The Emperor was furious, rolling his eyes in irritation and ignoring the Second Prince, who appeared weak and struggled to sit up. He looked towards Zhang Fang.
Zhang Fang, understanding the situation, stepped forward to assist the Emperor, helping him lean against the bedframe.
With a steely gaze, the Emperor reprimanded the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, his expression darkening: “Crown Prince, Third Prince, how dare you! I have yet to pass away, and you already dare to bring knives and men into the palace! Do you wish to commit regicide?”
This sent chills down the spines of the Crown Prince and Third Prince as they both dropped to their knees, bowing their heads in a beg for mercy: “Son does not dare! Son acknowledges his mistake! We were just worried about our father! Please, forgive us!”
The Emperor coldly retorted, “You dare barge into the imperial palace? I see you have no qualms about anything! Do you resent me for blocking your way to the throne? The knife is here; if you want to commit regicide, feel free to do so!”
Saying this, the Emperor pulled out a dagger from beneath his pillow and threw it at them.
The Crown Prince and Third Prince densely bowed their heads, admitting their mistakes. The Second Prince looked at them in confusion, blinking, and innocently addressed the Emperor, “Father, you worry too much. The Crown Prince and Third Brother only acted foolishly out of concern for your health.”
The Second Prince should have remained silent, but upon speaking, the Emperor grew even angrier, pointing and yelling at him: “You say they acted out of concern for me? They’re afraid they won’t sit on the throne and brought people with knives to storm the palace! I entrusted you with the Imperial Guards to ensure the safety of the capital; is this how you take responsibility? If it weren’t for Zhang Qing here, I fear these two rebellious sons would force me to abdicate while you just lay at home sleeping!”
“I do not dare!” The Crown Prince and Third Prince trembled in fear.
The Second Prince, looking helpless, quietly defended himself, “I never received any news. If I had known about this, I would have stopped them. Moreover, I’ve always said I’m not capable enough; this responsibility of the Imperial Guards should be given to someone more competent! Zhang Shi has proved he is quite capable! Let him manage the Imperial Guards; he would do better than I!”
The Second Prince’s response only fueled the Emperor’s rage; his face twisted with fury, he pointed at his three sons and shouted, “Rascals! You’re all ungrateful wretches! Zhang Qing, draft an edict to depose the Crown Prince and send them to the fiefs!”
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince and Third Prince turned pale, immediately bursting into tears, pleading with the Emperor to retract his decree.
Only the Second Prince was sneering, happily responding, “Thank you, Father!”
Seeing the Crown Prince and Third Prince crying and pleading compared to the Second Prince’s gleeful demeanor, the Emperor could no longer contain his dark and oppressive anxiety and ordered Zhang Fang, “Issue the edict: The Crown Prince and Third Prince are guilty of treason, unfilial and disrespectful; depose the Crown Prince! One goes to the North Province, and the other to the South Province!”
As for the Second Prince, did he think he could leave the capital? Ha! The Emperor wouldn’t allow him to have any of his wishes!
The Second Prince looked at the Emperor with eager anticipation, waiting for him to continue. However, the Emperor simply fell back onto the bed, turning his back to these troublesome sons.
“Father, please don’t! I don’t want to leave you!” The Third Prince cried sorrowfully, crawling on his knees to the Dragon Couch, trying to grasp the Emperor’s hand to plead for the revocation of the edict. But Zhang Fang stepped forward to block the Third Prince from approaching the Emperor.
The Crown Prince had lost all strength, disbelief evident on his face, tears flowing as he suddenly laughed. His smile was filled with sarcasm as he looked at the person lying on the Dragon Couch. It dawned on him that the Emperor had long intended to depose him! This extended period of ignoring court affairs must have all been an act directed against him!
With tears in his eyes, concealing his resentment, the Crown Prince knelt and bowed, saying, “Son thanks Father for sparing my life!”
The Third Prince glanced back at him, sensing that the Crown Prince would not easily accept his fate.
The Second Prince stood up inopportunely and called out to the Emperor, “Father, don’t forget about me! I’m still here!”
The Emperor, furious, clenched the bedding tightly, wishing he had something at hand to throw at the Second Prince!
Zhang Fang quickly drafted the edict and read it aloud once at the scene.
Each sentence he uttered caused the Third Prince’s heart to plummet further.
“I can’t bear to leave Father!” Even at this moment, knowing he couldn’t take back the imperial decree, the Third Prince still wanted to struggle.
After reading the edict, Zhang Fang asked the Emperor, “Your Majesty, do you find this acceptable?”
“Indeed,” replied the Emperor, raising his hand in a gesture, whereupon a close attendant immediately produced the imperial seal, stamping it on Zhang Fang’s drafted edict.
In an instant, the Third Prince lost his ability to speak.
At this moment, he and the Crown Prince shared a mutual understanding. Both were extremely dissatisfied with the current situation and began to feel a strong urge to resist!
No matter how disheartened they were, they were all eventually driven out of the sleeping quarters.
The officials watched them leave in such a pitiful state, like walking corpses, and were filled with worry.
It was not until Zhang Fang loudly read out the imperial edict that the ministers were left in shock! The Emperor had gone mad! He actually deposed the Crown Prince! And expelled both the Crown Prince and Third Prince from the capital!
The Second Prince had intended to cause a riot for the Emperor to grant him a title but was chased out by Zhang Fang. Grumbling, he exited the sleeping quarters without even giving the ministers a glance.
Everyone’s gaze shifted to the Second Prince, giving rise to a speculation!
The Crown Prince and Third Prince had actively stormed the palace at night, while the Second Prince had been brought in by the Emperor’s men! Now that the Crown Prince and Third Prince were expelled from the capital, the edict mentioned nothing about the Second Prince, indicating that he would continue to stay in the capital! Might it be that the Emperor intended to cultivate the Second Prince?
Reflecting on the past few months, the Emperor had compelled the Second Prince to attend court and take part in politics, piling various responsibilities upon him to force him to take action and accrue power.
They believed they had grasped the Emperor’s thoughts! They looked at the Second Prince’s back with regretful gazes. Who would have thought this useless Second Prince would actually become the last winner!
Noticing the intense gazes around him, the Second Prince turned his head and saw the officials staring at him! The Second Prince was momentarily stunned.
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