Southern Zhao Kingdom
"Master, we've brought them," Uncle Fu said as he entered.
Qi Yunheng stood before the window. At those words, he turned and raised his eyes slightly toward the doorway.
Guards escorted the disheveled Qi Shi and her son inside.
The instant she saw Qi Yunheng, she launched into a torrent of abuse. "Zhao Yunheng, what is the meaning of this? What exactly are you trying to do?"
At that moment, her heart brimmed with indignation and resentment.
Had he not thrown her out of the palace three years ago, she would have been its honored Empress Dowager, rather than suffering scorn outside, bowing to others' whims, and never having enough to eat.
As she looked at Qi Yunheng, a barely perceptible trace of venom flashed in her eyes.
She should never have given birth to him!
What an ungrateful wretch!
What a curse!
Beside her, the eighth prince, Yunqin, reacted quite differently. The moment he saw Qi Yunheng, his eyes filled with joy and eagerness.
He looked as though he had spotted the God of Wealth, fawning and deferential.
He abruptly shoved Qi Shi aside and sprinted toward Qi Yunheng.
A moment later, the guards behind him forced him to his knees. "Behave!"
"Let go of me! Let go! Watch yourselves, or I'll have my royal brother punish you!"
He struggled incessantly, his eyes fixed on Qi Yunheng as he pleaded, "Royal Brother, it's me, Yunqin! I'm your eighth royal brother!"
Only during those three years after being thrown out of the palace had he learned that without his royal brother, he was nothing. The same was true of his Consort Mother and his eldest royal brother.
He never wanted to live at others' mercy, bullied and hungry, again.
Seeing the guards brutally pin the eighth prince