Recalling all those events from back then was like stepping on blade tips—a heart-cutting pain!

Every time he thought of them, he could not sleep through the night.

After listening, Duke Yuguo felt deep sympathy. His face, covered with wrinkles and scars, grew heavier. He let out a soft sigh and gradually began to recall the past.

Speaking in a low, somber tone, he said: “Back then, the late Emperor had already left an edict establishing me as the new Emperor. But I had no interest in the throne, so I willingly yielded it to my imperial brother—your Father Emperor. Who could have known that after he ascended the throne, he would be wary of me at every turn? He stripped me of military authority, suppressed my power and influence. For a full six years, anyone who opposed him either died or was imprisoned. Throughout the entire court, no one dared speak a word. I thought that if I withdrew from court politics, no longer interfered in any state affairs, and even surrendered the only military power I had left in the capital, he would spare my life out of brotherly affection. But imperial power still made him deeply suspicious, and ultimately he resolved to kill me, to eliminate me completely. I will never forget that night. He secretly ordered my household guards transferred away and had everyone in my household burned alive. Almost everyone involved with that night died soon after. Even your uncle and some officials who had walked closely with me at court were successively charged with the crime of ‘treason’ and executed. What I did not expect was that before your uncle Chen Feng died, he wrote down the entire truth in a letter. If he died, the letter would be secretly delivered to your mother consort. But the letter had barely been delivered when your Father Emperor issued a kill order, forcing your mother consort to die, because… he wanted to silence everyone, including you!”

What!

When he finished speaking.

Jing Xian staggered back several steps, his back slamming hard against the screen behind him.

“Crash!”

The screen toppled backward, hitting several vases placed behind it.

The vases all fell to the ground, shattering to pieces!

Jing Xian’s body trembled. He opened his mouth but could not utter a single word.

Duke Yuguo continued: “If your Father Emperor knew I had not died, he would definitely continue hunting me down. So when the fire broke out, I could only exchange clothes and jewelry with Zhao Hao, then crawl out through a dog hole. Fortunately, I was so badly burned all over that the city gate guards found me disgusting and did not dare touch me. They gave me only a cursory inspection, allowing me to leave the capital and hide in Guang’an Temple. Not long after, your uncle and some court officials were charged with treason and beheaded one by one. Then news came from the palace that your mother consort had died of illness. I worried that something would happen to you too, so I found ways to secretly contact you, telling you to feign illness and escape disaster.”

This sudden truth—Jing Xian had waited fifteen years for it!

His own uncle had died unjustly!

His mother consort had died unjustly!

He had dreamed of uncovering this matter.

Yet he never imagined it would be such a cruel truth. That Son of Heaven sitting on the dragon throne, enjoying the worship of ten thousand people, was actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

He laughed coldly, laughed bitterly, his eyes brimming with tears. He furrowed his brow tightly and said, “Then why did you not tell me these past fifteen years? You clearly knew I wanted to investigate this case, and you clearly knew how much I wanted to know the truth. Why did you not tell me earlier?”

“What good would telling you have done? This case… cannot be investigated at all.” Duke Yuguo said helplessly. “Everyone involved back then is already dead. There is no one who can provide testimony. So several years after those events settled down, I had you contact Master Yu at Mingshan Academy. Through the power of his students who serve as officials at court, I helped you clear obstacles at court and assist you in smoothly entering court service in the future. Once your influence is consolidated, investigating this case thoroughly will be much easier. What I did not expect was that Minister Qin would petition about this case, and His Majesty was forced to agree to retry it. I should have been pleased, hoping they could find evidence proving that everything was done by your Father Emperor’s ambition. But who knew that all our plans would be completely disrupted by that Master Ji who can divine bones and paint portraits? She can paint pictures of the dead. When that happens, His Majesty will know I am not dead. Fortunately, he does not believe it, so he will not allow the tomb to be opened for examination!”

After speaking, he laughed strangely!

Jing Xian seemed to perceive something and asked, “You came today not just to tell me the truth, is that right?”

“Indeed, it is not as simple as just telling you the truth. As I said, the best time has arrived.”

“…”

“You may not yet know this, but Jingrong plans to secretly open my tomb before the ancestral rites. He wants to continue investigating to see who is really inside. It is precisely because of this that we have the best opportunity.”

“Jingrong wants to secretly open the coffin? What does that have to do with the timing?”

“Do you still not understand even now?”

“What should I understand?” Jing Xian was confused by his words.

Duke Yuguo pressed his brow ridge tightly, his eyes bursting with an invisible force. He looked directly into Jing Xian’s eyes, approaching him step by step.

“From the very beginning, the important thing was never this case—it was you.” He extended his finger, poking Jing Xian’s chest. “As long as one day you can gain power at court, even if your Father Emperor tries every means to cover up the truth, it will be like a cart trying to block a horse—completely useless. This is also why I had you seek out Master Yu. All along this path, first there was the Crown Prince, then Jing Yi. Now, only Jingrong remains.”

Jing Xian suddenly understood his meaning.

“You want me to… eliminate Jingrong?”

“That is correct. I have paved this road for you for so long. If you give up now, it will all be for nothing. Once Jingrong discovers the person in the coffin is not me, His Majesty will definitely hunt me down in secret. When that happens, both you and I… will have to die! Not just you and me—Master Yu and his students will all lose their lives. Countless lives will flow with blood.”

What!

Jing Xian’s entire body trembled.

Lives!

More lives!

Seeing his hesitation, Duke Yuguo grabbed his arm, eyes wide, and said forcefully: “I have already told you the truth. Now that the Crown Prince and Prince Yi are both dead, if you just eliminate Jingrong, you will be Dalin’s future heir apparent, the future Emperor. At that time, thoroughly investigating the ‘Linjing Case’ will be as easy as turning over your hand!”

“No…”

“I risked my life to enter the capital because now is the best time. But if you cannot bear it and still care about brotherly affection, then not only will you be unable to give your mother consort justice—for the rest of your life, you will only be a virtuous prince. You may even end up in the same situation as me.” Duke Yuguo continued.

Jing Xian’s eyes widened.

Hesitation filled his heart.

His gaze lowered, and he shook his head slightly, saying: “Jingrong has done me no harm. To become Emperor, I do not necessarily need to eliminate him.”

“Such womanly compassion!” Duke Yuguo pushed him away forcefully and said angrily, “If you do not eliminate him, he will kill you.”

“He will not.”

“Do you think Prince Yi committed suicide out of guilt? Then let me tell you—Jingrong killed him in prison. So do you still expect him to spare you in the end? Imperial power and position have always been a matter of life and death.”