Seeing his hesitation, Kangxi quickly expressed his opinion that he still didn't want him to die like this.

This is his only legitimate son. He knows that he is angry now, but if he dies, he will definitely regret it later.

In order to avoid this situation, he hoped that the prince would plead guilty quickly so that he could avoid rumors from spreading that he had forced the prince to death.

After all, the prince still had fatherly love for Hongxi, so he gave up resistance. When the guards took him down, Soetu also came back to his senses from his surprise.

He never expected that he would fail despite being so well prepared. The prince could have committed suicide and made Kangxi a criticized figure, but he gave up because of his son.

At that moment he knew that he was finished, not only himself, but also the entire Hesheli family. The entire Hesheli clan would definitely be executed because of this incident.

"Your Majesty, I was wrong. I did all this for the Crown Prince. Please consider that I have not committed any serious offenses and do not attack my family. I am willing to accept the punishment."

Kangxi sneered. This Soetu was treating him like a fool, wasn't he? After doing something that could exterminate nine generations of his clan, he still wanted him to let his family go. It was ridiculous.

"I'm afraid I've been too kind to you over the years, otherwise how could you have such an illusion? If the Crown Prince wasn't a member of the royal family, I would have killed all nine generations of your clan for what happened today."

Soetu looked at Kangxi in astonishment. He had already decided to plead guilty, so why wouldn't he let his family go? They were all innocent!

"Your Majesty, even if I have no merits, I have worked hard. Even if I did something wrong, you cannot vent your anger on my clansmen. Moreover, I have only just begun to take action and have not caused you any harm at all.

Everything that happened today was instructed by the Crown Prince. I didn't want this to happen, but I am the Crown Prince's great uncle. He came to me for help, so I have to make some plans for him. When the princes grow up, they will really threaten his position.

Just as I said earlier, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was already very talented. If you had passed the throne to him earlier, how could this have happened? Ultimately, it's all your fault.

"I have confessed my crime and beg Your Majesty to spare my family. Otherwise, even in death, I will curse the Qing Dynasty to its end. Your Majesty, please take this seriously."

Kangxi was so angry this time that he almost laughed. Soetu really treated him like a fool. What did he mean by paying more attention to him? Did he think that if he said that, his people would be spared? What a joke!

Originally, he didn't mind giving them a chance to live because the prince had the blood of the Hesheli clan, but now it seems that it is better to let it go. They don't deserve forgiveness.

"I originally wanted to give them a chance to live, but since you don't want them to live in vain, then you, the direct descendants of the Hesheli clan, should go to the underworld and complain to Empress Xiaochengren.

As for the other members of the Hesheli clan, they really don’t know what you did behind my back, but I don’t believe they didn’t notice your abnormality, so I won’t let them go.

Since you are from the same clan, you should pay the price for your actions. For the sake of Empress Xiaochengren, I have decided to exile them to Ningguta and never allow them to return to the capital.

As for you, I never thought that you were fickle and perfunctory towards me. It is your fault that the prince has become like this. There is nothing wrong with my education.

And you are still threatening me at this time. I am very unhappy. Since you want to turn into a ghost and make my Qing Dynasty die early, then I will torture you to death first, and then see if the Qing Dynasty can survive!"

Soetu looked at Kangxi with a pale face. He thought he would just die, but he didn't expect Kangxi to be so cruel that he wanted to torture him to death.

Lingchi involves cutting the body with 3,600 cuts to kill the victim. How could he, a man of his age, possibly endure such suffering? The Emperor clearly intended to kill him and destroy his heart.

Even the prince who had already confessed his guilt was frightened by Kangxi's actions. For a moment, he thought that confessing his guilt seemed like a good idea, at least he wouldn't have to endure the pain of being tortured to death by slicing.

"Is Your Majesty really so cruel? Everything I have done is for the Crown Prince and the Qing Dynasty. Even if I have no merits, I have worked hard. Please, Your Majesty, grant me death. I do not deserve the punishment of slow slicing."

"Are you scared now? Why haven't I seen you this scared before? I thought you were too old to know what fear was. Otherwise, how could you have the courage to threaten the Qing Dynasty just now?"

"It's all a misunderstanding. I just spoke without thinking. Your Majesty, please forgive my nonsense. How could I have the courage to harbor any ill will towards you or the Qing Dynasty?

Have you forgotten? When Oboi was captured, I put in a lot of effort. Later, I devoted my life to the Qing Dynasty. Even if I have no merits, I have worked hard.

Throughout history, only a handful of people have been subjected to the punishment of lingchi. Your Majesty is a wise ruler. How could a wise ruler use lingchi? Even if Your Majesty doesn't do this for your old ministers, you should at least leave some room for yourself."

"Isn't it because you're afraid that you've said so much? Suo'etu, I've long been dissatisfied with you regarding the Crown Prince's affairs. If it weren't for the fact that you did make many contributions in the past few years, do you think you could still be alive today?"

Soetu stopped talking. He really overestimated his own abilities. Kangxi had never thought of letting him go. He asked him to say so much just to let people know that he was really wrong.

If he wanted to give him a decent death, he would not have let him say so much but would have given him a cup of poisoned wine to kill him. It was true that the emperor's mind was unpredictable and no one could guess what he was thinking.

"Your Majesty is right. This is my fault. Your Majesty has shown me your grace by allowing a branch of the Hesheli family to survive. I shouldn't ask for too much.

"I accept all the punishments Your Majesty has inflicted upon me today. I also ask Your Majesty to treat the Crown Prince kindly. He is your only legitimate son after all. No matter how angry you are, you should not take his life."

Even a tiger wouldn't eat its own cubs, so how could he possibly want the prince's life? However, since Suo Etu had said so, he should give the prince some peace of mind.

The prince is his son after all. He is indeed angry with him now, but he cannot guarantee that he will not regret it later. He lets him live now just to prevent himself from regretting it in the future.

"I have never said anything about wanting the Crown Prince's life. Your behavior today really annoys me. Even if the Crown Prince is deposed, he is still my son. If a son does not teach his parents well, it is the fault of the father. I will also go to the Taimiao to admit my mistake.

As long as I can gain the forgiveness of my ancestors and the Eternal Heaven, I will be willing to kneel in the Taimiao for the rest of my life. After all, this matter was indeed my fault."

"Your Majesty, this is not your fault. You have been very good to my second brother. It is my second brother who does not understand your hard work. I do not blame you. If you really must kneel in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, your son will go in your place."