The most ruthless imperial family
The stench of alcohol in the Western Garden was thick and inextricable, like a sticky cocoon. The humiliation of being deposed, the resentment towards his father, the unspeakable hatred towards the Crown Prince, seared the Crown Prince's heart day and night, and ultimately drowned him in this cup.
The table was littered with cups and plates, and he lay unconscious, like a body with its soul sucked out.
"Your Highness... Your Highness, wake up!"
"Something has happened in the palace! Your Highness!"
The calling voice came from far away, mixed with the faint noise coming from outside the palace wall, penetrating the heavy drunkenness.
The prince waved his hands irritably, mumbling, "Go away... leave me... in peace..."
"Bang!" The palace door was violently slammed open.
A cold wind suddenly rushed in, dispelling the nauseating smell of alcohol. The prince struggled to open his heavy eyelids. Through his blurred vision, he could only see figures, their armor reflecting a cold light in the candlelight.
They were all his former followers.
Chen Zhijie, the Minister of the Eastern Palace, Zhang Duo and Zhang Rui, the eldest son of the Grand Tutor Zhang Qian, several subordinate officers and generals who had always been dependent on him, as well as Liu Chong, the father of the concubine Liu and the General Yingyang, were all present.
"You, you guys..." The prince tried to sit up straight, but a wave of dizziness came over him.
"Your Highness!" Liu Chong strode forward, his voice urgent, "There is a commotion in the palace, and we are too late to protect you!"
"Protecting the Emperor?" The prince forced a bitter laugh, heavily drunken and full of self-mockery, "I am already a useless man..."
"Today is the day when Your Highness ascends the throne!" Liu Chong said firmly.
"What do you...want to do?"
"Clear the imperial court and correct the root cause! Your Highness, please move to the Zichen Palace immediately to meet His Majesty, explain the pros and cons, and ask His Majesty to pass the throne to you!" Chen Zhanshi interjected, his tone respectful, but his eyes revealed madness.
The crowd behind him said in unison: "Your Highness, please move!"
"No," the prince instinctively resisted, shrinking back, "Father has made up his mind and won't listen. It's futile to go..."
"Your Highness! If you continue to stay in the Western Garden..." Zhang Duo spoke rapidly, "Tomorrow will be the end of your Highness's old ministers, as well as the end of Concubine Liu and her child."
"Your Highness!" Liu Chong knelt on one knee, his voice heavy with grief. "Our lives and property have long been tied to Your Highness! If Your Highness does not leave, our entire clan will be overthrown tonight. Can Your Highness bear this?"
Another general stepped forward, his armor clanging, "Your Highness, the turmoil outside the palace is raging. The arrow is on the string and must be fired! If you don't go now, you will be waiting to be killed!"
"Your Highness!" Liu Chong suddenly raised his head, his eyes blazing. "The arrow has been drawn! Your Highness thinks that if you stop now, His Majesty will forgive us? Forgive you? If your virtuous Crown Princess's grandson ascends the throne, we will be dead without a burial place! Is there any way back for you?"
The chaotic noise outside the palace was like a surging tide, hitting the doors and windows more and more clearly. The prince looked at the group of former subjects in front of him. There was no longer respect in their eyes, but a desperate madness.
A way out? It was cut off the moment they stepped into Xiyuan.
He was like a small boat caught in the center of a storm, unable to control himself.
"I..." The prince's lips moved, and he wanted to say something.
"Your Highness, please forgive me! We have to make an emergency decision!" Liu Chong stood up immediately.
Two strong guards immediately stepped forward, one on the left and one on the right, firmly holding the prince's weak arms, and lifted him up from the chair!
The prince groaned, drunkenness and fear making it almost impossible for him to stand. He struggled in vain, but was only gripped even tighter.
"Protect the emperor, escort His Highness to the Zichen Palace!" Liu Chong ordered.
Everyone immediately crowded forward, forming an impenetrable human wall, carrying the held prince, and irresistibly drawn into the chaotic night outside with flames blazing into the sky, heading straight for the Purple Palace.
*
Inside the Zichen Hall, the candlelight flickered.
The emperor sat upright on the throne, his face as gloomy as water. The young grandson clung tightly to his grandfather's side, his little face pale and his body trembling slightly with fear.
The sound of weapons outside the palace was endless.
Who is it? The Crown Prince? Prince Yong? Or a foreigner?
"Boom!" The palace door was knocked open, and the sound of armor colliding poured in like a tide.
The prince was surrounded by the crowd and was almost pushed to the foot of the imperial throne. He staggered and his eyes were unfocused. He didn't dare to look at his father on the throne, let alone his son beside his father.
The emperor's gaze passed over the grim armor and fell on the prince's pale face.
He saw clearly that his eldest son was nothing more than a puppet being roasted on the fire.
"You're here." The emperor's voice was low and hoarse, breaking the silence.
The prince's body trembled violently, his head drooped even lower, his lips moved a few times, and finally he could only squeeze out one word: "Yes."
The hall fell into suffocating silence again, with only the faint shouting and screaming in the distance as the background. The gazes of the ministers were like physical objects pressing on the prince's back.
The emperor's gaze slowly swept over Chen Zhanshi, Zhang Duo, Liu Chong and others behind the crown prince. "What are you asking for by making such a scene?"
The prince's throat rolled over, and he felt like several gazes were piercing his back.
At this moment, he was more awake than ever - he had to take the lead.
"Your Majesty," the Crown Prince said with difficulty, his voice dry, "Your Majesty, I beg you to take care of your body and enjoy your remaining years..."
"Live out your days in peace?" The emperor's lips twitched, a hint of icy sarcasm lingering in his smile. "How will you live out your days? Like you, drunkenly sleeping in the West Garden? Or somewhere else?"
The prince's face turned even paler and his body swayed.
The emperor's gaze fell on the frightened Crown Prince, his expression instantly becoming complicated and painful. "What about my grandson? How do you plan to raise him?"
Seeing that the prince was becoming more and more frightened, everyone became impatient.
"Your Majesty!" Zhang Duo stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Your Majesty has toiled for the country all his life, leaving him exhausted. Your Highness, the Crown Prince, is a truly filial son. He will surely take Your Majesty to a quiet and peaceful palace, where he can live out his remaining years and enjoy the greatest happiness on earth. This will be a blessing for the country and the people."
He paused, then turned his gaze to the Crown Prince. "Your Highness is young and innocent. Wouldn't it be a great blessing for you to be away from the chaos of the court, free from worries, and forever enjoy the pure innocence of a child? We, your servants, will do our utmost to ensure that Your Highness lives a safe and smooth life."
"Safe and smooth..." The emperor repeated these four words, first staring at Zhang Duo, then moving to the prince who dared not look up, and finally turned into a long sigh, with endless sadness.
"What a peaceful and smooth journey! You really put a lot of effort into it."
Chen Zhanshi slightly turned sideways to signal.
A eunuch walked forward stiffly, his head bowed, holding two small jade bowls. The bowls were filled with amber liquid that exuded a slightly bitter smell.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the two jade bowls.
The prince stared at the medicine bowl, his body trembling uncontrollably, his eyes filled with fear and struggle. He subconsciously stepped back, but was held firmly by Liu Chong's strong arms behind him.
"Your Highness," Liu Chong's voice was close to his ear, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty and the Crown Prince, and take the medicine. Now that things have come to this, there is no turning back."
"Grandpa Emperor..." The Crown Prince sobbed softly in fear, "I'm afraid..."
The prince was pushed by countless gazes behind him, and like a puppet, he took a step forward stiffly. He looked at his father who was crying with his eyes closed, and at his terrified and helpless son. He stretched out his hand, his fingertips cold.
"What is this?" The emperor closed his eyes, his voice hoarse and terrifyingly calm.
The prince's Adam's apple rolled and his lips moved, but no sound came out.
"Your Majesty," Zhang Duo's voice rang out clearly, breaking the dead silence. "This is the Soup for Calming the Mind and Strengthening the Body. After Your Majesty consumes it, you will be able to unburden yourself of all burdens and rest in bed. The other bowl is the Soup for Guarding the Mind. After Your Highness consumes it, your mind will be as pure as a child's forever, free from the burdens of worldly affairs. This will be a true relief for both of you."
"Liberation..." The emperor muttered with his eyes closed, tears silently falling. "What a relief! Can this medicine relieve the worries in my heart?"
He opened his eyes a fraction, his gaze piercing the prince like a knife, "Or can you relieve your worries?"
Everyone was silent, with only the Crown Prince looking tormented.
"You were forced to come here and make this knife. Do you think you'll be able to hold the handle in the future?"
The prince's face was as pale as paper, and his lips trembled: "Your son, I have no choice..."
"I can't help myself?" The emperor's voice was full of sarcasm, and then it became low due to weakness. "What a helpless person..."
The prince suddenly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he grabbed one of the jade bowls, his hands shaking violently.
Liu Chong's hand covered the back of his hand, and with irresistible force, he almost forced the emperor's jaw open. Hot tears dripped onto the prince's cold hand.
"Father, please forgive me..." The prince's voice was filled with suppressed tears as he poured the liquid medicine from the bowl into his father's mouth. The emperor did not struggle, but his throat spasmed violently and he choked. His body suddenly arched up, then collapsed.
"Father, don't! Father!" The prince screamed and rushed over, beating the prince's thigh with his little fists weakly, crying heart-wrenchingly.
The prince's heart was broken, but he did not stop. With the help of Liu Chong, he easily subdued his young son. He looked at his son's eyes full of fear and could hardly hold the bowl in his hand.
"Your Highness! The overall situation is more important!" Liu Chong's voice sounded behind him.
The prince gritted his teeth, hardened his heart, pinched open his son's crying mouth, and poured the amber liquid into his mouth.
The grandson coughed violently, his voice gradually weakened, his eyes became blank and dull, he collapsed limply beside his grandfather, a trace of saliva dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"Clang!" The jade bowl slipped from the prince's exhausted hands and shattered to the ground.
The emperor endured the numbness in his body, his eyes unfocused, yet he still tried to focus on the prince's face. His voice was vague and intermittent: "Look at the good...things you have done..."
Before he could finish his words, his head had already tilted weakly to one side, and only his chest was still rising and falling faintly.
The prince's knees weakened and he fell heavily to his knees on the cold tiles.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out, only his body was shaking violently. He crawled on the ground, his shoulders shaking, like a fish out of water, gasping for breath in despair.
Chen Zhanshi, Liu Chong and others looked away expressionlessly.
Zhang Duo quickly stepped forward, picked up the bright yellow edict that had been prepared long ago, and respectfully handed it to the prince who collapsed on the ground. He then gently placed the cold jade seal on the ground next to him.
"Your Highness, please forgive me and use the seal."
Zhang Duo's voice was calm, as if he was stating the most ordinary matter.
The prince didn't react at all, but just curled up deeper, drowning in his tears. The only sounds in the hall were the faint shouts of killing in the distance and the suffocating silence.
It turns out that the road to the throne begins with the blood of loved ones.
The ministers stood still like stone statues, waiting for the inevitable fall of the seal. No one looked at the paralyzed emperor and the dazed grandson.
"Your Highness, please accept my condolences and use the seal." Liu Chong reminded again.
The new emperor's crown is haunted by the old ghosts, and the imperial family is the most ruthless.
Did he win? No, he killed his father and son with his own hands, and also killed himself.
The world has no room for his tears, and this bloody night is far from over.
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