novelraw Chapter 492 - 256, The rise and fall of a 300-year dynasty_2
Chapter 492 - 256, The rise and fall of a 300-year dynasty_2
"In this vast world, where can one not reside?"
"Why fixate solely on a corner of Fengxi Country?"
Xu Xing laughed.
As these words fell, even the most dull-witted of the Three Princes of the Royal Family understood Xu Xing’s purpose for making such a commotion upon returning to his homeland. In a word: to select "reliable" people, move to another land, and establish a new kingdom.
...
「At night.」
In Shenjing, Ziwei Palace.
"Where are the three imperial uncles? Why haven’t they entered the palace to take over the imperial city?"
Emperor Xiaochang, sitting forlornly on the Dragon Chair, glanced at the lonely starry sky outside the hall, a sense of desolation growing in his heart. He looked at the eunuch beside him and asked in a deep voice.
Since the armies of the Three Princes had approached the city, every quarter of an hour that passed had been agonizing for him. Once today was over, he would no longer be an emperor.
"Prince Rui, Prince Xu, and Prince Zheng went to see Feudal Official Yan..."
"They haven’t returned yet."
The eunuch lowered his head, repeating the same sentence.
"What about Prince Zhou?" Emperor Xiaochang furrowed his brows, suddenly remembering his own brother, and quickly asked.
If I were to abdicate the throne to Prince Zhou today, allowing Prince Zhou to take on the responsibility in this time of crisis, then I would not be considered a deposed emperor. Instead, I would be an emperor who abdicated his throne.
"This humble servant doesn’t know." The eunuch shook his head. The imperial palace is surrounded by the armies of the Feudal Kings; not even a bird could fly out. How could I have the means to investigate Prince Zhou at Prince Zhou’s Mansion?
"I must have been muddled," Emperor Xiaochang muttered to himself, seemingly on the verge of madness. "Transferring the throne to Prince Zhou... absurd, absurd..."
The eunuchs and palace maids in the hall, seeing this, slowly moved away from Emperor Xiaochang to avoid becoming collateral damage.
"Prince Zhou? You don’t need to look for your brother. Before the fall of the Divine Capital City, I used my means to help him escape from Shenjing..."
Suddenly, another voice echoed in the hall. Emperor Xiaochang looked up. He saw Empress Dowager Li, clad in a phoenix robe, slowly walking in from outside. She was dignified and composed, yet a cold smile touched her lips.
"What has Mother come for?" Emperor Xiaochang automatically ignored the matter of Prince Zhou’s escape. His pupils constricted slightly, a cold glint in his eyes, as he asked coldly.
"For the Imperial Seal."
"You can die, but the lineage of Emperor Jingjia cannot be severed from your line," Empress Dowager Li said faintly.
The Imperial Seal was originally in her hands; it was her means of controlling Emperor Xiaochang. However, circumstances had changed. Since Emperor Xiaochang began to rule personally, her power to "govern from behind the curtain" was abolished. Thus, the Imperial Seal had returned to Emperor Xiaochang’s possession.
"For Prince Zhou?" Emperor Xiaochang clenched his sleeve robe. If the Three Princes discovered the Imperial Seal was missing during the surrender, then my fate would be dire. There would only be death.
"Does Mother want to force me to die?" he asked angrily.
"It’s not that I am forcing you; it’s you who is forcing me. You and Prince Zhou are only three years apart, but when your eldest brother died, I went against everyone’s wishes and made you emperor..."
"Was it because you were more capable than Prince Zhou, or because you were more filial to me? Neither. It was simply because I, your mother, doted on you." Empress Dowager Li’s eyes showed a loving glimmer as she sighed.
Both Emperor Xiaochang and Prince Zhou were legitimate sons. Although there was a difference in their birth order, this was not crucial. During the Guangwen Dynasty, she had already grasped the reins of government and possessed the power to install an emperor with a single word. This was also why the entire court worried that she might depose Emperor Xiaochang.
"Prince Zhou lost his right to the throne, so I have been doubly fond of him..." Empress Dowager Li shook her Qiufu gently.
As her words fell, Emperor Xiaochang finally softened. He knelt beneath Empress Dowager Li’s phoenix robe, crying uncontrollably, full of remorse for his past actions.
Shaoqing, the Imperial Seal changed hands.
"Quickly, hurry to Prince Zhou’s residence and hand this Imperial Seal to Prince Zhou."
"Also, order General Yan Rujian of the Forbidden Army to escort Prince Zhou."
"Let Prince Zhou escape back to his fief."
After Empress Dowager Li left Ziwei Palace, she immediately summoned her confidant and gave these instructions.
Shenjing fell within a day. I was under house arrest by Emperor Xiaochang in the palace; how could I have known the news in advance to let Prince Zhou escape? What I said just now was merely a lie to deceive Emperor Xiaochang.
...
「One hour later.」
Prince Zhou had become a felon. He was forcibly taken by General Chang Feng, under Prince Xu’s command, to the Daoist temple where Xu Xing and the Three Princes of the Royal Family were.
"Your Highnesses, Prince Zhou was attempting to flee the city with the Imperial Seal but was reported by General Yan of the Forbidden Army..." Chang Feng said, half-kneeling.
As he spoke, he glanced at the four people in the courtyard. He was shocked to see the three well-established Princes of the Royal Family showing such respect to the young scholar in the yard. Their behavior was nothing like he imagined princes would act.
"Prince Zhou?" Xu Xing was surprised for a moment upon hearing this. He first looked at Chang Feng, clad in shining armor, and then his gaze fell upon Prince Zhou, who was kneeling on the ground beside Chang Feng, a wooden collar around his neck.
"Feudal Official Yan, please save me! I... I..." Prince Zhou knelt on the ground, weeping. He had never expected that the trusted aide Empress Dowager Li had arranged for him would betray him so directly while escorting him out of the city, without a moment’s hesitation. Just like that, he had become a felon.
The Three Princes of the Royal Family were also surprised to hear this.
When Prince Xu saw Xu Xing’s interest in the matter, he coughed lightly, looked at General Chang Feng, and inquired about the details.
「Half a moment later.」
After Chang Feng’s explanation, everyone learned that Prince Zhou’s arrest was due to Empress Dowager Li’s desperate, last-ditch effort...
"Prince Zhou, do not panic. We are your imperial uncles... Out of respect for the late emperor, we will spare your life..." Prince Rui asked Chang Feng for the key, personally removed the wooden collar and shackles from Prince Zhou, and said with a smile.
"Thank you, Imperial Uncle Rui." He was surprised that his three imperial uncles were so easygoing today, but he didn’t dare to question them. So, after murmuring his thanks, Prince Zhou stood silently to the side.
「Half a day later.」
The sky was bright.
Xu Xing, accompanied by the Three Princes of the Royal Family, went to the Shenjing Royal Palace and arrived at Ziwei Palace. He ascended to the high seat and sat upon the Dragon Chair.
Below, Empress Dowager Li and Emperor Xiaochang were astonished by this scene, but, intimidated by the cultivator’s might, they dared not speak.
"You unfilial descendants! Seeing the Grand Ancestor Emperor, why don’t you quickly pay your respects?" The Three Princes of the Royal Family brought their own crown princes and other sons into the hall, kicking each one on the buttocks as they whispered this command.
Only then did Emperor Xiaochang, Prince Zhou, and Empress Dowager Li learn Xu Xing’s true identity.
"I... I have seen Grand Ancestor."
"It is I... unfilial and deserving of death, for actually thinking of moving Empress Dowager Xiao Zhang’s tomb..." Emperor Xiaochang was scared half to death. He knelt on the ground, admitting his mistake, finally understanding the magnitude of his dreadful error.
"I... this concubine..." Empress Dowager Li was in a similar state. Remembering her audacity in Xu Xing’s presence, she felt an overwhelming sense of shame.
"It seems my Xu Family... still has poor luck in the immortal path. Among you descendants, only four possess some aptitude for cultivation..." Xu Xing ignored the pleas of Emperor Xiaochang and Empress Dowager Li. He swept his Divine Sense over the innate talent of the Xu Family descendants present, shook his head, and spoke.
The customs of the North Wilderness differed from those of southern East Huangzhou. Immortals and mortals were not entirely segregated but interacted to some extent. For example, in Crane Emblem Country, the Eldest Princess Wu Miao was the Saintess of the Starfall Sect. Many of the remaining royals also had cultivation talent and had joined various sects in the North Wilderness.
With my strength, it wouldn’t be difficult to establish several small kingdoms in the North Wilderness. The difficulty lies in whether these small kingdoms could continue to survive without my protection.
Never mind. Once we get to the North Wilderness, we can just intermarry with the royal families of other countries, Xu Xing thought to himself.
The Xu Royal Family’s current lack of talent also had something to do with me. When Zhao Yunniang was pregnant with Xu Zhang, my own aptitude was not much different from that of ordinary people... So, my later descendants didn’t inherit any of my current immortal constitution and Daoist foundation at all.
Next, Xu Xing flicked his great sleeve, and the descendants of these feudal kings were swept onto his Fire Cloud Escape, ascending into the sky with him. Some trusted aides and generals of the imperial family and feudal kings were also taken away.
Soon, only Empress Dowager Li, Emperor Xiaochang, Prince Zhou, and a dozen or so members of the Xu Royal Family who had agreed to the relocation of the graves remained in Ziwei Palace.
"In the future, Fengxi Country will still be ruled by the lineage of Emperor Jingjia. It can be Emperor Xiaochang, or it can be Prince Zhou..."
Shortly after, an ethereal, untraceable voice drifted from within the hall.
As the words fell, a yellow cloth-wrapped package appeared on the Dragon Chair.
"It is the Imperial Seal..." Emperor Xiaochang, seeing this, hurriedly climbed the steps, approached the Dragon Chair, and tucked the yellow cloth package into his robes.