Chapter 91: Abandoned Son

Jing Mo held Yu Ziming in his arms the entire way to Complacent Winery. Once there, he glanced at the neighboring Zhao Estate before handing the child to a guard.

One of his retainers ran up to him just then and reported in low tones, “Master, everything’s been arranged. It’ll be done within today.”

Jing Mo nodded briefly. The retainer withdrew behind him, and Jing Mo walked up the 29 steps to Complacent Winery’s doors before he suddenly turned to pluck Yu Ziming from the guard’s hands. Pointing at the Zhuri men around them, he said, “Tonight I have to go out and take care of some matters. You can order them as you please.”

Yu Ziming nodded. His imperial sister had told him to obey this man, so he would.

Jing Mo carried Yu Ziming into Complacent Winery and continued, “Your Sixth Highness, you are a master while they are servants. Thus, you don’t need to fear those adults. Do you understand my words?”

Yu Ziming looked at the adults on both sides of Jing Mo. All of them lowered their heads at his gaze. Even though this child was an abandoned son, they would have to treat him as an honored guest if Jing Mo wanted to boost him.

“You don’t understand?” Jing Mo asked.

“I understand,” Yu Ziming replied. “Then when will you come back tonight?”

Yu Ziming was tugging rather tightly on Jing Mo’s shirt. He himself knew that the child was relying on him and felt the sensation was very fresh. He had a three-year-old brother of his own, but it was only someone he’d heard of in passing. He had neither held nor seen his little brother in person.

“Don’t worry,” Jing Mo said while patting Yu Ziming on the back, “I promised your imperial sister, so I’ll take good care of you.”

Yu Ziming smiled at him. Jing Mo smiled back, though the expression didn’t reach his eyes. If Zhao Yingshan is smart, she will abandon this son. But how can I allow such an intelligent woman to get what she wants? Birth another son? Jing Mo brought Yu Ziming to his resting quarters. I’d like to see how Zhao Yingshan manages in this lifetime if she never has another son again.

—

Consort Zhao finished taking her medicine and cleaned her palate with some water before the young court lady left with the empty bowl. The momo used a wet towel to clean up Consort Zhao’s face. She wasn’t a young woman anymore, so one could see fine wrinkles on her skin once her makeup was gone. Knowing her temper, the momo’s expression didn’t change at the sight.

Consort Zhao felt warmth spread through her stomach, making her more comfortable than any other time she took her medicine. She asked, “Has the prescription changed for the medicine this time?”

The momo replied, “Should we find an imperial physician and ask?”

There were plenty of Zhao Clan eyes in the Imperial Physician Courtyard, so Consort Zhao wasn’t worried about anyone meddling with her decoction. She shook her head at the momo and said, “I don’t feel unwell. My father should be coming soon, go take a look.”

The momo hastily withdrew.

By now, Zhao Qiuming had already reached the entrance to Morning Skies Palace. Because he’d kowtowed so hard in front of Xianzong, the bandages around his head were seeped with blood again, making for a sorry sight. The momo didn’t dare say too much after greeting him at the entrance, but simply lowered her head and led him to Consort Zhao.

When Consort Zhao saw her father’s state, she asked with concern, “Father, are your injuries urgent?”

Zhao Qiuming shook his head and sat by her bed. “Jing Mo has formed an alliance with Yu Linglong.”

Consort Zhao said, “Yu Linglong should have been the one to take His Sixth Highness out of the palace, right?”

Zhao Qiuming only sighed. “That’s what I think too. However, now that Jing Mo’s taken His Sixth Highness away, it’ll be nigh impossible to speak with His Sixth Highness in private anymore, esteemed consort.”

“Father,” Consort Zhao replied, “We can only accept this scheme. However, you cannot be used by Jing Mo to harm Jing Qian.”

Zhao Qiuming asked, “What if he threatens us with His Sixth Highness’s life?”

“Things have already reached this point, but father’s still concerned about His Sixth Highness?” Consort Zhao asked coldly.

Zhao Qiuming replied, “Your eldest younger brother has been locked up in the imperial prisons, too.”

“His Majesty will definitely treat me differently than before,” Consort Zhao said.

Zhao Qiuming couldn’t bear to repeat Yu Xiaoxiao’s suggestion of Xianzong seeking out more “little girls,” so he said, “Yu Linglong told His Majesty to spread the rain and dew.”

“She really is a good daughter raised by the empress,” Consort Zhao gritted her teeth. “With an elder sister like her to scheme, His Seventh Highness has splendid prospects in the future.”

“Esteemed consort,” Zhao Qiuming said, “There must be a way to counter this.”

“Counter?” Consort Zhao echoed. “Didn’t they say Empress Jiang’s two little brothers will be entering the capital in the coming days? What do you think Yu Linglong will do once they arrive?”

“Esteemed consort means to say?”

“If His Seventh Highness went to Wuzhou,” Consort Zhao explained, “He could not only grow up peacefully, but use any of the Jiang Clan’s men or horses as he pleased. Combined with the Gu Clan, father, and won’t you say Yu Linglong will do her utmost to make Yu Ziyi go to Wuzhou?”

Zhao Qiuming sat on his stool for a long time, only feeling like a princess like Yu Linglong was a thorny business. Consort Zhao waited a while before she finally murmured, “Father’s heart should be clear too, right?”

“What am I clear on?” Zhao Qiuming asked.

“If there’s no way to prove our innocence to His Majesty,” Consort Zhao explained, “Then the only way to give him a change of heart is to sacrifice eldest younger brother.”

Zhao Qiuming sprang up from his seat.

“If eldest younger brother suffered an ambush in the prisons,” Consort Zhao went on, “And the culprits were Zhuri men, then His Majesty will feel remorseful and uneasy because father provoked the enmity of the Zhuri people while thinking of the nation’s welfare.”

Zhao Qiuming slowly sat back down.

Consort Zhao finished, “Father, it’s time for us make a choice.”

Zhao Qiuming had difficulty forming his words. “We’ll send people to injure your eldest younger brother?”

“Does father think any Zhuri assassins would fail in their task?” Consort Zhao’s eyes were cold. “If eldest younger brother was merely injured, then Ying Nianyun and his faction would only claim we were putting on a show to earn sympathy. His Majesty is currently angry at our Zhao Clan, so it’s hard to say whether he’ll disbelieve their words.”

“You,” Zhao Qiuming’s voice shook. “You want Beicheng to die?”

“If not dead, then heavily injured,” Consort Zhao replied. “This isn’t just for my sake, but the Zhao Clan.”

Zhao Qiuming fell silent for a long time.

Consort Zhao didn’t urge him to choose, but simply remained lying down to wait. Finally, Zhao Qiuming sighed and said, “Is His Seventh Highness guaranteed to survive until adulthood?”

“Father still doesn’t understand?” Consort Zhao asked. “If His Majesty’s favor is absent, how is our Zhao Clan supposed to keep going? Dispel His Majesty’s temper first before we think of ways to deal with His Seventh Highness’s matters.”

“Esteemed consort can still try thinking of other ways to deal with His Majesty.”

“I’ve served His Majesty for so many years now that I thoroughly understand his character,” Consort Zhao said in a small voice. “A single fresh flower is enough to bewitch him. If he doesn’t see me for a few more days, His Majesty’s heart will forget me utterly.”