Chapter 104: Why Won't You Choose Me? (First update,)

"In your eyes, am I the greatest Evil of them all?"

Laughing frivolously, Li Long raised his eyebrows and said with a playful tone:

"How about you come and take my head?"

Li Long's voice was playful, as if he were merely cracking a joke while conversing with his son.

He spoke with ease, but no one who heard these words would be so naive.

Clatter—

On the city wall, the remaining Imperial Guards who had not yet knelt fell to their knees in a wave.

The Emperor was furious.

This was understandable and within the realm of reason.

Whoever is forced to abdicate by their own son would likely not feel at ease, so it is normal to say a few angry words.

Within the aggressive Righteous Army, there was a flurry of whispers, and a few sneers broke out.

They were already in rebellion, having almost no awe for Li Long in their hearts, and at this moment, they felt only contempt.

The Emperor's depth of character, is this it?

Heh.

In front of the Righteous Army, the Eldest Prince Li Jiyang, standing with his back to the crowd, felt his pupils constrict, and his face changed color slightly.

Outsiders would take Li Long's words as a slip of the tongue born of anger, but Li Jiyang would not.

Although Li Long was not an excellent Emperor, he was an Emperor who held himself to strict standards.

A golden word is a law; the monarch does not speak in jest.

Once Li Long spoke, he had never broken his word.

Not even once!

The Emperor of Beigan, regarding his son who had raised the banner of rebellion, had likely truly developed the intent to kill.

"Father Emperor..."

He spoke subconsciously, but halfway through, Li Jiyang shut his mouth.

No.

He could not compromise again.

Otherwise, wouldn't it be the same as in the past?

Clenching his fists, Li Jiyang suppressed his fear and said slowly:

"Your Majesty, surrender."

Surrender?

Li Long stared at Li Jiyang with amusement, then shook his head in disappointment.

Li Jiyang:!!?

Not missing this detail, Li Jiyang clenched his fists tighter and gritted his teeth.

"... Your Majesty! Li Qiushui acts as the head of the house to murder the innocent, frame the loyal, and shows such contempt for the law; why must you shield and indulge her?"

Li Jiyang restrained his emotions and shouted loudly at Li Long:

"The Son of Heaven who breaks the law is punished the same as a commoner. We in Beigan have our own laws, but if even we do not abide by them, how can we in Beigan convince the people of the world?"

"And how can we put the hearts of our ancestors at ease!?"

His voice was full of emotion, causing those who heard it to involuntarily cast their gazes upon him.

Waving his arms, Li Jiyang shouted with fervor:

"I only hope Your Majesty will investigate clearly! For the sake of the people of the world, and for the sake of the nation of Beigan, do not shield her any longer!"

Thousands of the Righteous Army slammed their weapons onto the ground in unison and shouted:

"We only hope Your Majesty will investigate clearly!"

"We only hope Your Majesty will investigate clearly!!"

"We only hope Your Majesty will investigate clearly!!!"

Incendiary words, the hearts of the people, the ancestral shrines and the nation... one accusation after another of defying the world was heaped upon Li Long's head.

In the end, Li Long was almost becoming a muddled and tyrannical ruler who was unfilial and treated human life like grass.

Watching this scene, Li Long raised his eyebrows and asked his son, whose face was flushed with excitement:

"Then according to your meaning, how should I act?"

Completely immersed in the atmosphere he had constructed, Li Jiyang was bursting with excitement, yet he did not forget his purpose:

"Imprison Li Qiushui, grant her death by white silk, announce it to the world, and return justice to the Song Family!"

Looking at Li Jiyang, Li Long shook his head in disappointment and asked:

"Do you also need me to write an edict of self-reproach, abdicate to the worthy, and pass the throne to a prince who is the popular choice?"

Because of this counter-question, Li Jiyang's excitement subsided quite a bit, and he found it somewhat difficult to discern Li Long's true intent.

"This... if Your Majesty is willing, it would naturally be the most convincing to the people of the world."

"Good, then I will ask you, which prince do you think is the most suitable?"

Which one?

"This..."

Did this even need to be said?

Li Jiyang naturally wanted to say himself, but it was not convenient to take the initiative to propose it, otherwise, it would become a point for others to gossip about in the future.

At this moment, someone in the Righteous Army behind him noticed his embarrassment.

The leader of the Righteous Army took the initiative to jump out; he walked to Li Jiyang's side and said loudly:

"Does this even need to be said? It must be the wise and martial Eldest Prince, he is..."

His words were not finished.

It was not because of the pressure of the Emperor's majesty, nor was it because he was stopped by anyone else.

It was because he simply could not continue to finish speaking.

A line of blood appeared on his neck, rapidly spreading; as he took a step, his fine head rolled away, still wearing its previous arrogant expression.

The headless corpse twitched twice before falling powerlessly to the ground.

Fresh blood splashed all over Li Jiyang's face.

The scalding blood poured onto his face, yet Li Jiyang felt cold all over.

This was the most powerful existence in the Righteous Army; he had clearly boasted that he could fight Shi Anqi for a hundred rounds or so without being defeated.

But now... he was dead.

Killed by a single glance from Li Long.

Just like that?

Li Long glanced at the fallen corpse and gave a light huff:

"Noisy, what place is there for you to speak here?"

Then, he looked at the silent Li Jiyang again and continued to ask:

"Come, you continue."

"Who do you think is the most suitable?"

I...

His mouth opened subconsciously, but Li Jiyang did not know what to say.

Say what?

At this point, what else could he say?

He had already lost.

The intelligence was wrong.

The City Guard Army had not left the city, half of the Righteous Army had not appeared, and the most important group of people had also vanished.

More importantly...

Li Long, who they said was in a poor state and restricted, with his strength regressed for many years, was even more powerful than in the past.

He had failed.

This Clearing the Emperor's Side, planned for many years, had died halfway through just as it had begun.

It had ended without even causing a ripple.

"Heh..."

Li Jiyang suddenly felt that he was somewhat ridiculous, and he let out a snort of laughter:

"Hahahahaha!!!"

Even somewhat pathetic.

Under the uncomprehending gazes of countless people, Li Jiyang began to laugh like a madman.

The people watching this had not expected such a turn of events.

They did not understand; just because one person died, why had Li Jiyang collapsed like this?

Was this Eldest Prince really so fragile?

Li Jiyang could feel the gazes piercing his back, but he no longer cared.

With his face covered in blood, he stared at Li Long and shouted, answering with something irrelevant:

"Your Majesty!"

"Why will you not appoint me as Crown Prince?"

Why!!?

"According to ancestral law, I am the eldest son of the legal wife! According to prestige, which of the noble families does not submit to me? According to the hearts of the people, which of the commoners in Wentian does not know me!?"

He lost his composure and pulled at his own hair, roaring his question:

"But only! The only thing is that I cannot compare to them in cultivation! Must this Emperor be a martial brute?"

Under the gaze of countless people, Li Jiyang finally spoke the words he had buried in his heart for decades.

"Why will you not appoint me as Crown Prince..."

Father Emperor, why?

Why are you unwilling to choose me?