Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?

Chapter 1124 - 812: Father and Son Face to Face

Just as Shen Wuzheng was speaking anxiously to Shang Ruyi, Yu Wenye was already galloping, not only breaking the tranquility of the pitch-black Vermilion Bird Avenue, but his urgent steps also shattered the deathly silence in the palace that seemed solidified.Eunuch Yu, guarding outside Liangyi Hall, heard the news and hurriedly went to meet him, seeing Yu Wenye’s tall figure emerging from the night.

He hastily said, "Your Highness? How—"

Yu Wenye asked, "Is Father Emperor asleep?"

"Still—, does Your Highness have any matters? Your Majesty has already rested, it would be inappropriate to disturb him. Any matters could wait until tomorrow."

"I have urgent news to report to Father Emperor."

"But—"

Eunuch Yu hesitated as he looked at him, feeling conflicted, when a low and hoarse voice came from behind the tightly closed doors, carrying a bone-chilling coldness and a weight of a thousand pounds, pressing down the breath and heartbeat of the two men.

"Yu Mingli, let King Qin in."

Yu Wenye’s eyes brightened instantly, and he lifted his head to look ahead. The doors and windows of Liangyi Hall were tightly shut, not allowing any view of the interior, but the voice, although hoarse, was clearly very alert and not as if awakened from sleep.

Eunuch Yu sighed in relief, immediately stepping forward to push the door open slightly.

"Your Highness, please."

Yu Wenye nodded and pushed the door to walk inside.

As soon as he entered Liangyi Hall, Yu Wenye felt his breath sink again.

Liangyi Hall, the largest palace besides the main hall in the Imperial Palace, as the Emperor’s bedchamber, apart from its grandeur, housed no lavish decorations, hence appearing somewhat hollow. Even during the day, stepping inside gave an exaggeratedly towering and expansive sense, and now, the entire hall was almost pitch-black, with no visible surrounding walls or beams, further engulfing one in an illusion of endless darkness.

Fortunately, it was not entirely cloaked in darkness; there was still a candlelight ahead.

It was Yu Wenquan sitting at the very front of the hall, with only a small candlestick on the table, its weak flame merely illuminating a small area before him, as if amid this ink-black night, it was the sole beacon to guide one.

Step by step, Yu Wenye advanced forward, each step seemed as if treading on a void about to collapse, yet he walked with steadfast resolve.

Finally, he reached Yu Wenquan’s presence.

He bent over and bowed deeply, "Your son pays respects to Father Emperor."

"..."

Yu Wenquan, whose eyes were usually piercing and spirited, was just fixated on the slightly trembling candle flame, and although watching its glow, his gaze seemed dimmer, almost vacant. Only upon hearing Yu Wenye’s voice did he slowly shift his eyes to him.

"You have come."

"Yes."

"Where have you come from?"

"Your son went to the Duke Mansion to offer condolences and has just returned."

"You went to offer condolences to Duke Shenwu?"

"Yes."

Not until this moment did Yu Wenquan’s eyes finally shift, yet reflecting the flame’s glow, they revealed a hint of chilliness. After scrutinizing his son up and down, he asked, "What are your thoughts?"

Yu Wenye said, "Though the Battle of Longmen Crossing was not an official campaign, Duke Shenwu died for Father Emperor’s great endeavor, striving to quell the rebellion and capture the traitors alive."

"..."

"His loyalty and resolve are known to Heaven and Earth both."

Yu Wenquan’s gaze flickered momentarily and he said, "Is that what you think?"

Yu Wenye replied, "I also think that although Duke Shenwu has died, his will remains. As his junior, I ought to inherit his aspirations, to fight for Father Emperor’s great endeavor, devoting all to it even beyond death."

"..."

Yu Wenquan spoke no further, merely enveloped in prolonged silence and a fixed stare at him, he slowly closed his eyes. When he turned back to the lonely candlelight before him, for the first time, his eyes held a hint of bewilderment.

He asked, "Is this why you came tonight, just to tell me this?"

"Not only that."

"What else do you wish to say?"

"I’ve just seen my third brother at the Duke Mansion."

"What?"

At hearing this, Yu Wenquan frowned, immediately turning to face him, his expression somewhat surprised, "Yan Jie? How has he returned?"

Yu Wenye stated, "It seems he did not return under Father Emperor’s orders."

Yu Wenquan responded, "I did not issue such an order to him."

"Oh..."

As Yu Wenye spoke, he nodded gently and fell silent. Yu Wenquan seemed to notice something amiss, furrowing his brow as he looked at him and asked, "Why did he return?"

Yu Wenye replied, "I only had a brief meeting with my third brother at the Duke Mansion, and we didn’t have a detailed conversation. However, since he went to the Duke Mansion before seeing Father upon returning to Chang An, it seems he was aware of Duke Shenwu’s affairs and came back specifically to mourn."

His words, though lightly spoken, explained why Yu Wencheng returned to the capital without a summons, yet also pointed out that he moved freely in the city without paying respects to the Emperor.

Yu Wenquan’s brow furrowed again.

He said gravely, "In that case, you should have brought him back too."

Yu Wenye said, "My third brother just arrived at the Duke Mansion for mourning, and he has more to discuss with Imperial Brother. I thought, since Imperial Brother always handles matters prudently, he would bring Third Brother back to pay respects to Father after understanding everything, so I didn’t intervene."

"Then, is your late-night visit simply to tell me this?"

"I have another matter to report."

"Oh? What matter?"

Yu Wenye looked up at Yu Wenquan, his gaze steady as he said, "I wish to request Father’s permission to send more troops to Xingluo Granary."

"Xingluo Granary?"

These three words made Yu Wenquan’s expression alert again. Although he had been immersed in grief these past days—for at his age, the greatest fear was loss, especially of familiar people. Duke Shenwu, Dong Bizheng, was the one who helped him and his family in precarious times, even though that help came with a marriage he wasn’t entirely willing to enter into. Nevertheless, after that, the Dong Family became his strongest support. Even when suspected by Chu Yang, facing multiple attempts on his life, Dong Bizheng never retreated.

That "transaction" had long turned into inseparable familial affection through years of shared struggles, the companionship with Mrs. Dong, and the birth of his eldest son.

But just as he was about to achieve their youthful dream of unifying the world and bringing peace, Dong Bizheng died.

And in such a manner.

He found it not only hard to believe but harder to accept. These two days, he did not attend court, did not see ministers, and stayed closed behind doors, clutching onto a dim lamp as if seeking solace in solitude, yet finding nothing, the emptiness in his heart growing larger. Within that void, an indescribable fear slowly grew, like the surrounding darkness threatening to devour the flicker of light before him, almost consuming him whole.

Yet, Yu Wenquan was still Yu Wenquan.

Upon hearing of the frontlines, he immediately regained clarity, his weary eyes flashing with a hint of sharp light.

He asked, "What has happened at Xingluo Granary?"

Yu Wenye replied, "Since Shen Tu Tai took the Song and Xu States, Liang Shide evidently knows we plan to dispatch troops to the Eastern Capital. So, these days he constantly sends troops to harass, trying to seize Xingluo Warehouse City. Yan Buuai has been under great pressure. To avoid any mishaps, he sealed off the mountain road. If anyone climbs the mountain without our Dynasty’s decree and military orders, they release arrows as a warning. If they do not retreat, they will take immediate action."

"..."

"Even so, Liang Shide has given him little respite."

"..."

"Yan Buuai has been guarding there for quite a while. Although Xingluo Warehouse City is easy to defend and hard to attack, prolonged defense without aid may unsettle the morale inside the city."

"..."

Though he spoke at length, Yu Wenquan’s eyes flashed with intensity at one particular sentence. He gazed sharply at Yu Wenye, making him feel a chill rise from within despite his prior mental preparations. The intense, restrained gaze seemed to pierce through his skin and bones.

Kneeling, he silently clenched his fist under the cover of his sleeves.

Yu Wenquan said, "You just mentioned anyone climbing the mountain would be stopped by Yan Buuai."

"Yes."

"Then who else has he stopped besides Liang Shide’s army?"

"...!"

Yu Wenye’s breath caught.

It seemed that, even in such sorrow, and despite all his words to mask it, Yu Wenquan found the truth effortlessly. Yu Wenye’s palms began to sweat with cold as he clenched his fist tighter, feeling for the first time as if it might slip from his grasp.

Taking a deep breath inside, he finally said, "Also, my third brother."

Yu Wenquan’s gaze flickered: "King Qi?"

"Yes."

"..."

Yu Wenquan said nothing more. After taking a deep breath, he suddenly commanded the shadowy hall, "Light the lamps!"

At once, footsteps echoed outside. Eunuch Yu led a group of palace maids hurriedly inside, their figures trembling in the dim light. As one lamp after another was lit amidst the flickering shadows, the entire Liangyi Hall became brightly illuminated.

Kneeling at the hall’s center, Yu Wenye and Yu Wenquan, seated above with his gaze fixed on him, had nothing left to hide between them.

Yu Wenquan slowly rose, stepping toward Yu Wenye. His freshly washed clothes, naturally imbued with incense, were now overtaken by the aura of a martial artist, enveloping Yu Wenye like an invisible Iron Cage.

With his head lowered, Yu Wenye heard Yu Wenquan’s cold voice above him—

"Is this the reason for your late-night audience?"