Chapter 298: One Man Kills One Man

Li Liangcheng spoke without restraint, openly giving up, leaving the right chancellor Wu Kangyi stunned.

Qiu Defu was equally astonished, glancing between Li Liangcheng and the old emperor, fearing the old emperor would fly into a rage.

"I never intended to harm him; I only want him to be a proper son." The old emperor, rarely so calm, explained patiently.

Li Liangcheng's expression turned solemn. "Has he not done enough? What point makes him unworthy of being a son? It was Your Majesty who relentlessly pressured him—forced him, to save his life and protect the ten thousand souls in the Eastern Palace, to resort to fasting. Who, if living well and seeing hope, would choose death? Your Majesty knows full well the root of the problem, yet you deliberately ignore it."

"You despised him before, fine. But now he's been deposed, no longer a threat to the throne—why won't you let him go? Why continue to mistreat him over mere material things?"

"If it's to humiliate him, why stoop so low? Simply issue an edict to strip him of his title and imprison him—that's enough."

"If not to humiliate, then please, Your Majesty, correct your attitude and grant the Prince of Zhong the respect and treatment he deserves. He is a deposed crown prince, but still a prince, a lord, a member of the imperial clan—he should not be treated this way. I beg Your Majesty to rescind your order."

How bold!

Right Chancellor Wu Kangyi thought inwardly: Li Liangcheng must have given up on his life. The deposed crown prince was his backbone. Had he dared this before the deposition, might things have changed?

Wu Kangyi pondered carefully: No, there could be no turning point. Even if Li Liangcheng sacrificed his life, he could not alter the old emperor's firm decision to depose the crown prince.

So this courage now was merely throwing caution to the wind—betting solely on the old emperor's guilt.

The old emperor was clearly furious, his beard trembling—but, unusually, he did not explode.

"Get out! All of you, get out!"

"Please, Your Majesty, rescind your order!"

"Get out!" The old emperor kicked over the nearby tea table. "All of you—get out!"

Li Liangcheng, unafraid of death, tried to speak again. Wu Kangyi, quick as lightning, clamped a hand over his mouth and dragged him toward the palace gate. "Chancellor Li, don't act rashly! Come, come, let's go to the Political Council and have some tea to cool down."

He didn't let go until they reached the palace gates.

Li Liangcheng glared at Wu Kangyi. "The crown prince is deposed—Prince Jin must be ecstatic!"

"Why are you blaming me? I didn't start this. It's that man's stubbornness—what can I do? As for Prince Jin, he's terrified right now. If even the crown prince can be deposed, which prince dares claim greater favor? It seems like an opportunity, but who knows if it isn't a death sentence?"

Wu Kangyi sighed repeatedly—he was wronged too.

He pointed toward Taiji Palace. "That man is in a rage. Angering him won't solve anything. Instead, summon the Director of the Lesser Treasury. Have him grant the Prince of Zhong dignity. If he refuses, the Political Council will deny the Lesser Treasury any dignity. We cannot stop the deposition—we're powerless. But we can still deny the Lesser Treasury its dignity."

Now that's the voice of a man.

Li Liangcheng's expression eased slightly. He stormed ahead, furious, determined to protect the Prince of Zhong. At least for now, he would not let anyone bully him. The Prince of Zhong had only lost his title as crown prince—he was not dead. Whoever dared bully him would have to answer to him.

The old emperor slumped onto the steps, looking utterly defeated.

Qiu Defu whispered gently: "Your Majesty, the ground is cold."

The old emperor waved wearily, too exhausted to move.

"Your Majesty, why take offense at Chancellor Li? He's overwhelmed with grief, defending the Prince of Zhong—his words were rash, nothing more. Let this eunuch go to the Political Council and remind him of his place, of the proper way between sovereign and minister."

"No need. Li Liangcheng truly cares for my third son. I can tolerate him."

The deposed crown prince was the third son. His two elder brothers were both illegitimate and died young. He was the true, legitimate eldest son—his status was orthodox to the extreme; no emperor in the empire's three-hundred-year history could match him.

To depose such an orthodox heir—without grave fault, with an excellent reputation—no wonder Li Liangcheng had gone mad.

Qiu Defu cautiously probed the old emperor's thoughts. "Should I give a hint to the Lesser Treasury?"

At that moment, a junior eunuch reported: Jiang Tu requested an audience.

Jiang Tu, these days, was riding high. While court officials grieved as if mourning their own dead, he felt like drinking iced watermelon in the height of summer—thrilled from head to toe. The crown prince was finally deposed—ha ha ha!

Everyone who opposed Jiang Tu met a bad end.

The deposed crown prince was the best proof.

He came to the palace today to relieve the old emperor's burdens.

The emperor and minister were in harmony—Jiang Tu had just lifted the old emperor's spirits—when he suddenly changed tone. "I've heard the deposed crown prince still harbors disloyal intentions, causing Your Majesty distress. I am willing to relieve Your Majesty of this burden!"

The previously harmonious atmosphere turned suddenly stiff.

The old emperor narrowed his eyes slightly. "You just said you're willing to relieve me of this burden?"

Jiang Tu gloated inwardly. "Precisely! Your Majesty need say nothing—just give me a hint."

"How do you intend to relieve me of this burden?" The old emperor's tone showed no change.

Yet Qiu Defu's eyes flickered with clear delight at the coming spectacle.

Jiang Tu spoke without hesitation: "Whatever Your Majesty wishes! The goal is to make the deposed crown prince understand his current state—so he'll never again trouble Your Majesty. Anyone who dares defy Your Majesty shall meet the same fate as the deposed crown prince—no good end!"

"You truly do relieve me of my burdens!" The old emperor sighed with emotion.

Jiang Tu smiled. "Everything I have today is granted by Your Majesty. Relieving Your Majesty of burdens is my duty."

"Excellent! Excellent! A true servant relieving me of my burdens!"

The moment he finished speaking, the old emperor turned on him, raised his foot, and kicked Jiang Tu straight down.

Jiang Tu was still stunned when the next blow struck.

"Relieve me? Did I ask you to relieve me? Should I thank you for thinking so far ahead?"

Each question was followed by a kick—aimed at the face, the chest.

He seized the nearby rosewood chair and slammed it hard against Jiang Tu's body.

Jiang Tu lay on the ground, too dazed to resist or recover, only screaming: "Your Majesty, I meant it sincerely!"

"I treasure your sincerity—I treasure it dearly!" One foot came down, crushing Jiang Tu's nasal bone. "I told you to relieve me! I told you to relieve me! I told you to relieve me! Get out! Get out!"

As he spoke, he drew the sword from the wall, raising it as if to strike.

Qiu Defu feigned a half-hearted attempt to stop him. "Your Majesty, you cannot!" Then, pretending he failed to block it, he collapsed to the ground, unable to rise for a long while.

Seeing the old emperor draw a blade, Jiang Tu did not hesitate. Ignoring his wounds, he dared not plead, dare not explain—he crawled, scrambled, and fled Taiji Palace like a dog. One second later, and he'd be dead.