amaotonovel Chapter 263 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (163)
Chapter 263 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (163)
His expression was calm and composed, but for some reason, Ji Shuling felt that he was mocking her.
“I am loyal to the emperor, but now… where is the emperor?” He Diao asked Youyou in return.
Ji Shuling was furious that He Diaoyu dared to speak so rudely. Hearing He Diaoyu's words, she became even more enraged: "How dare you speak to me like that!"
"I don't know how the Second Prince wants me to speak, nor do I know what I have done to anger the Second Prince so much?"
He Diaoyu was not afraid of him at all, and met Ji Shuling's gaze with his calm and unwavering eyes.
"You're inciting the people of the capital to oppose me, do you think I can't see it?!" Ji Shuling had already sent people to try to bring back the guards and jailers who had ordered martial law to be imposed on the people of the capital, so that they would not let the people of the capital know what had happened.
But it didn't work.
I don't know if it's because they can't follow He Diaoyu, but they're all stubborn. He Diaoyu caused trouble for himself back in Jiangnan, and even now, he's still someone people hate to the core!
As a junior official, protecting himself would have been the best option, but he led the way into the streets, dressed in his official robes, making no attempt to conceal his identity whatsoever...
When Ji Shuling's men tried to stop him, he showed no panic whatsoever: "What fault have I made? I was merely doing what I was supposed to do. As an official responsible for the people's welfare, I should consider the people's needs in everything I do!" He Shaoqing spoke with conviction and in a clear, resonant voice.
"Young Master He... don't be so stubborn! Your Lord He is still with the Second Prince!" Seeing that reasoning was ineffective, the guards were about to take action.
“Let go! Even if His Highness the Second Prince comes in person, I will do what I must do! No matter what happens, this is my duty, do not stop me!” He Shaoqing’s expression was resolute as he continued to walk forward.
Those people didn't dare to really do anything to him. The Second Prince had just instructed that no matter what, no one should be hurt. They had already incited the people of the capital to become chaotic. If he were hurt in the street, the people would become even more fearful and disloyal.
It's not too late to settle accounts with them later...
The situation remained deadlocked. He Shaoqing ignored everyone around him, continuing to beat his gong and walk his own path with an open and honest attitude.
Not only He Shaoqing, but all of He Diao and his men were like this. This commotion only stirred up the rebellious sentiments of the people.
"Let him go! Is there no law left in this capital city?!"
"Lord He is a good official. Anyone who blocks Lord He is a bad person! Let Lord He go!"
"They're going to storm the capital soon! It's terrifying!"
……
Some bolder people would open the door a crack or stick their heads out of the window. Young women and wives would cover their faces with towels, leaving only their bright eyes to glare at those who tried to stop them.
The law cannot punish the masses; we can't just drag all these people out and punish them in the street, would that violate the Second Prince's orders? Those who tried to stop him were sweating profusely in the dead of winter, but they couldn't do anything for the time being.
When the news reached the Second Prince's ears, he was so angry that he almost cried out, "Lord He, it seems you are determined to associate with those traitors?" He gritted his teeth.
"Why do you say that, Second Prince? I cannot distinguish the traitors, but I do know that no one can besiege the capital. With so many troops stationed outside the capital, it must have taken more than a day or two. What is your intention?"
"I...I knew long ago that my eldest brother intended to rebel, so naturally I had to make preparations in advance!" Ji Shuling sneered.
He Diaoyu did not respond, but simply sat there calmly, as if he did not care at all what Ji Shuling wanted to do to him.
The situation seems to be at a stalemate. Ji Shuling really can't do anything to the people in the palace or He Diaoyu and others right now. He is acting under the guise of loyalty to the emperor and protecting him, so how can he just start fighting and killing?
Even if he had already decided to kill him, that was a matter for the future. If he dared to do something to that man surnamed He in the street now, the people would certainly not understand!
Ji Shuling now understands just how effective the things Ji Shuqin had done before really were.
Ordinary people don't understand dialectical analysis. They only know that those who do good deeds and things that benefit the people are good people. They can't distinguish between orthodoxy and illegitimacy. They only hope that the person who is good to the people and wins their hearts can rise to a high position.
“If a monarch treats his people well, the people will support him a hundredfold and a thousandfold from the bottom of their hearts. Water can carry a boat, and it can steadily lift the monarch and the dynasty to a high place. It’s such a simple principle, yet there are always people who don’t understand it and still ask why it is so. They are incredibly stupid…” At this moment, Ji Shumin uttered these words with a sarcastic expression in the palace, as if answering Ji Shuling’s question from afar.
"Where do you get so much precious destiny and divine mandate? If that were true, why would dynasties change? It's just that emperors of all dynasties convinced themselves and the people of the world to be willing to submit and obey..." Ji Shumin twitched the corner of his lips.
"Does Your Majesty still care about this?" Ji Shumin asked softly, noticing Ji Shuqin's unease.
"I'm just worried...would he really cause trouble in the capital?" Ji Shuqin was worried that Ji Shuling, being so petty and narrow-minded, would recklessly endanger the people of the capital.
Know the universe, still pity the green grass.
Ji Shumin felt that this statement was entirely appropriate for Ji Shuqin, and at this moment he sighed deeply: "No, I have already sent someone..."
"Your Highness, the An family requests an audience!"
Ji Shuqin frowned.
“Waiting is boring. Let him in and see what he has to say.” Ji Shumin raised an eyebrow.
A short while later, Master An was brought in.
He knelt outside the palace gate for almost half an hour, his whole body was frozen, shivering, and his face and hands were almost purple from the cold. In front of his two nephews, who were calm and graceful, he looked both pitiful and ridiculous.
He hunched his neck, and his voice trembled as he opened his mouth: "Greetings, First Prince, Third Prince."
"Your Highness... why are you doing this?" He tried to sound earnest and sincere, but his shifty eyes betrayed his undisguised guilt...
"What do you mean?"
"I, I'm shameless, I am your uncle, and I am also... I'm doing this for your own good. Now that things have come to this, why don't you apologize to His Highness the Second Prince? His Highness the Second Prince said that he is considering the bond between brothers, no, he won't do anything to you and the Third Prince... I, I can guarantee that."
He stammered, clearly indicating that he had been sent by Ji Shuling to persuade Ji Shuqin to surrender, using his position as his uncle.
Even with his good temper, Ji Shuqin frowned deeply and his face darkened upon hearing this.
"Pfft—" Ji Shumin, who was standing to the side, burst out laughing.
Master An looked over nervously and saw that the Third Prince had a face as beautiful as jade, so handsome and sharp that it was dazzling. He was just like when he was still the Crown Prince, and even more imposing. Master An was momentarily stunned.
Normally, he was far away from Ji Shumin in the court and could not see him clearly. But now that he saw Ji Shumin, Lord An felt even more timid.
"What can you guarantee?" Ji Shumin asked softly, seemingly very curious.
"The Second Prince will not pursue your plot to rebel today..."
“How can a matter of treason be simply dropped?” Ji Shumin interrupted him, his words clearly not directed at Ji Shuqin.
"His Highness the Second Prince is kind and considerate of brotherly affection." To save his own life, Master An would utter any nonsense he could think of.
“If he were truly so magnanimous, why would you, Uncle, be here today?” Ji Shumin said, pointing out the obvious. Looking at the panic on Master An’s face, he found it amusing.
"Why would Uncle lie?" Ji Shuqin suddenly asked.
"I didn't, His Highness the Second Prince indeed..."
"What I'm asking is, why did you lie and say that I was the regent and imprisoned my father, and why did you lie and say that my mother secretly told you about this?" Ji Shuqin asked earnestly.
Master An was surprised that even now, Ji Shuqin was still pressing the issue, stammering, "I didn't lie, Your Highness, since you did it, you should be willing to take responsibility!"
He actually said that in front of Ji Shuqin.
"Nonsense!" Ji Shuqin never expected that there would be such a shameless person who would try to distort the facts to this extent and still spout nonsense in front of him!
“I have come here because of our uncle-nephew relationship, and also because of my brother-sister relationship with the Empress! Your Highness, you had better... know your place!” He squeezed out the words through clenched teeth, his eyes revealing a cunning and reckless look.
The Second Prince promised him that as long as he could get Ji Shuqin to surrender, he would be promoted and ennobled after ascending the throne, ensuring his descendants' wealth and honor. The Second Prince also promised the noble families that if he ascended the throne, he would not strip them of their titles like Ji Shuqin had done. He would restore the titles of all the noble families that had been punished by Ji Shuqin! The An family was naturally among them.
Lord An made up his mind. Since things had already come to this, he might as well take a gamble. As long as he kept his story to himself, who would know that he was lying once the Second Prince sat on that throne?
"absurd!"
Ji Shuqin's shout startled Master An, who trembled and immediately lost his temper: "The eldest prince doesn't take care of his own family, but he won't allow his uncle to serve others!" he said righteously.
"Then I hope that my uncle will continue to serve him and not go back on his word..."
Ji Shuqin was angered by his scoundrel-like and arrogant behavior. He was about to say something more when his younger brother slapped him on the arm.
Ji Shumin showed no sign of anger; on the contrary, he smiled even more, his beautiful eyes curving upwards. He didn't seem like a cunning fox, but rather like a lurking, disguised, and fierce wolf.
Lord An felt a chill run down his spine, but still pretended to be experienced: "Your Highnesses, have you made up your minds? I'm going to report back to His Highness the Second Prince!"
"Oh?" Ji Shumin raised an eyebrow.
"Who told Uncle that you came and then came back?" His voice was low and soft, but chillingly cold, making the hairs on Master An's body stand on end.
"you……"
"My brother and I will not surrender, but you, Uncle, first lied and deceived everyone, which is already unforgivable. Yet you still dare to come alone and act presumptuously in front of my brother and me. What, do you think everyone can bully you, or are you incredibly tough?" Ji Shumin slowly leaned forward, his smile gradually disappearing, revealing a chilling murderous aura.
"Does my uncle think I have such a good temper?"
Master An panicked immediately: "What are you doing!"
"Did you think you could do whatever you wanted here just because your second brother is backing you up?" Ji Shumin's expression was cold and stern. His words made it completely believable that he was absolutely capable of doing it.
"You... His Highness the Second Prince sent me..." Master An stammered, all the smugness that had risen in his heart just now vanished. He thought he could avenge Ji Shuqin for not helping him, but who knew...
"What? You think you can never get out of here again? Will your second brother even care about you? Uncle, what are you to him, huh?" Ji Shumin asked him as if he were being very sincere.
Upon hearing this, Master An suddenly realized that although he was now on the Second Prince's side, if Ji Shumin really killed him, the Second Prince wouldn't stand a chance for him...
No! I still have a trump card up my sleeve!
"Ha! Don't try to intimidate me. If it weren't for me, he..." The words were on the tip of his tongue, but at the last moment, Master An swallowed back what he was about to say.
He was so close! He was so close to getting information out of the Third Prince! He was drenched in cold sweat; even in this cold weather, his inner clothes were soaked and clung to his body.
He was so adept at understanding people's hearts that every step he took seemed to tread on people's defenses. He moved with perfect ease, advancing and retreating with perfect composure, making people unconsciously follow his words and the path he laid out for them to think.
Luckily, I realized what was happening in time!
Master An was relieved.
When I looked into Ji Shumin's eyes again, the captivating feeling from before had faded considerably, and he appeared somewhat listless.
Although Master An was not a military officer, he still had some connections with General An's former subordinates.
If it weren't for his instigation, those old subordinates who couldn't get ahead wouldn't have agreed to join the Second Prince in starting a rebellion so easily. Master An was also wary; if he didn't appear in the end, then the Second Prince wouldn't be trustworthy.
Therefore, after he enters the palace, His Highness the Second Prince must get him out of there, otherwise the old subordinates of the An family will not be willing to be controlled by him!
Thinking of this, Master An felt much more at ease.
"Third Prince, there's no need to test me. The Second Prince's actions were righteous, and it's only right that I follow him, even at the cost of family ties!" Master An showed a hint of smugness.
They underestimated themselves, didn't expect to fall into their own trap! It's so satisfying! I haven't felt this good in years!
"Third, Third Prince, Third Emperor, Princess Consort, Your Majesty, are you settled?" Xiao Xizi came in from outside and said when he saw Ji Shumin nod.
"What did you say?" Master An's expression changed.
Is it real or fake?
Didn't the Second Prince already send people to surround the Third Prince's residence? If the Third Prince doesn't surrender or admit his guilt, then the Third Prince's wife will be used to intimidate him!
After all, the Third Prince and his wife are known for their deep affection. Let's see if he will bow down for a woman, or reveal his cunning and treacherous heart of stone...
How could the Third Prince's wife be in the palace?