After about an incense stick of time, Commander Guan hurried back to the Yangxin Palace to report to the emperor, "Your Majesty, Xiao Shi has returned to the capital with a large number of elite troops. However, they are currently camped twenty miles outside the city. Xiao Shi is the only one standing at the palace gate."
Upon hearing this news, the emperor angrily waved his hand, swept the pens, inkstones, and brushes on the table to the ground, and roared in anger: "What on earth does this Xiao Shi want to do? Is he planning a rebellion?"
Then the emperor called out, "Commander Guan!"
Commander Guan immediately responded, "I'm here!"
The emperor then ordered: "Immediately mobilize the Imperial Guards and be ready to obey my orders at any time. If Xiao Shi makes any unlawful move, he will be killed immediately without mercy."
Commander Guan replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty!" Then he turned and trotted out to carry out the order.
Eunuch Xu walked to the entrance of the Yangxin Palace with small steps and called out in a shrill voice, "General Xiao, please come to see me."
"Appoint General Xiao to the audience," another eunuch echoed.
The news of "General Xuan Xiao's audience" spread all the way to the palace gate.
Xiao Shi showed a smug expression, patted his robe lightly, and then walked straight towards the Yangxin Palace. He walked steadily, as if he was confident. However, when he reached the door of the Yangxin Palace, he suddenly stopped and did not go in. This was because he knew very well that the emperor had ambushed secret guards inside, and as long as he made the slightest movement, he would be killed immediately. So, he knelt down at the door of the Yangxin Palace without hesitation, and shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, I am guilty! I returned to Beijing without your permission, which is a serious crime! I hope your Majesty can have mercy on me. I have been guarding the border all these years and have never returned home. Not long ago, I heard that my daughter was critically ill, and I was extremely worried. I couldn't help but commit this crime. Please punish me, your majesty."
The emperor, seated in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, frowned upon hearing Xiao Shi's words and began to ponder his next move. Just then, Eunuch Xu stepped forward and, in a low voice, addressed the emperor, "Your Majesty, I think General Xiao is using a self-torture tactic this time!" The emperor nodded slightly, agreeing with Eunuch Xu's observation. He then stood up and said, "Come, follow me and see what his tricks are." With that, the emperor led Eunuch Xu out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The emperor stepped forward and hurried to help Xiao Shi up. "My dear, please get up! I know you've worked hard and made great contributions on the frontier over the years, and I'm very happy. But you just mentioned that Wanwan was critically ill. I wonder where you heard that from? Wanwan is doing very well in the palace!"
Eunuch Xu quickly replied, "Yes, General Xiao, Concubine Xiao is in good health and has no discomfort."
When Xiao Shi heard this, his heart tightened and he quickly explained: "This...that must be someone who wants to destroy the relationship between Your Majesty and me as monarch and subject. He deliberately wrote the letter to mislead me, and I believed it to be true. I know my crime and ask Your Majesty to punish me." As he said this, he was about to kneel down again.
The emperor hurriedly helped him up and said with a smile: "My dear, please get up quickly and come in with me so that we can have a good talk. How have you been doing at the border these years?" After that, the emperor took Xiao Shi's hand and walked into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Xiao Shi did not object and followed the emperor into the Hall of Mental Cultivation. As soon as the emperor entered the hall, he ordered, "Come, have a seat."
Then two eunuchs brought a chair and placed it on the side. The emperor said to Xiao Shi, "My dear, please sit down."
The two chatted for a while about the border situation. After a while, a eunuch came in and reported, "Your Majesty, I wonder why the Third Prince brought a number of ministers to see you?"
"No, can't you see I'm busy?" the emperor said impatiently, but as soon as he finished speaking, there was a noise outside.
Eunuch Xu frowned and said, "Who is shouting outside? How dare you."
As he spoke, the door was flung open and the third prince swaggered in, followed by a group of ministers who supported him.
"Why doesn't the emperor see me?" The third prince looked unhappy and seemed very dissatisfied with the emperor's attitude.
"You bastard, did I allow you to come in? Are you trying to rebel?" The emperor was furious and picked up a memorial and smashed it on the third prince's face.
The Third Prince's face instantly darkened. He stared at the Emperor fiercely, his eyes gleaming with anger and resentment. The ministers behind him also showed surprised expressions, but no one dared to speak.
"Your son only wanted to report recent government affairs to your Majesty, but I didn't expect to make your Majesty so angry." The third prince suppressed his anger and tried to keep his voice calm.
"Hmph! Reporting on government affairs? Do you think I don't know why you are here? You are such an unfilial son, all you do all day is fight for power and profit." The emperor pointed at the third prince and cursed.
"Your son dare not. You are just concerned about state affairs and hope to help your father solve his problems." The third prince knelt down and admitted his mistake. Although he was very reluctant in his heart, he still pretended to be respectful on the surface.
"Share my worries and solve my problems? Stop pretending here. You brought so many ministers with you, don't you want to force me to abdicate?" The emperor's eyes swept over the ministers, full of majesty.
The Third Prince didn't intend to pretend anymore and said, "Father, I think you are really old. My mother should have been the Queen, and I should have been the Crown Prince. I don't know what's wrong with you, but you actually let Li Yunhong be the Crown Prince. He is a God of War, so what? But he is destined to have no heirs and cannot be the Crown Prince. You see, even if the Crown Princess got pregnant, she couldn't survive. This shows that God has destined me to be the Crown Prince. Father, why don't you depose him and let me be the Crown Prince, and then let me inherit your throne. How wonderful it would be for you to be the Emperor Retired! Don't you agree?"
Hearing these words, the emperor widened his eyes, his face filled with anger and shock. He never expected that his own son would say such outrageous words.
"You...you are so outrageous! You are rebelling! You are a rebellious son! You...poof..." The emperor was so angry that he was shaking all over. He couldn't catch his breath and spat out a mouthful of blood. His body was shaking as if he could collapse at any moment.
Fortunately, Eunuch Xu at the side was quick-witted and supported the emperor, preventing him from falling to the ground.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what's wrong with you? Hurry, quickly call the imperial physician." Eunuch Xu shouted anxiously, his voice full of panic.
The entire palace was thrown into chaos, with maids and eunuchs running around, bewildered. The prince, who had been so arrogant just moments before, was so frightened by the scene that he froze in his tracks, a look of terror on his face.
At this moment, the secret guards in the dark did not show up, because they did not have the emperor's order to take action, so they could not expose themselves, but one of the secret guards went to the East Palace.
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