Quick Transmigration: What to Do When the Male Supporting Character You Saved Becomes Obsessed with

Chapter 220 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (120)

"What's the use of believing?" Ji Shumin laughed self-deprecatingly.

Ji Shuqin looked at him, unsure of what to say, and sighed silently in his heart.

"Isn't there anything you want to do, Your Majesty?" Ji Shumin asked again. "Things that can only be done after you sit on that throne."

"Yes." Ji Shuqin pondered for a moment and surprisingly gave an affirmative answer.

Ji Shumin was taken aback, but then felt somewhat relieved: indeed, everyone has desires, and everyone has the desire to climb to a high place to be satisfied. This made Ji Shumin feel inexplicably happy.

When facing Ji Shuqin, Ji Shumin always felt a little inferior, as if seeing him, seeing him looking at him with pity, and hearing his gentle and seemingly soothing words could glaringly reveal the narrow-mindedness and baseness in his heart.

He couldn't say this to Ji Shuqin, because Ji Shuqin certainly wouldn't understand.

His elder brother, the emperor, saw things completely differently from him.

After Ji Shuqin frankly admitted it, he pursed his lips, hesitated, and finally sighed, "I don't know if what I want to do is right, nor do I know if I can do it."

"Alright, Min'er, get some rest. I'll take you back to your residence tomorrow."

Ji Shumin didn't know what Ji Shuqin was talking about. He couldn't see what obsession Ji Shuqin had. He thought that the Empress Dowager's lack of desire was just a facade to cover up her absurd ambitions and deceive others.

But Ji Shuqin was different, which would have seemed very strange to Ji Shumin.

Under the seemingly righteous guidance of his mother, his elder brother actually managed to cultivate his mind.

Perhaps the feng shui of the Buddhist temple was truly compatible with him...

Ji Shumin felt that even if he spent half his life immersed in Buddhist temples, even if he buried his bones under a Buddha statue, he would still not be able to comprehend even a trace of Zen in this lifetime.

Incense was also burned in Ji Shuqin's hall. It was the sandalwood incense he used in Buddhist temples. When his mind was not at peace, he would close his eyes and stay quietly for a while, which would bring him some peace.

When Ji Shumin asked about it at breakfast the next day, Ji Shuqin waved his hand to tell the palace maids not to serve him anymore. He rolled up his wide sleeves and personally weighed out a bowl of rice porridge with the excess rice grains for his younger brother.

“Min’er likes it? I’ll have some sent to your residence. It was selected by a monk in the temple. Before my mother and I went there, the temple allowed pilgrims to go up, and the monk would sometimes give incense to those who were destined to receive it. If Min’er likes it, she should be considered one of those who are destined to receive it.”

"Brother, please don't flatter me. I have absolutely no affinity for Buddhism. If I were to set foot on a Buddhist holy site, I'd probably be accused of defiling it..."

"Min'er, the Buddhists don't teach this..."

"Alright, Your Majesty, let's not talk about this anymore," Ji Shumin interrupted him calmly.

He wasn't being disrespectful, he just didn't believe. If he did believe, how could he possibly argue?

The one who changed his fate... was Li Ruan, and it was himself who wanted to spend his life with Li Ruan in this mortal world. It was precisely because he believed that there was no reincarnation and no cycle of rebirth that he lived this life so frantically, accepting everything that came his way, whether good or bad, sweet or painful, experiencing all the vicissitudes of life before he could close his eyes in peace...

If one were to be so detached, aloof and detached from the mortal world, shutting off all worldly desires, avoiding suffering and worldly emotions, all for the sake of the so-called next life or the so-called cultivation of the mind, Ji Shumin found it utterly boring!

Unteachable, stubborn, and unwilling to learn until hitting a wall—that's what suits me.

The next morning, Ji Shumin did not return to the mansion.

The officials who asked Ji Shuqin to temporarily act as regent yesterday seem to have found the right direction, and today they have gathered again in front of the palace gates to request an audience with Ji Shuqin.

Nowadays, the world values ​​filial piety. Even if it is the will of the people and in accordance with the times, sons have to make excuses and resist in order to show respect and filial piety when they take over their fathers' duties.

This arrangement is also to give the eldest prince a way out; after a few such tugs, the eldest prince can then proceed legitimately...

Having gained the upper hand, they naturally wouldn't allow others to cause trouble. As the eldest son and legitimate heir, even though the Emperor was mentally unstable and seemingly driven mad by lust, the Third Prince's words yesterday still implied that he favored the First Prince the most, stating that the First Prince possessed the most "dragon aura." This gave them even more confidence!

Besides the eldest prince, which other prince could succeed to the throne?

This turn of events happened so suddenly that the faction supporting the Second Prince was caught completely off guard. Because it was so open and blatant, it made them unable to deal with it.

The reason why Ji Shuling was so sharp-tongued last night, so thoughtless in trying to sow discord between the brothers Ji Shuqin and Ji Shumin, was not only because he was petty and intolerant, but also because:

He felt that this method... was too much like what Ji Shumin would do!

Having fought with Ji Shumin for so many years, I am very familiar with Ji Shumin's methods.

He originally thought that Ji Shumin and Ji Shuqin did not get along. After all, how could the arrogant Crown Prince tolerate an elder brother who had returned from the mountain temple and replaced him in the Emperor's heart? Moreover, the subtle relationship between Ji Shumin and the Empress was noticeable even to outsiders.

He originally thought that Ji Shumin would trip up Ji Shuqin, and that the Empress and Ji Shuqin would work together to deal with Ji Shumin, so that he could do something in the middle and gain more leverage.

But to everyone's surprise, Ji Shumin seemed to be supporting Ji Shuqin, which was unexpected for Ji Shuling. In his memory, Ji Shumin was not like that!

Is it really necessary to grovel and fawn over others in order to secure one's own peace of mind?

Ji Shuling thought with disdain: So the once arrogant and high-ranking Crown Prince has finally revealed such a shameful and cowardly side...

But at this moment, Ji Shumin's situation is unimportant; he must focus all his efforts on dealing with Ji Shuqin!

With Ji Shumin and Ji Shulie no longer viable, his chances have become even greater! He absolutely cannot give up easily!

He's already gone this far; there's no turning back!

The ministers who supported Ji Shuqin stood at the palace gate for over an hour, but only received a message from the eldest prince telling them to disperse. They had no choice but to return empty-handed and agreed to come back the next day.

Ji Shuqin was surprised by their actions and looked on with bewilderment and helplessness as Ji Shumin, who was enjoying his meal more than yesterday, made the conversation more interesting. He could tell that his younger brother was genuinely pleased.

"Min'er...why are you looking at me like that? There's no flower blooming on my face."

"I just feel that something that everyone else is fighting over has become a hot potato for my brother, why is it?" Ji Shumin was genuinely curious about how he managed to remain steadfast in his stance despite the Empress's constant attempts to seduce him.

Perhaps this is where the brothers are similar: both are determined, one is determined to want something, and the other is determined not to want it.

After having breakfast, Ji Shuqin looked serious and insisted on going to the Emperor's bedchamber. He wanted to see if his father had regained his senses. If he had, he had many questions to ask.

"Min'er, let's go together..."

Ji Shumin did not refuse him, and Ji Shuqin's anxious expression was impossible to hide.

When they arrived at the emperor's bedchamber, they found only a group of worried-looking imperial physicians. Upon seeing the two princes, they all lowered their heads and none of them dared to utter a sound.

"How is Father?" Ji Shuqin asked in a low voice, unable to hear anything from inside.

"Your Highness... His Majesty is still not awake." The old imperial physician's forehead was almost dripping with sweat.

"After His Majesty returned to his palace yesterday, he suddenly lost his mind and has been unconscious since, without eating or drinking anything," a slightly younger imperial physician interjected truthfully. He felt that the eldest prince did not seem to want to implicate the Imperial Hospital.

As expected, after listening, the eldest prince simply frowned, pushed the third prince inside, and did not say anything to blame the Imperial Hospital.

With a sigh of relief, the imperial physicians all felt a little more at ease.

The emperor's bedchamber was brightly lit but dimly lit. Whether it was an illusion or not, there was a rotten smell that could not be masked by the incense and the heavy, bitter medicine. As soon as Ji Shumin entered, he frowned.

When she reached the Emperor's bedside, she made no attempt to hide it by raising her sleeve to cover her nose, showing no sign of distress or worry whatsoever, not even bothering to pretend.

Ji Shuqin wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

It's only natural that the Emperor's actions broke Min'er's heart.

Ji Shuqin once believed in filial piety and blamed Ji Shumin without distinguishing right from wrong. He was ridiculed by his younger brother and sister-in-law. Although Ji Shuqin knew he shouldn't be demanding of his brother, he still sighed inwardly.

Now that he understands more about what happened to his younger brother, Ji Shuqin, while not entirely agreeing with him, has come to understand him.

He always remembered Ji Shumin's mocking, cold words: "If everyone repays evil with kindness, wouldn't everyone be able to act recklessly, and in the end no one could do anything to them? After all, everyone has to be virtuous!"

"I am different; I am without virtue!"

Ji Shuqin: ...

"I will do what is right, and others will repay me with kindness. I am happy to accept it."

Ji Shuqin wanted to say that this was sophistry, but his words were not as sharp as Ji Shumin's, and he was speechless. Looking at Ji Shumin's calm and unashamed appearance, the more he thought about it, the more he felt... that there was some truth to it. After he returned home, he pondered it carefully again. He had originally wanted to find the flaws in the argument so that he could refute and educate his younger brother next time, but the more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.

He hadn't told Ji Shumin what he was thinking; he couldn't bring himself to say it...

Ji Shumin didn't need him, because his viewpoint had already received strong agreement from Lu Liruan: "Exactly, it's easy for you to talk when you're not the one suffering!"

The two share a high degree of agreement and consensus on some similar viewpoints.

Once, Ji Shumin casually mentioned this to Lu Liruan, and then his young wife sighed sadly, pretending to be melancholy: "It's fine for the two of us to say this, but we mustn't let others hear it."

"Why? Could it be that Li Ruan is just trying to coax me?" Ji Shumin raised an eyebrow, took her hand, and casually fiddled with the delicate jade bracelet on Lu Li Ruan's wrist.

"If no one knows about us, when people see us in history books, they will write that we are like mandarin ducks with intertwined necks, deeply in love. But if people record that we are such a mess, we will be seen as a bunch of scoundrels and snakes..." After saying that, Lu Liruan laughed to herself.

“It’s not entirely wrong,” Lu Liruan said, bending over as she drew her own conclusion.

“Hmm, the image of mandarin ducks entwined does seem less intimate than that of snakes and rats in the same den, birds of a feather.” Ji Shumin said seriously as he went along with her nonsense.

"Li Ruan cares a lot about how future generations will write about her?"

"Why should I care? When I mention others now, it's all based on my own likes and dislikes. If I were to write about the Dowager Consort, my words would be full of kindness and gentleness. Conversely, if I were to write about the Empress, I would certainly be harsh and sarcastic. Others might write about her in a completely different way."

"If I cared that much, wouldn't I be exhausted?" Lu Liruan shrugged. "You shouldn't care either. Anyway, Your Highness's reputation isn't very good right now."

Ji Shumin was stunned for a moment, unable to tell whether Lu Liruan was trying to comfort her or was really just telling the truth.

The emperor on the bed looked like he was on his last legs. He hadn't been very clear in the dim light of the side hall yesterday, but now he looked pale as paper, barely breathing, his eyelids tightly closed, and the nails on his hands outside the blankets were a dull bluish-purple.

"Why would Father Emperor so readily believe the words of that so-called immortal?" Ji Shuqin asked, unable to comprehend it, for someone as pure and steadfast as him could not understand.

"Perhaps it's because Father is getting old..." Ji Shumin said vaguely and insincerely.

Ji Shuqin neither agreed nor disagreed.

The two walked to the study in the sleeping quarters.

In the past, even the princes were not allowed to enter the Emperor's study at will, but things are different now. The Emperor is unconscious, and His Highness the First Prince...

No palace servants stopped them. De Cheng was not by the Emperor's side today and no one knew where he had gone, so Ji Shuqin and Ji Shumin entered very smoothly.

The table was a mess, with memorials from who-knows-how-many days ago still piled on it.

Ji Shuqin frowned. The memorials shouldn't be piled up like this. Why hasn't anyone tidied them up?

After tidying up and arranging them himself, he turned around and saw Ji Shumin looking at several of them.

"Min'er!" Ji Shuqin called out to him.

Ji Shumin spread a sheet out in front of him.

"Min'er, I shouldn't have..."

"Such an important matter cannot be delayed."

Ji Shuqin frowned as he looked over and saw that the letter was sent from the border. He had thought that after the fourth prince of the Western Rong was killed on the battlefield, the Western Rong would be quiet for a while.

Although they withdrew their troops, their harassment of the border did not stop. In retaliation, they even killed three officials from border towns, using cruel methods.

A memorial from the border requests permission to enter the lands of the Western Rong and expel their remaining troops, but the Emperor has yet to approve it.

"War is like a raging fire, changing in an instant, and cannot be taken lightly." Ji Shumin's words were not untrue.

Ji Shuqin looked grave and did not respond.

The few sheets of paper at the bottom of the table caught Ji Shuqin's attention. They were painted with ink and the lines were wild and disordered, indicating that the person who painted them was not in a clear state of mind at the time.

But the emperor was skilled at painting, and even so, the figures on the paper still had clear faces.

The bottom line in smaller print reads: "I, the Emperor, have painted the appearance of an immortal."

Ji Shumin's gaze also fell over, and when he saw the person on the paper, a sinister look flashed in his eyes. He raised his hand and took the paintings from Ji Shuqin.

With a soft "rip," the soft paper tore into several pieces in Ji Shumin's hand.

"Min'er!"

"Things that taint people's eyes, where do immortals come from? They are nothing but evil things that bring disaster to the masses."

Ji Shumin moved his wheelchair and burned the shredded paper to ashes on the candlestick lit in the dimly lit bedroom.

The shattered human figure turned to ashes.

The face of that foreign race, so strikingly similar and full of spirit, vanished without a trace.

It turned out to be the face of the old doctor who frequently visited the Third Prince's residence and treated Ji Shumin!