Chapter 9: Does a Coachman's Life Not Count as a Life?

The matter of Wu Ling being appointed Crown Princess instantly sent shockwaves throughout the capital. From the highest ranks of nobility to the lowest palace maids and eunuchs, no one remained untouched by the news.

Who was Wu Ling? No one had ever heard of her.

Upon closer inquiry, the astonishment only deepened. She was the wild girl brought back by the Emperor from the outside just a year ago, her status and position falling far short of the other princes and princesses. Within the palace, she had always been an invisible nobody.

Yet, it was precisely such an ordinary, perhaps even mediocre, person who was now appointed Crown Princess by the Great Zhou Emperor, defying all opposition.

Given the Emperor’s legendary longevity, even as Crown Princess, she might never ascend the throne. Still, rumors whispered that Wu Ling was on exceedingly good terms with the heir of the Duke of the State, and it seemed she had his full support.

This was no trivial matter.

For a time, many both inside and outside the palace found themselves restless.

After the family banquet, the Emperor of Great Zhou departed with a bewildered Wu Ling. The crowd dispersed without idle chatter. Princess Yue Mei, face grave, took Cheng Guang home at once.

Back at the Duke’s residence, Princess Yue Mei hesitated before asking, “Guang’er, do you like that Wu Ling?”

Cheng Guang was puzzled. “Mother, why do you ask that?”

Princess Yue Mei sighed, resignation in her tone. “Today when the Emperor questioned you, you spoke up for Wu Ling so fervently. If it wasn’t because you like her, is it truly because you believe she has the bearing of a future Empress?”

Cheng Guang coughed, his face taking on a serious air. “Mother, I’m not lying to you. I really do think Wu Ling has the qualities of an Empress.”

She more than possessed the bearing—he could almost see her future as a sovereign already.

Princess Yue Mei, hearing this, was both exasperated and amused. She said nothing more, only ruffled Cheng Guang’s hair with affection.

“All right, my son has a discerning eye. I won’t fault you for that. But next time, you mustn’t express your preferences for any prince or princess so openly. Even if the Emperor presses you, remain impartial.”

“Our family’s influence is immense, and you are the sole heir. Every word and action of yours will be magnified countless times, shaping the course of events. You cannot make your position clear, especially not in the struggle for the throne. It’s one thing to get involved in the contention for Crown Prince, but the fight for the imperial seat is another matter entirely.”

With that, she pinched Cheng Guang’s cheek again.

A wry smile flickered in Cheng Guang’s eyes. “Yes, Mother. I’ll be more careful next time.”

He said this, but in that situation, he’d had no choice—he was only a stand-in for the heir.

Had he spoken otherwise and offended the Emperor, even if his identity wasn’t exposed on the spot, he would never have left the palace alive.

He had no other options.

Princess Yue Mei nodded, gave a few more instructions for Cheng Guang to stay home, then left, lost in thought—perhaps to seek out Cheng Zhihai for a talk.

After she left, Cheng Guang returned to the Wanshang Garden, the residence of the heir.

By the lake in Wanshang Garden, Qingluan sat resting her chin on one hand, gazing vacantly at the water’s surface. Bathed in the setting sun, her fair face shone with a crystalline beauty that took one’s breath away.

When Cheng Guang appeared, Qingluan noticed him immediately, turning abruptly with a start. First she looked stunned, then, as though both relieved and overjoyed, hurried over to inspect him. She even patted him down.

Once she confirmed he was indeed the stand-in, not the real heir, she exclaimed in surprise.

“You—you actually pulled it off?”

“Nothing happened, right? I honestly thought you wouldn’t make it back.”

“I managed to get through, but not completely,” Cheng Guang replied as he strode to the pavilion and poured himself a cup of tea.

“What do you mean?” Qingluan asked, puzzled.

“The Emperor knows my true identity, but he didn’t expose me on the spot.”

Cheng Guang’s words were calm, his expression composed.

Qingluan, however, went rigid, frozen in place.

“The Emperor knows? Then, then, then…”

Even Qingluan, who didn’t know why the Emperor hadn’t exposed Cheng Guang, could only guess. She was just the heir’s maid—without orders, she wasn’t allowed to leave the residence, and so had yet to hear about Wu Ling’s appointment as Crown Princess.

Had she known of Wu Ling’s elevation and heard Cheng Guang’s words of support, she might have understood the reason.

Now, after Cheng Guang leveled his emotions and explained the whole story to Qingluan, he continued:

“Qingluan, I think my days as a stand-in are coming to an end. If I hadn’t said what I did, I’d have offended the Emperor and been doomed. But now, I’ve made trouble for the heir.”

“If I keep pretending, who knows what disaster I’ll bring. Please, contact the heir and urge him to return as soon as possible.”

Qingluan sighed, lowering her gaze. “I’m afraid that’s impossible. I can’t reach him now.”

“Normally, he always takes enough protective talismans and leaves quietly. Until he returns, there’s no way for me to get in touch with him.”

Her voice grew softer, trailing off. “Honestly, this time he didn’t slip away just for fun, but also to…”

“For what?” Cheng Guang was taken aback. Was there something he didn’t know?

“To avoid the head of the family—his father, Cheng Zhihai.”

“Why would he want to avoid him?” Now Cheng Guang was the confused one.

“The heir’s body has been damaged since childhood. His cultivation has brought him nothing but pain, and even with boundless resources, he can’t break through the third grade Purple Mansion Realm.”

“He’d already given up, but over the years, every time the head of the family returns, he brings back rare spiritual medicines, hoping to cure his son and set him back on the path of cultivation.”

“It’s well-intentioned, but the process is torture. Once or twice is bad enough, but for more than a decade the heir has endured this agony with no improvement.”

“This time, he left to avoid the family head…”

Hearing this, Cheng Guang was even more perplexed.

“By rights, given his status, he could live well enough without cultivating. With longevity elixirs, his lifespan would be little different from a cultivator’s. Why go through all this?”

Qingluan shook her head. “You think it’s that easy? Even the Duke’s household is in a precarious position. At court, many officials believe the Duke’s power is too great. The Lampbearer Division, responsible for overseeing all officials, is feared and shunned.”

“Outside the court, because the Lampbearer Division suppresses the martial sects, countless factions view the Duke’s house as an enemy. They have no scruples—when the heir was ambushed years ago, it was by one such sect.”

“Though that sect was later wiped from the face of the earth, the heir was left injured.”

“Both inside and outside the court, the Duke’s family is surrounded by hostility. Assassinations are common, which is why the heir rarely leaves the residence, or even the capital.”

Cheng Guang’s mouth twitched with understanding. It seemed the Duke himself was respected, but the Lampbearer Division, led by his father, had collected countless enemies.

No wonder Cheng Zhihai would stop at nothing to heal his son and set him back on the path of cultivation.

Without cultivation and strength, the heir could only remain trapped within the estate…

And that, perhaps, explained why the stand-in—Cheng Guang himself—existed.

Cheng Guang’s eyes flickered as a thought struck him. He looked up at Qingluan.

“Wait, Qingluan, is the head of the family coming back so that I’ll have to deal with him?”

Qingluan nodded awkwardly.

“That’s right.”

Cheng Guang was dumbfounded.

Having him face Cheng Zhihai was an impossible situation.

Cheng Zhihai commanded the Lampbearer Division, which struck terror throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty. He was a wily old fox—how could Cheng Guang, a mere stand-in, compare?

Even if he wasn’t uncovered immediately, as soon as Cheng Zhihai tried to heal the heir’s body as usual, the truth would come out.

The heir’s body was damaged at its core—but Cheng Guang’s was not!

Did he have to stab himself just to keep up appearances?

That was absurd—there was no way to replicate the injury exactly.

“It’s over…” Cheng Guang’s face was ashen as he gazed at Qingluan in despair. “Qingluan, if the head of the family finds out I’m just a stand-in, what will happen to me?”

Qingluan hesitated, unwilling to meet his eyes—she turned away.

She turned away! Look at me, you traitor!

Cheng Guang was on the verge of collapse, knowing her silence meant only one thing: discovery meant death.

If he’d known it would end in certain death, why had he been so cautious? Was it all just a farce?

It was just a matter of sooner or later—exposure was inevitable.

The heir was unlikely to return.

At least, he wouldn’t come back of his own accord anytime soon.

“Perhaps the family head won’t kill you outright. I didn’t tell you so you wouldn’t lose your composure…”

“But you must hold on for now, keep pretending as best you can. Maybe the heir will plead for you later.”

“The Emperor knows who you are, and it’s uncertain how much longer you can hide it. But you must keep up the act and delay as long as possible.”

“If you’re exposed before the head returns and the heir is dragged back early, his death will be even more certain.”

Qingluan’s gentle words were meant to comfort him, though she pitied Cheng Guang’s plight. She knew his chances of survival were close to none.

But he had enjoyed the heir’s privileges for this time, and Qingluan thought that a price paid was only fair.

After all, the spiritual fruits he’d eaten were things ordinary people could never even dream of tasting. For this alone, she felt the heir had not wronged him.

A servant’s life, in some sense, was not truly a life.

The fate of a humble man could be decided by a noble’s single word.

Cheng Guang’s expression was grim—he couldn’t accept this fate.

……