Turning Hostile

The Empress had never been a strong presence; she maintained a gentle and dignified demeanor, as if everything she did was to follow Emperor Yongchang's lead.

As long as the Emperor made a final judgment, she could gladly accept whichever son—Xiao Qianyu or Xiao Qianyì—was hers.

Even if she had emotions, they only skimmed the surface; her every word and action was rigidly proper, befitting an empress, revealing little human warmth.

But now, for the first time, genuine shock and bewilderment appeared on her face, her expression full of disbelief: "Torture? What torture, who would dare torture you?"

As if what Xiao Qianyu had said was utterly inconceivable, she even lost her composure and stood up.

Not only the Empress, but even Emperor Yongchang frowned, looking Xiao Qianyu up and down, his voice tinged with anger: "Someone tortured you?"

Xiao Qianyu raised an eyebrow, puzzled inwardly, but a sarcastic smile surfaced on his face: "Earlier, I was falsely accused of not being of imperial blood, labeled a Traitorous Official and Rebel. Being tortured was only to be expected."

Emperor Yongchang angrily slapped the bedding: "I specifically decreed that no means of torture or punishment should harm your body, that your food and drink should be provided as usual, and that you should not be made to suffer."

After all, he had raised the boy for twenty years, with devoted care and companionship; even if he wasn't his own flesh and blood, he would not allow anyone to trample Xiao Qianyu's dignity.

The Empress trembled with rage: "Who? Who dared defy the decree? I want their life."

Xiao Qianyu narrowed his eyes. He had no idea who it was—damned if he knew, with this broken memory.

Once again, he dragged the system out in his mind and mentally executed it a thousand times over.

Of course, he couldn't speak the truth.

Xiao Qianyu let out a cold, harsh laugh: "So it was deception of the Emperor. You don't need to worry about who it was—this vengeance, I, the Crown Prince, will take myself."

Hearing this, the Empress suddenly grew uneasy.

She suppressed her emotions and said, "Then how are you now? Does it hurt? Is it serious? Where are the imperial physicians? Quickly, have them examine the Crown Prince."

The worry and concern on her face at that moment didn't seem fake.

"No need. I'll have the imperial physicians check me when I return to my palace." Xiao Qianyu had no interest in undressing here.

Unexpectedly, the Empress lowered her hand in dejection and embarrassment, giving a bitter smile: "Yuer, are you resentful of your mother?"

Xiao Qianyu raised an eyebrow and asked sharply, "What did Mother do that makes you think I would resent you?"

Empress Changsun was momentarily speechless, her almond eyes brimming with tears as she helplessly looked to Emperor Yongchang: "Your Majesty, it's no wonder Yuer is angry. I, as Empress, have been incompetent and failed to protect him."

Emperor Yongchang patted the Empress's hand soothingly, then said to Xiao Qianyu with displeasure: "I know you blame us for trusting others and throwing you into the Imperial Prison. But at the time, the Three Judicial Offices held a joint trial, the Six Ministries were in attendance, and the evidence was conclusive. I acted for the sake of our ancestral dynasty. Now that your innocence is restored, you should know that for a child, filial piety comes first. Being respectful, humble, and harmonious sets an example for the court."

In truth, Emperor Yongchang was dissatisfied that Xiao Qianyu had been cold-faced the entire time, deliberately warning him not to think that with Divine Protection, he could disregard the Emperor.

To Xiao Qianyu's ears, this meant that even after being wronged, he couldn't show displeasure; he had to act as if nothing had happened and remain respectful, filial, and considerate.

Xiao Qianyu didn't know what the original was like, but in this ancient era where filial piety was paramount—especially as the Crown Prince, whose every move must conform to propriety—he must have been benevolent, filial, and obedient.

But he wasn't the real original, nor did he have his memories. If he tried to play the loving father and filial son, he'd definitely slip up.

It was better to fall out with them now, rather than act out some farce of rekindling old bonds and reminiscing about the past.

"Father is kind and son is filial. Before Father Emperor demands filial piety and respect from me, have you ever asked yourself if you've shown me kindness and care?" Xiao Qianyu said coldly, without any courtesy.

Emperor Yongchang was shaken: "You... you truly resent me?"

Xiao Qianyu snorted coldly: "Am I not allowed to resent you?

Tell me, which Traitor who impersonated and replaced the Crown Prince has ever walked out of the palace gates alive? Before Father Emperor asks if I resent you, have you ever asked if I was willing to let that Traitor live until the autumn execution?" His sharp, stern gaze swept over Emperor Yongchang, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager one by one. "Even if I once had feelings of adoration and filial piety toward you three elders, seeing you show such compassion, mercy, and generosity to that Traitor, my once-warm heart has turned to cold ashes."

He brushed his sleeves indifferently: "Forgive me—I am but a mortal, not yet a saint. I cannot watch my kin treat an enemy with leniency and remain unmoved. Ah, I wonder, when I was trapped in prison, did the Empress Dowager ever plead for me out of our years of grandparent-grandchild affection? Did Father Emperor ever consider showing mercy and letting me live until the autumn execution? But I suppose not."

Otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up on the Execution Platform.

He put on an expression of utter disappointment, icy and heartbroken, then turned around stubbornly and alone: "Take me back to my residence."

Emperor Yongchang showed a look of shame turning to anger, grinding his teeth inwardly, while a strange feeling stirred in his heart. That gentle, kind child from before seemed to have been truly wounded by them, never to return.