Chapter 172

The emperor, dressed in a plain sacrificial robe, quietly slipped into the mountains under the cover of Chief Eunuch Li and Yan Qizhen.

As soon as the three entered the dense forest, they heard several loud collision sounds!

Boom!

Boom!

......

As he ran, Steward Li glanced back and was immediately terrified by what he saw, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Although some of the Imperial Guards narrowly avoided the rolling stones, several stones crashed hard into the imperial sedan chair, causing the exquisitely crafted dragon sedan chair to break in half.

fortunately....

Fortunately, His Majesty had already left the sedan chair...

Otherwise, inside the sedan chair...

Chief Steward Li exclaimed inwardly how audacious he was to even think of such a thing. He glanced at the Fourth Prince, who was dressed alone in his undergarments, and saw Yan Qizhen raising his hand to support His Majesty. His heart skipped a beat for some reason.

There always seemed to be something strange about it.

How did the fourth prince get to His Majesty's side from between the sedan chairs at the back?

And they were completely unharmed?

Before Chief Steward Li could think much, he noticed that His Majesty was not keeping up. He had only taken a few steps when he looked up and met a pair of hazy, deep eyes.

This fourth prince...

It can't be....

In that instant, Chief Steward Li seemed to see His Majesty from many years ago, who had climbed to his current position by stepping on the blood of his brothers and sworn brothers!

*

The three walked deep into the mountains and forests, and the emperor finally slowed down because he was quite tired.

“Father, he shouldn’t have come along,” Yan Qizhen said quietly.

"Zhen'er, thank goodness I have you by my side."

The emperor recalled the time in Qinyuan Palace when Yan Qizhen was protecting him. He never expected that this son, who was not by his side when he was young, would have such deep love and affection for him.

The three of them had reached the depths of the mountains and forests, and Yan Qizhen slowly let go of their hands.

“Father, it is what your son should do.”

The emperor actually said, "You've suffered so much these past years, child."

The man before him, shrouded in mist and rain, had a cold glint in his eyes, making him seem somewhat unfathomable: "Father, I have not suffered these past years."

"Being in the royal family, one must indeed endure some hardships to understand certain principles."

Upon hearing this, the emperor also praised, "Those who are in charge of the overall situation will be tempered and become great."

"Zhen'er, you are a good child."

Yan Qizhen spoke again: "As your son, I am willing to take you as my role model."

As soon as he finished speaking, a number of men in black appeared out of thin air in the mountains behind him.

The emperor and Chief Eunuch Li were taken aback, seemingly not understanding where these people came from.

One of them approached with a gleaming yellow imperial edict and an antique wooden box, respectfully handing them to Yan Qizhen: "Your Highness."

"Zhen'er..."

"What's wrong with you...?"

Yan Qizhen took it casually and walked lightly to the emperor's side: "I heard that Father Emperor was just like me back then, a prince who was not favored in his youth."

"However, he has also risen to his current position."

"Although Qizhen didn't see his father much when he was young, he still knows a little about his father's personality." Yan Qizhen lowered his eyes, concealing too much sarcasm.

"My father spent his whole life pursuing fame and honor, yet he was also greedy for life and afraid of death, cold-blooded and ruthless."

"Unfortunately, I have already learned all of these." Yan Qizhen paused, then turned and smiled at the somewhat aged emperor.

"In that case, Father, you are getting on in years, it is time for you to retire."

Yan Qizhen handed the prepared letter to the emperor.

"You...unfilial son!"

The series of words made the emperor go from bewilderment to trembling with anger. He could hardly believe that his son, who had been so caring towards him just a few days ago, would dare to threaten him like this.

He actually asked me to abdicate?!

How much did I have to sacrifice to get to this position?!

The men in black around Yan Qizhen gradually surrounded him. He then slowly picked up the brocade box, inside which was a jade bottle carved with a dragon beast. The liquid inside had a dangerous color as it was shaken.

"You unfilial son, do you really think this will make me abdicate?"

"Li He, why aren't you protecting me?!" The emperor roared, startling the eunuch Li who was standing nearby.

Eunuch Li finally understood where the awkwardness came from: it was because the Fourth Prince had been leading His Majesty and himself into a rugged mountain forest.

At first, I thought they were trying to avoid the assassins behind them, but even if the Imperial Guards didn't react in time, they should have caught up by now.

It seems they really are stuck.

"Your Highness, why are you doing this?" Eunuch Li immediately walked to the emperor's side, looking anxious.

"Why would I do this?" Yan Qizhen smiled easily, seemingly unaware that his actions were so rebellious, and then said with a hint of loss:

"Perhaps the life of a subservient person is just too hard to endure."

As soon as Yan Qizhen finished speaking, he walked to the emperor's side with the bottle in his right hand. The two men in black behind him immediately blocked the emperor's steps as he tried to retreat.

"You think you can make me sign the edict like this?!" The emperor's eyes widened fiercely.

“I am well aware of my father’s obsession with the throne, so I prepared a gift.”

"The Worry-Free Powder in this bottle will not kill you immediately, but will gradually cause your body to lose its vitality, like a stiff wooden statue."

"I am not giving you a choice."

Yan Qizhen wore a plain-colored undergarment, yet it could not conceal his stunningly handsome appearance.

"You unfilial son, how dare you... commit such a heinous act?!"

“If you are willing to sign the edict, I imagine the position of Emperor Emeritus will be quite comfortable,” Yan Qizhen said.

The emperor seemed to be seeing his son for the first time; his eyes were almost bloodshot with rage, and he was so furious he could hardly speak.

"Do you think... the court officials would tolerate this..."

"To tolerate someone as poisonous as you becoming the new emperor?"

Yan Qizhen nodded and then laughed out loud: "What can you do if you don't want to?"

When the new emperor ascended the throne, the lower-ranking officials dared not raise any objections.

The officials of decent rank were all adept at reading people's expressions and quickly changed their stance. Moreover, many of them had already silently joined his ranks.

Among the three major forces, one is the faction that supports the Third Prince, Grand Tutor Ling.

Secondly, the Empress's maternal family was part of the Crown Prince's faction.

The third group was the Prime Minister's residence, which was still observing the situation.

The Prime Minister and Yan Qizhen had already reached a private agreement that if Yan Qizhen had the opportunity to ascend to the throne, the Prime Minister would do everything in his power to consolidate his rule.

The faction of the Third Prince and the faction of the Crown Prince are destined not to support him.

With the crown prince in a precarious position, some neutral court officials were also uneasy and secretly observed the situation. If the crown prince were to regain favor one day, those officials would have a pillar of support.

Opportunities are fleeting.

He has done his utmost in the struggle for the throne.

*

Yan Qizhen glanced at Eunuch Li, who was being restrained by several people, and the deep meaning in his eyes was something the emperor could not fathom.

The emperor followed his gaze and noticed Chief Steward Li standing to the side. Only then did he finally understand Yan Qizhen's thoughts.

Even if I were to die today, this poisoner still left me a way out?!

"I suspect Father will sign it," Yan Qizhen said in a deep voice, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his misty eyes.