Chapter 749: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 749: Chen Ji's Escape and Yan Yan's Predicament (2)
The Lin family, renowned for decades, was annihilated in a single day. The news of Grand Tutor Lin’s death reached Emperor Huian that very night while he was waiting for updates at the Imperial Workshop. The Emperor was silent for a long time after hearing the news.
Eventually, Emperor Huian personally drafted a decree posthumously promoting Grand Tutor Lin to the title of Marquis Wen Zhong and ordered the Ministry of Rites to conduct a grand funeral with the honors due to a Marquis. He also declared a one-day court suspension to mourn. After completing these arrangements, he hurriedly left the Imperial Study with Eunuch Liang.
In a remote and desolate palace within the palace grounds, the guards had taken over. Eunuch Liang stood outside the palace with a serious expression, not allowing anyone near. Listening to the muffled voices from within, he sighed silently.
Inside the simple palace, a single candle flickered, casting the room in dim light. Prince Heng stared intently at Emperor Huian, his biological father, with eyes devoid of the respect and affection a son should have. Instead, they were filled with boundless hatred.
“Back then, you were wary of the Lin family. You took my mother into the palace and pretended to care for her to win her heart. Because of this, my mother poisoned the late Empress to protect me! Ultimately, you are the true culprit. How dare you play the saint, poison my mother, and imprison me?” Prince Heng's eyes were bloodshot as he accused Emperor Huian, unbothered by the gravity of his words or the risk of death: “There is no man in the world as cold-hearted, hypocritical, and cruel as you. You are the one who deserves to die!”
Facing his son's accusations, Emperor Huian neither grew angry nor offered a rebuttal. He had once reflected that with Lin Taishi's character, he would not wish to see chaos in the country. As long as he governed the country well, Lin Taishi should not use his leverage against him.
Yet human hearts are unpredictable. He could not allow anyone to control his fate. He did not regret bringing Consort Lin into the palace but would not allow her to give birth to a child with ambitions. However, what was done was done, and some things could not be undone.
Seeing Emperor Huian remain silent, Prince Heng felt that his earlier outburst was like hitting cotton. His hatred only deepened: “You only cared about your beloved Crown Prince and never considered your other sons. Over the years, you pretended to favor me and showed me importance, but it was all a show for the other sons, using me as a shield for your beloved son! If you had given me hope, would I have schemed so extensively? In the end, you forced me into this position. How dare you revoke my title and imprison me?”
He only began to understand this cruel reality after Chu Heng’s attack injured many princes without any punishment, but by then, it was too late to turn back.
Emperor Huian’s expression finally changed. He looked at Prince Heng with pain in his eyes, realizing that he had failed in his responsibilities as a father and owed him much.
“Ye’er, you are wrong! Those years when Father treated you well and nurtured you, it was indeed to ensure that no one disturbed the Crown Prince. But you cannot deny that Father invested in you with the requirements of the heir in mind!”
Prince Heng was taken aback and then turned away in disgust: “Don’t try to deceive me with these words, and don’t expect me to forgive you! Everything you did to me, to my mother, and to the Lin family, I will remember forever. You will never have a peaceful day!”
“Ye’er, you…” Emperor Huian began to explain, but eventually gave up.
Among all his sons, apart from Heng’er, the one with the most imperial potential was this very son before him. For Heng’er’s sake, he had indeed hidden schemes in his trust for him, but had he not hoped that this son could shoulder the responsibility of the Da Chu if Heng’er failed?
(End of Chapter)
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