Chapter 440: Third Brother, Spare My Life

Originally a grand momentum palace coup was forcibly turned into a search‑for‑person record.

The several forces restraining the Duan family have not yet found their wives.

Needless to say inside the palace, Emperor Longqing also disappeared, and even the Heirloom Jade Seal in his hand vanished without a trace.

At this moment Xiao Wei suddenly sensed something might be wrong; although they had smoothly entered the palace and detained the court officials at the imperial manor in the suburbs.

But now the key people are missing, and the jade seal hasn't been secured.

If Xiao Wei were to ascend the throne now, it would be without proper justification.

But the rebellion has come to this point; if no decision is made, trouble will surely arise.

Xiao Wei's face turned ashen, his gaze slowly sweeping over the terrified people before him.

Interrogate them one by one; anyone related to Gu Jiu Ling will be hung up and beaten until we learn her whereabouts.

Those nearby suddenly burst into wailing; they usually weren't on good terms with the Rui Wangfu, so they had no idea where Gu Jiu Ling had gone.

Besides, they had just managed to avoid the Rui Wangfu; how could they possibly get involved?

Now Xiao Wei has taken out his anger on them, forcibly making them accomplices of Gu Jiu Ling—how unjust!

Wailing filled the air, unsettling the surroundings further.

Empress Dowager Ning'an coldly regarded her imperial grandson, deeming him hopelessly stupid; seeing this scene, she suspected he had again fallen into Gu Jiu Ling's trap.

Empress Dowager Ning'an also wondered where Gu Jiu Ling had hidden Lin Ruhua and Jinzhi.

Although he has confined all the banquet guests here, the key figures are nowhere to be found.

After Xiao Wei ordered torture to extract Gu Jiu Ling's whereabouts, he turned and walked toward Crown Prince Xiao Ting and Sixth Prince Xiao Zheng.

Crown Prince Xiao Ting could still maintain his composure, his gaze icy as he watched Xiao Wei approach.

Sixth Prince Xiao Zheng, however, was so terrified he nearly wet himself, dropping to his knees before Xiao Wei and forcing a smile uglier than a cry toward his third brother.

"Third brother..."

Xiao Zheng now didn't know what to say; he had contended with his third brother in court for so long, many times nearly costing Xiao Wei his life.

Now he actually finds himself in this person's hands; tonight he fears his head won't be safe.

He immediately kowtowed hard to Xiao Wei: "Third brother, spare me; I have long admired your civil and martial talents, and I wish to follow you."

"I made a mistake before you, third brother, because I was young and ignorant; please forgive me."

"It's all the crown prince's fault; Xiao Ting is wicked‑minded and constantly makes things difficult for the third brother."

"Although he's the eldest brother, he's narrow‑minded and won't let us brothers fare better than him; at court he constantly suppresses us—if you're going to kill someone, kill him."

Xiao Zheng, panicked, pointed at the coldly standing Xiao Ting; hearing his brother's words, Xiao Ting couldn't help but sneer: "Sixth brother, your words are utterly shameless."

"Everyone knows what we've done; now you grovel like a dog on the ground, wagging your tail begging for mercy—do you think Xiao Wei will still spare you? That's utterly absurd."

Xiao Zheng had long lost his composure, continuously cursing Xiao Ting while simultaneously trying to ingratiate himself with Xiao Wei.

A hint of mockery crossed Xiao Wei's face as he slowly drew the sword at his waist.

Empress Dowager Ning'an's face instantly darkened; she suddenly realized this scoundrel intended to slaughter the few feeble bloodlines of her son.

"Old Third, what exactly do you intend to do?"

"Now that you've brought troops into the palace, forcing your father the emperor to flee with unknown whereabouts, that's already disloyal and unfilial."

"Tonight, before so many people, are you really going to slaughter all your brothers?"

"All these people present can plainly see; if you really kill your own brothers, how could you ever sit in that position?"

"Wouldn't the world laugh at you? Is your claim to the emperor's throne even legitimate?"

Xiao Wei's smile grew ever colder, like frost.

He slowly drew his knife, pressing the blade against Xiao Zheng's head.

Yet he turned his face to the panicked Empress Dowager Ning'an and burst into loud, wild laughter.

"Legitimate? I'll make him legitimate, and he will be legitimate."

"The so‑called victor becomes king, the vanquished becomes bandit; only the alive can sit in that position."

"Tonight I will slaughter all the bloodlines around my father the emperor; then he will have only me as his son—if he won't let me sit this throne, who else could? Let outsiders do it?"

"I advise the Grand Empress Dowager to speak less; if you really provoke me, you'll join these people in seeing the late emperor."

"You… you… simply…" Empress Dowager Ning'an had never seen such an arrogant person; she couldn't utter a word.

She had just taken a few steps forward, intending to rescue her imperial grandsons from Xiao Wei's slaughtering blade, but was harshly shoved aside by his entourage, causing her to stumble and collapse onto a nearby chair.

Empress Dowager Ning'an instantly flared up, looking toward the Duan family members standing nearby, especially Duan Yun.

"Yun'er, quickly get your cousin to put down the slaughtering blade, and don't make any more mistakes."

"Tell him that as long as he can preserve the imperial bloodline, I will personally see him enthroned."

"Even without the heirloom jade seal, he can still smoothly become emperor."

"I only beg him to spare these princes and leave them alive."

Duan Yun's face twitched slightly; he had no choice but to avert his gaze and ignore it.

Empress Dowager Ning'an came from the Duan family; Duan Yun is her grandnephew.

But now things have come to this point: Empress Dowager Ning'an forced his grandfather and his father to hand over the Duan army's military command, ordering them to accompany the Third Prince to Quzhou.

From that moment on, Empress Dowager Ning'an had already abandoned the Duan family; now the Duan family will no longer heed her words.

Empress Dowager Ning'an instantly flared up: "Are you really determined to keep going further down this wrong path? Know that this infamy will spread, to be borne for all eternity—how could it be easily resolved?"

"Old Third, if you heed even half of my words, I will immediately let you sit on the emperor's throne."

"Your father the emperor is frail and will surely step down sooner or later." "Xiao Wei, have you heard clearly? I have only this condition: spare a few princes a path to survival, and I will leave everything else to your disposal."

Although Empress Dowager Ning'an is selfish and ruthless, she values her son's bloodline greatly.

Xiao Zheng had already been frightened to the point of losing control of his bowels; he didn't dare lift his head, instead throwing himself face down before Xiao Wei, continuously kowtowing: "Third brother, spare my life, third brother, spare my life!"