The eldest son had served as crown prince for five years, and even though his position was not very secure, he still cultivated a calm and composed demeanor befitting a ruler. The way he charged in with his sword at this moment was a far cry from his previous cowardice, and he even resembled Wu Xian in his youth.
Faced with Wu Xian's stern questioning, the eldest son's expression remained unchanged, though a few traces of disappointment flickered in his eyes, which were then quickly replaced by mockery. He raised his free hand, his palm covered in half-dried blood and, upon closer inspection, even strands of hair.
This suggests that the hand had recently grabbed someone's hair.
Or perhaps—
Wu Xian's gaze fell on the blood-stained sword.
He silently added a sentence in his mind.
Whose head did this bastard take?
Suddenly, Wu Xian felt a strange unease.
The eldest son threw the sword to his feet, utterly disappointed: "Father, do you think I came here to kill you? I really want to cut open your heart with my own hands, peel back the flesh and see just how biased your heart is!"
This question had been on his mind for many years.
In the past, fearing his father's authority and hampered by his own timid nature, he dared only keep this question to himself, occasionally crying in the middle of the night, his head soaked with tears. His biological father disliked him, his biological mother didn't love him; if these two hated him so much, why did they bring him into the world in the first place? And if they did bring him into the world, why did they force him to a height he couldn't control, placing such high expectations on him?
The burden of these things alone caused him to feel emotionally overwhelmed and break down.
Actually, before his younger brother showed his talent, his life wasn't so difficult. His father was also loving, strict yet gentle, and would hold his childish hand to teach him to draw a bow and arrow. Even though his archery skills were terrible and his progress was slow, his father not only didn't say anything harsh but also comforted him, saying that the future leader of the Wu family only needed to know how to recognize and use people. In the future, there would naturally be skilled archers to defeat enemies or prey for him, skilled strategists to plan his future, and skilled chess players to plan the overall situation for him. He only needed to learn how to use people.
His identity as Wu Xian's son is his greatest source of confidence.
The children's anxiety was soothed by these comments.
Until the second brother picked up a bow and arrow for the first time and hit the target, and the second time he hit the bullseye, his outstanding talent gradually attracted his father's attention. At first, the father would hold the hands of the two brothers and patiently tell him to take care of his younger brother, and turn to tell the younger brother to respect his older brother. At that time, the younger brother's fair and round face was full of seriousness and admiration, and he nodded emphatically to remember.
The son will always be his elder brother's right-hand man.
Wu Xian was amused by his youngest son's simple and innocent answer, and in a moment of excitement, he picked him up and placed him on his shoulder, though his second son instinctively had to hold onto Wu Xian's head to stay upright. Wu Xian said with satisfaction, "Good, good, good! Brotherly love and respect are the way to prosper a family and clan. As your father, I will clear all obstacles for you brothers and bring great prosperity to the Wu family!"
The eldest son pursed his lips shyly, looking up at his tall younger brother, his heart overflowing with envy. He also wanted to be held on his father's shoulders—his father's shoulders were broad and strong; he wondered what it would feel like to sit on them? How would the view be different from usual? He opened his mouth, but his father had already carried his younger brother and strode forward, so he could only hurry to follow.
This wish was never fulfilled.
Children are most sensitive to emotions.
Even though he was of mediocre talent, he gradually felt the attention that had been focused on him shifting to his second brother.
The eldest son admonished himself not to be jealous of his brothers.
As an older brother, you should set a good example for your younger siblings.
He had always been so patient and restrained, yet he also envied his second brother.
They envied their second brother's open-mindedness and unrestrained nature, his ability to get along with everyone regardless of social status, and his willingness to act chivalrously without any worries. Outsiders said that the second young master inherited his father's style, and even his father's confidants thought so.
As the second brother grew up, his brilliance shone even brighter.
He was favored by his father, doted on by his mother, and especially loved by his trusted retainers.
He was so overwhelmed by this brilliance that he couldn't lift his head. No one could see his efforts, his embarrassment, and his bitterness. They would only shake their heads in disappointment or cast pity on him, leaving him riddled with wounds.
The eldest son pointed at Wu Xian's nose with his blood-stained fingers.
The stench of blood rushed into Wu Xian's nostrils.
He frowned in disgust: "Is that what you think?"
The eldest son was deeply affected by those four words, exhaling breaths of stale air, his facial features contorting and twitching with his changing emotions.
"You actually ask me what I think?" The eldest son's voice trembled slightly, his cheek muscles twitched uncontrollably, and his eyes were bloodshot as he said, "It's not what I think, it's what you do! I even think that it would be better if my second brother didn't exist in this world!"
"If it weren't for such an outstanding second brother..."
"...Perhaps I wouldn't be in such an awkward situation."
"...Or perhaps, I wasn't born the eldest son, but the second son, and your eldest son was your second brother, the one you were most satisfied with. Would you then not treat me this way?" In the empty and cold inner palace, the eldest son poured out his heart, which had been buried for many years. Like a volcano that had been suppressed for many years finally finding an outlet, he roared hoarsely, "Wu Zhaode! I've really had enough all these years! Enough! I've fucking had enough! Do you even consider me your son?!"
"Do you even consider me a human being?!"
He had both palms facing him.
"I am a human being!"
"I am a human being! I am a human being! I am a human being!"
"I'm not your pet dog!"
"To come when summoned, and to leave when dismissed?"
Am I that despicable in your eyes?
"Hahahaha, but apart from my second brother, which of your sons and daughters aren't your dogs? You're so biased! How biased are you! Wu Zhaode, if you're so dissatisfied with me, why don't you kill me? Why don't you kill me? Why! You've even killed several of your own brothers, and the rest you've suppressed for so many years! You pretend to be a benevolent father like your ancestors!"
"Brotherly love and respect? How dare you say such a thing?"
"How could your grandfather have given you such a wonderful name back then, Xiande, hahaha, but your surname is Wu! Wu Xian, Wu Xian, Wu Zhaode, this name—it's really too brilliant!" The eldest son laughed shrilly, tears streaming down his face.
He then clapped with all his might as he spoke.
The clapping sounds seemed to land directly on Wu Xian's face, turning his complexion from green to red, and then from red to black.
It wasn't that no one had ever made fun of his name before, but without exception, Wu Xian retaliated. Afterwards, he rose to prominence, and those words never dared to reach his ears again. Now, hearing them from his son's mouth, he was so angry his chest ached, he almost vomited blood, and he gritted his teeth, warning, "Are you out of your mind!"
The eldest son's maniacal laughter abruptly stopped.
The clapping stopped as well.
The side hall fell silent instantly; you could hear a pin drop.
Wu Xian stared directly into his eldest son's bloodshot eyes. The father and son locked in a stubborn gaze, neither willing to back down. Then the eldest son grinned, revealing a set of white teeth in a chilling smile. But what followed was even more terrifying: he raised his blood-stained hand.
He asked with a smile, "Father, do you know whose blood this is?"
Wu Xian's heart skipped a beat: "Whose?"
He smiled brightly: "Don't panic. I guess you're probably guessing that this blood is my second brother's, right? No, I've been taught since I was little that the eldest brother is like a father, and that brothers should be kind and respectful to each other. How could I disobey my father and kill my own brother?"
Wu Xian breathed a sigh of relief.
Previously, both sons had simultaneously forced the emperor to resign.
Or, to put it another way, one was forcing the emperor to abdicate, and the other was "rescuing the emperor."
Wu Xian received the news a step ahead of time.
He was shocked and furious, never expecting those two brats to have such thoughts, to commit such a beastly act of disregarding their sovereign! Wu Xian, who was able to firmly hold his position as the ruler of Gao Kingdom, naturally couldn't be overthrown by those two brats. However, man proposes, God disposes, and Wu Xian still fell into their trap.
However, he was released after being under house arrest for two days.
Wu Xian wasn't in a hurry; he wanted to take this opportunity to purge the hidden dangers within the court. Looking at the officials who were usually so respectful, how many of them harbored ulterior motives and were outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant? In the end, Wu Xian only received his eldest son.
He calmly asked, "Whose blood is that?"
The eldest son looked down at his palm and uttered an answer that sent chills down the spine: "This blood is from your wife, my dear mother. She was willing to kill me with her own hands for my second brother's sake!"
With a tearing sound, the eldest son ripped open his clothes, revealing a long, bleeding wound below his heart. The wound wasn't deep, but it was quite long. His earlier emotional outburst had caused the wound to reopen, and fresh blood continued to flow.
"Look, she stabbed here."
"...But I am also her son!" The eldest son covered his face with his hands and wept bitterly, his shoulders trembling. He said with great grievance, "I am also a piece of flesh that she carried for ten months and fell from her body! How can she assume such things about me! Wu Zhaode, my mother is dead! I have no mother!"
This woman, who had hated him for years, bluntly told him to go die!
Not only did they talk about it, they also killed him!
He felt he was truly going to die from that sword!
But when he came to his senses, the one who had been pierced through the heart by a sword was now her. Disbelief still lingered on her face. She glanced down at the sword's edge in her chest, too weak to even utter a final word, and died in her second brother's arms. Her second brother, holding her body, looked up to the sky and wept bitterly, roaring and venting his grief like a small animal that had lost its beloved. Her eyes were bloodshot, staring at him with a fierce rage, and she spat out a mouthful of blood.
You killed her!
You killed her!
Two roars jolted the eldest son awake, as if he were waking from a long, chaotic nightmare. However, he was now sluggish, unable to feel the suffocating grief and despair of the nightmare. He said calmly, "Wasn't she accidentally killed by you? Good second brother?"
The eldest son grabbed the other man by the collar and lifted him up.
He leaned close to her ear, and it sounded like a demon whispering.
"...To kill your own mother is an unforgivable crime! Second brother, do you still have a chance with the throne? I will publicize what you've done and ruin your reputation! However, you need not be afraid. As your elder brother, I will treat you well! I will arrange a courtyard for you to live in, where you can raise your wives, concubines, and children. I will also make a divination tube with thousands of divination sticks, only one of which is marked 'death.' You will draw one at random times each day. As long as you don't draw the death stick, I will cherish your family for the rest of your life, protecting them from all hardship."
As long as I live for my brother, I will protect you.
Second brother, what do you think of this arrangement?
Before his second brother could answer, he himself smiled, his eyes crinkling: "The 'Thief Star's Words of Power' tells a story about the Yang family of Southern Wu. Second brother, you are very learned; have you ever heard of them?"
The second brother's heart blazed with resentment. He stared in disbelief at the stranger before him; the familiar, kind demeanor was gone, replaced by a chilling malice, more repulsive than the sludge of a sewer: "It's all about the victors and the vanquished. How can you be so heartless?"
He knew he was unlikely to survive.
But I never expected my elder brother to be so ruthless.
The eldest son hadn't lied to Wu Xian; he hadn't killed his second brother. He had simply watched helplessly as his brother committed suicide with his sword in front of him, blood soaking his clothes. Looking at the two corpses—his second brother curled up in the woman's arms—tears streamed down his face. He threw down his sword and buried his face in his hands.
[Pull them apart—]
Why should they? Pull them apart!
He fled the dungeon as if escaping, heading straight for Wu Xian's side hall.
On the way, he was stopped by his trusted advisor, who looked serious.
His teeth seemed to be chattering: "Your Highness—"
He stopped him, saying, "You can't go!"
The eldest son remained silent, lifting his eyelids to stare at the other man for a long time, but the other man showed no sign of letting go. The strategist said, "Your Highness, I just arrived and noticed patrols in the courtyard..."
The eldest son calmly retorted: "Is there a problem?"
The strategist was taken aback: "Since Your Highness already knew—"
We should absolutely not alert them!
Before the enemy realizes they've been discovered, they must immediately leave the capital and head to the crown prince's fiefdom to gather troops for self-defense and launch a counterattack on the capital. If they're too late, it's all over!
The eldest son, however, showed a peaceful smile.
His smile was tinged with bitterness: "I don't know. You know how incompetent and mediocre I am, but I know that for my father to have reached this point, it wouldn't be surprising what kind of backup plan he had. The fact that you're stopping me means you've discovered something. You should escape yourself..."
The strategist gripped his wrist tightly: "Your Highness!"
The eldest son added, "I know you have powerful backers."
The strategist's expression remained unchanged, but his breathing nearly stopped.
The eldest son, dejected: [It's not that you slipped up somewhere; I never knew. But honestly, I ask myself, how could someone as hopeless and cowardly as me possibly keep you, sir? I've thought and thought, but I can't find an answer, I can't find any redeeming qualities. What do you gain by following such a lord whom everyone despises? Sir, unless you have someone backing you… I can't think of any other answer.]
Her tone was helpless, innocent, and pitiful; she seemed on the verge of breaking.
The strategist finally loosened his sleeve.
With a sigh: "Your Highness, this humble subject never intended to harm you."
The eldest son's smile was more like a grimace: "I know that over the years, every decision you made, sir, has never harmed me. If it weren't for your protection, I would have been unable to withstand all those open and covert attacks long ago."
The strategist before him seemed more like a gentle father than Wu Xian.
They gave him the little warmth he had.
But even the best relationships are fraught with betrayal and scheming.
The eldest son said, "Sir, you should leave as soon as possible..."
The strategist lowered his voice: "You might not come back!"
The eldest son looked somewhat dazed.
Then, she lowered her eyes and smiled bitterly: "No, sir, you're mistaken."
He finished speaking and said no more.
Since he couldn't get the people he cared about to get closer to him no matter how hard he tried his whole life, he decided to make everyone come to him!
His decision not to purge his advisors does not mean he is indifferent to betrayal.
Since Wu Xian planned to take advantage of the fact that both Bei Mo and Kang Guo were exhausted before making his move and cleaning up the mess with swift and decisive measures, how could he, as a son, not cooperate? He was now looking forward to seeing what his father's face would look like when he learned about the situation at the border.
It's a pity I won't be able to see it.
Even those as insignificant as ants possess the will to resist!
The eldest son looked at the tightly closed side hall door and sighed inwardly. He took a deep breath and kicked the door open.
Carrying a blood-stained sword, he stepped into the hall.
()
Sigh, what I can't understand the most is that my mom makes rice cakes every year during the Lunar New Year. She buys dozens or even hundreds of kilograms of rice to make rice cakes, then soaks them in water. After a long time, the smell becomes unbearable in the spring and summer, and we still have to eat them... and then she does it again the following year.
It's time to start making rice cakes again this year.
I couldn't take it anymore, so I bought some resealable plastic bags. Hopefully, I won't have to eat rice cakes that have been soaking in water for months this year...
P.S.: The fate of the Yang royal family of Southern Wu was truly tragic...
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