Not Your Typical Villianess

Chapter 182: The place of no return 2

The Emperor's palace

Let go," Emperor Zhong said in a low tone when she didn't budge. He pushed her hands away from his collar and pushed her aside. "Control yourself!"

Empress Lu grabbed the table by his majesty's side and broke her fall, she chuckle before pushing herself up. She no longer feared hurting his feelings and just wanted to make him suffer.

"I have kept silence while you did everything you could to destroy my family but I draw the line when it comes to my son!"

Emperor Zhong opened and shut his mouth, like a fish a few times, "your your Son?" His heart skipped a beat and his breathing dropped. It was like he was falling into sinking sand. He found himself hoping that she had miss spoken but her next words left him speechless for some seconds.

Empress Lu nodded, "Yes! Lu Yaozhu the person you hate the most is our Qiang, for a smart man I am surprised you didn't notice the similarities he has to the former Emperor but I guess you just took it as being due to how long the Lu family's blood has mixed with Zhongshan family. As he got older, I feared that you would get suspicious but you never did, because you never saw past his surname"

Emperor Zhong fell backwards, his head hitting the back of the seat but he didn't feel the pain. He was too focused on processing what she had said. He covered his eyes with his hands and rubbed his face in an attempt to clear his eyes. 

"You lie, How is that possible. Qiang died in the fire!" He said.

Empress Lu chuckled, "No he didn't, I got him out when the fire started and sent him to Hongli and his wife. I guess this is the point where you will accuse me of lying to you like you ever gave me a choice" she paced around the room for some seconds and looked back at him. 

Emperor Zhong narrowed his eyes at her and in a chilling tone said, "You lied to me for years and kept my child away from me all for what. So that you can make me suffer, WHY DID YOU DO THAT!"

Empress Lu laughed softly and pointing at him shouted, "I DID WHAT I COULD TO PROTECT MY SON! We were all alone in this gilded prison you call your Imperial Haram. When he was born and you made him the crown prince, I thought that you would do right by him and protect him but you never did. Do you know what happens to princes that lack the Emperor's protection at an early age in the haram?

"They became targets! Your misplaced jealousy nearly harmed my child. Every day, I lost sleep just to protect my little boy. While the man that was supposed to protect the two of us lost himself in between a disloyal woman's legs. Before the fire, there were four attempts on my boy's life, all of which were arranged by your Precious little concubine, Imperial consort Shi. However, it was the moment I found out about Noble consort Tong's plans to kill my son by setting the nursery on fire that pushed me to the edge.

"I went to see you the day, I found out about that but you were with your precious consort. Do you remember the day, I stood outside her palace till night but you never came out to see me. That was when I was naive enough to believe you would protect me or my child. I am not so naive anymore, I would never regret meeting you because those years with you gave me my son and taught me a very important lesson.

"Never trust anyone but yourself with your safety and the safety of your children. After that experience, I made up my mind to send my son away. A decision that frankly, I never regret making. It gave him a chance to live, because of your incompetence. I couldn't raise my son myself but I always thanked the Gods for making him strong enough that he survived multiple attempts to kill him."

Empress Lu walked closer to him, "isn't it funny how the man you hated and killed, was the one to protect your son. Hongli and Madam Lu didn't even waver when I asked them to protect my son. My best friend just lost her hind at seven months, but the moment I asked for help. She agreed no questions asked, I will always be indebted to her and my brother. They protected the two of us even better than my husband".

Emperor Zhong felt like the carpet was pulled from under him as he heard her words. He couldn't refute anything, she said because it had truly happened as she said. He suddenly felt so ashamed, a feeling that she hasn't felt in decades. He looked up at the only woman he loved but couldn't look her in the eye.

He sighed, "please forgive me, Meirong. I was wrong. I was wrong then as I am wrong now, I should have protected you two. I will approve his request for reinforcement immediately".

Empress Lu looked away and muttered, "A'Zhu needs more than just reinforcement, I got word that he was injured badly. My Son might die, I guess you will finally get your wish. Once he does, you can relax finally and let me go". Empress Lu left without looking back.

Meanwhile, outside the door closed ajar. Zhongshan Ling limped back quickly while holding on to his cane and hid by the door as the Empress walked out of the room. He waited for some minutes before stepping out of his hiding spot and leaving the palace. He had come here to plead with the Emperor to protect Lu Yaozhu but instead overhead the Empress's confession. 

He walked back to his Palace deep in thoughts, the things that had happened at he grew up with Lu Yaozhu suddenly made sense. Never in a million years would he think that Lu Yaozhu was the Empress's biological son. He finally understood why the Empress was always more protective of Lu Yaozhu.

The discovery came as a shock to him, he didn't know what to make of the whole mess. He glanced at Fu Hong his new personal guard and asked, "what do you think father Emperor would do after this reveal. I am curious about that". Fu Hong didn't respond, had understood that the Crown Prince did not want an answer. 

Zhongshan Ling had given up on committing suicide after he had received his father's threat. While he had complicated feelings toward the Empress after discovering the part she played in his mother's death. However, since he was responsible for Xia Ying's well being, he couldn't just think solely of his comfort. He decided to put all thoughts of ending this misery completely out of his mind.

The first thing he had found after making that decision was to replace his deceased guards. He was more careful in selecting guards, he wasn't fully recovered from the betrayal he had experienced at the hands of her former spymaster. Fu Hong was a talented guard trained personally by his former personal guard Xie Feng. 

Xie Feng had complimented the young guard and even recommended him to handle a few duties. Zhongshan Ling selected him as Xie Feng's successor based on his achievement. Zhongshan Ling was escorted back to his palace.

The next day he was amused as Fu Hong informed him that the Emperor sent Lu Yaozhu 50,000 soldiers. However, the discovery that the Emperor sent a veteran commanding general with the troupe made him pause. He hadn't expected his father to keep his words but the fact that he did said a lot. 

A few hours later the Emperor received a message from Ningzhuo reporting that Chu state had to pull out all their soldiers following the death of the crown Prince. Emperor Zhong was more impressed when he found out that the Chu Xiaosi died at the hands of his long lost son. While everyone rejoiced at the good news, The sixth prince world gradually fell apart.

******

Meanwhile at The sixth Prince's end

Zhongshan Ling felt uneasy during the last hours of the day since the Chu state pulled out of the war. He paced around his room, he had sent what to Zhu Faye to come over but gas failed to receive a response. He pulled at the collar of his shirt as he paced around the room, looking to the entrance intervals.

He couldn't wait any longer, Chu state sudden withdrawal put a huge dent in his previous plans. He looked at the door once more at the appearance of a male shadow that made him rush forward however he was surprised to find that it was his guard and not Zhu Faye as he hoped. His face fell and he glared at his guard.

"Any word from Faye?" He asked.

"No your Highness" his guard replied. He jumped suddenly as a cup flew past him to the wall opposite Zhongshan Ling.

"Why isn't he answering? What is taking him so long! Hashe betrayed me? Is that why he is silent?"

The guard swallowed and summoning up much-needed courage came forward, "your highness, there was a fire at Minister Zhu's house. Young Master Zhu is no more!"