Chapter 86 Serving a Ruler is Like Serving a Tiger
This wasn't Wen Kehao's first time entering the palace, but it was the first time she had been personally escorted in by the imperial guards.
Eight imperial guards arrived in total, four in front and four behind, surrounding him and remaining silent no matter how he tried to probe them.
Today, my father returned to the capital, and the Emperor suddenly pulled this stunt; it doesn't seem like a good thing at all. Wen Kehao calmly followed the imperial guards deeper into the palace, but his heart was already burning with anxiety.
Unfortunately, there were no warning signs beforehand, catching him completely off guard. Now that they were surrounded, there was even less chance of informing the Prince's Palace.
The group moved quickly, and Wen Kehao soon led them into the Hall of Diligent Governance.
The imperial guards retreated to the outside.
The Emperor sat atop the Hall of Diligent Governance, holding a memorial in his hand, intently reviewing it. Two eunuchs flanked him, heads bowed, completely still.
Wen Kehao knelt down and bowed, "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"
Wen Kehao was a centurion in the army camp, and he could submit to the emperor.
After he bowed, neither the emperor nor the two eunuchs seemed to see him at all, and no one responded.
Wen Kehao could only continue kneeling, his back straight, head bowed, waiting quietly.
Even the most indifferent and ruthless person will assess the situation. When the third young master of the Anshun Prince's Mansion arrives at the Qinzheng Hall, he must also be cautious, polite, respectful, and gentle. In front of the emperor who holds the life and death of everyone in the country in his hands, the slightest carelessness could bring disaster to his entire family.
The room was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.
Wen Kehao's hands and feet were numb from kneeling, but he still dared not make the slightest move.
"Oh, when did you arrive?" After a long while, the Emperor looked up at Wen Kehao. Before he could answer, the Emperor slammed the memorial he had just seen onto Wen Kehao. "You worthless wretch! Look at the mess your father has made!"
Wen Kehao could certainly dodge it, but he couldn't.
The memorial slid down his forehead. He quickly picked it up, glanced at it, and felt as if he had fallen into a cold cellar, his whole body chilled to the bone.
The memorial accused Prince Anshun of colluding with foreign powers and plotting a rebellion.
Below were the signatures of several court officials. Wen Kehao recognized those officials as minor officials who had only recently been promoted and had no real power.
His father had fought for over a decade, escaping death several times, and now returned victorious, only to be met with slander instead of praise. Even though Wen Kehao was usually cold and aloof, he still felt a chill and sorrow at this moment.
The late emperor originally intended for my father to succeed to the throne, but my father loved conquering far and wide and did not want to be confined to the court. He voluntarily relinquished his position, thus making way for the current emperor. If my father had wanted to become emperor, there would have been no need to wait until today.
Not a single word of the crimes accused in the memorial was true, but judging from the emperor's expression, he seemed to have already concluded that his father was guilty.
Wen Kehao's eyes were filled with sorrow. "Your Majesty, this is a fabrication, a frame-up of a loyal official. My father and Your Majesty have been brothers since childhood. If my father had any rebellious intentions, how could he have left the army on the border between the two countries and only brought his confidants back to the capital? This memorial has no witnesses and no physical evidence. Based on just a few slanderous words, it portrays a prince who has risked his life for the country as a traitor. These people are the ones with wolfish ambitions, harming the country and its people."
The Emperor descended from his high place and slowly walked to Wen Kehao's side.
"Everyone says that the third young master of the Prince of Anshun's mansion is indifferent and taciturn, but I think he has a silver tongue."
He looked down at Wen Kehao on the ground with a look of utter disdain.
As an illegitimate son of the Prince of Anshun, he shouldn't even have had the chance to be summoned by him alone. If he had enough witnesses and evidence to convince the public, why would he waste his breath on such a nobody?
Wen Kehao remained calm. “My father has been slandered by villains and has suffered a great injustice. Even if I am taciturn, I must say a few words in defense of my father.”
"Hmph, you're courting death!" The Emperor flicked his sleeve heavily and returned to his seat. "Let me tell you, at this very moment, the Prince of Anshun's residence is already surrounded by my Imperial Guards. Not a single person from the Prince of Anshun's residence can escape! I originally wanted to show you a way out, but you are stubborn and unyielding. So, you and your father will be imprisoned together."
After saying that, he gave a wink, and two guards with swords walked towards Wen Kehao.
Wen Kehao's face turned bright red as he knelt on the ground, saying, "Your Majesty, I am foolish and ignorant, please speak plainly."
The emperor waved his hand, and the two guards with swords withdrew again.
"The matter of Prince Anshun's rebellion was reported by his own officials, and the evidence is conclusive. However, there are some muddle-headed old ministers among the officials in the capital who trust Prince Anshun to the extreme. If Prince Anshun's son were to take the initiative to accuse his father and produce evidence, they would surely be convinced." The Emperor's eyes flashed with a cold light, and the corners of his lips curled up in a smile that was not quite a smile.
Wen Kehao looked shocked, and only then did he understand.
No wonder people often say that serving a ruler is like serving a tiger.
The so-called memorials and accusations from officials were likely orchestrated by this very emperor. Not content with that, he now instigated him to falsely accuse his father, determined to put his father to death.
My father did not rebel; it's just that the war with the Blue Feather Kingdom has ended, and my father still holds military power, which makes the Emperor overly wary.
He harbored murderous intent.
At this point, any explanation or self-justification is useless. Whether my father betrayed the country or not is not important; what matters is that this is what the emperor thinks.
Wen Kehao's tone was sincere, almost pleading.
“Your Majesty, after my father returns to the capital, I will persuade him to relinquish his military power. The Prince of Anshun’s family can forgo rewards and titles, and even go to their fiefdom and never return to the capital. I hope Your Majesty will consider my father’s more than ten years of service to the country and spare the Prince of Anshun’s family’s life.”
"Insolence!" the Emperor shouted sternly. "I am showing you the way, not telling you how to do things! Prince Anshun is warlike by nature. On the surface, he is for the country and the people, but I don't know what he is thinking in private! I have heard that he is very popular in the army. Even if I take back his military power, how can I take away his prestige and support in the army?"
He could only feel at ease if Anshun King died or was imprisoned by his side for life.
When the Emperor was alive, he valued Prince Anshun more than him. In recent years, more and more people in the city, and even officials, have trusted and supported Prince Anshun.
Some ignorant commoners even privately speculated that his empire was conquered by the Prince of Anshun.
How could he not hate this, how could he rest easy?
Previously, the war in Lanyu Kingdom was inseparable from King Anshun. Now that the predicament of Lanyu Kingdom has been resolved, there is no longer anyone who can pose any threat to him.
Originally, these matters could have been handled by Eunuch Wan, but unfortunately, Eunuch Wan died young due to his lustful nature. Although there were many subordinates, none of them could be used as satisfactorily as Eunuch Wan.
Therefore, he had to personally handle these acts of fratricide and forcing people into traps.
The Emperor's gaze was calm, yet an invisible authority pressed down on Wen Kehao. It was as if he didn't want to say anything more, giving Wen Kehao one last chance.
"Have you thought it through? Either you die with everyone from the Prince of Anshun's mansion, or they die and you live."
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