Chapter 82 Respectfully Inviting the Crown Prince to the Throne

"Smack."

Soetu sat alone in his study, examining the chessboard that had been laid out for a long time. He picked up a black jade chess piece and placed it on the board. Once the black piece was placed, he launched a direct attack on the enemy's lair.

"I have won this round after all..."

In the dim candlelight, Suo'etu, whose face was half hidden in the shadows, unexpectedly looked spirited. His originally hunched figure was reflected in the window and appeared much more upright, as if he had gained energy and spirit.

He lit the secret letter he had just received over a candle flame, tossed it lightly into the brazier, and watched the paper gradually turn to ashes. A hearty smile spread across his face.

Your Majesty, you underestimated him after all...

From the moment the eldest prince got into trouble, he has been planning and scheming step by step until now, all for this day.

When he was young, Songgotu dared to join the emperor in capturing Oboi, which was certainly not just due to a surge of passion. Years of navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom had made understanding the will of Heaven second nature to him; in terms of his understanding of Kangxi, even the Crown Prince and Mingzhu could not compare.

Therefore, he was the first to discover the Emperor's apprehension towards the Crown Prince. So he knew that when the Emperor discovered that he had tried to harm the First Prince and wanted to kill two birds with one stone, the Emperor would not suspect anything and would not investigate further.

Naturally, it was impossible to find that the scheme to incite the eldest prince to commit fraud originated from him.

Therefore, even though he had incurred the emperor's suspicion, Suo'etu didn't care at all. After all, the little tricks that could be investigated were ones he hadn't even had time to carry out, so what could the emperor use to punish him?

As Songgotu gazed at the dying embers of the brazier, his thoughts drifted far away. Perhaps it was then that he conceived the idea of ​​assassinating the emperor. Otherwise, he wouldn't have resorted to such a self-destructive tactic.

Songgotu knew in his heart that this tactic could only be used twice. The first time would incur Kangxi's displeasure and murderous intent, while the second time would inevitably lead to his demise.

Therefore, such a tactic can only be used on the emperor. For the glory of Hesheli, for the crown prince, and for his own future, it can only be used to send the emperor away.

Fire is merciless, but when it comes to understanding their emperor, there is no question. Ma Jia Alinbao is nothing more than a useful pawn to lower the emperor's guard.

He endured the fire until his journey to the capital after the southern tour. The emperor probably never imagined that Songgotu could be so patient and so crazy, willing to sacrifice all the officials in order to kill him.

Paying too much attention to the court can sometimes be a weakness. The emperor might be concerned about maintaining the balance of power, but Suo'etu wouldn't. As long as the crown prince ascends the throne, what does it matter if the court and the country are in turmoil?

He, Songgotu, wanted to be a powerful minister for all time, not a loyal one!

...

"Thirteenth Brother!"

"Yinzhen, how is it?"

While leading his men to conduct a thorough search on the shore, Yinxiang suddenly heard shouts coming from behind. Turning around, he saw Yinzhen looking haggard.

Yinzhen hurriedly approached, but shook his head in frustration under Yinxiang's expectant gaze.

It has been three days, and people are searching all the tributaries along the river. Yinzhen eventually joined up with Thirteen's team, but unfortunately, they found nothing.

"Thirteenth Brother, do you think it's possible that..."

Unable to contain his despair, Yinzhen searched tirelessly for three days without sleep, but found nothing. As time went on, Yinzhen began to doubt whether his father and fourth brother were truly still alive.

"No, maybe Father and Fourth Brother have just reached another section of the river and we just haven't noticed them yet." Yinxiang interrupted him. Since the shipwreck, he had hardly rested. A strong belief in him supported him and kept him from collapsing.

Therefore, he would absolutely not believe or allow anyone else to say anything bad about him, not even Yinzhen.

“Thirteenth Brother is right, it’s just that we haven’t found it yet.” Yinzhen wiped his face, his resolve strengthened by Yinxiang’s words, determined not to give up.

"A discovery!"

Suddenly, shouts came from the riverbank. The two brothers heard them and ran there immediately.

"This is... Father Emperor's jade pendant..."

Looking at the familiar Nine Dragons Jade Pendant stained with mud in his hand, Yinxiang choked up. His trembling fingers tried to wipe the mud off the pendant, but he discovered a smear of blood on it.

Yinxiang's heart sank, and everything went black before his eyes; he knew nothing more.

"Thirteenth Brother! Someone, someone quick..."

...

Three days have passed, and Kangxi and Prince Yong have still not been found. The turmoil in the court is beyond the control of the Crown Prince. In particular, news from the riverbank that the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Princes have found the bloodstained Nine Dragon Jade Pendant has further unsettled the people.

Crown Prince Yinreng also devoted himself to maintaining the government. Just as it was discovered that the culprits of the shipwreck were the White Lotus Sect, the White Lotus Sect members who had been hiding in the Jiangnan region seized the opportunity to rebel.

With all these matters piling up, Yinreng was extremely busy. He devoted almost every hour of the day to state affairs, discussing various matters with his court officials.

On the fourth day after Kangxi's disappearance, a minister stepped forward to respectfully request the Crown Prince to ascend the throne, but the court was adjourned after Yinreng angrily rebuked him.

Shortly after the court session ended, Yinreng urgently summoned Suo'etu for an audience.

"Bang!"

As soon as Songgotu entered the palace, before he could even greet the Crown Prince, a teacup was smashed at his feet. Songgotu remained unmoved, continuing his greetings as usual, seemingly oblivious to the Crown Prince's anger and the fact that there was no one else in the hall besides him and the Crown Prince.

"Your humble servant, Suo'etu, greets the Crown Prince."

"Was it you?" Yinreng questioned.

“Your Highness, I answered you on the very first day that it was not my doing. How could I possibly have such means? How could I possibly believe that I could keep it from Your Majesty? Besides, Your Highness has already determined that it was the White Lotus Sect who did it.”

Soetu looked slightly aggrieved and spoke very sincerely as he looked at Yinreng.

In fact, as early as the first day after learning of Kangxi's incident, Yinreng went to question Suo'etu. Suo'etu remained calm and composed, and actively joined the search team, which dispelled Yinreng's suspicions.

But at this moment, looking down at Suo'etu, Yinreng's expression was extremely ugly. "What I'm asking is, were the events in court today orchestrated by you?"

“Your Highness, a country cannot be without a ruler for a single day.” Looking at Yinreng’s angry eyes, Suo’etu remained silent for a while before frankly admitting it.

"Outrageous! Insolent! Who gave you permission to do this, Songgotu? The Emperor is still alive; this is treason!"

Yinreng's anger and pain were genuine. He wanted to be emperor, but why was he being asked to ascend the throne at this time? Did the court officials tacitly accept that his father was dead? He refused to acknowledge it and would never accept it. His father was the Son of Heaven; he couldn't be dead!

"Your Highness, it has been four days already, Your Majesty..."

"Shut up! Father Emperor is the Son of Heaven, the Son of Heaven! Get out, Soetu, I don't want to hear this advice again, get out!"

After driving Suo'etu out of the main hall, Yinreng slumped weakly in his chair, his eyes welling up with tears. He called out softly, with the same longing he had felt countless times in his childhood when he was lost and anxious: "Father..."