The Whole Family is Reborn, But I Transmigrated into a Book - Chapter 59

Of everyone at the banquet, only Old Six, the Sixth Prince, was truly satisfied. The gathering had been arranged by the Emperor at Consort Ling’s request for the sole purpose of selecting a consort for him.

The Sixth Prince cared little for who would actually become his wife; he was only interested in the weight of the political leverage she could bring to his side.

“Mother, I can wait no longer,” he said later. His thoughts were consumed by the repeated failures of the assassins he had dispatched. If this continued, he feared he would soon lose his standing in the imperial court entirely.

“One must remain calm to achieve greatness,” Consort Ling replied, looking at her son with visible dissatisfaction. She truly could not fathom how she had given birth to such a fool. Unfortunately, he was grown now; even if she wished for another son, it was far too late.

“You always tell me to remain calm, to endure,” Old Six spat back, his resentment boiling over. “But even that useless Old Five has now earned military merit, while I still have nothing to show for myself.”

In his heart, he blamed his mother for half of his current predicament. He believed that if she had supported him fully instead of constantly preaching caution and restraint, he would be the one celebrated for his achievements today.

“What is wrong with telling you to be patient?” Consort Ling retorted. “If you had even a fraction of the ability—if you were even like the Third Prince—I wouldn’t have to worry so much. You cannot measure up to the Eldest, nor can you compare to the Seventh. You can only compete with that useless Old Five. And let me tell you, if Old Five’s mother hadn’t died, there wouldn’t even be a place for you in this palace!”

She was equally frustrated with her son’s behavior. Had she known that he had already sent multiple waves of assassins to no avail, she would likely have been struck dead by rage.

“I am your mother; would I ever harm you? Everything I do is for your own good,” she continued. This, at least, was true. She had only this one son; only if he sat upon the throne could she become the Empress Dowager and live out her days in security.

But the Sixth Prince did not understand this. He was a man of immense vanity and arrogance who trusted only himself. “Since you say it is for my sake, you should support my decisions. We cannot wait any longer.”

The mere thought of “useless” Old Five surpassing him was a bitter pill to swallow, especially now that the Fourth Prince had also descended from his mountain retreat.

“We must at least wait until the New Year is over,” Consort Ling argued. “Once you have married a consort and produced an heir, her family will be irrevocably tied to our cause. Otherwise, to them, she is just a daughter they can afford to lose. But treason? That is a crime that would bury their entire clan.”

Consort Ling saw things clearly. To the great noble families, daughters were merely tools for alliance. If one died, they had countless others. They would not risk total annihilation on a whim.

“I can wait until after the New Year to move my troops, but we cannot wait on Father,” Old Six said, his eyes cold and fixed only on the throne. “Mother, I know you have medicine—the kind that can make him waste away, slowly and undetected.”

“Even if I have it, and even if I gave it to you, what then?” Consort Ling frowned. She did not want him doing something so reckless; if the plot were exposed, she would be dragged down with him. “I urge you not to be so aggressive for your own sake. I am your mother; no one wants you to succeed more than I do. But have you considered that if the truth comes out, the Emperor will not spare your life?”

She knew the Emperor’s bottom line. If she had seen a viable opening to strike, she wouldn’t have waited for her son to ask. “The Emperor is deeply suspicious; he trusts no one. We have no opportunity to make a move.”

However, the Sixth Prince was beyond reason. “My mind is made up. Do not try to persuade me further. If you are so afraid of death, then simply act as if you never gave birth to me.”

His resolution was so absolute that Consort Ling found herself unable to refuse. “You know you are my only son, my only reliance. To say such things to me is like twisting a knife in my heart.”

This was not entirely true—they had not been close during his upbringing—but she knew that if he failed, she had no future in this palace.

“Since that is how you feel, Mother, you should support me. Only when I thrive will you thrive.” He looked at her, his eyes devoid of filial affection and filled instead with raw ambition.

“I will help you, of course,” she sighed, giving in. “But you must not be so impulsive. Listen to me: wait until the New Year. As for the medicine… let me handle it.”

She had made her decision. Since she was already complicit, it was better that she do the deed herself. She was cleaner, more careful. The Sixth Prince was too volatile; the Emperor had eyes everywhere, and her son would likely be caught before he even reached the bedchamber.

“I trust you, Mother. Do not disappoint me,” he said coldly.

He then suggested she reach out to his maternal grandfather. He knew that if he staged a coup, his mother’s clan would be implicated regardless, so they might as well risk everything for the ultimate prize.

As the Sixth Prince left his mother’s palace, he looked up at the overcast sky. His mood was as dark as the clouds. He remembered his previous life—how he had spent years in calculated restraint, performing his filial duties at the Emperor’s bedside, only for the throne to go to that sickly weakling, the Seventh Prince.

Old Seven was a dying invalid, he thought with a surge of hatred. How did it fall to him to be Emperor?

In that past life, he had attempted a rebellion out of sheer desperation, only to fail at the final step. Now, his eyes burned with a sinister light. He could not understand how he had reached a point where he was being outshone even by the “worthless” Fifth Prince.

Little did he know, Gu Qingjia, the Fifth Prince, was currently untroubled by his brother’s hatred. Though he had gained some recognition at the border, he had not yet been burdened with heavy responsibilities. He was currently planning a day of leisure with Liu Qingyue for the following morning, provided the weather stayed clear.

He cherished this rare moment of tranquility before the New Year. Once the holidays arrived and all the princes gathered, the friction would begin in earnest. Behind every prince stood ambitious maternal families and court officials who had already picked their sides; peace was an impossibility.

“What if the weather is bad tomorrow?” Liu Qingyue asked, pulling him from his thoughts. Since returning to the capital, she had been cooped up in the manor and was desperate for a change of scenery.

“It doesn’t matter. As long as it doesn’t rain, we shall go,” Gu Qingjia promised. He knew her well by now. If he broke his word, she wouldn’t throw a tantrum, but her disappointment would be palpable. She was someone who took promises very seriously.

“Then I’ll start packing,” she said excitedly. “I don’t want to be looking for things we missed once we’re out.”

“If you need anything, let the servants prepare it. Don’t exhaust yourself,” he said with a smile. They were only traveling within the city, not on a long journey, but he saw no reason to dampen her spirits.

Liu Qingyue preferred to do things herself. Having spent her previous life bedridden, being able to move, pack, and run was proof that she was truly, healthily alive. She didn’t explain this to the others, knowing it would be impossible to justify.

“I know, I know. Go attend to your own business,” she said, waving him off.

Since returning to the capital, Gu Qingjia had become increasingly busy. Though he held no formal power, the Emperor seemed intent on testing him, assigning him various tasks. The political winds in the court were becoming treacherous, and Gu Qingjia worked diligently. He knew that if a storm broke, he would need every ounce of influence to protect Liu Qingyue.