Chapter 84 The End of Soetu

The day after Kangxi's return, he issued several imperial edicts, arresting and imprisoning a series of officials, the first of whom was Suo'etu, who was not in court but was still stirring up trouble.

On the grounds that Songgotu "formed cliques and acted recklessly, discussed state affairs, disregarded imperial authority, and deceived the emperor," he was imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court.

Not long after Suo'etu was detained, his two younger brothers, Ke'erkun and Xinyu, were also arrested.

Meanwhile, several leading officials who initially submitted a memorial requesting the Crown Prince to ascend the throne, including Qi Shiwu, Minister of Justice; Geng E, Minister of War; and General Suerte, were also demoted or imprisoned by Kangxi on the grounds of "recklessly discussing state affairs and forming cliques for personal gain."

These people were all true supporters of the Crown Prince, which severely weakened the Crown Prince's faction, and Yinreng was quite uneasy about it.

Despite being imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court, Suo'etu was not as panicked as outsiders imagined. He sat calmly in the filthy prison, resting with his eyes closed.

From the moment he learned of Kangxi's return, Suo'etu already knew his fate. He was fully aware that the victor would rule and the loser would be condemned, but he was somewhat regretful that he had ultimately made a wrong move...

However, thinking of the Emperor's punishment for imprisoning him, Suo'etu revealed a faint smile. Just as he expected, even for the sake of the balance of power and the Crown Prince's position, even if the Emperor found out that he had instigated the assassination, he would not use the charge of "rebellion and regicide" to execute him.

Songgotu understood Kangxi all too well; those who wield power will ultimately be bound by it. In the eyes of their emperor, the stability of the court and the consolidation of imperial power were not only above the princes, but also above his own safety and preferences.

What a good emperor he was...

Soetu chuckled. Only a wise ruler could be outmaneuvered like this. Even if he failed, a wise ruler would not implicate the crown prince.

Although there was a moment when Suo'etu was wavering about the crown prince, and was quite disappointed in the crown prince's reluctance to ascend the throne because of his deep affection for the emperor.

But now that I think about it, it's good that he valued loyalty. He could absolve the Crown Prince of any responsibility in this matter; he valued loyalty, so the Emperor wouldn't be harsh on the Crown Prince, and might even compensate him more after the Crown Prince's power weakened; he valued loyalty, so everything that Suo'etu did for the Crown Prince would not be forgotten, and as long as the Crown Prince was still alive, Hesheli would never be defeated.

Now, he must choose a way to die. To add a touch of ferocity to the Crown Prince's life, to pave the way for his future...

Within three days of his return, Emperor Kangxi spent one day dealing with disgraced officials, one day reorganizing the court, and one day dispatching troops to deal with the White Lotus Rebellion in Jiangnan. The public turmoil in the court quickly subsided, but the atmosphere remained tense underneath.

The spoiled young men who used to frolic and tease cats and dogs on the streets were all confined to their homes, not daring to cause trouble; court officials and princes also hurried home after leaving office, never lingering outside, for fear of being labeled as "forming cliques"; even the women who used to frequent silver shops and rouge shops were nowhere to be seen, and the entire capital was quiet and solemn.

"This servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness, and Lord Suo'etu..."

"What happened to Songgotu? Tell me quickly."

Yinreng paced back and forth in his study. Ever since Suo'etu was imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court, he had sent people to inquire, but had not received any news. He knew that his father did not want him to know, but seeing that his father did not reprimand or stop him, Yinreng continued to send people to investigate.

Three days have passed since Suo'etu was imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court, and finally, a sliver of news arrived. Seeing the visitor's hesitant manner, Yinreng had a bad feeling and quickly pressed for details.

"Lord Su has passed away..."

"What?" Yinreng experienced a moment of ringing in his ears and instantly slumped into his chair.

"Your Highness."

Yinreng reached out to stop the young eunuch from helping him up, closed his eyes, remained silent for a moment, and asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "Grand Uncle, how...how did you die?"

The eunuch in charge of gathering information looked troubled, but intimidated by the Crown Prince's power, he had no choice but to reveal the truth: "Lord Suo... died of starvation."

"What? What did you say?" Yinreng felt as if there was something wrong with his ears, and he felt it was utterly absurd and refused to believe what he was hearing.

"Lord Su died of starvation."

The young eunuch knelt on the ground and carefully repeated the process once more.

"..." Yinreng opened his mouth, but countless screams and whispers filled his mind, making him lose the ability to think for a moment and not know what to say.

"Get out." Yinreng coldly ordered. The little eunuch, afraid of displeasing the crown prince, quickly and quietly withdrew, making himself as inconspicuous as possible.

"Father Emperor...Grand Uncle..."

Yinreng slumped weakly in his chair. Was this wretched and undignified death a choice made by Suo'etu, or was it forced upon him by his father, the Emperor?

One relative died at the hands of another, and a sense of powerlessness overwhelmed Yinreng. From the Jiangnan case to the recent demotion and imprisonment of his subordinate officials, all the pent-up grievances exploded at once.

A faint sense of regret arose in Yinreng's heart. If only he had listened to the court officials and chosen to ascend the throne before his father returned...

Startled by the thought in his mind, Yinreng let out a long sigh. The intense guilt and remorse suppressed the slight regret, but the ambition in his heart grew wildly and could not be suppressed.

In the past, whether he was competing with the eldest prince or with anyone else, it was all to maintain his position as crown prince and his unique place in his father's heart. The throne was something he could easily obtain naturally. Therefore, he didn't care so much about when he would ascend the throne.

Now, Yinreng no longer firmly believed in his position as crown prince, and his attitude towards his father, the Emperor, began to waver. His desire to change his status and sit on the dragon throne grew stronger.

But Yinreng, who was grieving for Suo'etu, had not yet noticed this desire, this change, or rather, it was firmly suppressed by his reason.

But desires are the hardest to control, and sooner or later such desires will fill his entire heart and burst forth like sharp blades from the earth.

And this achieved Songgotu's goal. No one understood the most distinguished father and son in the imperial city better than Songgotu.

With no way to reverse the situation, his death will ultimately give the crown prince a final push. What crown prince can last thirty years?

...

"how?"

"Upon receiving the news, the Crown Prince locked himself in his study, calling out 'Grand Uncle,' his expression sorrowful, and made no other move."

After dismissing the guards, Kangxi examined the detailed records of Yinreng's every move on the paper. He noticed the words "Grand Uncle" and his expression became inscrutable.

“Song'etu…”

Upon receiving news of Suo'etu's starvation death, Kangxi immediately understood his scheme and felt boundless rage towards him, wishing he could drag him out and whip his corpse.

But what's done is done, and even for Yinreng's sake, there's nothing more he can do. This must have been part of Suo'etu's plan.

"Baocheng, don't let me down..."