Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C347. Parting.

Chapter 347: Parting

Meanwhile, the Eldest Prince found himself begrudgingly ushered into the commander's grand mansion, the tension in his jaw a palpable reminder of the ridicule he'd been dodging all day. Yet, just as he was ready to spit venom and assert some semblance of power, his scathing words evaporated the moment his gaze fell upon the figure lounging in the main seat.

A mask obscured the face, but the air of command was unmistakable. The leader of the Seven Stars Bureau. Here? Of all places?

The memories hit him like a whip. Every ounce of humiliation and degradation he'd suffered at this person’s hands surged back into sharp focus. His mind replayed that fateful day in the Bureau’s Hall of Punishment—the cold eyes, the biting words, the calculated cruelty. His skin burned with the lingering echo of shame, fury mingling with the heat that flushed his face. He froze in the doorway, as if rooted there by the sheer force of his spiraling emotions.

“Eldest Prince,” came a voice as smooth as silk but sharp as a blade. Wu Yong, who had stepped forward to offer a polite bow, couldn’t hide his own flicker of disbelief. Of all the twists fate could conjure, discovering the Shizi as the head of the Seven Stars Bureau was one he hadn’t prepared for. A revelation like this—so explosive it practically begged to be buried—made him wonder if his knowledge would soon require his silence... permanently.

Gu Chengde, for all his composure, barely managed to contort his lips into something resembling a smile. "The Leader of the Seven Stars Bureau," he murmured, the words heavy with forced civility. "I never expected to find you here."

"Did you not?" came the reply, the tone edged with quiet amusement. The implication hung in the air, a razor-sharp mockery of the prince’s dismay. "I thought a man of your... insight would hardly be surprised."

The subtle dig lingered, daring the Eldest Prince to respond while a silent, palpable tension settled over the room.

The eldest prince already felt that something was wrong, but he still plucked up the courage to ask, "I don't understand why you're saying this."

"Eunuch Li, real name Li Ping." Seeing the sudden change in the eldest prince's expression, Gu Yanxi sarcastically raised the corners of his mouth and continued with shocking words, "A remnant of the Chao Li clan."

"This is impossible!" Gu Chengde interjected without thinking. "She has been with me for seven years, loyal to me. Even when I was exiled, she quietly followed to serve me. Although I did not always consult her for every decision, she remained faithful and never caused me any harm. How could a person like that be a remnant of the Chao Li tribe? Absolutely impossible!"

"Never caused you any harm? If that's true, you should still be the Emperor's hopeful eldest son, the most promising contender for the heir."

"What does that have to do with her?" Gu Chengde, already full of resentment, erupted in anger. "Who pushed me out of that position? Who made me lose everything? Who didn't even spare my family, cutting off my hope for redemption? It's you, it's the Seven Stars Bureau!"

"Was it me who made you present the elixir to the Emperor?"

"I..." The eldest prince was at a loss for words, torn between guilt and regret. Although he knew that he had done something shameful, how many emperors in history had taken such elixirs?

He just wanted his father to entrust him with more responsibilities.

"Do you know that if the Emperor takes the elixir for another two months, there will be no cure for the overdose?"

The eldest prince found it unbelievable, not believing a word of it. He sneered, "Don't try to fool me, there are many emperors in history who have taken elixirs for decades, how long has father been taking it?"