Chapter 293

Does the court have any high-ranking official surnamed Wang?

There are some, but they're all sons of wealthy southern clans—not related to the Wang family in the capital. Why are you asking about this?

"Just bored out of my mind," Chen Guanlou said offhandedly, brushing the matter aside.

Was there once a powerful Wang family in the capital? For example, thirty-five years ago?

Lu Datou looked bewildered. "Thirty-five years ago? I was still a child—how would I know? Probably not. If there had been a powerful Wang family in the capital, I'd have heard of it."

Chen Guanlou nodded in understanding. This wasn't urgent—he could inquire slowly.

He gazed toward the imperial palace, wondering when the old emperor would finally lose his mind. Not a single man in court dared raise his voice, call for the purification of the sovereign's court, or emulate Huo Guang by deposing and installing a new ruler.

In the end, it was simply because no one held military power.

…

Taiji Palace.

Outside the palace gates, the corpses had been removed and the bloodstains washed clean. Perhaps the young eunuchs had been too nervous while cleaning—they'd missed the dark red stains in the corner, and they'd likely lose their heads for it later.

The court ministers still knelt outside the palace gates, now with cushions to sit or lie upon.

Some ministers, too weak to endure, simply gave up, lying on their cushions, shivering in the early spring wind, huddled beneath a thin blanket for warmth.

The old emperor, in his mercy, had provided cushions and blankets, and imperial physicians stood by, ready to treat any minister who collapsed.

Some cushions lay empty—not from desertion, but because the ministers had fallen ill and been moved to side halls to recover. Once they felt slightly better, they would return to their posts.

Inside Taiji Palace, the old emperor sat cross-legged on a soft cushion, meditating to cultivate the Dao and seek immortality. He looked utterly serene, as if unaffected by anything.

Qiu Defu learned the latest news from the young eunuchs, his brow instantly furrowed. He waved his hand, signaling them to withdraw.

He slipped silently to the old emperor's side, bowed low, and whispered, "Your Imperial Highness the Crown Prince has not eaten today—and has stopped drinking water as well."

"What does he intend?" The previously calm old emperor suddenly erupted, raging like a caged beast.

"Is he trying to force me? Or frame me? Does he want the whole world to witness this farce of imperial family bonds?"

The old emperor could no longer sit in meditation. He rose and stormed back and forth through the hall. At this moment, anyone he disliked would die.

Thus, inside the hall, every palace maid, eunuch, and Daoist priest—except Qiu Defu—knelt prostrate, trembling. Each one was terrified, yet dared not show it. Any slight shiver, any involuntary movement, would draw the enraged emperor's attention—and mean death for the next victim.

No one wanted to die.

Everyone was desperately trying to protect themselves.

"What is his goal? I never forced him to fast. Who is he playing this for? A display of defiance?"

The old emperor flew into a frenzy.

Outside the palace gates, the court ministers all strained to listen.

The Crown Prince had fasted for three days.

This game between father and son had reached its critical moment.

When the old emperor paused for breath, Qiu Defu spoke again: "The Eastern Palace has submitted a memorial. The Crown Prince has petitioned to be stripped of his title."

"What did you say? What nonsense are you spouting?"

The old emperor seemed stunned—utterly unprepared for this absurd turn of events.

Qiu Defu offered the memorial with both hands. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince claims he lacks virtue: he cannot be kind to his brothers below, nor relieve your burdens above; he constantly angers you—he is profoundly unfilial. Unfilial, undutiful, unkind, unjust—he is unworthy to remain Crown Prince. Hence, he petitions to be deposed."

"Absurd! Utterly absurd! Does he think I intend to depose him? I have never thought such a thing—not once! He has completely misunderstood my intentions!"

The old emperor pressed his hand to his face, as if consumed by the anguish of a father whose child fails to understand him.

Qiu Defu's expression remained blank, still bowing low with both hands extended, offering the memorial. The posture was uncomfortable, but he could hold it for hours without moving—that was the discipline of the Chief Eunuch. Without such discipline, one had no right to serve the old emperor.

"Absurd! Truly absurd! Do I look like I'm forcing him? Have I ever thought of deposing the Crown Prince? Why don't the ministers understand me? Why do they misunderstand me? Now even the Crown Prince misunderstands me! The Crown Prince is the root of the state—how could I possibly depose him? He has committed no grave crime. His faults are minor, forgivable. Sigh!"

"If you have no intention of deposing the Crown Prince, why station troops in the capital? Why surround the Eastern Palace?"

Finally, a minister unafraid of death stepped forward, standing outside the palace gates, shouting in anger:

"Insolent! Insolent!" The old emperor flew into a rage. "Who is slandering me? Arrest them! Arrest them all! Not one shall escape!"

"Even if you cut off my head, I must ask: What is your purpose, Your Majesty? Why are you rebelling?"

"Rebellion! All of you have rebelled!"

The old emperor tore a sharp sword from the wall, lunging as if to charge out and slaughter them on the spot.

Qiu Defu, seeing this, dared not hesitate—he rushed forward to block him. "Your Majesty, no! Absolutely not! The ministers are merely speaking rashly. If you truly draw blood and kill your ministers, the whole world will curse you. History will record it—and future generations will spit upon your name!"

"Who dares record it?"

"I, as the historian, am bound to record every word and deed of Your Majesty."

"Cut them down! Cut them all down!" The old emperor raved, his behavior utterly deranged.

Qiu Defu clung desperately to the old emperor's legs, holding him back with all his strength, while shouting to the young eunuchs: "Quickly, summon the two Chancellors! Hurry! Your Majesty, calm down! Do not act rashly!"

"You old useless waste—get out of my way! I'm going to cut down these traitors who dare slander me! This is grave disrespect—they all deserve death!"

Just then, the two Chancellors, who had been ill and resting in the side halls, arrived in haste. Upon hearing that the Crown Prince had petitioned to be stripped of his title, they were both stunned, unable to believe it.

Then they learned the old emperor denied any intention to depose the Crown Prince, claiming the prince had misunderstood him—and they were even more astonished, murmuring in disbelief: There could be no greater shameless rogue in the world.

The old emperor had stirred up all this chaos precisely to depose the Crown Prince. Now he was lying, claiming he never meant to—utterly fabricating nonsense, treating everyone as fools.

No wonder the ministers outside the gates had finally snapped and shouted in fury.

A sovereign of the realm, hypocritical and deceitful, speaking falsehoods day after day—this was the misfortune of the Great Qian Dynasty, and the nightmare of all under heaven.

"What are you doing, Your Majesty? Put down that sword at once—if you hurt yourself, it will spark another upheaval."

Left Chancellor Li Liangcheng, ever the capable one, spoke with the tone of a senior scolding a youth—and yet the old emperor could not retaliate.