She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

"It is your ambition to become emperor that has led you to this point." Emperor Jing'an looked at Prince Yu with a face full of anger, as if he had just seen his son clearly, and said coldly, "It is also because you cannot distinguish right from wrong, use your position for personal gain, and try to clear the name of the Ling family who have committed many evils that you have led you to this point."

Prince Yu understood Emperor Jing'an's meaning: because he had used his power to protect the Ling family and prevented them from receiving the punishment they deserved for the crimes they had committed, he gave the Ling family the opportunity to murder his mother.

In Emperor Jing'an's eyes, all of this was nothing more than the karmic retribution for him and his mother.

"Your mother entered the palace when she was a teenager and has been with you for over twenty years. Isn't this favor enough for you to come to Yanxiang Palace in person? Even if you don't come in person, why don't you send Eunuch Cao from your side?"

Prince Yu said with disgust, "You know very well that the people in this palace are the most adept at currying favor and snobbishly flattering the powerful and belittling the weak. If you had come here in person, or sent Eunuch Cao, my mother would not have died such a tragic death."

"You hate me, you hate that I didn't consider the bond between you and your mother, nor the relationship between you and your father, that I didn't allow you to enter the palace to deliver medicine, causing your mother to die from poisoning. But this is not a reason for you to murder your father and usurp the throne." Emperor Jing'an pointed lightly at Prince Yu's chest: "Ask yourself, why didn't I trust you and your mother, and why was I wary of you and your mother?"

Before Prince Yu could speak, Emperor Jing'an continued, "It is because you caused countless innocent souls to die by your sword in order to settle the lawsuit for the Ling family. It is also because you cannot distinguish between loyalty and treachery, good and evil. You are worshipped by the people, but you have never shared their burdens. In order to satisfy your own selfish desires, you have caused the people of Qingzhou to starve and suffer unbearable hardship."

"Your crimes alone are enough to make you die a thousand times over."

"It is because of our father-son relationship that I have shown you mercy time and time again."

"And how have you treated me?" Emperor Jing'an roared, "You have made these soldiers who defended the country and fought bloody battles kill each other for your throne. You have turned the spears that were meant for the enemy into mine."

"You spared me, was it out of consideration for our father-son relationship, or out of concern for my marriage to Princess Guangning?" Prince Yu sneered as he listened to Emperor Jing'an's accusation that he was ungrateful. "The reason you didn't cancel my marriage to Princess Guangning, and even sent me to Northern Qi to personally welcome her."

"That's because you know me well. You know that I will help Zhao Yi in Northern Qi so that he can successfully bring Princess Yizhen's remains back to Great Zhou in order to secure the position of Crown Prince."

"You used me to scheme for Zhao Yi while plotting to strip me of my authority to pave the way for the Third Prince."

"Now, all of this has come out of your mouth and you've turned it into me being ungrateful and not knowing how to appreciate the Emperor's grace." Prince Yu's eyes were filled with deep-seated hatred: "You talk a lot about benevolence and morality, but what you do is discard those who have served their purpose."

"You unfilial son, if I don't take away your power, it will only fuel your ambition and make you more delusional," Emperor Jing'an said sternly. "Given what you have done, how can I entrust the people of the Great Zhou to your hands?"

He glanced at the Third Prince, who was kneeling on the ground trembling: "Release your third brother, and let this matter end here. Don't make another mistake."

"If I stop, what will you do? If I keep making the same mistakes, what will you do then?" Prince Yu's thin lips curled slightly, full of sarcasm: "Even if I stop, you will only spare my life and imprison me in the inner palace for life. If I remain obstinate and make mistake after mistake, I will only face death."

The father and son knew perfectly well that things had escalated to this point and were beyond repair.

Prince Yu, in particular, was in a very precarious situation.

His military strength was utterly insignificant compared to that of Emperor Jing'an.

That assassination attempt almost exhausted all of his troops.

Unfortunately, he failed to kill Emperor Jing'an.

Now, he can only turn the tide if he receives reinforcements.

Although he could take the Third Prince hostage and leave the palace, what good would it do once he escaped?

He was also unable to escape the numerous obstacles and flee the Great Zhou.

Therefore, he never intended to escape.

“He also played a part in my mother’s death.” Prince Yu used his sword to lift the Third Prince’s chin and said to Emperor Jing’an, “If you want to save him, then come and take him away yourself.”

As he spoke, Prince Yu thrust his longsword forward, the sharp blade slicing through the Third Prince's neck: "Otherwise, you killed my mother, and I killed your most beloved son. This deal would be barely worthwhile."

The third prince was terrified and cried out in panic, "Father...Father, save...save me..."

Emperor Jing'an clenched his fist, his sharp gaze fixed on Prince Yu standing before the palace gate. A hundred or so rebel soldiers surrounded Prince Yu, forming a protective circle. The Third Prince was also within this circle.

Prince Yu has always been ruthless and will never let the Third Prince go.

If we want to rescue the Third Prince, we'll probably have to eliminate the rebels first.

Otherwise, if the Imperial Guards take any action, Prince Yu will inevitably poison the Third Prince.

Unless, of course, they hit their target with a single, decisive blow.

As Emperor Jing'an walked toward Prince Yu, he gave a wink to the archers surrounding Yanxiang Palace.

As Prince Yu watched Emperor Jing'an walk towards him for the sake of the Third Prince, his heart felt a sharp, subtle pang. This feeling was unfamiliar to him; he couldn't distinguish whether it was discomfort or unease.

One step, two steps, three steps—

Emperor Jing'an strode closer and closer to Prince Yu.

Prince Yu, with a cold and fierce expression, grabbed the Third Prince by the collar and dragged him in front of him, holding a long sword to the Third Prince's neck.

"Click——"

Emperor Jing'an stepped on a dry, brittle leaf.

The sudden, crisp sound jolted Prince Yu's already taut nerves. Before he could react, a sharp arrow shot out of the bowstring with a "whoosh," carrying a chilling killing intent as it hurtled through the air.

Prince Yu's heart pounded violently, and he instinctively swung his sword to cut down the arrow.

The next moment, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he saw a sky full of arrows, like a storm, shooting towards them with a fierce momentum that could destroy everything.

The rebels fought desperately to block Prince Yu's path, but one by one they were riddled with arrows and fell one after another.

In an instant, corpses piled up like mountains in Yanxiang Palace, and blood flowed like rivers.

Only a few severely wounded rebel soldiers remained by Prince Yu's side.

They held on to their last breath, resolutely protecting Prince Yu, vowing to fight to the death until the very last moment.

Meanwhile, on Emperor Jing'an's side, rows of archers nocked their arrows, the cold, sharp tips aimed at Prince Yu's brow. If his sword were to wound the Third Prince, he would be pierced by a thousand arrows.

A surging murderous aura was about to erupt.

Prince Yu's heart pounded, his body tensed, and he stared coldly ahead.

All he could see ahead was a horrifying scene of blood; piles of corpses and flowing blood obscured the way he had come from.

This seems to indicate that he has already reached a dead end.

Prince Yu knew very well that the tide had turned against him.

This operation was a desperate gamble from the start.

Emperor Jing'an's face was cold and stern: "You rebellious son, do you still intend to resist?"

"Ha... a stubborn resistance." Prince Yu sneered, "According to the ancestral family law, the eldest son is chosen as the heir, and the order of succession is based on age, not personal virtue. The son of a concubine is chosen as the heir, and the order of succession is based on status and position, not age. You have no eldest son, so whether based on your noble status or your age, the position of crown prince is rightfully mine."

“But in your eyes, only the legitimate sons are the rightful heirs, and you treat the illegitimate sons the same. Not only did you not follow the status of the prince’s birth mother and the status of his maternal family, but you also did not follow the order of age when appointing the crown prince, thus disrupting the ancestral family laws. As a result, Prince Rui and I used our own methods to harm the people.”

"It's one thing for Prince Rui to compete with me," Prince Yu said, dragging the Third Prince along. "Who does he think he is?"

The third prince had just escaped death and was extremely frightened. His face was deathly pale and he was trembling like a leaf.

"If you want to amass wealth, then rob the people. If you want imperial power, then raise an army in rebellion and seize my imperial power." Emperor Jing'an said coldly, "Even if I appoint you as crown prince according to the ancestral laws, with your corrupt nature, you will not be able to hold this position."

Back then, when he returned to the Great Zhou from the Northern Qi, he was in a very difficult situation.

But he never considered harming innocent people in order to achieve his goals.

"Your status and position, mother and son, were bestowed upon you by me," Emperor Jing'an said solemnly. "I can give you and your son these things, and I can also elevate Lady Dong's status."

Upon hearing this, Prince Yu burst into laughter: "Hahaha, this is your empire, you can give it to whomever you want. Prince Rui and I are nothing more than pawns you use to consolidate your imperial power." He said, word by word, "What difference is there between you and the late emperor?"

Emperor Jing'an was furious: "Guards! Prince Yu murdered his father and usurped the throne. His crimes are heinous. Seize him!" Then he warned: "If you want your mother to be laid to rest, release your third brother."

Prince Yu seemed to have his weakness exploited; his face tightened, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

After an unknown amount of time, Prince Yu, holding the Third Prince hostage, walked step by step toward Emperor Jing'an.

In the end, he still compromised for his mother's sake.

The Third Prince's heart, which had been hanging in his throat, finally settled down.

Emperor Jing'an gestured to the archers, signaling them to put away their bows and arrows.

Since Prince Yu was willing to break into the palace for Consort Ling, he would naturally release the Third Prince in order to ensure that Consort Ling was buried according to the regulations for a Consort.

At this moment, Prince Yu stopped, standing only one zhang away from Emperor Jing'an.

In the Third Prince's eyes, which were filled with despair, a glimmer of hope for survival burst forth; he was just waiting for Prince Yu to release him.

Even if Prince Yu hadn't been killed by a hail of arrows, he would have been executed by Emperor Jing'an for his rebellion.

From then on, Emperor Jing'an had only one son, and no one else could compete with him for the throne.

Prince Yu seemed to sense the Third Prince's excitement at the prospect of a new life. He pursed his thin lips into a line and pushed the Third Prince toward Emperor Jing'an.

The third prince, overjoyed at regaining his freedom, cried out, "Father..."

Suddenly, Emperor Jing'an's expression changed drastically, and he hissed, "Stop—"

However, with a "thud," the longsword in Prince Yu's hand had already pierced through the Third Prince's chest.

Emperor Jing'an's hand hung in mid-air, watching helplessly as the Third Prince's fingertips traced his fingers before falling limply to the ground.

Prince Yu suddenly drew his longsword, and blood splattered on his face, making his cold eyes and brows appear even more ruthless.

The third prince fell straight to the ground with a thud.

Emperor Jing'an felt as if he had been hit hard on the head with a club. He stared blankly at the Third Prince lying on the ground, unable to accept this sudden turn of events.

Prince Yu... how dare he?

How dare he kill the third brother!

Emperor Jing'an hated Prince Yu to the extreme and was furious: "Guards, arrest this traitor and lock him in the death row!"

The Imperial Guards swarmed forward.

"The victor is king, the loser is villain." Prince Yu stood alone before a thousand troops, holding a blood-dripping longsword, his crimson robes fluttering in the evening wind: "How can a member of the royal family be a prisoner?"

These words, spoken with resounding force, echoed throughout the entire Yanxiang Palace.

Prince Yu suddenly swung his sword, the blade slicing across his neck.

"don't want--"

At that moment, a panicked voice suddenly rang out.

Prince Yu turned his head and saw a slender figure rushing in in a panic, stumbling and running towards him.

She wore a dress that seemed to shimmer with moonlight, like a bright ray of light that caught his eye.

Just like back then, when he was on the verge of death in the cave, his mother appeared in that dark and cold cave wearing a sable cloak.

"Your Highness..." Princess Guangning rushed to Prince Yu's side, her voice trembling as she looked at the blood gushing from his neck, blending seamlessly with his crimson princely robes, and said, "It's me, I'm too late..."

In the courtyard, light and shadow interplay, with distinct boundaries.

Prince Yu stood alone in the shadows, while Emperor Jing'an and his soldiers stood in the light, as if they were separated into two worlds.

Strangely, even though Prince Yu was standing in the shadows, Princess Guangning could still see him clearly.

Prince Yu's hair crown was worn neatly, his spine was straight and upright, and his princely robes were perfectly in place, as if they had been specially arranged.

Even if it meant facing death, he wanted to retain his last shred of dignity.

Prince Yu listened as Princess Guangning repeatedly said to him, "I'm late."

This phrase, "I'm late," overlaps with a phrase deep in his memory: "Jing'er, it's your mother who's late."

Back then, the mother regretted arriving too late, filled with remorse and self-blame: "Jing'er, your mother will never let you encounter any danger again. Even if something unexpected happens, your mother will arrive in time to protect you."

His mother kept her promise and never let him encounter danger again.

However, this time, his mother passed away.

He encountered another calamity.

He thought that, apart from his mother, no one else would ever come specifically for him.

Even if we are late.

Unexpectedly, his fiancée arrived.

He was saying the same things as his mother.

In his entire life, he only experienced two major calamities.

Once when I was ten years old.

Once at the age of twenty.

Just then, the long sword in Prince Yu's hand was stuck in the ground, supporting his swaying body.

"Your Highness..." Guangning supported Prince Yu, wanting to cover the wound on his neck, yet afraid of making his injury worse. If she didn't cover it, she feared he would bleed to death. Princess Guangning could only say "I'm sorry" in a flustered manner, tears welling up in her eyes: "I'm sorry, if I had heard the news sooner and helped you deliver medicine to the Imperial Concubine, you wouldn't have been in this situation."

Unable to support himself any longer, Prince Yu knelt on the ground. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but instead spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto Princess Guangning's skirt.

His head slowly, very slowly, drooped down.

Before closing his eyes, he thought to himself: It's okay, this is my fate.

Princess Guangning seemed to sense something, her heart sinking to the bottom. She stared blankly at Prince Yu, watching him kneel upright in the courtyard, his forehead resting on the back of his hand, his hands clasped together on the hilt of his sword, as if he were refusing to submit to fate.

Like a cluster of green clouds standing proudly against the snow in the flowerbed beside him.

Princess Guangning stood there, the evening breeze causing her skirt to flutter.

The smear of blood on her skirt was as vivid as the wedding dress she would wear the next day.