This rockery is a necessary stop on the way out of Mei Lin.
Qi Wang waited a while before emerging, spotting the prince standing at a distance with his hands clasped behind his back.
The King of Qi narrowed his eyes dangerously, not knowing the reason for the prince's presence here. Without stopping, he walked leisurely to the prince's front.
"Is it because of the incident when he wronged the eldest brother when they were young, and he feels so guilty that he can't help it, that he chose to throw himself into the lake on this night?"
The rockery is not far from a lake, which is now covered with a layer of ice.
The prince does not have the anger in front of others, and upon hearing this, he only calmly says: "Unfortunately, the heavens are not being kind, and the ice layer is too thick. Qi Wang wants to kill me but cannot do so."
"Ah—killing each other like siblings, yet there's not even a trace of guilt."
The prince turned to and fro to examine Qi Wang, saying: "So you have decided to compete for the throne, after all?"
The King of Qi replied coldly: "Second brother has always been suspicious that I will compete for the throne."
The prince said, "It's not suspicion, but certainty. You've gathered people like Bi Mugen and Yu Kuo; none of them are ministers for peaceful times, they are ministers for turbulent times. You've exerted so much effort in the northern frontier to win the support of the soldiers... Once you've done these things, whether or not you have ambitions to succeed the throne is no longer relevant."
Qi Wang made a soft "tsk" sound and said, "So you haven't become stupid after all."
The prince said indifferently, "There's nothing I can do. The courtiers are too foolish; they all think the King of Qi poses no threat to me. I've given you a chance, and the title of King of Qi is not something you should have."
The prince didn't like the third prince, but he never truly regarded him as a worthy opponent. He was just a flea that constantly jumped in front of himself.
But two years ago, that great victory changed everything.
The King of Qi said, "This is what I deserve, and it will not change because of anyone's dislike."
The prince said calmly, "What I dislike the most about you is this. You always think of speaking to me fairly, but I am the king, and you are my subject. It is your duty to guess my thoughts and consider my feelings."
"The King of Qi is not submissive."
The words "disobedient" ran through Chu Huan's childhood and teenage years, as if he had never known how to bow his head.
At first, when he heard the words "disobedient," Chu Huan only felt indignant. At this moment, under the night breeze, Chu Huan gazed at the distant colored lanterns and suddenly realized that he had stepped out of the shadow of his youth.
"I am indeed unyielding, but do I not have the capital to be unyielding?"
The prince did not answer this question because the answer was obvious, and it was indeed yes.
"I have never had a conversation like this with you before, and I never expected it to happen today." The prince suddenly changed the subject: "How happy were you recalling your youth just now?"
The King of Qi's face turned cold, "What do you want to do?"
The prince suddenly laughed, but the laughter did not reach his eyes. "She is my lawful wife, my original consort. 'Yuan' means origin and beginning. Qi Wang, you have overstepped."
It's not intentional bragging, just stating a fact.
The prince said calmly, "King Qi always forgets this point, whether it was two years ago outside the Qianqing Palace or now. No matter whether it is life or death, she will always be mine. What does King Qi want to do by approaching her?"
The prince didn't know what Su Jun had talked about with King Qi, but it wasn't a time for just one person to cross the plum forest.
He originally just wanted to wait for King Qi here, but he didn't expect to see Su Jun walking out from here.
The prince was annoyed, even though he knew in his heart that Rujun didn't like King Qi. They might only exchange a few polite words if they met, but the prince had an intention in his heart.
Because Su Jun is his wife, and more importantly, because the prince cares about Su Jun.
This sense of belonging, the prince has not yet realized, or perhaps he has realized it but has not truly understood what it means.
The King of Qi remained silent, and at this moment, anything he said would not be appropriate.
The prince did not expect an answer from King Qi and merely said, "If the beacon fires in the northwest ignite again, can King Qi secure a decisive victory in today's campaign?"
The ancestral tomb of the founding emperor is in the northwest, and after the prince pays tribute there, the beacon fires there are again lit up. Although it doesn't happen frequently elsewhere, the significance is different.
This war must be won quickly, resoundingly, and cannot be delayed. Otherwise, according to the efficiency of the court, it may drag on for a year. A small disturbance may turn into a major one, and at that time, it will truly harm the prince's reputation.
To let people whisper in private, "Why did such an incident happen right after the prince paid respects to his ancestors? Is the founding emperor not recognized?"
This naturally cannot shake the prince's status, but the prince will never allow such a thing to happen.
He hated the eldest prince for being the eldest since his childhood and was determined to get rid of him.
Regardless of the prince's character, he is a qualified opportunist.
After King Qi leaves the palace, he will immediately head to the northwest. This is a small rebellion. King Qi could choose not to go, but he agrees without hesitation. He does not adopt Bi Mugen's delaying tactic and instead uses this rebellion as leverage to negotiate with the prince.
Because King Qi and the prince share the same concerns, they worry that this small rebellion could escalate into one that involves several cities.
This would damage Su Jun's reputation.
Because this time, Su Jun accompanied the prince to the ancestral tomb.
In this regard, King Qi and the prince have the same cleanliness obsession.
The prince cannot tolerate any threat to his position, while King Qi cannot tolerate any threat to Su Jun's status.
His Junjun should be firmly seated as the empress consort, while as for the prince, someone else would do just fine.
The King of Qi spoke coldly, "Afraid I'm deliberately raising the enemy?"
The prince admitted readily, "Indeed, I had that worry, but now I don't. King Qi has a long-term affection."
King Qi didn't respond to the prince and walked away briskly. As they passed by each other, the prince lightly said, "King Qi should get married."
The prince is good at utilizing all the advantages around him, using King Qi's ridiculous emotions to serve his own purposes, which is a profitable deal.
But on this night, the prince suddenly no longer wanted to do so.
At least at this moment, the prince is willing to give up this sharp sword and not let King Qi covet Su Jun.
Under the vast moonlight, and amidst the snow-covered land, only the prince remained.
The prince laughed lightly, "That's not a negotiation, you know."
He walked to the Qianqing Palace, smiling and said his purpose: "It's time for King Qi to get married."
The emperor rarely refuses the prince's request and says, "In two years, it's not the right time yet."
"Father, whenever my third brother returns to the capital, his household is empty, and he has no one close by to understand his cold or warmth. Can't we have the warmth of soft jade in our arms while leaving my third brother alone?"
This statement sounds too extravagant, but the prince is always like this in front of the emperor.
The emperor laughed and scolded, but still didn't give in, "His wife is a bit of a troublemaker. Let's wait a bit longer."
The prince chatted about other matters with a laugh and then excused himself.
After leaving, there was not a trace of a smile on his face. What's wrong with getting married for King Qi?
Unless it's to marry a distinguished family for King Qi, but he is already the King of Qi. Would the emperor provide him with a distinguished wife's family to make up for the shortcomings of his mother's family?
This year, the country will go to war with the Hu people. The emperor hopes to completely eliminate the main force of the Hu people.
My third brother is now the King of Qi. If he wins this time, what should he be conferred as?
Military achievements, that is the most irrefutable thing.
Fine snowflakes began to fall from the sky, landing on the prince's hair. The prince stood in the night for a long time and suddenly burst out laughing, his eyes filled with ferocity.
