Chapter Text
"Why does it have to end like this?"
Rage lined every edge of Prince Jing's face as he turned to face the prisoner in cell 334. Mei Changsu's expression was one of tranquility and acceptance. The fur-lined cloak draped around his slender body was deceivingly clean, a brilliant white in the gloomy setting.
"What was His Highness expecting?" asked Mei Changsu.
The question caught Prince Jing off-guard. He'd opened his mouth to exclaim something, but rapidly closed it, biting back words that were inevitably based on righteousness and no logic. There was a kind of feverish desperation in Prince Jing's voice as he spat out, "You said you were on my side."
"I've yet to lift a single finger against you," said Mei Changsu. An eerie exhaustion seemed to have seeped into the man's already sickly voice. His eyes finally opened as Prince Jing stormed closer, infinitely calm against the turmoil and animosity in Prince Jing's eyes.
"You poisoned my Father!" said Prince Jing. "He lies in a comatosed state, doomed to spend the rest of his life in nightmares and ... "
"I've only plotted up to the reversal of the Meiling case," murmured Mei Changsu. The case was opened and overturned exactly two weeks ago, but Emperor Liang had rampaged like a rabid dog with the little power he had left. "Beyond that... the new scheme your father almost successfully employed... was entirely out of my control."
"All the obstacles in your path must be removed, right?" Prince Jing bit out icily. "Enemies, corrupted officials, rivals - friends, families, morals."
"Ideally, Your Highness," said Mei Changsu. He regarded the crowned prince coolly. Despite how he was kneeling on the bed of straw, he had the poise of an emperor commanding a victory.
"You dare poison the emperor when harming a hair on his head results in the execution of nine generation!"
"That is right," said Mei Changsu. He nodded in acceptance as a faraway look entered his eyes. "My friends, my family, my relatives, my faithful followers..." A smirk. "What's left of them anyway."
"I acknowledge your assistance," said Prince Jing. He waved his hand stiffly and a prison guard walked forward, bearing a cup of poisoned wine. "I will not prosecute your friends and acquaintances, but you must be punished for your crimes against my royal father."
"I have thanked Your Highness," said Mei Changsu. He bowed deeply from his position on the ground, but did not make any attempt to stand. At the rate his body was deteriorating, standing might have been impossible.
Prince Jing nodded at the guard and the goblet of wine was placed on the small table in front of where Mei Changsu knelt. As the guard left, Prince Jing lowered himself until he was leveled with the prisoner and murmured, "No one needs to be looking when you drink that wine. I can command the guards away with me."
A cheerful smile crossed Mei Changsu's face, bringing a lively light into his eyes. "Your Highness, I poisoned your father, forced your brother to commit suicide and drove your other brother insane."
Prince Jing scowled, his face reflecting the inner turmoil that clawed his heart and howled in his mind. He was torn between knowing and doing what was right, yet was unable to accept that such actions could possibly be right. Mei Changsu watched as a tear silently slid down Prince Jing's cheeks and the prince hastily wiped it away, surprised by its presence.
"Are you...?" said Prince Jing. "Or have you ever felt... sorry?"
"Yes," said Mei Changsu. He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "But never sorry enough. All the obstacles in our path must be removed."
"Well, you can rest in peace," Prince Jing bit out bitterly. He pushed himself up and dusted away the few specks of dirt that'd landed on his robes. His hands fell to clasp behind his back as the crowned prince turned to walk out of the cell. "I will ascend the throne tomorrow. Right now, I will command the guards away and..."
"All the obstacles in our path must be removed," said Mei Changsu. His voice was stronger and there was a indecipherable smile on his lips. His eyes reflected the dancing shadows and flickering candlelight as Mei Changsu lifted his eyes to Prince Jing's halted retreat.
Prince Jing turned again to stare at him, unsure of what was going to happen.
"And there is one last obstacle," said Mei Changsu.
Despite the lightning fast speed that Prince Jing reached out with, Mei Changsu had already poured the wine down his throat. The man's gaze wavered for a second as Prince Jing shook him and hissed, "Spit it out!"
There was an intense struggle as Prince Jing tried to yell for help and Mei Changsu immediately clamped a hand over Prince Jing's mouth with strength and ferocity he hadn't expected himself to possess. After the prince calmed down, the strategist dropped his hand and sent him a warning glare.
"For what it is worth, this is the second best ending," said Mei Changsu. "I failed to predict that the emperor had one last card up his sleeve."
There was a million things that Prince Jing wanted to say, but none of it made it to his mouth other than, "What was the first?"
"An impossible dream," said Mei Changsu. He lifted a hand to push away the clothes on his left wrist, fingers circling the now bare area. Prince Jing's eyes followed the movement, noting the extremely pale circle of skin that indicated the lengthy residence of a wristband. Quickly, the man caught Prince Jing's sleeve, "I've never done anything to you that I need to be sorry for, but I am sorry for forcing you to walk down this path. If I had any other choice I would not have chosen you."
"Why?" asked Prince Jing.The prince seemed to be aware that the man in front of him was someone who would do anything for him but was unable to understand it. A desperate plea entered his voice as he thought of a better question. "Who are you?"
"A deceitful, ruthless strategist who cannot stand besides you as you ascend the throne," said Mei Changsu. "Lest people think that you are a tyrant blinded by power and lies. What do you think the people will think if they don't see the dead body of the man who poisoned the emperor?"
"Let them think what they want!" said Prince Jing. "There are so many things you won't tell me, but I know one thing. I know you are on my side. You made me."
"As the emperor, you must care about what your people think. You must be at one with their voice, their aspirations and their dreams in order to repair decades' worth of rot and waste." said Mei Changsu. "You must become the country's savior as well as the people's hero."
"I can do it," said Prince Jing. His back subtlety straightened with confidence.
"I know," said Mei Changsu. He murmured privately to himself, "Though a stubborn, water loving silly water ox ..."
He stopped to cough, glancing at the impossible amount of blood stained his sleeve when he pulled his hand away. His body burned with the poison and Mei Changsu could feel his strength slipping away until he could no longer support his own weight.
Prince Jing caught his fall, asking "What did you say?"
There was a moment of silence as Mei Changsu looked around one last time. He suddenly felt a sense of lightness, as if he'd finally shed a thousand pounds. Everything else was blurry but he could see Prince Jing's frantic eyes searching his face. Prince Jing was calling for help, but fell silent as soon as Mei Changsu attempted to speak.
"Jingyan." There was the gentlest smile on Mei Changsu's face as his eyes fell close. "Don't be afraid."