Fratricide

Southern Zhao

Diligent Governance Hall

Qi Yunheng looked at the memorials impeaching him that covered his desk, his lashes lowered slightly.

He opened one of them.

It was full of nonsense accusing him of wolfish ambition, usurping the throne, murdering his father and brothers, slaughtering his own kin, and being unworthy of his position.

Qi Yunheng remained perfectly calm.

He picked up his brush and indifferently wrote a vermilion annotation beside it-

The Grand Tutor's concern for Emperor Father and my younger brothers moves me deeply. This King therefore grants him leave to join them.

"Click-"

A boy of seven or eight suddenly walked in.

He looked at Qi Yunheng, his gaze evasive.

"Elder Imperial Brother... I brought you some pastries," he said timidly.

Qi Yunheng raised his head.

Seeing his younger brother, born of the same mother, brought a flicker of warmth to his heart.

"Set them down," he replied.

Hearing his brother's normal tone today, the Eighth Prince relaxed a little.

"Elder Imperial Brother, go on and eat. Consort Mother made all of these herself," he urged eagerly.

At those words, Qi Yunheng set down the memorial in his hand.

He looked at the prettily shaped pastries.

He did not like these pastries.

But knowing Consort Mother had made them herself, he could not bear to throw them away.

He picked one up and ate it.

He noticed the Eighth Prince watching him intently.

"If you want some, help yourself," he said mildly.

"This King will share them with you."

A flicker of panic crossed the Eighth Prince's eyes.

He backed away repeatedly.

"I-I already ate before coming. These are all for you, Elder Imperial Brother..." His voice trembled slightly.

Qi Yunheng looked at the pastries on the plate, his eyes shifting slightly.

"Is that so? They're all for me..." he replied wistfully.

The Eighth Prince nodded repeatedly. "Yes, they're all for you. Hurry and eat, Elder Imperial Brother!"

Qi Yunheng chuckled softly, a layer of frost abruptly settling over his eyes.

He raised his gaze and watched the boy quietly.

After a moment, he spoke with a hint of mockery. "You're so good to me, little brother... What should I reward you with?"

The Eighth Prince immediately refused. "...No, no, there's no need. Of course I should be good to you, Elder Imperial Brother."

"Hurry and eat, Elder Imperial Brother. There's another plate of osmanthus cake in the food box."

As he spoke, the Eighth Prince inwardly swallowed.

These are all my favorite pastries. Elder Imperial Brother is getting quite a treat.

Uncle Fu could no longer bear to watch. He stepped forward and said tactfully, "Master, it's nearly time for lunch. You shouldn't eat too many pastries."

The Eighth Prince immediately grew displeased. "You're just a servant! Who do you think you are, spoiling Elder Imperial Brother's appetite?"

Qi Yunheng's gaze sharpened slightly.

He waved a hand. "Uncle Fu, leave us for now."

"Since my little brother insists so warmly, how could I disappoint him?"

With a smile in his eyes, Qi Yunheng ate the pastries one after another.

The Eighth Prince watched as nearly all the pastries disappeared, yet Qi Yunheng showed no sign of anything unusual.

"Elder Imperial Brother... do you feel unwell anywhere?" he asked cautiously.

Qi Yunheng paused.

He raised his eyes and stared steadily at him.

"Where do you think I ought to feel unwell, little brother?" This King asked pointedly.

The Eighth Prince was so frightened that he fell to the floor, trembling all over.

Pointing at the man on the dragon throne, he cried, "Y-you're actually fine!"

"Impossible!"

Disbelief filled the Eighth Prince's face.

He had clearly followed Eldest Imperial Brother's instructions and sprinkled the poison into the dough Consort Mother had kneaded...

Elder Imperial Brother ate so much. How could he be fine?

As though he had read his thoughts, Qi Yunheng chuckled. "Why would it be impossible?"

"Didn't you watch This King eat them yourself?"

Then his tone shifted. "If you don't believe me, little brother, you can try them yourself."

The Eighth Prince froze.

Could I have panicked and taken the wrong pastries?

Were these all unpoisoned?

They must be. Otherwise, how could Elder Imperial Brother have eaten so many without anything happening?

If I'd known they weren't poisoned, I wouldn't have let him feed so many to Elder Imperial Brother.

These are all my favorite pastries.

The Eighth Prince stepped forward, gathered the remaining pastries into his arms, and ate them all.

He even remembered to glare at Qi Yunheng.

Qi Yunheng's expression remained indifferent, as though he had seen nothing.

A short while later.

The Eighth Prince clutched his stomach and began crying out in pain.

He looked at the man on the dragon throne in disbelief. "Elder Imperial Brother, y-you poisoned me?"

Qi Yunheng said, "I don't understand what you mean, little brother. Weren't you the one who personally brought these pastries for This King to eat?"

He narrowed his eyes, his gaze turning sharp, his smile never reaching his eyes. "So you knew these pastries were poisoned, yet you still brought them for This King to eat?"

"Were you trying to poison This King to death?"

He rose and walked over to him.

Crouching down, he stared straight into the boy's eyes. "Little brother, haven't I treated you well?"

The Eighth Prince froze.

Had Elder Imperial Brother treated me well?

Very well.

Whenever he had anything good, he saved it for me. He never fought me for anything.

But he was afraid of Elder Imperial Brother.

Elder Imperial Brother was too terrifying.

He was not human.

The Eighth Prince suddenly demanded, "You killed Emperor Father! Why did you kill him?"

Qi Yunheng scoffed.

"If This King hadn't killed him, was I supposed to wait for him to kill This King?" he asked self-mockingly.

"He wanted to kill me. How could I let him succeed?"

The Eighth Prince's voice immediately weakened.

But he still stubbornly argued, "Th-then you still shouldn't have killed him. He was our Emperor Father!"

Qi Yunheng looked at him.

He sneered. "And I'm your imperial brother. Didn't you still try to poison me?"

He stood, looking down at him.

"Don't forget that everything you have today was given to you by This King," he said coldly. "Without This King, you wouldn't even be treated as a person!"

"What right do you have to accuse me?"

The Eighth Prince numbly recalled the years when Elder Imperial Brother had been absent.

Everyone in the palace had bullied him. He never had enough to eat, and he had been beaten and worked like a beast of burden.

He scrambled over to Qi Yunheng and clung to his leg.

"Elder Imperial Brother, I was wrong! I'll never dare do it again!" he pleaded.

"Eldest Imperial Brother told me to poison you! Elder Imperial Brother, save me! I don't want to die, Elder Imperial Brother!"

Qi Yunheng indifferently pulled his leg away without sparing him another glance.

He took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands clean.

"What did you do to Yunqin?"

A beautiful woman burst inside.

At the sight of her, Qi Yunheng's eyes brightened briefly, then quickly dimmed again.

He turned his back. "Exactly what you see."

Qi Shi had no time to investigate. She hurried to help the Eighth Prince up first. "Yunqin, Yunqin, what's wrong?"

Seeing Qi Shi, the Eighth Prince hurriedly said, "Mother, make Elder Imperial Brother save me! Save me-"

"Bleurgh!"

The Eighth Prince suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood.

Qi Shi panicked at once. She looked at Qi Yunheng, a trace of fear and disgust flashing through her eyes.

Without another word, she demanded, "You poisoned Yunqin? He's your own younger brother!"

Qi Yunheng stiffened slightly.

A barely perceptible flicker of hurt passed swiftly through his eyes.

"Perhaps Mother should first ask whether he ever regarded This King as his Elder Imperial Brother!" he said mockingly.

Qi Shi's gaze wavered for a moment.

Then she declared self-righteously, "He's only a child. What could he possibly do?"

"Must you kill every last one of your younger brothers?"

"He's a child, but am I not one too?"

Qi Yunheng looked at her.

Suddenly, he demanded, "I'm your child too. Have you ever worried about This King even once?"