Chapter 244 God Helps Me

"Father...Father!" The three of them immediately knelt, their voices trembling imperceptibly. The scene before them was so shocking that they lost their composure for a moment.

Xiao Yuancheng's cloudy gaze was like a poisoned knife, slowly sweeping across his three sons' panicked faces, especially the barely concealed terror they displayed when they looked at the corpse. This was exactly the effect he wanted.

The emperor suddenly smiled, his voice hoarse but filled with a chilling calmness as he spoke word for word, "See clearly... This is... the fate of regicide and treason!"

"I... killed him with my own hands."

With a thud, the timid King Wen collapsed and knelt on the ground. Even Xiao Ji couldn't suppress the expression on his face, and his hands pressed against the ground.

He actually killed his own son with his own hands! Right here in the Purple Palace!

Although Xiao Ji had long known that Xiao Yuancheng was cold-hearted, he still hadn't expected this: that he was so cruel as to kill his own son. It seemed that his broken leg was a relatively light punishment.

It's a hell of a joke...

Xiao Ji was lost in thought, and at the same time, he was shocked by Xiao Yuancheng's ruthlessness. He became alert and could not help but secretly plan a countermeasure. He could not stay here like King Ning today. He had to go back to see Qingqing.

Xiao Yuancheng looked at his sons' shocked expressions with great satisfaction. He coughed violently several times, and Bai De'an hurried forward to help him breathe. After he recovered, his eyes became even colder, but his voice suddenly became gentle.

"But you arrived at a perfect time. I was stabbed in the shoulder by that traitor. My ministers all suggested that I appoint a crown prince to stabilize the country..."

The emperor laughed again, his laughter strange and frightening. He glanced at his three sons and asked lightly, "Which of you would like to recommend yourself?"

The hall seemed to be instantly frozen by invisible frost, and the air was so stagnant that it was suffocating.

The three people kneeling on the ground even breathed as lightly as possible.

Recommending himself? At this time? Recommending himself to the emperor who had just murdered his own son? He probably didn't want to live anymore!

In the past, King Wu was very proud of his status as the eldest son, but now he feels that this status is simply a death warrant, which makes his scalp tingle.

He nearly roared in fear, banging his head on the ground. "I'm such a fool! I only know how to march and fight, and I'm nothing compared to my brothers in government affairs!"

In the past, he hated it most when people said that he only knew how to fight, but now he wants to carve this sentence on his forehead.

King Wen was so frightened that his soul flew out of his body. His body, which had just collapsed, burst out with amazing strength and kowtowed repeatedly:

"Father! Your son... Your son has little talent and knowledge, and dare not covet the throne! I only hope to be filial to Your Majesty and share your worries!" Then he fell to the ground tightly and did not even dare to raise his head.

Xiao Ji's heartbeat was like a drum, and his back was slightly soaked with cold sweat. He also bowed deeply, trying to keep his voice steady: "I have a leg disease, so I have given up the idea a long time ago. The matter of appointing a crown prince concerns the foundation of the country. I pray that Your Majesty will make the final decision."

He was the one who deserved the throne the most among the three people in front of him, and he was the only one who could legitimately have this "desire". Now he seemed to be honest when he spoke frankly, and his reasons were the most legitimate.

At this moment, Xiao Ji was once again glad that he had been pretending to be lame until now, otherwise he would have been at the center of controversy today.

The three sons vied with each other in expressing their loyalty, incompetence, and lack of ambition, fearing that the emperor's sword would fall on their necks at any moment.

Xiao Yuancheng looked down at them as they crawled on the ground in terror. The strange smile on his face gradually deepened, but it was filled with an indescribable tiredness and emptiness.

He got the answer he wanted, extreme fear and submission. But at the same time, a sense of sadness and isolation swept over him.

Look, these are his sons. They have all become frightened birds, and no one dares to show any backbone or responsibility in front of him.

He did not speak to his sons immediately, but slowly turned his head and glanced at Shen Yushan and other important officials who had been standing with their hands hanging down and holding their breath.

"My dear Lord Shen, all the nobles... did you all see it? Did you all hear it?"

"It's not me... I don't appoint a crown prince, I don't care about the foundation of the country... You all are rushing me, as if I'm about to ascend to heaven..."

His gaze was like an icy probe, piercing each of his ministers. "But look at these good sons of mine... Ask them which one is willing to share my worries, who is willing to shoulder the heavy responsibility of governing the country... Each and every one of them is quicker to hide and more cleanly refuses responsibility than anyone else!"

"Heh..." He sneered, his laughter unclear. "None of them dare... and none of them have the 'ability' or 'responsibility' to do so!"

These words were ostensibly an expression of disappointment towards his sons, but in reality they were spoken to all the ministers present!

It's a warning to them. It's not that he doesn't want to be the emperor, but the princes you favor or support privately are all cowards without courage!

Shen Yushan and the others immediately lowered their heads deeply. In addition to being afraid, they secretly thought that if they dared to come out at this time, the Emperor's Sword might come in handy again.

"Since none of you dare... and none of you have the 'ability' to do it..."

Xiao Yuancheng repeated it, the mockery in his voice becoming stronger: "Okay then."

"I...have my own arrangements."

He turned his gaze towards Shen Yushan and Bai De'an and said slowly, "Draft an edict..."

"During my illness, the affairs of state...will be temporarily governed by the Imperial Aunt, Princess Zhenguo, with the assistance of Minister Shen Yushan and the ministers of the cabinet..."

This was exactly the solution that Xiao Yuancheng had thought of when the three of them were on their way here. He didn't want to appoint a crown prince yet, but he lacked someone to handle state affairs, so he had to find someone who was relatively less dangerous and more capable to serve as regent.

The figure of Xiao Yuluan naturally emerged in Xiao Yuancheng's mind.

The Princess Zhenguo was so talented and beautiful back then that there was absolutely no problem for her to be the regent. Moreover, she was old and had surrendered to him some time ago. In Xiao Yuancheng's eyes, she was the most suitable candidate.

Xiao Yuancheng thought that he had not offended Xiao Yuluan, and he was her nephew. She was not familiar with his sons. Would she favor any prince?

Xiao Ji and Shen Yushan were both shocked. This time, their astonishment was truly palpable. What was this? Effortless acquisition? Why would they suddenly hand over power to the princess?

Xiao Yuancheng naturally did not miss their surprise, but the news was shocking, so he didn't think much about it.

Then, as if to show some mercy, he said, "...you guys should also follow behind and see, this world will eventually be yours..."

No one thought Xiao Yuancheng was telling the truth, but no one dared to expose him either. They could only kowtow deeply and say, "Your son/your subject... obeys your command!"

Hearing this, Xiao Yuancheng breathed a sigh of relief silently, unable to hold on any longer. With a wave of his hand, he was supported by the eunuchs and moved towards the inner hall.

Leaving behind a group of people outside the hall with different thoughts and fear, and a power structure that has been completely overturned.

King Wu and King Wen both had their brows furrowed, but Xiao Ji's eyes were clearer than ever. His dazed look did not seem strange to the others, who simply felt they shared the same feelings.

Who would have thought that an old man who had been out of politics for nearly 30 years would suddenly return to power?

Little did he know that as the three of them walked away, Xiao Ji's eyes gradually revealed an excitement that he could not suppress.

God is helping me!