Force?

“I forced you?” Emperor Qizhen’s fists clenched tight, and he pounded heavily on the desk with a “thud.” He rose angrily to his feet, pointing directly at his unfilial son and demanding, “Did I force you to incite Jinghua to surround the palace and commit regicide? Did I force you to stage a coup and seize the throne? Did I force you to become so ruthlessly ambitious?”

Of course not!

“Back then when Jinghua tried to kill me, you brought troops to rescue me. I thought you would become a good emperor in the future. I was determined to bestow the Crown Prince position upon you, and even agreed to let you marry the legitimate daughter of the Ji family as your principal consort. I thought that once you obtained the Ji family’s military power, you would be content. But who could have imagined that you would turn my repeated indulgence toward you into a weapon for seizing the palace? You’d rather scheme at every turn than wait just a little longer! After I’m gone, this entire realm of Great Lin would eventually be yours anyway! But you were too impatient—your ambition was exposed. You even allied with the Ji family’s forces to rebel against me. Tell me, when have I ever wronged you? You are my son, not my enemy.”

You are my son, not my enemy.

Son?

Jing Yi laughed coldly, raising his head to meet his gaze. “If Father Emperor truly regarded me as your son, you wouldn’t have been guarding against me at every turn.”

“You still don’t know repentance?”

“This son has no regrets.”

What fine words—no regrets!

If Emperor Qizhen still harbored even a trace of reluctance toward him, it was now ground away completely. He walked around the dragon desk before him, descended those three steps, and walked toward him step by step, his dried eyes gradually moistening, his lips trembling.

Arriving before Jing Yi, he looked down at him, enunciating each word deliberately: “I have four sons—one dead, one ill, one who neither contends nor grasps, and one bursting with ambition. They say dragons beget dragon sons and tigers beget leopard cubs, but you four have entirely different natures. I often said that Jingrong resembles me before I ascended the throne—without ambition, unsuitable to be emperor. While you resemble me after I ascended—born with the heart and bones of a dragon, destined to be talented at governing the nation. But I was wrong, utterly wrong. Your heart harbors ambition for dictatorial power, and your bones are the proud bones that would kill everyone in the world.”

His voice trembled!

Hearing these words, Jing Yi’s eyes still showed unwillingness.

As he had said—no regrets!

Seeing his own son still unrepentant even at death’s door, he took a deep breath and said, “I will not kill you.”

Hm?

Not kill him?

Jing Yi was shocked!

Emperor Qizhen swept his wide sleeves and turned to look at the plaque inscribed with “Conduct Endures” hanging above the dragon desk.

After a long while—

“Someone come.”

Guards entered.

“Effective immediately, strip Jing Yi of his princely status, demote him to commoner, and imprison him in the palace dungeons for life.”

Equivalent to a life sentence.

The guards acknowledged the command and immediately lifted Jing Yi from the ground.

Jing Yi looked at his father emperor’s weathered back and smiled bitterly. “No matter how ambitious this son may be, I still don’t match Father Emperor by half.”

His words carried meaning!

Years ago, the reason Emperor Qizhen could ascend the throne was because Duke Yuguo yielded to him. As a result, many of Duke Yuguo’s faction members in court refused to submit, so he pinned crimes on them one by one and eliminated them all. Such ambition—Jing Yi truly didn’t match even half of it.

Jing Yi was escorted out of the great hall, where all the ministers and Jingrong were still waiting outside for the decree.

He glanced at Jingrong and smiled at him, saying, “You see, Father Emperor ultimately couldn’t bear to kill me. As long as I’m alive for even one day, I’ll fight you to the end.”

Jingrong: “…”

“I must also remind you—as long as the throne exists, the winds in this palace… will never stop blowing.”

He laughed heartily.

Then he was led away by the guards.

Jingrong heard his words and, though he appeared unmoved on the surface, his heart churned ceaselessly within.

After a short while, Zhang Quan emerged. “The Emperor commands: summon Prince Rong, General Kong, and Lord Kong into the hall.”

General Kong referred to Kong Qu, who had rushed here from the distant northwest.

Lord Kong referred to Kong Shengyi, who had left the capital early to raise troops in Hanzhou.

The three men acknowledged the command and entered.

“Paying respects to Father Emperor / Your Majesty.”

Kong Qu and Kong Shengyi were uncle and nephew.

Both men carried an innate toughness in their bones.

Especially Kong Qu—his skin was dark, his build imposing, and having lived in the northwest for many years, he naturally possessed a certain wildness, like an unleashed leopard.

The uncle and nephew had led their troops from the distant northwest and Hanzhou respectively, traveling thousands of miles. Fortunately, their timing was perfect—they caught Ji Li red-handed outside the city just as he was preparing to surround the capital at the hour of the rabbit. Though the two sides’ forces were evenly matched, Kong Qu’s soldiers had spent many years in that desolate northwestern land, and their temperament, courage, and stamina all slightly surpassed the troops that had been stationed in the capital for years. Therefore, they quickly captured the rebellious Ji Li alive, avoiding a bloody massacre surrounding the capital.

Years ago, after Empress Kong passed away, the Kong family officials had long since left the capital. Emperor Qizhen hadn’t given them much thought for many years. Yet unexpectedly, those who saved him this time were the unremarkable Kong family.

Emperor Qizhen looked at the two Kong family men. “This time you led troops here and rendered meritorious service in rescuing the throne. I will naturally reward you generously.”

“Eliminating traitorous ministers and rescuing Your Majesty is the inherent duty of our Kong family.” After a pause, Kong Shengyi said, “Moreover, this time it was Prince Rong who anticipated everything. Worried that Prince Yi might turn traitor, he sent letters to us two in advance. That’s how we could successfully rescue the throne.”

He attributed all the credit to Jingrong.

Emperor Qizhen nodded, looking at his gentle-natured son. “Indeed, Jingrong, your merit is indispensable.”

But Jingrong’s expression remained calm as he bowed. “This son dares not claim all the credit alone. Without General Kong and Lord Kong, this son would merely have a cart without horses—powerless to act.”

“In any case, all will be rewarded.” Emperor Qizhen continued, “And that Miss Ji—if not for her, my signature and seal would have been in grave danger. It’s just a pity that she…”

He sighed.

He didn’t continue speaking.

Jingrong hung his head, a trace of sorrow flashing through his eyes.

Was Ji Yunshu alive or dead?

It seemed no one yet knew.

…

An hour later, at Tongren Hall.

Recently, many leaves had fallen in the courtyard. When the wind picked up, quite a few blew into the hall.

Peng Yuanhai, the Minister of Personnel, brought the Emperor’s decree to Jingxian.

Jingxian seemed much healthier, holding a hand warmer as he stood before that enormous bookshelf.

He took down a book from it.

Flipped through it.

Smiling slightly, he said, “I didn’t expect Father Emperor would ultimately still be reluctant after all.”

Peng Yuanhai: “Though he spared Prince Yi’s life, with Prince Yi imprisoned in the palace dungeons for life, he’s also a废人 now.”

“A废人!” Jingxian chuckled. “Does he think that as long as he’s alive, he’ll have a chance to turn the tables? Simply dreaming.”

Hm?

“What does Your Highness mean?”

He closed the book in his hand, his eyes deepening. “A tiger’s offspring will certainly be a tiger. Even without teeth, it still has a pair of sharp claws.”

Peng Yuanhai grew more confused the more he listened.

Jingxian walked to the brazier and opened his hand warmer, pouring the burning charcoal inside into the large brazier.

Sparks immediately flew up.

“Could Lord Peng possibly think… that Jingrong will spare him?”

Sinister!