in a woman’s bed.”

“…”

Xi Liyue bit her lip. “Tomorrow I’ll ask my mother what exactly is going on with Father lately.”

Xiao Jinghan, who had remained silent until now, suddenly asked:

“Has your father ever mentioned anything about making the Crown Prince inherit the throne?”

Xi Liyue shook her head. “No.”

Prince Yu asked, “Uncle Imperial, are you suspecting that the Emperor never even intended to let the Crown Prince inherit the throne?”