Xiao Zicheng nodded, "Father, rest assured, I will work hard to train my own people as soon as possible." He had been by his father's side for many years and was quite adept at handling government affairs.
It's just that his maternal grandfather actually wanted to sit on the throne himself. Fortunately, he discovered it early. If he had discovered it a few days later, and his father was still seriously ill, he would not have been able to defeat his maternal grandfather at all.
Listening to their conversation, An Shuyi and Xia Hua couldn't help but sigh at how good the Emperor was to the Crown Prince, considering everything so thoroughly. However, at this moment, it was time for Xiao Zili to lead his men into the palace.
Sure enough, the chief eunuch downstairs knocked on the door and then pushed it open, saying, "Your Majesty, the Second Prince has led his men in and broken in."
"What?" The Emperor sat up abruptly, then lay back down on the bed. "I knew this kid was ambitious; it turns out he'd been waiting until now."
"Zicheng, have the commander of the guards and General Liu lead men to kill Xiao Zili, this traitor. Anyi, send a few men to protect the Crown Prince and make sure nothing happens to him."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Father, I'm going now, don't worry." After saying that, An Shuyi and Xia Hua went out and entered the emperor's bedroom after he left.
The guards emerged from the shadows and stood warily by the emperor's bedside. The emperor knew immediately that someone had entered the palace. The chief eunuch also went to the bedside and looked around the room.
An Shuyi and her companion appeared, looking completely calm and not taking the guards seriously at all.
"Consort An, Consort Xia!" the eunuch huddled in the corner called out, but his voice was too soft for anyone to hear. However, Xia Hua still glanced at her.
The Emperor looked at the two women with surprise, not expecting them to be ladies of high rank. "What brings you two to the palace today?"
"Of course, I'd like to ask Your Majesty for a small favor!" An Shuyi said with a smile.
"What kind of help?"
"It's actually very simple. Just pass the throne to the second prince, Xiao Zili. After all, he's more suitable than the crown prince, isn't he?" Xiao Zicheng is still too indecisive and not suited to sit on the throne.
The Emperor was taken aback by her words, not expecting her to be so direct. "How can you be so sure that Zicheng is not suitable? Although he is not as ruthless as Xiao Zili, he is more likely to be a wise ruler."
"I want to know if you are the people who taught Xiao Zili behind the scenes. I had doubts before, whether it was the Duke of Protectorate, but after seeing you, I have changed my mind."
An Shuyi shook her head. "Although we are of some use, it is not significant. The most important thing is that Xiao Zili is capable. If a monarch is not ruthless, how can he gain the trust of his ministers and the confidence of the people?"
“We won’t waste time with you. We advise you to write the edict of succession as soon as possible. We can still save Xiao Zicheng’s life. Otherwise, he should die. He is your most beloved son. You don’t want him to die like this.”
“Actually, even without a decree of succession, we can still put Xiao Zili on the throne, but that would be too troublesome. So the simplest way is for you to write a decree of succession, and then appoint Xiao Zicheng as a prince without official duties, so that he will never enter the palace again. That will be fine.”
The Emperor laughed heartily, “You two women are able to enter the palace, and your martial arts skills are not weak, but I will not be unprepared.” After he finished speaking, many secret guards appeared in the room.
Seeing the guards appear, An Shuyi remained calm. "You're prepared, so are we. Now, apart from your bedroom, everyone else is ours."
"Since you're so ungrateful, then we'll just wait and see. I don't believe you'll just watch Xiao Zicheng die."
Xia Hua, standing to the side, raised her hand, and many more guards reappeared in the room, warily watching the other guards in the room. A great battle was about to break out.
Before they could even start fighting, Xiao Zili led his men into the palace and said, "Father, I have brought the Crown Prince back for you."
Looking at his two aunts in the room, he felt much more at ease. His uncle had now taken control of other parts of the palace, while he had led his men to fight his way in.
Upon hearing the noise, the Emperor hurriedly ordered the chief eunuch to help him up. He was filled with worry as he watched his beloved eldest son being carried in by soldiers.
"Zicheng, are you alright?"
"Father, I'm fine, don't worry. My second brother didn't hurt me." He had just led his men out when he encountered his second brother, and a fight broke out.
He had brought few men, and before long, they were all killed, leaving only him alive.
"Xiao Zili, what exactly do you want? Make them release your brother immediately. Do you really intend to kill your father and brother? Aren't you afraid the people will say you are ruthless?" the Emperor said angrily.
He truly regretted it. If he had known that Xiao Zili would grow up to be like this, threatening Zicheng's throne, he should have strangled him when he was born, instead of letting him live until now.
Xiao Zili smiled coldly, "So what if you killed your father and brother? You didn't get the throne this way either, Father. The throne should be held by the capable."
"As for the opinions of the people, why should I care? As long as the people can have enough to eat and have some money left over, even if I am ruthless, they will still think I am a wise ruler."
"Father, I suggest you write a decree of succession, otherwise I cannot guarantee the Crown Prince's life." He is now only one step away from the throne, how could he possibly give up?
The Emperor looked at his beloved son and said, "Xiao Zili, your mother is still in my hands. Aren't you afraid that I will kill her?" He had spared the Empress's life for this very day.
I never intended to use it in my lifetime, but now I have no choice but to take it out and use it.
"Mother?" Xiao Zili couldn't help but burst into laughter when he saw the Emperor nod. "Father, are you getting senile? Is that woman you banished to the Cold Palace really my mother?"
"I never expected you to drag that woman into this. Unfortunately, you underestimated me. I discovered it when that woman was switched. I didn't expect you to keep quiet about it, but now you're using it to threaten me."
"How could you possibly know? I've been training that woman for years. Apart from being exactly like your mother, she even speaks and acts the same way. There's no way you could have discovered it."
“Because of hatred,” Xiao Zili said, “My mother told me that she would never forgive you in this lifetime, that there was only hatred in her. But in that woman’s eyes, I found that she actually loves you.”
"What a despicable woman. If it weren't for keeping her around to see what tricks she's up to, I would have killed her long ago."
"Father, I will ask you one more time: will you write the edict of succession or not? If you do not write it, then I will have no choice but to have them do it."
"And what about your princes and princesses? Even if all of them are combined, they are not as important as the Crown Prince alone. But there is still the Imperial Concubine in the Cold Palace. Would you abandon her?"
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