"Why are you sending me to Dayue?"
Escorting Song Yanzheng was An Qi, a notoriously sharp-tongued member of the Imperial Guards.
"Prince Min of Dayue has taken a liking to the Second Princess. You are her elder brother."
"Then why not send Song Yanchao or Song Yanming?" Song Yanzheng's eyes burned with fury. In his current state—neither human nor ghost—being sent to Dayue was no different from a death sentence.
"The eldest brother is like a father."
At this nonsensical reply, Song Yanzheng's face twisted in rage.
"Dayue, out of deference to Daqi, will treat you well," An Qi said solemnly. "Daqi will also send supplies regularly to ensure your safety."
"His Majesty is so heartless. Does he not fear—"
"Grand Prince!"
An Qi's expression turned icy. "Defying the Emperor's decree is punishable by death."
Song Yanzheng fell silent.
Yet despair filled his eyes. Why must he sacrifice himself for Song Xiyan's happiness?
Days later.
The convoy of carriages arrived smoothly at the border between Daqi and Dayue.
"Gentlemen, you may stop here."
At the words of the Dayue envoy, An Qi leaped down from the carriage with a single motion. "The carriage holds Daqi's Grand Prince. We entrust him to you."
"Rest assured, Dayue will treat the Grand Prince with utmost care."
As Song Yanzheng's carriage crossed the border, the Dayue envoy's smile widened.
Bringing back a prince of Daqi would surely earn them great rewards from the Emperor.
But when the envoys lifted the carriage curtain and saw Song Yanzheng slumped on the seat, their expressions froze.
Why was the prince a cripple?
Dayue Imperial Palace.
"Fools! Utter fools!"
Emperor Mingde snatched an inkstone from the table and hurled it at the envoy's head, instantly opening a bloody gash.
"Your Majesty, spare us! We had no idea Daqi would send the Grand Prince!"
"A prince with severed limbs is no different from a useless cripple!" Emperor Mingde fumed, smoke practically rising from his head. "Are they scheming to make me raise a worthless burden for Daqi?"
"Your Majesty, please calm yourself. At least... at least Prince Min remains in Daqi," another envoy ventured timidly. "This time, Prince Min has offended the Qin Prince's household again. His days in Daqi won't be easy."
Hearing this, Emperor Mingde's anger subsided slightly.
As long as Rong Lingchen suffered, he was content.
He had wanted to eliminate Rong Lingchen, that wretched thorn in his side, but the elders of the Imperial Clan Court had interfered. Now, he could only hope the Qin Prince's household would rid him of this menace.
"Your Majesty, what of the Grand Prince...?"
"Find some corner of the palace to dump him in. A prince abandoned by Daqi isn't worth my attention." Emperor Mingde's eyes flashed with disgust.
As long as the man wasn't killed, it didn't matter.
"As you command."
The envoys exchanged dark glances. A hostage despised by the Emperor would surely have a miserable life in Dayue.
......
Daqi.
Creak—
The door of the dungeon swung open. Rong Lingchen cowered in the corner, startled.
"Move. Lord Shen wishes to see you."
Within moments, Rong Lingchen was dragged before Shen Qingping.
Unaccustomed to the light, Rong Lingchen squinted.
"Let me introduce myself—Shen Qingping of Daqi."
Shen Qingping smiled faintly as he sipped his tea.
"You're no noble of Daqi. Why should I acknowledge you?" Rong Lingchen, still oblivious to his predicament, remained defiant.
"Ah, Prince Min." Shen Qingping's smile deepened. "I forgot to mention—the Dayue envoys have already returned to Dayue."
"What? How dare they return without me?"
Panic flickered in Rong Lingchen's eyes. During his days in the dungeon, he had been tortured daily, only to have his wounds treated with the finest medicine at night.
His only hope had been returning to Dayue.
"We exchanged you for a prince of Daqi." Shen Qingping clicked his tongue. "Prince Min, you will remain in Daqi forever."
"Impossible!"
Absolutely impossible!
......
"Bring me my specially crafted whip!"
Ever since Shen Qingping had suffered a lashing during the Shen family incident, he had commissioned a whip lined with barbs—perfect for dealing with men like Rong Lingchen.
"Lord Shen, your whip."
"String him up."
At these words, Rong Lingchen's eyes widened. What did this seemingly frail man intend to do?
He soon found out.
As the barbed whip lashed across his half-healed wounds, Rong Lingchen screamed.
"Confused about how your scheme unraveled so quickly?"
With every word, Shen Qingping delivered another brutal strike.
"Your sorcery only worked partially. At the banquet, the Emperor praised not Prince Qi—but Prince Qin."
Praising Prince Qin while addressing Prince Qi had instantly alerted the court to Emperor Yuanyou's strange behavior.
"And the policy essay wasn't written by the Second Princess—it was Princess Fu'an of the Qin Prince's household."
Each sentence struck Rong Lingchen like a hammer, shattering his delusions.
"No... the sorcery worked... My father wouldn't lie to me..." Rong Lingchen's lips trembled in pain and disbelief.
"Tell me everything about this sorcery."
Shen Qingping loomed over him like death incarnate.
"If I tell you, will you spare my life?"
"No."
Shen Qingping leaned in, his voice soft. "But if you refuse, you will rot in this dungeon, enduring endless torture, unable to even beg for death."
"Meanwhile, your new Emperor in Dayue has gladly accepted the prince we sent. Dayue... won't come for you."
In an instant, the light in Rong Lingchen's eyes died.
"Spare me, and I'll tell you the duration of the sorcery's effect," he bargained desperately.
"Apologies, but our Emperor has already recovered."
Shen Qingping's gaze sharpened. "I've never met anyone so foolish—not even realizing the sorcery wears off on its own."
No wonder!
Rong Lingchen burst into mad laughter. No wonder the Rong family's ancestral teachings forbade using this sorcery except in life-or-death situations. No wonder its exposure would disgrace the Dayue royal family.
Because the sorcery dissipated on its own, it could only buy the royal family fleeting time in dire straits.
"Prince Min, this is the only time I will see you. Refuse to speak, and you won't get another chance."
At this, Rong Lingchen lifted his head.
"Earlier... what did you say your name was?"
"Shen Qingping. A follower of Prince Qin."
Rong Lingchen smirked, blood trickling from his lips.
"Very well. I'll tell you everything."
