Chapter 451 Guilty

Chapter 451: Guilty

His voice was very low, carrying a cautious, probing tone.

Zhou Mingqi turned his head, his deep gaze settling on his face.

Though those eyes were weary, a keen edge remained in their depths, like a blade sheathed but not dulled.

Cheng Ge took the warm water from the attending palace servant, supported Zhou Mingqi's back, and fed it to him in small sips.

Zhou Mingqi drank less than half a cup, then gently shook his head. Cheng Ge set the cup down but did not withdraw.

Zhou Mingqi looked at him, struggling to sit up slightly, his voice low and grave.

"My good minister... why are you here?"

Cheng Ge lowered his eyes, slowly leaning in, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I heard Your Majesty was unwell, and wished to enter the palace to pay a visit."

Zhou Mingqi looked at him, something flickering faintly in his eyes.

He reached out, placed his hand on Cheng Ge's head, and stroked it gently.

"The palace is in turmoil." He paused. "Cheng Ge... it would be best for you to leave the palace soon."

Cheng Ge's lashes trembled. He raised his head and met that gaze.

Though weary, those eyes remained gentle, brimming with concern that seemed ready to spill over.

Zhou Zhan, Prince Jing, and the others stood by the bedside, eyes reddened, each turning away.

Cheng Ge felt the gentle touch on his head, kept his eyes down, and spoke quietly.

"Prince Zhan... I have something I wish to say to His Majesty."

He did not look at Zhou Zhan, but his meaning was clear.

Zhou Zhan froze. He looked at Cheng Ge, then at Zhou Mingqi on the bed, hesitating for a moment.

Then he took a deep breath, gave the palace attendants a look, and turned to leave.

The attendants filed out, their footsteps soft, soon vanishing from the hall.

The doors closed softly, and the bedchamber fell silent, leaving only Zhou Mingqi's labored breathing.

Zhou Mingqi's hand still rested on Cheng Ge's head. He looked at him without a word.

Cheng Ge knelt by the bed. After a few moments, he straightened, moved back half a step, and prostrated himself.

His forehead touched the ground, his voice muffled: "Your subject... is guilty."

Zhou Mingqi's hand paused mid-air as he looked at the figure prostrate on the ground.

Cheng Ge did not raise his head. His voice came from below, muffled, yet every word was clear and distinct.

"Your subject was ordered by imperial decree to investigate the officials of Yuanzhou, yet acted perversely and without restraint.

This drove Chen Zhengqi to desperate measures, plunging the capital into chaos and placing Your Majesty in peril."

Zhou Mingqi half-reclined on the bed, gazing at the figure prostrate beside it—shoulders rigid, forehead pressed to the ground, awaiting his sentence.

He let out a soft sigh, as light as a falling leaf.

"Chen Zhengqi harbored treacherous intentions long ago. If not today, then another day—this reckoning was inevitable."

"You cleansed the officialdom of Yuanzhou. You have merit, not fault, and should be rewarded."

"But today..." Zhou Mingqi coughed lightly twice, his voice growing weaker, "I too find myself in dire straits. I am the one who owes you."

He looked at Cheng Ge, his gaze warm. "Should the future allow..."

Zhou Mingqi coughed lightly twice, his voice even weaker, yet he forced himself to finish the sentence.

"Should the future allow, I will personally confer merit and rank upon you... and ennoble your wife and grant titles to your sons..."

Cheng Ge remained prostrate, forehead pressed to the floor, shoulders trembling slightly.

He raised his head and crept forward on his knees two steps, drawing closer to Zhou Mingqi.

"Your subject seeks no high office or rich emolument, only the stability of the state and Your Majesty's well-being."

Zhou Mingqi looked at him—the figure by the bed, forehead nearly touching his knee.

His fingertips moved slightly toward Cheng Ge, but quickly withdrew.

"Take Zhan'er and the others and leave the palace. Once Cui Ji returns to the capital with aid, Chen Zhengqi will be finished.

Zhan'er is willful, but he is pure of heart. With the Grand Tutor and the elder ministers to assist him, and you by his side to correct his faults, he should prove a benevolent ruler."

Cheng Ge's hands hung at his sides, head lowered, with no intention of responding.

The air grew thick and stifling, as if it might squeeze the breath from one's lungs.

After a long while, Cheng Ge reached into his robes and drew out a seal.

He extended his hand and gently lifted Zhou Mingqi's. It was cool to the touch, bearing the peculiar weakness of illness.

Cheng Ge placed the imperial jade seal into his palm, then closed his fingers around it one by one, letting the seal rest securely in his grasp.

Zhou Mingqi looked down at his own hand, at the jade seal that Cheng Ge had pressed into his palm.

The seal still held Cheng Ge's warmth, warm against his skin.

Cheng Ge knelt there by the bed, holding Zhou Mingqi's hand for a long moment before slowly letting go.

His voice was muffled, carrying an indescribable nuance.

"Your subject is perverse by nature, not fit to be a guiding minister." He paused. "Were I to hold high office, I fear I would bring calamity upon the state."

Finally, he raised his head, his voice even lower.

"Your Majesty is a capable and wise sovereign, governing with restraint. The legacy of the Great Zhou must not be destroyed by the likes of me."

He prostrated himself once more. "Forgive your subject for disobeying."

Zhou Mingqi held the jade seal in his hand, his fingertip gently stroking the smooth jade surface.

The warmth of the seal was like a small flame, spreading from his palm all the way to his heart.

Zhou Mingqi knew that the hidden thoughts in his heart had been glimpsed by Cheng Ge, but they were ultimately filthy and shameful.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his eyes had already regained their calm.

Cheng Ge still knelt by the bedside, head lowered, shoulders slightly tense.

"I am the Emperor." Zhou Mingqi looked at him, his gaze steady. "It's only fitting that the Emperor stays in the palace.

The Crown Prince leaves the palace to avoid disaster, so that later he can return with full legitimacy to put down the rebellion."

He placed the jade seal back into Cheng Ge's hands and said, "You are a man of great integrity; I trust you'll live up to the charge."

Cheng Ge looked down at the jade in his palm, his expression heavy. He raised his head and managed a faint smile.

"Once we part..." His voice was low, tinged with hoarseness. "I'm afraid we may never see each other again."

Zhou Mingqi's brow furrowed slightly. Cheng Ge lifted his head and looked into those eyes.

Those eyes were still gentle, yet deep within them, something stirred faintly.

Cheng Ge leaned in slowly.

"Your servant..." He paused. "Wants to look at Your Majesty a little longer."

Zhou Mingqi looked at him and did not refuse.

Cheng Ge leaned against the bedside, resting his head gently on Zhou Mingqi's knee.

He looked up, gazing at Zhou Mingqi.

Zhou Mingqi looked down at him.

The two of them looked at each other in silence, neither speaking, the silence hanging between them.

Cheng Ge's eyelashes fluttered faintly in the dim light, casting faint shadows on Zhou Mingqi's knee.

Zhou Mingqi's gaze rested on his face—gentle, serene, full of things left unsaid.

After a long moment, Cheng Ge suddenly smiled.

The smile was light, carrying a trace of relief and a touch of reluctance.

He straightened up, stepped back half a pace, and bowed deeply.

"Take care, Your Majesty."

Cheng Ge straightened up, took half a step back, and bowed again.

Zhou Mingqi looked at him, his eyes warm. "Go."

Cheng Ge stood up by the bedside, looking down at Zhou Mingqi.

Zhou Mingqi met his eyes, momentarily taken aback.

The next instant, Cheng Ge's hand struck the back of his neck.

Zhou Mingqi's eyes flew open. "You—!"

The palace door shut softly behind him.

Cheng Ge stood under the eaves, the night wind cutting through his sleeves, biting cold.

Zhou Zhan stepped forward from the shadows, his face betraying barely hidden anxiety.

"Muyu, is His Majesty—?"

"His Majesty is tired and has already gone to rest." Cheng Ge cut him off, his voice as steady as if he were remarking on how nice the moon looked tonight.

Zhou Zhan hesitated, about to ask more, but Cheng Ge had already turned to look at Zhou Xing standing nearby.

"Commander Zhou, are all your men ready?"

Zhou Xing nodded. Cheng Ge withdrew his gaze and turned to Zhou Zhan and Zhou Yinyun.

"Your Highness, with Chen Zhengqi's influence growing, it's not safe to stay in the palace.

Commander Zhou will lead troops to escort you and His Majesty toward the Tianyi Gate. The Embroidered Uniform Guard will be waiting outside the palace to meet you."

Zhou Zhan's brow furrowed. "And what about you?"

Cheng Ge's gaze moved past him toward the distant night sky blazing with firelight.

"I'll break out from the direction of Yinghua Hall." He paused. "I'll meet up with you outside the palace."

"Muyu, I'll go with you."

Zhou Yinyun stepped forward, but Cheng Ge held up a hand to stop him.

"Prince Heir." Cheng Ge looked at him, his voice low but unyielding.

"The poison in His Majesty's body hasn't been fully purged, and he needs someone to care for him. And your father—if anything happens to him, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

Zhou Yinyun opened his mouth to speak, but Cheng Ge's look stopped him.

"Commander Lu of the Embroidered Uniform Guard will be there to receive me." Cheng Ge paused. "Nothing's going to happen."

He said it casually, as if it were the most ordinary thing.

Zhou Yinyun looked at him, his throat working as if he wanted to speak, but in the end, he held back his words.

Cheng Ge had already turned to Zhou Zhan. "Crown Prince, take care."

Zhou Zhan met his eyes and hesitated for a moment, suddenly feeling a lump in his throat.

He took a deep breath, pushing down the emotion. "Understood."

Cheng Ge didn't say anything more to him, turning instead to Zhou Xing. "Commander Zhou, His Majesty's safety is in your hands."

Zhou Xing was silent for a moment, then nodded. "You can count on me."

The corner of Cheng Ge's mouth twitched, as if he almost smiled but didn't.

He turned to leave, then stopped suddenly, as if remembering something.

"Oh, and one more thing." He didn't look back, his voice drifting back to them.

"Eunuch Fuquan is locked up in a side hall behind Ningshou Palace. If you get the chance, send someone to get him out."

After a pause, his voice dropped. "If it really can't be done... then after the rebellion is put down, have someone give his remains a proper burial."

The clamor swept past his ears, and Zhou Xing responded, "I will not forget, Lord Cheng, you can rest easy."

Zhou Zhan stood nearby, hearing this, and felt a sudden, inexplicable unease.

Cheng Ge turned his head, his voice carrying an unreadable tone, "Then I'll leave it in your hands, Commander Zhou."

Zhou Xing looked up, paused, then cupped his fists in a deep bow.

"Lord Cheng, take care."

Cheng Ge did not reply, striding off into the night.

"Muyu..." Zhou Zhan couldn't help but step forward half a pace, calling softly.

His voice was soft, carried away by the night wind beneath the eaves. Cheng Ge acted as if he hadn't heard, walking away without a backward glance.

Zhou Xing watched the figure vanish where firelight and shadow intertwined.

The figure walked steadily—no pause, no turning back.

Zhou Xing looked away and turned to the others, who were still staring blankly in that direction.

Zhou Zhan remained standing in place, his gaze locked on the corner where Cheng Ge had disappeared, as if he could pierce the darkness with his eyes.

Zhou Yinyun stood beside him, brows knit tight, lips pressed into a thin line.

"Your Highness, we need to go. Don't linger and lose our window."

Zhou Zhan's shoulders shifted slightly, and he slowly turned his head to look at Zhou Xing.

His eyes held a distant look—something unnameable.

After a beat, he just nodded, casting one last glance in that direction.

He withdrew his gaze, and the others followed Zhou Xing down another path.

The footsteps faded, and the corridor fell quiet, leaving only the night wind and the distant cries of battle drawing nearer.

...

In front of the Qianqing Palace gates.

A sea of torches, a forest of blades, turning the whole square bright as day.

The mass of men stretched from the palace gates into the shadows beyond, armor gleaming in the firelight like a molten river of iron, sealing off the Qianqing Palace in a tight ring.

The two forces faced each other across the gap, the night wind passing between them, thick with the smell of blood.

Wang Rui sat on his horse, looking down, his gaze sweeping across the Jinyiwei guards stationed before the palace gate.

His voice exploded in the night wind, oozing arrogance.

"Lord Chen's orders—surrender now, and you'll live!"

He paused, then his voice shot up. "Otherwise—! Not a single one of you will survive!!!"

The words hadn't even died out—

"Swoosh—!"

An arrow streaked through the air!

It came so fast it seemed the night wind itself had turned solid.

Wang Rui's eyes went wide, and before he could react, the arrow had already punched through his chest.

"Thud—" The arrow tore through his chest, bursting out his back in a spray of blood.

The force of the impact lifted Wang Rui clean off his horse, hurling him to the ground.

His eyes stayed open, his mouth hung agape, the echo of his last words still hanging in the night wind, but the man was already lifeless.

Chaos erupted in the enemy ranks.

"General Wang!!!"

Cheng Ge stepped forward slowly from the defending troops, the Kaiyuan Bow in his hand, the bowstring still trembling slightly.

Firelight cast flickering shadows across his face, half of it illuminated, half in darkness, his eyes still tinged with a lingering murderous aura.

Even Chen Zhengqi, watching from a distance, felt his heart leap.

Cheng Ge tossed the bow behind him, caught by a Jinyiwei guard.

A nearby guard handed him a spear. The shaft was pitch black, the tip gleaming coldly in the firelight.

Cheng Ge took it, twisting his wrist, the spear carving an arc through the air.

The tip touched the ground, and he raised his head, looking at the dark mass of enemy troops.

The night wind curled the ends of his hair, his robes fluttering, the whole figure seeming wrapped in a halo of light.

"By the boundless heavens, may the Great Zhou endure forever—!"

His voice exploded suddenly, crashing into the dead silence of the night.

"All troops, hear my command—!"

Cheng Ge gripped the spear, spun it, and pressed the tip down, pointing directly at the dark mass of enemies ahead.

"Swear to escort the Emperor out of the palace—!"

Behind him, the Jinyiwei responded in unison, the sound of blades unsheathing rising one after another, piercing the eardrums.

"Swear to escort the Emperor out of the palace!" The shouts surged like tides, echoing before the Qianqing Palace.