novelraw Chapter 698 - 687: The Cuckolded Prince
Chapter 698 - 687: The Cuckolded Prince
Emperor Xingwu had fallen into a coma for three full days; by the time he awoke, the royal decree to recall Ye Ke to the capital had already been issued. Even as the Emperor, even with the desire to stop it, he could not disregard the will of the court ministers and the citizens throughout the city.
Learning this news almost made him faint again from anger, but he managed to hold on, though his health plummeted drastically.
"It was you who orchestrated this, wasn’t it? It was you." Lying in bed, he pointed at Empress Liu, trembling with rage.
"Your Majesty, you are unwell. Please rest more. The affairs of the court can wait, as various ministers are there. Ke’er will soon return to the capital; he will help share your burdens," Empress Liu affectionately tucked him in.
"I am fine, no need for your concern, you venomous woman. Where is Doctor Du? Where is my ginseng soup?" His balance faltering, emotions running high, if not for the eunuch Lian Xi caring for him by his side, he would have nearly fallen.
"Doctor Du is waiting outside. However, the Imperial Physician said your Majesty’s body is too weak to benefit from tonic at the moment—you should simply rest and recuperate," Empress Liu said with feigned concern, which only increased Emperor Xingwu’s displeasure.
"Get out! Get out of here! Where is the Prime Minister? I want to summon the Prime Minister."
"One of Prime Minister Shen’s students has been accused of corruption and bribery. Coincidentally, this student also presented many gifts to the Prime Minister’s Mansion during the festive seasons. Prime Minister Shen is currently under investigation by the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Personnel."
"What about Grand Commandant Chen? Summon him to the palace," Emperor Xingwu said with a face full of anger.
"Grand Commandant Chen’s son was involved in a street brawl and injured someone. Grand Commandant Chen, facing the shame of accusations backed by the Imperial Censorship, is now bedridden out of guilt," Empress Liu kindly explained, but Emperor Xingwu seemed to take a heavy blow, beginning to cough violently.
"Lian Xi, take good care of His Majesty. If anything arises, inform me right away," Empress Liu coldly instructed.
Now, even the palace guards had changed their allegiance, and Lian Xi, the eunuch, dare not disobey: "Yes!"
"What is going on? What exactly is happening?" After Empress Liu left, Emperor Xingwu clutched at Lian Xi’s garment and asked.
"Your Majesty, please take your medicine," Eunuch Lian Xi dared not say more.
"Where is General Li? Where is my Imperial Army?"
"Your Majesty, General Li is injured, and the Imperial Army is now led by Fifth Prince." Lian Xi finally relented, carefully speaking.
"Fifth? What right does that incompetent man have to lead my army without my command?"
"Your Majesty, many incidents have occurred in the capital during your coma, including attempts by foreign spies to intrude on the palace and assassinate Your Majesty. As General Li was injured, he recommended the Fifth Prince."
"I am the Emperor; without my orders, who dares to assume command?"
"These spies were captured by the Fifth Prince, and all the ministers also agreed that it was best for the Fifth Prince to temporarily take on the responsibility of guarding the Palace City," Eunuch Lian Xi’s voice faded, seeing that Emperor Xingwu was now gasping for breath, furious beyond words.
"I am the Emperor! Do I even exist in their eyes?"
"Your Majesty, you should rest more and heal your injuries," Lian Xi advised.
Five days later, Ye Ke successfully arrived at the capital, and by that time Emperor Xingwu’s health had marginally improved, enabling him to meet with some ministers. However, carrying out his intended commands was not as easy as he had imagined.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is of depraved character and unworthy to rule. Please dethrone him from his position as Crown Prince," the ministers pleaded.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince must not be released; if the Crown Prince is innocent, where is the justice in this world?"
"What wrong has Fifth Prince done? Please give an explanation to the citizens of the world!"
"Please reconsider, Your Majesty!"
"We, your subjects, swear to death not to comply!"
"Insolence! You are all insolent!" Emperor Xingwu’s face turned red and purple, having barely recovered his health, it seems he might have a stroke.
Doctor Du, who was always standing by, hurriedly came forward to administer acupuncture, gradually stabilizing the Emperor, but the ministers below remained kneeling for a long time.
"It is not that we want to force Your Majesty’s hand, but the capital is shaken. Please, Your Majesty must soon give the people of the world an explanation. The Crown Prince is innocent; heaven cannot tolerate this injustice," Lao Wang earnestly advised.
"Uncle Wang, even you press me," Emperor Xingwu’s face turned ashen as he looked at the kneeling ministers below, knowing that the situation was out of his control.
"Ha ha... Very well then!" He laughed wildly as he looked up to the sky, "I can depose the Crown Prince, but who shall take up the role? Fifth, you have been wronged; how about I grant you the title of Crown Prince?
This old fool!
Ye Qiu cursed inwardly and immediately knelt down with a serious face: "Father Emperor, your son is incompetent and cannot take on the position of Crown Prince. Your son believes that whether by the rules or by ability, it should be elder brother who assumes the role."
"I truly misjudged you in the past," Emperor Xingwu huffed coldly, then turned to Ye Kai and said, "Seventh, you are more sensible than your Fifth brother. You shall take on the position of Crown Prince!"
Ye Kai, who was named, broke out in a cold sweat. If he didn’t realize that it was the elder brother and the Empress who were behind the recent events, he would be a fool!
Even Fifth had long since sided with the elder brother, helping to fan the flames. If he accepted his Father Emperor’s ludicrous offer now, he feared he would have no way out, wouldn’t he be marching straight to his doom at his Father Emperor’s behest?
His Second brother is his Father Emperor’s son, are they picking up their sons from a trash heap? Are they just tools for venting?
Seventh Prince Ye Kai, full of resentment, knelt forward and said, "Father Emperor, I have always only known to indulge in food and pleasure, truly unfit for the position of Crown Prince. I recommend elder brother, please put the state first and establish elder brother as Crown Prince."
This one is another fool, not even wanting the position of Crown Prince. Emperor Xingwu sneered again and looked towards Prince X, Ye Qi.
Ye Qi did not come from a prominent maternal family, and though he was not as ridiculous as Ye Qiu and Ye Kai, he also kept his distance from the courtiers, always a bit transparent.
But having been transparent for so long, he had some sense of crisis. Before Emperor Xingwu could even speak, he hurriedly knelt down and said, "Father Emperor, I too support elder brother to be established as Crown Prince."
"Well done, all of you!" Emperor Xingwu was infuriated, "You don’t want the title of Crown Prince, but naturally, others do. I still have the Fifteenth Prince."
"Your Majesty, the Fifteenth Prince is barely two years old; he cannot be established as Crown Prince! Please reconsider, Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, you mustn’t act impulsively. Right now Beihu and West Wolf covet our territory, Dongchen absolutely cannot descend into internal chaos!"
"Please establish the elder brother as Crown Prince!"
"I second the motion!"
"We too, second the motion!"
"You are pressuring me; all of you are pressuring me; I am the Emperor; I am the ruler of Dongchen Country!" Emperor Xingwu roared in anger.
"Please consider the common people, Your Majesty."
"We would rather die here in Jinluan Palace today than agree to Your Majesty establishing the Fifteenth Prince as Crown Prince."
"Your Majesty, only when Jun Qing is capable can the people be at peace, you must not act on a whim."
"What do you want to do? What if I insist on pardoning the Crown Prince? Are you going to rebel?" Emperor Xingwu glared and bellowed.
At this moment, Lao Wang stood up and said, "If Your Majesty insists on solitary decision-making, we will have no choice but to appeal to Emperor Ming’s decree."
On hearing this, Emperor Xingwu’s pupils contracted sharply: "You... "