Fu Tian was in a bad mood, and Zhao Steward naturally became the scapegoat. Everyone who came along looked at him with deep sympathy.
At this moment, Zhao Steward finally understood that the young man before him was not as easy to fool as he had imagined.
No wonder Old Steward had repeatedly warned him to not entertain any crooked thoughts while resting at home.
He felt a vague regret in his heart. This position was hard-won, and he hadn’t even settled into it properly before trouble arose.
Fu Tian took the seat at the main hall’s head, while the others respectfully stood on either side.
Zhao Steward secretly glanced at the solemn faces around him, then lowered his head trembling in the center of the hall.
His fingers lightly tapped the armrest as Fu Tian looked calmly at the visibly uneasy Zhao Steward, saying nothing.
The entire hall fell into such silence that one could hear a pin drop.
Zhao Steward nervously raised his eyes and glanced around cautiously; everyone’s faces were expressionless, as if… as if they already knew all the things he had done.
Cold sweat dripped from his forehead. Gritting his teeth, Zhao Steward knelt down trembling and stammered, “I confess everything, I beg Master to spare my life.”
Only then did Fu Tian sitting at the head let out a faint “hm.”
Zhao Steward lay prostrate on the ground and confessed every detail of his deeds.
He wasn’t a bold man, just greedy for small profits. When Fu Tian decided to dig the ditch, Zhao Steward envied the wages and withheld part of the payment. He also canceled lunch and pocketed that money.
But before he could enjoy the illicit gains for a few days, Fu Tian had already arrived.
As Zhao Steward wailed for mercy, Fu Tian’s expression remained unreadable. He motioned to Fu Ji, who understood immediately and led the man away.
Zhao Steward was surely dismissed, forced to return the silver he had embezzled, and then a newcomer would be promoted to take over the estate.
Once everything was settled, Fu Tian returned to the mansion.
Two days later, Fu Tian went to the estate to pick up Fu Youqin and returned with her. Zhou Chuanqing shamelessly tagged along.
Seeing this, Fu Shuyue covered her mouth with a handkerchief and gave him a helpless look.
Watching Fu Tian’s lips pressed into a thin line, Zhou Chuanqing sighed deeply, genuinely sympathizing with Chu Xiangtian.
***
Outside the County Capital, in the military camp, Chu Xiangtian’s mood was equally sour.
The second prince was planning a rebellion, and Chu Xiangtian had to return. The planted informants had already relayed the news back, and the elder brother had made preemptive arrangements.
Traps had been set throughout Qingyang City to catch the second prince off guard.
But to prevent desperation, Chu Xiangtian still had to provide backup outside the city, as no one knew if the second prince still held any trump cards.
He had been lying in ambush outside the city for days, yet the second prince had not moved. Chu Xiangtian said nothing, but his face darkened day by day.
His subordinates wished to keep their distance, fearing his bad temper.
***
August 15, Mid-Autumn Festival, Royal Feast.
The palace was brilliantly lit, and the young emperor sat at the head of the table, raising his cup in revelry. The ministers seated below all had their own thoughts.
A few seasoned veterans exchanged glances and drank in silence. A subtle, almost imperceptible tension spread through the feast.
“I’m a bit drunk. My ministers, please enjoy yourselves. Empress, help me to rest.”
The emperor rose, clearly intoxicated, leaning heavily on the Empress as she helped him up.
“Brother, where are you going?”
Zhaowang stood, smiling brightly, surveying the ministers’ varied expressions.
The emperor, still tipsy, glanced lightly at him and lazily waved, “Second brother, is something wrong? I’m tired—another day.”
The Empress seemed to notice something amiss, whispering in his ear before supporting him toward the inner palace.
“No one is allowed to leave!”
Zhaowang’s smile faded, and soldiers guarding the Imperial Garden drew their long swords, pointing them at the departing imperial couple.
The Empress’s face remained unmoved as she coldly retorted, “Step aside. Are you planning a rebellion?!”
The soldiers blocking the way showed some hesitation but remained firm.
“Second brother, are you really rebelling?”
The drunken emperor lifted his head from the Empress’s embrace, cheeks flushed but eyes clear.
Zhaowang’s expression changed as he scrutinized him. “You’re faking it.”
The emperor smiled silently, patted the Empress’s hand, signaling her to retreat, and stepped forward. “Whether I’m faking it or not, aren’t you the one plotting rebellion?”
Zhaowang sneered, “Rebellion? I’m only taking back what was rightfully mine.”
“Rightfully yours?” The emperor folded his arms behind his back, his smile fading. “Have you become as senile as Father?”
The ministers exchanged uneasy looks. Some knew the truth, while others were confused and fearful.
“To the victor belong the spoils.”
Zhaowang signaled, and the surrounding soldiers tightened their circle, their blades gleaming coldly, pointed directly at those enclosed.
“Once your head hangs on the city gate, you’ll know who truly rules this land.”
“Attack!”
Someone stepped forward, attempting to seize the emperor. But before they could get close, a figure suddenly lunged out from the side, breaking the soldier’s arm.
The soldier screamed in agony, rolling on the ground. His cries intensified the chaos of the coup.
The emperor’s face was calm, almost pitying his arrogant and reckless brother. “I have awaited this moment for a long time.”
When the late emperor was alive, the Imperial Concubine was favored and nearly equal to the Empress, even openly and covertly targeting the emperor’s mother and her two sons.
Only after Chu Xiangtian went to the border, winning battle after battle and gaining command of the army, did the late emperor restrain himself somewhat.
Yet, on his deathbed, the late emperor’s Edict still intended to pass the throne to Zhaowang.
If Chu Xiangtian hadn’t acted first, holding Zhaowang and his mother hostage to force the late emperor to rewrite the Edict, their bodies would have long since rotted.
Because of this arrangement with the late emperor, Chu Xiangtian refrained from harming Zhaowang and his mother for three years after ascending the throne.
Unexpectedly, Chu Fengzhao personally presented him with the opportunity.
Armored soldiers armed with long spears poured out from the palace halls, hidden for who knows how long. Zhaowang’s pupils contracted, his eyes red with rage. “You… knew all along.”
“I told you, I have awaited this day for a long time.”
The palace guards stood before the emperor, ready to defend him from all sides.
Zhaowang closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them, a ruthless gleam flashed. Gritting his teeth, he ordered, “Kill the emperor first!”
But the surrounding soldiers hesitated; their grips on their blades began to tremble.
The emperor stood unmoved in the center, his voice cold: “Those who surrender shall be spared death. Those who resist shall…”
His sharp gaze swept the crowd, “Be treated as rebels, entire families executed.”
Before he finished, the sound of blades clattering to the floor filled the hall. The soldiers who had dominated moments ago were suddenly on their knees, pleading in unison, “Your Majesty, spare us!”
Zhaowang stood alone in the center, pitifully comical.
The emperor returned his words, “To the victor belong the spoils. This time, I no longer honor my vow to the late emperor.”
“What do you intend to do?” Zhaowang’s eyes filled with panic.
A voice behind him sent a chill down his spine, “Naturally, to send you and your family to join the late emperor.”
Chu Xiangtian marched in, escorting the former Imperial Concubine, sneering, “Father will surely be pleased to see you.”
Zhaowang’s lips moved to speak but stopped when he saw the families being brought in one after another. Realizing the situation was hopeless, he finally resigned himself and closed his eyes.
Thus, the rebellion ended.
Zhaowang had tried to secretly send his family away during the chaos, but Chu Xiangtian’s forces, lying in wait outside the city, intercepted them.
“Thank you for your hard work.” The emperor patted Chu Xiangtian’s shoulder with a smile.
Chu Xiangtian looked around, “Where is Mother?”
The emperor replied, “Mother is resting in Changyang Palace. Worried something might happen, she feigned illness before the Mid-Autumn Feast, so she was absent from the banquet.”
“This time, stay in the palace a while longer. Mother keeps talking about you every day.”
Chu Xiangtian hastily waved his hand, “You know well I’m used to the border. The palace has too many rules—I can’t stand it.”
The two brothers rarely met, exchanged a few words, and then the emperor and empress went to comfort the ministers and families caught in the chaos.
Chu Xiangtian took command of the troops to suppress the rebels and secure the palace’s defenses.
Though the brief rebellion was quelled, the court remained turbulent beneath the surface.
Zhaowang’s entire lineage was forced to commit Execution by Poisoned Wine; the emperor’s ruthlessness left no survivors in Zhaowang’s mansion.
Ministers who once sided with Zhaowang waited anxiously for their death sentences.
Three years into the new emperor’s reign, the court finally saw his true nature—he tore off the mask of kindness to reveal the merciless ruler within.
With Zhaowang’s faction eliminated without mercy, the Qingguo Duke Manor faced the brunt of the purge. To prevent retaliation, Chu Xiangtian entered the palace to personally oversee its defenses.
***
Half a month passed swiftly. It was now early September.
Chu Xiangtian sat on the city wall, his face filled with frustration, gazing southward.
The Imperial Examination List should have been posted by now; he wondered if the young master had passed.
An even more troubling thought was that the young master had left in such a hurry—he had no idea how angry the young master might be.
Feeling somewhat guilty, Chu Xiangtian resolved to think of a way to soothe him before returning.
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