Chapter 365: Emperor's Death
The prince sneered and waved his hand to let the eunuchs in the palace retreat.
"You're hiding a wanted criminal. I haven't even punished you yet, but you're asking me for someone else's life."
"I'm afraid my crime, combined with Sun Wei's, is not as serious as the Crown Prince's."
"What do you mean?"
Sima Jun said, "I finally understand why the Crown Prince wouldn't let anyone into the Xianyang Palace. When His Majesty regained consciousness, he said he fell ill because of a bowl of lotus seed soup. And that bowl of lotus seed soup was brought to him personally by the Crown Prince."
The Crown Prince's expression already gave the answer, but his tone was relaxed: "Did Father say this, or did you make it up?"
"It was said by His Majesty himself."
"Father has been taking those elixirs for years, and his mind has long been unclear. You don't have to believe what he says."
"Your Majesty was very clear-headed when he said that," Sima Jun said. "Your Majesty, I'm deeply saddened. The throne will belong to you sooner or later. Why are you so anxious?"
"Sad?" The prince laughed. "Father lives a life of luxury, preoccupied with that costly Chengluo Terrace. How could he know what sadness is? Does he know what kind of life I've been leading these years? As the crown prince, I've been dependent on others for everything. I don't want to live a day like this again. But he refuses to abdicate. What can I do?"
"So the Crown Prince poisoned His Majesty? His Majesty is the Crown Prince's biological father."
"He likes to cultivate immortality. If I help him ascend to heaven, isn't that filial piety? This is my filial piety."
"Really?"
These words were not said by Sima Jun, but by the emperor lying on the bed.
The prince was startled and looked again, only to find that the emperor had opened his eyes without him noticing.
The emperor said hoarsely, "I was just guessing, but I didn't expect it to be true."
The prince looked uncertain and knelt down quickly.
The emperor just looked at the prince calmly, with a hint of pity in his eyes.
He struggled to sit up, and Sima Jun quickly supported him.
The emperor took a breath and beckoned, "Prince, come forward."
The prince was a little afraid, but he had to obey the order and kneel in front of the bed.
The emperor slapped the prince in the face without warning.
The prince knew that he was in the wrong, so he kept silent and lowered his head.
The emperor used all his strength to deliver this slap.
He panted and put his hands on the prince's shoulders, saying in a deep voice: "I have beaten you, and I don't blame you."
The prince looked at the emperor in disbelief.
"You have worked hard." said the emperor.
The prince's eyes instantly turned red.
"Father..." he choked.
"You want the throne, I'll give it to you, and you can do whatever you want in the future."
The prince looked delighted.
"But you have to promise me one thing."
"What is it? Father, please tell me."
"Let Ah Jun go back to Jiangzhou, and release his men as well. Don't bother him any further."
The Crown Prince said with a guilty conscience, "Ziheng is the Prince of Yuzhang, so he must return to Jiangzhou. As for his men, does your Majesty know who they are?"
"I grant amnesty today. No one's sins will be counted. If you insist, I know why you need to keep that man. You are my son."
Although the emperor was very tired, his eyes were particularly sharp.
"Promise me." The emperor said in a low voice.
"Yes." The prince whispered.
"Ajun." The emperor called again.
"I am here."
"Forget about the lotus seed soup. Don't mention it again."
Sima Jun looked at his pale face, and after a moment, he responded.
The emperor felt relieved after hearing this.
"Who's waiting outside now?" the emperor asked. "Wang Pushe?"
"Your Majesty," the Crown Prince said, "Wang Pushe has gone to Guangzhou and is not in the capital now."
The emperor looked at the prince with a deep look in his eyes.
"Ajun, please tell all officials above the third rank to come into the palace and be summoned."
Sima Jun obeyed the order and withdrew, leaving only the prince in the hall.
"The Crown Prince is more determined than I am. The Imperial Family has been shackled for years. If the Crown Prince can be removed, it will be a great blessing. However, the Crown Prince needs a lot of help and must not let his own people down."
The prince knew exactly who the emperor was referring to as his own people.
"Why does the Emperor favor Ziheng? If he becomes powerful, he will be another shackle."
The emperor was a little tired and said softly, "Prince, you must not kill your brothers."
The Crown Prince was quite dissatisfied: "Brothers killing each other? When did the royal family avoid this taboo? Has your father forgotten the death of Crown Prince Huaixian? Has your father forgotten where the throne came from?"
"Of course I can't forget it, that's why I'm obsessed with cultivating immortality and don't want to be the emperor." The emperor smiled bitterly, "Just give me a quick death, so I don't have to suffer from this anymore."
The emperor patted him on the shoulder and said, "I have no choice. You must not take this path on your own."
The emperor just said a few words, as if it was a last burst of energy. After he finished speaking, he fell asleep again.
A huge crowd of people knelt in the hall.
The Zongzheng asked a doctor to give the emperor acupuncture, and the emperor slowly regained consciousness.
But by then, he could no longer speak. After the Imperial Secretariat read out the imperial edict, passing the throne to the crown prince, the emperor closed his eyes forever.
——
There was a sound of weeping in Xianyang Palace. A great king had passed away, but the prince felt that everything had just begun.
"Please move to the Taiji Hall," the Crown Prince ordered. "I have something important to discuss with you."
The crying gradually faded and turned into a flurry of discussions.
The Zongzheng replied, "Your Highness, the late emperor's body is still warm, so the funeral should be given priority. All other matters at court can be put on hold for the time being."
"Then please ask the Zongzheng and the imperial clan to stay and discuss funeral arrangements with the officials. The rest of the officials, follow me to the Taiji Hall."
His words were powerful and could not be rejected.
Glancing at Sima Jun, the Crown Prince said, "Ziheng, you come too."
Sima Jun remained unmoved: "Prince, please obey the late emperor's wishes."
"Follow me, and I will obey."
Sima Jun said, "Then I will take my leave."
He said this, bowed, and turned to leave, but the guards outside the door drew their swords and blocked his way.
The sound of the long swords colliding was extremely harsh, and everyone immediately fell silent.
"Ziheng, are you going to force me to take action in front of the late emperor?" the prince said coldly.
Sima Jun turned around and looked at him.
The prince slowly walked up to him and looked at him.
"Now, I am the new king," the prince said with a proud look, "no matter who it is, I decide life and death."
After he said that, he strode towards the Taiji Hall.
The ministers were discussing the matter, and the hall was filled with anxiety.
Without Wang Hao, it seems like the group is leaderless, and even those who say no have lost their confidence.
As soon as the ministers entered the Taiji Hall, the doors were shut. From outside, the sound of heavy armor treading on the jade steps could be heard; the hall was already surrounded by the imperial guards.
"My dear ministers, there is no need to panic. Today, I have only one matter to discuss." The Crown Prince said, sitting on the throne. "Prince Huaixian's death is fraught with doubts. I have recently ordered Yu Zuojian to investigate. With the three courts present today, why not try the case and finally determine Wang Han's guilt for regicide?"
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