Chapter 131

The matter of military power in the southern border is of great importance; it is the sharp sword in the hands of the king.

As the crown prince and the future successor to all of this, if he resorts to scheming, it would be foolish, tantamount to seeking a dead end!

Emperor Yong has always understood his son. Over the years, the crown prince has been impeccable in his actions, and what has touched Emperor Yong the most is his obedience and honesty.

He has never privately associated with courtiers nor established his own power in the palace. Instead, he diligently fulfills his duties as the crown prince.

This plot against Guo Xiuyun is definitely not the crown prince’s doing.

His other sons— the third is sickly, the youngest is still a child— only the second son, he has ambition, cunning, and the capability!

Thinking of this, Emperor Yong suddenly pounded on the jade table, emitting a dull sound.

Upon seeing this, Huang Gonggong, feeling both distressed and anxious, cried out, “Your Majesty!”

He crawled to the table, pleading in a low voice, “Your Majesty, if you’re angry, you can scold or beat this old servant to vent your frustrations, but please don’t harm yourself!”

Emperor Yong’s eyes reddened slightly. Seeing Huang Gonggong, who always thought for his sake, he felt a sudden sense of desolation.

“Huang Pei, I’ve been so good to him, what else does he want?”

“He laid his hands on my pillow yesterday, and today he schemes for my military power. What about tomorrow? Will he seek my life tomorrow?”

Trembling all over, Huang Gonggong wanted to advise, but he really didn’t want to speak for the second prince.

Having accompanied Emperor Yong for so long, he deeply understood how indulgent Emperor Yong was towards the second prince, a favor not even enjoyed by the crown prince!

“The second prince… truly disappoints me. It seems that confining him to the Zongren mansion for a year hasn’t curbed his ambitions nor corrected his position!”

Emperor Yong muttered to himself, then slowly resumed his seat.

Seeing Emperor Yong seemingly calm down, Huang Gonggong hurriedly knelt beside him, wanting to check Emperor Yong’s right hand.

However, Emperor Yong suddenly spoke in a cold voice, “Huang Pei.”

Startled, Huang Gonggong straightened his back, “Your servant is here.”

Emperor Yong turned his head to glance at the wall, where a portrait of Princess Yuliu hung, then abruptly withdrew his gaze, saying in a deep voice:

“You personally remove all the spies the second prince has placed in the palace!”

Huang Gonggong, hearing this, raised his head abruptly, disbelief written on his face.

Seeing Huang Gonggong’s expression, Emperor Yong’s disappointment towards the second prince deepened.

Even Huang Pei could see how good Emperor Yong was to the second prince, yet the second prince failed to appreciate it.

In that case, he should receive a severe lesson!

Regaining his senses, Huang Gonggong’s heart surged with waves of shock and fear. He hastily replied, “Your servant will comply with the order.”

Emperor Yong still felt unsatisfied and instructed, “Send a copy of the ‘The Book of Filial Piety’ to the Zongren mansion. Let the second prince learn how to be a proper son!”

Huang Gonggong quickly agreed. He wanted to check Emperor Yong’s injury first, but Emperor Yong waved his hand with a cold expression.

“It’s fine, go now!”

Not daring to disobey the imperial decree, Huang Gonggong hurriedly retreated.

Alone in the study, Emperor Yong stared at the messy floor blankly for a moment, then suddenly opened a hidden compartment and stood before a portrait.

In the portrait, Princess Yuliu sat gracefully on a couch, her smile gentle and her eyes tender, frozen in Emperor Yong’s memory as the most beautiful image.

Emperor Yong reached out to touch Princess Yuliu’s face, then clenched his fist slowly.

“Yuliu, I’ve been very good to him, he used to be obedient and playful, and I tolerated it.”

“Man’s heart is insatiable, he better not push me too far…”

“For your sake, Yuliu, I’ll give him one more chance…”

—

The Zongren Mansion.

The second prince sat behind the desk, sleepless throughout the night.

Last night, Li Xusheng returned defeated once again. Upon learning that the Imperial Army had intervened, the second prince knew that he had truly suffered a humiliating defeat this time.

He was waiting—for Emperor Yong’s judgment.

“Your Highness.”

A strange voice suddenly came from outside the door.

The second prince’s eyelids fluttered slightly as he stood up.

He walked slowly to the door and saw several young eunuchs from the palace.

With respectful gestures, they approached, holding up a piece of silk wrapped around various items from the Western Regions.

“Your Highness, His Majesty has decreed for you to read this book thoroughly.”

The second prince expressed his gratitude and accepted the silk.

Seeing the items delivered, the young eunuchs respectfully took their leave, hurrying back to report.

When Zhou Bo hurriedly arrived upon hearing the news, he saw the second prince standing at the door, lost in thought.

His heart skipped a beat as he approached, only to see the second prince holding a book with two large characters written on the cover—The Book of Filial Piety.

Zhou Bo’s expression suddenly changed. “Your Highness, this… this…”

The second prince’s expression turned cold, his hands slowly tightening, but then abruptly stopping.

In the next moment, he let out a slow breath.

The situation was somewhat better than he had anticipated; it was just a warning, nothing too serious.

As long as he behaved himself and found the right opportunity to stage a performance, perhaps he could regain the favor he once had…

As the second prince’s thoughts reached this point, he suddenly heard a commotion from the hall.

He turned sharply, only to see Zhufeng rushing in anxiously, his face extremely grim.

The second prince’s heart skipped a beat, and Zhufeng knelt at his feet, trembling as he spoke, “Your Highness, just now, Liuyun sent word—our people placed in various palaces have all been eliminated within an hour, not a single one survived!”

The second prince’s pupils contracted suddenly, his breathing becoming rapid.

“What about the East Palace and the Yikun Palace?”

Zhufeng looked up anxiously, shaking his head in despair.

The second prince staggered slightly, feeling dizzy for a moment.

All the effort and planning he had put in after making up his mind… all gone in an instant…

He thought he had acted unnoticed, but it turned out Emperor Yong had known all along, yet he had waited until now to strike, dealing him a heavy blow!

At this moment, the second prince felt a chill throughout his body, finally realizing the terrifying aspect of being an emperor.

Zhufeng was at a loss, looking up at the second prince, trembling as he asked, “Your Highness, what should we do now?”

Zhou Bo stood by, his heart burning with urgency, wanting to speak but hesitating.

The second prince let out a long, slow breath, calming his mind.

“Not in a hurry. This is just a lesson. Since he likes obedient and well-behaved sons, then I shall be as he wishes.”

Zhufeng was uneasy. “But, Your Highness, we’ve lost so many people all at once. It may be difficult to control the information within the palace for a while.”

The second prince’s face darkened. At this moment, a poem he had seen yesterday suddenly flashed through his mind:

“The youths of Jiangdong are talented; their resurgence is unpredictable.”

“Zhufeng, we haven’t lost yet. Just wait. On the day of the Longevity Festival, this palace will naturally return to everyone’s sight!”

And he still held a weapon in his hand.

It was left to him by his mother, his last reliance!