Chapter 179

Chapter 179: Not for Her

Why?

Qi Shu Xian had always carried this question deep in his heart. The Third Prince was born into royalty. As long as he did not harbor rebellious intentions, why would he need so much silver?

Unless the Third Prince truly intended rebellion.

Yet, currently, everyone saw how dearly His Majesty favored the Third Prince. Why would he risk so much?

Seeing Qi Shu Xian’s confusion, Sheng Yuan Hao laughed loudly, asking, “Heir Apparent Qi, tell me, what is the most important thing in a nation?”

“The common people!” Qi Shu Xian instantly thought of Sheng Zhi Wan’s words.

Hearing this, Sheng Yuan Hao nodded with a faint smile. “You’re right, but also wrong. Commoners are important, yes, but only useful ones. Useless people are parasites, clinging onto Sheng Kingdom like worms, providing nothing in return.”

Shock rippled through Qi Shu Xian’s heart. He stared, unable to believe his ears.

Sheng Yuan Hao continued, “In truth, the most important thing for Sheng Kingdom now is to fill its treasury. With a full treasury, we can raise a powerful army. A powerful army ensures peace. When the kingdom is stable, only then can commoners live peacefully.”

“Then, Heir Apparent Qi, who do you think I am gathering all this wealth for?” Sheng Yuan Hao smiled enigmatically.

A thought suddenly flashed in Qi Shu Xian’s mind. He jerked his head up in disbelief, accidentally knocking his cup from the table.

The cup shattered.

Wine splashed everywhere. Qi Shu Xian struggled to catch his breath, glancing upward.

Sheng Yuan Hao merely raised his own cup toward Qi Shu Xian in a silent toast, saying nothing.

A storm brewed in Qi Shu Xian’s heart.

Even Meng Yang, who had traveled from another world, felt shaken by the hidden meaning behind his words.

“If the lives of a few useless people can buy Sheng Kingdom’s peace for the next hundred years, what’s wrong with doing it?”

“Your Highness, what do you plan to do?” Anxiety gnawed at Qi Shu Xian.

Sheng Yuan Hao stood up calmly. “Burn the cotton. Win over the cotton merchants. I can arrange for the Du Clan in Ji Prefecture to cooperate with Miss Meng. As for the details, I leave it up to Miss Meng’s plans.”

“Burn… the cotton?” Qi Shu Xian stared, horrified.

Right now, cotton meant life to the people of the Northern Desert. Yet with just two words, the Third Prince destroyed countless lives.

Qi Shu Xian remained sitting, dazed.

He didn’t clearly hear what Meng Yang said afterward. Only after the Third Prince nodded and left did he stand up and bow mechanically.

The door to their private chamber closed.

Meng Yang’s voice trembled with suppressed joy. “Heir Apparent, I never thought His Majesty valued the Third Prince so highly. It seems His Majesty has long considered passing the throne to him!”

However, Qi Shu Xian did not show any happiness. Instead, he stared blankly at the closed door for a long time. Then, turning abruptly toward Meng Yang, he asked, “Why did you make that suggestion?”

If Sheng Zhi Wan’s cotton disappeared or something happened to it, it wouldn’t affect their plans.

If Meng Yang hadn’t spoken up, perhaps the Third Prince wouldn’t have considered burning the cotton.

He wasn’t burning cotton. He was burning the lives of Northern Desert’s commoners.

“I… I didn’t think the Third Prince would decide to burn it!” Meng Yang quickly explained. “I merely wished Princess wouldn’t send cotton to Northern Desert. Who knew the Third Prince would act so ruthlessly?”

“If you disagree, I’ll immediately clarify things with the Third Prince!” Meng Yang smiled bitterly and started to rise.

But as soon as she moved, Qi Shu Xian gripped her wrist tightly.

“Forget it…”

Facing Meng Yang’s wounded eyes, Qi Shu Xian sighed heavily. “Since the Third Prince has already decided, neither you nor I can interfere. But in the future, please speak and act more cautiously before the Third Prince.”

“I understand,” Meng Yang murmured, biting her lip. But inwardly, she didn’t feel remorse.

After all, her goal had always been to push the Third Prince into action.

They returned to the Duke’s estate in silence.

After escorting Meng Yang to the Endless Courtyard, Qi Shu Xian turned to leave.

“Heir Apparent…” Meng Yang gently held him back. “Are you still angry with me? Or are you still worried about the Princess?”

Qi Shu Xian frowned at her. “We’ve already divorced. Why should I care about her? The cotton was the hope of the Northern Desert commoners.”

“I know,” Meng Yang whispered softly, “I’m just saddened for you. You’ve always cared so deeply for Princess, yet she showed no mercy, humiliating you publicly and even flogging you.”

“Enough! I already said it wasn’t for her!” Qi Shu Xian snapped, his frustration rising.

He shook off Meng Yang’s hand and strode away.

Yet Sheng Zhi Wan, whom both called heartless, had already arrived at Merciful Wisdom Palace.

This was her first visit since her divorce.

Empress Dowager was now fifty-eight. Despite careful care, the wrinkles on her face had grown deeper.

Sheng Zhi Wan felt tears welling up.

Empress Dowager sent everyone away, keeping only Nanny Xiu outside. “You daring girl, trading your own life for a divorce! Do you realize how worried I’ve been?”

“It’s my fault, Grandmother. I made you worry.” Sheng Zhi Wan knelt obediently, resting her forehead against her grandmother’s knees.

The Empress Dowager felt her anger fading away.

Ever since childhood, Sheng Zhi Wan had always softened her heart this way.

“You’re still as cunning as when you were little. The treatment you used to save Lu Chuo—your Imperial Father said you learned it from a medical book?”

“What does Grandmother think?” Sheng Zhi Wan asked with a smile.

Empress Dowager sighed heavily. “You must never take such risks again…”

“Grandmother!” Sheng Zhi Wan suddenly looked up, eyes intense. “Why have you always told me to hide my abilities?”

She’d asked this before.

More than once.

Each time, her grandmother had evaded answering.

Eventually, Sheng Zhi Wan stopped asking, suspecting but never daring to confirm her guesses.

Now she’d decided to face it openly. Whether fortune or disaster, hiding wasn’t the solution. Only by understanding could she protect herself from harm.

The hand stroking Sheng Zhi Wan’s hair paused briefly. The Empress Dowager smiled. “You’re just a princess. If you show too much cleverness, your brothers might envy or hate you.”

Again, the same reason.

Sheng Zhi Wan pressed her lips together tightly. “Grandmother, even if I hide my intelligence, hasn’t envy still followed me? Uncle Wei, Mo Bing, Hong Yan…”

“Enough!” Empress Dowager interrupted harshly, eyes red.

Uncle Wei was the Empress Dowager’s most trusted eunuch. He’d been by her side since the day she entered the palace. But he died protecting Sheng Zhi Wan on her way to the Detached Palace, his body pierced by arrows, sheltering the four-year-old child in his embrace.

“Enough! Don’t mention it again!” Empress Dowager turned away sharply.

Sheng Zhi Wan took a deep breath and carefully revealed an object. “Grandmother, do you recognize this?”

A golden bell the size of a pigeon’s egg appeared in Sheng Zhi Wan’s palm.

The moment Empress Dowager saw it, her pupils shook violently.

She reached out, trembling, but pulled back fearfully just before touching it. Tears uncontrollably streamed down her face.

“Where…where did you get this?” Empress Dowager gripped Sheng Zhi Wan’s shoulders tightly, hands trembling.

Sheng Zhi Wan bit her lip, about to speak—

“Your Majesty—” Nanny Xiu’s voice suddenly called from outside.