Chapter 454: The Crown Prince's Masterful Acting
"Xiao Juesong." The Youning Emperor spoke first with implicit authority.
"Long time no see, Your Majesty." Xiao Juesong didn't appear particularly ill or weak; in fact, his face was flushed and his eyes sparkled with vitality—all because he had taken potent, life-draining medicine.
"Release Qilang. State your demands, whatever they may be." The Youning Emperor got straight to the point.
"Hahahaha, my demands?" Xiao Juesong laughed. "How generous. I'd have preferred if Your Majesty hadn't come today, since..." He paused meaningfully. "Your Majesty has personally delivered the Crown Prince into my hands."
"If you've taken Qilang to negotiate terms with me, it means you want something. You surely didn't summon me here just to spout nonsense." The Youning Emperor naturally refuted Xiao Juesong's accusations.
"Want something?" Xiao Juesong shook his head with a smile. "I have no more desires. I came today solely to let your ministers and your people see what a vile and shameless scoundrel you truly are!"
As soon as Xiao Juesong finished speaking, rustling sounds emerged in the distance. Crowds of commoners could be seen rushing over for unknown reasons. The hidden military guards immediately sent their leader to block their path.
But grain meant survival—it was more precious than heaven itself. These people had come for their annual sustenance. Few had spare money, and most depended on this grain to stay alive. Seeing government officials blocking them, they grew desperate and clashed with the soldiers.
Under normal circumstances, the soldiers would have killed a few to establish authority. But with the Youning Emperor nearby, how dare they act ruthlessly? Temporarily at a disadvantage, they were instead breached by the surging crowd.
Witnessing this, Xiao Juesong's smile widened with satisfaction. "Back then, you murdered your own brother to seize the throne, then tried to pin the blame on me to eliminate me completely. You forced me to flee the imperial city, living in hiding all these years."
Xiao Changqing and Xiao Changying shuddered. They had never imagined that the death of Qian Wang twenty years ago might have been a scheme orchestrated by the Emperor for power. Not only had they never considered it, but the generals hidden in the shadows, ready to protect the Emperor, were also incredulous. While most dismissed Xiao Juesong's words, some of Qian Wang's former subordinates fell into deep reflection, recalling past events.
Shen Xihe lifted her gaze, looking across the suspension bridge and flowing river at Xiao Huayong on the opposite bank. He had plotted up to this point, with the ultimate goal of swaying Qian Wang's former followers.
Twenty years had passed. Many might think loyalty would fade with time, but if these people had suffered repeated injustices over two decades precisely because they once followed Qian Wang, what would they think now?
The more they reflected, the more resentful they would grow. For now, they might only feel discontent. But once Xiao Huayong's identity was revealed in the future, a single rallying cry from him would surely unite them in response.
No matter how skilled Xiao Huayong was at cultivating influence, he could never do so without the Emperor's notice. Military influence was his greatest shortcoming. If he could make up for this shortcoming, even an open confrontation with the Emperor would grant him significantly higher odds of success.
He was paving a very, very long road.
"You fled to escape punishment for your crimes." The Youning Emperor tightened his grip on the jade thumb ring.
"Escape punishment?" Xiao Juesong let out a light scoff. "You're the Emperor. Of course, you have the final say."He glanced at the approaching commoners and raised his voice, "You deny killing your brother, but what about your son? Even a vicious tiger does not eat its cubs, yet Your Majesty is capable of harming your own son. Or perhaps the Crown Prince is not..."
"Xiao Juesong." The Youning Emperor coldly interrupted him.
Xiao Juesong fell silent. The rushing commoners froze in their tracks, realizing these were no ordinary officials. The words "Your Majesty" alone were enough to make their legs tremble—commoners held an innate reverence and fear for the imperial family.
What had they just heard? Someone accusing their Emperor of fratricide and filicide? Each word buzzed in their ears, terrifying them into statues, not daring even to breathe.
"Your Majesty can easily prove the Crown Prince's identity," Xiao Juesong said, beckoning with his hand.
The man restraining Xiao Huayong pushed him forward. Shorter than Xiao Huayong, he positioned himself behind, making it impossible for archers to target him. After just three steps, Xiao Juesong ordered his men to strike the suspension bridge with the back of their blades. Though not severed, the bridge swayed violently, causing Xiao Huayong to stumble repeatedly.
Xiao Changying’s gaze sharpened. As Xiao Huayong lunged toward the bridge ropes again, he swiftly drew his crossbow and fired, accurately striking down the man behind Xiao Huayong.
Before Xiao Huayong could advance further, arrows thudded into the planks at his feet—not missed shots, but deliberate barriers to halt his progress.
With Xiao Huayong blocking the bridge, the archers dared not fire recklessly. If they did, and Xiao Juesong killed the Crown Prince in retaliation, would they not bear the crime of regicide?
The Youning Emperor would not give such an order. Xiao Juesong had already insinuated that Xiao Huayong was not his son. Disregarding Xiao Huayong’s safety now would only validate the accusation. Even if Xiao Huayong died, those who understood the implications would not rebel—loyalists lacked the ambition. But the Empress Dowager...
The Youning Emperor feared she might truly hang herself at the palace gates. This would not only tarnish his reputation but potentially destabilize the court. Scholars across the land would condemn him, and powerful ministers like Shen Yueshan and Bu Tuohai, holding military authority, could revolt with popular support.
"Your Majesty, worried about the Crown Prince?" Xiao Juesong smiled sinisterly, emboldened. His subordinates continued damaging the bridge, planks already loosening and swept away by the river. "If Your Majesty comes personally to retrieve him, I will spare the bridge."
"Your Majesty, you must not!" The Pingyao Marquis and others emerged from hiding, rushing to intervene.
Sparing the bridge did not mean forgoing hidden arrows.
Without hesitation, the Youning Emperor replied coldly, "The Crown Prince is my flesh and blood. As his father, how could I abandon him in danger?"
With so many commoners watching and ministers listening, the Emperor had to convince the world that Xiao Huayong was his son. If not, why would he have named him Crown Prince?
Only one explanation fit: the Emperor had indeed killed Qian Wang, and appointing Xiao Huayong as Crown Prince was the Empress Dowager’s condition for peace.
Shen Xihe lifted her gaze to Xiao Huayong, who carefully steadied himself on the bridge ropes. He cried out with genuine emotion, "Your Majesty, I refuse to believe the slander of vile schemers! You have always cherished me dearly. Do not come forward—do not fall into their trap!"He seemed to have been drugged, feeling somewhat weak and unsteady on his feet earlier. Several times he tried to jump down, but Xiao Juesong's men kept shaking the suspension bridge to stop him.
Shen Xihe watched quietly. After this incident, the Youning Emperor would inevitably favor Xiao Huayong even more, not daring to test him lightly again. One misstep could shatter the emperor's authority.
Eight thousand words—every plot point I write serves a purpose. If you don't understand, it's only because the intended use hasn't been revealed yet. It doesn't mean I'm piecing things together haphazardly or deliberately being convoluted. I never pad my writing with filler.
If I can't write properly, I'd rather pause updates or write less than produce nonsensical content. This is a political intrigue novel, and political intrigue develops precisely through such gradual, deliberate steps.
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel