Chapter 1449: Finally Realizing the Crisis

Keluoke Imperium, deep within the Imperial City, the bedchamber of Keluoke Ershisi Shi.

The light inside the bedchamber was dim, with only a lamp on the bedside table still lit, shining on the old Emperor's withered face.

Keluoke Ershisi Shi leaned against the bed, covered by a heavy brocade quilt.

A trusted minister knelt before the bed, head lowered, not daring to look at him, reporting in a low voice.

"Your Majesty, the First Prince and the Second Prince... are assembling their fleets. Within three days, at least two fleets will arrive at Capital Planet Orbit. Nominally, it is for a rotation of guards, but... their mobilization speed is abnormal, and they have bypassed the normal approval procedures."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi's mouth curled slightly upward, and he said with gratification.

"It has finally begun. My two sons have finally realized the crisis. They are no longer sitting and waiting for death; they have begun to resist. Good, very good."

The trusted minister raised his head, looking at the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, are you not worried? They are assembling their fleets; they might be intending to..."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi raised his hand, interrupting him.

"Stage a coup? I know. I have waited for this day for a long time."

The trusted minister was stunned.

"Your Majesty, you... you knew all along?"

Keluoke Ershisi Shi coughed a few times and caught his breath.

"My sons, how could I not know? Kelake broke his leg, Kesuosi was placed under house arrest; they harbor resentment in their hearts. Kesi is gaining more and more power, and they are afraid. It is a good thing that they feel the crisis and dare to resist. If they were all like Keweinuosi, only watching from the sidelines and waiting for others to produce results, then I would truly be worried."

The trusted minister said cautiously.

"Your Majesty, are the actions of the First Prince and the Second Prince too radical? A matter as significant as fleet mobilization cannot be hidden. Formally speaking, they are committing treason."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi said with a smile.

"Radical? Of course it is radical. If they are not radical, how can they topple Kesi? Kesi is now at the height of his power, and most of the ministers in the court have leaned toward him. If Kelake and Kesuosi are not radical, they can only wait for death. I understand them."

He caught his breath and continued.

"But they are wrong. Do they think that assembling a fleet can force me to abdicate? That it can kill Kesi? Too naive. The only guards in the Imperial City that can be mobilized right now are mine."

"Their fleets are still on the way, and Kesi should already know. By the time their fleets arrive, Kesi's blade will already be at their throats."

The trusted minister lowered his head.

"Your Majesty is wise."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi looked at him.

"Wise? I am not wise; I am just old and have seen much. Kelake and Kesuosi have courage but no brains. Keweinuosi has brains but is too hesitant. Only Kesi... I feel he is no longer the playboy prince he once was. He does not seem like my son anymore."

The trusted minister asked.

"Your Majesty, then what do you intend to do?"

Just as Keluoke Ershisi Shi was about to answer, footsteps came from outside the bedchamber.

A guard walked to the door and knelt down.

"Your Majesty, Prince Kesi requests an audience."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Let him in."

The trusted minister stood up and stepped aside.

A moment later, Kesi walked into the bedchamber.

He was wearing deep purple prince's ceremonial robes, his steps steady, his expression calm.

He walked to the bed and knelt on one knee.

"Father Emperor, your son pays his respects."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi looked at him.

"Coming to pay respects so late?"

Kesi said.

"Your son heard that Father Emperor was unwell and could not sleep, so I came to check on you."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi said with a smile.

"Cannot sleep? Is it that you cannot sleep, or that you dare not sleep?"

Kesi raised his head, looking at his father.

"Father Emperor, your son does not understand your meaning."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi waved his hand.

"Do not understand? You understand very well. Kelake and Kesuosi are assembling fleets, and you come to see me—are you trying to gauge my attitude, or are you here to report them?"

After a moment of Silence, Kesi lowered his head.

"Father Emperor is wise; your son is indeed here to ask for your instructions on how to respond."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi stared at him.

"You want me to issue an imperial decree to stop their fleets?"

Kesi said.

"Your son would not dare. Your son is merely worried that the actions of the First Imperial Brother and the Second Imperial Brother will cause unnecessary chaos. If the fleets truly arrive at Capital Planet Orbit, the hearts of the court will be in turmoil, and I fear it will affect the stability of the political situation."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi coughed a few times.

"Chaos? Stability? Kesi, the way you speak now is becoming more and more like me."

Kesi lowered his head.

"Your son would not dare."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi leaned against the bed.

"You would not dare? You had Kelake suffer an 'accidental' fall from a cliff, you had Kesuosi placed under house arrest for 'corruption,' and you had the ministers of the court lean toward you. You dare to do everything, and now you say you would not dare?"

Kesi did not defend himself, did not deny it, and only kept his head lowered.

"Father Emperor, everything your son has done is for the sake of the Kelake Imperium."

"For the sake of the Kelake Imperium? Or for your own sake?"

Kesi said.

"For the sake of the Kelake Imperium; the Kelake Imperium needs a powerful successor, not a cripple, a corrupt official, or a fence-sitter."

The bedchamber fell silent; Keluoke Ershisi Shi stared at Kesi for a long time, then laughed.

"Good, well said; the Kelake Imperium needs a powerful successor. Among my sons, only you dare to say such things."

Kesi raised his head.

"Father Emperor, do you not blame your son?"

Keluoke Ershisi Shi shook his head.

"Blame you? Why should I blame you? If my son lacks even the courage to fight, that is what I should blame. Kelake and Kesuosi have only just begun to resist now; it is already too late. Keweinuosi does not even dare to resist. Only you, after returning from the Xiuluo Holy Star, knew what you wanted. I do not blame you. I am gratified."

Kesi's eye sockets turned slightly red.

"Father Emperor..."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi waved his hand.

"Do not cry, I am not dead yet. I ask you, how do you intend to handle the fleets of Kelake and Kesuosi?"

Kesi said.

"Your son wishes to use courtesy before force, first sending people to persuade the eldest imperial brother and second imperial brother to stop assembling their fleets and return to the capital to report on their duties. If they do not listen, then we shall take action."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi said.

"Will they listen?"

Kesi said.

"Your son wants the ministers in the court to see that I gave them a chance, and it was they themselves who did not cherish it."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi looked at him.

"You said just now that the Kelake Imperium needs a powerful successor. I ask you, who do you think is that successor?"

"Father Emperor, your son hopes that person is your son."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi laughed.

"Good, I also hope it is you. Go, I will wait to see your results."

Kesi stood up and bowed slightly.

"Your son takes his leave."

The bedchamber fell silent.

A trusted aide walked to the side of the bed.

"His Majesty, do you truly wish to give the position of successor to Prince Kesi?"