Chapter 1010

　　My Heart Does Not… Want Her

　　In truth, Xuan Tianfeng did not understand. He understood that Imperial Concubine Li was performing a funeral for the living, but what Feng Yuheng said about feelings and relationships had left him a little dazed. But Feng Yuheng had no intention of saying more, as she had already left.

　　He did not give chase and only looked at the lingering scene for a long time. There was a bit of nervousness that had remained hidden; however, he ended up just sighing without saying anything. He could not keep up with that girl’s movements! A person who was like air shook his head. When he then turned his attention back on the bedchamber in Zhang Ning Palace, his heart sank once more.

　　Imperial Concubine Li’s ghoulish voice continued to mutter with no end in sight. The sound of this caused Xuan Tianfeng’s head to ache. He returned inside the palace and smashed the mourning hall without saying a single word.

　　This sudden commotion did more than just drop Imperial Concubine Li into a sitting position on the ground. Even Zuo’er, who was standing guard outside, was shocked and pushed the door open to run inside. When they saw that the person smashing the mourning hall was the sixth prince, Xuan Tianfeng, both master and servant were shocked.

　　“Feng’er?” Imperial Concubine Li suddenly called out and said in disbelief: “How did you get into the palace at this hour? When did you get back to the capital?”

　　Xuan Tianfeng ignored her and just focused on destroying the mourning hall. He even smashed the memorial tablet and cracked open the casket.

　　Inside the casket, there was a set of purple clothes. On the outside, there was a long robe, and on the inside, there were even an undershirt, socks and shoes, all of which were purple. These garments were then placed in a human figure. Could an idiot fail to identify this as Xuan Tianming?

　　The sixth prince gnashed his teeth in anger and turned around to glare at Imperial Concubine Li, angrily saying: “What exactly are you doing?”

　　Zuo’er helped Imperial Concubine Li up from the ground and had wanted to speak up for her master, but she truly did not know what she should do in this situation. Provide an explanation? Even she could not bear to watch what Imperial Concubine Li was doing, so how would she provide an explanation?

　　Before she could think any further, she heard Xuan Tianfeng’s temper suddenly flare, as he loudly shouted: “Zuo’er, kneel!” She dropped to her knees, and Xuan Tianfeng continued: “What did this prince order you to do before leaving? Was it not to keep a good eye on Her Highness Imperial Concubine Li and to not let her do these damn things?”

　　Zuo’er’s heart trembled. The sixth prince had indeed said such things before leaving, but she could not stop her! However, with things as they were, saying anything else was pointless. She was a servant. When the master was angry, aside from kowtowing and pleading for forgiveness, what else could be done?

　　Zuo’er kowtowed deeply, her head hitting the ground, as she bitterly pleaded: “It’s all this servant’s fault. It’s this servant that did not take good care of Her Highness Imperial Concubine Li. Would Your Highness please hand down punishment.”

　　“Hand down punishment?” Xuan Tianfeng was so furious that his face was turning blue, “Did you know that if what had happened tonight in Zhang Ning Palace were to be spread, even ten lives would not be enough to save you?” After saying this, he glared at Imperial Concubine Li: “Imperial concubine mother, you too! Even if you had ten lives, it would not be enough! This includes me. We would all die together!”

　　“How could that be possible!” Imperial Concubine Li was a little bit angry. How could her son speak to her like this? “Not to mention how it could not possibly leak out of Zhang Ning Palace, but the one that this One is cursing is the ninth prince. It’s unrelated to the eighth prince. This One… Oh right, Feng’er, there’s something you might not know about.” Imperial Concubine Li quickly explained to him: “The tides in the Imperial Palace have turned. The favored member of the imperial harem is no longer Imperial Concubine Yun. Instead, it’s your aunt, Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu. The favored prince is no longer the ninth prince. It’s your younger brother, the eighth prince. His Majesty favors Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu and the eighth prince even more than he had ever favored Imperial Concubine Yun and the ninth prince. That’s why, even if what happened here tonight was to leak, we would not be in any trouble. Your aunt, Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu, is helping us. For the sake of her son ascending the throne, she is all too eager for this One to curse the ninth prince to death. Of course, this is not the end goal. Feng’er, imperial concubine mother is fully hoping that you can sit in the highest seat!”

　　“Imperial concubine mother!” Xuan Tianfeng was basically on the edge of a mental breakdown. What was this nonsensical thought process? He had no choice but to emphasize once more to Imperial Concubine Li, “I don’t covet the throne, nor do I want it. Also, don’t think that Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu and old eighth will speak up for us. Even if they are relatives, they definitely are not the type of relatives that you can consider to be on our side.” He was completely unable to understand, “Why is imperial concubine mother helping them? Since you want me to ascend the throne, there is no reason to help them fight ninth brother?”

　　“Feng’er.” Imperial Concubine Li took a few steps forward and told Xuan Tianfeng about the most critical part, “Feng’er, imperial concubine mother understands your feelings. That’s why imperial concubine mother is helping you! All of this is for your sake!”

　　“For me?” Xuan Tianfeng felt a chill in his heart, as a bad feeling washed over him. He asked Imperial Concubine Li: “How is it for my sake?”

　　“It’s so you can get your most beloved person. It’s so you can be with Imperial Daughter Ji An!” Imperial Concubine Li cheerfully said this, thinking to herself that her ideas were good. “Don’t worry, imperial concubine mother is a very understanding person. Even if she was already married, it’s fine. That is a child with good abilities. My Feng’er truly has quite the keen eyes. Imperial concubine mother trusts that as long as you two are together, based on that girl’s abilities, the throne will definitely belong to you.”

　　In the end, he heard the thing that he wanted to hear the least. Xuan Tianfeng’s scalp felt numb, as he looked at Imperial Concubine Li in a daze. In his eyes, it was as though his birth mother was completely insane. Could it be that her performing this funeral for the living today was to try and kill him then have him marry Feng Yuheng?

　　Imperial Concubine Li’s answer immediately came: “Feng’er, listen to me. This funeral for the living is a very effective method. As long as I perform it seven days in a row, that ninth prince’s life force will be completely dissipated. When that time comes, he will perish, and you will be able to be with Imperial Daughter Ji An.”

　　“Nonsense!” Xuan Tianfeng was on the verge of going crazy. He pointed at Imperial Concubine Li and sadi: “Rein in your ignorant ideas! Rein in your frightening thoughts! Considering that you are my imperial concubine mother, I will cover up what happened tonight for you, but if it happens again, don’t blame me for being heartless in flipping against you!”

　　After saying this, he picked up the clothes inside the casket and threw them directly into the brazier. He also threw the little doll into the fire before saying to Zuo’er: “The matter of this prince having returned to the capital must not be spread to anyone. Take care of your master in the palace. If she does this sort of thing again, this prince will beat you to death if I must!”

　　After saying this, he began to walk toward the back of the palace. Imperial Concubine Li tugged him from behind and asked: “Are you leaving the palace?”

　　Xuan Tianfeng stopped in his tracks but did not turn back. The anger that he felt caused his chest to rise and fall, and his mood was very unstable. He said to Imperial Concubine Li: “Imperial concubine mother, if you want son to live happily, don’t do this sort of muddled thing ever again. You doing this is not helping me. Rather, it’s harming me. As for me and Imperial Daughter Ji An, she is just my younger sister. My heart does not… desire her.” After saying this, his figure blurred, as he quickly left Zhang Ning Palace.

　　Imperial Concubine Li looked at her empty hand and could not help but feel dazed. “Feng’er doesn’t like that girl? No, no, he still likes her. It’s just that he’s afraid of the ninth prince. That’s why he doesn’t dare to admit it. It must be like this.” While saying this, she turned around and looked at the floor that was covered in a mess before beginning to hassle Zuo’er: “Quickly, tidy this place up and set it up once more. Don’t we still have a spare set of purple clothes? Bring that set of clothes out and place it into the casket. Set up a new memorial tablet and candles, quickly.”

　　Zuo’er kneeled on the ground and bitterly pleaded: “Your Highness, just give it up! We can’t keep going on like this! His Highness the sixth prince already said it. If you continue to stubbornly stick to this incorrect course, he will no longer acknowledge us! Your Highness, this servant is begging you. Don’t keep doing this sort of thing!”

　　“Are you afraid of dying?” Imperial Concubine Li glared at Zuo’er and said: “Because Feng’er said that he would ill you, you no longer dare to do things for this One? Then do you not believe that this One will have you killed before he does?”

　　“This servant isn’t afraid of dying! If Your Highness wishes to kill me, just kill me, but as long as this servant is alive, I definitely will not allow Your Highness to do this sort of thing.” Zuo’er had made up her mind. She would rather die than help Imperial Concubine Li.

　　Unfortunately, Imperial Concubine Li was resolute. Zuo’er would not do it, thus she went to do it herself. She alone went through the things in the bedchamber, and she really did set the mourning hall back up. Zuo’er was frustrated and powerless, thus she simply opened all of the doors and windows and loudly said: “If Your Highness insists on doing it like this, let’s not hide it from anyone. Do it with the doors open. This servant will go and open up Zhang Ning Palace’s gates too.”

　　“You dare!” Imperial Concubine Li trembled with anger.

　　Zuo’er questioned her: “Since Your Highness feels that this is the right thing to do, why not do it openly? Why must you do it so secretively? Your Highness, wake up a little! If you really want His Highness the sixth prince to fight for the throne, it must be fought for out in the open. Using this sort of method is not how a person of honor would act. His Highness the sixth prince has lived his life open and aboveboard. Why must Your Highness insist on giving him these blemishes?” While Zuo’er spoke, she stepped forward and tore down the mourning hall once more. Ignoring Imperial Concubine Li’s attempts to stop her, she made up her mind. Even if she had to give up her life, she could not allow Imperial Concubine Li to do this sort of damaging thing. Moreover, this sort of thing was completely pointless. Imperial Concubine Li was merely going off of hearsay. Where was there any sign of a real voodoo curse?

　　In Zhang Ning Palace, master and servant caused a huge commotion. As for Feng Yuheng, who had left Zhang Ning Palace, she headed straight for Cun Shan Palace to try and see if Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu was doing anything similar. Or perhaps the person using the gu techniques was not hidden in Cun Shan Palace.

　　But just as she reached the halfway point of her trip, she saw two eunuchs currently walking in her direction. One of them wiped away tears while walking, and the other comforted him, saying: “Don’t cry. We’ve already done all that we could, but the imperial physicians were unwilling to help. What else is there that we can do? A servant without their master’s permission is not allowed to take medicine; moreover, the person to give the order for that beating was His Majesty.”

　　The eunuch who was wiping away tears heard this and said with great discontent: “Could it be that we will need to watch master die like this? Master usually takes quite good care of us. When His Majesty rewards him with delicious food, does he not share it with us? Last year, when your mother fell ill, was it not master who provided the money and brought in an imperial physician to treat her? How can you say something like that now?”

　　The other eunuch became angry: “What sort of thing did I say? Everything that I said was the truth. Just now, we’ve been to see the imperial physicians, and we spent the night kneeling and pleading with those physicians. What else can we do? Could it be that you want me to kidnap an imperial physician? I don’t have that ability. Or do you want to exit the palace to bring in a doctor? Who among us can leave the palace? Who is able to bring in a doctor?” While he spoke, he stomped his foot, “Forget it, if it really is no good, let’s go and beg Her Highness the Empress! You’re right. Master saved my mother’s life last year. This is a grace that cannot be unpaid.”

　　The two eunuchs discussed it for a while before heading in the direction of Jing Ci Palace. The end result was that they were stopped by a group of patrolling imperial guards. Without a single word, they were captured and taken away. From a distance, the sounds of them explaining and begging for forgiveness could be heard…