The Red Mole Prophecy : A Concubine's Rise (BL)

Chapter 16 :A life Unchosen

Rong Xiang's gaze drifted out the carriage window, his eyes unfocused as he replayed the morning's events in his mind. The memory of his father's words, the courtiers' whispers, and the weight of their judgmental stares seared his heart like a branding iron.

He clenched his fists, feeling the soft silk of his gloves bunching in his palms. How could his own father do this to him? Hadn't he always been the dutiful son, following in Emperor Rong's footsteps, emulating his every move?

But now, his reputation would be forever tarnished. The whispers of his promiscuity would spread like wildfire, consuming his virtue and his divine image. He was the future emperor, for heaven's sake! He should be above such petty indulgences.

Rong Xiang's thoughts swirled with anguish and anger, his heart burning with a fire that threatened to consume him whole. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of shame, with no lifeline in sight.

The carriage wheels rattled over the cobblestone streets, but Rong Xiang didn't notice. He was lost in his own private hell, tormented by the fear of losing everything he held dear: his reputation, his power, and his very sense of self.

Rong Xiang's thoughts grew even more bitter as he reflected on his love life. He had never been allowed to choose a woman for himself, never been given the chance to find his own beauty. Every concubine in his harem had been handpicked by his father, Emperor Rong, as if he was a mere pawn in the imperial game of power.

And yet, Rong Xiang had accepted this fate, like a dutiful son. He had never questioned his father's decisions, never dared to defy him. Even when it came to something as personal as his own wife, Emperor Rong had not chosen one for him. Instead, he had left Rong Xiang to the mercy of the concubines he had selected.

Rong Xiang's heart seethed with resentment. Why had his father done this to him? Did he not trust him to make his own decisions? Or was it simply another way to control him, to keep him bound to the imperial will?

The carriage wheels creaked and groaned, echoing Rong Xiang's turmoil. He felt trapped, caught in a web of his father's making. He longed to break free, to forge his own path, but the weight of his duty and his destiny held him back.

Rong Xiang's disgust turned to self-loathing as he thought about his father's words. Encouraging him to seek pleasure, to indulge in the very vices he had always despised. It was as if Emperor Rong was deliberately trying to corrupt him, to turn him into one of those men he had always scorned.

Men who couldn't control their lusts, who let their desires rule them. Men who were weak, foolish, and beneath him.

And now, his own father had labeled him as one of them. The shame and anger burned within him, threatening to consume him whole. Rong Xiang felt like he was staring into the abyss, with no escape from the darkness that had been thrust upon him.

He thought of all the times he had judged those men, looked down on them with contempt. And now, he was one of them. The hypocrisy was suffocating.

Rong Xiang's carriage ride became a blur as his emotions swirled out of control. He couldn't wait to get out, to escape the confines of the vehicle and the crushing weight of his father's expectations. But deep down, he knew there was no escape. He was trapped in this life, forever bound to the whims of Emperor Rong.

Upon arriving at his palace, Rong Xiang disembarked from the carriage and proceeded to his sleeping quarters. He entered his opulent bathroom, featuring an expansive bathhouse with a sizable pool. After untying the fastenings of his attire, he immersed himself in the chilly water, seeking to cleanse the tarnish from his reputation.

As he descended into the cold pool water, Rong Xiang felt a shiver run down his spine. The sudden change in temperature was a shock to his system, but he welcomed it. He hoped that the icy water would wash away the shame and humiliation he felt, that it would cleanse him of the black spot on his reputation.