Chapter 497 You are not fit to be a father!
The words, "His entire family, including his nine generations of relatives, will never be employed again," caused the ministers to collapse to the ground. This punishment was worse than execution.
The emperor, supported by Prince Rui, walked to the door of the imperial study. He lifted his leg somewhat unsteadily, and just then, the crown prince's shrill voice, filled with hatred, rang out: "You are not fit to be a father."
The emperor withdrew his raised foot and turned around, his cloudy eyes watching as the crown prince was pinned to the ground by two soldiers. The prince struggled violently, the heavy hemp ropes scraping against his neck, leaving bloody welts. He strained to look up, his eyes bloodshot with rage as he glared at the emperor, a fierce look he had never seen before.
"You are not fit to be a father!" the Crown Prince hissed through gritted teeth. Marquis Chengen stepped forward to cover his mouth, but the Emperor waved his hand and said, "Let him speak."
Marquis Chengen withdrew, and the two soldiers holding the Crown Prince loosened their grip. The Crown Prince laughed mockingly, "Hahaha...you're always so hypocritical."
The emperor stood there expressionless, seemingly unaffected by his words. Only Prince Rui, who was supporting him, could sense the stiffness and slight trembling in his body.
"You gave birth to us, but did you treat us as your offspring? No, you used us as tools to balance the court and consolidate your position. The Second Prince, the former Crown Prince, died suddenly. Can you honestly say you knew nothing about it beforehand?"
He chuckled twice, then turned to look at Marquis Chengen with a mocking expression and said, "Marquis Chengen, you know he was afraid that your Chengen family was too powerful and that your maternal relatives would seize power. So even though he knew my second brother would get into trouble, he didn't try to stop him, did he?"
Marquis Chengen clenched his fists tightly, his face ashen. Nevertheless, he said, "Your Highness, please refrain from making unfounded speculations."
The Crown Prince laughed mockingly again. He turned to look at the Emperor and said, "Since my birth, you have doted on me and my mother. But do you truly love us, mother and son? You merely want to elevate us to a higher position to rival the Empress and the Emperor's favor..."
"Shut up!" Prince Rui interrupted the Crown Prince. He could feel the Emperor's body growing increasingly hunched and trembling. He couldn't let the Crown Prince continue.
But the emperor still said, "Let him speak."
Prince Rui looked at the Emperor with concern, wanting to offer some words of advice, but the Emperor raised his hand to stop him, then looked at the Crown Prince and said, "Go on, I want to see how much resentment you still have against me."
The crown prince gritted his teeth, his eyes fierce, and continued, "You made me crown prince, but you don't want to give me the throne. You've made me a target, forcing my brothers to fight against me. Have you considered my feelings? If I don't sit on that throne, I'll die. Isn't that what you forced me to do?"
And then there's Sixth Prince. You couldn't control yourself and had an affair with a palace maid, and that's how he came to be. Yet you blame everything on him. Hahhhh... You think Sixth Prince is loyal to you? He probably wants you dead even more than I do.”
"Pfft!" The emperor spat out a mouthful of blood, then collapsed into Prince Rui's arms.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" Prince Rui's face turned pale with anxiety. He picked up the emperor and carried him toward the bedchamber, shouting, "Imperial Physician! Imperial Physician!"
Several imperial physicians hurried into the bedchamber, where a chaotic scene unfolded.
"Hahahaha..." The crown prince burst into laughter, and as he laughed, tears streamed down his face.
Jiang Yu's gaze swept over the Lingnan King and his entourage, then settled on the three princes. All three stood there with their heads down, as if trying to make themselves invisible.
"Lord Chengen, what do you think we should do now?" she asked the sullen-faced Lord Chengen.
Marquis Chengen, his face frosty, said, "The Duke of Chu holds the imperial sword, so naturally it should be up to you to decide."
Jiang Yu: "........."
Well, it's understandable that he's in a bad mood because his most painful wound has been reopened. Jiang Yu looked at Song Ling, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, and said, "Deputy Commander Song, put all these people in jail first, and wait for the Emperor to deal with them."
"Yes." Song Ling hurriedly ordered his men to bind the Crown Prince and his entourage securely before taking them away. Jiang Yu watched their retreating figures, thought for a moment, and then said to Marquis Chengen, "Marquis Chengen, to be on the safe side, you should still send soldiers to guard the prison."
Marquis Chengen's face remained dark, but he nodded and hummed in agreement, then turned to instruct his deputy to make the arrangements. A moment later, silence returned outside the Emperor's bedchamber. Jiang Yu's gaze then fell upon the three princes, and his brow furrowed slightly as he thought of the Prince of An, whom he had not yet seen.
Just then, a member of the Imperial Guard strode in. Upon reaching the entrance of the bedchamber, seeing several imperial physicians going in and out, he approached Jiang Yu, bowed, and said, "Duke of Chu, the Empress Dowager's condition is not good; she wishes to see the Emperor and Prince Rui."
Jiang Yu was startled and quickly entered the imperial bedchamber. She saw several imperial physicians surrounding the emperor's bedside, with Prince Rui standing anxiously to the side. She strode over and whispered, "The Imperial Guards have reported that the Empress Dowager's condition is not good and she wishes to see you and the Emperor."
Upon hearing this, Prince Rui was first startled, then he lost his balance. Fortunately, Jiang Yu caught him, otherwise he would have fallen. At this moment, the Emperor's weak voice came: "What's wrong with the Empress Dowager?"
Prince Rui gripped Jiang Yu's hand tightly, calmed himself for a moment, strode forward, bowed, and was about to speak when he heard the Emperor say again, "Send the messenger here."
Prince Rui had no choice but to send the Imperial Guard to relay the message.
"Your Majesty," the Imperial Guard knelt on the ground, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he looked at the Emperor's weakened state, but still said, "The Empress Dowager wishes to see Your Majesty and Prince Rui. The imperial physician says the Empress Dowager is experiencing a final burst of energy before death, and..."
"puff!"
The emperor coughed up another mouthful of blood, but he helped himself up by Prince Rui's arm and looked at the imperial physician, saying, "Prepare the tonic. I want to look no different from an ordinary person."
"this...."
Several imperial physicians immediately knelt down, and the leading physician, Hu, said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, the medicine you mentioned may be harmful to your health."
"Go! Cough cough cough cough..." The emperor coughed violently. Prince Rui patted his back while instructing the imperial physician to prepare medicine. He understood the emperor's feelings; he wanted the Empress Dowager to leave in peace.
"Help me change my clothes," the emperor said weakly to Prince Rui.
Seeing this, Jiang Yu stepped forward, bowed, and took her leave. The emperor looked at her with his cloudy eyes: "You will come with me to see the Empress Dowager."
"Yes." Jiang Yu bowed and then withdrew. A short while later, the imperial physician brought in steaming medicine and the emperor walked out as usual.
The group walked together toward the Empress Dowager's palace. Jiang Yu followed behind Prince Rui, whose usually upright and sturdy back now appeared slightly slumped. Jiang Yu couldn't help but feel worried. She wanted to step forward and comfort him, but with the Emperor present, it was best not to cause any trouble.
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