Chapter 550: Thousands of Arrows Piercing the Heart
"It's your ambition to become emperor that has brought you to this point." Emperor Jing'an looked at Prince Yu with anger, as if he had just seen his son clearly. He said in a cold voice, "It's also because you don't distinguish right from wrong in people's hearts, and you abuse your power for personal gain, clearing the name of the evil Ling family, that you have come to this point."
Prince Yu understood what Emperor Jing'an meant. Because he had used his power to protect the Ling family and prevented them from receiving the punishment they deserved for the crimes they committed, he gave the Ling family the opportunity to murder his mother.
In the eyes of Emperor Jing'an, all this was nothing but retribution for the karma between mother and son.
"My mother entered the palace in her teens and has been with you for over twenty years. Isn't this favor worth a personal trip to Yanxiang Palace? Even if you don't come in person, why not send Eunuch Cao?"
Prince Yu said with disgust, "You know very well that the people in this palace are always flattering the powerful and bullying the weak. If you had come in person, or sent Eunuch Cao, my mother wouldn't have died so tragically."
"You hate me. I hated my disregard for the friendship between you and your mother, and our father-son relationship. I didn't allow you to enter the palace to deliver the medicine, causing your mother's death from the poison. But this is no reason for you to kill your father and usurp the throne." Emperor Jing'an pointed lightly at Prince Yu's chest. "Ask yourself, why did I distrust you and your mother, and why did I become wary of you?"
Without waiting for Prince Yu to speak, Emperor Jing'an continued, "It's because you, in your quest to settle the Ling family's lawsuit, have caused countless innocent souls to die at your hands. It's also because you don't distinguish between loyalty and treachery, good and evil. You receive tributes from the people, yet you never share their worries. To satisfy your own selfish desires, you've caused the people of Qingzhou to starve and suffer."
"These crimes of yours alone are enough to make you die a thousand times over."
"It is because I consider the relationship between father and son that I have shown mercy to you time and time again."
"And how have you treated me?" Emperor Jing'an roared, "You've caused these soldiers, who fought bravely on the battlefields defending our country, to kill each other for your throne. You've turned the spearheads that were meant for the enemy on me."
"Are you showing mercy to my men out of consideration for our father-son bond, or out of concern for my marriage to Princess Guangning?" Prince Yu sneered as he listened to Emperor Jing'an's accusations of being ungrateful. "You didn't cancel my marriage to Princess Guangning, and even allowed me to go to Northern Qi to personally welcome her."
"That's because you know me very well. You know that in order to secure the position of crown prince, I will help Zhao Yi in Northern Qi and allow him to successfully return to Great Zhou with Princess Yizhen's remains."
"While you were using me to plot for Zhao Yi, you were also plotting to remove my authority to pave the way for the Third Prince."
"Now, in your mouth, all this has been turned into my being ungrateful and ungrateful for the Emperor's grace." Prince Yu's eyes were filled with deep hatred: "You talk about benevolence and morality, but what you do is to abandon the donkey after it has served its purpose."
"Rebellious son, if I don't take away your power, it will only fuel your ambitions and make you even more delusional," Emperor Jing'an said sternly. "Based on what you've done, how can I hand the people of the Great Zhou over to you?"
He glanced at the trembling Third Prince kneeling on the ground and said, "Release your Third Brother. This matter ends here. Don't make the same mistake again."
"If I stop, what will you do? If I keep making the same mistake again and again, what will you do?" Prince Yu's thin lips curled slightly, his voice filled with sarcasm: "Even if I stop, you will only spare my life and imprison me in the inner court for life. If I persist and keep making the same mistake again and again, I will only die."
Both father and son knew very well that things had developed to this point and it was difficult to end it.
Prince Yu, in particular, was in a very dire situation.
Compared with Emperor Jing'an's, his military force was simply no match for him.
That assassination almost exhausted all his military strength.
Unfortunately, Emperor Jing'an was not killed.
Now, he wants to turn the situation around, unless he is given reinforcements.
Although he could kidnap the third prince and leave the palace, what could he do if he escaped from the palace?
He was also unable to avoid the numerous checkpoints and escape from the Great Zhou.
So, he didn't even think about escaping.
"He also contributed to my mother's death." Prince Yu lifted the Third Prince's chin with his sword and said to Emperor Jing'an, "If you want to save him, then come and take him away yourself."
As he spoke, Prince Yu thrust the sword forward, and the sharp blade cut through the Third Prince's neck. "Otherwise, you'll kill my mother, and I'll kill your beloved son. This deal is barely worth it."
The Third Prince was so frightened that his soul was about to flee. He cried out in terror, "Father...Father, save...save me..."
Emperor Jing'an clenched his fists and cast a sharp gaze at Prince Yu, who stood before the palace gates. A hundred or so rebels surrounded Prince Yu in a protective circle, with the Third Prince also within it.
Prince Yu has always been ruthless and will never let the third prince go.
If we want to rescue the third prince, we must first eliminate the rebels.
Otherwise, once the Imperial Guards take action, Prince Yu will definitely take action against the Third Prince.
Unless, they hit the target with one strike.
Emperor Jing'an walked towards Prince Yu while winking at the archers surrounding Yanxiang Palace.
As Prince Yu watched Emperor Jing'an approach him for the Third Prince, his heart felt a subtle stab. This feeling was unfamiliar to Prince Yu, and he couldn't tell whether it was discomfort or unease.
One step, two steps, three steps——
Emperor Jing'an took steps, getting closer and closer to Prince Yu.
Prince Yu had a cold look in his eyes. He grabbed the Third Prince by the collar and brought him in front of him, with his sword across his neck.
“Crack—”
Emperor Jing'an stepped on some dry, brittle leaves.
The sudden crisp sound pulled at Prince Yu's nerves, which were tense as a thread. Before he could react, he heard a "whoosh" sound, and a sharp arrow flew out from the string, breaking through the air with a cold murderous aura.
Prince Yu's heart was beating violently, and he subconsciously swung his sword to cut off the sharp arrow.
The next moment, his pupils suddenly shrank, and he saw a sky full of sharp arrows like a violent storm, rushing towards them with a fierce momentum to destroy everything.
The rebels fought desperately to stand in front of Prince Yu, but were shot like sieves by sharp arrows one after another and fell down one after another.
In an instant, corpses piled up like mountains in Yanxiang Palace and blood flowed like a river.
Only a few seriously injured rebels were left by Prince Yu's side.
They held on with all their might, firmly guarding Prince Yu and vowing to fight to the death until the last moment.
On Emperor Jing'an's side, rows of archers nocked their arrows, their cold, sharp tips aimed at Prince Yu's brow. If his swords could injure the Third Prince, he would be pierced by a thousand arrows.
The surging murderous aura is about to explode.
Prince Yu's heart was beating violently, his whole body was tense, and he stared coldly ahead.
He saw a shocking scene of blood in front of him, with corpses piled up on the ground and blood flowing, making it impossible for him to see the way he came.
This seemed to indicate that he had no way out.
Prince Yu knew very well that the situation was hopeless.
This action was originally a desperate gamble.
Emperor Jing'an's face was stern: "Rebellious son, do you still want to resist?"
"Heh... you're resisting stubbornly." Prince Yu sneered, "According to our ancestral family rules, the legitimate son is chosen based on age, not virtue. The illegitimate son is chosen based on status, not age. You don't have a legitimate son, so whether based on your noble status or age, the position of crown prince belongs to me."
"But you only consider legitimate children as legitimate, and treat illegitimate children equally. Not only did you not choose the crown prince according to the status of the prince's birth mother or the status of his maternal family, nor did you choose the order of age, you disrupted the ancestral family law. As a result, Prince Rui and I showed off our abilities, bringing disaster to the people."
"It's fine if Prince Rui fights with me." Prince Yu dragged the Third Prince along: "Who the hell is he?"
The third prince had just escaped death and was extremely frightened. His face was pale and he was shaking like a sieve.
"If you want to amass wealth, then rob the people. If you want imperial power, then rebel and seize my power." Emperor Jing'an said coldly, "Even if I appoint you as Crown Prince according to our ancestral family law, you will not be able to maintain this position given your perverse character."
That year, when he returned to the Great Zhou from Northern Qi, his situation was also very difficult.
But he never thought of hurting innocent people in order to achieve his goal.
"The status and position you and your son hold was given by me," Emperor Jing'an said solemnly, "I can give you and your son the status and position, and I can also elevate the Dong family."
Upon hearing this, Prince Yu couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Hahahaha, this is your kingdom. You can give it to whomever you want. Prince Rui and I are just pawns you use to consolidate your imperial power." He continued word by word, "What's the difference between you and the late emperor?"
Emperor Jing'an was furious: "Come here, Prince Yu murdered his father and usurped the throne. His crimes are heinous. Capture him!" He then warned: "If you want your mother to rest in peace, then release your third brother."
Prince Yu seemed to have his soft spot found, his face tense and veins bulging on his forehead.
After an unknown amount of time, Prince Yu, holding the Third Prince hostage, walked towards Emperor Jing'an step by step.
In the end, he still made a compromise for his mother.
The third prince's heart, which had been hanging in his throat, finally settled down.
Emperor Jing'an made a gesture to the archers, indicating that they should put away their bows and arrows.
Since Prince Yu was able to break into the palace for Concubine Ling, he would naturally release the Third Prince in order to allow Concubine Ling to be buried according to the regulations for a concubine.
At this time, Prince Yu stopped and was only ten feet away from Emperor Jing'an.
The third prince's eyes, filled with despair, burst with hope of life, and he was just waiting for Prince Yu to let him go.
This time Prince Yu was plotting a rebellion. Even if he was not shot to death by arrows, he would be sentenced to death by Emperor Jing'an.
From then on, Emperor Jing'an had only one prince, and no one would compete with him anymore.
Prince Yu seemed to sense the excitement of the Third Prince's upcoming rebirth, and with his thin lips pursed into a line, he pushed the Third Prince towards Emperor Jing'an.
The Third Prince regained his freedom and was overjoyed: "Father..."
Suddenly, Emperor Jing'an's expression changed drastically, and he hissed, "Stop—"
However, with a "swish", the long sword in Prince Yu's hand pierced the third prince's chest.
Emperor Jing'an's hand was suspended in mid-air, and he watched helplessly as the third prince's fingertips brushed past his fingers and then fell down weakly.
Prince Yu suddenly drew out his sword, and blood splattered on his face, making his cold brows look even more cruel.
The third prince fell straight to the ground with a thud.
Emperor Jing'an felt as if he had been hit hard on the head with a club. He looked at the Third Prince lying on the ground in a trance, unable to accept this sudden change.
Prince Yu…how dare he?
How dare he kill the third brother!
Emperor Jing'an hated Prince Yu to the extreme and was furious: "Come here, capture this traitor and put him in death row."
The guards rushed forward.
"The victor is the king, the loser the bandit." Prince Yu, holding a blood-drenched sword, stood alone before the mighty army, his crimson robes rustling in the evening breeze. "How can a member of the royal family be a prisoner?"
These words were so powerful that they echoed throughout the Yanxiang Palace.
Prince Yu swung his sword violently, and the blade cut across his neck.
"don't want--"
At this moment, a panic-stricken voice suddenly rang out.
Prince Yu turned his head and saw a slender figure rushing in in panic and stumbling towards him.
She was wearing a dress that seemed to have flowing moonlight, and she caught his eye like a ball of bright light.
Just like that year, when his life was hanging by a thread in the cave, his mother appeared in the dark and cold cave wearing a ermine cloak.
"Your Highness..." Princess Guangning hurried to Prince Yu's presence. Seeing the blood gushing from his neck, blending into his crimson official uniform, she said in a trembling voice, "It's me! I'm late..."
The courtyard is a place where light and shadow interweave and the boundaries are clear.
Prince Yu stood alone in the dark, while Emperor Jing'an and a group of soldiers stood in the light, as if dividing them into two worlds.
The strange thing is that even though Prince Yu was standing in the shadows, Princess Guangning could still see him clearly.
Prince Yu's hair crown was worn straight on his head, his back was straight, and his tightly-fitting official uniform was not messy at all, as if it had been specially adjusted.
Even if he was going to die, he wanted to retain his last bit of dignity.
Prince Yu listened to Princess Guangning saying "You're late" over and over again in front of him.
The words "I'm late" overlapped with the words deep in his memory: "Jing'er, it's mother, she's late."
Back then, Mother regretted arriving too late, filled with remorse and self-blame: "Jing'er, Mother will never let you encounter any danger again. Even if something unexpected happens, Mother will arrive in time to protect you."
His mother fulfilled her promise, and from then on, she never let him be in danger again.
But this time, my mother passed away.
He encountered disaster again.
He originally thought that apart from his mother, no one else would come specially for him.
Even if it's late.
Unexpectedly, his wife-to-be came.
Saying the same thing as my mother.
In his life, he only experienced two disasters.
Once when I was ten years old.
Once at the age of twenty.
At this moment, the long sword in Prince Yu's hand was stuck in the ground, supporting his shaky body.
"Your Highness..." Guangning supported Prince Yu, wanting to cover the wound on his neck, but afraid of worsening it. If she didn't, she was afraid he would bleed out. Princess Guangning could only helplessly say "I'm sorry," tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm sorry, if I had heard the news earlier and helped deliver medicine to the Imperial Concubine, you wouldn't have been in trouble."
Prince Yu knelt on the ground, unable to support himself. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but spat out a mouthful of blood, which splashed on Princess Guangning's skirt.
His head slowly, slowly drooped.
Before closing his eyes, he thought to himself: It doesn’t matter, this is my destiny.
Princess Guangning seemed to sense something, and her heart sank to the bottom of the valley. She stared blankly at Prince Yu, watching him kneeling in the courtyard with his back straight, his forehead resting on the back of his hands, his hands folded and resting on the hilt of his sword, as if refusing to succumb to fate.
Just like a cluster of green clouds in the flower garden beside him, proudly standing against the snow.
Princess Guangning just stood there, her skirt fluttering in the evening breeze.
The blood on the hem of her skirt was as bright and colorful as the wedding dress she would wear tomorrow.
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