WMSG Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Do You Even Deserve It?

Ye Yueshen waited outside, finding a spot out of the shade to stand, tilting his face up to bask in the sunlight with his eyes closed. The look in Yongning Junzhu’s eyes as she saw him off at the door flashed through his mind.

He couldn’t help but wonder what their relationship with Gong Xunwu looked like to others. At least in the eyes of his family, it wasn’t a good deal, and they were all worried he would get taken advantage of.

Now, thinking back to his state of mind at the time, even Ye Yueshen himself was a little unsure. The pain of being coerced was just a fragmented shadow, a case of not learning from past mistakes.

Time eroded the intensity of deep emotions. Ye Yueshen only vaguely remembered feeling depressed, even deeply despairing and humiliated, but now, recalling it, he surprisingly tasted a bit of lingering tenderness that he hadn’t felt at the time.

He felt his hackles rise and abruptly opened his eyes. Gong Xunwu walked out calmly, his gaze immediately landing on him, then showing a slightly relieved expression.

Ye Yueshen subconsciously wanted to escape. He took a step back, then stopped when he saw the cautious look in Gong Xunwu’s eyes.

Gong Xunwu self-consciously raised his arm and sniffed, wondering if he had picked up a bloody smell from the prison, but he couldn’t smell anything. He didn’t want to believe Ye Yueshen’s retreat was because of him.

As he approached, Ye Yueshen turned and walked away, saying softly, “Let’s go back.”

He didn’t ask about the outcome, nor was he curious. In fact, he could have rejected the Emperor’s matchmaking just now, but he felt that coming to see the Crown Prince was a full stop, even if Gong Xunwu was the one to write it.

When they returned, the Yongning Junzhu seemed to have been crying, having moved from a distant round stool to sit on the couch next to the Empress Dowager, who was handing her tea, as if trying to soothe her.

Ye Yueshen walked over and called out, “Mother.”

“You’re back.” The Yongning Junzhu forced a smile, “Were you scared?”

“No, I wasn’t.” Ye Yueshen shook his head slightly, “I didn’t go in.”

Gong Xunwu went to tell the Emperor that Gong Shengyin had confessed, and that past grievances were now over. The Emperor simply nodded, showing no emotion towards his son.

For Gong Xunwu, the result was far more lackluster than he had expected.

“Mother, let’s go home.” Ye Yueshen’s tone carried a hint of pleading.

The Yongning Junzhu got up, “Alright.”

The Emperor and Empress Dowager both showed a hint of suspicion, exchanging an awkward glance.

The Empress Dowager finally couldn’t help but say, “Yinger, if you’re not willing…” She wasn’t sure if she was being completely selfless in saying this, or if it was just insincere politeness. She hoped her son would get his wish, but she didn’t want her adopted daughter’s family to suffer.

Gong Xunwu’s expression changed rapidly. The way he looked at the Empress Dowager turned cold, and he couldn’t accept an ending without Ye Yueshen. This was more unbearable than the Crown Prince being protected.

The Yongning Junzhu bit her lip and didn’t say anything, turning to bow before leaving with Ye Yueshen.

Ye Yueshen was a little dazed on the way. He wasn’t sure if he should give Gong Xunwu and himself a chance, or cut it off quickly to avoid making his mother suffer.

Gong Xunwu stood there with his head lowered, watching Ye Yueshen brush past him. The Emperor and Empress Dowager didn’t speak again.

“He didn’t say he wasn’t willing.” Gong Xunwu said in a low voice, his tone as if complaining that the Empress Dowager shouldn’t have said that last sentence.

The Empress Dowager couldn’t help but lose her temper, “How long are you going to deceive yourself? You’re almost thirty, what are you doing? Are you trying to anger this old woman to death?”

“He doesn’t completely hate me.” Gong Xunwu defended, “It’s just that I did wrong things in the past, and he can’t let go for the moment. When…”

The Emperor sighed, also dissatisfied with his softness and strength, “Then wait until that time.”

“I can’t wait.” Gong Xunwu’s fingers were trembling. He felt like if he waited any longer, Ye Yueshen would disappear, coming from who knows where, and leaving to who knows where.

In the nightmares he had these past few days, Ye Yueshen was a celestial being, demoted to the mortal realm for making a mistake, but Ye Yueshen was so kind that he wouldn’t have committed a big mistake. When the Heavenly Emperor remembered Ye Yueshen’s goodness, he would immediately summon Ye Yueshen back.

And he, Gong Xunwu, was neither kind nor good. He wouldn’t ascend to immortality after death. Based on his behavior, he would probably have to go to the underworld.

“Then what do you want to do? Lock him up again?” The Emperor threw a teacup lid at him, hitting Gong Xunwu’s forehead squarely. “The Yongning Junzhu’s third son must have done something terrible in his past life. You two are bullying him!”

Gong Xunwu met the Emperor’s gaze, his attitude not softening at all, “I’ve been changing, but that bastard Gong Shengyin tricked him away not long ago. Just because he was meritorious in resisting the deposed Crown Prince, you lightly pardoned Ye Yueshen’s injustice…”

“Who are you calling a bastard?” The Emperor was so enraged that he couldn’t tell if he was being unintentional or deliberate. In short, he was furious.

The Empress Dowager was also trembling with anger, watching her two sons argue until their faces were red. She felt sorry for both of them, but couldn’t persuade either of them. She roared, unable to bear it any longer, “Are you going to turn against each other?”

“Imperial Brother.” Gong Xunwu still refused to back down, “Instead of stopping me, you should discipline your son.”

“Utter disrespect!” The Emperor was too angry to stand steadily, taking a step back and sitting in the chair. He shouted, “Guards, seize Qi Wang!”

Seeing that no one paid attention, the Empress Dowager reached back and pushed all the teacups on the table to the ground. The sound of porcelain shattering finally brought attention back.

The guards quickly entered, and just as they were about to arrest Gong Xunwu, the Empress Dowager, who was distressed for her son, stopped them, “All of you, stop for me!”

Because it concerned the Emperor’s filial piety, the guards didn’t dare to do anything that would put the Emperor in a bad light, so they stood hesitantly on the side. The Emperor refused to withdraw his order.

Just as the situation was at a stalemate, someone unlucky barged in. The inner court attendant entered, trembling, and reported, “Your Majesty, the Fifth Prince requests an audience…”

“Good, good, good!” The Emperor said three “goods” in a row, his face cold, “Let him in!” As he spoke, he glared at Gong Xunwu.

If he wasn’t so angry, the Emperor would never have let Gong Shengyin enter in front of Gong Xunwu, since anyone could guess why Gong Shengyin had come.

The Emperor was an emperor who had grown up under strict etiquette. In his heart, there was also a strict order. Although Gong Xunwu was younger than his eldest and second sons, Gong Xunwu was his brother, and a brother was more honorable than a son.

Aside from the rules of seniority, the Emperor also favored Gong Xunwu over his sons. The former Gong Jinyi had the honor of being the eldest son and the novelty of his first experience as a father, receiving his care and favor.

But the eldest prince had been dead for many years, and he had never given this favoritism to his other sons. Gong Xunwu uniquely received his indulgence. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that an older brother was like a father.

Today, after learning that the Yongning Junzhu had entered the palace with her young son, the Emperor had personally come to the Heyun Palace to meet the guests. Gong Shengyin only needed to inquire slightly to know that Gong Xunwu was also there.

With the elders present, it was difficult for Gong Shengyin not to overthink. After hesitating for a long time, he still couldn’t swallow this breath, nor was he willing to let go of Ye Yueshen.

So, relying on his growing importance, he took the risk to come. He knew in his heart that even if he was scolded, it wouldn’t be too serious. Instead, it would allow the blame for his confinement of Ye Yueshen to shift towards an uncontrollable passion, which was better than the charge of bullying with power. Therefore, in addition to his itchy emotions, there was also a sincere performance.

Gong Shengyin walked in with his head lowered. Although he had been mentally prepared, his spine still stiffened the moment he felt Gong Xunwu’s gaze.

“What are you doing here?” The Emperor asked, knowing the answer.

Gong Shengyin knelt down, “Your son begs the Emperor to withdraw his order, and absolutely must not allow Ninth Imperial Uncle and Zherong to be together.”

The Emperor sneered, “Zherong’s affairs? What affairs of Zherong are you talking about?”

“Father, your son doesn’t need to say false words anymore. Your son knows that Ninth Imperial Uncle is deeply in love with Zherong, to the point of being obsessive. The Emperor and the Imperial Grandmother also value Ninth Imperial Uncle more, but your son’s heart is made of flesh. Your son also has times when he can’t help himself…” Gong Shengyin made a gesture of kowtowing, “Your son dares to ask…”

The Emperor snorted coldly, and Gong Shengyin knew better than to continue.

Gong Xunwu’s face was extremely ugly, and he said harshly, disregarding his status, “Do you even deserve it?”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle.” Gong Shengyin said with his head lowered, “This nephew will treat Zherong better than Ninth Imperial Uncle.”

The Empress Dowager pointed at them, “You, and you, you have no shame. Both of you, go to the courtyard and get spanked!”

The Emperor echoed the Empress Dowager’s angry words, “That’s right. For the Ye family, you two uncle and nephew have committed heinous crimes. If you want to entangle with their child, you should each take a hundred paddle blows first. If you can withstand it, then go ahead. If you can’t withstand it, then… Humph, I don’t think you’ll have the face to live either.”

Gong Shengyin lowered his head and didn’t speak. The spring hunt was approaching, and the Third Prince had been imprisoned all winter, and the Crown Prince had been deposed. As the most meritorious of the remaining two princes, the spring hunt was a good time for him to shine.

If he was injured from the paddle blows, a hundred blows was no joke, and he would probably have to recuperate for a few months.

“If I can withstand it, I can go?” Gong Xunwu said from the side.

The Emperor looked at him, “Paddle blows won’t make you give up?”

Gong Xunwu was a little puzzled. He asked back, “When have I ever been afraid of paddle blows?”

The words were already spoken, and the Emperor suppressed his anger, convincing himself that these hundred blows were an explanation to the Ye family.

The Emperor pointed at Gong Xunwu and said to the guards, “Beat him to death!”

Gong Xunwu slightly raised his hand to stop the guards from coming forward to escort him, very proactively walking out, his steps firm and unwavering.

The next day, the Yongning Junzhu was going to visit a temple in the suburbs to worship Buddha. After finishing breakfast, Ye Yueshen temporarily decided to go with her. On the way, Xuédōng, who was outside the carriage, said through the window, “Recently, there are quite a few Miao people in the capital.”

The Yongning Junzhu lifted the curtain and looked out, “Most of them are going to the music house. The Fifth Prince’s birth mother is from that background.”

It took an hour to reach the temple. The Yongning Junzhu went in to burn incense, while Ye Yueshen and Xuédōng stood in the courtyard. Xuédōng was someone who couldn’t stay idle, and asked him, “Has the Third Young Master been there?”

Xuédōng was referring to a secluded courtyard. Now that it was early spring, there wasn’t much greenery. The withered trees were neither lush nor able to provide shade, making it a place that was easily seen through.

Ye Yueshen said, “Go if you want to.”

Just as the two were about to walk over there, someone behind them suddenly called out in disbelief, “Zherong?”