Night finally fell.
As dusk settled, the lanterns illuminated the entire imperial city as if it were daytime. Tonight was the emperor's birthday, and as was customary, civil and military officials, along with members of the imperial family, would gather at the Hall of Supreme Harmony for a grand banquet.
Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, all the officials had already gathered, awaiting the emperor's arrival, and then they moved together to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Regent Xiao Yuan, dressed in a brand-new princely robe and wearing a golden crown, stood at the head of all the officials. At this moment, he was no longer the panic and dejection of the previous days. His face was adorned with an almost fanatical calm, and deep in his eyes burned a wildfire that was about to spread.
Li Quan, the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, immediately reported to Lin Wanwan in detail about the "fire drill" she conducted at the Hall of Supreme Harmony this morning.
After hearing this, he not only didn't get angry, but burst into laughter.
Foolish woman!
Did she think that changing a few decorations and soaking a carpet would stop the raging fire? How naive! His true intentions were far beyond her limited understanding. Everything she did was futile. On the contrary, her actions only convinced him that the Emperor and Empress had no other means of dealing with the situation besides these underhanded tactics.
They were already fish on the chopping board.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
With a loud "Greeting!" from the Grand Eunuch Deshun, Xiao Che appeared at the entrance of the Golden Palace.
He was still wearing a black dragon robe, his face was pale, and his steps were somewhat unsteady, as if the court confrontation of the past few days had exhausted all his energy.
All the officials knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"
"Rise." Xiao Che's voice was somewhat hoarse, revealing a sense of exhaustion.
Instead of heading straight for the dragon throne as usual, he stopped as he passed Xiao Yuan.
“Uncle Wang,” he said.
Xiao Yuan's heart skipped a beat, but he still bowed respectfully and said, "Your subject is here."
"Come with me." Xiao Che said nothing more, simply uttering these words before turning and walking towards a side hall.
The officials looked at each other, wondering what the emperor's intention was.
Xiao Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of doubt flashing through his mind. But then, he calmly followed. At this point, he was no longer afraid of any unforeseen changes. In his view, tonight's outcome was already predetermined.
Inside the side hall, a simple meal and wine had already been prepared.
Xiao Che dismissed all the servants, leaving only the uncle and nephew in the vast hall.
"Please sit down, Uncle Wang." Xiao Che pointed to the seat opposite him.
Xiao Yuan sat down as instructed, and looking at the dejected young emperor before him, a sudden sense of cat-and-mouse pleasure welled up within him. He wanted to see what tricks this dying man still had up his sleeve.
Xiao Che personally picked up the wine pot and filled the wine cup in front of Xiao Yuan. The amber-colored wine shimmered under the glow of the luminous pearl.
“Since I ascended the throne, there have been many misunderstandings between me and my uncle.” Xiao Che raised his wine cup, his voice carrying an indescribable sense of desolation and emotion. “I am young and often impulsive and reckless. I hope my uncle will forgive me.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan sneered inwardly. Was this... an attempt to surrender and beg for mercy? Too late!
He remained outwardly calm, picked up his wine cup, and said insincerely, "Your Majesty is too kind. As an elder, it is my duty to assist Your Majesty. If I have done anything improper, please forgive me."
After a few insincere pleasantries between the two, the atmosphere in the hall became exceptionally strange.
Xiao Che stared at the wine in his glass, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed softly and said slowly in a meaningful tone:
"After tonight, I'm afraid there will be no more disputes in the court."
These words, like a stone, were thrown into Xiao Yuan's heart.
To him, this was clearly Xiao Che's "last words" as he knew his death was imminent and had completely given up resistance!
Yes, after tonight, you, the emperor, will turn to ashes, and there will be no more strife in the court! What will remain is only the new era of my reign over the world!
The joy of victory, like fine wine, spread through his entire body. He could hardly contain the smile on his face.
“Uncle,” Xiao Che raised his eyes, looking at him with a complicated expression, “I toast you.”
"I salute you for all your hard work for my Daliang over the years."
"And a toast to... the coming era of peace and prosperity."
Looking into Xiao Che's eyes, which seemed to have resigned him to his fate, Xiao Yuan's last trace of doubt vanished.
He was absolutely convinced that the young man before him had been driven to the brink of despair and his spirit had completely collapsed. Everything he was doing now was nothing more than the final ramblings of a dying man.
"good."
Xiao Yuan raised his glass, a magnanimous smile on his face, like that of a victor.
"Your Majesty, I would also like to offer you a toast."
The two men raised their glasses across the table.
Looking at the clear liquid in the glass, Xiao Yuan did not hesitate at all, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp!
The spicy liquor slid down his throat, carrying a slight burning sensation. But this burning sensation paled in comparison to the intense heat and ecstasy he felt at that moment.
He won!
This years-long feud between uncle and nephew will finally end in his complete victory!
He set down his wine cup, gazing at Xiao Che's pale and forlorn face, his heart filled with condescending pity. Poor nephew, born into an imperial family, yet that is your greatest misfortune. This empire should rightfully belong to the strong!
He stood up and performed one last, somewhat imperfect, courtly salute to Xiao Che.
"Your Majesty, it's time for the palace banquet, and the officials are still waiting. We... should set off now."
He deliberately emphasized the words "on the road," his tone filled with undisguised malice.
"Mm." Xiao Che nodded, without getting up, and just looked at him quietly. "Uncle Wang, please go first."
Xiao Yuan laughed heartily, said no more, turned around, and strode out of the hall. His back was tall and proud, full of the smugness and arrogance of about to reach the top.
He didn't notice at all that the moment he turned around, Xiao Che's eyes behind him instantly turned icy cold and unfathomable.
There was no trace of despondency or resignation in his eyes, only the final indifference towards a dead man.
Xiao Che picked up his untouched glass of wine, slowly stood up, walked to the window, and poured all the wine in the glass onto the ground.
"I respect you... The road to the underworld is long, may you rest in peace." He whispered, his voice carried away by the night wind.
He knew that the glass of wine he had just drunk was not a gesture of reconciliation, much less an admission of defeat.
That was... a farewell.
This is a farewell drink for his good uncle, the king.
The road to hell has been paved for him.
Tonight, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is destined to become a battlefield, a tomb.
However, it remains unknown whose grave it is.
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