The situation was getting out of hand, and Lu Bohuan didn’t have much time. Zhao Tuo had carefully planned for a long time, and if Lu Bohuan wanted to stop him, he had to be quick—had to be one step ahead. His only advantage was that he knew Zhao Tuo’s plan inside out. If Zhao Tuo could use his identity to plot a rebellion, Lu Bohuan could also use Zhao Tuo’s identity to prevent this treason.
But stopping it this time? What about later?
No one could guarantee that Zhao Tuo wouldn’t have similar intentions in the future. Lu Bohuan couldn’t give him that chance. The current situation was unclear, and if, by any chance, it turned into a disaster, Lu Bohuan wouldn’t have time for regrets.
That night, looking at the person peacefully sleeping beside him, Lu Bohuan made a decision.
He had to put an end to this matter, cut off Zhao Tuo’s escape route. Rebellion was a capital offense, and Lu Bohuan wasn’t thinking about dying for now. Everything he did was to keep control in his hands, to take the initiative in his own hands. Leaving himself more room to maneuver.
“Don’t cry. If you cry any more, your eyes will swell up.” Lu Bohuan pressed his thumb at the corner of Qin Yuanxi’s eye, suddenly lowering his head to kiss him. “If you cry again, I won’t be able to control myself from wanting to kiss you.”
“You…” Qin Yuanxi gasped, obviously a bit disoriented by Lu Bohuan’s actions.
He had many intimate moments with Zhao Tuo, had been on the bed countless times. The child was about to be born, but with Lu Bohuan, it hadn’t happened, and not only that, he remained quite reserved in front of Lu Bohuan. He didn’t know why, but he had set a barrier for himself and wasn’t easily willing to cross it.
Now, that barrier he hadn’t crossed was crossed by Lu Bohuan.
Lu Bohuan didn’t offer any explanation for the kiss, as if it was just a natural progression, as if he hadn’t done anything at all.
“Without the Emperor’s decree, the Grand Court won’t directly sentence me. After leaving the palace, I’ll be temporarily confined in the mansion. The Emperor can stay at ease in the palace until after the birth of the prince, then handle the aftermath.” Lu Bohuan explained some crucial points to Qin Yuanxi. “Zhao Tuo’s mischief this time, it’s not entirely without benefits. Some officials with sinister intentions in the court have been quite active during this operation. The Emperor can take advantage of this opportunity to clean them up, purifying the court atmosphere. The list is here, and the evidence is with Prime Minister Wang.”
“It’s going to be tough for you, Your Majesty.” Lu Bohuan took out a list from his pocket and handed it to Qin Yuanxi. “Some can still be of use, but they need to be demoted. Others not only can’t be used but are strictly forbidden from returning to the court for the next three generations. I’ve marked them; Your Majesty will know when you see it.”
“And…”
“What about you?” Qin Yuanxi held the list tightly, eyes red. “How should I deal with you? You’ve arranged everything for those people, but what about your own fate? Have you sorted that out?”
“Me?” Lu Bohuan’s lips curled into a helpless smile. “Treason is a capital offense, as Your Majesty knows.”
“Do you want me to kill you?” Qin Yuanxi pulled away from Lu Bohuan’s arm, throwing the list directly at him. “You’ve been prepared for this, haven’t you? You want me to kill you, don’t you? Lu Bohuan, do you have a heart? I’m asking you, do you have a heart? How could you…how could you do this to me?”
Seeing Qin Yuanxi in such a distressed state, Lu Bohuan took a step forward, intending to go to Qin Yuanxi’s side. However, he hesitated and pulled back his steps.
“You don’t understand the situation outside, Your Majesty, do you?” Lu Bohuan’s eyes lowered slightly, and his fists unconsciously clenched. “In your heart, Zhao Tuo is your beloved, someone you like. Deep down, you don’t believe he could rebel. You have no real understanding of this matter. Even if Yan Shaoning told you everything, you still don’t have the truest feelings. In your eyes, all of this might just be a farce.”
“Your Majesty, you don’t know how many people have died outside, how many who opposed Zhao Tuo in the court have been purged, and you have no idea how the citizens of the capital live in constant fear. You don’t understand the turmoil this has caused, and you won’t know how the borderlands are in constant turmoil because of this.”
“This is not child’s play, do you understand?” Lu Bohuan, despite his own heartache, watched Qin Yuanxi’s face pale and continued, “This matter must have a resolution. Killing me to bring peace to the realm, despite the catastrophe it might cause, is a sacrifice worth making!”
Qin Yuanxi kept shaking his head, utterly confused.
Lu Bohuan wasn’t wrong. Every word hit him deep in his heart. Qin Yuanxi hadn’t thought so much about it; none of those things Lu Bohuan said had crossed his mind. He hadn’t thought about them, not even now. He believed that as long as Lu Bohuan could stop Zhao Tuo, halt the rebellion, and return everything to normal, everything would be fine. However, Lu Bohuan’s solution turned out to be killing him!
How could that be possible? Qin Yuanxi clutched his chest; it felt stifling, and his breathing became rapid.
“I can’t, I can’t do it. Lu Bohuan, don’t force me. I can’t do it; it’s impossible, I can’t.”
“Your Majesty, think twice,” Lu Bohuan said with pain in his voice. “Even if you can pass through this hurdle, what about later? We both know Zhao Tuo can appear at any time. I might have a chance to stop him this time, but what about the next time? And the time after that? Moreover,” Lu Bohuan’s expression became noticeably more helpless when he said this, “you’ve realized, I can’t control him. Zhao Tuo’s appearances are becoming more frequent, and I’ve turned into someone who appears only occasionally. What if one day I never appear again, and the owner of this body becomes him? What will you do then?”
“If it comes to that day, and the situation changes again, Your Majesty, if there’s no one capable of stopping him, he will destroy this world!”
Lu Bohuan looked at Qin Yuanxi with a compassionate gaze. “Your Majesty, even if it’s for the well-being of the people, you mustn’t be soft-hearted. I’ve already drafted the imperial decree for you. Prime Minister Wang will manage it, and once Your Majesty gives birth to the prince, I’ll take one last look at him and have no regrets.”
“Come here, let me hold you, okay?”
“I don’t have much time left.”
It was just a simple embrace, with a somewhat warm feeling. Qin Yuanxi’s emotions weren’t stable; he clutched Lu Bohuan’s clothes, inhaling sharply, unable to speak for a long time. It was as if by holding onto Lu Bohuan, all the chaotic events wouldn’t unfold.
“All right, the officials from the Grand Court have arrived.” Lu Bohuan patted Qin Yuanxi’s head and spoke to him in as relaxed a tone as possible. “Your Majesty, for now, stay in the palace. After the child turns one month old, Prime Minister Wang will personally come to invite Your Majesty back to the palace. Regarding the little prince, Your Majesty need not worry; I’ve made arrangements. He is legitimate, and when the time comes, Your Majesty can directly decree him as the crown prince, and no one would dare object.”
“Lu Bohuan, are you settling your affairs with me?”
Qin Yuanxi’s voice trembled, carrying a tone of weeping. “What right do you have to settle affairs with me? What do you mean? I’m asking you, what do you mean?!”
“Silly child, don’t you know what I mean?” Lu Bohuan touched Qin Yuanxi’s face, with a helpless yet sincere tone. “I’ve told you long ago; I am him, and he is me. I and Zhao Tuo are the same person. There are some matters he can’t handle, but I have to settle them, or else what will happen to you, you little fool?”
“Stop crying; if you keep crying, I’ll regret it.” Lu Bohuan smiled bitterly. “By then, I’ll be like Zhao Tuo, seizing your throne, locking you up here, belonging to me alone, and nowhere for you to go. Let’s see how you handle that.”
“You, lock me up! Lock me up!”
“I really want to, he did what I wanted to do. Unfortunately, I can’t.” Lu Bohuan pressed his lips against Qin Yuanxi’s and gave a kiss. “You see, there’s a price to pay for being irrational. Zhao Tuo is quite willful. He… he exposed all the dark sides of me. I’m not a good person either, just better at pretending. Don’t provoke me; in case, by that time, you’ll truly be left without recourse, and nothing will work.”
Lu Bohuan turned around and addressed the officials from the Grand Court who had been waiting outside. “Let’s go.”
The Chief Justice of the Grand Court personally led the group. He was instructed by the prince to arrive an hour later, but he dared not delay even a minute. Now that Prince Lu finally came out, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Prince, do we need these shackles?”
“Better leave them on.” Just as Lu Bohuan’s hand reached out, a voice behind him ordered, “Everyone, step back!”
Then he was embraced from behind. Qin Yuanxi held him, crying uncontrollably.
Listening to Qin Yuanxi’s sobbing, Lu Bohuan closed his eyes with hidden pain. He forcefully loosened Qin Yuanxi’s wrist, and just as the shackles were about to clasp his hands, Lu Bohuan’s gaze changed abruptly. Swiftly turning cold, he struck one of the guards beside him with a palm, seized the guard’s waist knife, took a step back, grabbed Qin Yuanxi’s wrist, and placed the knife against Qin Yuanxi’s neck.
“Step back, all of you, or else!”
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
