Chapter 1513: 1510: Refusal

Chapter 1513: Chapter 1510: Refusal

“Now that he has become a fugitive, he is nothing more than a fugitive. What can he possibly do to my Great Chu? Besides, with Lord Chu here, I already don’t receive much information, so I can only try to gain some benefits.”

“If I hadn’t been tasked with taking care of Grandmother, I would naturally have requested to do so. But now, if I take good care of Grandmother, I will still receive Father’s reward without being labeled as someone seeking merit.”

“Mother, I do not intend to request Father’s permission to carry out this matter.” King Qi made his salute, a graceful young man, neither arrogant nor servile.

Imperial Concubine Qi Zhao Yi was so furious she was burning with anger: “How did I end up with such a son who lacks ambition!”

“Taking care of the Dowager Empress’s rewards can hardly compare to the merit of capturing Duke Zheng!”

“You simply don’t understand, Duke Zheng has been scheming for years. This year, even the court ministers hold him in awe, and even your maternal grandfather says he’s more capable than in previous years. He holds a grip over our Qi family. If he wanted to escape, there are so many means he could employ. Why would he directly oppose your Father? Clearly, he must be planning something bigger!”

“Only by getting involved will you have a chance!”

King Qi looked at Imperial Concubine Qi Zhao Yi incredulously, shocked, “You… Mother, are you involved with Duke Zheng…”

Before he finished speaking, Imperial Concubine Qi Zhao Yi snapped, “Shut your mouth!”

The chilling reprimand made King Qi feel as if he was seeing his mother for the first time.

Although Mother was proud and had her own schemes, this was hardly uncommon in the palace. Those without such thoughts simply couldn’t survive.

Therefore, he never cared too much about what Mother did, as long as she didn’t directly involve herself in matters of life and death.

But now, Mother’s ferocious demeanor, like an enraged beast with a cold aura, suddenly reminded him of the scene from his childhood when he saw Duke Zheng dealing with servants.

At that time, he saw Duke Zheng’s coldness and cruelty.

So, when he grew up, he explicitly refused every opportunity to associate with Duke Zheng.

In fact, for years he had always found excuses to leave the capital to study, merely to find reasons to avoid marrying into the Liu family.

Now, even at the age of reaching adulthood, he still had no Principal Wife, only a few concubines placed in the back residence by Imperial Concubine Qi Zhao Yi.

This realization sent a shock through his heart.

“I’m telling you to go, so you must go!” Imperial Concubine Qi Zhao Yi angrily slapped King Qi’s shoulder. “Even if you cannot find Duke Zheng, you can still befriend Chu Heng!”

King Qi understood Mother’s intentions.

Yet his resistance grew deeper.

His long eyelashes trembled lightly, and after a moment, he spoke, “Mother, forgive me, but I cannot agree.”

“I have other matters to attend to, so I shall not delay your rest any longer.”

King Qi turned and walked out.

Imperial Concubine Qi Zhao Yi was momentarily stunned, and hurriedly shouted, “Yun Sheng, come back!”

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty…” her trusted palace lady quickly stepped forward to hold her back. “There are other palace people outside, if Your Majesty chases out at this moment…”

The rest of the sentence didn’t need to be said, and Imperial Concubine Qi Zhao Yi understood her meaning.

Because of this, she could only angrily throw the vase, a loud crash, yet it couldn’t extinguish the fire in her heart: “Who is it, who has led my son astray, to defy his Mother’s orders…”

The personal palace lady dared not speak, tremblingly kneeling by the side.

From time to time, there was the sound of something being smashed and broken.

This uproar caused by Imperial Concubine Qi Zhao Yi made it impossible for the concubines living in the same palace to ignore.