Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?

Chapter 1138: Chapter 823: Towering Colossus

The sky outside had already begun to darken, and within the depths of the palace, it felt as though night had fallen in an instant.

With vision obstructed, hearing became even sharper. Yu Wenye could clearly hear the sound of water flowing; it was Yu Wencheng rising to fill the Crown Prince’s cup beside him. In the dim light, the color of the liquor was almost indistinguishable, one could only see the cold glimmer of liquid pouring from the spout like moonlight spilling, shimmering with ripples as it settled in the cup.

The air also began to be filled with a strong aroma of wine.

Then, the sound of rustling fabric was heard as Yu Wencheng turned and tilted the jug slightly towards the cup in front of Yu Wenye.

The sound of wine flowing came again, and since it was right in front of him, not only did he hear it more clearly, but he could even see the murky wine leaping out of the jug. Compared to the earlier clear and pure hue and fragrance, this wine, closer at hand and slowly being poured to the brim, was richer and deeper. When the last drop fell into the cup, Yu Wenye held the edge of the cup, feeling the coolness brought by the liquor through it.

Reflecting the water’s light, Yu Wencheng’s gaze flickered as if he looked up and smiled at him.

Then, he poured himself a cup of wine as well.

After filling all three cups, he finally lifted his own cup in front of him, looked at Yu Wenqian, then at Yu Wenye, and said, "This third cup, I offer to my two elder brothers."

Yu Wenye watched calmly at the amber glow of the cup before him, and lifted his eyes to glance opposite; Yu Wenqian had also silently picked up his cup.

Perhaps due to years of practicing Buddhism, he always seemed very calm, with emotions and expressions nearly unreadable, and even his hands were extremely steady. Yet at this moment, whether it was his own illusion or not, Yu Wenqian’s hand seemed to tremble, causing the wine in the cup to ripple along.

Yu Wenye furrowed his brow slightly.

Yu Wencheng was already smiling at him, saying, "Second brother, aren’t you raising your cup?"

Yu Wenye glanced at him, said nothing, simply reached out and picked up the glass before him. The wine’s coolness had completely penetrated through the glass by now, and holding it felt as if gripping a piece of ice. Yu Wenye, always strong and resistant to heat, felt cold for the first time, and not only the chill of his palm but a coldness rising from within linking with his palm’s perception, instantaneously freezing his limbs and entire body.

Yu Wencheng seemed very satisfied, his eyes’ smile deepened, yet, due to reflecting the chill of the wine, it revealed a hint of coldness.

He said, "Didn’t second brother just mention that we brothers are united for father’s grand endeavor? However, since father has already appointed elder brother as the Crown Prince, this great undertaking will eventually pass on to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. So, are we not uniting for the Crown Prince, for his future inheritance of the grand endeavor?"

Yu Wenye’s brow immediately knitted together.

Of course, he knew that his third brother had always been unrestrained with words since childhood. But being the youngest, he easily gained adults’ forgiveness, plus past indulgence from Aunt Hui at home, and now the Crown Prince also backing him, he became even more audacious—yet, regardless of how audacious, speaking of the Emperor’s grand endeavor, transfer of the throne, such words were too much!

Yu Wenye immediately said, "Third brother, these matters should not be spoken of by you, they concern father!"

Yu Wencheng laughed and said, "Second brother, since when did you become so cautious? In the past, you seldom allowed father to worry about what you did, often acting on your own."

"..."

"Why, I can’t even mention it?"

Yu Wenye said, "No!"

Yu Wencheng’s face darkened: "You—"

Yu Wenye coolly stated, "I acted on my own because those tasks were entrusted to me to accomplish. As long as they were done, father received results and naturally did not question; but can you criticize father’s grand endeavor, his choice of successor? Do you realize your reckless words here are treasonous?"

Yu Wencheng’s face instantly changed; he wanted to speak further when a calm voice sounded beside him: "Third brother, stop it."

Yu Wencheng immediately quieted, turning to look at Yu Wenqian, seeing his whole self quietened in the dim light like a silhouette fully enveloped in darkness, almost indistinguishable in outline, even the usually transparent and tranquil eyes nearly submerged in darkness.

He said blandly, "King Qin has a point, so don’t say any more."

Yu Wencheng was still somewhat unconvinced, but upon hearing the last few words, he suddenly seemed to recall something, looked at Yu Wenye’s wine-cup, suddenly smiled and said, "Fine, I won’t say more, but will second brother drink the cup of wine offered by your younger brother?"

"..."

Yu Wenye’s gaze shifted, glancing at Yu Wenqian before him, then slowly set the cup down.

He said, "Since imperial brother said my words are reasonable, it means your words are not. Thus, this cup of wine need not be drunk."

Yu Wencheng’s face changed again, gripping the wine cup with sudden force, causing the liquid inside to sway, as if the next moment the cup would shatter in his grasp. Yet he still forced himself to suppress the anger in his heart, barely grinning through clenched teeth, his smile under the wine-swelling ripples bore faint ferocity.

He said, "Second imperial brother doesn’t spare me even a bit of face."

Yu Wenye said, "Drinking, like handling oneself, requires reason and decorum."

Upon hearing this, Yu Wencheng’s eyes shifted slightly, and he suddenly stood up, raising his wine cup towards him and said, "Since Second Imperial Brother says my previous words were unreasonable, how about I offer this cup to apologize to Second Imperial Brother?"

After speaking, he bowed deeply, then looked up at Yu Wenye, "Second Imperial Brother, will you drink this cup of apology wine or not?"

Yu Wenye’s breath caught.

He looked again at his third brother, and apart from calmness, a trace of coldness spread over his face caused by the ice-like wine cup in his hand. After pondering for a moment, he smiled and said, "It seems, Third Brother insists that I drink this cup of wine."

Yu Wencheng said, "Everyone drank the first two cups together. If Second Brother doesn’t drink this cup, wouldn’t it mean you are excluding me from our brotherhood?"

"..."

"Have I, as the youngest brother, done something wrong?"

Yu Wenye frowned and hadn’t had the chance to speak before Yu Wencheng continued, "Is it that Second Brother cannot bear my presence? Not even willing to drink the wine I offer in apology?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Wenye could no longer feel the cold in his hand.

Because his heart had already turned completely to ice.

He gave a faint smile and said, "I have never been intolerant of others, only people, intolerant of me."

"In that case, "

Yu Wencheng immediately said, "Then please, Second Brother, drink this cup of apology wine from your younger brother."

Yu Wenye frowned tightly, looking at him, then over at Yu Wenqian across from him. By this time, the sky had already turned completely dark, and the entire great hall seemed to be splashed with thick ink, almost devoid of light, while he felt as if he had sunk into a bottomless abyss, unable to see any light, and even breathing became urgent and fast-paced, as if the darkness would swallow him completely in the next moment.

Yu Wenye, seeing no light above and unable to make out shadows in the dark, lowered his head again and looked at the wine cup in his hand.

At this point, the wine cup was just a vague outline, the faint light of the liquid inside could no longer illuminate his eyes, the only thing he could sense was the aroma of the wine, and it was a very strong aroma, like a sharp instrument striking from the darkness, nearly piercing through his entire being.

Yu Wenye said, "Good wine..."

Yu Wencheng smiled and said, "Of course, it’s good wine, specially prepared for today’s gathering of us brothers, how could it be ordinary?"

"..."

"However, just by looking and smelling, you can’t see or smell how good this wine is. I request Second Brother to drink this cup with us, not only to reconnect the bond of brotherhood but also to appreciate the delicate touch that I, the younger brother, have attentively prepared."

After saying this, he turned to Yu Wenqian, who sat there with a wine cup but appeared unmoved, and said, "Elder Brother..."

At the sound of these words, the shadow finally made a move.

Yu Wenye raised his eyes, only to see him slowly raise the wine cup in his hand, uncertain if he was lost in thought or deeply focused, then, after a moment of silence, he began to speak in a hoarse voice almost unrecognizable, "Second Brother, please—"

Yu Wenye’s eyebrows knitted.

The three wine cups were already raised by the three brothers, almost reaching their lips.

The strong aroma of the wine had almost transformed into a tangible weapon, Yu Wenye instinctively leaned his neck slightly backward, but neither Yu Wenqian nor Yu Wencheng showed any hesitation, their wine cups already touching their lips, about to be drained in one gulp.

Just at that moment, a light suddenly flared up beside them!

"Feng Chen!"

The sudden sound and light caused everyone’s breathing and heartbeat to skip, Yu Wenye immediately turned his head, only to see a familiar figure outside the dark door of the great hall. Though this person should have been clumsy, she was walking swiftly at this moment, as if bringing the power of an entire army with each step, entering with an overwhelming aura, the lantern she held filling the entire hall with a flickering light that made it seem as if the entire hall began to sway.

Yet, her arrival was like a pillar reaching the sky, instantly supporting Yu Wenye’s spirit!

He immediately put down the wine cup, "Ru Yi!"

Sitting beside him, the two who were almost accustomed to the surrounding darkness found the sudden brightness uncomfortable, especially Yu Wencheng, who immediately frowned and squinted, while Yu Wenqian remained unaffected, but his brow twitched slightly and a deep gloom spread over his face as the light passed.

He put down the wine cup in his hand, gripping it even more tightly!