Chapter 309 Refusal
Upon seeing the Crown Prince appear, the messenger announced loudly, "The imperial edict has arrived! Your Highness, receive the edict!"
The solemn expression on the messenger's face made the Crown Prince's heart sink, and he slowly knelt down: "Your subject receives the decree."
The imperial messenger unfurled the bright yellow edict: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: ...Crown Prince Lang, being the eldest son of the legitimate heir, is of high regard to me. However, I have recently observed his conduct and discovered that he harbors treacherous intentions and has cursed me... How can I, a father, risk the fate of the nation? The bond between father and son is severed from this day forward! I hereby order that the rebellious son Lang be given a cup of poisoned wine to uphold the moral order... So be it."
After the official read the imperial decree aloud, the scene fell into a deathly silence.
The bond between father and son is severed from this day forward—the words from the imperial edict echoed in the Crown Prince's ears, over and over again, as if the sharpest knife were repeatedly tearing at his heart.
"Your Highness, please accept the imperial decree."
The bright yellow imperial edict was handed to the kneeling person to receive it.
The prince stared intently at the ground, a single tear falling silently onto the floor tile.
"Your Highness?"
The crown prince slowly raised his head, looked at the messenger urging him on, and then at the eunuch carrying a tray behind him.
A glass of wine sat quietly on the tray, its surface gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
A profound sense of absurdity enveloped the prince.
After a few days of peace, the sudden arrival of the imperial messenger gave him a premonition that it wouldn't be good, but he never imagined it would be this bad.
Is a cup of poison the end for him, who has been the crown prince for more than ten years?
Unwilling, confused, and resentful... The crown prince clenched his fists tightly, his eyes gradually filled with despair.
What does it matter how much resentment and anger they feel? They are father and son, but more importantly, they are ruler and subject. If the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die.
"Your subject—" The Crown Prince wanted to raise his hand to receive the imperial edict, but it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and he couldn't bring himself to say the words "receive the edict."
"Your Highness, are you not going to accept the imperial decree?" The messenger's voice was already tinged with impatience.
The prince's pale lips trembled, his back seemed to be bent by invisible shackles, he was dejected and desperate, and slowly raised his hand. Just as his fingers were about to touch the imperial edict, he suddenly remembered what Xue Han had secretly passed in earlier.
No matter what the situation, Your Highness must protect yourself.
The finger seemed to touch a flame and abruptly withdrew.
The messenger was taken aback: "Your Highness the Crown Prince?"
The crown prince glanced at him with reddened eyes, and then slowly stood up.
The messenger's face suddenly darkened, and he lost all politeness: "What does Your Highness mean by this? Are you perhaps going to disobey the imperial decree?"
The Crown Prince straightened his body, like a green bamboo that still stands tall after being weighed down by wind and snow: "I wish to see my father."
Even if he couldn't escape death, he wanted to die knowing why, rather than drinking poison in a cowardly manner, filled with confusion and resentment.
"Your Highness, His Majesty does not wish to see you. Your Highness should accept the imperial decree and proceed with your journey."
The Crown Prince said, word by word, "I wish to see my father, the Emperor."
The messenger's tone grew increasingly cold and hard: "Does the Crown Prince intend to defy the imperial decree?"
The Crown Prince glanced at the imperial edict being held up by the messenger and said indifferently, "I do not believe that my father would issue such an edict."
Even if it's true, I still need to ask him in person.
The messenger's face turned ashen: "Your Highness suspects me of falsely conveying an imperial edict?"
Why not?
The Crown Prince's question not only shocked the messenger and his party, but also everyone in the Eastern Palace.
Is this still the gentle and obedient Crown Prince?
"His Highness the Crown Prince is unwilling to die and actually refuses to acknowledge the imperial edict. This is treason and rebellion."
“I did not disobey the imperial decree. I just do not believe that the imperial decree is real, so I am going to see my father.”
"Since Your Highness has doubts, please accept the imperial edict and see for yourself whether it is genuine or not."
Faced with the official's aggressive questioning, the Crown Prince became even more determined: "I want to hear what my father says himself."
"It seems His Highness is determined to defy the imperial decree. In that case, we officials have no choice but to offend him, otherwise we will not be able to report back to His Majesty." The official delivering the decree raised his hand to indicate.
The eunuch picked up the poisoned wine and approached the crown prince.
The crown prince took a step back.
Two imperial guards stepped forward, one on each side, to hold down the crown prince.
"Insolence! You intend to force me?"
The messenger shook his head: "Your Highness, I cannot accept such words. We are merely following orders. We are here to escort the Crown Prince on his journey!"
The imperial guards who were trying to restrain him, and the eunuchs approaching with poisoned wine...
The last thread of the Crown Prince's power, which had bound him with imperial and paternal authority, snapped.
"Stop them!"
The palace guards stood in front of the crown prince.
"To defy an imperial edict by force is a crime of treason. Have you thought about your parents, wives, and children?" the official delivering the edict said sternly.
Upon hearing this, the people in the Eastern Palace exchanged glances, some showing signs of wavering, but the guards protecting the Crown Prince did not retreat.
The Crown Prince, now risking everything, displayed a toughness he rarely showed: "I'll say it again: I will not drink this poisoned wine until I see my father. You either get out of my way, or you can raze the Eastern Palace to the ground."
The messenger's face was extremely grim.
I thought it wouldn't be difficult, but I never expected the Crown Prince to have the audacity to defy the imperial decree.
"Since Your Highness is like this, please don't blame me for being disrespectful."
"How will you be disrespectful?" A voice as cold as frost came from behind.
The messenger turned around abruptly and saw a young man in purple robes staring at him expressionlessly.
Imperial Envoy Xue Han!
Behind Xue Han were dozens of imperial guards.
After his initial surprise, the messenger preemptively asked, "Xue Han, what is your intention in forcing your way into the Eastern Palace with so many armed imperial guards?"
A hand reached out and grabbed his collar, pulling him sharply towards him.
"Xue Han, what are you doing—"
With a slap, Xue Han slapped the messenger's mouth with his other free hand.
"Waaah—" The messenger, his mouth gagged, struggled desperately, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Even though the Imperial City Guard is responsible for protecting the Imperial City, they cannot bring people into the Imperial Palace without the Emperor's permission.
Without any explanation, they simply shut him up. How dare Xue Han do such a thing!
"Hu Si," Xue Han called out.
Having followed Xue Han for many years, Hu Si had developed a tacit understanding with him. He immediately took out a handkerchief and stuffed it into the messenger's mouth the moment Xue Han let go of his hand.
The grown man's sweat towel, which hadn't been washed for several days, reeked of sweat. The messenger rolled his eyes and nearly fainted.
Xue Han bent down to pick up the imperial edict that had fallen from the messenger's hand. After glancing at it, he stuffed it into his robes. His gaze swept coldly over the eunuchs and guards who had come with the messenger, and he said without hesitation, "Take them all away and escort them to the Imperial City Guard."
The messenger's eyes were wide open, and he made a loud whimpering sound, but the sweat towel smelled really bad. After a few more whimpers, his face twitched and he was about to faint again.
Is Xue Han crazy? How dare he be so direct and brutal?
"You're too noisy." Xue Han glanced at the messenger with disdain and kicked him toward Hu Si. "Just lock him up, don't kill him."
Hu Si, carrying the unconscious messenger in one hand, shook his head.
The adults are clearly in a bad mood, and this idiot still won't shut up.
Xue Han approached the Crown Prince and bowed respectfully, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"Lord Xue, there's no need for such formalities." The Crown Prince's eyes held both surprise and worry, but he was quickly stunned by the news Xue Han brought.
"Your Highness, the Emperor has passed away."
(End of this chapter)
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