TGFH Chapter 30: Win or Lose

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After the grand ritual to the heavens, all the guards left in the hall were silenced by Rong Chuhua upon returning to the palace. The official statement about the events of that day was unified and consistent: it was acknowledged that Mu Qi’s explanation was the accepted one, stating that Rong Chuhuan had died in an attempt to save the Emperor. This covered up the truth about the Prince of Luo's conspiracy to assassinate him.

After returning to the palace with Rong Chuhuan’s body, Rong Chuhua immediately summoned Yun Mozhi to the palace. However, the result remained the same—Rong Chuhuan was dead.

Rong Chuhua lowered his gaze, dismissing everyone from the room, leaving only Xiao Yiran and Mu Qi. He walked quietly to the bedside, sitting down and staring at the motionless body of his brother, his eyes filled with guilt and sorrow.

He was the emperor of Da Zhao, and everything he had done since ascending to the throne had been for the country. He had governed with utmost care, always being true to heaven, the land, and the people. The only thing he had ever owed in this life was the person lying on the bed—his younger brother, whom he had been separated from since birth.

When he was ten years old, his mother first told him of his brother's existence, and he had been searching for him ever since. It wasn’t until five years ago when Rong Chuhuan suddenly appeared in Shengjing that he knew he had finally found his brother. Despite the fact that the Shadow Assassins could not find any evidence of the village where Rong Chuhuan had supposedly lived for over twenty years, and despite Bu Huaiyuan and Xiao Yiran warning him that Rong Chuhuan's background was suspicious and his intentions possibly ill, he knew deep down that he was truly his brother.

Therefore, he had tried to protect him, disregarding opposition from his ministers and declaring him a prince, letting him recognize his ancestry. He had indulged all of his brother's outrageous behaviors and tolerated his private actions, just wanting to make up for the years of suffering he had endured. Yet in the end, he still couldn’t save him.

"Yiran, why?" Rong Chuhua’s voice was low, filled with tired pain. "You clearly could have spared him."

"Letting the tiger return to the mountain will bring endless trouble," Xiao Yiran replied emotionlessly. At the time, Rong Chuhuan had shown no mercy. The blade was aimed directly at Rong Chuhua’s vital point. If Xiao Yiran hadn’t intervened, it would have been Rong Chuhua lying dead instead.

Rong Chuhua gave a bitter smile. Indeed, Xiao Yiran was right. Given the situation, there was no fault to be found in Xiao Yiran’s actions. After all, Rong Chuhuan had attempted to assassinate the monarch, and such a crime deserved death.

He reached out and gently touched Rong Chuhuan’s face. The features so similar to his own would never open their eyes again, never express another emotion. Thinking of this, Rong Chuhua could no longer hold back, and tears fell from the corners of his eyes. Xiao Yiran and Mu Qi knelt silently on the spot, not saying a word.

"Mu Qi, how did I instruct you when I sent you to approach Chuhuan?" Rong Chuhua wiped away his tears and asked in a low voice.

"The Emperor instructed me to get close to the Prince of Luo, to uncover the forces behind him, and to try to persuade him to turn back. If necessary, I was to ensure his safety," Mu Qi replied, kneeling calmly on the floor.

Xiao Yiran looked up at Mu Qi. Although they had always believed Mu Qi would not betray them, they had not expected that Mu Qi’s act of approaching Rong Chuhuan under the guise of loyalty was part of a plan orchestrated by Rong Chuhua himself.

Rong Chuhua turned his face away, clenching his fists, his voice trembling with agitation, "If you remember this, why didn’t you stop him? Why didn’t you stop him when I called for you? You knew Xiao Yiran was with me. If you had intervened first, stopped Chuhuan..."

"I had an agreement with the Prince of Luo, I could not act against him," Mu Qi replied, lowering his head. He knew that if it came to a direct confrontation, Rong Chuhuan would surely fail, as he was no match for the Emperor's guards. But even so, Rong Chuhuan chose to go through with it. This was the path he had chosen. Before this day, they had made an agreement, and he could not interfere with Rong Chuhuan’s choice.

"What agreement is more important than his life?!" Rong Chuhua shouted.

Mu Qi lowered his head, "If the Emperor wishes to know, I will tell you." He paused for a moment, then continued in a soft voice, "The first day I approached the Prince of Luo, he knew my true identity..."

A year ago, Mu Qi had received an order from Rong Chuhua to get close to Rong Chuhuan, pretending to lean toward him, while in reality, the goal was to force out the true conspirators behind Rong Chuhuan and uncover any traitors within the court. It was widely known in Shengjing that Prime Minister Mu Qi had a longstanding grudge with Duke Bu Huaiyuan, and the Emperor had always favored Duke Bu. Therefore, when Mu Qi approached the Prince of Luo, most people assumed that Mu Qi was defecting to him.

However, both Mu Qi and Rong Chuhuan knew this wasn’t the case. The first time they met alone, Rong Chuhuan had asked directly, "Did Rong Chuhua send you?" Mu Qi had simply nodded.

From that moment on, their intentions were clear to each other. Rong Chuhuan knew that Mu Qi had been sent to persuade him to turn back and expose the forces behind him. Yet, Rong Chuhuan believed there was no turning back for him. Since Mu Qi had come to offer his help, he might as well use it to the fullest. Mu Qi, in turn, knew that Rong Chuhuan was using him to attract more forces to his side, but as long as he didn’t betray, he wouldn’t truly succeed, and in the end, this would only reveal more hidden unstable factors. So, Mu Qi had accepted the situation, and for the past year, the two had played a game of mutual use, cooperating smoothly. Even Murong Yao had been fooled by them.

During this time, Rong Chuhuan had made it clear several times to Mu Qi that once he truly surrendered, and overthrew Rong Chuhua, the position of Prime Minister would still be his, and he would be treated as he had always been. But Mu Qi always responded the same way: if the Prince of Luo didn’t rebel, Mu Qi would remain loyal to the Emperor and his duty to the Prince of Luo. In the end, it became an unspoken understanding, and the matter was left unspoken with a knowing smile.

It wasn’t until the day before the assassination plot was set to be carried out that Rong Chuhuan sought out Mu Qi at his manor. This would be their last private conversation.

On that day, in the study of the Prince of Luo’s manor, Rong Chuhuan dismissed all the servants, warming wine by the brazier, and discussed the assassination plan with Mu Qi.

"I’ll ask you one last time, will you help me?" Rong Chuhuan poured a glass of wine and slid it across the table. Mu Qi reached out, accepting the glass, and raised it to his lips, drinking it down in one go.

Mu Qi took the glass and drank quietly, "I’ve already answered you."

Rong Chuhuan smiled faintly, "Such a pity. Since that’s the case, help me with one last thing... If I succeed, I’ll make you Prime Minister."

"You won’t succeed, why not give up?" Mu Qi frowned. This wasn’t the first time he had tried to persuade Rong Chuhuan. Since Rong Chuhuan knew Mu Qi wasn’t truly defecting, he should understand that with their current strength, they could never succeed. Even if they had support from Yan Guo, it would still be in vain.

"Since he brought me back that day, this has been my fate," Rong Chuhuan’s gaze shifted from the distant horizon and focused on Mu Qi, smiling as he spoke, "This year, you’ve learned everything you can from me. As for the details that even I don’t know, I naturally can’t help you. You help me succeed, and we both benefit. If we fail, you can still use Rong Chuhua’s order as a basis, and capture all the rebels. You can still be the Prime Minister, what’s not to like?"

Mu Qi glanced at Rong Chuhuan, slowly pouring himself another glass of wine and drinking it down, "If you seek my help, you will fail." He had already made it clear he wouldn’t betray his country or his Emperor. Rong Chuhuan asking him for help meant he was revealing the assassination plot, and that would lead to certain failure. He didn’t understand why Rong Chuhuan wouldn’t give up.

"I don’t need to succeed. If I can kill Rong Chuhua, that is success," Rong Chuhuan smiled slightly. He never expected the rebellion to succeed. Even if he killed Rong Chuhua, he never intended to hand the country over to Murong Yao. Though he hadn’t lived in Da Zhao for most of his life, it was still his homeland, and despite how it might seem, he wasn’t willing to let it fall into the hands of Yan Guo. But revenge had been his goal since childhood. To give up now would mean that the last twenty years of his life had been in vain... and he had waited too long. He couldn’t wait any longer.

"You won’t kill him." Even if he helped, Xiao Yiran and Bu Huaiyuan would have their own plans. It would still end in failure, with no way to turn back.

"Then let him kill me." He had already made up his mind about what he needed to do, and the result, he had considered it thoroughly. Rong Chuhuan stood up and poured a glass of wine for Mu Qi, "Since we’ve known each other, don’t interfere when the time comes."

"... I have the Emperor's command."

"You strike to save him, or to save me?" Rong Chuhuan rested his chin on his hand, smiling as he spoke. "To save him, you don’t need to lift a finger. To save me, there’s no need for you to do so. You know what I want. Murong Yao can no longer hold back. He wants to sweep everything clean, just promise me."

Mu Qi looked at Rong Chuhuan for a long moment, then finally raised his head and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, silently nodding. After all their time together, Mu Qi knew very well what Rong Chuhuan wanted: if he lived, he wanted to kill Rong Chuhua; if he died, he wanted to make Rong Chuhua suffer. Regardless of the outcome, one of them would lose from the very beginning—these two brothers were both losers.

In the end, Mu Qi agreed to help Rong Chuhuan by arranging an informant, and also promised that he would not intervene to save him during the event. This way, Rong Chuhuan would arrange for Mu Qi and Murong Yao to meet, making Murong Yao believe Mu Qi had truly defected. He would accompany Mu Qi to the location, and regardless of what happened between him and Rong Chuhua, Murong Yao would be there to capture them on the spot.

Mu Qi's voice was low as he spoke. After he finished, Rong Chuhua fell silent for a long while. Finally, he glanced at Rong Chuhuan, turned away, and regained his usual composure. His face no longer showed the heartache and agitation from earlier. He looked at Mu Qi and calmly said, "Mu Qi, take care of the Prince of Luo’s funeral. Bury him with the respect of a prince."

"I will follow your command, Emperor."

"I promised you I would grant you one request. Speak."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Mu Qi bowed, then raised his head with determination in his expression. "I ask only for one thing: please grant me a marriage."

Rong Chuhua glanced at Mu Qi and said faintly, "I grant it. A decree will be issued tomorrow, and after the New Year, you will be wed."

Mu Qi bowed in thanks, and Rong Chuhua rose and walked to the window, turning his back to the two kneeling men. "Yiran, this matter is finished. After the New Year, you will return to court."

"Your Majesty, I ask to resign," Xiao Yiran lowered his head.

"I do not agree," Rong Chuhua turned around, his face darkening. "This matter is finished, and I will not pursue it. I want you to reorganize the Northern Army... sooner or later, Da Zhao will go to war with Yan Guo. You are the only general I trust."

"Your Majesty... for the reorganization of the Northern Army, I can recommend Xiao Mo and Mo Yan."

Rong Chuhua narrowed his eyes slightly. "Xiao Yiran... I know about the man you brought back from Huaiding. Tomorrow, the marriage decree will be sent to both the General’s Residence and the Duke of An’s Residence... Will you choose the bride yourself, or shall I decide for you?"

Mu Qi remained silent, kneeling with his head lowered. Xiao Yiran frowned, looking up at Rong Chuhua. The two stared at each other for a long moment, before Xiao Yiran lowered his head helplessly. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Rong Chuhua closed his eyes and waved his hand. "You may leave."

Once Xiao Yiran and Mu Qi had withdrawn, Rong Chuhua ordered the body of Rong Chuhuan to be sent back to the Prince of Luo’s residence. Then, he sat alone by the window, remaining there throughout the night.

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