WBSGVS Chapter 207 V2

If it hadn’t been for Fu Cheng’s original suggestion to have Sima Qingli take Qinghe’s place in the marriage alliance, how would they have unleashed such a deadly force from the cold palace? What a nightmare.

If Qinghe hadn’t been crying and pleading nonstop, they wouldn’t have panicked and resorted to an assassination attempt, which only made things spiral further out of control, forcing them to find a last-minute stand-in.

And if he hadn’t completely dismissed her—gone so far as to request an imperial decree, forcing her into a corner—she wouldn’t treat him with such icy indifference now.

If only…

But there was no more room for regret. Sima Chang couldn’t afford to say these things out loud—not when he still needed the support of these two.

His mind boiled with anger and anxiety, but his thoughts were clearer than ever.

Things had reached this point.

So why not go all the way?

He wasn’t the only one who’d reached his limit. There was no way the Second Prince—or the Regent—could swallow this either.

Losing the military tally, losing power, losing the reverence of the people—after being untouchable for so many years, how could he accept that? Now the pieces Sima Chang had placed within the Second Prince’s camp might finally prove useful.

Sima Chang lowered his hand and turned to look at Sima Qinghe, whose tear-streaked face still couldn’t hide her beauty. He gave a soft smile. “Qinghe, I’m sorry. I lost my temper earlier. Don’t be upset, alright?”

She gave him a slightly aggrieved look but eventually nodded. “Alright. I’m not mad at you, Third Brother.”

Sima Chang had been chosen by her and her mother as their trusted ally. After giving birth to Qinghe, her mother had been left too weak to have more children. They had poured everything into backing Sima Chang—how could a single outburst drive a wedge between them?

Both wore masks, smiles smoothing over their mutual tensions as they returned to their usual “harmonious” selves.

Then Sima Chang turned to Fu Cheng. “I need your help this time.”

Fu Cheng answered immediately, “Say the word. I’ll do whatever you need!”

“Convince your mother to ask His Majesty to name a Crown Prince,” Sima Chang said solemnly.

Fu Cheng’s face shifted slightly. That kind of matter… the Fu family didn’t dare get involved. But seeing how serious Sima Chang looked, he hesitated.

Sima Qinghe frowned in concern. “Third Brother… That’s putting too much pressure on Fu Cheng. He—”

Fu Cheng couldn’t bear seeing her upset. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Alright. I’ll try!”

—

It had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. Fu Cheng had agreed to get his mother involved in the matter of naming a Crown Prince. On the way home, his mind was heavy with worry.

As the son of a princess, his father had no official position, but the Fu family itself was a prestigious noble house with considerable influence. His father was the family head, and several of his uncles held court positions. They carried serious weight at court.

The princess herself didn’t hold much power, but she had always had a good relationship with Sima Heng, knowing when to advance and when to retreat. Aside from the last time—when he and Yi Han had orchestrated the plan and she’d purposely gotten close to the Regent—the royal family and the Fu clan had always been tightly linked.

If his mother—the princess—were to go plead the case, and considering everyone knew that Sima Heng already favored Sima Chang, there was a chance it might work.

Upon arriving home, Fu Cheng went straight to his parents, bowed, and said, “Father, Mother, I have a difficult request.”

The two looked at each other, and a change passed over their faces—but Fu Cheng, lost in his thoughts, didn’t notice. The princess gave a gentle smile. “Go ahead, we’re family. No need to be so formal.”

Fu Cheng said brightly, “I want to ask Mother to speak with Uncle and convince His Majesty to appoint a Crown Prince.”

The moment the words left his mouth, the princess shot a look at her husband and walked toward the door, shutting it behind her.

Then Fu’s father picked up the feather duster from the corner and, without a word, started swinging.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! The blows landed in rapid succession, making Fu Cheng yelp and dance around like mad, completely shattering his image as a refined noble son.

He stumbled about, trying to escape, but the door was shut. He was trapped.

“Mother, help me! Father, what the hell?! Stop hitting me—ow!”

The princess stood to the side, out of the way, her face icy. “You still have the nerve to call for help? This is what comes from spoiling you too much. Since when do you think you’re qualified to meddle in the matter of the heir to the throne?”

“And don’t you see what’s happening? The royal uncle has chosen the State Preceptor, which means he’s chosen the Fourth Prince. Now that she controls all the military power, as long as the Fourth Prince grows up safely, that position is as good as his. And you’re still trying to back the Third Prince?”

“I haven’t even dealt with you for getting close to Zhou Xing just to advance your scheme with Yi Han. Now you’re trying to stir things up again? What—has the Fu family given you too much, and now you want to lose it all?!”

Fu Cheng was stunned. He was in so much pain from the beating that his face was twitching, but all he could do was gape in disbelief. “So you’re just… going to accept it? Not even try to fight back?”

The head of the Fu family looked utterly fed up. “Fight what? The State Preceptor has real ability. Since she’s now involved in the Crown Prince issue, she’ll protect the Sima royal family going forward. The people will benefit too. If we back the Third Prince just for selfish reasons, then what? Watch him and the State Preceptor tear each other to pieces over the throne? We’d be the sacrificial pawns in that battle!”

Fu Cheng fell silent.

His earlier agreement had come from a place of emotional impulse. But now, after a good thrashing and some harsh words, his mind had cleared.

It was true. The Fu family, despite its noble status, had no military power. Given the current situation, the Third Prince’s odds of winning were slim. The Fu family couldn’t afford to gamble. Better to stay out of it entirely.

Still… wouldn’t Princess Leqin be heartbroken?

Just as that thought crossed his mind, his father, now exhausted from the beating, waved his hand and said loudly, “Guards! Take the young master away! He’s unwell. He’s not to see anyone for the next few months!”

Fu Cheng snapped out of it. Seeing the determined look in his parents’ eyes, he felt a chill down his spine. He panicked. “But I already offended the State Preceptor! If the Fourth Prince becomes the heir, she won’t spare the Fu family!”

His parents’ faces changed.

“What did you do?” his father asked, voice tense.

Fu Cheng muttered, “After I failed to assassinate the Regent, I ended up hiding in the Cold Palace and ran into her. Princess Leqin didn’t want to go through with the marriage, so I suggested having her take Leqin’s place…”

His voice grew smaller and smaller until it vanished completely.

But his parents had heard enough. Their expressions turned dark, and the family head pointed a shaking finger at him, roaring, “You ungrateful fool!”

Fu Cheng lowered his head, unable to meet their eyes. The irony wasn’t lost on him.

Just a year ago, he’d thought he was above her—free to arrange her fate however he pleased.

Now, even his parents were terrified of her.