Unexpectedly, this reached Zhu Changyu's ears, causing him to burst into laughter.
"They are all princes, born in the palace, but some are raised up and supported every day, while others barely survive and suffer beatings and humiliation."
"Have you heard about today's bestowal of titles? Those favored are granted rich fiefdoms, while those unfavored are relegated to remote and impoverished areas. Why? What is the basis for this?"
"My mother did wrong, but why should I be implicated? What did I do wrong? Did I willingly come into this world? Did I willingly choose to be born in this imperial city? Did I willingly choose to live a life of humiliation and subjugation?"
“That man, we all call him Father, but our fates are worlds apart. I’m not jealous that Zhu Changhong has a loving mother, but what about Father? What has he done?”
Negligence, indifference, lack of love.
Perhaps there is no justice to be found, but the pain that falls on the children is very real.
Even more so, it couldn't stop the child from developing resentment and hatred amidst the daily pain.
"Your high-sounding principles might scare you, but they won't fool me." Zhu Changyu regained his indifference. "She didn't harm me, but she took away all of Father Emperor's love. She could have chosen not to be a concubine, but she insisted on having this 'love stronger than gold' thing in the deep palace. She lived for twenty years and only ended up like this. I even think she got off too easy."
Even the most tragic ending has its moments of exhilaration, hasn't it?
The young man questioned in a soft voice, his eyes, though not particularly handsome, filled with sorrow.
The commander of the Imperial Guard made a slip of the tongue.
Perhaps children who grow up being bullied only have hatred and resentment in their hearts, and only want to stand in the highest position to comfort themselves for the tears they shed in solitude.
But the imperial power was firm, and the ancestral precepts were upright, so no amount of resentment could shake them.
He could only look at this prince who might be outstanding, but was crushed by his birth, and wave his arm slightly in acknowledgment.
The eager imperial guards rushed forward and seized Zhu Changyu.
“Your Highness, there’s nothing we can do about it, even if we’re unwilling. The Crown Prince has already been appointed, and the dynasty needs people who can abide by the rules,” the Imperial Guard Commander said softly.
With Li Qiang also detained, and the Imperial Guards, whose swords dripped with blood, all captured, the fierce struggle for imperial power seemed to have come to an end.
"I really didn't expect this, one surprise after another, so many unexpected events."
"I think Consort Ju is the most pitiful. She has gained nothing over the years and even had to kill her own child by mistake."
"What's so pitiful about her? No one is forcing her to become a concubine. The Second Prince is the most pitiful. He has no mother to love him and no father to care for him. He's going to be exiled to a remote place. Who wouldn't be angry?"
The crowd was abuzz with discussion as they each cleaned up the mess.
Grand Secretary Sun was sent away by his family as quickly as possible, and all the civil and military officials left in shock.
Jiang Sheng finally managed to stand in front of Fifth Brother and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Is the matter resolved? Is everything settled?" Zheng Ruqian patted his chest. "Why are these people so resentful? I'm only resentful because I can't make money; everything else is fine as long as I get by."
He even chuckled twice after saying that.
Wen Zhiyun smiled with pursed lips beside him, remaining as taciturn as ever.
Only Xu Mo frowned slightly and said softly, "The Second Prince doesn't seem like someone who can be captured easily."
His words and his eyes were filled with resentment.
How could someone who can poison even a dagger be willing to surrender?
His life was reduced to nothing more than black and white, and the motto "If you don't succeed, you die trying" was etched into his heart.
Changyan held the Crown Prince's Book in his hand and pondered, "That depends on where those convicted of treason will be imprisoned."
There were also prisons in the imperial city, but they were usually used to imprison the concubines in the harem, which was commonly known as the Cold Palace.
Members of the royal family who committed crimes were usually sent to the Imperial Clan Court for imprisonment, which was located outside the imperial city.
The two brothers exchanged a glance and realized something was wrong.
They quickly assembled the remaining Imperial Guards, crossed Fengtian Square, and caught up with the Imperial Guards who were holding the Second Prince.
But it was still too late.
At the east gate of the imperial city, the commander of the Imperial Guards, with several hundred men, was confronting a force of over a thousand men in front of him.
Zhu Changyu, whose arms should have been bound behind his back, sat on a tall horse, with Fang Yuan, who was wearing a cloak, and the imposing city guards beside him.
The army that was supposed to protect the imperial city had been turned against them and was now supporting the rebels.
The Imperial Guard leader's eyes were bloodshot as he roared, "Are you all out of your minds? You're willing to follow a traitor! This is a crime punishable by the extermination of your entire family!"
“That would require nine generations of relatives.” Zhu Changyu said leisurely. “They are all people with tragic fates. I secretly planted them in the city's garrison. Their only thought in life is to avenge their families and let the souls of those who died unjustly rest in peace.”
Wherever there are people, there will be wrongful convictions and innocent deaths.
The Fengjing family is a complex and intertwined society, rife with crimes of murder for money and corruption.
Zhu Changyu knew that his background was ordinary and that he would never be able to win over a top-tier family.
But it doesn't matter. He will save ordinary people with tragic pasts and rescue rats from the gutter. Everyone will keep each other company and work together to overthrow this filthy city sooner or later.
The number of soldiers defending the city was not large, but it was still three to five thousand.
The imperial guards numbered over a thousand, and even with the addition of the palace guards, they were no match for the city's garrison.
There are 50,000 troops stationed in nearby cities, but unfortunately the journey is long and it will take three hours to arrive.
Three hours later, everything was over.
Zhu Changyu glanced at the sun. Although he regretted that all the civil and military officials had left, he was still able to re-appoint the crown prince.
Or perhaps there's no need for investiture at all; once all the emperor's other sons have died, imperial power can only fall into his hands.
"Commander-in-Chief, you're right about one thing." Zhu Changyu glanced at the long banquet that had just arrived. "Being unwilling is indeed useless; only ruthlessness can get you what you want."
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