Chapter Thirty-Five: Heartless is Not Like Being in Love Sorrow

  The candle flame flickers, the long lamp casts a dark shadow.

  The grand hall, which should have been quiet and peaceful, shone with a layered glow, the palace curtains hung still without wind, but could not hide the deep chill.

  The Heavenly Emperor pressed his hand on the cold tea cup on the dragon case, looking at several people kneeling on the ground with a gloomy face.

  The first person, wearing a plain white robe, was indeed the Crown Prince who had secretly taken Mei out of the palace tonight, almost causing a conflict between the Imperial Guards and the Forbidden Troops. Ling Wang and Xuan Wang knelt beside him, with Zhang Shu, the commander of the Forbidden Troops, standing behind them. The room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop, and the oppressive atmosphere before the storm made people's hearts palpitate.

  "My good son." The Heavenly Emperor's voice was a mix of pain and anger, and he finally spoke in a measured tone.

  The crown prince slowly nodded his head and fell silent, prostrating himself on the ground.

  The Emperor suddenly raised the porcelain bowl in his hand and smashed it towards the Crown Prince, pointing at him angrily and saying: "You... you tell me, what do you want to do?!"

  The crown prince remained still, not dodging, as a cup of tea was splashed onto his face. The icy porcelain shattered loudly on the ground, the sound echoing through the silent grand hall, and even the two people beside him were splashed all over their bodies.

  The Emperor saw the Crown Prince close his mouth and not answer, a bellyful of anger turned to Zhang Shu, scolding: "Zhang Shu, you have a big nerve, does the Imperial Guard want to rebel? I entrust the safety of the Forbidden City to you, isn't it putting my life in someone else's hands?"

  These words were extremely severe, and Zhang Shu was suddenly shocked out of a cold sweat, knocking his head like a garlic press, and tremblingly said: "I know my fault, I couldn't restrain my subordinates, the crime is unforgivable. The Imperial Guard has always been under the command of the Crown Prince, please Your Majesty consider their loyalty to the master..."

  Before he could finish speaking, Ye Tianling furrowed his brow, and as expected, the Heavenly Emperor shouted: "You scoundrels! Who is your master!"

  Zhang Chu was stunned for a moment, but the words had already slipped out. He deeply regretted his foolishness and stuttered: "Your Majesty... forgive me..."

  The Emperor coldly snorted, turning to the Crown Prince: "I painstakingly nurtured you for over twenty years, yet in return, you say 'I'm foolish and dull, not worthy of succeeding to the great throne'! The mountains and rivers, the ancestral temple, the foundation of our ancestors, are not even worth a woman in your heart! Where is Luan Fei? Where has Luan Fei gone?"

  The crown prince closed his eyes, deeply suppressing the pain, and for a moment he couldn't even respond to words. Ye Tianling looked at him and said, "Reply to the Emperor, Feng Luan flew in and took poison, Qingping Junzhu is currently rescuing her."

  "Bring her to me!" The Heavenly Emperor paced back and forth, furious: "She has the audacity to come see me after attempting to take her own life? I'd like to ask her what kind of trickery she used to bewitch the Crown Prince into doing such a thing!"

  The crown prince heard this and knocked his head on the ground twice: "Everything is the fault of your son, please forgive Luan Fei..."

  These words were like adding fuel to the fire, before he could finish speaking, Tian Emperor slammed his hand on the table: "Where is your father's dignity in your eyes? You still refuse to repent, what use do I have for you?" Enraged, he suddenly drew out the golden dragon sword from the palace and swung it at the crown prince.

  Everyone was shocked, and Ye Tian Ling and Ye Tian Xi rushed forward together. Ye Tian Xi hugged the Emperor: "Father, please calm down and take care of your body!" The Crown Prince's expression was painful, and he let Ye Tian Ling hurriedly block him behind his back.

  "Brother, don't provoke Father Emperor again," Ye Tian Ling said in a low voice, quickly whispering in his ear, "It will harm Luan Fei instead."

  The crown prince's eyes cleared, and he looked up to see the Emperor's face turn iron-green with rage. The Crown Prince was blocked by the King of Qi in front, his body trembling slightly. He thought of the deep kindness of his father for over twenty years, deeply regretful and self-reproachful, heavily knocking his head and saying loudly: "Your son deserves to die, please Your Majesty take care..."

  The Heavenly Emperor hated that he was not living up to his potential and pointed at him with the precious sword in his hand, saying: "Are you trying to infuriate me to death?"

  Everyone did not dare to speak out of turn, and could only persuade from the side. The sudden sound of a palace attendant's voice came from outside the temple: "See the Empress Dowager!" The Empress Dowager stepped into the temple with the support of Qing dust: "Don't hurt the Crown Prince!"

  You dusted off and went to the front of the hall, seeing the deep cold bluestone, the Crown Prince, Ye Tian Ling, and Ye Tian Xi were all disheveled and kneeling in front of the Heavenly Emperor. The Heavenly Emperor's hand held a three-foot sword peak that shone brightly, pointing at the Crown Prince, his normally stern face now full of anger, yet somehow looking much older.

  Shards of porcelain everywhere, in complete disarray.

  The Heavenly Emperor was startled and even more annoyed: "Empress Dowager, it's late at night and the weather is cold, why did you come over?"

  The Empress Dowager looked at the Crown Prince and said, "If I hadn't come, wouldn't the Emperor have taken the Crown Prince's life?"

  The Heavenly Emperor said in anger: "You wicked thing, Empress Dowager, don't try to protect him."

  The Empress Dowager released Xun Chen's hand and grasped Tian Di, saying slowly: "The Crown Prince is the foundation of a country, if we don't protect him, who will? I have something to say to the Emperor. Xun Chen, take the Crown Prince to Yan Xi Palace with Ling Er, and take good care of him. Everyone else, go back and manage your own subordinates well, don't let the Emperor worry again."

  Although several people had received the empress's instructions, no one dared to move under the emperor's fierce anger.

  The empress dowager's expression was solemn, gazing deeply at the Heavenly Emperor. Her eyes seemed like a vast ocean after the waves had subsided, extremely calm yet powerful enough to pierce through one's heart, even the Heavenly Emperor was intimidated.

  The Emperor could not defy his mother and said to the people kneeling on the ground: "All of you, get out! Whoever dares to spread a single word about tonight's events, I will not forgive lightly!"

  Qingchen and Yeting escorted the Crown Prince out of Zhiyuan Hall. The Crown Prince's long gown was blown by the cold wind, and seeing that both of them were frowning and not speaking, he smiled calmly and asked first: "How is Luanfei?"

  Your Highness's face is filled with worry, and he says in a low voice: "I can only save her life, but she has fallen into a deep sleep."

  The crown prince exclaimed: "When can you wake up?"

  "You'd better be quiet for a moment: 'I don't know if I can wake up.'"

  "What?" The prince's voice suddenly tightened, but then he said gloomily: "It's better this way."

  The moon is high in the sky, casting a deep and mysterious shadow between the palaces. The face of the crown prince appears pale and unreal, while his figure standing in the wind seems to be originally a stroke of moonlight, not belonging to this dark and oppressive palace. At this moment, it looks desolate and dimly lit.

  Even if Luan Fei wakes up, it's hard to escape the heavenly emperor's severe punishment. Qing Chen thought silently for a moment before asking the crown prince: "Your Highness, how did you know that Luan Fei took the 'Crane Top Red'?"

  The prince said: "I and she knew that once we left the palace, there would be a day like this sooner or later. I had prepared two bottles of crane-top red wine, each keeping one, but I didn't expect to use it so soon."

  "Does Your Highness have one here as well?" Qing Chen asked immediately.

  The crown prince smiled lightly and nodded, his smile somewhat desolate.

  "Can I take a look? If I can identify the properties of the medicine, it might be helpful for Luan Fei."

  The crown prince stood silently for a moment, then took out another identical green jade porcelain bottle from his bosom. Qing Chen took it over, opened the stopper and carefully identified it, and indeed found that this bottle contained highly toxic Heng Hong Cao. She didn't dare return it to the crown prince, so she flipped her hand and poured all of its contents into the flowers and grass in the palace garden: "Highly toxic things are unlucky, Your Highness shouldn't keep them on your person."

  The prince did not stop her either, as if he had given up all hope and nothing mattered anymore.

  Ye Tian furrowed his brow and said: "Big Brother and Luan Fei, why are you acting like this? This time Father Emperor is truly angry."

  The crown prince did not speak, but Qīng Chén said in a low voice: "Luan Fei has been pregnant for almost two months."

  The crown prince looked at Qingchen sternly. Qingchen shook his head: "Don't worry, I haven't told anyone."

  The crown prince let out a deep sigh, the sound of his sigh drifting away and scattering in the distant moonlight. His gaze pierced through the glazed golden tiles and high walls: "Luan Fei likes quiet and simple days, picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, sailing on the five lakes, and doesn't want children to be born again in this red-walled imperial palace."

  "You dust counter asked: 'Phoenix fly? Your Highness really is for Phoenix fly?'"

  The Crown Prince smiled: "Perhaps also for myself. I have been following my father, the Emperor, since childhood, learning the ways of saints and sages, studying the classics and governance methods, for over twenty years now. Everyone looks at me with envy and admiration, but I've long grown tired of the palace's power struggles, territorial disputes, and killings. Even if it weren't for the phoenix flying away, I wouldn't want to be Crown Prince anymore."

  The two people beside him did not expect him to say such a thing, and after a long time, Ye Tian Ling slowly said: "Being born in the imperial family, one has glory that ordinary people cannot match, but it is inevitable to pay other prices. This principle should be understood by Big Brother. Rather than complaining and struggling, why not follow the path and strive upwards? Perhaps after many twists and turns, you can reach the peak."

  The crown prince looked at the same dim moonlight, but on Ling Tian's side face, he carved out a cold and determined expression. This fourth brother in front of him had been ambitious to open up new territories since childhood, and at the age of 15, he started his military campaigns, leading the army for only ten years, expanding the territory of the Heavenly Dynasty by three-tenths. The soldiers in the Heavenly Dynasty were bloated, with many idle personnel, but only he dared to boldly cut down and promote talented generals from humble backgrounds, making the army strong and powerful; the central government had been corrupt and wasteful for a long time, but only he was upright and clean, submitting a memorial to the Emperor requesting a thorough investigation. Perhaps only such a person was suitable for the eternal imperial cause, not himself.

  He smiled deeply under the moonlight, with elegance and nobility. He said to Ye Tianling, "Fourth brother, your heart is in bringing peace and stability to the country, while mine is only in those literary works. You may be able to leave a great legacy for eternity, but I only wish for my literature to be passed down for centuries. Therefore, in this imperial family, you can come and go as you please, while I am only struggling with pain and hardship. This is the fate of an individual."

  The night sky was like a deep lake, making it impossible to discern the calmness of his eyes. He said in a light tone, "Destiny is determined by heaven, but also depends on human effort. It's just a matter of who's stronger between you and the heavens." His voice was soft, yet it rang out clearly, as if carrying an irresistible force.

  The Crown Prince said: "Now it's all about heaven and fate, I just want to see Luan Fei."

  You dust looked up at Ye Tianling, and Ye Tianling said nonchalantly, "I'll go take a look at the imperial grandmother's palace." He turned around and left, leaving the two people standing in their original positions.

  Qingchu gazed at his back, a faint smile on her face. The cold-faced but warm-hearted person, what was there to see in the Empress Dowager's chambers? She led the Crown Prince to the Zhichun Pavilion where Luanfeng was: "Your Highness, please don't wait for too long, I'll be back soon."

  The crown prince stood silently beside Lian Fei, his pale fingers stroking her finely painted eyebrows, infinite tenderness in the depths of his eyes. Qing Chen let out a quiet sigh and closed the door to leave.

  Ye Tian Ling stood in front of the empress's bedroom with his hands behind his back, gazing at the moonlight outside the window like water, and the bright silver light reflected on his face, making him look exceptionally cold.

  You quietly walked up to his side, without making a sound. The two of them stood together in the vast and empty hall, each lost in their own silence.

  After a while, Ye Tianling asked: "What are you thinking about?"

  "Think of that bottle of medicine." Qing Chen replied: "It's indeed Rhodomyrtus tomentosa."

  "Hmm." Ye Tianling replied casually.

  "The prince's hand is indeed holding a Crane Top Red, but what Luan Fei drank was not a Crane Top Red." Qīng Chén continued.

  "Isn't it Cranes Top Red? What is it?"

  "You can't be certain yet, but if I'm right, it might be a liquid made from the 'Lixinnaihecao' that's been simmered down."

  "What's the use of being eccentric?" Ye Tianling repeated again.

  "Uh," Qīng Chén said: "I once saw a medical book record this medicine, strictly speaking, it shouldn't be considered poison. A person who drinks it won't die immediately, but will only exhibit symptoms similar to death - breathing, heartbeat, pulse, blood pressure, body temperature, and even the metabolic rate of each organ will reach an extremely low level, and if not carefully distinguished, can be mistaken for death. Hmm... this might be a deep anesthesia agent." Qīng Chén said, looking at Yè Tiān Líng, seeing him frown due to these strange terms, hastily added: "In simple terms, it's a medicine that makes people fake their own death, do you understand?"

  Ye Tian nodded, and Qing Chen continued: "The medicine in Luan Fei's and the Crown Prince's hands are actually different. If it were true as the Crown Prince said, they would have been prepared to die together a long time ago. So when they drank the two bottles of medicine, what do you think would happen?"

  The night sky was pitch black, and her eyes narrowed slightly, with a faint glint of light flashing through them.

  "You may not know Lian Fei well, but I can assure you of two things. Firstly, judging from her temperament, I believe she has the heart to turn against the government, but saying she yearns for a carefree life... picking chrysanthemums by the east fence and sailing on the five lakes... is quite off the mark!" She smiled lightly: "Secondly... the Feng family takes great pride in their lineage, with family interests above all else. I don't understand why Lian Fei would do something that could bring shame to the Feng family."

  Ye Tianling looked at her with a faint smile on her jade-like face, and he had an inexplicable feeling, this was the first time someone gave him such an idea. He asked lightly: "What else?"

  "You don't think the Imperial Forest Army is quite strange?"

  "Faithful and loyal, yet speaking excessively, I wonder if it's protection or harm for the master."

  "It's true." Qingchen smiled, with a hint of moonlight in his eyes: "The Crown Prince secretly left the palace, and the Imperial Guard not only didn't stop him but also used the excuse of protecting their lord to clash with the Metropolitan Procuratorate, making a big deal out of it. It's like adding fuel to the fire. Moreover, when the Crown Prince leaves the palace, he must be extremely secretive and cautious. How is it that neither the Heavenly Emperor nor the Imperial Guard has any news about this?"

  Ye Tianling coldly said: "The Emperor knew that the Crown Prince had left the palace, it was because Luan Fei's personal maid Jinju had secretly gone to Zhijiandian in the middle of the night to inform on him, and only then did the news leak out."

  "Chrysanthemum?" Qing Chen said unexpectedly: "Heh, things seem to have become very interesting."

  Ye Tian Ling turned his head and remained silent, staring at her faintly smiling face. Qing Chen saw that he had been still for a long time and raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong?"

  The moonlight filtered through the lattice window, casting a serene glow on the floor. The shadows danced faintly, and the entire chamber was quiet and peaceful. Night Sky Ling withdrew her gaze and looked out of the window again: "Why tell me all this?"

  "Huh?" Qing Chen asked: "Is there a reason?"

  "Your words just now are enough to bring about the downfall of the Feng family, not to mention Ruan Fei, your own life may be in danger. Who else would know if you didn't speak out? Why did you have to tell me these things?"

  The moonlight cast a layer of gossamer on your dusty face, quietly and softly beautiful. Your long eyelashes cast a shadow that moved slightly, and your lips opened lightly: "Nothing, just because you are Ye Tianling, and I am me."

  Ye Tian Ling said: "Aren't you afraid I'll tell Father Emperor the truth and we'll both be punished?"

  "Can you?"

  "Perhaps it will."

  "You've already said it, and you can't take it back now." She shrugged: "Nothing can be done about it."

  Ye Tianling finally burst out laughing, although it still sounded cold and indifferent, but like the wind blowing over the river breaking through the long frozen river, the ice cracking lightly, its sound clear and bright, as if even the moonlight was shining brighter with it, making it especially memorable.

  But in an instant, he had already suppressed his smile and instructed: "Don't mention this to anyone else, the palace is not like the outside."

  "You have your own measure."

  Ye Tian Ling said: "Go and invite the Crown Prince back, it's been a long time, I'm afraid of startling others, if Father Emperor finds out, it will add to the trouble."

  "Alright." Qing Chen took a few steps towards the door and suddenly turned back: "Fourth brother, can I trust you?"

  "The question seems like something you should answer yourself."

  Standing at the edge of the high platform, the night wind blew her dust coat with white ermine trim, clustering around her delicate face. She smiled and asked again: "So, can you believe in me like you did back then at Jumping Horse Bridge?"

  Ye Tian Ling paused for a moment and only replied with one word: "Can."

  Phoenix eyes floated up a bit of clear and beautiful light, with her smile moving people's hearts, Qingchen slowly said: "So the game has truly begun, it's also time to take you to see someone." After finishing speaking, she smiled and turned around towards the side hall, her long hair scattered lightly in the wind, reflected in the night sky, opened a soft silk net, and merged with those black pupils, silently sinking into his deep eye bottom.