Chapter 4, A Thunderbolt on a Clear Day

"He is pitiful?" Concubine Yu said disdainfully, "What is there to pity about a good-for-nothing? I am the one who is truly pitiful!"

"If I remember correctly, the lotus seed soup has been delivered for three years now," said Concubine Yu淡淡地. "Thanks to it, that useless one has spent most of his time lying in bed fighting for his life, and none of those mediocre doctors in the Imperial Medical Department dare to oppose me. So what if they know it is poisoned? Who would dare offend the Emperor's most favored concubine? Who would care about a son the Emperor is least concerned about? Moreover, I am the biological mother of that useless one!" At this point, Concubine Yu almost laughed maniacally, "How many years has it been? How long have I contemplated this plan? As long as the Emperor remembers who caused me to give birth to such a sickly son, he will forever harbor a bit more pity for the Eleventh Prince in his heart, and my other child will have a bit more hope of attaining the highest honor. As long as that child remains on the sickbed for a day, hope increases by one more point, and I will not allow anyone to destroy it!"

Ping Hai was taken aback; he was completely following the wishes of the favored concubine, yet now there was a different interpretation. However, as a servant, how could he dare to refute? He could only accept his misfortune: "It was the fault of this servant for being too heavy-handed; I humbly ask for your grace to forgive me, Your Highness."

"It turns out this stubborn girl is not as tough as she seems." Concubine Yu raised the teacup in her hand, brushed away the tea leaves on top with the lid, and took a gentle sip. "This tea is quite good, Xiao Liuzai, next time have someone bring more of it." She turned her head and the book towards another eunuch standing beside her.

My little ancestor! Rou Ping truly cannot restrain her emotions. Although her feelings for this prince are not deep, she is well aware that this seemingly delicate youth possesses a stubborn heart. Upon witnessing his childish behavior, she immediately realizes that Feng Wuhen is still a child in need of understanding, and her heart is suddenly filled with a rare tenderness. "Are you trying to throw your life away? Don't you know the condition of your own body? Just wait and see how the empress will punish you!" Rou Ping's usual cold demeanor dissipates, and her tone shifts to that of an elder. Upon witnessing his childish behavior, she immediately realizes that Feng Wuhen is still a child in need of understanding, and her heart is suddenly filled with a rare tenderness. "Are you trying to throw your life away? Don't you know the condition of your own body? Just wait and see how the empress will punish you!" Rou Ping's usual cold demeanor dissipates, and her tone shifts to that of an elder.

The wind, without a trace, desperately reminded himself that he was not her son and need not be saddened by her words, that he was not her son... However, his heart revealed everything; from the very beginning of his dreams, he had cherished this beautiful woman as if she were his mother. This blow was indeed too heavy for a thirteen-year-old boy, yet everything was not over.

"Rouping, you too, why are you wasting so much time with that useless person?" The voice of Concubine Yu drifted in vaguely, but Feng Wuhen was unclear about who the 'useless person' referred to.

Relying on his status as a prince, Feng Wuhen was able to move almost freely throughout Lingbo Palace, except for one place where he was rudely stopped and had to retreat awkwardly. Looking at the plaque of "Tingfeng Pavilion," Feng Wuhen felt a peculiar sensation, as if the person inside hetushu.com would bring significant changes to his future. After a moment's hesitation, he still chose to leave, but he firmly remembered the name of this place. Looking at the plaque of "Tingfeng Pavilion," Feng Wuhen felt a peculiar sensation, as if the person inside hetushu.com would bring significant changes to his future. After a moment's hesitation, he still chose to leave, but he firmly remembered the name of this place.

As Feng Wuhen joyfully admired the scenery of Lingbo Palace, he had no idea that in the unseen dark chamber, Hongru and Lvyin were enduring brutal beatings. Lvyin had long since fainted from the pain, while Hongru's suffering was just beginning. The eunuch administering the punishment showed no mercy to such a palace maid; each strike pierced Hongru's heart. At first, she managed to stifle her cries, but as a frail woman who had never experienced such agony, she soon could no longer contain her emotions and broke down in tears. She could feel that her close-fitting garment was already soaked with blood, and with each strike of the rod, flesh was torn away, yet the merciless eunuch continued. In a daze, she seemed to see Feng Wuhen's smiling face and thought, "Your Highness, do you know? For you, Hongru fears not even the mere punishment of the rod." She could feel that her close-fitting garment was already soaked with blood, and with each strike of the rod, flesh was torn away, yet the merciless eunuch continued. In a daze, she seemed to see Feng Wuhen's smiling face and thought, "Your Highness, do you know? For you, Hongru fears not even the mere punishment of the rod."

This sentence struck Feng Wuhen's heart like a bolt from the blue. Although he had some premonition beforehand, he never dreamed that a mother would describe her own child in such a way. A familiar, excruciating pain reignited within him. In almost an instant, he understood why he had felt so much anguish and sorrow while absorbing Feng Wuhen's memories that night. A mother, as beautiful as a celestial being, regarded her own son as worthless. What could be more heartbreaking than this?

"You are too cautious," Feng Wuhen could even imagine his mother's indifferent expression, which took him by surprise. "I have told you many times, I will always have only one son; the other is merely a tool, a tool to consolidate my position! There is no need for compassion towards him, only the need to utilize him, to attract the Emperor as much as possible while that piece can still be of use. That is the purpose of his existence."

Let it be, let today’s matters end here. Call a few people to take the two girls to Fenghua Palace. Instruct everyone, including the eunuchs and palace maids of Fenghua Palace, not to disclose this matter. Those who violate this will face severe punishment. The noble consort Yu cast a glance at the person kneeling on the ground, and Ping Hai immediately felt a prickling sensation on his back, promptly bowing his head in agreement.

Wandering with Feng Wuhen is not a commendable task; everyone in Lingbo Palace knows he is an uncherished prince, fearing that their master might blame them for being idle. However, Rouping is not among them; as the second-in-command of Lingbo Palace, her status is transcendent. Dismissing all the surrounding eunuchs and palace maids, she enthusiastically points out the sights of the palace to Feng Wuhen. Feng Wuhen had never known that while he often dreamed of living in a spacious and bright room, there were actually people who were dissatisfied with it. If he were still that village boy and had not acquired the true memories of Feng Wuhen, he would surely be astonished and exclaim in surprise. Gently bending down to place his hand in the clear water, a chilling sensation, starkly different from the illustrations, suddenly made him shiver, nearly causing him to lose his grip on the railing

A palace maid hurriedly approached Rou Ping and whispered a few words. The warm expression on Rou Ping's face instantly reverted to her original demeanor. "Your Highness, please feel free to stroll around here; I shall take my leave now." After bowing, she turned and left. The young Feng Wuhen was unaware of what had caused this Aunt Ping to seemingly transform into a different person. He gazed blankly at the departing figure, realizing for the first time how unfamiliar he was with this strange place.

The feeling of being ignored is always unpleasant. Feng Wuhen returned to the vicinity of the main hall but did not enter immediately. Consort Yu and Rouping were conversing inside, and unrelated palace maids and eunuchs had long been dismissed, with even those at the entrance sent far away. This provided an opportunity for Feng Wuhen to sneak in quietly. He tiptoed into a dimly lit room next door. He had no idea that he had entered the place where Hongru and Lvyin had just been punished, where the two unfortunate girls had suffered brutal beatings and humiliation. He had come here out of a childlike curiosity, wanting to eavesdrop on the adults' conversation.

"Your Highness, this servant is merely acting according to your wishes!" The faint voice of Rouping came through, "You know very well that as a servant, I cannot go too far."

Xiao Liuzi quickly nodded in agreement. Consort Yu, appearing unfazed, continued to speak to the eunuch in charge of the punishment: "Ping Hai, you are being too careless. Two beautiful young ladies, and you resort to such harsh measures. I merely intended to impose a light punishment, yet you allowed both of them to faint. When Wu Hen comes in later and asks about this, how am I to respond to him?"

Your Highness, the execution on the green field has been completed. She and Hongru have both fainted. A eunuch just came in to report that Hongru could not endure after receiving twenty-seven strokes.

In that moment, Feng Wuhen felt that he had truly become the Seventh Prince. It was simply wonderful, free from the pressures of life and the worries of losing loved ones. Everything before him was undoubtedly exquisite. He knew that as long as he continued on this path, he would forever enjoy the privileges of royalty. Although there was still a hint of guilt in his heart, he understood that what had happened could not be reversed. At this moment, even if he were to reveal everything, it was likely that no one would believe him, for even those closest to him harbored no doubts.

"Your Highness, I feel that His Highness the Seventh is also quite pitiful." Although she knew it might provoke her master's anger, Rouping still mustered the courage to interject, as she could not forget the scene from earlier.

For some unknown reason, Feng Wuhen felt a chill throughout his body. Although he did not know who was being referred to in the words spoken, a sense of ominous premonition arose in his heart. Those words were too strange; he kept telling himself to remain calm, but it was in vain, as his trembling hands and feet betrayed him. He had to clarify whether it was his younger brother or himself that was being discussed.