GBP Chapter 429 World 748
Chapter 429 World 748
Unaware of the situation outside the palace, the Crown Prince and the First Prince believed they had victory in their grasp and were making boastful remarks in front of the Emperor.
Holding the sleeping Chengsi, the emperor calmly asked, "Why did you force me to abdicate?"
“What else could it be?” the eldest prince laughed. “Father, you’ve been emperor for too long. It’s time to change people.”
The emperor ignored the eldest prince's words and looked at the crown prince instead.
The Crown Prince turned his face away and said, "Father, even if I don't force you to abdicate, how long can you tolerate me?"
"How could you have such an idea?" the emperor asked, feigning interest.
Seeing that he still seemed to have everything under control, the Crown Prince suddenly started talking.
"No matter what I do, Father is never satisfied. You dislike me because my ideas differ from yours, you hate the people I appoint, and even the gifts I present are never as good as those of others in your eyes."
"Father, you always praised me for doing well before, so why did you change your mind later?"
The emperor hesitated for a moment, then retorted, "Your so-called difference of opinion is nothing but empty talk, naive and ignoring the facts?"
"As for the people you appoint to important positions," the emperor scoffed, "they are all criminals with mediocre talents, their only redeeming quality being their silver tongue and their ability to flatter. Do you think I would want to like such treacherous ministers?"
Even now, the emperor is still answering the crown prince's questions point by point with reason and evidence, which makes the crown prince both anxious and angry.
The eldest prince, listening from the side, frowned: "It's come to this point, Crown Prince, why are you still acting like you're whining to your father? Get to the point."
"The reason you chose to stage a coup was because your father was increasingly dissatisfied with you, completely disregarding your status as the crown prince, and frequently reprimanding you?"
"You've been the crown prince for over ten years, and Father is in good health. Do you intend to remain the crown prince for several more decades?"
After the eldest prince finished speaking, he suddenly sighed: "Indeed, the crown prince is just a child who hasn't grown up. How can he shoulder the heavy responsibility of being the ruler of a country?"
His words were strange, and the Crown Prince and the others couldn't help but look at him: "Elder brother?"
With a wave of his hand, the Crown Prince summoned the Imperial Guards who had been ordered by the Crown Prince to enter the Linde Hall to control the court officials. Instead, they controlled the Crown Prince instead.
"What are you doing!"
The commotion was so loud that even Liu Cheng, who was standing outside the hall without any internal energy, heard it: "What's going on?"
Yinyin said briefly, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; the Crown Prince was betrayed by the First Prince."
Liu Cheng was at a loss for words. Finally, he looked at the Western Guards and the Imperial Guards who were following the emperor's orders in the arena and said, "Behind the oriole, there is also an eagle."
“His Majesty is not an eagle,” Yin Yin said. “He is a patient hunter.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Yin Yin heard the First Prince's arrogant laughter coming from inside.
“What are you doing? You are not worthy to be the ruler of a country. Of course, it is your elder brother who should do the work. I will take over.”
Without even glancing at the Crown Prince, the eldest prince walked over to the emperor, overturned the dishes and wine on the imperial table, and placed the pre-written imperial edict of abdication in front of the emperor.
"Father, please use the seal."
The emperor quickly covered Chengsi's ears and patted him gently to let him fall back asleep before looking at the prepared imperial edict: "Passing the throne to the eldest prince? It seems you are indeed a bit more cunning than the crown prince."
“Of course,” the eldest prince said, delighted by the emperor’s words. “The crown prince was too naive and too trusting, which is why he ended up like this.”
“Your subject is different. Your subject knows that some things are best done personally, so the imperial edict of succession must not be written by someone else.”
The Empress stood by, watching the furious Crown Prince and the smug First Prince, speechless for a moment.
The pot calling the kettle black; they've made a fool of themselves in the entire court.
The emperor sighed and said to the door, "What are we waiting for? Take them away."
Yinyin led the people in from outside. While the Western Guards took down the others, she took a few steps to the emperor, grabbed the eldest prince who was closest to the emperor, and tied him up.
After Yin Yin finished doing all this, the Crown Prince and the First Prince realized what was happening, but the Emperor did not give them a chance to continue speaking.
"What do you take a coup d'état for? Is it child's play?"
At the emperor's signal, both men were taken away and placed under guard.
As for the ministers who had previously sided with the Crown Prince or the First Prince, they were in trouble because they all stood up and were now wiped out by the Western Guard.
The Linde Hall was half empty.
Eunuch Wu quickly directed the palace servants to clean up the mess and serve the dishes again.
The emperor, holding his cup, said, "The children are ignorant and need not let them spoil our festive mood. I will first punish myself with three cups of wine."
Since the emperor had drunk it, how could anyone else not drink it? They could only follow the emperor and drink to their hearts' content.
When they arrived at the palace that day, everyone was dizzy, and it was unclear whether they were drunk or frightened.
Yinyin and the other two didn't change their clothes, so they simply left the palace wearing the armor of the Imperial Guards.
They had barely reached the palace gates when a carriage blocked their way.
When the carriage curtain was lifted, Yin Yin's grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins were all crowded together, waiting for them.
Yinyin glanced inside and then decided not to go up: "It's such a small place, even Chengsi can't fit in. Grandfather, you should go back first. I'll come to your residence to pay my respects after I finish what I'm doing."
Old Master Qi and the others certainly didn't want to wait, but what Yin Yin said was true; how could a carriage fit so many people?
But now, no one on the carriage is willing to get off, so the situation has reached a stalemate.
Finally, it was Young Master Qi who said, "Then you should come early. If it's really not possible, I'll come to the Princess's residence to find you first thing tomorrow morning."
Yinyin said, "Okay, but I might not be home."
“It’s okay. Since you’re not home, I can find Liu Cheng. Isn’t he with you today?”
Seeing that Young Master Qi was staring intently at him, Liu Cheng said helplessly, "I don't know what's going on either, Uncle. You should wait for Yin Yin to tell you."
Before Young Master Qi could show any dissatisfaction, Yin Yin immediately told the coachman to lower the curtain and hurry up and leave: "The palace gate is about to be blocked. If you're not in a hurry to go back, others are."
The family who deliberately slowed down, just to listen to whether Yinyin had any inside information, said: No, we're not in a hurry!
Yinyin and Liucheng, carrying the child, boarded the carriage to go home, leaving behind pairs of curious eyes.
Yinyin and Liucheng exchanged a glance and said helplessly, "We might as well stay in the palace for one night."
Liu Cheng said, "Aren't you going to the palace first thing tomorrow morning? It doesn't matter whether you stay in the palace or not. They can't stop you from leaving the palace first thing in the morning."
As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Chengsi, who had been sleeping soundly, stirred.
He rubbed his eyes: "Dad, Mom, are we going home?"
“You’ve woken up at just the right time,” Liu Cheng said, giving his son a couple of hard rubs on the head.
Qi Chengsi stared blankly, then turned to Yinyin and complained, "Mom! Look at Dad!"
Yinyin pinched his little face and sighed, "Kids sleep so soundly, they won't wake up even if it's thunder."
"Huh?" Qi Chengsi asked, a beat late. "Was there thunder just now?"