Chapter 63 - Power and Control

Thud!

Yize's eyes snapped open.

He had been sitting cross-legged on the floor, quietly focusing on his Qi, when the sudden noise broke the silence.

Someone had fallen, he could tell right away.

He got up quickly and rushed into the main room.

Prince Cheng was slumped against the desk, his breathing rough and labored.

"Your Highness!"

Cheng's hand gripped the desk tightly, his knuckles turning pale as he struggled to stay in control. Yize didn't need to ask what was wrong, the look in Cheng's eyes said it all.

Yize started to move closer but stopped when he saw the warning in Cheng's gaze. It was clear: stay back.

Cheng tried to steady his breathing, but the more he fought for control, the harder it became.

He lifted his hand quickly, his fingers curling as a faint shimmer appeared at his fingertips. The air trembled under the force of his Qi. His breathing stayed uneven as he traced a path through the air, guiding the energy through his meridians. Warmth radiated from his palm, rippling outward like waves on a still lake—only to shatter, scattering like fragments of broken glass.

A sharp pain lanced through him.

"Ah!" A strained cry left his lips as his body jerked in response, and he stumbled toward the bed. But before he could take another step, his legs gave out.

Yize couldn't stand still any longer. He rushed forward to help, but a sudden burst of force exploded from the prince's body.

The blast knocked Yize back, but he managed to twist and land on his feet, sliding to a stop.

He crouched near the doorway, stunned for a moment. He had seen the dark power take hold of the prince before, but never this strong.

Cheng raised his head slightly, and for a moment, Yize wasn't sure if he was looking at the prince or something else.

Yize stood still, watching and waiting in fear, not for himself, but for Cheng.

Slowly, the prince forced himself to stand, sweat dripping from his hair. His breathing was shallow, and his steps were unsteady.

Yize stood up slowly, his eyes never leaving Cheng. He had no way of knowing how much control the prince still had or if he would be able to stop him if he completely lost it.

"Your Highness?" he called, but there was no answer.

Cheng's body shook with a sudden, uncontrollable shudder. Then, his knees buckled, and he dropped down.

The room fell silent. Cheng stayed there, unmoving. Yize called his name again, but there was still no response.

Yize stepped forward carefully, moving closer before reaching out to gently touch the prince's shoulder.

In an instant, Cheng's hand shot toward his chest. Yize reacted quickly, shifting to the side just in time to avoid it. But before he could register the next move, Cheng attacked again, faster this time. He managed to avoid the worst of it, but the blow struck his arm hard.

The force knocked him backward, slamming him into the door with enough power to crack the wood. Pain flared through his back, but Yize gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand.

The guards outside heard the crash and called out to the prince, asking if everything was alright. When no answer came, they started toward the door.

Yize acted fast, sprinting to the entrance and sealing it shut before they could enter. He didn't want to put them in danger or let them see the prince like this.

When he turned back, Cheng was still standing in the middle of the room, his body twitching, as if two forces were fighting for control.

Holding his injured arm, Yize pressed two fingers against it and quietly spoke a healing chant. The pain faded almost instantly.

He took a deep breath, then stepped forward, ready to face him.

Yize circled him carefully, keeping a close eye on every movement. The prince could barely stand, his strength nearly gone. Yize couldn't tell if Cheng was still fighting for control or if the struggle had simply worn him out but either way, Yize felt a brief moment of relief.

That relief vanished when Cheng suddenly screamed in pain, his body jerking violently. He struck his own chest with a sharp, desperate motion, and for an instant, Yize could have sworn his spirit slipped away from his body.

Without thinking, Yize rushed to his side and positioned himself behind the prince. In one quick motion, he placed both palms on Cheng's back, channeling energy into him and forcing his spirit to stay anchored inside his body.

Cheng, briefly aware, tried to move but was overwhelmed by the pain. Yize held him firmly, refusing to let go, even as he felt Cheng's will pushing back against him.

With steady focus, Yize lifted one hand from Cheng's back, tracing a strong current of energy through the air, then slammed his palm back onto the prince's back with a forceful push, sending the energy surging into him.

The flow rushed through Cheng's body, and in that instant, he finally regained control. Drawing on his own Qi, Cheng pushed the darkness away in one powerful burst.

The force of energy drained Yize quickly, and he struggled to maintain contact. Cheng felt the power flowing into him rapidly and knew something wasn't right. Desperate, he fought to sever the connection.

After a fierce internal struggle, Cheng unleashed a risky but powerful move. The force shattered the bond between them, but the backlash sent Yize flying across the room. He slammed into the wall, coughing up blood.

Cheng collapsed forward, choking on blood himself. His blurry eyes settled on Yize, who lay motionless on the floor. Weakly, Cheng tried to push himself up, but his body was too drained. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move and moments later, he slipped into unconsciousness.

.......

Xiao kept her head down, still troubled by her meeting with Prince Cheng. Now that the truth was out, the trust between her and Yizong was hanging by a thread.

Restless, she paced the room. If Yizong discovered everything now, would he still care for her? The thought made her stomach twist. She felt exposed, unworthy, the image of the virtuous woman he once believed in was gone.

Could he truly forgive her after all the lies? Xiao didn't know. But one thing was certain, she couldn't keep hiding. She had to face him.

But first, she needed to prepare.

Her story, her words, even her expression, it all had to be more than convincing.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The loud knocks on the door snapped Xiao out of her thoughts.

"Come in!" she called.

Her handmaid rushed in, "My lady."

"I heard Lady Meiying has been kneeling outside the palace."

Xiao lifted an eyebrow, her expression doubtful and uninterested.

"Where did you hear that?"

"My sources are reliable, my lady. They say she has been there since yesterday."

The young maid gave a firm nod.

Xiao tried to brush it off, but the thought wouldn't leave her mind, then she started pacing again, imagining the worst. What if the emperor already knew? What if his anger had already fallen on her family and soon, he would summon her next?

She suddenly felt weak and took a step back, unsteady on her feet. Her handmaid rushed forward and caught her.

"Are you alright, my lady?" the maid asked, gently helping Xiao sit down on the bed.

......

Cheng jolted awake, his head throbbing with pain. He pressed a hand to his forehead, trying to make sense of where he was.

The daylight streaming in told him he hadn't been unconscious for long.

Turning his head, he saw Yize lying still on the floor. Cheng slowly pushed himself up, his eyes scanning the room and taking in the damage.

Flashes of memory went through Cheng's mind as he stood over Yize. He must have hit him harder than he thought. Cheng knew he'd lost control for a moment, but he hadn't expected to cause this much damage.

With a tired sigh, Cheng crouched down and gave Yize's arm a light tap.

Yize groaned softly, his eyelids flickering open. The second he saw Cheng, his eyes went wide with panic.

In a heartbeat, Yize scrambled to his feet, nearly tripping in his rush.

"Yize!" Cheng called, "Relax. I think I'm back to normal."

Yize narrowed his eyes. "You think?"

He squinted, looking Cheng over from head to toe, like he was checking if this was really happening. "Your Highness… is that really you?"

Cheng gave a small, amused nod. "It's me."

Yize hesitated, still watching him cautiously. After a moment, he finally exhaled and started to relax.

Cheng held out a hand to help him up. "Are you feeling any better?" Yize asked cautiously as he took the prince's hand.

But the second he tried to stand, pain shot through his arm and back. He winced, nearly losing his balance, but Cheng caught him before he could fall.

"You're hurt, Yize," Cheng said, holding him steady.

Yize groaned. "I'll be fine, Your Highness," he muttered.

"Come on, sit down." Cheng helped him over to the bed, where Yize eased himself down carefully.

Turning away, Cheng started digging through his belongings. "How bad was it?"

Yize didn't answer right away, just watching him quietly.

Cheng sighed. "I know I lost control."

He finally found what he was looking for, a small wooden box. As he picked it up, his eyes swept over the wrecked room. "I mean, just look at this place."

Cheng stepped closer, his gaze sharp. "What worries me more is your recklessness. Do you really value your life so little, Yize?"

Yize sat up straighter. "My only purpose is to prote—"

"No, it's not!" Cheng cut him off, he stared at yize, his tone was harsh but unshakable. "I've told you before.. you're not supposed to protect me at the cost of your life."

Cheng's voice softened. "This was never supposed to be your burden. You were never meant to risk your life for me, Yize."

He inhaled deeply and stepped back. "I was the one who was supposed to protect you. If I'd had more courage back then… maybe your life could've been different. Better."

Despite his unsteady limbs, Yize pushed himself to his feet and took a step forward, bowing deeply. "I have no regrets, Your Highness. Serving you has always been my greatest honor."

Cheng watched him quietly for a moment, his expression was hard to read. Then, without a word, he held out the small wooden box.

"Take this," Cheng said, "It'll help speed up your cultivation. I know you used a lot of energy trying to save me earlier."

Yize accepted the box with both hands and gave a respectful bow. He turned to leave, but Cheng's voice stopped him.

"And don't ever put yourself in that position again. If it happens next time… save yourself."

Yize paused, his back still facing Cheng. He took a single step forward, but Cheng spoke again, his tone sharper.

"That is an order, Yize."

Yize didn't turn around, but Cheng could feel his hesitation.

Cheng sighed. "Don't forget... you're my friend before anything else."

This time, Yize quietly stepped out of the room without looking back.

.....

Empress Zhilan sat by the window, draped in fine silk, her hair pinned with jade ornaments. When she saw him, she turned with a soft smile.

"Prince Cheng," she greeted smoothly. "It's rare for you to visit me."

Cheng bowed. "Your Majesty."

She gestured toward a nearby seat, but Cheng remained standing. "I came to speak about a matter that concerns the palace."

"Many matters concern the palace," she said, folding her hands neatly in her lap. "But I have a feeling this is about something... or someone specific."

Cheng's gaze flickered briefly before he answered. "I'm sure you already know why I'm here, so I won't waste time pretending otherwise."

He waited for a moment, choosing his next words carefully. "I was reminded of something that happened years ago," he said. "A person in the palace was forced to kneel for hours, left exposed to the cold and rain."

Empress Zhilan's smile barely lingered. "Ah… you must be talking about the late Consort Xue Fang."

"She knelt in the rain all night and fell ill soon after, didn't she?"

Zhilan held his gaze as she replied. "Yet she stayed loyal until the end. But loyalty should never be tested until it breaks."

Cheng gave a small nod. "If you had the power back then, would you have spoken up for her?"

Zhilan leaned back slightly, her eyes studying him silently. "And now, you want me to speak up for this girl, Meiying?"

Cheng didn't answer the question directly. "The emperor values your voice."

She let out a soft, almost amused chuckle. "He values my silence even more."

A quiet moment settled between them before her expression turned serious. "You care about this girl," she said matter-of-factly. "And that, Prince Cheng, is what worries me."

Cheng's shoulders tensed. "It is only natural to be concerned about someone who has proven themselves."

"Proven themselves?" Zhilan's smile was faint but knowing. "Oh, my dear prince… You might fool others, but not me. This is not just concern, you care. And caring, especially in your position, is dangerous."

Cheng's frown deepened, though he said nothing.

Zhilan's fingers traced the rim of her porcelain teacup carefully. "Meiying… I have heard words about her. Stubborn, isn't she? Not the type to kneel willingly. So tell me... why is she still there?"

Cheng's hand curled into a fist at his side. "She requested an audience with my father. He refused."

Zhilan's gaze sharpened slightly. "And why does that trouble you so much?"

Cheng's face gave nothing away. "I owe her a debt."

"Ah…" Zhilan leaned forward just slightly. "And debts must be repaid."

Cheng said nothing.

With a soft sigh, she set her teacup down, the gentle clink filling the silence.

She studied him for a brief moment before rising gracefully. Stepping toward the open balcony, she let her gaze drift over the palace gardens below. "Prince Cheng, you are a fine young man, and you will always have my favor. But understand this... it has been a long time since I last stepped into palace affairs. The emperor values my words, but my influence is not limitless. I must choose carefully when to use it. You understand that, don't you?"

"I do," Cheng admitted.

Zhilan turned to face him again, "Then tell me, Prince Cheng... why should I use my influence for this girl?"

Cheng stayed quiet for a moment before answering, "Because she does not knee for herself."

Zhilan's brow curled up curiously. "Oh? Then who is she kneeling for?"

He held her gaze. "Her family."

"Meiying is a force and you understand she will not rise until she has been heard."

Zhilan raised her hand, and the maids immediately stopped fanning her. "If you truly wish to claim the throne one day or even hold on to it, you must let go of feelings like this. Attachment is a weakness. And love?" Her smile faded. "Love is a death sentence in the imperial court."

Cheng's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue.

"I will think about what you have said," she added.

"That's all I ask," Cheng replied.

Zhilan's eyes followed him as he turned to leave. "Prince Cheng," she called softly.

He stopped and glanced back.

"Be careful which path you follow. A ruler's heart has no place for sentiment."

Cheng bowed again, deeper this time, before stepping out of her chamber. Yet her words followed him, warnings he wasn't sure he could heed.