Just as he was getting angry, someone else rushed in to report that something had happened outside the palace as well.
Not only are there unflattering photos of the old emperor, but also many short stories about what the third prince of the Eastern Court has done outside over the years, as well as what the Eastern Court has done to the Northern Yan.
There are many different opinions among the people, both good and bad. Of course, the main reason is shock. Ordinary people never expected that the struggle between countries would be so intense.
And then there's the Third Prince, who has been contributing to the country for many years and can't be by his parents' side to fulfill his filial duties. Now he's suffering inhuman pain. How can anyone not feel sorry for him?
Yes, He Jiuniang turned the little story about the Third Prince into an inspirational article, saying that although he did evil, it was all for the people of Dongting, which instantly made the story much more meaningful.
Therefore, the public's support for the Third Prince grew stronger with each passing day.
Meanwhile, the old emperor in the palace had just learned that the third prince had lost a finger and was considering abandoning him.
Although he doted on the Third Prince, the prince had become a prisoner, giving the Northern Yan a handle to control the Eastern Court. Now, his fingers had been cut off and he had been fed to dogs in the street. This was a great humiliation, and living was an insult to the royal family.
The cruelest heart is that of an emperor; even his most beloved son can be abandoned at will.
However, the people are so vocal in their support for the Third Prince, constantly urging the court to send someone to bring him back. They cannot allow the Third Prince to suffer in Bei Yan, as he is suffering for the sake of ordinary people like them. The court must not abandon the Third Prince.
The old emperor was so angry that he kicked away the beauty closest to him and smashed several vases, but he still felt that the anger in his heart could not be dispelled. The other party wanted to use the support of the common people for the third prince to control him, so that he could not abandon the third prince, at least not on the surface, and he had to bring the third prince back in a grand manner.
That would mean releasing the Northern Yan envoys, agreeing to their unreasonable demands, and giving them money and goods as an apology.
They were completely under Bei Yan's control.
How come I never noticed how capable Bei Yan was before? Wasn't Bei Yan always such a coward?
The palace servants knelt on the ground. After the old emperor finished his tantrum, he ordered his face to be washed clean and his two little tufts of hair to be shaved off, leaving him bald. He then put on a hat and angrily summoned his ministers to discuss how to handle the matter.
Although the portraits and anecdotes on the street were collected and destroyed, the incident was deeply etched in the hearts of the people and would remain a hot topic of discussion for a long time to come.
The old emperor's temples throbbed at the thought of it.
He was an emperor who did whatever he pleased, and had never been forced to this point before!
"The best course of action now is to bring the Third Prince back; we cannot let the people lose faith in the court!"
The people are the foundation of a nation; nothing is more serious than losing the hearts and minds of the people.
The Third Prince is so important to the people now. If we don't bring him back in a grand and glorious manner, we will lose the people's hearts, and the consequences will be unimaginable.
The old emperor snorted coldly and said, "Do I not want to bring back my third son? But how can I do that? The Northern Yan have humiliated me so much this time, and I will make them pay a hundredfold in the future!"
"Since the Third Prince is still in their hands, we should appease them first. Once the Third Prince successfully returns to the Eastern Court, we can launch a surprise attack and catch them off guard!"
"Yes, they've gone too far! We, the Eastern Court, are not to be trifled with. We'll avenge the humiliation suffered by the Emperor and the Third Prince!"
...
The court officials reached a consensus that this was the only option for the time being. The old emperor took a few deep breaths and said, "Go and see if those Northern Yan envoys are still alive. Tell them that I have agreed to their peace talks."
Heaven knows how much effort he put into saying that. If it weren't for the people, he would have sent a large army to crush Bei Yan right now!
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince also heard about what happened in the palace. Thinking of the fairy sister who came and went without a trace last night, he had a general idea that she was with the group of people in the portrait. But why did she save him?
Are you simply feeling sorry for him? Or are you feeling indignant on his behalf?
As expected, the fairy sister has a kind heart; otherwise, why would she bother with this mess?
However, since the fairy sister is from Beiyan, he should find a way to meet her.
"Someone come here."
He said softly, and immediately someone came in to obey.
“Go tell Father that I truly care about my third brother and wish to personally go to Beiyan to congratulate the new emperor on his ascension to the throne, and also to bring my third brother back.”
"But Your Highness..."
His subordinates were shocked. Last night, the Crown Prince looked like he was about to die, and it seemed he wouldn't live for more than a few days. Unexpectedly, he looked much better this morning, and was even able to get up on his own. He even said that he wanted to travel a long way to Bei Yan.
This is truly shocking to his entire family!
Could this be a last gasp before death?
Furthermore, although the Crown Prince and the Third Prince are brothers, their relationship is not very good. Even if it is a deathbed resurgence, they should not have such thoughts!
"I know what I'm doing, so just do as I say."
The crown prince interrupted his subordinates directly, waving his hand impatiently.
The subordinate immediately lowered his head: "Yes."
The Crown Prince naturally had his own considerations. The prescription given by the fairy sister was known only to his most trusted secret guards, and he didn't even let anyone in the palace handle it. After dismissing everyone in the morning, he drank the medicine brought by his secret guards and felt much better. He became more convinced that it really was the fairy sister who saved his life!
In this palace, countless eyes are watching him every day, and many people do not want him to get better. This period is crucial. If people find out that his condition is improving, they may have other dirty tricks waiting for him. But if he volunteers to go on a mission to Bei Yan, he can get rid of many people and focus on his treatment.
Also, the fairy sister said that the poison in his body was left by his mother. So, we need to find out who poisoned his mother back then.
Furthermore, now that he's healthy, he should strive to hold onto the position that rightfully belongs to him, otherwise how could he let down Bei Yan for helping him eliminate the biggest hidden danger—the third brother?
The third prince had his finger cut off, so he was considered crippled. Since ancient times, no cripple has ever become emperor. Even if the third prince returned, he would no longer be qualified to compete for the throne. Moreover, he had lost face for his father in Beiyan by having his finger cut off, so his father would naturally not favor him as before.
This is his opportunity, so why can't he take advantage of it?
On the way to Beiyan, once he has recovered and brought the third prince back, he can officially start planning for the throne. The crown prince of Beiyan is about the same age as him, and he will ascend the throne in two months, while he is still a crown prince who has not yet secured his position in the Eastern Palace. He absolutely cannot lose.
After ruling for so many years, it's time for Father Emperor to retire and enjoy his old age, just like the old Emperor of Northern Yan.
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