Chapter 305: Farewell, Prince Qing
Chapter 305: Farewell, Prince Qing
There were some things that Prince Qi couldn't bring himself to say directly.
How could he phrase it? Should he say that he didn't have long to live and couldn't father children anymore?
Would that be honorable?
However, these thoughts didn't stop him from feeling aggrieved. "Boo hoo, Your Royal Highness, my brother, my heart is filled with bitterness..."
As Prince Qi complained, he was mostly curious about the situation with the Che family. "When will we finally get some results? They tried to harm a member of the royal family. It's a simple matter. If we had the results sooner, I could go and watch them being beheaded!"
Regarding this matter, Prince Qing chose his words carefully before revealing a little to Prince Qi. "I'm afraid it won't be soon."
Upon hearing this, Prince Qi lost his composure and slapped the table. "Why won't it be soon? They conspired to harm a member of the royal family? I am a prince, a first-rank prince. They almost succeeded in harming me. Isn't that enough to warrant the deaths of their entire extended families?"
Prince Qi thought that things shouldn't be this way.
Both the Empress and the Emperor doted on him.
So why were the people who harmed him still alive?
As for the nine familial generations, it could be said that they were still in the process of being accounted for.
But the Che family members were all neatly locked up in prison!
Why weren't the heads of these families being chopped off when they were right there for the taking?
Seeing Prince Qi's loss of composure, Prince Qing sighed helplessly. "Your Royal Highness, the matter isn't as simple as you think. There's an unclear connection between the Che family and the mountain bandits from Qingzhou. As for the specifics of this situation, we haven't pried open their mouths yet. It's estimated that the Court of Judicial Review will need more time to interrogate them."
After hearing this, Prince Qi was left bewildered. How did the mountain bandits from Qingzhou get dragged into this as well?
He widened his eyes, puzzled. "The mountain bandits from Qingzhou are still alive?"
It had been over a month, hadn't it?
How were those people still alive?
Had the Emperor turned Buddhist?
Why weren't they being killed?
Prince Qing hesitated between speaking and staying silent before eventually explaining in a low voice, "It seems that remnants of the Su family are controlling the mountain bandits from Qingzhou behind the scenes. The Emperor's intention is to investigate thoroughly."
Upon hearing the name 'Su family,' Prince Qi paused for a moment before continuing.
Prince Qing nodded, and Prince Qi understood. But he broke down again. "Damn it! Are there still surviving members of the Su family? How can they not be completely wiped out???"
Regarding this, Prince Qing shook his head gently. "The Su family had their nine familial generations exterminated. It's unlikely that there are any descendants left. Most likely, these are just die-hard supporters."
Hearing these words, Prince Qi couldn't help but snort derisively. "So there are still households that support them. I guess I underestimated them."
After listening to this, Prince Qing pursed his lips, unsure of what to say.
Indeed, before the Su family's nine familial generations were exterminated, they had been involved in the power struggle of that year.
Otherwise, how could they have plotted to seek marriage with Princess Jiaoyang?
As Prince Qing fell silent, Prince Qi soon did as well.
After a long while, Prince Qi sighed softly, his voice hoarse. "In the blink of an eye, sixteen years have passed."
Hearing this, Prince Qing nodded but didn't rush to say anything.
The two of them seemed to have sunk into their memories, and for a long time, they didn't speak another word.
At this moment, in the small classroom, Sui was nodding her head along as she read aloud with her teacher.
She already recognized quite a few characters now!
To take care of Sui, Teacher Shen taught the introductory curriculum after the formal lesson. He taught her the 'Three Character Classic' one character at a time.
Her brothers didn't show the slightest bit of impatience. If not for the teacher watching over her, they would have gathered around Sui and read the characters aloud to their sister as well.
Shen Huatong and Liu Hemeng were both there to encourage the little girl.
With everyone watching her, Sui didn't feel too much pressure. She swayed her adorable little head along as she read slowly with the teacher. "'In the beginning, human nature...'”
She already knew quite a few sentences now.
She was amazing!
As noon approached, the morning lesson came to an end. Sui happily pulled Feng Xuanrui's hand. "Brother, brother, I know so many now! I know a lot!"
The little girl's joyful demeanor was delightful and lively.
Feng Xuanrui couldn't help but feel delighted as he looked at his little sister: "My sister, the most formidable in the capital!"
Feng Xuanbin squeezed forward, eagerly applauding: "Yes, yes! Sister is the most amazing, even more impressive than our seventh brother!"
......
The group's praise nearly inflated little Sui's ego.
When the Queen came to pick her up, the little girl eagerly ran to her, beaming with joy. "Mother, I'm so amazing!"
Hearing her child's voice, the Queen of Qi felt reassured. She opened her arms and embraced little Sui, gently asking, "What makes you so amazing, Sui? Tell mother all about it."
Little Sui had been waiting for this very question, and now she eagerly recited the 'Three Character Classic' that she had memorized.
The child's pronunciation had become increasingly precise, no longer carrying the hint of indistinctness that had marked her speech before.
Seeing these improvements in his daughter, the Queen's heart felt increasingly calm.
Thinking of this, she gently leaned forward and tenderly nuzzled her head against little Sui's.
Sensing her mother's affectionate gesture, Sui promptly took the initiative to loop her arms around the Queen's neck, snuggling her head affectionately against her mother's.
The emerging crop of baby hair was soft and no longer prickly, but as it brushed gently, it carried a ticklish sensation. The Queen couldn't help but laugh with delight.
When King Qi arrived with King Qing in tow, the heartwarming scene before them pulled at his heartstrings.
King Qi's heart twinged with a pang of sorrow. "Oh, how I wish I could be the one to pick up my precious Sui every day."
King Qing, too, was astonished by Sui's transformation.
Upon his return to the capital, he had been occupied with various matters, barely finding any spare time.
Hence, after such a long interval, he was finally witnessing Sui again.
The child had undergone noticeable changes. Although her frame remained slender, her countenance no longer bore that former timidity, where she seemed apprehensive of everyone around her.
Now, she exuded confidence. When she smiled, her entire being seemed to radiate with a vibrant, lively spirit.
Witnessing this metamorphosis in Sui, King Qing couldn't help but uplift the corners of his lips.
Feng Xuanrui and his siblings, upon noticing King Qing's arrival, resembled monkeys emerging from their mountain caves, jumping about energetically. But now, in the presence of their revered King Qing, they transformed into meek, subdued creatures, as if someone had abruptly constricted their necks.
Oh, the formidable presence of King Qing!
Even Shen Huatong felt a sense of trepidation towards King Qing, while Liu Hemeng, undaunted, remained unfazed.
To be honest, she was intimidated as well.
However, her grandfather had accompanied King Qing into battle, serving as a military physician, and so she was aware of the hardships and valiant deeds of the soldiers guarding the borders.
Although one couldn't attribute the realm's peace solely to them, it was undeniable that their sacrifices and valor played a pivotal role in maintaining the capital's tranquility. Thanks to them, the citizens could sleep soundly at night, free from the fears of external invasions.
They were heroes, and heroes should never invoke fear.
Liu Hemeng thought, "I shall not be afraid! King Qing only directs his wrath towards hostile forces and would never harm his own kin."
With this realization, Liu Hemeng's heart felt significantly lighter.
Deep down, little Sui still harbored some fear towards King Qing.
However, she hadn't forgotten that fateful night when she and her brother had been stranded in a dire situation, and King Qing had descended like a celestial deity to rescue them.
King Qing was a divine savior, a deity who had saved her and her brother.
Hence, she need not fear.
What she ought to do was express gratitude.
Second Watch
(End of Chapter)
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