Chapter 138 Chaos in the North
While the princess's household was filled with happiness, naturally some people were not.
For example, the Prince Rui's Mansion in the Northern Territory.
Prince Rui felt as if his heart was being torn apart; in just a short moment, he felt as if he had aged more than ten years.
Because his youngest son was poisoned to death.
Xiao Xin was his favorite youngest son. He was highly skilled in martial arts and physically strong from a young age, a natural-born martial artist.
When he grew up, he led the army into battle and never suffered a defeat.
He was very satisfied and at ease, and entrusted the palace guards to him.
But now, her youngest son lies stiffly in front of her, without breathing or body temperature.
Prince Rui held his son's body and wept bitterly.
The second son, Xiao Yi, came upon hearing the news.
Xiao Xin and Xiao Yi were born to the same mother; they shared the same father and mother.
Looking at his younger brother's corpse and his father's pain in the main hall, blood rushed to his head instantly.
He reached out and drew the guard's sword, his face contorted with rage, and prepared to go find Xiao Ren.
Upon seeing this, the guards at the door quickly stopped Xiao Yi.
"Second Master, Second Master, don't be impulsive."
Fifth Prince is gone, and His Highness is heartbroken. If you act impulsively again and something goes wrong, what will His Highness do?
As the two were struggling, the concubines from the backyard arrived.
Prince Rui's first wife had already passed away, and her only son was the heir apparent, Xiao Ren.
The current second wife is Xiao Yi's mother, formerly a concubine.
After entering, he quickly grabbed Xiao Yi.
“My son, don’t be impulsive. Your father will decide everything.”
Xiao Yi's rationality gradually returned when he saw his mother.
"Mother, my fifth brother..."
As he spoke, tears welled up in Xiao Yi's eyes and streamed down his face.
The princess was also in tears.
The two embraced each other and helped each other to Xiao Xin's body.
The princess, seeing her youngest son's bruised face, collapsed to her knees, her legs giving way, and cried out in anguish:
"My son..."
Anyone with eyes could see that Xiao Xin had been poisoned.
The princess and Xiao Yi knelt beside the corpse, weeping uncontrollably.
The two concubines who followed later, seeing the situation in the main hall, dared not say a word.
She simply came forward, knelt beside him, and stammered, trying to persuade Prince Rui to cheer up.
Prince Rui cried for a long time before being helped up by his two concubines.
After a long pause, he finally spoke: "Guards, summon the Crown Prince for questioning."
When Xiao Ren arrived, Xiao Yi had gradually calmed down.
The princess cried so hard she fainted and had to be helped away.
In the main hall, Xiao Xin's body was covered with a white cloth, but his face was exposed.
Xiao Ren calmly walked into the main hall and bowed to Prince Rui.
He then glanced at Xiao Xin's corpse on the ground, his expression unchanged.
"Your Highness, last night the Fifth Prince went to your place for a banquet, but upon returning to his room, he succumbed to poison and died. What do you have to say about that?"
Xiao Xin said calmly, "I had already heard about my fifth brother's situation before I came. Father, please accept my condolences."
Seeing his composure, Xiao Yi probably thought he was truly innocent.
Upon hearing this, Prince Rui flew into a rage: "You unfilial son, what exactly do you want to do?"
"I'm not even dead yet, and you've already started killing your own brothers. Are you planning to use me next?"
Xiao Ren sneered upon hearing this: "Father, you favor them so much, where do you place me?"
Now that my fifth brother is dead, you're accusing me of killing him without even asking any questions.
What am I to you?
Father, I am the crown prince... I am also your son..."
Upon hearing this, Prince Rui flew into a rage and shouted, "You are my son, but you are also the heir apparent of this northern border. What more could you possibly want?"
“This northern border originally belonged to me, but now they are entitled to share the fiefdom with me. How can I accept this?”
You dote on your young son and take him everywhere you go, so most of the soldiers obey your every command.
Have you considered my situation?
Xiao Ren roared, venting all his pent-up frustrations.
"So, you killed your fifth brother?"
Xiao Yi asked in a trembling voice from the side.
"Yes, so what if I killed him?"
With red eyes, Xiao Ren roared at Xiao Yi.
"He didn't know what was good for him, he brought it on himself."
If he hadn't brought the men I sent out to my father, I wouldn't have been flogged and ridiculed.
I tried to win him over, but he said he only listens to his father and you.
"I am the heir apparent, I am the eldest brother, he doesn't respect me at all."
Xiao Yi could no longer contain his anger. He stepped forward, grabbed Xiao Ren by the collar, and asked:
Do you even deserve it?
As the eldest brother, do you have feelings for your brothers?
As the crown prince, are you loyal to your subordinates?
As a son, are you respectful and filial to your father?
You are not worthy of being human...
As Xiao Yi spoke, he punched him hard in the chest.
Xiao Ren was knocked to the ground by his punch.
He immediately clutched his chest and cried out to Prince Rui.
“Father, look at him. He dares to treat me like this even in front of you. He doesn’t respect me at all.”
Prince Rui grabbed the scroll beside him and threw it at Xiao Ren.
"Shut up, you unfilial son..."
Xiao Yi knelt on the ground and begged Prince Rui to severely punish Xiao Ren.
Prince Rui's hands trembled, and he was panting heavily, as if he was about to faint at any moment.
After trembling for a long time, he slowly opened his mouth and said:
"Young Master Xiao Ren is wicked and incompetent; he has harmed his brothers, causing them to turn against each other..."
From this day forward, the title of Heir Apparent is hereby revoked, and the prince is imprisoned in a separate courtyard within the Prince's residence, with no possibility of release without imperial decree.
Xiao Yi, his eyes red, said, "Father, this punishment is too lenient. Why can't he pay for my fifth brother's life?"
Prince Rui glared at him and roared, "Shut up!"
"I have already lost one son, do you want me to lose another?"
Looking at Prince Rui's red, tear-filled eyes, Xiao Yi was instantly speechless.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year in the Northern Territory, a young war god died.
When the news reached the emperor's ears, he was quite pleased.
The emperor looked at the note in his hand and asked, "How is the eldest prince doing?"
The Crown Prince sighed beside him: "He manufactures weapons and colludes with the Western Regions border troops. The Duke of Xing has ignored him, but he seems to be contacting other deputy generals."
Upon hearing this, the emperor's expression gradually darkened.
"Hasn't that northern spy in the palace been found yet?"
The prince shook his head.
"We can't afford to lose this person. Although the North is in chaos right now, its foundation hasn't been damaged."
If they were to launch a large-scale invasion, it would likely be a protracted war.
After hearing the emperor's words, the crown prince asked, "How are the men we sent to the northern border?"
"Everything went smoothly, otherwise the North would not be in such a chaotic state now."
The emperor assigned several people to each of the young men in Prince Rui's mansion, mainly to sow discord among the brothers.
It appears to be quite effective so far.
But the heart of an emperor always desires to possess the whole world.
The situation in the North had troubled him for years, although things had changed somewhat.
But I'll never feel at ease until I can truly have it in my possession.
"How is the Crown Prince's communication with the Northern Border going?"
The emperor asked again.
“Father, my elder brother has been operating in the Northern Territory for many years, but his men disappear as soon as they enter the territory.”
Our men are completely unable to operate freely in the North.
All we know so far is that he contacted the North about six times, but he was never able to follow them.
They all disappeared after entering the North.
The Crown Prince was quite troubled by this.
The emperor remained silent for a long time, then sighed and waved for the crown prince to leave.
The Crown Prince bowed respectfully and took his leave.
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