mtl008 Chapter 312 Seeking a Younger Brother (Part 1)
Chapter 312 Seeking a Younger Brother (Part 1)
The crown prince looked at her and nodded approvingly.
"Indeed, this is also my lifelong wish."
"The world situation is such that after a long period of unity, there will be division, and after a long period of division, there will be unity. If the current situation continues, the unification of the world is an inevitable trend, but there will most likely be two outcomes."
Lu Yangyang listened attentively.
"When the Northern Yan regime was first established, it was merely a nomadic people in the north. However, they were militarily strong, and after seizing land, and through a long period of ethnic integration and recuperation, the Northern Yan of today is vastly different from what it once was. But similarly, the advantage of Father Emperor's reign over the past twenty years is that under an absolutely stable regime, the Great Zhao may not be without the power to fight. The disadvantage is that internal turmoil will inevitably affect the overall situation. In a few years, there will definitely be a major battle between the two sides, and who will win will depend on whether the people can unite at that time," the Crown Prince said solemnly.
Lu Yangyang immediately understood his meaning. The current emperor is still in his prime. Deposing the crown prince at this time will not shake the foundation of the country. However, if the internal situation remains turbulent and chaotic during the war with Northern Yan, then the Great Zhao may very well face the fate of national demise.
"Your Highness, I promised to bring the pears back." Lu Yangyang reached out and grabbed the Crown Prince's hand, looking at him earnestly: "Your Highness will help me, won't you?"
The prince lowered his eyes to look at the hand that was holding his fingers, and couldn't help but gently tighten his grip: "Okay."
……
With the Crown Prince under house arrest in the Eastern Palace, Lu Yangyang's return to her parents' home was naturally left unresolved.
Lu Yangyang witnessed the Imperial Guards searching the Eastern Palace time and time again, gathering all the details about His Highness's medical records and medications.
The evidence against the Crown Prince for taking banned drugs was conclusive, and the case was closed, shocking the entire court.
In the past, when people inside and outside the court mentioned the Crown Prince, they wanted to use all the best words to describe him. But now, all that is left is scorn. As the Crown Prince, he knowingly broke the law, and his crime is unforgivable.
Memorials concerning the removal of the crown prince were being submitted to the emperor one after another, and the matter was even raised by ministers at every court assembly.
The emperor initially held back, but after about half a month of this stalemate, at the grand court assembly on June 15th, the emperor spoke for the first time about deposing the crown prince, expressing his deep heartache.
The court officials were arguing fiercely about whether to depose the crown prince, and Lu Yangyang heard the rumors even in the Eastern Palace.
She wasn't surprised; it seemed the matter was about to be settled.
She couldn't help but look at the Crown Prince sitting by the window. He had been unusually silent since he woke up this morning.
He probably knew that today, the matter of the deposed crown prince would be settled.
I've heard that the relationship between the emperor and the crown prince was extraordinary in the past, but now it has turned out like this.
What must it feel like for the Crown Prince to remain soberly aware of everything and witness the emotional collapse of all the buildings?
Lu Yangyang walked up behind him and softly called out, "Your Highness?"
"Yangyang, go to Qianyuan Palace." The Crown Prince suddenly spoke, turning to look at Lu Yangyang, his voice tinged with urgency.
Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Yangyang pushed the Crown Prince out.
But before they could even leave the main hall, they were stopped by the Imperial Guards.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered that you are not allowed to leave the Eastern Palace even for a moment."
The crown prince's voice was cold: "Get out of the way!"
The Imperial Guards knelt on the ground in unison, but did not yield an inch.
"Cao Cheng, make your move," the Crown Prince ordered calmly.
Lu Yangyang hurriedly turned her head and saw that Cao Cheng suddenly appeared out of nowhere with more than a dozen ordinary-looking guards, who stood directly on both sides of the Crown Prince and cleared a path.
The leading imperial guard, realizing the situation was dire, hurriedly shouted to the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, what are you doing? This is the palace! Are you planning a rebellion?"
"Do I need to explain to you what I do?" The Crown Prince raised his hand, signaling Cao Cheng to block the Imperial Guards, and said to Lu Yangyang, "Let's go."
Lu Yangyang kicked away the imperial guards who were trying to approach the crown prince, and walked out under the cover of Cao Cheng and the others.
Wave after wave of imperial guards blocked their way.
Although they dared not actually harm the Crown Prince, with so many layers of obstruction, it was virtually impossible for him to leave the Eastern Palace and go to the Qian Yuan Hall.
Half of the guards who followed Cao Cheng in his breakout attempt had been killed or wounded.
The Crown Prince pulled a token from his waist and handed it to Lu Yangyang: "Take this and go to the Qian Yuan Hall. This is the Emperor's token. If the Emperor himself is present, anyone who tries to stop him will be killed without mercy."
Then he glanced at Cao Cheng, who immediately handed a knife to Lu Yangyang.
Lu Yangyang took the knife and suddenly held it to the Crown Prince's neck, shouting at the Imperial Guards, "Get out of the way! Otherwise, for any injury His Highness the Crown Prince sustained today, you will all be executed!"
Commander He of the Imperial Guards stared at Lu Yangyang in shock. He never expected that Lu Yangyang, the Crown Princess, would actually put a knife to the Crown Prince's neck. His mission was to guard the Crown Prince and prevent him from leaving the Eastern Palace. However, he knew that even if His Majesty wanted to depose the Crown Prince at any moment, the Crown Prince could not be allowed to suffer any mishap at this moment!
He knew, of course, that the Crown Princess would never actually harm the Crown Prince, but that damned Lu Yangyang said that any injury the Crown Prince sustained today would be blamed on them!
He was truly caught in a dilemma: stopping him meant certain death, and not stopping him meant certain death. He raised his hand, not daring to let his subordinates act rashly.
Cao Cheng spoke up at the opportune moment: "Commander He, swords have no eyes. If the Crown Prince is injured, can you really afford to compensate him for it?"
Commander He nearly ground his teeth to powder.
At this moment, the Fifth Prince walked over from a distance and, seeing this scene, exclaimed in shock, "What happened?"
When Commander He saw the Fifth Prince, it was as if he had seen a lifeline: "Fifth Prince, I was ordered to guard His Highness the Crown Prince, but His Highness insists on leaving the Eastern Palace. I beg Your Highness to persuade His Highness to do so."
"And the Crown Princess, we all saw you holding that knife to the Crown Prince. It would be best if you put it down."
Lu Yangyang coldly shouted, "I'll say it again, get out of the way!"
Commander He hurriedly looked at the Fifth Prince. Although it might not be useful, he figured he might as well try anything. If all else failed, he could at least buy some time!
The Fifth Prince stared at the Crown Prince and Lu Yangyang for a moment, his eyes darting around slightly. Suddenly, he raised his lips and said, "Second Brother, you know your current situation. Soon you won't be the Crown Prince anymore, so stop making trouble. I advise you to be more realistic. Ever since your legs were crippled, you should have recognized your own limitations. Perhaps in the future, when a new heir is chosen, they might spare your life out of brotherly affection."
As he spoke, he raised an eyebrow: "Look at you now, you can't even leave the house, and you've made yourself into such a mess. It really makes your younger brother feel bad!"
"I had some past grievances with you, my ugly Crown Princess. How about this: I'll have you beg me, and in return, I'll help you leave the Eastern Palace. What do you say?"