PFC Chapter 271 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (171)
Chapter 271 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (171)
Lu Liruan thought she had misread it, but after examining it carefully again, it still showed the name of the eldest prince, Ji Shuqin.
Instead of the third prince, Ji Shumin.
Noticing Lu Liruan's surprised look on him, Ji Shumin raised his eyebrows, lowered his chin slightly, turned his head to the side, and smiled at her, as if to say that this was not the place to talk.
Lu Liruan naturally couldn't question him in front of the Empress Dowager, so she could only keep her surprise to herself and not show anything on her face as she looked at the imperial edict and placed it in front of the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager glanced at the imperial edict but didn't say anything more. It was originally her decision that the two of them should make themselves, so the outcome didn't affect her.
“If that’s the case, then this is the Emperor’s last edict.” Her tone was almost a sigh as she stroked the edict with her fingers, finally rolling it up and putting it back into the box.
"Your Highness, the Second Prince has arrived with his men..." A palace servant rushed in and reported to Ji Shuqin.
"Go do what you're supposed to do. You don't need to worry about me here." The Empress Dowager waved her hand wearily, dismissing them all.
Lu Liruan stayed behind, and whether it was her imagination or not, she felt that the Empress Dowager looked listless under the candlelight, as if she had lost her spirit.
It's that feeling of having done everything you were supposed to do, and then suddenly losing all support.
"Your Highness, you..." Lu Liruan called softly, her concern for the Empress Dowager genuine.
In Lu Liruan's heart, the Empress Dowager was already a very close, respected and relied-upon elder.
She did not want the Empress Dowager to suffer any mishaps or accidents due to the Emperor's passing.
Even though the Empress Dowager still looked dignified, she had lived through the reigns of two emperors and was indeed quite old.
Although the emperor's death was not something to grieve over for Lu Liruan.
Over the years, she and the emperor had no interaction whatsoever.
That's how it is between people. Without emotional connection, their life and death seem as insignificant as a passing cloud.
Even though he was an emperor, this was still true...
But if people are connected, have feelings for each other, and spend time together, her good or bad, her life or death, will no longer be something to be taken lightly or forgotten, but will cause people to worry and constantly think about her.
"I am fine." The Empress Dowager shook her head. "I have somewhat underestimated those two brothers."
Lu Liruan understood what the Empress Dowager meant.
The reason why the Empress Dowager spoke those words to Lu Liruan beforehand was that she had already discerned in her heart who was the one with ambition and the throne in her eyes.
"Li Ruan, you should go back and rest early. You don't need to worry about what's going on outside. No one will break in." The Empress Dowager coaxed Lu Li Ruan like a child, instructing the nanny to prepare some calming honey water for her.
"You don't have anyone to take care of you right now, do you? You just returned to the palace, and Songjingyuan has nothing. If you lack anything, you can get food and lodging from me."
Lu Liruan looked at the Empress Dowager's expression, which showed an unconcealable weariness, not physical but seemingly mental, and felt a pang of sorrow in her heart.
Originally, she only thought that even when the emperor was sober, he was no longer a wise ruler. On the contrary, because of his uncontrollable selfishness, he would do some incomprehensible things. He was no longer suitable to continue in that position.
Unstoppable, uncontainable power is extremely dangerous in the hands of a person who has fallen into madness.
She only thought that if Ji Shumin were to sit on that throne, he would be a wise ruler, but she did not consider that no matter what kind of emperor he was, his death would bring some people, such as the Empress Dowager, unbearable pain and sorrow.
People always view problems from their own perspective, believing that their thoughts and ideas are correct, calm, and objective, but they ignore the constraints of emotion. I am no exception.
No one is truly objective, comprehensive, or completely detached, because being in the midst of it is what it is.
"I'll stay here with Your Highness," Lu Liruan said softly.
The Empress Dowager seemed to see through her thoughts and smiled slightly: "Li Ruan, go back. I need to rest too."
Since the Empress Dowager had said so, Lu Liruan had no choice but to get up and walk out, led by the nanny.
But the Empress Dowager called out to her.
"Li Ruan, do not do evil, and do not blame yourself. Go your own way, and I will be here watching over you." She seemed to be instructing and teaching Lu Li Ruan, and also telling Lu Li Ruan not to worry about her, that she was alright.
“Okay. I understand.” Lu Liruan nodded solemnly.
Upon returning to Songjingyuan, Zhuang Yuxun greeted her. Seeing that Lu Liruan's expression was still very serious, he couldn't help but feel quite nervous: "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with the Dowager Consort?"
"It's alright. What, is there still no movement outside the palace?" Lu Liruan pulled her hand, plopped down on the bed, took off her shoes, and put her legs under the covers until warmth enveloped her, making her feel much more comfortable.
"Not yet. You've been gone for quite a while. I thought Her Majesty was worried and wanted to keep you there." Zhuang Yuxun sat down next to her.
It's very late now, and you can still see shadowy figures coming and going outside the window. Those are the palace servants on night duty. I wonder how many people won't be able to sleep tonight.
Lu Liruan was really sleepy. She figured Ji Shumin wouldn't be able to come back tonight. In any case, she needed to get some sleep. She extinguished the candle and soon fell into a deep sleep.
When she opened her eyes again, it was already bright outside. Ji Shumin still hadn't returned. Zhuang Yuxun had been up for a while. She slept later than Lu Liruan, got up earlier than Lu Liruan, and moved around more than Lu Liruan. She was always more energetic than Lu Liruan.
When Lu Liruan changed her clothes and went outside, she saw her moving a water vat in the yard to exercise.
"You... you really can't stay still."
Looking at Zhuang Yuxun's thin clothes, and then at herself bundled up like a battalion commander, Lu Liruan sighed inwardly: Some things are just innate; no matter what, she's never been destined to have that much energy...
“Li Ruan, come and move around with me! You’re not feeling so well. Your hands were freezing cold last night. You pressed them against my arm and I was shivering from the cold!” She tried to get Lu Li Ruan to practice something with her.
Lu Liruan: ...
"No need, don't force what's not meant to be." Lu Liruan said dryly, taking a step back with her sleeves tucked in. She thought to herself that if she had time to think about it, they really weren't family.
He Pingyan was able to have a beautiful marriage with Zhuang Yuxun, and I was able to stay with Ji Shumin until now.
So sometimes, we shouldn't be too demanding of Ji Shumin.
As if on cue, just as Lu Liruan was thinking to herself, Ji Shumin suddenly entered the room.
Looking somewhat haggard, she glanced listlessly at the two people in the courtyard and said, "Li Ruan got up quite early."
"Third Prince." Zhuang Yuxun put down the large vat and tactfully walked outside: "I'm going to check on the defenses."
Lu Liruan watched her rush out the door.
Ji Shumin stopped in front of Lu Liruan. He stared at her for a moment, sighed, and said nothing. He simply put his arms around Lu Liruan's waist and rested his head on her lower abdomen, as if he could get a moment's rest.
Lu Liruan reached out and touched his hair: "When did you get back?"
"I just heard from General Zhuang that he slept with Li Ruan last night and found her hands to be icy cold..." Ji Shumin said calmly.
Lu Liruan could hear the faint resentment in his tone.
"What's wrong? Didn't you sleep well last night?"
"I haven't slept much for several days." Ji Shumin didn't try to be strong in front of Lu Liruan. Instead, he exerted a little more strength, and Lu Liruan didn't react in time. She was forced to take two steps back.
"Why don't you rest for a bit now?" Lu Liruan leaned down, made sure no one was around, and gently kissed his temple. "I'll keep an eye on things for you. I'll wake you up if anything happens."
"Ah."
Covering Lu Liruan with the quilt, Ji Shumin held Lu Liruan's hand tightly, not letting her leave his side.
You could tell he was really tired. He's usually a very light sleeper, and today he didn't even notice when Lu Liruan slowly pulled her hand away.
Lu Liruan tiptoed out and instructed people to prepare some easily digestible food and two sets of light and ironed clothes. Ji Shumin had entered the palace in such a hurry that day, and these past few days had been filled with one thing after another, so she hadn't thought of the details.
Lu Liruan brought a lot of things for Ji Shumin when she went to the palace this time, in addition to her own. Now they have come in handy.
When he returned, the expensive robes he was wearing must have been quite heavy and uncomfortable.
Perhaps because he had something on his mind, Ji Shumin slept for more than an hour before waking up.
"How could Li Ruan treat me so tenderly?" He changed his clothes but was still unwilling to get up. He snuggled up to Lu Li Ruan, his breath falling on her ear, his voice so soft it was almost a whisper.
He often spoke softly to Lu Liruan, and whenever he wanted, he could make her feel like he was the most gentle and unyielding person...
He liked everything Lu Liruan did, and he noticed and saw everything about her. He never hesitated to express his affection and feelings.
Some people gradually ignore the efforts and feelings of those around them after getting used to something, but Ji Shumin never does. On the contrary, as time goes by, he observes more and more carefully and knows more and more how to praise and reciprocate.
Lu Liruan felt that she was not originally very intelligent, patient and meticulous, but Ji Shumin never criticized her. On the contrary, he seemed to use his actions and influence to make her naturally become a better person. He never made her feel uncomfortable or disciplined. Instead, he influenced her subtly and gently.
"How do you know everything...?"
"Hmm?" Ji Shumin tilted his head.
"It's okay, get up and eat something. You haven't eaten much these past few days, have you?" Lu Liruan put her hand around his wrist to measure it, and nodded seriously: "Yeah, you've lost weight."
“Nonsense…” Ji Shumin was amused by her.
“Last time, Li Ruan, we held hands here.” He squeezed Lu Li Ruan’s soft hand, his fingertips circling and tapping, their knuckles intertwined, very intimately.
"Li Ruan, don't you want to ask me?" Ji Shumin asked softly as he held her hand in his palm.
“I thought you would tell me yourself.” Lu Liruan raised an eyebrow: “Why wait for me to ask you?”
“Yes…it was my idea to talk to Li Ruan.” Ji Shumin smiled. “When spring arrives and the flowers bloom, would you be willing to take a trip to the border? To see the Jiangnan region and the northern frontier?”
Lu Liruan's eyes lit up, but then she frowned.
If Ji Shumin truly made this decision because it was his own wish...
“Li Ruan, don’t overthink it. It’s not entirely because of what you think, but more about what’s going on between me and my brother.” Ji Shumin’s expression showed a hint of helplessness: “My brother doesn’t want me to bear the burden of this illegitimate succession.”
“He still has things to do…not finished.” Ji Shumin blinked. “I don’t know what he’s going to do either.”
Lu Liruan was taken aback, then vaguely realized that what Ji Shuqin was about to do must be related to the Empress.
The Empress and Ji Shumin were irreconcilable enemies. If Ji Shumin were to ascend the throne now, there would certainly be other twists and turns between him and the Empress. Although Ji Shumin would certainly not be afraid, he is the Empress's child. In this day and age, where filial piety is valued, whatever Ji Shumin does will be recorded in history.
Ji Shuqin was unwilling to let Ji Shumin bear the burden.
He never received his mother's favoritism and love when he was young, and Ji Shumin has to bear everything on his own since then. It is clearly the empress who is wrong. It would be unfair if Ji Shumin were to bear the infamy of being unfilial because of her.
As for myself, having received what I had in the past, I must now shoulder the responsibility—the responsibility of being favored and protected for so many years, and also the responsibility of being an elder brother.
Ji Shuqin looked at Ji Shumin, his expression calm and solemn: "As for the things between me and the Empress Dowager, it is my duty to do them. Min'er, you should not be blamed for them."
But the mouths of the people and the pens of historians are never merciful. They don't care what actually happened in the process; they only examine and judge it with dogmatic norms and then draw a final conclusion.
Ji Shuqin couldn't bring himself to say it, and he was also bound by societal norms to the point of being unable to utter the words "blind filial piety." However, he would stand in front of his younger brother and do what he felt he should do.
“Min’er, do not worry. As your elder brother, this is how I should act.” Ji Shuqin was as gentle as the bright moon and as calm as the breeze, his expression revealing his firmness and composure.
“Min’er, I do not covet the throne, nor do I have any intention of it. After I have done what I should do, I will return this throne to you,” Ji Shuqin said without hesitation.
"How can you be so sure that you're not suitable, brother..." Ji Shumin asked him softly.
“Min’er, just as I said before, my heart remains unchanged, as the gods and Buddhas can attest.” Ji Shuqin smiled and said, “My ambitions lie elsewhere.”
Lu Liruan listened to Ji Shumin's words and remained silent for a moment.
She always wondered how someone like Ji Shumin could exist, and now she wondered how someone like the First Prince could exist.
Upholding one's original intentions without wavering, being kind and benevolent, like a gentle breeze or the fine rain outside an ancient temple, unlike ordinary people.
"You really want to travel with me?" Lu Liruan took his hand and pressed it against her heart, letting him feel her rapid heartbeat: "Don't lie to me."