A Shocking Dream

"You've been through a dangerous situation. You've had to fight for your life and save the people from danger. You've also had to prove your loyalty and innocence under the watchful eyes of the court. The difficulty is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince understand your painstaking efforts?"

"Crown Prince..." Qin Rongchen's eyes dimmed slightly, then shone again. "At least for now, he's seen my dedication and my lack of presumptuous behavior, and for now, he's seen that I have no ambition to claim the throne. But what about the future? The court is ever-changing, with various factions vying for supremacy. There's no telling when another turmoil will arise, and I'll be pushed to the forefront again. I'm simply walking an uneasy tightrope between imperial power and public opinion, loyalty and suspicion."

Qin Rongchen leaned against a stone bench, wearing gorgeous clothes with gold embroidery that sparkled in the sunlight, but his deep eyes were full of fatigue and helplessness, as if the glory around him was nothing but a heavy shackle.

Su Yijing felt a pang of bitterness at the sight of Qin Rongchen's forlorn appearance. He sighed deeply and sat down next to him. "Rongchen, this world is so absurd. Even if you don't covet the throne of a prince, others will assume you do. You have no choice." He filled two glasses of wine and handed one to Qin Rongchen. The wine swayed in the glass, just like their uncertain fate.

Qin Rongchen took it and took a sip. The strong liquor went down his throat, burning his heart with sorrow. A wry smile played on his lips. "Yes, Yijing, from the moment I was born into this royal family, it was my original sin. I have been well-read since childhood, and my only hope was to be a leisurely prince, adhering to the rules of my ancestors and contributing a little to this country. I don't seek fame and fortune, but only to have a clear conscience." He raised his eyes, gazing at the azure sky, as if seeking a glimmer of clarity and freedom. "But how can others believe it? In the court, the civil and military officials scrutinize me, as if they can find clues of treason in my every move. In the streets, rumors and gossips make groundless speculations, portraying me as an ambitious and treacherous minister who wants to usurp the throne."

"It doesn't matter what others think. What matters is what you think." Su Yijing broke the long silence. His voice was low and mellow, echoing in the empty palace, adding a bit of oppression. "For so many years, you have always wanted to be an idle prince. There has been no recruitment in the court. Everyone sees it, but the person in the palace has always been wary of you." After that, he paced forward, his footsteps stepping on the golden brick floor, quietly and silently, but it seemed that every step was stepping on Qin Rongchen's heartstrings.

Qin Rongchen raised his eyes, his clear and calm gaze met Su Yijing's inquiring eyes, and he said slowly: "I grew up in this palace, and have seen many brothers killing each other, fighting for power, and the coldness of family affection in the bloody storm. Since I have no intention of the supreme position, why should I get involved in the court disputes? Being a rich and idle person, enjoying the flowers and the moon, drinking tea and reading, is the best destination for me." After speaking, he raised the corner of his mouth to smile bitterly, revealing his helplessness and alienation towards the vortex of power in the court.

Su Yijing snorted lightly, his eyebrows raised, full of sarcasm: "What a rich and idle man, Rongchen, do you think you can do this 'idleness' whenever you want? You have royal blood in your body, and your mother's family is powerful. Even if you have no ambition at all, you are a threat in the eyes of others. The one in the palace is suspicious by nature. How can he allow others to sleep soundly beside his bed?" He paced around Qin Rongchen, his eyes like torches, as if he wanted to see through him and analyze the most secret thoughts hidden in his heart.

Qin Rongchen's expression did not change. He just clenched his fingers under his sleeves and replied calmly: "I have never had any intention of disobeying, and I am extremely respectful to my royal brother. Everything I have done over the years has been for the stability of the court and the welfare of the people. Repairing temples, providing relief to disaster victims, and promoting culture and education, which one is not aboveboard? Why should I be afraid of my royal brother's suspicion?" Having said that, he knew that the emperor's mind was the most difficult to predict. Serving the emperor was like serving a tiger. Even after years of being cautious, he still could not escape the fearful gaze that followed him like a shadow.

Su Yijing stopped and stared at Qin Rongchen's face, as if weighing the truth of his words. After a moment, his expression softened slightly: "You are a man of high moral character, I know that. But the political situation is complicated, with various forces surging undercurrents. Your neutrality may seem safe, but in fact it is like walking on thin ice. The slightest mistake will lead to eternal damnation. Those eyes that are secretly watching will not let you go easily just because you have no intention of power."

Qin Rongchen stood quietly in the plum garden. It wasn't blooming season, but the branches, jagged and jutting, stretched out toward the leaden sky, a stark reflection of his own chaotic, melancholic state. After a long moment, he looked up at the gloomy sky and sighed deeply, his voice faint but filled with years of melancholy.

"Alas, my father should have demoted me to a commoner that day, and I wouldn't have had this worry." The sigh, carried by the wind, swirled through the plum garden, bouncing against the gnarled branches of the plum trees before dissipating, yet its echo lingered in the air. Since his father's passing and his brother's ascension to the throne, the honor he once held as a prince had suddenly become a hot potato. Undercurrents surged within the court, with various factions eyeing him covetously, a prince with no desire for power, yet held in high regard by his bloodline. Suspicion lingered, haunting him every night.

Su Yijing had a faint smile on his face. He couldn't help but sneer when he heard what Qin Rongchen said: "If that were the case, you wouldn't have met Yunshuang here, and you wouldn't have known about her fake death." The voice was long, but it was like a heavy hammer, hitting Qin Rongchen's already broken heart.

Qin Rongchen hesitated for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth, letting his voice break free from the shackles between his lips and teeth. "This time in Linzhou, I not only met Lin Bingshuang, but I also fought alongside her." The words left his mouth, like a stone dropped into a silent lake, stirring up ripples and shattering the long-standing tranquility. He raised his eyes and looked across at Su Yijing, his gaze filled with a hint of uneasiness, a touch of nostalgia, and a hint of determination, as if waiting for the arrival of a storm.

"What?" Su Yijing was holding the teacup, about to drink. Upon hearing this, his hand trembled violently, and the scalding tea splashed out, burning the back of his hand red. He was completely unaware, his face filled with shock, as if he had just heard something out of the Arabian Nights. He stood up suddenly, his chair scraping against the ground with a sharp sound, and quickly approached Qin Rongchen, his eyes fixed on him, as if he wanted to dig out more secrets from those eyes.

Shadows from the corridor crisscrossed Qin Rongchen's handsome face, outlining a haggard and gloomy look. After a long moment, he chuckled bitterly, the arc of his laughter filled with self-mockery and bitterness. His expression dimmed quietly, and he slowly lowered his eyes, fixing them on the blue bricks beneath his feet, as if pouring all his melancholy and panic into it.

"She is Lin Wunian. She has been living by my side in secret, hiding her identity. This time in Linzhou, she did not admit her identity to me. It was only when the Crown Prince told me that I knew."