Chapter 639: Choice

"Eighth Prince, you shouldn’t go right now," Du Yi said. "No one at the General’s Manor will welcome you."

"I don’t care how the General’s Manor treats me. I have to see her."

"Suit yourself."

Du Yi’s face was pale. He tossed out those two words and turned, heading for the palace gate.

Sang Zhi clenched his fists. ’Not allowed to be buried on Beili soil?’

’The people of Beili killed her, and now they issue a decree like this to humiliate her.’ At this thought, he spun around and stormed back the way he came. ’He’s even banishing her...’

’An Emperor... Imperial power is nothing but a sordid pursuit of self-interest. He lost his humanity long ago!’

"Eighth Brother," Sang Yan called, approaching from the direction of the front hall.

Sang Zhi acted as if he hadn’t heard and quickened his pace.

Sang Yan hurried to catch up. "Eighth Brother, where are you going?"

Sang Zhi remained silent, his walk breaking into a run. He wished he could fly to the General’s Manor that very instant.

Sang Yan chased after him, grabbing the running Sang Zhi’s arm. "Eighth Brother."

"Let go of me! I’m going to ask him why he wouldn’t even spare a child! Why won’t he let her rest in peace! Why..." Sang Zhi struggled.

"Eighth Brother, calm down." Sang Yan held him fast with both hands. "You can’t go right now."

"Let go of me."

"Eighth Brother, having Ye Qianning’s body transported out of Beili is for her own good. Please, don’t make a scene."

"For her own good? I don’t believe it."

"Would you rather have her buried in the Imperial Mausoleum as the Crown Princess Consort?"

Sang Zhi, who had been struggling, abruptly froze. He turned to look at Sang Yan, his eyes filled with confusion and accusation.

Seeing him calm down, Sang Yan released him. "Dean Chen and the Qian family rejected Father’s imperial edict. No emperor can tolerate such defiance. In a fit of rage, Father gave them two choices: one, she would be interred in the Imperial Mausoleum as the Crown Princess Consort; or two, if they rejected the edict, Ye Qianning’s body would not be permitted burial on Beili soil. Dean Chen chose the latter."

’Even now, he was astonished. Why would Dean Chen rather leave Beili with her body than allow Ye Qianning to be buried in the Imperial Mausoleum?’

’For a family like theirs, being posthumously named Crown Princess Consort and interred in the Imperial Mausoleum should be the highest honor.’

Sang Zhi, now calm, began to understand Dean Chen’s reasoning. ’If Ye Qianning had been able to choose for herself, she, who held herself with no less dignity than royalty, would have also chosen to leave Beili.’

’She yearned for freedom. She would never want to be trapped in the Imperial Mausoleum...’

"Eighth Brother... do you know why Father has suddenly become so lenient with you?" Sang Yan asked, full of doubt and hesitation.

"Hah." Sang Zhi just gave a cold laugh.

"Eighth Brother?"

"Third Brother, I am going to the General’s Manor," Sang Zhi said, his expression cold.

Sang Yan wanted to say more, but Sang Zhi had already walked past him, heading for the palace gate.

’Eighth Brother is no longer the same person he used to be...’

’He could clearly see the coldness and distance in his expression. He had truly changed.’

——

Within half a day, the rumors in the Capital City died down. News about Consort Yuan’s clan spread through the streets and alleys, and the outcome was cause for celebration. Many believed the Emperor had caved to the pressure of public outcry.

The commoners who had been gathered outside the prefectural office were, for a time, quite pleased with themselves, believing the Emperor now valued the will of the people.

The General’s Manor was lit up all through the night. Those who couldn’t pay their respects during the day flocked to the manor late at night.

Prince Changyang entered the manor with the Princess Consort and Nanxiang to pay their respects. Nanxiang was a weeping mess; her best friend in the Capital City was dead after they had been apart for only a few days.

"Mother, Pangtuan is already dead. Why does she still have to leave?" Nanxiang cried.

"Pangtuan’s home isn’t in Beili. She’s returning to her hometown with Dean Chen."