Song of Adolescence

Chapter 418 The Sovereign Rules Heaven

Grandmaster Tang died, and Tang Clan turned against him.

The Hidden River betrayed him and turned to serve the Red Prince.

The Eunuch of Records died unexpectedly, and he lost his greatest supporter in the inner court.

He lost his most capable counsellor but regained the light, White Prince Xiao Chong. He was almost forgotten by everyone during this period. In the eyes of many people, he had already lost any hope of vying for the throne. But, the final appearance of this powerful ally from his side had changed the final result.

"Yan Zhantian." Jin Xuan sneered. "I'd forgotten his existence."

Lei Wujie glanced at Xiao Se. "What do we do now?"

Xiao Se side-eyed Jin Xuan and whispered, "Go home."

Jin Xuan smiled and said, "I didn't expect that neither of us would win this time."

"Grand Eunuch, do you regret sticking out your head too early?" Xiao Se asked, "Now that you've shown your face on behalf of the Red Prince, you can no longer hide your identity."

"So be it." Jin Xuan looked up at the sky.

Xiao Se and Lei Wujie turned and left.

The news of what happened here spread quickly, and although it was already the dark of night, most of the large residences in Heavenly Revelations City were still brightly lit.

Li Tian returned to the Grand Preceptor's Residence. He bowed his head and reported, "I have failed the Grand Preceptor."

Dong Zhu shook his head. "It was I who committed the wrong. You did your best. The rest is up to fate."

"How about running away?" Li Tian asked hesitantly.

"You've actually thought about this wrongly," Dong Zhu said meaningfully.

Yong'an Prince Residence.

Ye Ruoyi bowed slightly to the sudden visitor. "Thank you, Gonggong, for the trouble."

The eunuch nodded slightly. "Please be sure to relay the message to the little Prince."

"Gonggong, rest assured," Ye Ruoyi replied.

Not long after she saw the court eunuch out, Xiao Se and Lei Wujie walked back in. Lei Wujie sighed at Ye Ruoyi who was still standing at the door. "Failed."

Ye Ruoyi smiled. "I know."

Both Xiao Se and Lei Wujie were taken aback. "How did you know?"

Ye Ruoyi looked at Xiao Se and said solemnly, "Just now, Wang Lu Gonggong from the Office of the Inner Court came over. You've been summoned to the palace. His Majesty wants to see you."

Xiao Se shook his head helplessly. "This time, my imperial father has made a strange move again."

Red Prince Residence.

Xiao Yu walked out and headed silently in the direction of the palace gates.

Hall of Supreme Peace.

Mingde Emperor stood there with his hands clasped behind his back. He seemed to be a little thinner than before, and his complexion was also paler. Hua Jin had used up all of her effort to heal him, yet she could only watch Mingde Emperor's body weaken day after day. Lanyue Marquis and Li Changqing stood on either side of the emperor armed with their sabres while Jin Yan knelt before him.

None of the few people present said a word. Even Mingde Emperor didn't say another word after summoning the eunuchs from the Office of the Inner Court. Everyone could tell that he was waiting for someone.

The first person to walk in was the White Prince Xiao Chong, dressed in white. He didn't seem surprised by the scene in the hall. He bowed his respects to Mingde Emperor and stood to one side.

After a long time, Xiao Se also walked in. He bowed his respects to Mingde Emperor, met Xiao Chong's gaze and walked to stand beside him.

"You knew about this?" Xiao Se asked in a low voice.

Xiao Chong sighed. "I suddenly received the order from Father as well."

Xiao Se had just taken his place when Xiao Yu also walked in. He laughed and commented, "Oh? Everyone's here."

"Yu'er, stand with Chuhe," Mingde Emperor said softly.

"Understood, Father. Are we having a family meeting?" Xiao Yu grinned and stepped aside.

Mingde Emperor coughed lightly, ignored him, and said to Jin Yan, "Rise."

Jin Yan stood up, bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty."

"You don't want to guard the Imperial Mausoleum, and you can't bear to give up your power, so you lured the Langya Army into the capital. That is already a death sentence. But, you even tried to make use of that list of conspirators in your hand to incite our sons to fight each other. How should this crime be judged?"

"Execution by a thousand cuts." Jin Yan's head was covered in sweat.

"Yes, execution by a thousand cuts," Mingde Emperor said coldly. "But since Lanyue Marquis has already told you that I will not kill you, then of course, I will not kill you. You won't even have to enter the Court of Judicial Review."

"Thank Your Majesty for your benevolence!" Jin Yan knelt down and prostrated repeatedly.

"Get up. Give me your document of cosignatories," Mingde Emperor said solemnly.

The three Princes present were gripped with sudden anxiety.

Jin Yan stood up and took off his python robe.

"This fat man. Did he write the names on his own body?" Xiao Yu laughed.

Jin Yan immediately took off the belt around his waist, put on the python robe again, and respectfully presented the belt to Lanyue Marquis. Lanyue Marquis accepted the length of cloth and handed it to Mingde Emperor.

"A belt of cosignatories?" Mingde Emperor said softly.

Jin Yan nodded. "Because this guilty subject knew that this was the final asset that could save my life so I kept it hidden on my person at all times, for fear of it being snatched away by others."

Mingde Emperor looked at the belt. Although the names was hidden on the other side, he could still see the black writing all over it. He didn't turn it over, and simply turned to ask Xiao Se and the others, "Do you want to know the names written here?"

Xiao Chong shook his head. "I don't want to know."

Xiao Se also shook his head. "If it landed in my hands, I would naturally want to know. But, now that it's in Father's hands, then this secret should only be known by one person."

Xiao Yu, however, was still grinning frivolously without respect. "If Father wishes to read it out, then read."

"I don't have to look, and I can guess the names on it." Mingde Emperor looked at the belt. "The first name must be Dong Zhu."

Jin Yan and Lanyue Marquis were shocked, especially Lanyue Marquis. Although he had just fought Li Tian, the house steward from the Grand Preceptor's Residence, he did not report the incident to Mingde Emperor.

Mingde Emperor picked up the belt and suddenly, he turned around and walked slowly to the brazier.

"Huang-xiong!" Lanyue Marquis exclaimed.

Mingde Emperor didn't give Lanyue Marquis a chance to object. He lifted the belt and threw it into the brazier under the astonished eyes of everyone present. They all watched as the belt that could command over half of the Beili Dynasty burned slowly into ashes.

"In fact, most of them didn't want to conspire. They only felt that we were no longer capable. Beili belongs to the Xiao Clan, but it doesn't have to belong to me. Shen Xiduo wants to arrest the people on that list, but if he does that, the imperial court will be finished too." Mingde Emperor turned around and looked at his three most beloved princes. "But after this, there won’t be anyone trying to change to another lineage of the Xiao Clan to succeed the throne."

The three princes understood Mingde Emperor's intentions. They bowed their heads. "Thank you, Father."

"Our time is running out, and there's not much else we can help you with. You must help yourself." Mingde Emperor sighed. "The sovereign rules over Heaven, but it's more important to rule the heart."

"People's hearts are fickle. Even if they are grateful to Father for your benevolence this time, what if they change their mind again next time?" Xiao Yu asked.

"Then kill them. Don't spare a single one of them," Mingde Emperor said solemnly.