Chapter 288: Chapter 265 A Rage for Blue-faced Friend

Tuoba was a very pitiable child.

Following the “crown prince over the dead mother” tradition of Northern Wei, after he became the Crown Prince, his mother was executed in accordance with the system, and the first stain of blood upon his position of Crown Prince belonged to his mother.

His young father, who was busy with power struggles, initially still sneaked visits to see him occasionally, but as he grew a little older, his father could not even find the time to take a single look at him.

In the beginning of his life, other than the maids and attendants who took care of his diet and daily life, there were only two people who were often by his side, one was called Rong Zhi and the other was named Chu Yu.

Only these two people were not as dull as the other servants, and they were not his servants either. According to seniority, Tuoba should call Rong Zhi “Uncle Grandpa,” and as for Chu Yu…

“Grand Aunt!”

Upon hearing this tender and soft call, Chu Yu’s expression fell instantly: Tuoba had reached the age of four, healthy and beautiful, intelligent and adored by everyone, but the only flaw in all of this was the little imp’s way of addressing her, without knowing who taught him, as soon as he was able to recognize and call for people, he insisted on calling her Grand Aunt every time he saw her.

Not to mention that she and Rong Zhi weren’t that kind of relationship, but the title itself was enough to send Chu Yu into a fit of goosebumps.

Chu Yu bent down, extended two fingers to gently pinch Tuoba’s tender cheeks, and through clenched teeth but without a smile on her face, said, “You little imp, who is your grandmama? Call me Sister Chu! I, your lady, am young and prett–” She glanced at Rong Zhi, and the word “pretty” stuck harshly in her throat, unable to come out.

To claim beauty in front of Rong Zhi was utterly shameless.

Tuoba, rubbing the reddened spot on his cheek where he had been pinched, pouted, and with a sidelong glance at Rong Zhi, who stood with arms crossed, smiling at him, the little guy’s heart skipped a beat. After weighing his options, he decided to stand his ground and not change the way he addressed her, puffing his cheeks and dodging left and right to avoid Chu Yu’s “evil hand.”

As the two of them were playing around, suddenly a low, respectful voice came from behind, “Young master, Moxiang has important matters to report.”

Chu Yu turned around to look, and Moxiang, dressed in black, stood at the courtyard entrance. The deep ink color almost entirely suppressed his charming demeanor; ever since faking his death to escape, whenever Chu Yu saw Moxiang, he appeared to be wrapped in pitch-black color, almost a completely different person from the one inside the Princess Mansion.

Moxiang didn’t come here often, at most once or twice a year, and each time he would only come personally if there was an important matter. And this time, Chu Yu guessed it must be another urgent issue.

Rong Zhi nodded slightly, casually sitting down next to a clump of green bamboo, and said indifferently, “What is it? Speak.” He had no intention of avoiding Chu Yu.

Moxiang hesitated for a moment, then said, “Li Yi has been killed.”

Not only was Rong Zhi taken aback, but even Chu Yu was surprised to hear this news.

Li Yi was a minister in the Northern Dynasty, but Chu Yu knew of his existence not because of her interest in court politics, but because of her interest in gossip.

Empress Dowager Feng and Shan Yin’s Princess, though one in the south and one in the north, had very different characters and actions. However, they did share one thing in common, which was taking concubines. Chu Yu even felt that, if Shan Yin’s Princess were still alive, she could even exchange notes with Empress Dowager Feng about their tastes in men.

Of course, besides keeping male concubines, Empress Dowager Feng did not neglect political affairs; she combined work with pleasure, choosing her male concubines from the handsome ministers of the court, so that she could discuss state affairs during her discreet meetings, not missing out on either work or love.

And the Li Yi that Moxiang mentioned, who had been killed, was Empress Dowager Feng’s most favored male concubine.

Moxiang briefly recounted the causes and consequences; Li Yi’s elder brother was implicated in a corruption scandal with over thirty charges established against him, leading to the execution of his entire household, and Li Yi was executed as well due to his involvement.

Although it wasn’t stated clearly, both Chu Yu and Rong Zhi understood that this was not just a simple corruption case; hidden beneath it was the discord between Empress Dowager Feng and Tuoba Hong. Empress Dowager Feng’s open taking of male concubines was akin to placing a green hat on the head of Tuoba Hong’s deceased father right in front of Tuoba Hong. Naturally, Tuoba Hong could not tolerate this and thus took the opportunity to kill one of Feng’s concubines, Li Yi.

Upon receiving the news, Moxiang knew that the rigid Empress Dowager Feng would not swallow this insult, and the superficial calm of the court would soon give rise to tremendous turmoil.

— It was about to begin.

Chu Yu and Rong Zhi exchanged a glance, both seeing this understanding in each other’s eyes.

The tense balance in the royal court had been maintained for years, and it had not been easy. With this incident occurring, it would be impossible to preserve it any longer. Tuoba Hong had struck first, breaking the balance, and for the sake of her own interests and dignity, Empress Dowager Feng would deliver a fierce retaliation to Tuoba Hong. From another angle, it could be seen as a burst of rage for the sake of a blue-faced lover.

Moxiang came to deliver the news, then immediately left, knowing that Rong Zhi would have appropriate considerations and dealings, without needing his reminders or advice. Rong Zhi was clear-headed and calm–past, present, and future.

His only task was to convey the message; the real decisions were still up to Rong Zhi.

Little Tuoba stood uneasily beside Chu Yu. He couldn’t quite understand the beautiful brother’s words, but he sensitively detected that after the beautiful brother had spoken, “Grand Aunt” didn’t plan to play with him anymore. He gently tugged at Chu Yu’s sleeve and whispered softly, “Grand Aunt, are you angry? I won’t run anymore. You can pinch me.” He was resigning himself to her pinching him without resistance.

Chu Yu couldn’t help but chuckle silently, then casually pinched him again. At that moment, she heard the recently faded footsteps start up once more, but this time, it was not just one person, but a group of them.

No sooner had Moxiang gone than the Palace Attendants from inside came, standing at the door and respectfully requesting Rong Zhi to let them take Little Tuoba back to the Imperial Palace. Chu Yu did not need to distinguish who they were; she knew that these people must be from Empress Dowager Feng’s side, otherwise they wouldn’t be so utterly respectful towards Rong Zhi.

Little Tuoba hid fearfully behind Chu Yu. Though young, the smart boy was beginning to understand that something unpleasant was happening, and these people intended to take him away.

He had a premonition that if he left now, he might never see Chu Yu again.

The grand Imperial Palace seemed like a giant dark maw, ready to swallow him whole, leaving nothing behind.

The moment Little Tuoba hid behind her, Chu Yu instinctively reached out to protect him. She then looked over at Rong Zhi with a hint of wariness: Empress Dowager Feng’s sending for Little Tuoba at this critical moment couldn’t be good, and the thought of such a young child being used as a political tool was something Chu Yu could hardly bear.

As for Little Tuoba’s stay or departure, the only person here who had a say was Rong Zhi. With just a word from him, even if ten Feng Tings came along, they would give him the face to leave the boy behind.

Rong Zhi gazed tenderly at Chu Yu and slightly shook his head. He softly said, “This is his destiny; you cannot face it for him.” After a pause, his gaze shifted to Little Tuoba behind Chu Yu, meeting the eyes of the boy who was peeking out, “If you decide to stay, I can stop this from happening, and even ensure your eternal safety by taking you to a secure place, with a new identity, as someone else, but then, you will only be a commoner, not the Crown Prince of Northern Wei, the heir to half this mountainous realm.”

He looked seriously at Little Tuoba and said faintly, “The choice is yours, to live a worry-free life as an ordinary person, or to live as a Tuoba, where your life and death are of great importance. Weigh your options, make your decision, and I will fulfill your wish.”

After he finished speaking, the air fell into silence. Chu Yu could only hear her own breathing. Slowly, her sleeve was let go, and then, just as slowly, Little Tuoba walked out from behind her.

Little Tuoba stepped out from behind Chu Yu with care. He carefully straightened his clothes, his tender little hands diligently smoothing the hem and cuffs that had been tousled in his play. Finally getting them in order, he straightened his back and slowly raised his head.

Though his face still bore traces of fear, his clear eyes shimmered with a frail but determined light.

“I’ll go,” he said softly.

Rong Zhi was right; even if he could escape for the moment, he couldn’t escape a lifetime. As long as he had the blood of the Tuoba family, he would one day have to face these things.

No matter if he was four years old, fourteen, or forty.

Little Tuoba headed towards the Palace Attendants who had come to meet him, his steps not quite stable, leaving behind his blissful paradise, bidding farewell to his incredibly brief childhood, and walking toward the destiny of the Tuoba.

Trembling with fear on one hand, while forcing himself to walk forward on the other.

He was Tuoba Hong, the future emperor of Northern Wei.

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Oops, I forgot to change the title… This chapter was originally narrated from Empress Dowager Feng’s perspective, but then I wasn’t satisfied with it, so I deleted it and rewrote the whole thing, yet I forgot to change the title… The title might not seem quite right, so please don’t mind it…