Chapter 208: The Crown Prince Falsely Accused of Treason and Placed Under House Arrest…

Guard Lu stepped forward and reminded him softly, draping the cloak over His Highness’s shoulders as he prepared to leave the residence.

“Mm.”

“The wind’s picking up. I fear the capital won’t stay peaceful for long.”

With that, Xie Hui boarded the carriage and returned to the Crown Prince’s Estate. As he recalled the plan set to unfold in half a month, he mentally reviewed every step once more.

Though everything on the surface appeared calm and orderly, no one could truly know how many storms lurked beneath that stillness.

The struggle for imperial power was, more often than not, built on a mountain of corpses.

Xie Hui had never underestimated anyone. Only after going over the plan again and confirming there were no flaws did he finally relax. He turned to check the schoolwork placed beside his desk.

Xie Chengqi had been doing fairly well in his studies. Old Master Xie had mentioned more than once that the child had a good head on his shoulders, though he was a bit too lazy by nature.

That likely stemmed from the lack of discipline in the household before. Most mornings, he had to be dragged out of bed or he’d stay curled up under the covers all day.

Originally, Xie Hui had thought that, given the Emperor’s clear disdain for the Client, there wouldn’t be another summons to the palace anytime soon after their last meeting.

Unexpectedly, just three days later, a eunuch arrived again to summon him. Upon entering the palace and seeing the Emperor seated high above, with the Sixth Prince standing beside him, Xie Hui felt a flicker of suspicion. His expression, however, remained unchanged. As always, he bowed respectfully and offered his greetings.

Then, as if just noticing the Sixth Prince’s presence, he spoke with a hint of surprise in his voice.

“Sixth Brother, what brings you here?”

The Sixth Prince turned instinctively to glance at the Emperor.

“Second Brother, the thing I told you about before—why are you still trying to take it from me?”

Xie Hui thought back carefully. He had barely left the estate in recent days. The only outing he could recall was when he went to purchase an inkstone¹ as a reward for Xie Chengqi.

It was an antique, rare and exquisite. The Sixth Prince had always fancied himself a man of refined taste.

“Oh? I bought an inkstone not long ago. You never mentioned you liked it, Sixth Brother. Had I known, I would have sent it to you right away.”

The Client had always tried to win the Emperor’s favor by treating his younger brother well, hoping that his kindness would reflect positively in the Emperor’s eyes.

Whenever the Sixth Prince expressed interest in something, the Client would rush to gift it to him, no matter how valuable. Over time, it had only fed their growing appetite.

“If your brother likes something, as the Crown Prince, you shouldn’t be fighting him for it.”

The Emperor had already been irritated after hearing his beloved consort complain tearfully over such a trivial matter. Without bothering to ask for details, he spoke casually, then continued:

“Your brother likes it. You have plenty of fine things in your estate. When you return, give it to him.”

“And that child in your estate—I heard you want to change his name? Born of a lowly woman, why would you do such a thing? It sullies the royal bloodline!”

Xie Hui wasn’t particularly angered by the first comment, but the second made his hand tighten abruptly inside his sleeve.

“Father Emperor, I’ve already given the inkstone to Chengqi. If only Your Majesty had said so earlier. Now that it’s already in the child’s hands, we wouldn’t want people to think my brother is trying to snatch something from a child.”

The Sixth Prince had long coveted that inkstone. Even after hearing that Xie Hui had already given it away, he was still unwilling to let it go. He tugged at the Emperor’s dragon robe², sulking.

Xie Hui took in every detail of their interaction. The more he saw, the more he felt it was all so unfair to the Client.

In the Client’s memories, the Emperor had always treated him with deep affection. But never once had there been such intimate gestures.

“Ruining the bond between brothers over something so trivial isn’t worth it. Just take it back. It’s not a big deal.”

“Father Emperor, no matter who Chengqi’s mother is, he is still my son…”

As Xie Hui spoke, he noticed the Emperor’s expression darken. He continued, as if casually adding an afterthought:

“Besides, back then at Sixth Brother’s estate, if he hadn’t gotten me drunk, I wouldn’t have done something so foolish…”

The Client had never been one to indulge in women. The Emperor had once said something in passing during his teachings, and the Client had taken it to heart.

Not only did he have no concubines or chambermaids, the Crown Prince’s rear court was practically empty. He was always restrained, even when drinking.

The Emperor hadn’t planned to say much more, but the moment Xie Hui brought up his favorite son, his expression turned stormy.

“You make a mistake and now you try to drag your brother into it? Clearly, you feel no remorse!”

If the Client had been here, he would have immediately begun apologizing upon hearing the Emperor’s rebuke. But Xie Hui remained standing tall and unmoved.

“Father Emperor, wasn’t it Sixth Brother’s fault? You’ve always taught me that one must take responsibility for their mistakes, or they’re not fit to be called human. Doesn’t that apply to Sixth Brother as well?”

Xie Hui thought that if this were another era, the Emperor would absolutely be a master manipulator.

This kind of emotional manipulation wasn’t limited to romantic relationships. It existed in families too—erasing a person’s sense of worth, then convincing them that only by obeying completely could they be considered good. In the end, the child would become utterly submissive.

“Insolent!”

With the Emperor’s roar, the atmosphere in the hall turned instantly oppressive. All the attendants dropped to their knees.

Only Xie Hui remained standing in the center of the hall, his presence sharp and unyielding like a drawn sword.

“And Father Emperor, I vaguely heard some time ago that Consort Xian used to be a courtesan before entering the palace. I wonder if those women who used to be in Sixth Brother’s residence were perhaps her sisters?”

Consort Xian’s background was far from respectable. Though she currently enjoyed the Emperor’s exclusive favor, few concubines in the Inner Palace held her in any regard. Most believed she had seduced the Emperor with her charms and cunning.

“Crown Prince!”

The Emperor slammed his teacup to the ground. Shards flew in all directions, but Xie Hui’s expression didn’t change.

“Do the lessons you once taught me no longer apply when it comes to Sixth Brother?”

That single question from Xie Hui made the Emperor falter for a moment. He avoided his son’s gaze.

In his heart, the Emperor had never considered the Crown Prince equal to the Sixth Prince. In fact, he had never truly seen the Crown Prince as his own flesh and blood. Even in his dreams, he often imagined how best to declare the Sixth Prince as heir without drawing criticism from the court—assuming the Crown Prince were to die.

“Crown Prince, look at yourself. Where is the dignity of a future ruler? Where is your magnanimity?”

Xie Hui sidestepped the object thrown at him, then lifted his head to meet the Emperor’s eyes. His lips curled into a cold, mocking smile.

“And what about you, Father Emperor? Where is your dignity as the ruler of a nation?”

The Sixth Prince had originally come just to ask the Emperor for an inkstone. He hadn’t expected things to escalate like this.

At first, he was terrified. But when he saw the Emperor fly into a rage, he dropped to his knees and begged forgiveness. Deep down, though, he felt a surge of secret delight.

In the end, Xie Hui was confined to the Crown Prince’s Estate. All his responsibilities were handed over to the Sixth Prince.

This was both a punishment and a test. The Emperor wanted to see whether the noble families would accept his favoritism toward the Sixth Prince.

It had to be done step by step. First, let the Sixth Prince step into the spotlight.

While under house arrest, Xie Hui still found time to sit in the courtyard and paint. He watched as the wind stirred the maple leaves, sending them spinning across the surface of the lake. He picked up his brush to capture the scene.

The current Emperor could hardly be called a wise ruler. His natural talents were mediocre at best.

But if he had devoted to governance even half the scheming and manipulation he used on the client, the realm might have already known peace and prosperity.

The Crown Prince’s Estate had been poorly chosen from the start. Most households avoided planting banana trees and willows in their courtyards, believing them to carry too much yin energy³.

Though it was just a folk belief, the higher one’s status, the more superstitious they tended to be.

The client enjoyed the sound of rain falling on banana leaves, never once wondering why not a single such tree grew in the palace.

Moreover, the estate had far too much water. Living in such a damp environment for long periods was bad for one’s health. The client often felt aches and pains all over his body.

After putting away his brush, Xie Hui caught a glimpse of a small head peeking around the door. He waved the child over.

“Come here.”

Xie Chengqi had only meant to sneak a look. Caught in the act, he hesitated for a moment, then obediently walked over to his father.

This time, Xie Hui hadn’t spoken first. Instead, Xie Chengqi climbed onto his lap of his own accord. Sitting on Xie Hui’s thigh, he tilted his head up and, mimicking how his father usually comforted him, gently patted Xie Hui on the head.

“Daddy, don’t be sad. Chengqi will stay with you, always.”

“If Daddy can’t go out, then Chengqi won’t go out to play either.”

Xie Hui had always thought the child was a bit shy and quiet. But seeing him take the initiative to comfort him like this was rare and touching. He nodded gently.

“Alright. Daddy’s not sad.”

Then Xie Chengqi’s attention shifted to the painting Xie Hui had just finished. His clear eyes lit up with wonder, and his mouth dropped open.

“Wow! Daddy, did you draw this?”

“Yes. What do you think?”

“It’s amazing!”

Xie Hui thought the painting was just average, but seeing the child’s genuine admiration and heartfelt praise lifted his spirits.

“Would you like to learn?”

Xie Chengqi, who had just been earnestly praising the painting, suddenly looked troubled. He nervously fidgeted with his fingers before lifting his head to reply.

“Daddy, I do want to learn. But there are so many things I want to learn every day.”

The child was lazy by nature and sometimes liked to play. Old Master Xie often said he was a headache, though not because he was naughty. He simply moved at his own pace, and when urged, he remained slow and unbothered, which could drive anyone to frustration.

“If you’re this lazy now, what will you do when you grow up…”

After all, the client’s wish was to place this child on the Imperial Throne. A carefree little noble could afford to be a bit lazy, but a ruler of the realm certainly could not.

Xie Chengqi looked up at the sunlight filtering through the leaves. After a long pause, he answered in his childish voice:

“Grow up? That’s still a long, long time away.”

Xie Hui sighed. This child never thought about tomorrow. He reached out to straighten the boy’s clothes, which had gotten messy from running around.

They were enjoying the sunshine in the courtyard, peaceful and content, until a voice sounded from outside announcing a visitor.

“Your Highness, Consort Xian has come to see you.”

The steward’s voice echoed through the room, and Xie Hui’s gaze instantly turned cold.

“Let her in.”

A woman dressed in full palace regalia⁴ stepped inside. Her hair was adorned with an array of ornate accessories, giving her an air of opulence. Though no longer young, she carried herself with a certain hard-to-describe elegance.

“Since I’m under house arrest, I’ll spare Consort Xian the formalities.”

Consort Xian’s expression stiffened for a moment at those words. She quickly recovered and forced a smile.

“There’s no need for such courtesy, Crown Prince. By title, I could be considered your mother.”

Since the pretense had already been torn away, Xie Hui didn’t bother to keep up appearances. The more brazen he acted now, the more it would benefit his future plans.

“My mother was a daughter of the Xie family in the capital, not some courtesan from a brothel.”

Of all things, Consort Xian hated having her past brought up. Now, hearing it laid bare by Xie Hui, her smile froze on her face. She barely managed to maintain her composure.

“His Majesty sent me to see if the Crown Prince has reflected on his actions. If Your Highness shows true remorse, the house arrest may be lifted.”

“I did nothing wrong.”

With that, Xie Hui stood and took Xie Chengqi by the hand, walking out without another word. Consort Xian remained standing, watching their retreating figures. Her nails dug deep into her palms.

Back in the study, Xie Hui had just settled onto the soft couch when Xie Chengqi climbed up beside him without needing to be told, sitting close at his side.

“Hm? There’s plenty of space over there.”

“But Daddy likes sitting close to me, doesn’t he?”

The child’s innocent response caught Xie Hui off guard. Thinking back, he had indeed used physical closeness to lower the boy’s guard. He hadn’t expected the child to interpret it as affection.

“Well, you’re not wrong.”

Hearing his father agree, Xie Chengqi scooted even closer, then tilted his head up to look at him.

“Daddy, is that lady a bad person?”

“Yes.”

The more time passed, the more Xie Hui struggled to understand how someone like the Client, raised strictly to be a model Crown Prince, could have lost to an emperor like this.

The current emperor had not originally been the Crown Prince. The former Crown Prince had been a brilliant and talented man, but after contracting a serious illness upon reaching adulthood, he passed away. The late emperor, stricken with grief, gradually declined in health as well.

It was only with the support of the Xie family that the current emperor had ascended the throne.

As for Consort Xian, her recent behavior had been nothing short of foolish. Any other concubine in the palace would have known better than to act so recklessly.

Xie Hui was still the Crown Prince. No matter his current situation, he remained the most likely heir to the throne. Offending him was never a wise move—especially with the powerful Xie family backing him.

As for why the emperor favored Consort Xian, Xie Hui had a good guess. Birds of a feather flock together.

Most of the other concubines came from noble families. The emperor, who lacked any real distinction, likely felt more at ease with someone like Consort Xian, who came from humble beginnings like himself.

“Then Daddy, next time she comes, just tell the steward to lock the door from the inside so she can’t come in.”

Xie Hui didn’t tell him that the palace doors couldn’t be locked like that. Seeing the boy rack his brain to come up with such a solution, he nodded seriously.

“Alright. Next time, that’s exactly what I’ll do.”

Nestled against him, Xie Chengqi soon began to nod off. Watching his sleepy expression, Xie Hui thought of the Client’s original wish and hesitated.

Truth be told… Xie Chengqi’s personality wasn’t particularly suited to being emperor.

He was still young, of course, but he was far too fond of food and sleep. While he could distinguish right from wrong and had decent talent, his temperament was a real concern.

“Mmm… Daddy…”

Before Xie Hui could think further, the boy mumbled in his sleep. He shook his head with a sigh.

Forget it. The child was still young. There was plenty of time to teach him.

In this dynasty, if it wasn’t this child, there would only be more trouble ahead.

And besides, it wasn’t as if he could just go find another Crown Princess and start over.

With that thought, Xie Hui reached out and gently poked the boy’s soft cheek. Watching Xie Chengqi frown in his sleep and try to dodge the touch, he made up his mind to find a few capable ministers to support him in the future.

Being a glutton and loving to sleep weren’t such terrible flaws.

Better to be obsessed with food than to dabble in dangerous schemes.

…

Half a month later, Xie Hui led a palace coup using a private army the Client had secretly trained outside the city. He also mobilized the hidden guards trained by various noble families and stormed the palace.

In Consort Xian’s quarters, the emperor was indulging in pleasure. When he heard the commotion outside, he frowned and was about to scold someone. Before he could speak, his personal eunuch burst in.

“Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!”

“What is it? Why is it so noisy out there?”

The emperor, irritated at being interrupted, was in no mood for nonsense. If the noise hadn’t been so loud, he would’ve had the offenders dragged out and flogged on the spot.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince has rebelled!!”

The Emperor, who had been feeling a bit irritated moments before, instantly sobered up at those words. His eyes widened as he demanded, “What did you say?!”

“The Crown Prince has launched a rebellion! He’s already entered the palace with his men and is heading this way.”

The eunuch had barely finished speaking when Xie Hui strode into the hall. He was clad in full armor, and beside him, Guard Lu held a torch, casting a bright light that banished the gloom from the grand hall.

When Xie Hui saw the Emperor’s disheveled appearance, he frowned in disgust.

“Crown Prince, do you even understand what you’re doing right now?”

“The truth is laid bare before you, Father Emperor.”

“Insolence! Crown Prince, I know you were displeased the last time I favored your younger brother, but that is no excuse to make a mockery of such a matter!”

The Emperor tried to assert his authority, hoping to overpower the Crown Prince with his presence. But in Xie Hui’s eyes, he looked no more than a pitiful clown.

“Things have come to this point, and Father Emperor still thinks this is a mere trifle?”

Just then, the men Xie Hui had sent to capture the Sixth Prince arrived. The Sixth Prince, still in his nightclothes, was thrown harshly to the ground. Consort Xian, who had been hiding in the inner chambers, rushed out in a panic when she saw this.

“Crown Prince, what are you trying to do?”

Xie Hui drew the dagger he always carried and tossed it in front of the Sixth Prince. Winter was approaching, and the night was especially cold. Lying on the icy floor, the Sixth Prince trembled uncontrollably from the chill.

“If you’re willing to kill Consort Xian with your own hands, I’ll spare your life.”

The Emperor quickly pulled Consort Xian behind him, his eyes bloodshot with rage.

“Crown Prince, do you not realize the Imperial Guards are still in the palace?!”

“Does Father Emperor still remember how, last year, the Sixth Prince crippled the only son of the Imperial Guards’ commander?”

After wounding someone in such a crucial position, and not even transferring him elsewhere, was it not inevitable that he would one day turn against you?

The commander had fathered a child late in life. His wife had died six months after childbirth, leaving him with a precious son. And yet, after the Sixth Prince crippled that child’s leg, all the Emperor did was issue a mild reprimand.

Xie Hui hadn’t even needed to persuade him. The commander had come forward on his own with a condition: he wanted to cripple the Sixth Prince in return.

Outside the palace, there were still military camps, but by the time they could respond, Xie Hui would already be wearing the dragon robe.

The commander of the Imperial Guards, now following behind Xie Hui, stepped forward. In the torchlight, his familiar face made the Emperor’s knees go weak.

What should have been a quiet, peaceful night—he had just been teasing his favored consort—had turned into a nightmare. Xie Hui had stormed into the palace reeking of blood.

“Do you not understand that killing your own father will mark you in history as unfilial?”

In this era, people valued their legacy more than their lives. But Xie Hui was one of the few who didn’t care about such things.

As long as he ruled well, there had been emperors in history who had killed their fathers and still left behind a respected name.

“Your son is fearful. But from the beginning, I never intended to kill my father.”

“Sixth Brother, if you can’t bring yourself to do it, shall I help you along?”

As soon as Xie Hui finished speaking, the Sixth Prince reached out and grasped the dagger’s hilt. His hand trembled as he looked up at his mother and whispered, “Mother, I don’t want to die…”

Hearing the Emperor’s anguished roar, Xie Hui turned and walked out.

“Confine the Emperor Emeritus to the Caomu Courtyard. Have the commander of the Imperial Guards cripple the Sixth Prince’s leg and send him to live with the Emperor Emeritus.”

Most of the palace had already been won over by Xie Hui. As for those who refused to yield, Guard Lu was handling them.

Xie Hui remembered that today happened to be Xie Chengqi’s birthday. He ordered someone to bring the boy into the palace and immediately began preparations for the enthronement ceremony⁵, wasting not a single moment.

Wrapped in a small quilt, Xie Chengqi was carried into the palace. When he was placed before Xie Hui, he poked his head out sleepily and mumbled with a drowsy pout, “Daddy’s mean… don’t touch me…”

Translator’s Notes