Chapter 1805: Chapter 1743: The Truth Is Sometimes Ugly

The two of them abided by filial propriety and never crossed the line, but they still took small liberties with each other now and then. Only after a round of tender murmurs and caresses did they each sit down at the table to talk business.

"I figured you were right to come to Beiyan, but I thought you’d go straight to the imperial capital. Yet here you are, running all the way to this Northern Region instead? The terrain and environment here are terrible, there’s sand and dust everywhere, and you’re really not afraid of hardship," Ah Jiu complained.

Wufu said, "I was worried about you. I was afraid Emperor Yan would secretly trip you up. I had nothing to do in Quanzhou anyway, so I simply came over."

"And you’re at ease leaving Changsheng behind?"

"He has Hua Wushuang to look after him, and there’s no shortage of people around him. Once he grows stronger, Uncle will bring him over." Wufu said, "Changsheng is important, but you’re more important."

A small warm current flowed through Ah Jiu’s heart, and he said, "That mouth of yours only knows how to coax me."

"How am I coaxing you? The mastermind behind that assassination on you was never found. Who knows what tricks they’ll pull next? And then there’s your emperor big brother. No matter how I think about it, it feels like danger is lurking everywhere around you." Wufu snorted and said, "Otherwise, you tell me, why did he have to transfer you to the Northern Region to investigate some pointless case? Are all the officials of the imperial court in Beiyan just useless rice-eaters? So many people he won’t use, and he sends you, a dignified prince, out here like an exile—he did it on purpose, didn’t he."

Her tone was uneven, and Ah Jiu also seemed to think of something, his face clouded over.

"What’s wrong?"

Ah Jiu looked at her, a trace of embarrassment flashing in his eyes. He held her hand and asked, "Wufu, if my Imperial Brother and Royal Mother really have... crossed the bounds of human ethics, what should I do?"

There was a hint of pain in his eyes; clearly he could not accept such a thing. Wufu pressed her lips together, wrapped his hand in both of hers, and said, "Ah Jiu, I’ve said it before, I don’t care about that kind of thing, except for one point: Royal Mother must have done it of her own will."

Ah Jiu’s brows knit lightly.

"Have you found something out?" Wufu asked tentatively.

Ah Jiu lowered his eyes. After a long while he finally said in a steady voice, "I feel that what Imperial Brother feels for Royal Mother goes beyond a son’s devotion to his mother. As you just said, sending me to the Northern Region, Imperial Brother must have deliberately wanted to transfer me away."

"I knew it, he’s no good," Wufu muttered.

"Wufu..." Ah Jiu couldn’t help but laugh.

Wufu gave a small cough and patted his hand. "Ah Jiu, the hardest thing in this world to control is the love between man and woman. As for Emperor Yan’s thoughts, let’s not rush to judge. After all, he and Royal Mother aren’t related by blood. As for Royal Mother, leaving aside whether she consented or not, I’m certain of one thing: she absolutely would not want you to know about it."

Ah Jiu’s whole body trembled.

"Sometimes when the truth bursts out, it’s not so dignified," Wufu said. "Are you sure you really want to make Royal Mother feel that kind of shame?"

As a woman, anyone with a shred of modesty would never want her children to know about her affairs—especially something as illicit as being involved with a stepson.

Wufu didn’t personally care about this matter, but she cared about Ah Jiu, and he cared about Empress Dowager Mo. Once that bubble was punctured, where would any of them go from there? How would they face each other?

"If Emperor Yan can transfer you to the Northern Region just to cover up his own filth, it proves he’s already brooding over this and has his suspicions," Wufu went on. "What I’m afraid of is that, in order to carry this secret down into the grave, he might do something even more unforgivable—like kill you!"

Many times, a man’s jealousy is far crazier than a woman’s—especially that of an Emperor. He will never allow his authority to be questioned or challenged. He only ever believes that he is the supreme ruler under Heaven, and that no one may stand in his way.

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