Chapter Three

He Ziming’s sudden humiliation made Gu Chen and He Zisheng’s faces ugly, but because of the situation, they had to tolerate their grievances.

“I have overreached myself, Your Royal Highness …” He Zisheng deserved to be the son of destiny. He had a courageous spirit, and even after being so humiliated, he quickly adjusted himself back to normal. He acted very obedient and changed his words

“It’s good to know your place.” He Ziming snorted coldly: “You don’t need to copy the book.”

He looked down at He Zisheng with a raised eyebrow, as if looking at something cheap: “However, remember this. The reason this prince pardoned you was not because your behavior was correct, nor because I was being mercifulon account of our brotherhood, but rather that Zi Qing pleaded for you, and and so I let you go. “

“If you dare to commit another crime next time, you will have to rely on your own power, and your father will teach you what is the etiquette of the royal family, and punish you severely.” He Ziming looked at He Zisheng with threatening eyebrows.

Even if he knew he was overbearing, as a lofty and perverse crown prince, he would never acknowledge his wrongs.

He Zisheng didn’t say a word, and he didn’t even dare to look up at He Ziming. He answered with a low bow: “Yes, this one thanks His Royal Highness for his generosity, and swears he will always bear in mind His Royal Highness’ teachings.”

It seems that he is accustomed to He Ziming’s humiliation and bullying.

“That’s right, Xiao Shengzi, you remember these words . In the future, unless you are in front of the Emperor, do not dare to call this prince your brother. If you do, this prince will be forced to educate you again. You deserve to be called Xiao Shengzi, and this prince cannot afford to be compared with you. “He Ziming spat out insult after insult to He Zisheng.

He Zisheng was acting was very good even at his young age. Even in the face of such humiliation, he endured it in silence, and responded very obediently: “Yes, this minister will remember the teachings of the Crown Prince.”

“Get out.” He Ziming glared at him with hatred, before turning his gaze and waving his hands dismissively toward He Zisheng.

He looked at Gu Chen and said, “This prince is not feeling well tonight, so he will not send Zi Qing out. Zi Qing shall leave with Xiao Shengzi.”

“This official obeys.”

They listened to He Ziming’s remarks before they breathed a sigh of relief. After resigning from his presence, they left the prince’s palace.

“Host, why don’t you take this opportunity to repair the relationship with the protagonist, hold his golden thigh, and change Gu Chen’s impression of you? Do you still want to follow the path of the original Crown Prince?” Gu Chen and He Zisheng walked briskly out of sight. The mechanized voice of this constantly-dragging-the-legs system sounded in He Ziming’s mind: “If this continues, Gu Chen will only hate you more and more. It is impossible for him to treat you as his Baiyueguang after his death. “(TN: Baiyueguang= white moonlight in his heart, or a love that can never be forgotten)

The system is very concerned about the career path of the host.

Facing the system’s doubts, He Ziming said, “Rest assured, I have a sense of proportion.”

“But …” the system wanted to say something more.

He Ziming raised an eyebrow, but said: “I think that the original Crown Prince did not chose to give up his reincarnation, his ten merits and the true dragon emperor’s destiny only to watch Gu Chen love someone else. The task is not to for me to capture Gu Chen’s heart, but for Gu Chen to never forget the original soul.

The system was silent.

“With such a high remuneration, I think … I will try to do this task as perfectly as possible and make Gu Chen fall in love with the original prince,” said He Ziming.

He thought for a while and added the sentence: “No, it should be said that from this moment on, I am the Crown Prince.”

He Ziming’s fighting spirit was high, but Gu Chen and He Zisheng had just left the Crown Prince’s mansion. As soon as he came out of the Crown Prince’s mansion, Gu Chen immediately looked at He Zisheng with worry: “Chang’an, are you okay?”

Chang’an is the name of He Zisheng, the son of destiny.

” Although He Ziming is violent, I am still a prince. While he has humiliated to me many times, he still has a bottom line and won’t be too rough, or make me suffer bodily … Instead, he just forced me to copy the book. Mental intimidation can’t deter me. I can withstand this ordeal. “He Zisheng arrived at his own palace and immediately swept the innocent, cowering look off his face, showing demeanor of a majestic young emperor, full of sneers .

It seems that he never saw the so-called humiliation that He Ziming gave him. Compared to the bitterness and suffering he had eaten since childhood, what is this?

It’s all trivial.

Gu Chen frowned, and said, “You have been wronged, Chang’an …”

He had watched the small and thin child who had never experienced love grow into this powerful, intelligent prince, but he still had to suffer such humiliation. Gu Chen was very distressed for his beloved.

“What kind of grievance is this?” He Zisheng sneered, gritted his teeth and said, “One day, I will step upon all those who have insulted me, and let He Ziming pay for everything he has done.”

Gu Chen frowned and tried to persuade him to let go of his hatred, but he didn’t know where to start.

“However, He Ziming often rebukes me lately, but it seems it’s not simply because of his hatred of me, but because of our friendship, Ziqing.” He Zisheng suddenly thought of something, but sneered.

Gu Chensheng was afraid that He Zisheng could see He Ziming’s intentions towards him, and quickly asked, “What does Changan mean?”

“Zi Qing is well-known in the world, and He Ziming’s desire to recruit Zi Qing is also well-known.” Unlike Gu Chen and He Ziming, who were mosquito-repellent incense(TN: Mosquito repellent incense is bent into a coil), He Zisheng, the son of destiny, is a straight man.

Regarding He Ziming’s sudden pursuit of Gu Chen, he never considered it to be romantic, but used his own thinking to treat He Ziming’s goodwill to Gu Chen as a monarch attempting to recruit talented people.

Gu Chen expressed a sigh of relief, and swore his loyalty to He Zisheng: “I grew up with Chang’an from an early age, and consider Chang’an my brother. As a child, I vowed that I would devote this life to Chang’an. . “

The implication is that no matter how well He Ziming treats him, he will not be swayed by He Ziming.

“Of course I believe Ziqing regards me as a brother.” He Zisheng patted Gu Chen’s shoulder. As a future monarch, his insightful eyes are outstanding: “But in fact, I have another idea.”

“What does Chang’an mean?” Gu Chen asked softly.

He Zisheng smiled softly.

He wanted Gu Chen to enter He Ziming’s forces, to become He Ziming’s confidant, and to become his undercover spy to pave the way for his future rise …

——

After that day, Gu Chen began to get closer to the crown prince by incremental steps. To outsiders, he seemed to be impressed by the crown prince’s recruitment, and joined the other party’s camp, becoming a crony to the crown prince. Only Gu Chen knew the true reason the Crown Prince had worked hard to bring him to his side.

The Crown Prince desired him, not as a ruler desires talented people to fill his court, but as a lover…

Because his icy loved one gradually melted and was moved by himself, He Ziming’s mood suddenly became very good, and his temper was no longer the same as before. He even looked at He Zisheng, who he always considered annoying, and found him pleasing to the eye. The court was thrilled to find that the moody crown prince had finally become dignified.

All the people in the Crown Prince’s forces were grateful to Gu Chen and thanked their lucky stars for the change.

He Ziming’s good mood lasted for several months and was not broken until a palace feast.

The reason for the break was that He Ziming felt that his plots were almost finished brewing, and it was time to wash clean the crown prince’s past …

The truth of some things, the deceased prince did not speak of even until his death, so He Ziming would tell He Zisheng and Gu Chen on his behalf.

The day of the palace feast was the death day of the crown prince’s birth mother, the former Empress. Although the banquet was set up in the palace, the feast was truly held in honor of the dead Empress.

The Empress Yuan and the old emperor were childhood sweethearts. Her status in the eyes of the old emperor is unparalleled, and she can be called his true love. Therefore, even if the only child left by the Empress Yuan is quite incompetent, and even a little dazed, the old emperor never thought about demoting the prince. After the death of the Empress, he was worried that other concubines would neglect or bully the only child his beloved wife left. Because of this, he personally raised He Ziming by his side, despite his busy situation.

His favor and attention to He Ziming are unmatched by other princes.

At such a banquet to commemorate the Empress Yuan, everyone except the old emperor and prince-in-law naturally became mere set pieces.

For the entirety of the palace feast, except for the father and son, who reminisced about the deceased Yuan queen, and wept bitter tears, the other guests could only were eat silently, not even allowed to speak.

Prince He Ziming has deep affection for his biological mother, and thinking of his prematurely deceased mother drank many cups of wine, quickly becoming drunk.

After the end of the palace feast, the depressed old emperor was supported out by his trusted eunuch, and He Ziming immediately wobbled and stood in an unstable manner, crying in sorrow: “Mother…”

“His Royal Highness.”

“Brother!”

He Zimeng stumbled, about to fall. He Zisheng and Gu Chen came forward immediately, and He Zisheng helped support He Ziming.

As soon as He Ziming saw He Zisheng’s face, he looked at him fiercely and bitterly, and threw away He Zisheng’s hand without leaving him any face.

He Zisheng didn’t flinch at his rude and violent behavior. He still supported He Ziming firmly, but said with lowered eyebrows: “Brother, you are drunk, let your brother help you back.”

Although He Ziming didn’t like He Zisheng to call him brother, he couldn’t stop him from calling him this in public…

He Ziming looked at He Zisheng for a long time. Perhaps because of his drunkenness, he did not hit He Zisheng’s face, but allowed him to escort him away from the lively and complicated palace banquet scene.

The three walked quietly together.

Perhaps because of the cold wind, when He Ziming walked to a relatively quiet, uninhabited palace path, He Zimeng suddenly stopped and retched.

He Zisheng was disgusted, but still came forward and patted He Ziming’s back gently. He served him like a little eunuch, and asked softly, “His Royal Highness, are you okay?”

He clearly remembered that they were already in private and he could no longer call him brother.

“Get off!” Who knows, at this time He Ziming suddenly raged, the wine scenting his breath blowing into He Zisheng’s face.

He Zisheng’s disgusted face was almost difficult to hide, but his actions were very thoughtful: “His Royal Highness, you have drunk too much, I will take you back.”

He hasn’t forgotten that he is still a dog under a fence, and he can only live by relying on He Ziming’s power.

No matter how He Ziming humiliates him, he must please the other party!

“I told you to go away, did you not understand? You bastard!” He Zisheng stepped forward again, but He Ziming kicked him to the ground suddenly.

He Zisheng was kicked fiercely, but He Zimeng was crazed with drink. He punched and kicked him, and finally strangled his neck as if he really wanted to kill He Zisheng, screaming: “Kill you, I’ll kill you, you bastard! “

“Cough—” He Zisheng’s body was still very weak at this time, and he was a teenager. He Ziming, who was already an adult man, completely overwhelmed him, strangling him as he struggled and writhed for air on the ground.

Seeing this, Gu Chen quickly stepped forward, and he ripped away the drunken He Ziming, and rescued He Zisheng from his hands.

As the son of Shang Shu, a soldier of the Ministry of Military Affairs who trained from an early age, Gu Chen was merely an official but still capable of martial arts. He had a lot of strength. He quickly pulled He Ziming away, and harshly accused: “His Royal Highness, the fourth prince is your brother, how can you treat him so? “

Gu Chen felt that the surly and mad crown prince was unreasonable to the extreme, but his rank is too high to compete with, born as the only son of the Empress. Otherwise, how could this drunk possibly compare to He Zisheng’s brilliance.

“He Zisheng, do you hate me?” He Ziming went madly to He Zisheng, stumbling drunkenly.

He Zisheng ignored him.

He Ziming pushed Gu Chen away, and he directly lifted He Zisheng up and asked again: “He Zisheng, do you hate me?”

“How could Chen Di hate His Royal Highness? For many years, Chen Di was able to survive in the harem thanks to His Royal Highness’ care. Chen Di is grateful to His Royal Highness, and could not be thankful. How could I hate His Royal Highness? “He Zisheng is indeed the son of destiny. Even at this time, while he hated He Ziming very much, and there was no hint on his face. Even if He Ziming was drunk and would not recall the conversation, he still acted out a play that he was grateful to the prince.

He Ziming praised the protagonist in his heart, but he twisted his face into a drunken stupor, and as if he had heard a joke began to laugh long and hard: “Hahaha, you don’t hate me. . “

“But I hate you, He Zisheng …” He swayed drunkenly.

Gu Chen saw on the spot that He Ziming was a bit abnormal. He intuitively felt that the other party would say something secret and was trying to persuade him: “His Royal Highness …”

“Mother, your son is not filial, your son is not filial.” He Ziming switched topics suddenly, bursting into drunken tears as he cried: “Today is your death day, and your son knows that Rongfei killed you, But he dares not tell this to the emperor, considering his brother, but his brother is also Rongfei’s son… how can I protect Rong Fei’s son … I am sorry for you, I am sorry, mother… “

He Ziming wept on the ground.

Gu Chen and He Zisheng were stunned on the spot.

Rong Fei is not a stranger. She is the base mother of He Zisheng. Rong Fei is not a concubine, but a slave, and she has no power in the palace. Because of her low birth, almost every other concubine in the palace can bully her. In the early years, she was taken care of by the Empress Yuan, and her life improved while the Empress lived.

Rong Fei’s temperament was extremely weak. After the death of Empress Yuan, everyone came to bully and insult her, and the emperor did not care about her life and death.

No one knew why, but the crown prince, He Ziming, often came to find Rong Fei and insult her …

He Zisheng deeply loves his cowardly mother, and while he can tolerate being bullied by He Ziming, it is because He Ziming has repeatedly insulted his mother that He Zisheng hates He Ziming so deeply.

But now, He Ziming said that such a cowardly woman as Rong Fei actually caused the death of Empress Yuan. Is this possible? is that true?

Is He Ziming drunk, talking nonsense, or…?

“His Royal Highness …” Both Gu Chen and He Zisheng were astonished.

He Ziming drunkenly stumbled to He Zisheng and grabbed his hand: “Chang’an, you are my younger brother, you are my favorite younger brother, your oldest brother loves you the most, you have saved his life … … but why, why are you Rong Fei’s son, the son of my mother’s murderer? Chang’an? “

The drunk He Ziming’s eyes were burning, and the thick brotherhood could almost overflow from his eyes. His hoarse voice was full of contradictions and deep feelings. No one would doubt that his feelings were false.

He Zisheng felt that his intense eyes were scorching his soul, and suddenly remembered that when he was young, he once had a good relationship with He Ziming, although it was because of He Ziming’s youth and his bullying at the hands of the other princes. The young He Zisheng was calculating, and deliberately plotted to win the favor of He Ziming, but the young crown prince truly loved the friendless fourth prince, and was a wonderful brother to him. Even his own name, Chang’an, was given to him by the crown prince.

He used to be very clingy with He Ziming … But when did all this change?

Oh, it started around the death of Empress Yuan.

Since then, the young man who was warm and sunny has disappeared and has become the imperious crown prince now.

“Brother …” He Zisheng recalled the past and couldn’t help but pull He Ziming’s sleeve, and called him.

But this made the drunken He Ziming go crazy. He shook off He Zisheng’s hand, and looked at him in disgust, as if he saw something filthy. He said sharply, “Go away! You bastard, you’re unworthy to call me your brother!”

He Zisheng released his hand, but this time he couldn’t be so relieved that he hated He Ziming.

He Ziming staggered a few steps, but suddenly fell down.

“His Royal Highness …” Gu Chen and He Zisheng rushed forward to support him.

Fortunately, He Ziming did not faint, but fell into a drunken sleep. After falling into Gu Chen’s arms, a short snoring sounded after a while …

“…” He Zisheng.

Gu Chen: “…”

He Ziming slept soundly, but after he revealed so many secrets and uttered the truth after drinking so much, the other two were destined to stay up all night without sleep.

TN: Finally done! Still trying to figure out how to add buttons and clean up the webpage, hopefully this weekend I will have time to make the site look better and add next and previous buttons to the pages.