Chapter 58: A Child Without a Mother's Love Is Truly Pitiful

In the Fourth Prince’s bedchamber, deep in the night, the palace servants slept soundly. The Fourth Prince unearthed the treasured clothing of his late mother and consort, let down his long hair, and styled himself just as she once did. Finally, after applying lipstick, he could recall his mother’s visage.

But the thought of such a wonderful mother being cruelly murdered overwhelmed him with waves of anguish. The pain surged stronger and stronger, until he could no longer restrain himself. His lips grew increasingly red, until he resembled a dreadful specter.

He made his way to where Huo Renli resided. Fearing Huo Renli might die in the night, Liu Jian had stationed two young eunuchs to keep watch. The Fourth Prince struck them unconscious from behind; with a sweep of his long sleeves, the room’s lights were extinguished.

By the light of the moon, the startled Huo Renli saw a familiar figure. Terrified, he tried to scream, but his throat, swollen from injury, could only produce muffled nasal sounds, which only intensified his suffocating sensation. It was as if he hovered at the gates of death, the feeling of impending demise clearer than ever.

His strained, hoarse voice intermittently broke free from his throat, though the words were indistinct.

“Don’t… don’t…”

“The painting… is… ruined…”

“Don’t kill… don’t kill… wail…”

Huo Renli was utterly terrified, his spirit shattered. Yet the ghostly figure did not leave but stood before him, dancing a strange, eerie dance in the moonlight.

Consort Shu was skilled in dance, but hers was a sword dance. This ghostly form’s limbs twisted unnaturally; suddenly, with a fierce flick of long hair, revealed lips were as blood-red and beautiful as a crimson bloom.

Huo Renli’s eyes widened in horror, his body convulsed, and he fainted on the spot.

But the Fourth Prince did not stop. He regretted that Liu Jian had injured Huo Renli’s throat. He could barely understand what he said—what painting? What had Huo Renli done to his mother?

At this moment, Xiao Huaizheng was filled with rage. He surged forward, intent on breaking Huo Renli’s neck. Yet at the critical moment, he could not bring himself to do it—not out of mercy, but because he yearned to bring justice to his mother.

She was not mad and despairing, taking her sister’s life in suicide; she was murdered by someone else, which was why she died so tragically!

As Xiao Huaizheng released his grip, choking back tears, a figure suddenly entered through the outer door, grabbing him and saying, “Why are you sleepwalking at such a fine hour? And why have you made yourself look like this? Do you think you’re some kind of cross-dressing enthusiast?”

Tears blurred Xiao Huaizheng’s face. When the royal aunt wiped away his tears and makeup, he looked like a helpless child, sobbing quietly. His gaze was pure, filled with sorrow and grievance.

Lin Yue thought, “Ah… A child without a mother’s love is truly pitiable.”

System: “Detected all villainous malice dissipated. Merit points no longer depleting, but only 980,000 points remain.”

Lin Yue: “Well, that means the lost merit points can’t be restored?”

She patted Xiao Huaizheng’s back, saying, “Alright, let’s go outside and talk. This place smells awful—what’s that stench?”

Xiao Huaizheng replied bitterly, “The scent of a dying man.”

The system issued another warning.

Lin Yue quickly pulled Xiao Huaizheng away. “You can still speak? That means you’re awake. Let’s get out of here.”

Outside, the courtyard was spacious and comfortable. If it weren’t the middle of the night, Lin Yue might have wanted to explore. But now, she had no mood for it. She had intended to give Xiao Huaizheng a good scolding, but now she simply couldn’t bring herself to do so.

She walked a few steps and sat by a well. The well was sealed, but Xiao Huaizheng was startled and hurriedly pulled her up.

“Royal Aunt, don’t sit there. It’s dangerous.”

Lin Yue looked back. The well’s opening was heavily sealed with stones—no risk of falling in. But the terror in Xiao Huaizheng’s eyes was vivid, clearly a remnant of childhood trauma.

Lin Yue told the system, “I understand now. Huo Renli’s identity has been exposed. Xiao Huaizheng must have discovered that Huo Renli is connected to his mother’s death, so he dressed as a ghost in the dead of night to seek the truth.”

“But how to say this… sigh…”

Xiao Huaizheng: “...!!!”

“Royal Aunt, please tell me. Once I know the truth, I can figure out how to verify it! I beg you, tell me! I won’t harm the royal family. I will devote myself to Wei and live honorably!”

System: “He has just activated his inherent positive energy. He still wishes to be a good man. Do you want to support him?”

Xiao Huaizheng was instantly earnest, almost swearing an oath.

When Lin Yue looked again, she gasped. Xiao Huaizheng’s tears streamed down his face, filled with grievance and sorrow.

“Royal Aunt…”

That weak cry jolted Lin Yue.

“If it weren’t for how brightly the night glows tonight, I’d have thought something terrible happened to him.”

“This boy, you could say he’s an emotionless monster, yet he’s utterly devoted to avenging his mother and sister. And if you say he’s clear about his grudges, he has killed the Crown Prince and other princes in his revenge, which is just baffling.”

System: “Therefore, he needs positive guidance.”

Lin Yue looked at Xiao Huaizheng, his eyes red from crying, his hair messy, dressed in ill-fitting clothes, and sighed.

“Alright, I give in. I really can’t bear to see such a tragic boy before me.”

“But the original story only hinted briefly. Apparently, Huo Renli was a delusional pervert. Though Consort Shu bore him no affection, he thought she betrayed him. After entering the palace, he secretly drugged her and painted nude pictures to threaten her.”

“Later, he even targeted the little princess. Consort Shu, unable to endure this torment, took poison with her daughter and jumped into a well to end their lives. By then, she was already ill and mentally broken.”

“These events happened long ago. How could anyone investigate now? The paintings were destroyed by that sick old man after Consort Shu’s death, fearing exposure. Moreover, Consort Shu had trusted him as a confidant during her lifetime. Even the Emperor then never suspected Huo Renli.”

Xiao Huaizheng silently turned his back, his dark eyes gazing up at the night sky, silent for a long time.

His fingernails dug into his palm until they broke. In that moment, he felt as if a demon’s hand gripped his heart and crushed it mercilessly. The suffocating pain surged through him. He now knew the truth and vowed to avenge his mother and sister.

The thought that Huo Renli had personally tortured and killed his mother and sister, deceiving him all along!

That man had devastated the entire royal family, betrayed him, and forced him to bear all the disgrace, while ascending to become the head of the imperial household!

Xiao Huaizheng’s eyes flashed blood-red. That despicable Huo Renli—he would kill him, make him suffer a living hell!

In a hollow beneath the wall, the Empress crouched silently, too afraid to move.

Her constitution was weak; she could not climb high. She had found a crevice in the bricks, which, though unreachable, allowed her to eavesdrop.

Hearing Lin Yue’s inner thoughts, she was shocked. She never imagined that Consort Shu’s fate was so tragic—that after being painted nude, she was threatened daily by a perverted old eunuch.

Even if back then she was jealous and scheming, she never wished harm upon Consort Shu, much less the two children.

The little princess had been only three years old when she died!

Huo Renli had mournfully held the Fourth Prince before the Emperor, feigning sorrow, claiming that Consort Shu’s dying wish was for him to care for the prince until he grew safely to adulthood.

The Emperor, moved by his false sincerity, entrusted the Fourth Prince to his care.

If only they had known—this old pervert deserved to be torn apart a thousand times!