Chapter 554: If the Former Emperor Knew

The King stared wide-eyed, unblinking, and somehow managed to squeeze out a few crocodile tears before Chengtian Gate. The child hadn't cried in years; lacking emotion, it was all technique.

The King dismounted, his grief-stricken hand pointing toward Jianzhang Palace, "Father~ There's no longer Father in Jianzhang Palace~"

The Marquis of Eastern Capital could do nothing but go along with the King's performance. "Your Highness, do not grieve! Having crossed mountains and rivers, endured many battles along the way, Your Highness must take care of your health! Haven't we already reached Chang'an? If the Former Emperor is aware, he will surely be immensely relieved."

The King blinked. "Is that so? Won't Father blame this Prince for arriving late?"

"No, Your Highness has already sent the Xiongnu Left Wise King to the Imperial Mausoleum to apologize, and still guards the nation's gate for Great Jin. Your Highness is blameless before heaven and before the Former Emperor!"

Wei Shen: ……

Chang'an officials: ……

The King still refused, "But Father~ the one seated high in Jianzhang Palace is no longer the Eldest Brother! If Father knew in the underground palace, he would surely be uneasy, he's so pitiful~!" This guy made a move to draw the Tai'a Sword again, shouting, "I will now go rescue the Elder Brother! I cannot tolerate anyone defying Father, usurping Great Jin's rivers and mountains!"

The Marquis of Eastern Capital hurried to stop him, "Your Highness, please wait outside; I will go."

Wei Shen also hurried over to persuade, after much back-and-forth, in short, the Chang'an officials nearby saw several people taking turns to coax and persuade, and only then did the King abandon his immediate attempt to enter the Imperial City.

At the Marquis of Eastern Capital's order, the cavalry charged Chengtian Gate in front of the Chang'an officials, to quell the chaos and restore order.

After performing two civil dramas in a day, the King grew a little weary, leaning lazily against Bai Ze while listening to the shouts of battle in his ears.

Chengtian Gate was too high; from his position he could not see the roof of Jianzhang Palace, he merely glanced instinctively in that direction, not knowing what he was thinking.

After the Xuanjia cavalry stormed Chengtian Gate, the King finally turned his gaze toward the officials, bereft as if they had lost their parents. Seeing him approach, Gao Chang, this smooth-talking man, immediately paid his respects.

He used the etiquette of subjects toward a princely lord.

Rebel kings and such—at this moment they did not exist.

He was willing to set face aside and go further, but feared overreaching, feared that this crafty King would despise him as slippery and spineless.

With him taking the lead, others followed suit one after another.

The King called out with a smile, and idly used his foot to scratch at the Xiōng circling beside him. "The true confidants of Uncle are mostly in the palace and on the city walls; as far as I know, you are all veteran officials of Chang'an, some even having entered service since the Gaozu era. So—where do you think Bai Li Jun went wrong?" He spoke in a casual, chat‑like tone. If not for the blood‑soaked glow behind him.

For a moment no one spoke; this was not something easy to say.

If implicated, the masked cavalry behind him could at any moment run this group of civil officials through.

The King extended his death‑claw and named him, "You speak first."

Gao Chang regretted it deeply; had he known he would have reacted a bit slower. "Your Highness……" he stumbled, suddenly unsure how to address Bai Li Jun.

After thinking, he forced himself to continue: "……It happened to be a famine year; Emperor Guanglie took the initiative to raise troops and provoke civil war, which I deem improper. The borders are unstable, internal strife incessant; we too act for the sake of Great Jin, so……" He trailed off. He felt for the first time that he was tongue‑tied, that nothing he said was right.

The King did not press him, merely asking curiously, "My elder brother isn't Emperor Taihe, is he? And this Guanglie—what is he?"

The officials lowered their heads, beginning to sympathize with Gao Chang, desperately shrinking their presence for fear the King's death‑claw would point at them. Only then did they realize that everyone summoned to Chengtian Gate, regardless of rank, were civil officials—and they began to miss the martial officers whose mouths were quicker than their brains.

The King slapped his forehead, "Oh, you mean Uncle? How interesting. When I was young, weren't you all fighting every day over the crown prince's position? Half supported establishing the eldest, half supported establishing the legitimate heir. For years the feud was irreconcilable, the crown prince remained undecided until Father passed away, when they said the succession would go to the Eldest Brother. So what is the situation now? Is Bai Li Jun the legitimate or the eldest? Isn't he my father's brother? Did you all just agree to let him ascend the throne like that?"

Officials: ……

Then again, it got cold.

Isn't the Grand Marshal who disagreed already gone?

The King nodded ambiguously: "This flexible adaptability—I really admire it!"

Officials: ……Speak clearly, what do you mean by all this!?

Those who cared about face began to blush; those who cared about life felt they were blameless. Emperor Taihe is dead—if you don't support Emperor Guanglie, what then? Isn't it just the Bai Li clan stirring things up, the meat not yet spoiled in anyone else's pot.

Wei Shen, watching the whole scene, nearly laughed out loud; he figured it out—the King was just bored from waiting and amusing himself with them.

The King chatted with everyone for a while, amusing himself unilaterally for a bit, when movement stirred inside the Imperial City and a swift horse galloped out to report the news.

"Report to Your Highness, the rebels inside the Imperial City have been subdued! The Rebel King of Jiangxia, seeing the tide turn, still refused to surrender, first insulting Your Highness then stabbing himself to death."

The King again stared wide‑eyed, building up emotion, "Uncle~!"

Wei Shen immediately urged, "Your Highness, mourn."

Officials: ……May I ask what should be done with them? Cry or not cry?

"How could this be? Although Uncle committed a great crime, I still think that if he is willing to turn back, I will grant him a manor encircled in Chang'an, support him in his old age—after all, he is my own paternal uncle~"

Unfortunately, this time the King could not squeeze out tears. He could only ask gloomily, "Then what about my elder brother? Did Uncle leave any instructions?"

"Report to Your Highness, the Marquis of Eastern Capital briefly interrogated the Jiangxia Rebel King's confidant, who said that Emperor Taihe has already passed."

The King began to howl again, "Woo woo Elder Brother~"

This time there was a little feeling, but not much. Bai Li Jin had repeatedly tried to assassinate him, and the King's brotherly affection had mostly worn thin. Knowing Bai Li Jin was truly gone, that sorrow was also for his old father. Emperor Ningde truly loved his eldest son; on his deathbed he left the realm to this utterly ordinary eldest son, yet the son barely sat on the throne a few days before losing his life as well, leaving the King with a faint sigh.

"Your Highness, mourn." Wei Shen spoke again, going through the motions.

Gao Chang lowered his head but still glanced askance at the two of them with his peripheral vision—really, wasn't he suppressing a smirk?

How could he be so distrustful!