Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

Whether it's the third or the fifth son, he would never stand idly by and watch them ascend to the throne and trample him underfoot!

It's just an army of 300,000. As long as I kill the third and fifth sons before Liu Su arrives in the capital, bring the Xiao family into my camp, and take that position.

By then, the die will be cast. Could General Zhongyong really pull himself down?

Xiahou Chuan's eyes were bloodshot. He slowly straightened up and ordered his attendants, "Go and call General Chen and Deputy Commander Jiang over. Make arrangements so we can enter the palace tonight."

He is determined to seize the throne!

-

As evening fell and the sun set, Xiahou Chuan, dressed in casual clothes, entered the palace with two attendants to attend to the ailing patient before the palace gates were locked.

When he entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Third Prince Xiahou Xiao and Consort Xian were serving Emperor Jin at his bedside.

Emperor Jin leaned against Consort Xian's chest, while Xiahou Xiao held a bowl and fed Emperor Jin medicine spoonful by spoonful.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty." Xiahou Chuan bowed and stepped forward to ask with concern, "How are you feeling today, Father? Are you feeling better?"

After drinking the medicine, Emperor Jin was pale and weak, saying, "Still the same as before."

Consort Xian helped Emperor Jin lie down and said to Xiahou Xiao, "Xiao'er, go and wring out a hot towel to wipe your father's face."

Xiahou Xiao was still holding the medicine bowl in his hand when Xiahou Chuan stepped forward and said, "I'll do it."

Consort Xian quickly stood up and subtly pushed him away: "No need. His Highness is busy during the day and doesn't have time to come. His Majesty understands. You should rest well. You can leave this to me and Xiao'er."

Xiahou Chuan's eyes darkened.

Consort Xian's words seemed to be for his sake, but in reality, they were a reminder to His Majesty that his second son was too busy to come and attend to him when he was ill.

She used this kind of subtle rebuff on herself and the fifth prince quite often, openly and secretly trying to sow discord between the emperor and her father.

In the past, he thought of her as a woman and an elder, so he didn't hold it against her.

But today is different.

He had no intention of letting the third son leave the palace alive tonight, as for this woman he had long disliked—

Xiahou Chuan smiled coldly and gripped the dagger hidden in his sleeve.

"Your Highness is too kind. My father is unwell, and as sons, it is only right that my third brother and I be by his bedside to show our filial piety. No matter how busy I am during the day, I am always thinking of my father. Your words seem to be accusing me of being lazy in caring for him, and that my third brother is not as dedicated as I am."

Consort Xian was taken aback.

Xiahou Xiao was also taken aback.

In recent years, the two brothers and the fifth prince have been locked in a fierce struggle for the position of crown prince. However, no matter how fiercely they fight in private, they must put on a show of brotherly affection and respect in front of His Majesty.

Xiahou Chuan's words today sound like he's about to directly break ties with Consort Xian.

"Your Highness misunderstands. I didn't mean that." A hint of embarrassment appeared on Consort Xian's face. "I was just worried that Your Highness was overworking. His Majesty is still ill. If you also fall ill, wouldn't that cause His Majesty concern?"

"You just criticized me for not being as attentive to my sick father as the third prince, and now you're accusing me of causing the Emperor worry. Your Highness, you've truly mastered the art of killing without shedding blood."

Consort Xian: "..."

Xiahou Xiao couldn't stand his aggressive attitude any longer. He put down the handkerchief he was wringing halfway and frowned, saying, "Second brother, what's wrong with you today? You're acting like you've taken a gun. My mother is an elder, after all. How can you talk to her like that?"

“An elder should act like an elder. What kind of elder is it to sow discord between Father Emperor and me every day, as if he is afraid that Father Emperor and I are not close enough?”

"you……"

"Enough! What's all the noise about!" Emperor Jin slapped the edge of the bed, his anger rising. "I'm not dead yet!"

His body was already weak, and in his anger he lost his breath and started coughing violently.

Consort Xian quickly patted his chest to calm him down: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please calm down!"

Xiahou Xiao also quickly knelt down to beg for forgiveness: "Your subject knows his mistake, Father Emperor, please calm your anger, your health is the most important thing!"

Only Xiahou Chuan stood still, watching them perform their act of filial piety with a chilling gaze.

Emperor Jin finally caught his breath and turned to see Xiahou Chuan standing with his hands behind his back in the hall, unmoved. His face immediately darkened: "Second son, did you come to the palace today to make me unhappy?"

If he had said that in the past, Xiahou Chuan would have been so frightened that he would have knelt down and kowtowed, covered in cold sweat.

But Xiahou Chuan was unusually calm today. He turned his head to look outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation and saw three purple fireworks rising into the sky in the distance—

This was an agreement he made with Jiang Yu, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard. He would use three purple fireworks as a signal if he killed the commander of the Imperial Guard and took control of the defense of the entire imperial city.

Upon receiving the signal that the entire imperial city was under the control of his own people, Xiahou Chuan turned around, his eyes gleaming with excitement, and looked down at Emperor Jin: "What do you think, Father?"

As soon as he said this, not only Emperor Jin, but also Xiahou Xiao and Consort Xian noticed that something was wrong with him, and all three of them became alert.

"Second Prince, what do you mean by that?" Emperor Jin struggled to sit up, and Consort Xian immediately helped him up.

Xiahou Chuan drew the dagger in his hand.

Consort Xian immediately turned pale and quickly grabbed Emperor Jin's sleeve.

Xiahou Xiao's expression changed drastically: "Xiahou Chuan, what are you doing!"

Emperor Jin, on the contrary, was much calmer: "Second son, you do indeed have ulterior motives."

Xiahou Chuan approached him step by step: "I have ulterior motives? Father, wasn't it you who used me first? When you used me as a whetstone to hone your chosen heir, did you ever think about what would happen to us brothers who fought to the death for him once that person ascended the throne?"

The Emperor of Jin frowned: "What nonsense are you spouting!"

"Now that things have come to this, do you still think you can fool me?" Xiahou Chuan saw the Jin Emperor's attitude and felt even more chilled. "Which one of you, the third or the fifth, is the most suitable heir to the throne? Tell me, and I'll leave him a proper burial!"

"Xiahou Chuan, how dare you!" Xiahou Xiao was furious, but due to the rule that all princes had to disarm before entering the palace, he had no weapon to fight against Xiahou Chuan, and dared not step forward rashly. "You are usurping the throne! Even if you ascend the throne, you will be condemned by future generations!"

"I've already forced the emperor to abdicate, why should I care if future generations gossip about me?" Xiahou Chuan glanced at him coldly, then suddenly pulled the trembling Consort Xian over, pressing the dagger against her neck.

The virtuous concubine screamed in fright.

Xiahou Xiao's heart tightened: "Stop! Let go of my mother!"

As Xiahou Chuan listened to the increasingly dense footsteps outside and Jiang Yu's shouts of "Surround the Hall of Mental Cultivation," the smile on his lips grew wider.

In front of Xiahou Xiao, he swiftly and decisively slit the Xianfei's throat.

Blood gushed from Consort Xian's neck. Xiahou Xiao's pupils constricted sharply as he rushed forward to catch her limp body as she collapsed to the ground: "Mother Consort!!!"

At the same time, a large number of private soldiers disguised as Imperial Guards poured into the Hall of Mental Cultivation, their long swords pointed directly at Xiahou Xiao and the Emperor of Jin.

Xiahou Chuan slowly wiped away the still-warm blood from the dagger and said to Emperor Jin, "Father—I will still call you Father now. You write an abdication edict and pass the throne to me. I will let you die a dignified death in the harem. How about it?"