502 Strip (1/2)

The last time he was anywhere near her estate was nearly a decade and a half ago.

Back then, Yu Zhen was just a small boy, eager for the love of his mother. She still remembered his desperate expression, the wobble of his split lips, and the pain in his eyes. He had reached out for a hug, but at that time, the Empress had been busy comforting the First Prince, who had also been beaten by the Emperor.

”Yu Zhen,” the Empress breathed out in shock. He was much taller than her now, and the little boy of the past no longer existed. She might as well have believed he died that day.

The Empress could not recall why she had despised Yu Zhen as a child. But looking him in his dark, cruel eyes, she remembered exactly why. As a little boy, Yu Zhen was every bit his father. He had the features of the Empress, but the heartless eyes of his father.

”What are you doing here?” the Empress slowly asked.

The Empress should've been infuriated by her son's actions. For the past three days, he had given his men instructions to secure Lady Ge's estate. No one was allowed to enter. No one was allowed to leave.

The Empress had wondered if Lady Ge Beining was even alive. Three days with no food and water. Her poor daughter might as well have died from hunger and thirst!

”Where are you headed to?” Yu Zhen demanded.

The Empress's lips parted. Why did he want to know? As far as she could recall, her well-being had never been his priority. He refused to call her 'Mother', refused to care about her, refused to learn of her hobbies and interests.

What made him suddenly change his mind? It was all too suspicious. She could not fathom the thoughts running through his puzzle of a brain. No one could. And she wouldn't want to know either.

Everyone knows Heaven would never open its gates to him. But Hell would welcome him with open arms.

”Lady Ge's estate. You had banned everyone from entering that place, but the least I can do is check up on the condition of my lady-in-waiting,” she sniped in an irritated voice.

The Empress's fingers twitched. She had suddenly recalled a rumor that was running amok in the palace. The day after the Crown Princess was poisoned with aphrodisiac, battered servants of Lady Ge were publicly hanged to death in the common grounds in the servants' quarters. It did not take a genius to figure out why.

”You were seen leaving Lady Ge's estate at the dead of the night. Care to explain?” the Empress daringly asked.

”If I tell you, then you will be bedridden for days.”

The Empress narrowed her eyes. She hated the fact that he was so tall, just like his damn father. In order to look at her own son in the eyes, she had to crane her neck.

The sun shined upon him, but created haunting shadows on his sharp features. He had her beauty, but none of her grace.

The Empress refused to think he came out of her. This was no man in front of her. This was no monster either. He was worse than that. He was a demon. Hundreds, if not, thousands of lives had ended because of him.

”If you killed her,” the Empress coldly muttered. ”Then I will never, ever take the side of your Wangfei.”

”I couldn't care less about whose side you take,” Yu Zhen mused. His lips curled into a sadistic smirk.

The Empress scoffed. ”Do not get so smug with me, Yu Zhen. Did you forget who controls the majority of the court? Have you forgotten who the ministers favor?”

Yu Zhen cocked his head. His smirk widened. Amusement flickered in his eyes. ”Your favored ministers will drop dead before they dare to oppose me.”

”Do you think your cruelty will not be met with punishments?” the Empress earnestly said. She glared at her son with hatred burning in her eyes. She loved him dearly, but he always jabbed her where it hurt.

The Empress still abhorred his coronation. She did not expect her least-favorite son would seize the throne with blood and iron smeared on his hands. The First Prince was too docile. If only he had fought more viciously when the Second Prince was in Wuyi courting his life away.

”Soon, there will be riots in the palace, demanding your eradication. Murdering people left and right, servants or ministers, you will never walk away scot-free. The citizens of this nation will turn their backs on you when they hear of your crimes.”

The Empress took a threatening step closer to her son. She refused to give him the power to control her. For goodness' sake, she was his mother! The only reason that he was alive and well was because of her. He was only able to live this life, walk the earth, because of her.

”You might be a war hero, Yu Zhen, but you are still a bloodthirsty murderer. Son of mine or not, I will turn my back to you if you dare lay a finger on Lady Ge!”

Yu Zhen coldly chuckled. The sound lacked warmth and sent chills down her spine. He saw her eyes tremble at the sound, her body nearly flinching despite his lack of action.

”Go ahead,” Yu Zhen muttered. ”Tell your men to revolt against me. Command them to point their pitchforks, and tell their servants to bring the torches. I'd love to see them burn down the palace you despise so dearly, yet desperately clung onto.”

The Empress's gaze burned vehemently. She wished a fire would start right before her, so she could burn him just as his words had harmed her. Who did he think he was?! This heartless son of hers!

Sometimes she forgot that he was even her son. He certainly did not treat her as a mother. And at some point, she stopped treating him as a son.