Chapter 45

Chapter 45: We Were Never Human to Begin With

Within a courtyard of the Sifang Pavilion in Wudu.

Zhu Cici sat upright on a chair, her small figure perfectly poised. Her delicate white hand gripped a brush as she meticulously wrote elegant characters on a blank sheet of paper.

The little girl was only nine years old, yet her calligraphy already hinted at the grace of a master.

After finishing the poem, Zhu Cici held the xuan paper with both hands, raising it up. Through the warm sunlight, she examined the poem she had copied by heart, one that her younger brother Xu Ming had composed for her back then.

Despite hearing over the past two days that this poem wasn’t entirely for her, since Xu Ming had a childhood friend at the Heavenly Profound Gate,

Zhu Cici didn’t care.

She didn’t care whether her name was in the poem or not.

Not to mention, if the law were changed so that illegitimate sons had nearly the same status as legitimate ones, what would happen if the descendant of that royal grandson suddenly appeared?

The five children of Emperor Wu of the Wu Kingdom openly and secretly vied against each other, dividing the imperial court into five factions. At the time, the ministers were more concerned about choosing sides than governing the land.

Even if that royal grandson did appear, who would take him seriously? He has no power, and no one would believe he’s the descendant of the royal grandson anyway.”

But for the royal family, having five such capable children might be a misfortune.

“I like it,” Zhu Cici nodded.

After all, something like the Divine Dragon Token can’t always be used to verify bloodlines.”

“You’re still young, and no one will say anything. On the contrary, it might even become a beautiful story.”

Zhu Cici thought carefully, “There shouldn’t be… any issues yet.”

For ordinary families, having five such children is a blessing from heaven.

“Because it’s beautifully written~” Zhu Cici smiled gracefully, “This poem is so beautiful.”

Zhu Cici simply adored this poem.

“That’s settled then, Cici is still young and doesn’t need to worry about propriety yet.”

Lady Zhu tapped her daughter’s pure white forehead.

“Little Night Sister, let’s go~~” The girl’s voice gently echoed through the courtyard.

If it were merely ‘Five Sons Striving for the Throne,’ it wouldn’t be so bad.

“This needs to go back to 150 years ago in the Wu Kingdom.”

No one knows the exact details of what happened afterward, but the eldest prince deceived his four brothers into the palace before the decree was issued and slaughtered them all.

However, it was rumored that an old servant from the fifth prince’s mansion fled with the youngest royal grandson.

Zhu Cici thought for a moment and then looked up at her mother somewhat unhappily, “But Mother, it’s been 150 years. Father said that in the imperial court, relationships and power matter more.”

“Have you really liked this poem so much these past few days that you’ve written it dozens of times?”

After receiving her mother’s permission, Zhu Cici happily jumped off her mother’s lap and ran out joyfully.

Especially considering Emperor Wu of the Wu Kingdom’s act of fratricide at the time, which was quite dishonorable. If anyone dared to change this law, it would be akin to bringing up the events of those days.

“150 years ago, there wasn’t much difference between the legitimate firstborn son and the illegitimate ones in the Wu Kingdom. But something significant happened in the Wu Kingdom.”

“Foolish child.”

Lady Zhu said, “What I mean is the kind of affection where you want to marry him, the kind where you want to spend your entire life with him.”

“However, Mother shouldn’t interact with him too much; otherwise, others might think our Qi Kingdom wants to poach him.”

“Why is the Wu Kingdom different?” Zhu Cici asked curiously.

“Clumsy girl.”

Lady Zhu sat in the chair, holding her daughter on her lap, “In our Qi Kingdom, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate sons isn’t significant, but this is in the Wu Kingdom.”

Furthermore, even if it’s fake, how does it matter? Why does it need someone to believe it?

Even if it’s fake, with some maneuvering by the powers behind the scenes, fake can become real.

At the time, Emperor Wu had five sons, one legitimate, the rest born to concubines.

Before Emperor Wu passed away, he chose the fifth prince, born to a concubine, as his successor.

“Unexpectedly, in the Wu Kingdom, there could be such poetic talent.” Lady Zhu sighed, “It’s a pity he’s an illegitimate son.”

“In the capital of the kingdom, there is a Divine Dragon Token that only royal blood can activate, which should be enough to verify the lineage.”

She didn’t care whether this poem was for the girl at the Heavenly Profound Gate.

“Do you like him?” Lady Zhu smiled.

“Long time no see you being so obsessed with a poem.” Lady Zhu gently patted her daughter’s head.

But you, Cici, can go find him to play.

Lady Zhu pondered.

“Then, Mother, Cici is going to play~”

“My daughter doesn’t understand.” Zhu Cici shook her head.

“Mother.” Zhu Cici put down the paper, hopped off the chair, walked to her mother, crossed her hands in front of her, and bowed slightly.

To completely eliminate future troubles, the eldest prince purged the mansions of his four brothers.

Lady Zhu patiently explained.

“Daughter doesn’t understand.” Zhu Cici shook her head.

“But you, Cici, can go find him to play.”

Lady Zhu thought for a moment.

“Then, Mother, Cici is going to play~”

“Not long after, the little girl dressed in a short skirt happily stepped over the threshold, following Sister Xiaoye toward the direction of Xu Mansion.

Lady Zhu scratched her daughter’s nose, “Nothing, Mother was just talking nonsense. Go ahead, go ahead. Let Sister Xiaoye protect you, and you can go directly to Xu Mansion.”

At that time, Emperor Wu also struggled greatly, unsure of whom to choose as the crown prince.

Soon after, the newly crowned Emperor Wu issued an edict, not only restricting the offspring of the three teachings and nine streams but also ensuring that the status of illegitimate sons in every family was barely higher than that of servants.

“The most ephemeral thing in the world is youth, fading like flowers from the mirror and trees.” Lady Zhu recited the last line, nodding, “Indeed, very beautiful.”

“This… should probably be fine.”

“Isn’t it true that we were never human to begin with?”

Meanwhile, outside the Sifang Pavilion, at a small tea stall, a middle-aged man leading three dogs sighed:

“To not even spare such young children, Chancellor truly isn’t human…”

Wait…

We were never human to begin with…”