"Your Highness! The scouts report that the three chief physicians of the Imperial Hospital just rushed into Qianqing Palace in a panic!"
The Fourth Prince's heart pounded wildly.
"Take my token! Summon all the ministers to the palace immediately!"
"Let's go!"
Today, he would expose the Second Prince's true nature before the court!
Qianqing Palace.
"Halt! Who goes there?"
Before the guard could clearly see the figure before him, a cold blade slit his throat, leaving him gasping for breath.
The Second Prince was seated by the emperor's bedside, dutifully feeding him medicine. When he saw the Fourth Prince storm in with armed soldiers, a faint smirk curled his lips before he quickly feigned terror, shielding the emperor.
"Youning! What is the meaning of this?!"
The Fourth Prince glared at the dark medicinal broth and raised his sword, bellowing,
"Stop! What poison are you feeding His Majesty?! Has the Second Prince lost his mind for the throne?! How dare you plot patricide?!"
The Second Prince overturned the bowl and shouted,
"Guards! Protect His Majesty! The Fourth Prince seeks to murder the emperor and seize the throne!"
The Fourth Prince scoffed.
"The Second Prince cries thief while playing the thief himself! You poisoned His Majesty! Today, I will cleanse the court for our father!"
"Hahahaha!"
The Second Prince threw his head back in laughter, as if hearing the most amusing joke. His gaze swept over the Fourth Prince before his expression darkened. He clapped his hands.
A troop of Imperial Guards emerged from nowhere, swiftly surrounding Qianqing Palace.
"You... You set me up?!"
The Fourth Prince watched his soldiers fall, his back drenched in cold sweat.
"If my calculations are correct, Commander Tian and his three thousand capital garrison troops have already been executed. Youning, oh Youning, your audacity knows no bounds."
The Second Prince pulled a blade from a fallen soldier and advanced toward the Fourth Prince.
The Fourth Prince staggered back in panic, only to see the Second Prince slash his own left arm.
"The Fourth Prince has rebelled, attempting to murder His Majesty and his own brother! Seize him!"
Knowing it was do or die, the Fourth Prince raised his sword and charged. But before he could reach the Second Prince, a cold blade pierced his chest from behind.
An overeager guard, trembling with ambition, had struck the fatal blow, his palms slick with sweat.
The Fourth Prince stumbled, collapsing to his knees, blood gushing from his mouth as he glared at the Second Prince.
"You... will pay for this..."
The Second Prince sneered, then turned and knelt by the emperor's bed, clutching his wounded arm in feigned grief.
"Father... has passed away!"
The Imperial Guards dropped to their knees in unison. Xiao You'an rose, surveying the prostrate crowd, exhaling sharply—the empire was finally his!
"Treacherous beast!"
Just as Xiao You'an basked in triumph, a thunderous roar struck him like lightning.
He looked up in horror—the emperor, whom he thought dead, was sitting upright.
"F-Father?!"
The Second Prince fell to his knees, trembling.
"Does it disappoint you that I still live, you wretch?! Disloyal, unfilial—how dare you covet the throne?!"
The Second Prince kowtowed frantically.
"Father! It was Youning! Youning led troops into Qianqing Palace! I... I was protecting you!"
"Enough lies!"
The Second Prince's eyes darted wildly before a cold smirk twisted his lips. He stood, glaring at the emperor with murderous intent.
"Father... you should rest in peace. Understood?"
He drew his sword and lunged—only for a shadowy figure to intercept, tackling him to the ground.
"Chancellor?! You—"
The Second Prince gaped in shock. Wasn't the chancellor supposed to be securing the palace gates for him?
"Your Majesty, forgive this old servant for arriving late!"
Murong You clutched his bleeding abdomen, voice trembling. A cavalry unit stormed in, and within moments, Qianqing Palace was littered with corpses.
"You... Hahaha! You and Father set a trap for me! Hahaha! What have I done to deserve this?! If Father wanted me dead, he could have just killed me! Why torment me like this?!"
The Second Prince's eyes burned crimson with rage.
"Why give me hope, only to destroy me?!"
"Has the Second Prince lost his mind? What trap? You claimed the Fourth Prince plotted regicide and tasked me with handling Commander Tian outside. Who knew you would turn on His Majesty?! Your Majesty! During your illness, this old servant was ordered to assist the Second Prince in governing. Never did I imagine he harbored such treasonous thoughts! I beg Your Majesty to clear my name—or I shall die with this grievance!"
The chancellor wept, clutching his wound.
The emperor frowned at Murong You's display and waved dismissively.
"Take them away!"
"Yes!"
Seeing his defeat inevitable, Xiao You'an ceased resistance, allowing the guards to bind him like a puppet.
"Prince Kang, this way."
Xiao You'an's face still bore traces of fury as he slowly turned, madness flaring in his eyes once more.
"Hahaha! My dear father! So this was your plan! Xiao Youcheng! I should have killed you when I had the chance!!!"
Xiao Youcheng watched the deranged Second Prince thrash against his restraints, ignoring his ravings.
"Why?! Why?! Why you?!" Xiao You'an howled, voice raw with despair.
Xiao Youcheng paused briefly before continuing into the palace. Servants scrubbed bloodstains from the floors, the metallic stench thick in the air.
"Father, forgive your son for arriving late!"
The emperor stood tall above, idly skimming foam from his teacup before taking a sip. His gaze settled on the travel-worn Xiao Youcheng.
"Your return is enough."
Xiao Youcheng masked the flicker in his eyes.
That night, the palace trembled in fear. Many vanished before dawn, never to be seen again.
The next morning, at court.
As the golden dragon robes swept into the hall—
"His Majesty arrives!"
The eunuch's shrill voice pierced the air.
"Long live His Majesty!"
"Rise."
Last night's upheaval left no doubt—with the Second and Fourth Princes absent and Prince Kang of Yingchuan now standing in court, the outcome was clear.
The ministers swallowed their questions, holding their breath.
"With my humble self inheriting the ancestral throne, I have ever sought the peace of the people and the stability of the realm.
During my illness, the Second Prince governed in my stead. Yet he proved weak and inept, ceding Shuozhou's lands, displacing its people, shaking our borders—a disgrace to Great Yuan!
Yesterday, he conspired with traitors, plotting to murder me and usurp the throne. Such treachery defies heaven's will and human morality—unfilial, disloyal, unforgivable!"
"My heart grieves, and though I mourn the bonds of blood, regret lingers. Yet the laws of the state are clear—justice must prevail over kinship, and leniency cannot be granted. Henceforth, the Second Prince is stripped of his title and expelled from the imperial clan. Let the inner court bestow upon him a cup of poisoned wine, to uphold the dignity of the court and serve as a warning to all."
"Your Majesty is wise!"
"Yesterday, I received an urgent dispatch from the northwest! Xiao Zheng, a minor general under the former Northwest Marquis, has led his remaining troops to recapture Shuozhou. Now, the Tartars use the peace treaty as pretext, accusing Great Yuan of breaking its word and demanding the return of Shuozhou. What counsel do you offer?"
Xiao Youcheng stepped forward, clasped his hands, and declared in a clear voice,
"Father! This son petitions to muster troops and march north to ambush the Tartar tribes—to avenge the fifty thousand soldiers who died unjustly at their hands!"
