MCSCPM -Chapter 325 An Itch That Tore at the Heart

“Yes, Yi’er is indeed grown now,” He Ningxiang said, “but in this concubine’s heart, he is still just a child. The last time something happened to Yi’er, Your Majesty did not allow this concubine to leave the palace, so I did not go. But this time, Prince Yi was knocked unconscious. I only want to show concern for my own child. Is that wrong as well?”

“Are you lecturing me now?” Chu Helian snapped. “Are you saying that I am heartless?”

“This concubine would never dare,” He Ningxiang replied hastily. “But I beg Your Majesty, for the sake of the many years I have devoted myself to Buddhism, please allow me to go out just this once.”

“Impudent!” Chu Helian suddenly erupted in anger, rising abruptly from his chair and glaring at He Ningxiang. “I have already said it clearly—I absolutely will not allow you to leave the palace!”

In the next moment, Consort Shu suddenly knelt down and pleaded bitterly, “This concubine is nothing more than an ordinary mother. I only wish to go and see my son. Your Majesty may be angry because of these rumors, but my heart is filled only with worry—worry for his health, nothing else. I beg Your Majesty to grant this request.”

However, the more stubborn He Ningxiang was, the more furious Chu Helian became. As the emperor, there was no one in this world who could force him.

Chu Helian said coldly, “As a prince, as a royal prince, and as my eldest son, there are burdens he must bear. If everything required me and you to intervene, then I would never have conferred upon him the title of Prince Yi in the first place.”

Hearing these words, Consort Shu’s gaze darkened. She bit her lip and said, “Your Majesty, when have you ever regarded Yi’er as your eldest son? When have you ever treated him as your son? From childhood until now, have you ever spared him even a single glance?”

Those words instantly enraged Chu Helian. He had never imagined that, in He Ningxiang’s heart, he was seen this way.

“Consort Shu,” Chu Helian said grimly, “repeat what you just said.”

“This concubine said that I am unwilling to accept this,” He Ningxiang replied, her voice resolute. “Yi’er is Your Majesty’s eldest son. He should have enjoyed boundless favor, yet in Your Majesty’s heart, the one you care for most and dote on most is Prince Jing. No matter what Prince Jing does, you can tolerate it. But when the same things happen to Yi’er, you become ruthless. Your Majesty, Yi’er is also your son. No matter what good he does, you never care, never even look at him properly. Is this what Your Majesty calls benevolence and righteousness?”

These words struck Chu Helian like a thunderbolt. He was shocked—and furious. How had everything come to this point? Could it truly be his fault?

Chu Helian staggered back two steps, his face full of disbelief. “So this is the Consort Shu whom I personally elevated. So in your heart, this is how I am?”

He Ningxiang felt no regret at all for what she had just said. These words had been buried in her heart for a long, long time.

Seeing the firmness in the eyes of the woman he loved, Chu Helian knew that, in her heart, this was how she truly saw him.

“Your Majesty,” He Ningxiang pleaded once more, “this concubine begs you again—please allow me to leave the palace to see Yi’er.”

Chu Helian forced himself to suppress his anger. He turned away and shouted, “Guards!”

At once, the guards outside and Eunuch Sun entered.

“From today onward,” Chu Helian commanded coldly, “Consort Shu is confined to her palace. Without my order, she is not to leave the palace grounds. Take her away.”

As soon as the order was given, the guards stepped forward and seized Consort Shu.

Unwilling to give up, she was dragged toward the exit of the imperial study while crying out, “Your Majesty, this concubine only hopes that you will care a little more about Yi’er. He is also your son—you cannot treat him this way!”

Her voice grew more distant as she was taken away. Chu Helian grew angrier and angrier, his head pounding. He collapsed heavily onto the dragon throne.

Eunuch Sun hurried forward and asked anxiously, “Your Majesty, are you all right?”

“What exactly have I done wrong?” Chu Helian said bitterly. “Why does everyone treat me like this?”

“Your Majesty, please do not be angry,” Eunuch Sun urged. “This servant is worried about your health. Should we summon the imperial physician?”

“No need,” Chu Helian said, holding his head. “I’ll be fine after resting a bit.”

Eunuch Sun stayed by his side.

After a while, Chu Helian instructed, “Go at once to Prince Jing’s residence and summon Prince Jing to the palace.”

“Your Majesty…?” Eunuch Sun asked hesitantly.

“Just go.”

“Yes.”

Eunuch Sun didn’t know why Prince Jing was being summoned at this time, but he obeyed.

Soon, guards went to Prince Jing’s residence. However, due to Prince Jing’s poor health, and because Chu Helian had previously wanted to kill Yin Qingyue—a grievance Chu Jingcheng had never let go of—Prince Jing refused to enter the palace no matter what.

This was not the first time. The last time the emperor had summoned him, Prince Jing had also refused. Knowing Prince Jing’s temperament, the guards did not linger and quickly returned to report.

When Chu Helian heard that Prince Jing refused to come, he was naturally furious. The matter of Prince Yi had already disappointed him deeply, and now Prince Jing was acting this way as well—how could he swallow this anger?

But the guard continued, “Your Majesty, Prince Jing is injured. It is because of his injuries that he cannot come to the palace.”

“Injured?” Chu Helian asked. “Is it still because of the twenty lashes I gave him last time? Has he not recovered yet?”

“This subordinate does not know,” the guard replied. “But Prince Jing looks very haggard. It’s said he was unconscious for some time and only woke up today.”

“How could such a thing happen?” Chu Helian exclaimed.

“This subordinate does not know.”

Chu Helian was genuinely worried about Chu Jingcheng. Upon hearing that he had been unconscious, he could no longer restrain himself. Rising to his feet, he said, “Guards—prepare. I am going to Prince Jing’s residence at once.”

Hearing that the emperor was leaving the palace, the guards immediately went to make arrangements.

Soon, Chu Helian arrived at Prince Jing’s residence.

Chu Jingcheng never expected his father, the emperor, to come personally. He could hardly believe it—this was the first time his father had ever left the palace to see him.

However, due to his severe injuries, Chu Jingcheng could only lie in bed. When he saw his father enter, he tried to rise and pay his respects, but Chu Helian stepped forward and pressed him down.

“You are injured. No need for formalities.”

“Father,” Chu Jingcheng said, “this son did not know you were coming and failed to greet you. Please forgive me.”

“It’s nothing,” Chu Helian said. “I summoned you to the palace to ask about your injuries. I didn’t expect them to be this serious. The guards said you were unconscious for several days—what exactly happened?”

Though his words sounded like questioning, there was genuine concern in them.

Chu Jingcheng now regarded his father with reverence but no affection. Until Yin Qingyue was found, he would never forgive him.

“This son only suffered minor injuries,” Chu Jingcheng replied flatly. “It’s nothing. Father need not worry, nor was it necessary for you to personally leave the palace to see me.”

Every word he spoke was formal and distant, devoid of emotion.

“I know that beating you last time caused you harm,” Chu Helian said. “And because of the Divine Physician, you harbor resentment toward me. But everything I did was for your own good.”

“So that’s why, Father,” Chu Jingcheng replied calmly, “you wanted to kill the Divine Physician?”

“This…” Chu Helian was momentarily at a loss for words.

Chu Jingcheng continued, “Father, you knew very well that if you killed Yin Qingyue, I would never enter the palace again. So I hope Father will spare her.”

“Let’s not discuss this matter for now,” Chu Helian said. “Focus on recovering from your injuries first.”

“If Father does not agree,” Chu Jingcheng said, “then I fear my injuries will never heal in this lifetime. My wounds have always been treated by the Divine Physician. Without her, they will never recover.”

Chu Jingcheng thought that since his father had personally come to see him, he must care about him. These words were essentially a threat: without the Divine Physician, his injuries would never heal.

Of course, Chu Helian understood this perfectly. He knew his son was threatening him, but as emperor, how could he take back words he had already spoken?

For now, it seemed best to delay the matter.

“Regarding the Divine Physician,” Chu Helian said, “I will make a judgment in due time. You only need to recuperate properly in your residence. Other matters can be discussed later.”

Chu Jingcheng did not press further and merely nodded, agreeing to focus on healing for the time being.

“It’s getting late,” Chu Helian said. “I cannot stay outside the palace for too long. There are many matters to attend to in the palace. I’ll return now.”

“This son will see Father off,” Chu Jingcheng said, attempting to rise.

But Chu Helian pressed him down again. “No need. Rest well.”

“Yes. This son respectfully sees Father off.”

Chu Helian came in haste and left just as quickly. Though it wasn’t done with great fanfare, the emperor leaving the palace—especially to visit Prince Jing’s residence—was still a major event, and the news spread quickly.

Naturally, it soon reached Prince Yi’s residence.

When Prince Yi heard it, his face twisted with resentment and fury. He could never have imagined that his father would care so much about Chu Jingcheng, while he himself hadn’t even been spared a single glance.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, until Chu Yifeng spat out a mouthful of blood—literally angered to the point of injury.

“Your Highness, are you all right?” the guards cried in alarm. “I’ll summon the imperial physician at once!”

“No need,” Chu Yifeng said hoarsely. “I’m just unwilling to accept this. Why does Father treat me this way? I believe I have done right by Father and have never harbored disloyalty toward Beihua. Yet in Father’s heart, there is only Prince Jing.”

He slammed his fist down on the table so hard it looked as if it might collapse.

“Your Highness, please don’t be angry. Don’t harm your health.”

“I just can’t understand it,” Chu Yifeng growled. “What is so great about Chu Jingcheng? In what way am I inferior to him?”

He was so enraged that his breath caught in his throat, leaving him gasping uncomfortably.

The guards who had followed Prince Yi for many years had never seen him this furious. One could only imagine how deeply wounded he was by the fact that the emperor had personally gone to visit Prince Jing. As these feelings escalated, they turned into hatred.

And because Chu Yifeng continued to seethe with anger, the itching in his body began again—like tens of thousands of insects gnawing at his heart, then crawling into his brain, tormenting him unbearably.

“Your Highness, is the itching starting again?” a guard asked anxiously.

“I’m in extreme agony,” Chu Yifeng cried out. “Quick—go get the anti-itch ointment, now!”

He suddenly stood up and lunged forward, crashing into the table. Cups and teapots fell to the ground, shattering with loud clattering sounds.

The guards rushed forward, deeply worried, repeatedly asking, “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

“I’m in terrible pain!”

Because Yin Qingyue had increased the potency of the itching powder, the itch on Chu Yifeng’s body was far worse than before—far more unbearable than any previous episode. He staggered around the room, clutching his head and clawing at himself again and again.

Wave after wave of itching tore through him—so intense it was nothing short of heart-rending.