Chapter 1087: Chapter 1077: Crown Prince (3)
No matter from which angle you view it, the Second Prince’s actions are equivalent to revealing the last card in his hand that could make others wary of him, and after this, people will have no more apprehensions.
"Have someone closely monitor him," Fourth Master Xiao said calmly. "Any unusual activity in Jiaotai Palace, even if it means deploying the Divine Strategy Camp to take control of Jiaotai Palace." He sat in a dilapidated palace, sipping not-so-hot tea. Under the solitary lamp’s dim light, every word he said had the power to destabilize the court.
"I understand." The father served many years in the Five Armies Commander’s Mansion; the Divine Strategy Camp could follow his orders, and even the Yulin Guards feared him. Min had known from early on; with these two camps, even if the Second Prince truly forced the Emperor’s Testament on succession, they would make him sigh at the throne from afar.
"You should go back," Fourth Master Xiao said softly. "Don’t let your mother worry. She certainly won’t sleep well tonight in the mansion, even if she doesn’t know what happened in the palace, she will find out afterward!"
Min stood up and asked, "Are mother and my younger siblings okay?" Fourth Master Xiao nodded, showing a doting smile. "They’re all fine," and he added, "When things settle down, let her bring the younger ones into the palace to see you."
Min laughed and nodded repeatedly, "Got it." He stepped back, "I’m leaving now." He opened the door and disappeared into the night.
On the eaves hung faded lanterns painted with dragons and tigers, swaying in the wind, echoing with the bright moon and stars. Fourth Master Xiao closed the palace door, and the candlelight went out once more.
The Second Prince knelt before the bed, looking at the face revealed under the imperial yellow quilt, haggard and old, lifeless. He could hardly believe that the person before him was the father he had always revered and admired.
The breathing was weak, and if not for the rising and falling of the chest, he might have suspected that he was indeed dead.
He let out a long sigh of relief; at least the Emperor was truly ill and not testing them.
The Second Prince knew Chief Chang was outside. He dared not speak loudly, so he knelt forward towards the bed.
Just now, he had gone through much trouble outside. Finally, he revealed a corner of the imperial yellow Imperial Decree from his pocket; it bore the personal seal of the late Emperor. He watched as Chief Chang’s mouth opened wide enough to swallow an egg. He smiled proudly and smoothly entered the inner palace.
So there really was the Emperor’s Testament; his grandmother hadn’t burned it but left it to him as his last protection, and today he finally used it.
He looked at the Emperor, raised his hand to hold his hand, "Father, your son has come to see you."
No movement from the Emperor, the Second Prince leaned closer, "Your son brought the thing you most wanted to see destroyed. Do you want to take a look?"
The Emperor’s fingers trembled imperceptibly.
The Second Prince noticed it, and boundless joy surged in him like a thousand horses galloping out, "Father, are you awake?" He was elated, "Your son knew you would be alright!"
If it had to come to the point of threats, he preferred to maintain filial piety and let him go safely to his fiefdom.
But that fiefdom he must choose himself.
Chief Chang outside had been listening for a long time, only hearing the Second Prince’s buzzing voice due to a voice change, and nothing else.
That really was the Emperor’s Testament? Unexpectedly, it was in the Second Prince’s hands.
What is his intention with this Testament now? Could he be threatening the Emperor to abdicate in his favor?
Impossible; even if he had the Emperor’s decree, it was useless. The Emperor defied the late Emperor’s Testament to ascend the throne; can’t others emulate that?
Before absolute power and influence, everything is futile; even with the decree, you need the ability to make it public and the means to peacefully ascend to the throne.
So he wasn’t worried; he also believed the Second Prince wouldn’t do something so foolish.
It was just curious about what the Second Prince’s real purpose was.
"Father." Amidst his thoughts, Chief Chang heard the Second Prince call again, sounding somewhat excited. Chief Chang paused and leaned forward to look...
The Second Prince, both nervous and excited, looked at the Emperor. The Emperor’s eyelids moved, slowly opened, and his gaze gradually shifted to the prince’s face.
There was scrutiny, assessment, but more indifference and coldness.
The Second Prince was taken aback, hiding the fear in his heart, "Father, you... you’re awake?"
The Emperor remained silent, still looking at him as before.
The Second Prince was somewhat frightened, stammering to explain his actions, "Your son... your son was worried about you... so... so begged Chief Chang..." He couldn’t continue as the Emperor’s gaze had shifted, looking somewhere else unfocused.
The quiet returned to the sleeping chamber, the wick crackled and startled the Second Prince. He had been kneeling for so long that his legs felt numb, crumpling to the ground.
After a long time, or perhaps just a blink, the Emperor spoke in a detached tone, "You’ve... grown up."
The Second Prince was terrified; he didn’t feel happy, because the Emperor’s tone held no relief, no love, only coldness.
Yes, coldness, a chilling coldness.
Xiqiu only dozed for a bit before dawn, waking again well before 5 a.m., she called Chunliu, "What hour is it?"
Chunliu responded, entering and speaking through the curtain, "It’s just 5 a.m." She dimmed the lamp as the sky brightened early near May and continued, "Madam didn’t sleep all night. Please rest a while longer."
Xiqiu turned over, asking, "Has Fourth Master returned?"
"No." Seeing Xiqiu sitting up, Chunliu lifted the curtain and hung the canopy hook, "Tiancheng went to investigate. This morning, the Six Ministries and various ministers went to the Meridian Gate; the palace gates are yet unopened with no news from within."
Xiqiu said nothing, just sighed and quietly got out of bed.
After grooming herself, she went to check on Zhi, who was sparring with Qingshan and Qingyuan. Seeing Xiqiu approach, he stopped and smiled, "Mother, why are you here?" He wiped the sweat and asked, "Where is Father? Haven’t seen him since morning."
"Father is out on business." She nodded to Qingshan and Qingyuan, handing Zhi a cloth to wipe his sweat, "You practice yourselves."
Zhi nodded and escorted Xiqiu back, suddenly remembering something, pondering briefly with his head down, and hesitantly asking, "Mother, I’m eight years old this year, right?"
Xiqiu hesitated, unsure why he suddenly asked this, and smiled, "Yes, our Zhi is growing up."
Zhi laughed, his teeth sparkled, "Then maybe brother is coming back?"
Xiqiu raised an eyebrow, recalling Zhi always cared about growing up, for she once told him, when he grew up, his brother would return.
So, even understanding death now, he still believed the words she once said.
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