Chapter 129 (1/2)

Chapter 129: Verbal Duel

The third prince gulped and took a deep breath before telling the emperor what Ji Bo had told him to say, ”This son knows that Royal Father would be unhappy with this request. However, the empress treated me with kindness when I was young. She taught me how to be someone who can shoulder some of Royal Father's burdens. Now that she is grounded in the Cold Palace. It would be disgraceful of me to cut our ties completely.”

He squeezed two drops of tears out of his eyes. The emperor frowned. The third prince's mother had always been p.r.o.ne to disease. When the prince was little, she almost died of an illness. At the time, the empress used to let the prince stay at her palace. The prince therefore saw the empress as another mother.

The emperor sighed. ”Since you care about her so much, you can go. But don't stay too long. The Cold Palace isn't a place for someone like you to be.”

”Thank you, Royal Father.” The third prince couldn't suppress his smile. He bowed before the emperor and made his way to the Cold Palace.

He knew the Cold Palace was supposed to be a desolate place, but he still felt a pang of melancholy when he saw it with his own eyes. He had spent a big part of his childhood with the empress. He couldn't imagine how a woman like that would fare after her fall from grace.

He went through a winding path and entered the palace. Some of the older concubines turned to him with foggy eyes and pointed at him with shaky fingers. The empress happened to see him when she left her room to retrieve some water. She frowned and approached him after some hesitation.

”What are you doing here? You are a royal prince. You shouldn't step foot in such a place.” Even after being banished to the Cold Palace, the empress's presence remained as strong and imposing as a blooming peony. She had not lost her grace.

The third prince tensed up. He wasn't as close to the empress as the emperor believed. He had always been more afraid of the empress than he respected her.

Taking a deep breath, he cupped his hands at the empress. ”This son has not entered the palace for a while. Today I came to visit the empress. Please forgive me for not doing so sooner.”

The empress glanced at him before leading him back to her room. She offered him a cup of tea and asked, ”Tell me, what are you here for?”

”I am truly – ”

”You won't visit unless you have something you want from me,” the empress cut him off. ”There's no need for you to come up with an excuse. Even if you find a good one, you still have to tell me what you need in the end. Might as well skip the formalities.” The empress took a sip of her tea and looked up at him with her almond-shaped eyes.

The third prince took a deep breath to muster his courage and said, ”This son is here to ask for the empress's help in dealing with second brother.”

He called Qi Chen his second brother, but from the dark look in his eyes it was clear he wanted nothing but to skin Qi Chen alive.

The empress huffed out a surprised laugh. She didn't expect the third prince of all people to aim for the throne. He had been so incompetent no one even considered him a potential candidate! She scoffed inwardly. She knew what the third prince was made of. He would not be successful.

The third prince knew that the empress doubted him. He hurriedly added, ”This son has gained the support of the talented Mister Ji Bo, empress. I can not only gain the throne, but also avenge big brother and get you out of this place.”

At the mention of the son she had lost, the empress's heart clenched and her hands tightened into fists. Her nails dug into her flesh, but the dull pain never registered in her brain. Even after all this time, she still held this hatred close to her heart. She even dreamed taking Qi Chen's life with her own hands to console her son's spirit.

The third prince suppressed a smirk. He could tell he had caught the empress's attention. He added, ”Second brother is more than willing to hurt his own brother in order to gain the throne. He isn't going to be a good leader. This son may not be the most talented prince, but I care about the country – ”

”Enough. Just tell me what you want from me.” The empress didn't want to listen to a fool pontificate about how n.o.ble his intentions were. It was so laughable it made her stomach churn.

The third prince wasn't smart, but he could tell when other people were annoyed with him. He cleared his throat and told the empress that he needed her support to eliminate Qi Chen. He asked for the empress to rally her supporters for him. In exchange, he would avenge Qi Yin for her. And once he became the crown prince, he would do all he could to free the empress from this glorified cage of a palace.

After the time for an incense stick to burn, the third prince got to his feet and smoothed over his robe. When he left, there was a hint of excitement in his expression.

The empress watched him go. She now had two princes on her side. She had all she needed to take her revenge. These two princes both wanted the throne, however, which could cause some problems.

She was smart enough to recognize that the more support she had, the more likely she would be able to achieve her goal. She would not let this opportunity to eliminate Qi Chen slip by. No one would stand in her way.

Her eyes grew frosty. With a huff, she shut the door.