kvmb Chapter 411 Never Go Back to the Past
Chapter 411 Never Go Back to the Past
King Qi stared blankly at the Queen's lips as she opened and closed, taking in every single word she uttered.
Perhaps his high fever had made him dizzy, or perhaps he had been greatly frightened today, causing his mind to malfunction, and he couldn't understand the meaning behind the Empress's words for a moment.
His own mother was the Empress, so how did he suddenly become a palace maid?
It’s ridiculous.
"Mother, please stop talking nonsense. I will listen to you from now on. I will do whatever you say and will never act on my own again."
King Qi's face was ashen, as if his injuries and pain were unbearable. He closed his eyes and said, "My head is very dizzy and aches. I want to sleep a little longer."
It was as if if he took another nap and woke up, everything would return to normal.
What he just heard was nothing more than a dream he overheard.
The Empress gazed silently at the Prince of Qi. She saw deep creases between his brows, bulging veins on his forehead, and his hands clenched into fists at his sides as he struggled to control his emotions.
The wound on his shoulder reopened, and blood instantly stained the fine cotton cloth, but he seemed to feel no pain.
The Empress felt a pang of pity, but having already spoken, she wanted to make it clear: "Chong'er..."
“I was not as intelligent as the wise prince since I was a child, and I learned things very slowly. Others compared me to the wise prince and said that I was inferior to the wise prince in every way. I did not want to study in Wenhua Hall and would throw tantrums at the palace servants in the hall. It was you who stayed by my side and taught me to memorize the Three Character Classic again and again.”
“You told me that everyone has their own strengths. I may have studied a little slower than others, but I am an outstanding rider and archer among my peers.”
“I made a mistake and was punished by my father. Although you will not plead for me, you will bring ointment and apply it to me personally when the palace servants take me back to my residence.”
“You said that indulging a son is like killing him. You can plead for me, but I am unruly and may not reflect on my mistakes because of your protection. I will continue to make the same mistakes next time. You can't protect me every time. Even if you do, my lack of progress will make Father Emperor dislike me.”
“Your health is poor, and you spend most of the year bedridden. Even so, you make me a new set of clothes every year. My brothers and sisters envy me because their mother never makes clothes for them.”
King Qi recounted the things his mother had done for him, one by one, just like an ordinary mother who loves her child.
He is usually indulged, encouraged when he encounters setbacks, praised when he completes his homework, and strictly disciplined when he makes mistakes.
Until he was seven years old, he moved out of Chang Le Palace and lived in the East Fifth Palace on his own, and his mother was no longer by his side. Separated from his mother who had carefully nurtured him, he gradually changed and was no longer the person his mother had hoped for.
The King of Qi brought up old stories, trying to prove that he was indeed the Queen's biological son. But the more he talked, the more he saw his own mediocre and incompetent state in comparison, and a thought began to form in his mind.
He was probably not the Empress's biological son.
In terms of temperament, demeanor, and intelligence, she was nothing like the Empress.
The thought grew stronger with each passing moment, and a sense of dread arose in King Qi's heart. Everything he possessed now was nothing but a castle in the air, on the verge of collapse at any moment.
“I remember everything you have done for me.” King Qi said in a trembling voice, his heart filled with painful struggle. “You want me to stay far away from the capital, to live well, and not to fight for that position…” He then said almost pleadingly, “I will do whatever you say.”
Please stop talking.
The Empress was slightly taken aback. She had thought he had long forgotten what she had said, but she hadn't expected that he remembered every word she had uttered. She was deeply moved, and her eyes welled up with tears.
She knew that the King of Qi was unwilling to face reality and was avoiding the topic of his origins.
This secret should have remained hidden in her heart, but now, forced by circumstances, she had no choice but to tell him the truth.
King Qi had a strong sense of self-esteem since childhood. He always believed that he was the Empress's legitimate son and was extremely obsessed with the throne, thinking that no one was qualified to compete with him.
Now they're telling him he's not of royal blood, but was born to an ordinary palace maid. How can he accept that?
"Today is a private conversation between mother and son. We are the same as we were before, and we will be the same as we are now." The Empress wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. "Now that you are still willing to listen to your mother, I am at ease."
King Qi gritted his teeth and kept a tight expression on his face to prevent himself from losing control of his emotions.
His life has been completely turned upside down, how can he ever be the same as before?
The "Mother" he had called for nearly twenty years was not his mother.
He was merely an illegitimate child born to a lowly palace maid.
Ridiculous.
At this moment, he understood everything he couldn't understand before.
Why did my maternal grandfather suddenly change his mind and no longer join forces with the officials to request that Guangning be made crown prince when she got married? It turned out that it was because his bloodline was not pure and he had encountered a powerful rival. They were afraid that his identity would be discovered and bring disaster to the Marquis of Shou'an's mansion.
King Qi suddenly opened his eyes, wanting to say everything he wanted to say, but when he saw the Queen's pale and frail appearance, all his words stuck in his throat.
"I'm telling you all this today so you can understand my thoughts." The Empress knew that this news was too much of a shock to Prince Qi and that he probably wouldn't be able to process it all at once. She sighed softly, "You should rest well. I'll come to see you again tomorrow."
King Qi remained silent.
The Empress stood quietly by the bed for a moment before slowly leaving the room, where she encountered the Marquis of Shou'an.
The Marquis of Shou'an bowed and said, "May Your Majesty be well."
After receiving the courtly greetings from the Marquis of Shou'an, the Empress then offered a familial greeting: "May Father enjoy boundless blessings."
The Marquis of Shou'an's lips moved as if he had much to say to the Empress, but seeing the palace servants around him, he didn't say anything at all.
The Empress said softly, "Chong'er already knows."
Marquis Shou'an was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Your Highness, I will go in first and then visit the Empress at another time."
The Empress accepted the Marquis of Shou'an's request and returned to Chang Le Palace with her palace servants.
Marquis Shou'an respectfully saw the Empress off before pushing open the door and entering the main hall.
King Qi stared wide-eyed at the top of the beam, his eyes filled with red spider silk, flashing with complex emotions that were hard to decipher.
King Qi suffered a misfortune today. He barely escaped with his life and returned to the capital, only to be hit with another blow when he learned that he was not the crown prince. No one could accept that.
Marquis Shou'an sat down on a stool by the bed, waiting for King Qi to digest the information before they could have a proper talk.
The King of Qi turned his head to look at him: "Grandfather, if I go to my fiefdom and wait for the new emperor to ascend the throne, will he spare me and the ministers who support me?"