The Tyrant’s Cannon Fodder Male Empress Chapter 93

Chapter 93

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The Crown Prince yearned to swiftly reunite with his beloved wife, covering a distance of eight hundred miles.

At every relay station along the way, he exchanged his mount for a high-quality horse. The horses were almost exhausted from his relentless urging, yet he remained oblivious to his own fatigue.

Without eating or sleeping, he galloped for two days, only stopping briefly to drink a few sips of tea before continuing his mad dash.

How could the trusted messenger sent by the Fifth Prince catch up with the Crown Prince? Even the companion who was sent to deliver fresh lychees to Noble Consort Yang would not be able reach the Crown Prince in his haste.

The Crown Prince never imagined he would be in such a hurry. Even now, in the midst of his urgency, he didn’t understand why he was so desperate.

There wasn’t a clear thought in his mind, just moments of quiet and bashful glances of the past would appear, and then moments when the gaze of today emerged, transformed into one of charm and affection.

Those moments that the Crown Prince once found dull and uninteresting had become the memories he desperately wanted to grasp onto now.

People were often not fully aware of how important readily available happiness was to them. It took a catastrophic disaster before realizing its significance. It was almost as if they needed a clear notification from the heavens, indicating how many days remain until their happiness was taken away. Only when they tangibly feel the imminent loss would they understand how indispensable it was to them.

Due to the lack of notification of a large army passing through, there were no officials watering the road. With dust swirling, those riding horses could be sculpted into terracotta warriors within two days.

Therefore, when the Crown Prince rushed back to the palace day and night, he had already become as dirty as a mud figure.

The palace gate guards couldn’t recognize him. It wasn’t until he unsheathed his sword and revealed the waist plaque that they hastily stepped back to let the Crown Prince pass.

Racing against the clock, the Crown Prince hurried back. For the first time, his wife showed no regard for her husband’s dignity as she remained in a deep slumber.

The Empress had been guarding her daughter-in-law in the Crown Prince’s residence for over half a month. Despite the birth of her grandson, her mood remained somber, unable to dispel the lingering melancholy.

It wasn’t a regret for treating her daughter-in-law harshly in the past. She believed she was merely teaching her the proper manners.

Yet, the Crown Princess, single-minded as she was, waited until the final moments of childbirth to respond when the Empress asked if she had any last words or wishes.

Expecting profound last words, perhaps guidance for her son’s future care, the Empress was surprised to hear her say, “Mother Empress, the chair on the south side of the bed is wobbly. Make sure to have someone fix it carefully.”

The dying girl’s last words were a reminder to fix a chair to prevent accidents, seemingly oblivious to the gravity of the situation.

With just those words, the Empress has been grieving ever since.

Suddenly realizing that the adversary she had dealt with for many years never entered the battle, the Empress discovered that she had been foolishly fighting alone in the arena, wielding swords and guns.

When the son, as dusty as a terracotta warrior, rushed back from the frontier battlefield for this woman, the Empress, for the first time, did not envy her favored daughter-in-law.

The Crown Prince rushed to the bedside of his wife, extending trembling fingertips to check her breath and feeling the warmth on her cheek. Then, he slowly collapsed to his knees beside the bed, grabbing his wife’s small hand with his dusty, large hands, pressing his cheek against her hand, and fell into a slumber in that kneeling position.

Due to the lack of eating and resting during the journey, fatigue weighed heavily on the Crown Prince, causing him to sleep deeply, with foam escaping from the corners of his mouth.

A refined gentleman like him, conscious of his manners, might never experience such a disheveled moment again in his lifetime.

The Empress had someone wipe his face and hands clean but couldn’t awaken him. Only when she attempted to separate him from the Crown Princess did he suddenly wake up, angrily refusing anyone to come between him and his wife.

In the late afternoon, the Crown Princess woke up briefly.

With a slight movement, the Crown Prince awoke with a swish, standing up and looking at his wife. His broad shoulders blocked the setting sun shining on the Crown Princess’ face.

The Crown Princess couldn’t see clearly now, blocked from the light. As she opened her eyes, she only saw a tall silhouette looming above her.

But she didn’t need to discern details. She could recognize any silhouette of Lu Jinan.

This woman, hanging on for half a day with bated breath, unable to open her eyes, upon seeing her husband, lit up with a radiant smile like the returning sunlight.

The smile unexpectedly carried an innocence like that of a child.

“Chil…” She struggled to open her mouth, wanting to share a monumental piece of good news with her husband.

The Crown Prince tightened his grip on her hand, leaning down to whisper in her ear, “The child is doing well.”

The Crown Princess continued to smile with such innocence. She wasn’t inquiring about the child’s well-being. She simply wanted to share this news with her husband.

After years of considering herself worthless, the Crown Princess felt that this was the day she could show off something commendable in front of her husband.

The Crown Prince, as if beholding a priceless treasure restored, carefully studied the Crown Princess’ face, delicately brushing aside the strands of hair stuck to her cheek by sweat.

Despite the lifelessness in the Crown Princess’ pale face, her eyes were alive, even a bit mischievous as she eagerly said a faint voice, “Did you see? The child… resembles you…”

How could a newborn baby resemble anyone? She just felt her husband’s expression lacked sufficient surprise, so she tried to prolong the conversation by boasting about her achievements.

Her expectant eyes remained fixed on him, as if he owed her a pat on the head for praise.

The Crown Prince’s expression verged on solemnity, unable to feign joy at the birth of the child. He gently bent down, embracing his wife, and softly said, “I only want to look at you. Watch over you till old age.”

•••

Inside the tent, with flickering candlelight, the Third, Fourth, Sixth, and Seventh Princes, along with military strategists, all knelt beside the Emperor’s bedside.

The Emperor slipped back into a semi-conscious state, struggling to concentrate his scattered thoughts. When he finally managed to open his eyes, he forgot he had summoned his sons and couldn’t recall his intended actions.

A group of people patiently waited, enduring until the Emperor drifted back into a slumber.

The imperial physician came a few times during this period.

The court officials accompanying the Emperor exchanged glances with the imperial physician, silently inquiring about the Emperor’s well-being. The anxious expression on the physician’s face conveyed that the situation was far from optimistic.

The summoned princes remained kneeling in the tent, persisting until midnight.

The Sixth Prince silently shed tears throughout.

The man lying on the bed was the one the Sixth Prince had anticipated from age five to fifteen. The pain of Mother Consort’s fall from favor had once led the Sixth Prince to secretly swear that he would, in the future, neglect Father Emperor in his heart, as a matter of justice. He would only outwardly observe filial piety.

However, for some unknown reason, the fleeting affection Father Emperor had shown in the Sixth Prince’s childhood now pierced his heart like a needle.

He suddenly thought, if Father Emperor showed favoritism, so be it, as long as he could live longer.

The Fourth Prince continuously cared for his brother. Every now and then, he would quietly rise, fetch a handkerchief, wipe away the Third Brother’s tears, and advise him to take care of his health, stabilizing the overall situation.

The Seventh Prince remained in a perplexed and anxious state.

This unfamiliar anxiety began to constrain his already flawed communication abilities.

When his brothers tried to talk to him, he kept his head down, seemingly oblivious, occasionally anxiously nibbling on his thumb.

The Sixth Prince embraced his younger brother, attempting to alleviate his anxiety, yet he could feel that the Seventh Prince had entirely locked his soul inside, regressing to his childhood.

This hadn’t happened in a long time.

When the Seventh Prince had just learned to walk and started speaking, he often found himself in this state. His soul seemed perpetually separated from those around him by an invisible wall. Occasionally, he would express curiosity about the world, observing it through his eyes, but never fully integrating.

This detachment and rejection infuriated the Third Prince, who felt his youngest brother was disrespectful to his elder siblings. Consequently, he often intentionally intimidated young Seventh Prince.

During that time, the Seventh Prince hadn’t found the entrance into this world and didn’t know how to show vulnerability or seek help. After enduring bullying, he only distanced himself further from the world.

Every time Eldest Brother discovered Third Brother bullying the youngest, he would scold and intervene. However, afterward, he received absolutely no response from the chubby cub.

Thinking that his youngest brother was naturally unaffectionate, the Eldest Prince didn’t pay it much mind.

Until one midday, the fifteen-year-old Eldest Prince received a reprimand from Father Emperor. Sitting in the gazebo in the backyard, feeling dejected, he stared blankly at the pond.

Suddenly feeling something on his left side, the Eldest Prince sensed it was burrowing into his palm.

Itchy.

The Eldest Prince lowered his head to discover his two-year-old chubby little brother was sneakily using his pudgy fingers to poke something into his palm.

The Eldest Prince slowly closed his hand, catching what the little rascal had stealthily inserted. He raised his hand, opening his palm to find a half-nibbled piece of preserved fruit…

Perplexed, he looked down at his chubby little brother—

Two-year-old Seventh Prince, with his chubby face turned upward, stared at the Eldest Prince. Lifting his tiny hand, he grabbed a handful of air, stuffed it into his mouth, then made sucking motions, indicating the Eldest Prince should enjoy the half-eaten preserved fruit he had bestowed.

The Eldest Prince couldn’t help but feel amused and exasperated. He looked at the half piece of preserved fruit in his palm, feeling a bit repulsed.

Got it, Big Brother?

But the little brother repeatedly demonstrated the actions of eating the preserved fruit, clearly indicating that he should also savor it.

The Eldest Prince reluctantly stuffed the preserved fruit into his mouth.

The Seventh Prince wasn’t satisfied yet, his tiny mouth puckering as he continued to teach him the secret of enjoying the delicacy.

The Eldest Prince endured humiliation and learned his little brother’s foolish gestures, pursing his lips twice.

It was in that fleeting moment.

The Seventh Prince opened his tiny mouth, and his usually indifferent beautiful eyes suddenly curved into two crescent moons.

He smiled at his brother.

The Eldest Prince’s heart was probably melted by his chubby little brother in that moment.

After that, whenever he had the chance, the Eldest Prince would accompany his youngest brother.

Gradually, he discovered that sincere companionship and love made his little brother a bit more lively and mischievous, occasionally willing to communicate with others.

A year later, his brother gained a little attendant named Xue Yao and became even more willing to be affectionate with people.

The Sixth Prince couldn’t quite recall the period when the Seventh Prince had a peculiar personality. Now, the Seventh Prince’s gradually distant expression reminded him of that long-lost feeling.

“Seventh Brother, don’t be afraid. Father Emperor will recover soon,” the Sixth Prince comforted in a hushed voice.

Half an hour later, the Emperor woke up again, this time showing a bit of vitality. “Has Jinan returned to the camp?”

The Third Prince replied, “Father Emperor, don’t worry. The Khitan envoy is scheduled to visit the camp tomorrow for negotiations. If Eldest Brother hasn’t fallen into Khitan hands, we will immediately request to cross the river and search.”

The Emperor closed his eyes, a complex mix of emotions in his heart.

Understanding his eldest son’s character, the Emperor knew the Crown Prince would undoubtedly try to rescue him if he was in danger. Now, with the Crown Prince’s whereabouts unknown, he might have encountered trouble last night.

The Emperor, lacking the strength to grieve, recalled the words of the foreign diviner, the blessing practitioner, before leaving the palace—

“Victory is certain in this battle, but Your Majesty and the Crown Prince should not participate…”

The Emperor, who had dismissed this prophecy, now heard it echoing in his ears like thunder.

Because the blessing practitioner hadn’t accurately predicted anything in nearly a decade, the Emperor had paid little attention to this gloomy prediction. Before leaving, he had casually joked, “The Crown Prince is renowned for his swordsmanship. If he falls to the Khitan invaders, who among my sons can bear the responsibility of this vast territory and countless subjects?”

At that moment, the blessing practitioner didn’t know the Emperor was just making a casual remark. She thought he was genuinely seeking her opinion.

The blessing practitioner, loyal to Consort Xi, was unaware of the custom of the Crown Prince selection. She only thought that if she could secure the Great Qi empire for her mistress’ son, why would she need to seek favor from others in the future?

Without much consideration, she nodded and replied, “Apart from the Crown Prince, if Prince Ning assumes a great responsibility, he will surely live up to the trust of the state!”

The Emperor was momentarily stunned by her response, realizing that this foreign witch, originally a slave to Consort Xi, was trying to secure advantages for her former mistress.

Once these words were spoken, the charges could be either serious or trivial.

The Emperor had just made a joke, and this old woman had actually uttered such words, assuming in her heart that he and the Crown Prince might lose their lives.

Though the Emperor felt a bit annoyed, considering he had initiated this inquiry and there was no need to argue with an illiterate old woman, he didn’t take any drastic action. However, he sternly threatened her, forbidding her from discussing state affairs without reason.

At this very moment, the Emperor, on the brink of death, kept recalling the blessing practitioner’s words.

Turning his head slowly towards his four kneeling sons, he then shifted his gaze to the eunuch accompanying him. “Help me up.”

“Father Emperor!” the Third Prince immediately choked with concern, “Your injuries are not healed, you should rest and give orders lying down!”

“I have important matters to settle. Lying down is not dignified,” the Emperor declared with authority.

The eunuch cautiously approached and assisted the Emperor, propping him against soft cushions.

With closed eyes, the Emperor beckoned to the Minister of War who was present. “Prepare paper and pen.”

The ministers understood that the Emperor was preparing to draft his will, so they sorrowfully left the tent to fetch paper and pen.

The Emperor, still with closed eyes, calmly began, “In my humble reign, I have upheld the ancestral legacy for twenty-seven years…”

“Father Emperor!” Several princes immediately exclaimed in shock.

The Emperor slowly shook his head, signaling them to remain silent, and continued to assess the achievements and shortcomings of his life.

When the moment arrived to announce the successor to the throne, the Third Prince stared blankly at the floor, his mouth slightly agape, palms covered in cold sweat.

This was his expression of extreme anticipation.

The Emperor stated, “The eldest son, noble and virtuous, following the ancestral teachings, understanding the will of the people, should have ascended to the throne. However, due to the lack of news about his safety, for the time being, another shall be chosen…”

Now it wasn’t just the Third Prince. Both the Fourth Prince and the Sixth Prince clenched their fists simultaneously.

The Sixth Prince hoped that the Emperor would follow the order and designate Second Brother as the heir. In case Eldest Brother was captured by the Khitans, upon his return, Second Brother would surely abdicate in favor of Eldest Brother.

The Fourth Prince’s heart raced, almost reaching his throat. He even turned to offer a reassuring smile to the Third Prince, encouraging him to calm down.

However, in reality, the Fourth Prince’s emotions were quite conflicted.

He had served as an undignified follower to the Third Prince for so many years, seemingly waiting for this unexpected moment.

The Tong family had spared no effort during the Crown Prince’s implementation of the new reform, yet they couldn’t force the Crown Prince to step down. Unexpectedly, with this turn of events, it seemed that destiny favored the Third Prince. Once the Third Prince ascended, the years of enduring humiliation for the Fourth Prince could be exchanged for a lifetime of glory and status.

Strangely, the Fourth Prince found himself secretly hoping that Father Emperor’s chosen heir would be Second Brother.

The Emperor’s gaze slowly swept over his four sons, finally settling on Seventh Prince’s face. He continued, “Designate the virtuous Prince Ning as the heir, and let the civil and military officials unite to support…”

These words, delicate as silk threads, reverberated like thunder, shaking the entire camp!

The Sixth Prince and the Fourth Prince turned their heads in astonishment, looking at the Seventh Prince.

The Third Prince, as if struck by lightning, remained stiff for a long time before slowly turning his head. His eyes, filled with shock and fury, fixed upon the newly appointed Crown Prince.

Thank you so much, Firebird!! Also big thank you, french squid!!

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