The expressions of Prince Qi and the Third Prince, who didnāt know why at first, also gradually changed. The more they listened to the records that Chief Li read, their expressions became uglier, and then they finally felt like they had entered the ice cellar.
It turned out that the booklet was a record of all their treachery. Why did the Emperor stop visiting the Imperial Concubine after the Third Prince was born? It was because the Third Prince was not his son at all, but the child of the Imperial Concubine and an imperial guard.
Of course, the imperial guard died and had gone to the netherworld long ago. The Emperor didnāt mention this matter just so Prince Qi could sit as the next emperor smoothly. Over the years, the harem has been virtually empty. The Imperial Concubine couldnāt see the emperor or other men, so being in the harem was no different from staying in the cold palace. If she hadnāt wanted to kill the Emperor and become the Empress Dowager, she would have lost all courage to live on. It was for this very reason that she entertained the idea of obtaining poison elixirs for the Emperor.
Of course, the elixir matter was entirely confidential. After Chu Xiang discovered it, the Emperor ordered Chief Li to add it to the booklet later.
There were also records of the hideous deeds that Prince Qi and the Third Prince committed in private, including the families of their wives and noble concubines. Only in the past year or so, the Emperor was too weak and wanted to gradually decentralize power, so he stopped monitoring them. Unexpectedly, in just one year, Prince Qi did such a big thing as setting a trap to harm Li Yufeng and concealing the disaster. The emperor didnāt even dare to think what would have happened if Li Yufeng hadnāt returned.
The Emperor asked Chief Li to finish reading everything, just like cutting off that old affection of the past decades. He didnāt want to say much. He looked at the Imperial Concubine and said, āGive her the white silk.ā
Then, he looked at Prince Qi and the Third Prince who were already dumbfounded: āYou two are brothers, so guard the imperial tomb together.ā
There was nothing in the imperial mausoleum, and the life of the guards there was worse than that of the villagers. How could they live like that kind of life when they were young and pampered? Besides, how could they be brothers? They have just been at loggerheads. If they were really locked together, wouldnāt they have nowhere to vent their resentment but on the other party? The Emperor was letting the brothers kill each other!
The Imperial Concubine backed away screaming, āNoā Your Majesty, this concubine is wronged. They are both your sons. You canāt treat us like this. Your majestyāā
Chief Li waved his hand, and immediately someone gagged her. They brought a white silk and strangled her to death in front of Prince Qi and the Third Prince!
Prince Qi and the Third Prince struggled with all their might but failed to break free. They could only watch their mother die in front of them, their eyes red with too much stimulation. The Emperor was disinclined to listen to their begging for mercy or rebellious words. He should have taught and managed these children these years. It was his fault for failing to educate them.From the start, he really wanted to pass on the throne to the Second Prince, yet he actually acquiesced in giving him the poison elixirs.
This kind of rebellious son couldnāt be tolerated by anyone, so let the half-brothers reflect in the imperial mausoleum. If they could reconcile as brothers and live a good life, it would be considered their blessing. If they couldnāt reflect on themselves and wanted to make a fuss and die together, then that was up to them.
The Emperor ordered people to take them away, and Chief Li didnāt let them have a chance to make a sound. In this regard, Chief Li has always been satisfying.
The reason why Li Yufeng and Chu Xiang allowed them to keep making trouble until today was to root out all their supporters and completely eradicate their power.
When the room returned to quiet, Li Yufeng presented the list of Prince Qiās accomplices to the Emperor, but he didnāt even look at it. He just smiled and waved his hands. āIām tired. Iāll leave these things to you. Itās time to give you the power to govern the countryā¦ Be careful and donāt let me down.ā
Li Yufeng put away the list as he said, āImperial Father, rest assured. You will never be disappointed. Before you abdicate, I and Xianger still have a big gift for you.ā
This actually aroused the Emperorās interest. āOh? What kind of gift?ā He caught off guard and looked at Chu Xiang. āCould it beā¦ Are you pregnant?ā
The Emperorās face changed a few times, both happy and anxious, āThis, itās a mortal and a demonā¦ thisā¦ā
Chu Xiang blinked. āWhat are you thinking? We have such a long life-span. If we really want to have a child, maybe he will be the Crown Prince for the rest of his life, and we are still alive. Who are we trying to harm?ā
āUh, thisā¦fair enoughā¦ā The Emperor never thought about this question. Chu Xiang was a thousand years old. The life-span of the child of a mortal and a demon must be longer than that of a demon. Could they possibly give birth to a son and let him be the Crown Prince for the rest of his life? That was to harm him.
Li Yufeng knocked on the table and said, āImperial Father, stop worrying about these things. You see, donāt you think those bastards, Second and Third Brother, are not raised well in the palace? Itās better to choose a gifted talent who is suitable for wielding power outside. After we cultivate him well, he can inherit our legacy. Besides, how many generations do you want to pass the throne on?ā