TRBDM -Chapter 134 General Fu Wei

When General Fu Wei died all those years ago, and the young heir was switched with another, the Princess Royal tried to end her life several times and was saved each time. Night after night, she suffered from nightmares and could not sleep, until she became gaunt and hollow-eyed.

Later, the Emperor forcibly summoned her back to the capital. The imperial physician treated her for a full year, and only then was Zhao Lingchen’s life preserved.

After losing the young heir, she had never truly smiled from the heart again.

Everyone said that the Princess Royal had a free-spirited, unruly temperament, unconstrained by rules. Rumors swirled that her residence kept dozens of male companions.

But Nanny knew just how much the Princess had suffered.

She watched coldly from the sidelines. The Princess appeared lofty and detached, but her soul had long since gone with General Fu Wei and the young heir. What remained in the world was nothing but a walking corpse.

Yet now, everything had changed.

After finding the young heir, the Princess began to smile again.

Sometimes, while she was combing her hair in front of the bronze mirror, she would giggle quietly, her eyes soft and tender, the smile reaching the very corners of her eyes.

“Nanny, I want to learn how to make sweet-and-sour fish,” Zhao Lingchen suddenly said.

The secret guards recorded every detail of Xie Yu’s tastes and preferences daily, compiling them into meticulous records. Zhao Lingchen had gone through these records countless times and discovered that Xie Yu liked foods that were sweet with a hint of sourness.

“Yu’er loves sweet-and-sour fish.”

The Princess Royal, priceless and exalted, had decided to cook herself one day. Nanny was taken aback.

“Princess, cooking fish is not easy. Hot oil splashes everywhere, and you could burn your hands.”

“I want to do it myself,” Zhao Lingchen said, showing no fear.

“But Princess, if you make the sweet-and-sour fish yourself, how will the Young Lord be able to eat it?”

For Xie Yu’s safety, Zhao Lingchen had not revealed her identity to him. To Xie Yu, she was still a stranger.

“I’m preparing for the future.”

Zhao Lingchen had long anticipated this. She wanted to learn now so that when she eventually brought Yu’er back to the Princess’s residence, she could cook it for him herself.

Nanny understood the Princess’s deep love for the child and no longer tried to dissuade her.

“This afternoon, I’ll go to the palace to see Father.”

The palace had sent people to the Princess’s residence several times; any further delay would have been unacceptable.

She also had another matter to attend to: “Fifth Prince has his eyes set on me, clearly unaware of my capabilities.”

Zhao Jingrui had sent people to tail Zhao Lingchen, and she had yet to confront him about it.

No prince dared to underestimate Zhao Lingchen, for she held the military seal, capable of mobilizing a hundred thousand troops at a moment’s notice.

Because of this, both the Crown Prince and the Third Prince sought her support.

Zhao Lingchen had no attachment to the mortal world and would never involve herself in the battle for succession.

To her, it made no difference who sat on the throne.

Her two most beloved people were gone; what did any amount of power matter?

But now, things were different.

After finding Xie Yu, she had come back to life.

The Emperor’s health had been failing, and the palace had sent people several times to request her visit.

Zhao Lingchen’s mind had been entirely on Xie Yu, so she had delayed for several days.

Today, she could delay no longer.

As she arrived at the Emperor’s bedchamber, before she even stepped inside, she heard violent coughing.

The Nine-Five Sovereign of the Dachong Dynasty, coughing with such intensity it seemed to tear his very heart apart. The pristine white handkerchief was soaked in blood, a sight that made one recoil.

Zhao Lingchen waited outside for a long while. Only after the coughing subsided did she pretend to have just arrived and stepped in.

Palace maids rushed back and forth with water, mopping the floor, and changing the Emperor’s clothing—an endless flurry of activity.

“Chen’er, you’re here.”

The current Emperor, Zhao Kuang, looked at Zhao Lingchen with a kind, gentle expression, like the most ordinary father in the world.

“Father.” Zhao Lingchen knelt and performed her salute.

“Rise quickly. Haven’t I already said the Princess Royal is exempt from kneeling?”

The Chief Eunuch immediately stepped forward and helped Zhao Lingchen to her seat.

“Please, be seated.”

If it were any other prince, they would certainly envy Zhao Lingchen. Even the Crown Prince rarely sat beside the emperor, yet Princess Zhao Lingchen always sat next to Zhao Kuang, sometimes even sharing the same stool with him.

The emperor’s favor was evident. No one dared show the slightest resentment, no matter how unwilling they felt.

Had Zhao Lingchen been a man, there would be no question of the Crown Prince or the Third Prince; the throne would undoubtedly be hers.

Yet Zhao Lingchen seemed to take her father’s affection for granted. She never went to the palace on her own; every visit was by Zhao Kuang’s summons. Three requests, one visit.

This had continued for years.

Zhao Kuang’s illness was obvious, but he forced himself to hide his pain in front of Zhao Lingchen. “Chen’er, a batch of lychees has arrived from Lingnan today. I shall have them sent to your residence shortly.”

Every year, the first batch of lychees was always enjoyed by Zhao Lingchen first. Other princes and princesses couldn’t even see the peels.

“Thank you, Father.”

Though she spoke her thanks, Zhao Lingchen’s expression remained calm, without the overt delight one might expect.

Zhao Kuang did not mind; having Zhao Lingchen by his side was enough.

“Ahem… ahem…”

Suddenly, Zhao Kuang began coughing.

Zhao Lingchen immediately rose. “Father, you are unwell. I shall not disturb you further.”

“No, I am fine.” Zhao Kuang forced back the coughing, insisting that Zhao Lingchen sit.

With a resigned sigh, Zhao Lingchen sat back down.

Once Zhao Kuang’s breathing steadied, he finally revealed the purpose of her visit.

“Chen’er, I have issued the decree of succession.”

Zhao Lingchen’s brows slightly furrowed, finally showing some reaction. “Father, such matters of state… you should not speak of them to me.”

“No, Chen’er, I want you to hear this. The Crown Prince is indecisive and lacks courage. Without your support, he cannot hope to overcome Yan’er.”

Zhao Lingchen was unconcerned. “The Crown Prince will one day be the ruler of the nation. A hesitant ruler is a flaw in itself. If he cannot even contend with the Third Prince, how can he manage the court once he ascends?”

Zhao Kuang frowned. “He is the Crown Prince, with ministers to assist him. How could he not understand governance?”

This was a point on which father and daughter would never agree.

Whether it was the Crown Prince or the Third Prince, she looked down on them both. No matter how fierce their struggle, she never cast them a glance.

After a long pause, Zhao Kuang sighed.

“Very well, I will not force you. Consider the decree of succession unknown to you.”

Zhao Lingchen was relieved; she had no intention of wading into that turbulent affair.

After a moment, Zhao Kuang changed the subject. “Chen’er, have you had any happy events lately?”

Zhao Lingchen remained cautious in her mind, though her face betrayed nothing. “Father, what do you mean?”

“I saw a smile on your face today. I imagined you had come across something joyous.”

“Nothing, Father. Seeing you happy is enough.”

Zhao Kuang did not doubt her. “I am also pleased to see you, Chen’er.”

A faint awkwardness lingered in the air.

Zhao Lingchen stood. “Father, I shall take my leave.”

“Chen’er, regarding the matter of Fu Wei’s treason and collusion with the enemy, I have already sent people to investigate. All these years, your resentment toward Fu Wei has caused a rift between us. While my body can still bear it, I will give you an answer.”

For thirteen years, Zhao Lingchen had repeatedly asked Zhao Kuang to thoroughly investigate Fu Wei’s case, and he had always refused. Now, at the brink of death, he suddenly changed course—and only to pressure Zhao Lingchen into supporting the Crown Prince.

Fu Wei had always been Zhao Kuang’s trump card to control Zhao Lingchen.

Zhao Lingchen smiled faintly. “No need. I can investigate myself.”

Now that she had Yu’er, she had the determination to set the record straight. Even if she could not find the truth alone, with Yu’er by her side, she did not believe mother and son together would fail to uncover how Fu Wei had been framed.