Changxia Palace was the residence of Wei Zhenfeng's mother when she was alive. Wei Zhaoxiu's favor towards Concubine Mei lasted for a full twenty years. Changxia Palace was extremely rich and luxurious, and every item picked up from it was a gift from the emperor.
After Concubine Mei passed away, Wei Zhaoxiu preserved the original appearance of Changxia Palace and ordered the maids and eunuchs to clean the palace every day, just as when Concubine Mei was alive. Not only that, Wei Zhaoxiu often came to Changxia Palace to sit for a while, missing his beloved concubine who died young.
But now, Changxia Palace has become Wei Zhaoxiu's final prison.
Wei Zhenfeng and Zhao Mian came to the gate of Changxia Palace hand in hand. The imperial guards guarding around Changxia Palace were all Wei Zhenfeng's confidants. At Wei Zhenfeng's signal, they slowly pushed open the gate of Changxia Palace.
Wei Zhenfeng stood outside the door for a long time, until he felt his hand tighten, then he took Zhao Mian's hand and walked in.
After so many years, Changxia Palace still looks the same as he remembered. The plum tree planted in the courtyard withered prematurely in the spring when all flowers were in full bloom. There was no more subtle fragrance, but a strong smell of medicine instead.
A dilapidated swing cast a quiet orange shadow under the eaves. In a trance, Wei Zhenfeng seemed to hear the laughter of children and the gentle whispers of women.
"I'm hungry, mother. I want some snacks."
"You will not have any snacks today. Not only today, but you will not have any snacks for the whole month."
"No, why?"
"Mother heard that you made their little prince cry in Nanjing Palace. Is that true?"
"He's good-looking, and I wanted to play with him, but he started crying when I teased him, like a princess..."
"Don't talk nonsense. If you see him next time, you must apologize to him. Got it?"
Wei Zhenfeng raised the corner of his mouth slightly: "This is where I grew up."
"I know," Zhao Mian said, "Let's keep going."
Wei Zhenfeng led him forward, through the long corridor in the sunset, as if walking through all of Wei Zhenfeng's youth. At the end of the corridor was a closed door, and outside the door stood two elderly, hunchbacked eunuchs. They were about to open the door for Wei Zhenfeng, but Wei Zhenfeng raised his hand to stop them: "I will do it myself."
He held Zhao Mian's hand with one hand and pushed open the door with the other.
The doors and windows of the house were closed and it was as dark as night. As the light came in, Zhao Mian saw a wheelchair standing by the window, and the man sitting on the wheelchair was Wei Zhenfeng's father, Wei Zhaoxiu.
The last time Zhao Mian saw Wei Zhaoxiu was at the beginning of last year. At that time, Wei Zhaoxiu was still a handsome man in his forties. In just over a year, he looked like he had aged twenty years, with gray hair and frosty temples. Only his pair of peach blossom eyes and the teardrop mole under his left eye retained some of his youthful charm.
Wei Zhenfeng imprisoned him in Changxia Palace and used drugs to restrict his movements, forcing him to sit in a wheelchair and linger. But even so, Wei Zhaoxiu did not look embarrassed at all, and even retained some of the aura of a high-ranking official.
Wei Zhaoxiu should have known that Wei Zhenfeng would come to settle things with him one day. He was very calm when he saw Wei Zhenfeng, but there was a hint of surprise in his eyes when he fell on Zhao Mian.
"I didn't expect you to bring someone to see me." Wei Zhaoxiu said, "You don't dare to come alone?"
Wei Zhenfeng asked Zhao Mian to sit down first, and then found a chair for himself, as casual as if he was chatting with a peer: "It's boring to come here alone."
Wei Zhaoxiu carefully examined Zhao Mian and said meaningfully, "No wonder you left the beauties in Beiyuan behind and kept going to Nanjing."
Wei Zhenfeng didn't want to waste time talking to Wei Zhaoxiu, so he asked directly, "Why did you poison my mother?"
"You already know everything." Wei Zhaoxiu was not surprised that Wei Zhenfeng knew about it. The man sighed and said, "Zhenfeng, I really can't bear to part with your mother."
Wei Zhenfeng looked at the man's face which looked like he was regretting, and was unexpectedly calm.
If he was eighteen years old two years ago, he might have been furious and out of control because of Wei Zhaoxiu's words, and loudly questioned Wei Zhaoxiu how he had the nerve to say the word "reluctant", but now he just thought it was ridiculous.
He was twenty years old and had a child, the child Zhao Mian gave birth to for him.
Zhao Mian was right beside him, watching him. The emperor, who was high above everyone else, would not like someone who was easily angered by a few words. It was better to leave the ups and downs of emotions and loss of control to Zhao Mian. It was not worth it for others.
"What did she know?" Wei Zhenfeng asked calmly, "Or rather, what do you think she knew?"
On that day, Wei Zhenfeng found Concubine Mei's suicide note in Benquan Academy and learned the whole story.
Concubine Mei was favored for 20 years, but died in her last night with Wei Zhaoxiu due to his suspicion. She had a premonition that her death was approaching, but she never knew why she died.
Wei Zhaoxiu might not be sure whether she heard her own dream talk, but as long as this possibility existed, Concubine Mei would not be able to escape death.
Even if she knows nothing.
Wei Zhaoxiu stared at the python robe Wei Zhenfeng was wearing. At first glance, the python and the dragon looked similar, one had four toes and the other had five toes. The difference of just one toe made the difference between the ruler and the subject.
"I am very curious, why are you still just a prince?" Wei Zhaoxiu asked instead of answering, "Even if you are not in a hurry to ascend the throne, at least give yourself the title of crown prince."
Wei Zhaoxiu looked around and talked about something else. Wei Zhenfeng was not anxious at all. Instead, he continued to talk along with Wei Zhaoxiu's words: "Is there a possibility that your son has no interest in the throne?"
Wei Zhaoxiu narrowed his eyes slightly: "Are you going to say that you did all this just to avenge your mother?"
The word "just" sounded too harsh, Wei Zhenfeng said indifferently: "Is it not possible?"
"Don't be silly," Wei Zhaoxiu raised his lips, "You have always wanted to sit on the throne. Even if your mother hadn't happened, you would still be here today."
Zhao Mian, who had been silent all this time, suddenly sneered. Wei Zhaoxiu looked at him and asked, "What are you laughing at?"
Zhao Mian said: "You think you know your son very well."
"Look at what he did. Rebellion, forcing the emperor to abdicate, killing his brother, murdering his father..." Wei Zhaoxiu showed a nostalgic look, "Just like me in the past."
Wei Zhenfeng and Zhao Mian looked at each other, and a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes.
As far as Zhao Mian knew, Wei Zhaoxiu's succession to the throne was a natural thing. Wei Zhaoxiu had been the crown prince for many years, and no one could shake his position, let alone question his identity. Wei Zhaoxiu had no reason to abdicate and kill his father.
Unless something unexpected happens at the last moment before he succeeds to the throne.
"When your grandfather was dying, he learned that your grandmother had an affair with an imperial physician." Wei Zhaoxiu spoke lightly, as if he was talking about something that had nothing to do with him. "He suspected that I was not his child, so he secretly summoned his confidants and wanted to appoint a new crown prince."
Wei Zhenfeng asked: "Is that you?"
"Of course I am. I look so much like him." Wei Zhaoxiu said lightly, "It's a pity that your grandfather is just like you and me. He won't miss any possibility."
Wei Zhenfeng raised his eyebrows: "So you killed him."
"Yes, I killed him myself." Wei Zhaoxiu said with relish, "His trusted minister was kneeling outside the palace, and I strangled him to death. Zhenfeng, shouldn't you thank your father? If it weren't for what I did that day, you wouldn't even be considered a royal bloodline, and how could you be here today."
Wei Zhenfeng said coldly: "Is this why you poisoned mother? Do you think she knows this?"
Wei Zhaoxiu spread his hands and said helplessly: "I don't want to either."
"You killed the wrong person." When Wei Zhenfeng said this, he was finally willing to give Wei Zhaoxiu a straight look. He wanted to know how the other party would react after learning the truth. "That night, you didn't say anything in your dream, and she didn't hear anything."
"Oh." Wei Zhaoxiu lowered his hands, a look of sadness without regret appeared in his eyes, and he didn't seem surprised, "What a pity."
Wei Zhenfeng withdrew his gaze and smiled silently to himself.
What was he expecting and what reaction would Wei Zhaoxiu have.
"Why don't you ask her?" Zhao Mian couldn't help but say, "You don't have a mouth."
Wei Zhaoxiu looked at Zhao Mian and said in a strange tone: "You are also a person in a high position, don't you understand?"
Zhao Mian said condescendingly: "Not all people in high positions are like you."
Wei Zhaoxiu looked at the younger generation who were ignorant of the world and said, "It's just that you think you are different."
At this time, there was a knock on the door. It was Ji Chong.
"Your Highness," Ji Chong presented something, "The soup from Linhua Palace is ready and has been delivered."
Wei Zhenfeng stood up and said simply, "It just so happens that we have finished our chat." He motioned Ji Chong to bring the soup from Linhua Palace to Wei Zhaoxiu, "Try it, father, it is what you like."
Wei Zhaoxiu looked down at the soup in the exquisite porcelain bowl and said, "This is what I like."
"Then please enjoy your meal slowly, father. I will not disturb you any more." Wei Zhenfeng took Zhao Mian's hand and turned to leave.
"Zhenfeng," Wei Zhaoxiu looked up at Wei Zhenfeng, with the last glimmer of light in his eyes, "I know you don't want to admit it, but you will always be the child who looks most like me."
Wei Zhenfeng sneered, "Stop flattering yourself, Father."
Wei Zhaoxiu smiled slightly: "Look, the way you kill people is all learned from me. You are as cruel as I am."
Wei Zhenfeng said indifferently: "If you say so, then so be it."
"I watched my father close his eyes back then," Wei Zhaoxiu said with a smile, "Don't you want to watch?"
"No." Wei Zhenfeng didn't respond, "I don't want to dream about you."
Zhao Mian accompanied Wei Zhenfeng out of Changxia Palace step by step, and the heavy door slowly closed behind them.
Wei Zhenfeng's face showed no emotion, and he was about to become another regicide and patricide. When passing by the plum tree, Wei Zhenfeng stopped and suddenly said, "In the past, he stood here to listen to me recite and watch me practice with a spear."
Zhao Mian was speechless. Perhaps Wei Zhaoxiu had also thought about being a good father.
Not long after, Ji Chong came hurriedly and whispered, "Your Majesty, His Majesty has passed away."
It seems that Concubine De chose to take action for the sake of her child. Little did she know that the evidence of her regicide was in Wei Zhenfeng's hands, and they would be controlled by others for the rest of their lives.
Wei Zhenfeng remained silent for a long time, and finally responded to the news of his biological father's death with just a "hmm".
Zhao Mian looked at Wei Zhenfeng's profile and asked, "Do you want to cry?"
"Of course not." Wei Zhenfeng's eyebrows relaxed and he smiled softly, "It's not shameful to cry for you, but crying for others is nothing."
Zhao Mian turned around and stared into the dark night with Wei Zhenfeng: "It's embarrassing to cry for me."
(End of this chapter)