Chapter 603: Is the prince crazy?
Emperor An's sudden taking out of so much grain attracted great attention. People like the Crown Prince and Liang Guangyi were secretly trying to find out the source of the grain.
The spies that Xiao Yan had previously planted beside Liu Tong'en started to move, heading towards Lingyang Wharf, secretly investigating the whereabouts of the "merchant caravan" that had previously delivered food to Liu Tong'en.
The people in the capital had different thoughts secretly, but on the surface, all the departments in the court were working quickly, and in just five days, the army to suppress the rebellion was ready.
The day when Marquis Wenxin and General Yin led their troops to leave the capital was the first day of November. The army gathered outside the capital. Marquis Wenxin and General Yin were both wearing armor and standing beside their horses. Beside them were 3,000 elite vanguards who were suppressing the rebellion. The remaining soldiers and generals stretched out like a long dragon along the official road.
Emperor An, dressed in a dragon robe, stood on a high platform, and next to him was the crown prince, who was also wearing a bright yellow dragon robe.
One was thin with prominent cheekbones and looked old and sickly, while the other was tall and straight and full of vigor like the rising sun.
Originally, when Emperor An sat high on the dragon throne in the palace, it was not very obvious that the prince was always bowing to him. But now, when the father and son stood in the same place, wearing the same bright yellow robe that represented nobility, the young and strong prince, who was slightly taller than Emperor An, made the once high and mighty emperor look like an old tiger with its claws plucked.
He looked weak and old, as if someone might snatch his place from him at any time.
"Why does your Majesty look like this?"
"I don't know. Didn't you say that Your Majesty was already well? Why does he still look so weak?"
"Maybe the illness hasn't healed yet..."
"Shut up!"
An official from the Ministry of Rites in front shouted loudly, and the crowd instantly quieted down.
The sound of drums rang out from high above, and the drumsticks landed on the drum surface with loud "bang, bang" sounds, accompanied by the sound of horns, which instantly resounded throughout the suburbs of Beijing.
The sound was like thunder, shaking the heavens and the earth and shocking people's hearts. Not only were the court officials solemn, but even the people who were looking towards this side near the city gate in the distance fell silent.
After a moment, the drumbeats suddenly stopped. Feng Lai stepped forward holding the imperial edict and said loudly to the people below:
"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, declares: Prince Pingshan is plotting rebellion, colluding with the traitor Lu Jiuan to murder court prisoners and defame the imperial family. He even intends to lead his troops to wreak havoc in the southern borders. Prince Pingshan has disregarded the Emperor's grace and is causing chaos in the Great Wei. His ambition to cause chaos is to plunge the people into war and to seize the throne. This traitor must be put to death by all."
"Order Marquis Wenxin Zhou Ji and General Yin Bao to carry the tiger talisman and lead troops south to suppress the rebels and capture the two Princes of Pingshan. This is my decree."
After Feng Lai finished speaking, Emperor An stepped forward and said to the people below, "I should personally lead the army south to attack Pingyang County to deal with these traitors, but I am ill and have no choice but to rely on the two generals."
"I hope the two generals will select their troops, mobilize their forces, personally command the military, and lead the army southward on my behalf, so that they can return victoriously to the court as soon as possible."
General Yin, speaking from below, said in a resounding voice, "We, your servants, will obey your command and live up to your Majesty's wishes. We will capture the traitors and quell the rebellion!"
The three thousand elite soldiers behind him, holding spears, fell to the ground in unison.
"Capture the traitors and quell the rebellion!"
"Capture the traitors and quell the rebellion!!"
"Capture the traitors and quell the rebellion!!!"
The roaring momentum shocked everyone around, and the huge shouting made everyone's blood boil. Emperor An turned around and said to Feng Lai: "Bring some wine!"
Feng Lai brought the wine to Emperor An.
"I only offer this wine to send you off to battle..."
As Emperor An was speaking, he reached out to take the wine glass on the plate, but the prince suddenly took half a step forward and placed his hand on the wine glass first, directly blocking Emperor An's hand that was about to take the wine glass.
Emperor An's eyes were cold: "Prince!"
The Crown Prince showed no fear at all. He simply said respectfully, "Father is not in good health. He had a serious illness recently. The Imperial Physician has instructed that he rest and recuperate."
"You have braved your illness to come and see me off today, which is a great favor. I also know that you value the instructions of Marquis Wenxin and the others, but you cannot neglect your own health. I do not want my father to suffer any more harm than the previous coma. It is worrying. How about I serve this glass of wine for you?"
"you!"
Emperor An looked at the crown prince who was bowing to him with his back to the army, and his palms trembled with anger.
The officials standing nearby looked at each other in bewilderment.
The prince seemed extremely respectful, but his words hinted at the emperor's frail health. The emperor had always been the one to see off an army going to war. Even if the emperor was frail, how much harm could a glass of wine do to him?
What's more, although His Majesty looked weak when he spoke just now, he was still full of energy. The prince seemed to be thinking about His Majesty's health, but in fact he was snatching the power that belonged to the emperor.
Not only did the court officials in front of the crowd gasp, even Tang Ning, who saw this scene at the distant city gate, was shocked.
Qian Qiyue pulled Tang Ning aside and whispered, "Is the prince crazy?"
Wang Yuzhen's face was tense, and her voice was low: "How dare the prince?"
Yeah, how dare he?
Everyone knows that the Crown Prince and Emperor An are quarreling fiercely, but on the surface they are still as "loving father and filial son" as usual. Emperor An pretends to value the Crown Prince but secretly finds fault with him and makes trouble for him everywhere. The Crown Prince, while pretending to be a filial son, actually hopes that Emperor An will die soon.
Regardless of their intentions, at least on the surface, no one would be foolish enough to disrupt the hard-won balance and expose themselves to criticism and condemnation. However, the Crown Prince had now slapped Emperor An in the face in front of so many people, even the entire expeditionary force...
Tang Ning looked at the figure on the high platform over there. Although he couldn't see Emperor An's expression clearly, he always felt that it would not be good.
Emperor An's expression was indeed extremely ugly, and he was so angry at the Crown Prince's respectful appearance that he wanted to slap him.
But the Crown Prince bowed even lower, his hand tightly gripping the wine glass on Feng Lai's tray, and asked with concern, "Is your Majesty unwell?"
Feng Lai was trembling, holding the wine jug in his hand, not daring to let go or pour wine for the prince.
"His Majesty……"
The Minister of Rites was also standing by, fearing that the royal father and son would start fighting on the spot. He glanced at the Duke Dingguo, who had a cold expression not far away, with some fear, as if asking for help.
"Dong Guo Gong..."
If the emperor and the prince started fighting in front of so many people and soldiers, even the matter of Prince Pingshan would not be able to cover up the royal scandal, and his position as the Minister of Rites would be over.
Xiao Yan glanced at the Crown Prince expressionlessly, then opened his thin lips slightly, "Your Majesty, the auspicious time for the army to march is almost over."
Emperor An clenched his fists tightly, his jaw tense and bulging, and he glanced sideways at Xiao Yan. The Minister of Rites standing next to him was so frightened by his gaze that his scalp went numb.
He was thinking that Emperor An would have a fit, but a moment later, Emperor An suddenly laughed.
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