Chapter 169 Heartbreaking
Empress Xu was very clever; by connecting the events before and after, she quickly understood what had happened.
She only realized this afterward, that the people who ambushed her in the outskirts of the capital were sent by the Crown Prince.
Moreover, his father, the prime minister, also had a hand in this.
His father probably didn't know that his grandson was also in the escort team!
Perhaps, the initial intention was simply to help the Crown Prince reverse his disadvantage and, incidentally, solidify the Crown Princess's position...
Therefore, when the Duchess of Qi came to the palace to ask whether the Crown Prince knew that the Heir Apparent was also in the escort team, she immediately denied it.
But the current situation is...
Not only did the crown prince know, but he also intercepted and killed the heir apparent despite knowing this...
This was quite unexpected for Empress Xu.
In Empress Xu's heart, the Crown Prince was kind and good-natured. Although he was sometimes a little petty, he would never make a mistake in important matters.
But now this matter...
Even though Empress Xu was his mother, he still felt a little disheartened.
Is this still the crown prince I personally raised?
Empress Xu tried her best to calm herself down.
The damage is done; all she can do is try to salvage the situation.
Considering Emperor Xiao Jing's recent attitude towards her, Empress Xu was almost certain that he already knew what the Crown Prince had done.
The sun was shining brightly outside, but Empress Xu in the main hall felt cold sweat all over her body.
As the emperor, Emperor Xiao Jing might be able to understand the crown prince's actions.
However, as a father, Emperor Xiao Jing would never approve of the Crown Prince's actions.
Empress Xu felt that everything she had painstakingly built up over the years had vanished...
"Someone, please bring the Crown Prince here."
Empress Xu tried to calm herself down and then sat in the palace waiting for the Crown Prince to arrive.
It wasn't until nearly noon that the Crown Prince hurriedly arrived.
"Mother, if there's anything, just let the palace servants know. These past few days, there have been matters concerning the Ministry of Personnel..."
The crown prince was soon speechless.
Today, Mother is different. She didn't prepare her favorite dishes as usual, nor did she brew tea in advance...
Even the palace servants were sent away.
"Mother... what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Have you called the imperial physician?" the crown prince asked cautiously.
Empress Xu took a deep breath and then looked at the Crown Prince.
"Kneel down!" Empress Xu said calmly.
Crown Prince...
"What did you say, Mother?" The Crown Prince still didn't believe it.
"I'm telling you to kneel down!" Empress Xu continued calmly.
The Crown Prince was shocked. What was wrong with his mother? Why was she making him kneel down?
I am no longer a child under the age of seven.
However, seeing Empress Xu's expressionless face, the Crown Prince reluctantly knelt down.
"You must answer my questions honestly. If you dare not tell the truth, you will no longer be my son," Empress Xu said sternly.
The crown prince was truly terrified this time.
"Mother..."
"I'm asking you, do you know about the matter of the Duke of Qi's heir being in the escort team?" Empress Xu went straight to the point.
The Crown Prince was about to shake his head, but then he thought that since his mother had asked, she must know something.
"Your subject understands," the Crown Prince said softly.
Empress Xu felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart, but she remained calm and composed.
"Very good, you didn't fool me."
Then I'll ask you another question, and you still have to answer me honestly.
"Did you send the people to ambush us in the outskirts of Beijing?"
The crown prince did not dare to answer this time, but simply lowered his head.
Seeing the Crown Prince's reaction, Empress Xu understood everything.
She felt the knife in her heart had gone even deeper.
"So that means you issued the order to intercept and kill the Crown Prince even though you knew he was in the escort team?" Empress Xu asked.
"Mother, it was Grandpa who said that it was because there were our close relatives in the escort team that people wouldn't suspect us."
"Your Majesty... I had no choice!" the Crown Prince said hastily.
Empress Xu's chest ached so much that she felt numb.
Very well, this is her crown prince. Even now, she doesn't forget to bring the prime minister into the mix, another close relative of hers.
"What a desperate measure!"
Your Highness, I ask you, when you were doing these things, did you ever think that the Crown Prince was your cousin?
Have you ever considered that the Crown Prince's mother and your mother are sisters born of the same mother?
"Have you ever considered that he is your maternal grandfather's own grandson?" Empress Xu glared fiercely at the Crown Prince.
The crown prince flinched slightly, then looked up at Empress Xu.
“I know! But Grandpa said that the people who sit in that position are all lonely.”
When there is a need, even family members can be sacrificed.
To get that position, you have to be ruthless.
My cousin is my family, and my concubine's brother is also considered my family.
Sacrificing either one would be painful for me.
"But for that position, I must make a sacrifice," the Crown Prince said solemnly.
Empress Xu was taken aback for a moment, but quickly chuckled twice.
What a prince! Perhaps there's a bit of revenge in his heart too!
Didn't you want to take this opportunity to get rid of the people he values?
Okay, then I'll make you lose someone too, and make you feel heartache!
“Well said! Your grandfather is right. Those who sit in that position are all lonely and ruthless.”
"But the biggest problem now is that you... haven't taken that position yet!" Empress Xu said calmly.
Crown Prince...
"Mother, I was wrong! Please don't be angry! I have no one else but you!" The Crown Prince said, kowtowing.
Empress Xu remained unmoved and continued to talk to the Crown Prince about reality.
"The fact that you didn't get that position means that many of the things you've done, which seem glamorous now, are just superficial."
What do you think your father will think when he finds out what you've done?
Will he think you've done what a crown prince should do?
Or do you believe that you prioritize the overall situation and will definitely be able to govern Chongqing well in the future?
I'm telling you, none of them will!
Your father is sitting in that position now; what he thinks is the most important thing.
He definitely knows what you've been doing.
He will only see that you harmed your cousin, with whom you grew up, for your own selfish gain.
He would think, if you can even harm your own cousin, what about the other princes who don't share your mother?
After he passes away, when you ascend the throne, will those princes suffer the same fate as your cousin?
Your father was indeed an emperor.
But he is also a father.
No emperor wanted to see one thing happen: his children killing each other.
Because history books will record in the future that he failed to properly educate his son…”
Every word Empress Xu spoke made the Crown Prince's heart tremble.
After Empress Xu finished speaking, the Crown Prince was already prostrate on the ground and weeping bitterly.
"Mother, save me!"
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