CHAPTER 80: HIDDEN AGENDAS

Stunned for a moment, Rong Qinglei swung his legs over the side of the bed and, draped in his coat, sat at his desk.

He had just dreamt of the day his mother died when he was eight years old.

Her words in the dream, "My sister killed her elder sister" were burned into his mind and impossible to forget.

He had thought his mother meant she was telling him the identity of her killer.

But since taking control of the Xuansu Hall and investigating his mother’s death, all he had uncovered was evidence of slow poisoning and nothing else.

And his mother had no sister.

Everything remained a mystery, left unresolved until now.

"Mother, do you blame me for not avenging you?" Pain flickered in Rong Qinglei’s eyes.

He wrote down the words his mother had repeated in the dream on a blank sheet of paper, but his mind was blank, void of any clue.

Mother, if you are watching from the heavens, tell me who harmed you!

He called out in his heart but could only collapse over the desk, powerless.

Holding the kingdom’s finances in his hands and holding the title of prince, what did it matter?

The things he wanted could not be obtained, the things he cherished could not be kept.

Even having a healthy body like others seemed impossible.

What meaning was there in living in this world?

Rong Qinglei slammed his fist heavily on the desk.

Fine cracks appeared between his knuckles, blood trickling out, but he felt nothing, as if he had lost his mind entirely.

Meanwhile, in the Tianxin Hall, the halls were brightly lit.

After the afternoon court session, the emperor had arrived here and was being served dinner by Concubine Hua.

Prince Rong Tieshan, as a companion prince, attended as well.

The three of them seemed like a happy family, filled with warmth and harmony.

Concubine Hua carefully placed a piece of chicken into Rong Tieshan’s bowl, her eyes filled with motherly affection. "Rong’er, taste this. It was cooked by a new chef from Dongyue Kingdom. It’s different from what we usually have in Beirong."

"Thank you, Mother," Rong Tieshan replied and cautiously tasting the chicken.

He felt uneasy.

Why had the emperor stayed in Tianxin Hall so long today?

If this was a normal audience, he could have been left out.

If it was something else, why had the emperor waited so long to speak?

Concubine Hua, however, did not notice her son’s anxiety.

She served the emperor attentively, believing that the longer he stayed, the greater the blow it would be to Concubine Keshun.

After dinner, the emperor moved to the East Pavilion of Tianxin Hall.

The attendants were all sent out by Concubine Hua, leaving only Rong Tieshan by the emperor’s side.

"I heard Qing’er is sick," the emperor said casually while enjoying Concubine Hua’s massage, though his tone carried a subtle reprimand. "Do you know about this, Concubine Hua?"

Startled by the emperor’s indirect questioning, Concubine Hua immediately knelt at his feet. "Your Majesty, I have long been staying in the Tianxin Hall and have no dealings with Prince Qung. This prince, due to his weak constitution, has been granted the emperor’s favor and resides in the back hills. I... I truly did not know about his illness."

The emperor waved his hand, his voice tinged with slight impatience. "Rise. I am not blaming you. The imperial physician mentioned it today, so I was only asking casually."

After hearing this, Concubine Hua finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She remained kneeling at his feet while circling her hand over his knee. "Your Majesty, will you stay tonight?"

The emperor seemed not to notice her subtle movements. He leisurely stood up and said. "It’s getting late. I must discuss about the Shanshi Festival with Concubine Keshun. My concubine, you may withdraw."

Again it was about Concubine Keshun.

Concubine Hua clenched her fists in frustration but she keep maintaining a respectful appearance. "Your servant respectfully sees you off, Your Majesty."

As they reached the door, the emperor seemed to remember something and turned his head. "Concubine Hua, make sure you keep a close watch on Yuelin. Don’t let her lose to the princesses of the other kingdoms during the Shanshi Festival. Rong’er, you don’t need to go along. Stay here and serve your mother properly."

After the emperor and his entourage had left in a grand procession, Concubine Hua was so furious that she smashed the Qinghua porcelain vase on the table. "Rong’er, you must bring honor to your mother. Don’t let that woman’s son overshadow you."

While clenching the handkerchief in her hands, she fumed, "Your emperor father... even just mentioning Yuelin like that, it’s obvious he looks down on my background..." She suddenly seemed to remember something and shouted, "Madam Zhen! Madam Zhen! Go and make the princess rise and practice her skills!"

Seeing Concubine Hua both angry and anxious, Rong Tieshan cautiously tried to calm her. "Mother, father was just speaking casually. Why take it to heart?"

Concubine Hua pressed her hand to her chest and letting out a sigh as a bit of the tension left her body. "Rong’er, I’ve shared a bed with your father for so many years. He never speaks casually. Every single word of his carries intention."

Hearing this, Rong Tieshan said nothing.

He knew his father’s meaning well enough.

The news of Rong Qinglei’s attempted assassination had quickly spread through the palace.

The emperor’s visit today was meant as a warning to them, to show that he was displeased.

If the emperor truly cared about Rong Qinglei, why would he leave him in the back hills for over ten years?

But if he didn’t care, why entrust him with the kingdom’s finances?

Rong Tieshan felt increasingly confused about his father, or perhaps he had never truly understood him at all.

The fragrance of burning incense swirled gently in Tianxin Hall as mother and son silently contemplated their own thoughts.