Uncle Li had been imprisoned in the Ministry of Punishments alongside Chu Yue back during the Prince Cheng’an treason case. Because the Ministry of Punishments never received an imperial decree, they did not dare subject Chu Yue to torture, but Uncle Li and the household servants suffered every imaginable hardship. In the end, when Chu Yue was imprisoned in the Heir’s residence, those servants either died, were wounded, or ended up disabled.
“There is no need to walk in such a hurry, watch your step,” Chu Yue said softly.
Uncle Li was momentarily stunned, then bowed with a smile, “Young Master truly possesses a bodhisattva’s heart.”
Chu Yue curled the corners of his lips, smiling without a word.
Uncle Li led Chu Yue into the main hall.
“Please wait a moment, Young Master Mei.”
Chu Yue nodded in acknowledgment. After Uncle Li left, Chu Yue found a chair and sat down. The furnishings here remained largely unchanged from those years ago. The painting of mountains and rivers hanging in the main hall was precisely the one Chu Yue had painted at the age of sixteen. Back then, Emperor Hongxuan had been struck dumb with awe, marveling that Chu Yue was a child chosen for him by the heavens.
The reason Chu Yue loved painting landscapes was not because he loved this realm, but simply because he yearned for the pastoral countryside and that sense of freedom. In the eyes of others, however, Chu Yue’s actions looked like a pursuit of power, which was likely why Emperor Hongxuan grew wary of him afterward.
Why was this painting still hanging here? Chu Yue remembered that when the Heir’s residence was raided and confiscated years ago, all his possessions had been seized by the imperial court.
It seemed that everything had returned to ordinary after Chu Yue’s death; the Emperor had bestowed upon him the dignity of the Crown Prince while also granting Chu Yi the title of Heir.
“This painting was drawn by my eldest brother. The magnificent mountains and rivers have always lived under my eldest brother’s brush.”
Chu Yi appeared behind Chu Yue without warning. Deeply engrossed in the landscape painting before him, Chu Yue had not heard Chu Yi’s footsteps.
“Yet what this humble person sees in the author beneath these magnificent mountains and rivers is reverence and yearning, rather than control.” Chu Yue stood up, cupped his hands, and bowed to Chu Yi: “Pardon me, Your Grace. This humble person was feeling unwell today and rested for half a day, nearly missing our appointment.”
Ignoring him, Chu Yi let out a cold scoff, “This painting was personally ordered to be hung here by the Empress Dowager. She hopes this heir can become a person like my eldest brother.”
“Since Young Master Mei came today and claimed he could help Chu some attain what I desire, speaking so bluntly comes as quite a surprise to this heir.”
Chu Yue smiled, “Crown Prince Duanhui had no desire to become embroiled in court politics. What he desired was merely the freedom to pour his emotions into the mountains and rivers.”
“Nonsense!” Chu Yi snapped with a dark, sinister look in his eyes. “What kind of person my eldest brother was, how could you possibly know? My eldest brother was the legitimate eldest imperial son of the late Emperor and the Crown Prince of Great Wei. His ambition encompassed the entire realm. Had he not been framed by villains, this realm would have belonged to him!”
“Yet he is not the Emperor’s son!” Chu Yue shook his head helplessly. As for this realm, he didn’t care for it in the slightest; had he known the future fate of the Prince Cheng’an household, he would rather have died in Yuzhou and never entered the capital under any circumstances.
Provoked to the absolute limit by Chu Yue’s words, Chu Yi reached out, locked his grip around Chu Yue’s throat, and slammed him down onto the seat. Chu Yue let out a muffled grunt of pain.
With a manic smile, Chu Yi taunted, “You really have quite a bit of nerve, daring to talk back to this heir. Did you think that because I just arrived in the capital, I would let people like you push me around? Hmm?”
As Chu Yue was choked to the point of being unable to catch his breath, a bellyful of anger welled up within him. Chu Yi had come to this unpredictable, treacherous capital and plunged himself into danger, making Chu Yue want nothing more than to give him a severe thrashing. Yet, because he was currently trapped inside Mei Lingze’s shell, he couldn’t find a pretext to vent his temper.
Choked like this by Chu Yi, Chu Yue’s own fury flared up. With a single palm strike aimed at Chu Yi’s waist and abdomen, Chu Yi flicked his body aside and released him. Before Chu Yue could check his momentum, the two of them broke into a physical exchange right then and there.
Chu Yue never expected that over the span of a few years, Chu Yi’s martial arts would have advanced at such a rapid pace. Moving with blinding speed, the two shattered nearby chairs one after another. The guards outside heard the commotion inside the main hall, rushed in, and drew their sabers to turn on Chu Yue, only to be sharply barked to a halt by Chu Yi.
Thus, a crowd gathered outside, watching anxiously and terrified that Chu Yi might come to harm.
Having finished probing and too lazy to entangle himself further with Chu Yi, Chu Yue spent a mere dozen moves pinning Chu Yi’s arms behind his back and pressing him face-down against the table.
At that moment, a man clad in purple fitted robes drew his sword and lunged straight toward Chu Yue. Swiveling his body to the side, Chu Yue executed a deft dodge, and the blade pierced straight through the tabletop, hovering horizontally right before Chu Yi’s eyes.
“I won’t fight anymore, I won’t fight anymore.” Releasing Chu Yi, Chu Yue pleaded for a truce.
Brandishing his sharp sword, the man in purple pressed the attack. With no sword in hand, Chu Yue could only dodge. “I already said I’m not fighting! Still going?”
“Shisan, stop!”
At Chu Yi’s command, the man in purple reined in his offensive stance, glaring with unadulterated malice at Chu Yue.
Taking a long breath, Chu Yue thought to himself how close that was. This Liu Shisan was also exceptionally stubborn; with the two of them teamed up, what was the point of him fighting? Injuring either of them wouldn’t compare to killing him outright. One opponent was manageable, but taking on two at once was truly difficult to handle.
“What on earth is your purpose in coming here today?” Dispelling the guards with a wave of his hand, Chu Yi walked with his hands clasped behind his back until he stood before Chu Yue. “I heard you were heavily injured during the preliminary selection of the Imperial City Guard. Looking at your footwork just now, just how much have you been hiding?”
Chu Yue brushed the dust off his sleeves. “This humble person came today simply to understand the Heir’s resolve regarding the succession battle, and why, despite facing such massive upheaval, the Heir chose not to live out his days as a wealthy young noble in Yuzhou or roam carefree through the martial arts world, but instead insisted on entangling himself in court politics.”
“Hah!” Chu Yi curled his lips upward. “I am the Emperor’s sole blood nephew; who else can contest qualifications with me? My entire family lost their lives over the title of Crown Prince, which means this is the destiny of my Prince Cheng’an household. This heir does not believe in destiny ordained by the heavens. Since the heavens allowed me to live, I will seize the very thing that claimed my family’s lives.”
Chu Yue shook his head. “Will the Emperor let you become the Crown Prince? He will not! In the end, you will meet the exact same fate as your eldest brother!”
“Do not mention my eldest brother!” Chu Yi’s eyes turned terrifying. “Is my eldest brother someone a person like you is qualified to judge?”
“Fine, then let us talk about you! Do you know what you are about to face? The Empress Dowager is old; she cannot protect you for many more years. Her maternal clan may not all support you; perhaps the Emperor detests you, and brought you back this very time simply to eliminate you. Even if he were to make someone else from the collateral imperial clan emperor, he would never choose you. He is afraid! Can he sleep in peace after you become emperor?” Chu Yue wished he could hammer Chu Yi awake from his imperial dream.
Chu Yue’s words caught Chu Yi completely off guard, making it even harder for him to comprehend this capital young master who was even younger than himself. These earnest words of admonition were things he hadn’t heard in many years, and upon hearing them they actually sounded rather pleasant.
“Since Young Master Mei has the nerve to discuss these matters with this heir, I wonder if what Young Master Mei said still holds true?”
Chu Yue was choked with exasperation. “You still intend to persist in this course?”
Spreading his hands open, Chu Yi replied, “Since I’ve already come, what’s done cannot be undone. This heir’s path allows no turning back.”
“How does it allow no turning back? You can leave the court…”
“Enough! See our guest out!”
All of Chu Yi’s patience was exhausted. Chu Yue still attempted to persuade him, but the moment the eviction order was issued, Liu Shisan brandished his sword and prepared to attack once more.
And thus, Chu Yue was driven out of the Heir’s residence.