Chapter 1054: Persuading Death

Chen Guanlou let Mu Yiguan Mu hurry up and prescribe the medicine.

"If you miss this village, you won't have this shop. Take advantage

Medical Official Mu was a bit overwhelmed.

He shook his head and asked, "My lord, didn't you go to test whether he was real or fake? How did it turn into poisoning him for a quick death?"

Whether the world was changing too fast or he was just too old to adapt, the development of events was completely unexpected and always so unbelievable.

"A total old schemer, tight-lipped as a clam. Regardless of whether he's real or fake, let's just get rid of him first," Chen Guanlou said through gritted teeth.

Medical Official Mu truly looked at him with new eyes regarding his emotional shift. "Did the Prince of Chu really agree?"

"If he hadn't agreed, could I have poisoned him without authorization and made him beg for death? Old Mu, stop doubting. The Emperor wants to subject him to death by a thousand cuts; how could he endure that? It's better to choose a way to die and go peacefully. As for what happens after death, he can't control that."

Upon hearing this, Medical Official Mu thought it made sense. The Prince of Chu looked like someone who avoided the heavy and sought the light; he certainly couldn't endure hardship or pain. Choosing a more comfortable way to die was also reasonable.

Medical Official Mu wanted to prepare the medicine and followed Chen Guanlou down to the Jia-block prison.

"Your Highness, look, you haven't eaten for two days; your body is very weak. Drink the medicine, and your body will be able to recover."

The Prince of Chu stared at the medicine bowl with a very strange expression—part sorrow, part joy, with hesitation, reminiscence, reluctance, and finally, determination.

He tilted his head and asked Chen Guanlou, "If I drink this bowl of medicine, is there no turning back?"

"Does Your Highness wish to go back on your word? There is still time."

Although Chen Guanlou despised the other's fickleness, he would not be evasive about what needed to be made clear, nor would he take back the opportunity that should be given. Others had the right to decide their own life and death and choose how to die; he could only offer suggestions and cooperation, not make decisions for others.

The Prince of Chu reached out and touched the medicine bowl. As if it were a flood or a wild beast, he retracted his hand in a flash. A look of fear and unease appeared on his face.

Chen Guanlou raised his eyebrows slightly, remaining calm and composed.

Medical Official Mu coughed lightly and said, "This medicine isn't bitter; I added some bee honey."

The Prince of Chu was hesitant, truly showing a tendency to back out.

"Your Highness, everything must be done quickly; we must seize the time. His Majesty has already returned to the palace, and there isn't much time left until the Heaven-Offering Ceremony. You must think clearly! Don't ruin your own life."

"Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, say no more. I know, I know everything. It's just... there are things in my heart I can't let go of."

"Your army has been defeated, your Prince's Mansion has been raided, and your family members are all locked in different cells suffering. You cannot control anyone's fate, and you can't even control your own. What else is there that you can't let go of? In the end, you're just afraid of death."

"That's right, this Prince is indeed afraid of death."

The Prince of Chu cried again, shedding silent tears, looking like he was neither dead nor alive.

Chen Guanlou was very disgusted. Are men these days all so fond of crying?

He looked at Medical Official Mu, who indicated there was nothing he could do to help.

It angered him so much that he wished he could just pick up the medicine bowl and pour it into the Prince of Chu's mouth.

Of course, he only thought about it and wouldn't actually do it. The medicine had to be drunk by the Prince of Chu of his own free will. The death must also be the Prince of Chu's own willing choice. He only provided assistance and suggestions; he would never do it himself.

He was a Jiang Jiang Yucheng of the Heavenly Prison with principles; he didn't play the game of forcing sales.

"The medicine bowl will be left here. If you think it through, drink it. If you can't think it through, you can call to stop at any time. In any case, there is still time to back out today. After today, you cannot be like this anymore."

Having said that, Chen Guanlou prepared to lead Medical Official Mu away.

"Wait!"

Unexpectedly, the Prince of Chu called the two of them back.

"I'll drink it!"

"Are you sure? Have you thought it through? No backing out? Here, there is no regret medicine to eat."

He hoped that everyone who chose this path could choose firmly and walk it firmly, rather than being fickle.

Death is inevitable sooner or later; dying early means being reincarnated early.

"This Prince has thought it through." The Prince of Chu gritted his teeth. "At this point, this Prince has no other way to go. The Emperor is a base person; he views us vassal princes as enemies and hates that he cannot skin us, suck our blood, and extract our bones. Rather than letting him be triumphant, it is better for this Prince to end it himself; I must not let his plan succeed."

"What plan does he have?" Chen Guanlou was very curious. "Besides the Heaven-Offering, what else does the Emperor want to do?"

"What else does he want to do? Haha, he wants to use this Prince's head to tamper with historical records, slander the late Emperor, and flaunt his own achievements. This Prince will not let him have his way."

Chen Guanlou was startled. "How does he intend to tamper with the historical records?"

"Naturally, by slandering the late Emperor's sacrificial altar explosion case as a divine punishment, to confirm the late Emperor's reputation as a muddled ruler. And he, in turn, will be the wise ruler who restores order, turns the tide, and saves the Great Ming's Jiangshan."

"You can even play it like that!" Chen Guanlou and Medical Official Mu looked at each other in dismay.

Medical Official Mu sighed, "His Majesty's heart is truly... too vengeful."

"More than just vengeful." The Prince of Chu snorted coldly, full of resentment. "He is clearly an executioner who has killed countless people. The one who truly deserves divine punishment is him, not the late Emperor. The late Emperor died so innocently and so unjustly."

He was overcome with grief and wailed incessantly.

Chen Guanlou twitched his mouth. He didn't even want to think about who it was that raised the banner to rebel against the late Emperor back then, and now he was starting to cherish the memory of the late Emperor. He could really act!

"Stop crying and drink the medicine quickly. Once this medicine is drunk, everything will get better."

The Prince of Chu tearfully picked up the medicine bowl, his hands trembling.

It's bitter!

Accompanied by tears, he finally made up his mind, drank it in one gulp, and swallowed the whole bowl of medicine into his belly.

Chen Guanlou let out a long sigh of relief; he had finally managed to coax this ancestor.

"Lie down and rest! If you're bored, read a book for a while."

The Prince of Chu put down the medicine bowl and asked, "Will it be very painful?"

Medical Official Mu shook his head. "It won't be painful; you are just sick. When you are sick, your body is weak and lacks vitality."

"Is that so? This Prince thought all poisons would make people suffer unbearably." The Prince of Chu smiled bleakly.

"You must believe that your death is worthwhile." Chen Guanlou started to bluff again. "Even though you are dead, your spirit of rebellion will live on, and your fellow countrymen will all be proud of you. You are a hero with an iron backbone; you haven't disgraced yourself!"

Medical Official Mu couldn't bear to look. Even at this point, Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen didn't forget to give people a pep talk; how cruel!

Listening to those words, the Prince of Chu lay on the bed board. "That's right, this Prince hasn't disgraced himself. This Prince hasn't failed everyone's expectations. This Prince lived standing, and I will die standing; I must not let Emperor Jian Shi succeed. Treacherous villain, may he not die a good death."

"No one in the Imperial family dies a good death! You will see that scene sooner or later!" Chen Guanlou's words of comfort were completely insincere.

The Prince of Chu was dazed, as if he had remembered something. "Earlier, you wanted to ask if this Prince is a body double, right?"